Highgate School, in partnership with the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham (LAET), has delivered a summer school for local students going into Year 11 next month.
The experience took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and helped students from across Haringey who have been the most affected by school closures due to Covid-19.
The aim was to provide the London borough’s most economically disadvantaged students, many of whom receive free school meals, with additional learning at this key stage of their education. The students were nominated by their teachers to take part.
Throughout the week-long summer school, students were taught core academic subjects by teachers from Highgate and LAET. They also took part in careers and employability workshops designed to introduce them to new skills such as textile craft and circus skills. The goal was to identify strategies that support wellbeing.
The students also had the chance to debate key social issues, such as the reopening of schools, policing and drug culture.
We know that this will make a huge difference to their readiness to be back in their own schools in September – Adam Pettitt, head, Highgate School
Adam Pettitt, head of Highgate, said: “It has been wonderful to see pupils at Highgate and LAET this week who are clearly so happy to be back at school. The turnout has been phenomenal and every day the pupils are choosing to be here in their summer holiday and are engaging fully in academic life – brushing up on old skills and learning new ones.
“We know that this will make a huge difference to their readiness to be back in their own schools in September and our teachers and staff are also thrilled to be back in the classroom again – doing what they do best – teaching rich and inspiring lessons to real live pupils.”
Highgate’s charitable work and state school partnerships have been channelled through its Chrysalis Partnership Programme for 12 years. As part of this work, Highgate became the primary educational sponsor of the sixth form free school LAET.
LAET is also sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur and supported by eight more independent schools: Alleyn’s, Chigwell, Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’, Harrow, John Lyon, Mill Hill, North London Collegiate and St Dunstan’s.
