Community Outreach Progamme
Surbiton High School is proud to be part of a strong and sharing community, and we are committed to fostering positive, productive and caring relationships with other schools, parents, residents and businesses in the wider community. Our Community Outreach programme is roughly comprised of three key strands: Community Classroom, Partnerships and Personal Enrichment.
Community Classrooms are an exciting and dynamic way to extend academic learning opportunities for young people, parents and local residents. They can take the form of adult evening courses, longer courses with qualification outcomes or weekend workshops for students of all ages.
Independent-State School Partnerships both broaden and enhance the experiences available for pupils and staff across all participants. Mutually beneficial relationships are invaluable in sharing support, knowledge and resources so that everyone gains; together we are stronger. Older pupils lead a range of ‘lessons’ and book clubs at neighbouring schools; leaders gain self-confidence, presentation skills and a genuine sense of selflessness. Clubbers can gain inspiration, knowledge and older, ‘cool’ friends.
Personal Enrichment gives wonderful opportunities for members of our local community and the School to develop through authentic and challenging experiences; these might arise as supporting work with charities or individual project work, global and local. Surbiton High School pupils flourish and thrive in the practical needs of project work and develop confidence and resilience outside of the classroom delivering project outcomes that really are appreciated by the community.
Community Initiatives
Surbiton Community Bank
The Surbiton High Community Bank, managed by our dedicated pupils launched in November 2023. Prep and Senior School pupils organise donations for four essential banks: hygiene; baby and maternity supplies; school supplies; toys and books. Each week, dedicated teams track inventory and prepare for monthly pop-up events, aiding at least 10-12 families each time. Cash donations enable the purchase of urgently needed items, and the pupils’ warm and friendly interactions create a welcoming atmosphere for those in need.
Outreach Kits
In 2021, Surbiton High School introduced Outreach Kits to support primary schools in addressing funding gaps. These carefully curated kits include hands-on equipment and comprehensive lesson plans, covering subjects such as Computing, Biology, and Electrics. Our Outreach Kits have already benefited over 2,000 pupils, enhancing their learning experiences through practical and engaging activities.
Community Classroom Events
Please stay tuned for additional details on upcoming community classroom events open to our local community!
- Art History
- History
- IGCSE Maths
- Ri Computing Series
- CoderDojo Coding Workshops
POP! Talks
As part of the School’s growing community outreach programme, we were delighted to launch Surbiton POP! Talks – an exciting series of thought-provoking, fun and engaging, educational talks. We recently hosted our summer episode: POP! Talks: AI and our Shifting Education. Stay tuned for the next POP! Talks session.
‘Science in Schools’ Programme
The SHS Parents’ Association is delighted to continue its support for the Royal Institution Science in Schools programme for 2025, marking its sixth year at Surbiton High School. This year, over three days, 1,600 pupils engaged with this free workshop, which brings scientific concepts to life through interactive and immersive experiences.
Looking ahead, we aim to expand the programme’s reach to more schools across the borough, with a goal of surpassing 2,000 participants.
Soul in the Community
Soul in the Community, our largest outreach project, is expanding this year to span two days. Over 500 pupils and 80 staff members will dedicate approximately 4,000 hours to various community service activities such as building, painting, and planting.
Highlights of this year’s projects included constructing a porch for a new bike workshop at Dickerage Youth and Community Centre, painting an activity hall for Mencap, assisting local primaries with gardening and creative projects, building activity games for care homes, and planting a prayer garden at a church.
Year 12 Educational Support and Enrichment
Our Year 12 pupils support local primary schools. They provide reading coaching and deliver engaging presentations in Biology, Chemistry, and Computing, sharing their knowledge and passion to inspire younger pupils. Additionally, they host interactive workshops, fostering a love for learning and encouraging academic curiosity.
Stay informed about our latest updates on Community Outreach and our events by following us on Instagram.
