All pupils at Emanuel are encouraged to be outward-looking, to contribute to the community, whether local or global, to learn to notice others around them and to look outside their own needs.

In the video below, Jay Martin (Head Girl 2019-20) outlines the school’s exciting outreach and partnerships programme and key figures from some of our partner schools explain the significant impact of these activities.

A central point of our ethos is the cultivation of an ‘altruistic, caring and outward-looking community’ and we believe wholeheartedly in doing good for others, which in turn is good for ourselves. Emanuel has a long history of supporting charitable causes and community projects with both financial and practical assistance and a key aim is to prepare our pupils for a lifetime of leadership and service.

Pupils regularly support the work of charities with an annual charity week, where a number of events are hosted for pupils and staff. This is supplemented by a number of one-off activities throughout the year which allow pupils to raise further funds for their chosen charities. The great majority of pupils in Year 9 sign up to the Duke of Edinburgh Award in which they must complete a volunteering element, volunteering in places such as charity shops, homes for the elderly, libraries, various peer mentoring programmes and many other projects, all of which allow them to contribute to the wider community.

The whole Sixth Form commits its Christmas fundraising effort to support Ace of Clubs, a local day centre for the homeless. The Sixth Form also raises money for our partner schools in Tamil Nadu, India through organising the Sixth Form Revue, and each summer a group of Lower Sixth students become volunteer teachers in these schools in the summer, teaching English and enriching the lives of the pupils. Our Sixth Form students are active on the charity and eco committees and many make individual contributions to our local community, volunteering at Nightingale House and the local playground for disabled children, taking part in the St Marks food bank appeal and helping to organise the fundraising dinner for Spear (a charity that helps the homeless to independence).

Thank you for the hard-working, enthusiastic Emanuel Sixth Form volunteer students that joined my two summer schools in July and August. They were all fantastic and a credit to the school. The children from St Mary’s and Sacred Heart loved working with them and the teachers really appreciated the support.

(Executive Headmaster of the Federation of Sacred Heart & St Mary’s RC Primary Schools Battersea)

Siddiq (Head Boy 2019-20) with pupils at one of our partnership schools in Tamil Nadu, India.

The most effective projects are those that are two-way and we partner with a range of schools. We work collaboratively with state secondary schools on projects such as public speaking, Model United Nations conferences, a number of concerts as well as art projects and film-making schemes. Our Year 6 pupils have a special relationship with Christ Church Primary School and work on a number of enrichment projects through the year with their peers, while several Sixth Form students help out at our local partner primary schools (Griffin Primary, School, St Faiths, Christ Church, Allfarthing, Swaffield and Honeywell) leading projects in subjects including English, Art and Drama. Many of our students have gained permanent ID badges as testament to the value placed on their work with younger children.

Year 6 pupils from Emanuel School and Christ Church Primary School learn about Design Technology on one of our partnership Enrichment Days.

Through all of these projects our pupils have shown that they are excellent role models and their passion and energy plays a vital role in engaging and raising the aspirations of the children they work with. Our pupils gain confidence and improve their communication, team working and practical skills.

In 2019 we launched our flagship outreach programme ‘Primary Ambitions’. Every Friday afternoon, our Lower Sixth students mentor, teach or coach local Year 6 pupils and provide opportunities in the creative and performing arts, STEM, academic subjects and sports. Watch the video below or find out more details about the Primary Ambitions programme here.