We have a good understanding of our context and take action to counteract identified barriers to achievement by:

 

• Tracking pupils’ achievement in relation to SEN groups EAL, ethnicity, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, disability

• Providing targeted mentoring and support e.g. EAL pupils are mentored by older pupils, SLT mentoring, staff mentoring pupils of the same ethnicity etc

• Providing homework clubs, revision sessions, holiday sessions

• Using peer listeners and paired readers

• Providing a range of visits  (including Higher Education  taster days, trips abroad and to other areas of the UK) and extra-curricular clubs ,many of which have been introduced in response to pupils’ requests.

• Monitoring lists of participants in trips, extra-curricular clubs etc

• Using the Access for all Subsidy to ensure pupils do not miss out on opportunities for economic reasons.

• Sponsoring a group of FSM pupils to take part on the City Challenge programme over 4 years.

• State school and Independent School partnership

• Annual disability audit

We achieved the SSAT Cultural Diversity Quality Standard gold award and were the outstanding school in 2008.

 

We recognise and respect diversity and foster positive attitudes and relationships by:

 

• Embedding cultural diversity in the curriculum and in particular in the RS and PSHE programmes( including Enrichment Days) which address issues pertinent to the school community but also national and international issues

• Providing a range of trips and extra-curricular activities for everyone.

• Charity work.

• Assemblies eg Black History, Eid, Divali, Christmas, Guru Nanak’s birthday and other religious festivals.

• CPD for staff

As a result the pupils do share an ethos of inclusion.. The lists of participants in assemblies and other celebration show that all groups are involved in assemblies whatever their ethnicity, faith or cultural background. No pupils are withdrawn either from assembly or RS lessons. All pupils take at least half a GCSE in RS in year 11.

100% take part in activities related to charity. Pupils provide displays .e.g. for k History. Extra-curricular clubs and trips are attended by girls from all backgrounds.

 We consult through questionnaires to pupils, parents and the community.

As a result we have put on additional extra-curricular activities e.g.  Gospel Choir, some different sports clubs . .e.g. cheerleading and parent and child cookery club, e –safety sessions and Fronter sessions. The outreach work we do is planned and reviewed in the light of consultation with partner schools and health professionals.

We place importance on involving parents in school life. In addition we:

• invite parents to assemblies, school events, Enrichment Days and to join in some of our extra-curricular activities e.g. cookery for parent and child, sports activities, life-drawing classes.

•  are sensitive to issues arising from faiths,  language, ethnicity , socio-economic backgrounds or disabilities.

•  provide  translators when required.

 As result we have a high percentage of parents who attend progress evenings and the number of parents attending information evenings is rising. A small number of parents are attending extra-curricular activities. The jazz band is particularly successful. A number of parents contributed to performances at Celebration Evening and as part of the school’s two annual performances.

 

We are a fully-extended school and are active in the local community through:

• Links with local school including PRU through the Specialist School programme(we include boys in all our activities) e.g. Science clubs for year 6

• Our Sports Leaders work with local Primary Schools

• Year 6-7 Transition

• Offer of use of facilities to local community e.g. Sports Hall;, Outdoor classroom

• Setting up Science Investigators courses for local community groups e.g. cubs

• Link with ECIl, local businesses eg Danone, Boots through the Ealing Business Partnership

• Link  with University of the Third Age

• Invitations to school events e.g. Drama Productions, Enrichment Days.

• Maths in Faiths Project

• Annual Health and Beauty Fair

• Visits e.g. to local hospices, local sheltered housing etc.

• Informing parents and pupils of local events especially those during the school holidays.

 

We foster and understanding of the wider community by:  

 

• Our curriculum and our Enrichment Days and Citizenship programme.

• Trips and visits

• Exchange with a school in Portsmouth

• Links through our ECO school programme with a boys’ Grammar school in Kent.

• Links with HE Institutions

• Participation in national competitions

 

Last year one of our pupils was elected Ealing’s Youth Mayor.

 

We develop our learners’ understanding of other communities both in Europe and globally through:

·        Our Schemes of work and Enrichment Days .e.g. Fair Trade Day, Charity work

·        Trips

·        Celebrating home languages and using pupils as interpreters

·        Exchange with an Italian School

·        Hosting pupils from European schools

·        E-links with schools in Sierra Leone and South Africa

·        Some limited opportunities for work experience e.g. in France

We are proud of our extended schools and community programmes and we see the results in our girls’ eagerness to be involved, and their awareness of local and world issues. We are also very proud of the ethos which celebrates and respects diversity and which is often remarked upon by visitors. Photographs and accounts on his page will give visitors a flavour of what we do.

 

Fair Trade at EWS

The Ellen Wilkinson School is committed to developing Fair Trade in the school and amongst the students. As part of the Fair Trade outreach project, students from Year 8 took part in this year’s Ealing Fair Trade Day.

Students from Year 8 were invited to read out their poetry as part of the opening ceremony, and had the opportunity to meet Ealing’s Mayor. We are hoping to have our own stand at the 2011 event.