CREDIT: This story was first seen in The Press
A private school in York which boasts Guy Fawkes among its former pupils has been shortlisted for an award recognising the work it does in the local community, The Press reports.
St Peter’s School is in the running for the Independent-State School Partnership Award, in recognition of its work with partners and schools in the local community, while its junior schools, St Olave’s, for children aged eight-13, and Clifton School and Nursery, for those age three-eight, have each made the final eight nationally to be shortlisted as Pre-prep/Prep School of The Year respectively.
The awards celebrate excellence and innovation in independent schools, and provide a benchmark for the sector across the UK.
Clifton’s entry showcases the school’s emphasis on developing skills that will serve children throughout their lives: collaboration, reflectiveness, resilience and resourcefulness.
The St Olave’s entry highlights the school’s use of eight core learning habits – collaboration, creativity, flexible thinking, curiosity, embracing challenge, empathy, perseverance and initiative – which help pupils to develop the skills and qualities needed for a happy and successful life.
St Peter’s, which is part of the nationally-renowned York Independent-State School Partnership (ISSP), attracted the attention of the judges for its ground-breaking scholarship project with the Archbishop Sentamu Academy in Hull, which works to increase aspiration by providing opportunities for pupils.
Head teacher, Leo Winkley, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for these awards.
“Our two junior schools are rightly acknowledged in the schools sector as some of the best in the country, and it is fantastic to have their efforts recognised with this shortlisting.
“But as a school at the heart of our local community, we are particularly proud to have been selected for the partnership award: working with other schools brings tremendous benefits for everyone involved, and we are very pleased to have so many outstanding links with colleagues across Yorkshire.”
Gunpowder plotter, Guy Fawkes, went to St Peter’s in the 1570s, and the tradition of burning Fawkes’ effigy on bonfires is not practised at the school as a result.
In York the Independent-State School Partnership includes All Saints RC School, Archbishop Holgate’s CE School, Bootham School, Huntington School, Joseph Rowntree School, Manor CE Academy, Millthorpe School, St Olave’s, St Peter’s , The Mount School, Vale of York Academy and York High School.
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