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A SONNING school welcomed a special guest last Friday – the Prime Minister.
Maidenhead MP Theresa May, whose constituency includes Reading Blue Coat School, took time out from her Brexit negotiations to learn more about a special partnership the learning establishment runs – and also answer questions from curious pupils.
The school runs a special student-led outreach programme called the Aldworth Partnership. This aims to get every pupil at the school involved in some kind of community service and grow in character as a result.
And the school raises funds to support the Partnership’s work.
On Friday, four senior prefects from the school explained to Mrs May how the scheme worked, helped by teachers and pupils from three of the local primary schools with which RBC is partnered in the programme – Thameside Primary, Sonning Primary and Cranbury College.
Other schools taking part include Thameside, Rivermead, Highwood, Sonning and Cranbury. Reading Blue Coat Sixth Formers also run lunchtime tutor sessions at Loddon, St John’s, Hawkedon, Aldryngton and Crazies Hill primary schools.
Reading Blue Coat headteacher Jesse Elzinga said: “It was heart-warming to hear the [primary school] pupils describe to the Prime Minister what they liked about their link with Blue Coat.
“They mentioned using our cross-country course, swimming in our pool, and being taught languages, maths and sport by our pupils back at their own schools.”
He continued: “We are not trying to tick a political box or to satisfy the charities commission; we build these partnerships because we are a community school that wants to support education, not just of our own pupils but also of the pupils in the wider area.”
Head boy Ben Freeman said: “The Prime Minister wanted to know how the Partnership had changed us and what we get out of it, both as individuals and as a school.
“She was interested in how it affects both us and the primary school children.”
Senior Prefect Kristin Barwell added: “She was pleased that we find it fulfilling. Mrs May said that transformational relationships are good for mental health.”
Mrs May also wanted to know how the partnership has directly affected the school: “We’ve changed the timetable so we have more time to devote to the partnership”, senior prefect Chris Peat said.
And Mrs May also held a surprise Prime Minister’s Question Time with Reading Blue Coat Government and Politics students.
“The pupils asked some really challenging questions,” Mr Elzinga said.
“The included, ‘Why did you go into politics?’ ‘What have you done to encourage more women into politics?’ and also some probing questions about the specifics of Brexit.
“Mrs May was in full Prime Minister mode during these questions and gave some articulate, insightful, clear and direct answers.”
