What is meant by “Community Cohesion”?
The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) Guidance on schools’ duty to promote community cohesion, published in July 2007, states that:
By community cohesion we mean working towards a society in which:
- there is a common vision and sense of belonging by all communities
- the diversity of people's backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and valued
- similar life opportunities are available to all
- strong and positive relationships exist and continue to be developed in the workplace, in schools and in the wider community.
As a community college Beacon is committed to promoting community cohesion at all levels – locally, nationally and globally - and strives to develop its’ place at the heart of the local community. We see this as integral to our work and believe that it contributes significantly to the wellbeing of our students and our wider community.
How do we work towards achieving this vision?
Key Elements of Promoting Community Cohesion
1.Developing our internal community (Top)
As a comprehensive community college we are committed to our policy of open access; we welcome students of every ability and from every background into our community. We believe that through our ethos and curriculum we can help to promote a common sense of identity and support diversity. We are working to develop for all our students a sense of belonging, showing them how different people can be united by shared values and common experiences. Check out our audit of Community cohesion activities.
We also acknowledge the importance of developing the community spirit of our wider school community – the parents, carers and families of our students, the school’s staff and governing body. Through a whole of host of educational, celebratory and social activities we aim to work in partnership for the highest achievement of all out students. See PTA and Governing Body links on this site – plus our calendar of events.
2.Extended Services (Top)
We recognizes that in order to help our young people achieve their potential and to meet the need of families and the wider community – we need to work in partnership with other agencies and with the local community. For this reasons we are working towards providing access to a core of activities to include
- a varied menu of activities including study support and homework clubs, sport, music, arts and crafts, science and other special interest clubs
- Breakfast club before school and study area with ICT facilities after school
- New Children’s Centre with 8am-6pm, 48 weeks a year for
- parenting support including family learning
- swift and easy access to targeted and specialist services
- community access to facilities including adult learning, (ACRES) and sports facilities
- individual special events which focus on all age activities - for example The Big Draw
- Holiday club, every school holiday except Christmas, young people aged 8-14 years
- The North Wealden School Sport Partnership based at Beacon Community College maximises the opportunity for funding applications for the provision of out of school hours activities for Beacon Community College students and students attending feeder primary schools.
- Swim school for 3yrs up to teach water safety and swim technique.
Curricular and extra curricular activities
All Students have the opportunity to learn through a wide range of curricular and extra curricular activities which promote community awareness and community cohesion on a local. national and global basis. See our Community Cohesion Audit for the extensive overview. For some specific examples see our Year 7 Deep Learning Days, and our artist and author visits.Our specialist subjecst lead the way with Sports clubs, after school Science clubs, Dance, Drama and Music
3.Local Partnership for Children (Top) We take a leading role in and actively promote the work of our Local Partnership for Children.
4.Working in partnership with our family of local primary schools (Top)
We are engaged in a wide range of activities which promote close working relationships with our link schools, support transition and stimulate learning. These include opportunities developed through our Science and Sport Specialisms, masterclasses, showcase evenings for parents and CPD opportunities for staff.
5.Working in partnership with East Sussex Secondary Schools, FE and HE (Top)
- We are part of the SHUUB – a working partnership between the South Downs College of FE, Heathfield Uplands, Uckfield and our own community colleges. This works closely together to provide vocational and applied learning opportunities for our students at levels 1 2 and 3.This includes the introduction of provision for Specialised Diplomas. Shared CPD for staff from the linked institutions is also a key aspect of this partnership.
- As a Training School we have been awarded the Gold Standard for CPD Leadership. We are also part of the SE regional network of Training Schools and a key contributor to our local Training School Consortium – Dorothy Stringer, Claverham CC. and Oathall (West Sussex) among others – to share best practice and deliver a joint programme of professional studies and management training workshops.
- A third strand of this work is our partnership with Higher Education – University of Brighton, University of Sussex and University of Christ Church Canterbury - to deliver high quality initial teacher training through GTP and PGCE schemes.
- Links with Brighton University via Specialist Sports status, partnership with college in delivery of G&T Athlete programme; we also link with Northbrook College to deliver funded aquatic training courses.
- The North Wealden School Sport Partnership based at Beacon Community College. The Partnership with Beacon Community College supports the 4 other North Wealden Secondary Schools with their development of PE and School Sport
Our students are also closely linked with students in other local schools through our involvement in the National Student Voice Council – two of our students are the Sussex Representatives.
6.Working in partnership with local businesses (Top)
We have links with local business through our Business and Enterprise work and work experience links . This is further developed by our work as a Science Specialism school, for example local sponsorship of Science Competitions and the student engineering initiative which is based on joint ventures with regional and national businesses.
- Links with Freedom Leisure and Specialist Sports status
- We recruit and train students to allow us to successfully hire out our facilities
7.Local community links (Top)
The college is the centre of a whole raft of local community activities and our students consistently show they are concerned for the needs of others in the generous and creative ways in which they raise money for charity. For example, Students entertain local senior citizens to an annual tea party, make music with member of Rotherfield’s St.Matins’s community group and work with members of St Johns Ambulance Brigade to develop First Aid skills. From our Carol Service in All Saints Church Crowborough to our Big Draw – all age Art activity Day in the summer – we are actively working to be the heart of our local community.
- As part of the sports Specialism links with Community Sports Clubs who use/hire Beacon facilities, also work with community sports team to encourage student/club links, help with club marl accreditation and SCUK courses, first aid courses, Swim teacher training & lifeguard training
- The North Wealden Partnership has built strong links with community sports clubs and coaches, to work in partnership with the delivery of high quality competition, coaching and school club links
- Through the sports Specialism we also coordinate a group for the local over 55’s population, aiming to improve their health and well being.
8.National links (Top)
Our students have a wide range of opportunities to study, visit and experience different aspects of life in the UK. through both curricular and extra curricular activities. For example Science Days with GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development in Tonbridge, Kent, Gifted and Talented student visits to Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. and the Politics Conference in London to name but a few. This is an area of expanding opportunity especially through our Sports Specialism work and we are currently exploring the development of a partnership with an inner city school (London) – to extend this further.
9.International links (Top)
We believe that we have a responsibility to help prepare our young people for their part in the global community and therefore we strive to develop strong international links. These links are forged through a variety of opportunities within and beyond Beacon - designed to ensure our students understand and explore the concept of being global citizens, Along with a wide range of international trips we are particularly proud of the ongoing link we with an area of Gambia – developed over nearly 20 years of partnership work. We also have links with Thailand through Specialist Sports Status and Samathat School, who introduced Tacraw to Beacon
The co-ordination of Community Cohesion is the remit of a committee consisting of;
Mrs. Evans – Deputy Principal
Mrs. Lasis – Assistant Principal
Mr. Agnihotri – Head of Year 7 and 8
Mr R. Bagwelll - Community Sports Co-ordinator Mr. Blackwell – Staff Governor
Mr. Hewlett – Vice Chair of Governors
With other staff contributing to the development and implementation of the Community Cohesion Plan. and the related Policy.
For further details please contact Mrs Evans in the first instance. |
Community Cohesion