Sark gains national recognition for “placing school at the heart of the community”

Sunday 23 May 2021

Sark School has been shortlisted for a national award - described by its Head as the 'BAFTAs' of the teaching world - for its community enrichment programme.

The TES School Awards celebrate the achievements of staff and schools across the British Isles and Sark School is in the running for the ‘Community and Collaboration’ award.

“It’s essentially the BAFTAs of the teaching world,” said Head of Sark School, Dr Nicholas Roberts. 

Pictured: Sark School has 33 pupils aged three to thirteen who take part in the community programme. 

The Enrichment Programme sees the school throw its doors open to members of the local community for two hours a day, for what’s called "daily enrichment activities".

“We wanted to tap into all of this expertise on-island,” said Dr Roberts, “but also push our children and broaden their horizons, challenging them by getting them to do things they wouldn’t usually do.”

“We’ve had children experience hospitality, equine care, gardening, we do lots of pottery and art workshops, drama with the theatre group and sport with members of the sports clubs,” he said.

“The upshot is that the programme has placed the school right at the centre of our island community, which has been really important for us.”

Pictured: Last year saw the pupils enjoy 30 different activities with nearly 50 volunteers.

The school and its programme were entered into the TES School Awards, and Dr Roberts said he was “bursting with pride” for the island school to be shortlisted.

“Receiving such recognition nationally is an outstanding achievement for a school of any size, let alone one so small,” he said.

“Sark School has landed on the big stage, and I couldn’t be more proud."

Pictured: Sark ranks alongside numerous larger schools in the UK.

There are 18 awards this year, and the winners will be announced during an online event on 25 June.