Community
BUILDING MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Community
Community partnerships are an important part of life at Thomas’s Clapham. Through collaboration with local schools, charities and organisations, we aim to widen opportunities, support young people and contribute positively to our wider community.
Working With Local Schools
We are committed to building meaningful partnerships with local schools. One of our key relationships is with Glenbrook Primary School, where we work together through learning opportunities and community events.
These partnerships allow pupils from both schools to connect, share experiences and learn from one another beyond the classroom.
The Pathway Programme
The Thomas’s Foundation Pathway Programme is a central part of our community partnership work. Now in its fourth year, the programme supports academically able pupils from local state schools during Years 5 and 6. Pupils take part in monthly sessions hosted at Thomas’s Clapham and led by our teachers. Sessions cover a range of subjects including English, Maths, Science, Drama and Physical Education, alongside creative opportunities in areas such as art and music. The programme is designed to challenge and inspire pupils while building confidence, teamwork and communication skills, and reflects our commitment to widening access to high-quality educational experiences and supporting pupils to reach their potential.
Charity Partnerships
Each year our school community selects a Charity of the Year, chosen by pupils, staff and parents. Throughout the year we organise fundraising events and activities to support this charity while raising awareness of its work. This approach allows pupils to develop a sense of social responsibility and understand the importance of contributing to the wider community.
Alongside this annual partnership, we continue to support a number of local and national charities through events, volunteering and community initiatives. By working together, our pupils learn that small actions can make a meaningful difference to others.
PTA
A happy and thriving school stems from its community: the children, their parents and the staff. The PTA provides an active but informal link between the school and its parents. Its core purpose is to build community and support local charitable causes. We do this by fostering strong bonds within class groups, uniting the whole school through larger events and championing our chosen charities.
Ideally each class has two lead parents (from a maximum of two families) for each academic year. When two parents represent one class, the role can easily be split between that of community matters (arranging social occasions), and charity matters (supporting the PTA committee on school and year group events).
The PTA Class Representatives are appointed by the school for each class in the Summer Term to serve for the following academic year. This is a role for any parent and can be easily fitted around existing family and work responsibilities.
The PTA Class Representatives work informally with other Class Representatives for their year group, and also with their respective PTA Representative (Lower School Representative or Prep School Representative), as well as the PTA Chair.
