The Committee received a presentation that provided them with the parents and pupils (sixth formers) perspectives of educational aspirations at George Green:

The main points of the discussion may be summarised below:

The Committee noted:

·         That George Green gives children the opportunity to grow and take up the opportunity to improve themselves;

·         How George Green supports those students who have mental illness that can cause functional impairment in their day-to-day lives in school, at home and with peers.  Noted that childhood mental disorders include a range of disorders that can be diagnosed and begin in childhood, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behaviour disorders, mood and anxiety disorders;

·         That the transition to secondary school can be challenging for some young people, while others may struggle to cope with specific life events or experience increased stress and anxiety during adolescence;

·         That the school-based counselling and mental health services provided at George Green helps the young people to achieve their full potential and deal positively with the difficulties they face. There are both universal and targeted services for young people in the school, alongside support for parents and consultation and advice for school staff.

·         That the children feel that are given so many opportunities to do more than they could ever believe possible;

·         That George Green’s mission is to be a traditional place of learning with a rich history, underpinned by a commitment to providing exceptional experiences through clubs, quality teaching and impressive links with prestigious businesses (e.g. Business Mentors) and universities, which is mirrored by the high expectations the School has of the students and the traditional values of hard-work and discipline;

·         That master classes are offered to students on what is available through Canary Whalf and they have learned a lot from visiting the various companies who are based at Canary Whalf.

·         That from studying for their GCSE’s students have learned a lot more about what it is they want to be and what they can do and what stimulates them (e.g. In Year 10 the belief in what they can as students  achieve has expanded beyond what they thought would be the path that they would originally follow);

·         That George Green enables students to try new things and take on challenges that they could have done in the past;

·         That the School does not just focus on the top set but and develops a culture of excellence that permeates every classroom and is a focus not on simply getting the best grade, but on getting the best education and creating a lifelong passion for learning;

·         Once a student has entered year 7 they have the opportunity to receive mentoring through Barclays Bank to help them to enter the world of work. Also through Morgan Stanley and BP plc there is space to build relationships although it is dependent on what the students are willing to put in; and

·         George Green have thought carefully about parental involvement e.g. to help families provide support for student learning and to make continued education a goal for all students.