Service at School
There is an expectation of pupils giving service at school, an understanding embodied in the College’s values of courtesy, kindness and service to others. Service is expected in all facets of school life. There are opportunities for greater focus through the CCF and in the service at school (S@S) programmes.
In Year 11, pupils can elect to continue with CCF or choose the alternative S@S option. Only when they reach the Upper Sixth can pupils opt out of participating in some form of service component, though many continue to do so.
Programme Overview
The service at school programme takes place on Wednesday afternoons throughout the academic year. There is a wide range of activities within the programme, all of which are aimed at increasing awareness of the needs of others.
In preparation for the more challenging aspects of the S@S programme facing sixth form pupils, Year 11 pupils follow a programme which prepares them for interaction with the very young, the elderly and disabled people which is at the heart of the sixth-form programme. The pre-S@S programme includes site visits, external speakers, research tasks and group work. Themes covered include the skills needed in various areas of community work; the role of volunteer groups such as the RNLI; the role of overseas charities; the work of charities that help children in the UK; the work of Amnesty International; human rights issues; support for the Love-in-a-Box charity; and the planning of entertainments and Christmas parties for residents of local retirement homes.
Sixth-form pupils choose either to provide benefit to the College or to the local community in some way, or to develop skills that might be employed in community service at some later point.
Recent S@S Activities
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Amnesty International |
Campaigning on behalf of prisoners of conscience throughout the world |
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Assistant sports coaches |
Helping to coach junior games sessions |
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Beach clean up |
Environmental beach project helping to pick up litter |
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College archives |
Assisting the College archivists in their work to maintain historical records of the College and its activities |
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College charities |
Organising fundraising events in support of the College’s chosen charities |
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Conservation and gardening |
Identifying and beautifying neglected places in the local area and on the College campus |
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Chaseley Trust |
Assisting with activities for residents at a local home for disabled people Maintaining and embelleshing the garden at a local home for disabled people |
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Charity shops |
Assisting in sorting goods and serving customers at a number of local charity shops |
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Computer buddies |
Helping local residents to use IT facilities at Eastbourne library |
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Drama |
Directing Year 9 house drama groups |
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Eastbourne foodbank |
Helping to sort donations at the local foodbank |
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Eastbourne Schools Partnership homework club |
Supporting pupils from local state secondary schools with homework and revision tasks |
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Elderly |
Visiting residents in local retirement homes |
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Eco-schools |
Managing the recycling provision around classrooms in the school |
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Generation gap |
Visiting local elderly residents |
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Language assistants |
Native speakers of other languages provide support and conversation opportunities for younger pupils learning new languages |
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Lifeguarding |
Completing a pool lifeguarding course |
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Litter patrol |
Clearing rubbish from the streets in the immediate vicinity of College
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LINKS |
Journalism on the College newspaper |
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LRC assistance |
Supporting the school library staff |
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Wednesday Club |
Providing hospitality and entertainment for a group of elderly visitors to the College |
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Netball coaching |
Attending a certified course for new coaches to develop coaching skills and technical knowledge. This enables pupils to visit local schools to coach netball |
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Pillowcase clothing |
Making simple clothes to send to orphanages in Africa |
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PIPS (Pupils In Primary Schools) |
Assisting teachers in local primary schools, both inside and outside the classroom |
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Queen Alexandra Cottage Homes |
Visiting residents in local nursing homes and sheltered accommodation |
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Scouting movement |
Acting as leaders and helpers at local Brownies, Rainbows and Scout groups |
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Shopmobility |
Helping to maintain the wheelchairs provided in the local Beacon Centre |
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Silver surfers |
Providing IT training for local elderly people in the College IT Department |
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Start rugby coaching |
Attending a certified course for new coaches to develop coaching skills and technical knowledge. Pupils then go out and coach in local schools |
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Sussex Wildlife Trust |
Making bird boxes for a local wildlife charity |
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Winter night shelter |
Helping to set up night shelters for the homeless in local churches |
