Cat Davison and her team of staff volunteers from the school were nominated for the Community Hero awards created by Sevenoaks MP Laura Trott and the Sevenoaks Chronicle . These recognised people making outstanding contributions to the local community during the pandemic . homes to conversation lessons with local Syrians to swimming with students from Valence School who have physical disabilities , we have looked to strengthen our curriculum-embedded engagement this year , with the introduction of a Year 7 course named ‘ Society and Change ’. This has enabled our students to enjoy critical and open conversations on topics linked to charity , environmental justice and educational equity . These themes are built upon in the Critical Thinking courses in other years , with the Year 8 students also extending their understanding of enterprise-based action through our social entrepreneurship challenge .
The coronavirus outbreak has exposed and exacerbated inequalities in local and global communities . It has been a privilege during this time to work as a school community alongside local groups , such as Care for our Community Sevenoaks and Sevenoaks District Council , to create a range of projects which have received generous support from staff , students and parents alike . This has included weekly food and hygiene collections for 20 local schools and food banks over three months , a digital
tech collection and redistribution scheme , production of personal protective equipment for NHS and other frontline workers , shopping for our local elderly who were shielding and a ‘ Telepal ’ befriending partnership with MindUK and Sevenoaks Counselling .
During the pandemic , my inbox has been filled every day with thoughtful messages from students looking to gain support to lead online campaigns , support people in their home communities , or produce concerts and other initiatives to bring our school and local communities together . It is difficult to convey the full extent of the collaborative projects , which have undoubtedly enabled our students to learn from others as much as they give , and to build deep friendships ; just a few are highlighted in the following pages . Certainly , for me , I have become friends with the elderly people in the Sevenoaks almshouses whom I once watched gardening from my window but never knew by name , and this challenging period has enabled me to connect with my neighbours in a way that wouldn ’ t otherwise be possible .
Cat Davison Director of Service and Social Impact
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