Local School Partnerships

Charterhouse is one of many schools in the Godalming area, and we enjoy working closely with our neighbours at primary and secondary level.

Our belief is that, whilst schools might differ in their curricula, pupil bodies and facilities, they are all doing the same thing – helping young people to achieve their potential and get ready for happy, productive adult lives. By working together, we are all able to learn and share more.

Below, you can read a little more about some of our current partnerships and projects.

Governorships

A number of Charterhouse staff serve as governors of other local schools. Together their work impacts the education of 1000s of children, as well as providing a fantastic link for building stronger relationships, and identifying priority areas for joint working. Currently, colleagues are on the governing bodies at around 14 maintained and academy trust schools (primary, secondary, and special) as well as some local prep schools.

Arty Mornings

Each summer, Charterhouse hosts ‘Arty Mornings’ for local primary schools; in 2018, 250 local children from five schools attended these wonderful events with their teachers. The creative arts are too often subjects which suffer under government cuts, but many local schools share our commitment to excellence in music, art and drama, and we enjoy working together. An Arty Morning might involve an African drumming workshop followed by a short recital – our Carthusian musicians love performing to younger pupils and answering their challenging questions! – or a story-telling workshop. Charterhouse arranges refreshments as well as all transport for the schools involved.

Some feedback from the most recent Arty Mornings:

We had an amazing time with you and are really grateful that you were able to arrange a trip like this for us. Everyone was really welcoming and made the children feel really comfortable.

We had a blast… [the pupils] particularly loved the African drumming… It was great to let them experience live music and ask the musicians questions.

The children had a great time so please pass on my thanks to your team!

Music Activities

Our musicians travel to a number of local schools to enhance their music programmes by teaching Music Technology and sharing musical instruments. In addition, there are short recitals and Q&A sessions during assemblies. These aim to open younger pupils’ eyes to the world of music, and stimulate their own instrumental studies.

Broadwater Partnership

Charterhouse is delighted to be a partner of Broadwater School, our nearest secondary neighbour. The two schools share a commitment to academic, co-curricular and pastoral excellence, and have a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ which provides structure and measurability to our partnership working. Broadwater students attend Charterhouse for further and higher education guidance, academic enrichment sessions and exam preparation, and Charterhouse sixth formers visit Broadwater for mentoring sessions to provide academic support. Our teaching staff engage in joint professional development activities through departmental links, including providing the opportunity for Teach First students at Broadwater to do a five-day placement at Charterhouse.

Science & Mathematics Revision Courses

Our excellent science and maths departments run three days of revision courses for around one hundred local GCSE pupils during the Easter holidays, thus better enabling young pupil to achieve their best in public examinations.

St Mark's Church of English Primary School & the Diocese of Guildford 

Charterhouse is proud to be a partner of the Diocese of Guildford. As an Anglican foundation, our Christian values are central to Carthusian life. Our relationship with the Diocese is currently centred on St Mark’s C of E Primary School, Ockford Ridge, supporting co-curricular provision and the school’s Christian ethos. A member of our Senior Leadership Team is on the Diocesan Board of Education.

Digital Technology

Our Digital Pupil Action Committee, supervised by their staff mentor, teach weekly Coding lessons to pupils in our partner schools. This provides knowledge, understanding and skills into technology which is much in demand in the global workplace.

Pond Meadow Special School

Colleagues and students at Charterhouse and Pond Meadow are working together with music and with horticulture. Pupils are teaching and learning about Music Technology as well as establishing a vegetable garden at Pond Meadow.