Hampshire school reaches out into community: Find out how The Portsmouth Grammar School inspires in education

A journalism workshop at Portsmouth Grammar School was led by Mark Waldron, Editor-in-Chief at The News. Submitted picture

From geography workshops to music events, journalism days to art, The Portsmouth Grammar School is committed to ensuring it is accessible to all in the community – not just its pupils and parents.

Reflecting the ambition of its Founder, Dr William Smith in 1732, The Portsmouth Grammar School aims to inspire and engage children to learn, and not only the children that attend the school.

“It is important that we have a strong connection to the city,” says David Wickes, Head of PGS. “It’s part of our identity and home to many of our pupils. My aim is to make the school accessible to all – that could be through attending as a pupil, visiting for an event or working with us to establish programmes to benefit the city.”

The school held a Gifted & Talented event for Year 5 pupils at local schools. Six local primaries were invited to nominate pupils to join three days of academically enriching activities.

Portsmouth Grammar School aims to inspire and engage children to learn. Submitted picture

Julie Jackson, Assistant Head (Admissions & Partnerships) at PGS, said activities included science, geography, design technology, and art.

“The aim is to allow them to build on what they have learnt in school and to extend their knowledge. We also want them to have fun, which they certainly seemed to,” she said.

And the youngsters seemed to agree, with Sarah, a pupil at Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School saying she loved that the lessons were fun and different from the norm.

Debra from Cottage Grove Primary School echoed this saying: “The lessons were really fun and they taught me new things.”

Gareth Hemmings, Director of Music, leads a workshop. Submitted picture

“If these children apply to PGS for Senior School, we’ll invite them to come to workshops to prepare for the 11+ entrance assessments,” continues Julie Jackson. “This is part of our new Club 1732 initiative to help support and encourage applicants from local schools.”

But this outreach is not just for academic activities. A music partnership was organised Portsmouth Cathedral to take singing to local primary schools. Staff from PGS and the cathedral and choristers, worked with 500 pupils from schools Emsworth, Portsmouth and on the Isle of Wight in singing workshops.

Gareth Hemmings, Director of Music at PGS, said: “We taught them singing techniques and a variety of songs that were then performed to their parents. It was a valuable experience for everyone.”

A journalism workshop was held thanks to English teacher Ms Bryony Hart, from PGS, who worked with Portsmouth Education Partnership. The event, involving Year 7 pupils from six primary schools, took part in the event led by Mark Waldron, Editor-in-Chief at The News.

“We learnt a lot, so it has been fun,” said Luca and May, both PGS pupils. “We learnt about the fantastic opportunities open for us and the exciting elements of reporting. We wrote about bursaries, the financial aid for students to attend PGS.”

Bryony Hart said the response was great. “It worked so well that we hope to build on it in the future.”

“We are based in a diverse and vibrant city,” David Wickes concludes. “I love to see new people come through our arch and into our school to experience the excitement and enthusiasm for learning that we aim to create.”

To find out more about The Portsmouth Grammar School, visit www.pgs.org.uk