Links Outside School

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (AGGS) has been central to the community for almost a century. Relationships with the local and wider community are key to its success. The school recognises its responsibilities towards the wider community and appreciates the diverse ways in which those relationships enrich school life. The school constantly reassesses and develops links in order to promote mutual understanding and to provide valuable experiences and insight for both the school and the wider community.

B Parents

A parents’ evening is arranged once a year for each year group where parents and pupils have the opportunity to discuss progress with academic and pastoral staff.
Parents receive a written report on their child’s progress once a year as well as an interim report.
The school may invite parents in to discuss a child’s welfare and progress; parents may make appointments with the headmistress, the director of pupil and student development, senior tutors or other staff.
The very active Parent Teachers Association holds regular meetings and raises considerable sums of money for the benefit of the pupils.
The Parents’ Forum meets regularly to discuss relevant issues.
Parents form the Publicity Focus Group, led by a member of the associate staff.
At intervals, the school distributes a questionnaire to parents in order to gain their views on a range of issues.
Parents are invited to information evenings on a variety of subjects.
Parents are kept informed of news, events and developments through letters, the weekly bulletin, the website and various school publications.

C Governors

Governors meet regularly as a body or in sub-committees. They provide the headmistress and school with guidance, support and challenge.

D Contributory Schools

The year 7 senior tutor and other members of staff visit contributory schools in the summer term to meet prospective pupils and their teachers. Individual needs are discussed along with problems which could affect settling into year 7. In the second half of the summer term there is a new year 7 induction day and a new year 7 parents’ evening.

E Receiving Institutions

Two members of staff have specific responsibilities for preparing girls for university entry; building relationships with universities is an increasingly important aspect of the school’s work. Representatives from universities participate in sessions on opportunities at 18+ and give talks on their areas of expertise. Students visit universities, and representatives from further and higher education institutions participate in the school’s biennial careers convention. The school holds an annual higher education information evening for parents and students.

F Open Evenings

An Open Evening is organised annually for parents with children in primary schools both within and outside Trafford. An Open Evening is also arranged annually for the benefit of our own year 11 pupils and their parents as well as prospective sixth formers from other schools and their parents.

G Collaborative Outreach

The school is a National Support School and the headmistress is a National Leader of Education in recognition of the variety of support AGGS gives to other schools. AGGS is also in a soft federation with Stretford Grammar School. Through the Language College there is considerable collaboration with Trafford primary schools and two secondary schools in modern foreign languages (see below). Through Training School there is considerable collaboration with universities on teacher training and other training programmes (see below).
The school runs the Support Staff (admin) Forum on behalf of the LA; many staff
represent the school on a number of local and national forums. The school also enjoys good relationships with the local community e.g. Friends of Denzell Gardens.

H Outside Agencies

A variety of agencies support the school’s work on a regular basis or can be called upon when advice or intervention is required e.g. Connexions, Social Services, Relate, Educational Welfare Officer, Educational Psychologist, Nurse. The school can also put parents and girls in touch with appropriate agencies.

I Language College

AGGS staff have considerable input into the KS2 Languages strategy by leading and supporting the teaching of languages in primary schools within Trafford. A member of staff also co-ordinates the Greater Manchester Early Language Learning Regional Support Group. A local high school and a special school are also supported by AGGS staff.
A programme of after-school and evening classes is offered to the wider community; participants study languages up to A level standard or enjoy shorter, more informal, language courses.
The school has also established successful relationships with schools in other parts of the world e.g. Germany, France, Japan, South Africa, China and, through the Comenius programme, with a number of schools in Europe. AGGS holds full International School status (run by the British Council for DCSF).

J Training School

Through Training School status AGGS has developed its Initial Teacher Training commitment, taking trainees from all stages of their training. AGGS staff also give presentations to trainees and to teachers from other schools engaged in ITT at MMU. The Director of Specialisms is also a member of MMU’s MFL PGCE consultative group.
The school accepts students from Manchester University on the Student Associate Scheme and provides a “contrasting placement” for trainees on the Teach First programme.

From September 2008 the school has been a residency for the Future Leaders programme. The school offers a number of potential teachers observation opportunities and short placements throughout the year and often responds positively to requests from other schools for placements for graduate trainees.
AGGS set up and administers the Associate Staff forum on behalf of the LA and is investigating organising a forum for Foreign Language Assistants.
The school regularly welcomes parties of visitors from other countries who wish to see at first hand how the English education system works and to share ideas and experiences.
The Collaborative Outreach sub-committee oversees and develops the school’s community involvement.

K The World of Work

Through the PSHE and Citizenship programmes representatives of various agencies and businesses contribute to the education of all pupils. Staff in subject areas often arrange visits for pupils and invite in speakers to emphasise the application of their subjects in a wider context. The Enterprise Initiative focuses on problem solving, risk taking and participation.
All year 10 pupils spend one week in the summer term on work experience and many sixth formers engage in work experience or community service.
Year 12 students studying a foreign language have the opportunity to gain work experience in another country.
We have had great success over the years with the Young Enterprise Scheme which attracts a good deal of interest among our sixth formers. Many employers attend our biennial careers convention for upper school pupils.
Staff from Connexions work with AGGS staff to ensure that girls are properly informed and advised on their future education and career plans.

L Charities

The school has a long tradition of charitable giving. A year 11 committee co-ordinates fundraising activities and donations benefit various charities. Pupils, staff and parents have raised considerable amounts to support the development of our partner school in South Africa and to sponsor pupils there.

M Music, Dance, Drama and Sport

Many pupils participate in team and individual sporting activities to the highest level. Netball and hockey teams are consistently very successful and have been national champions. Many pupils travel in this country and abroad to perform and the school regularly welcomes visiting teams from other countries.
AGGS is noted for the extremely high standard of its music, drama and dance performances which draw enthusiastic audiences. The school has collaborated successfully with various organisations e.g. orchestras and theatre groups, so that girls can work with and learn from highly talented professionals.

N Clubs, Societies and Competitions

Many pupils take advantage of AGGS’ rich extracurricular programme of activities and clubs; societies welcome visitors and speakers who contribute to pupils’ learning and enjoyment. Girls are also encouraged to enter competitions, either individually or in teams, which allows them to pit their knowledge and skills against those of their peers and to work collaboratively.

O Publicity

The school publicises its work to the wider community through its website and through various publications such as the weekly bulletin, the specialisms’ magazine ‘Linguavox’, the school magazine, ‘Crunch’ and ‘UR Voice’. A member of the associate staff has responsibility for ensuring that the schools’ achievements are featured in the press.

This policy has been evaluated with direct reference to issues of equality and diversity (see Equality and Diversity Policy).