SSAT

SSAT — CONSOLIDATING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN SPONSORS AND SCHOOLS

Corporate sponsors, trusts and foundations have always played an integral role in bringing a wealth of experience, skills, and of course funding, to schools and education through the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT).

Now, more than ever, there is a move to encourage a greater spirit of collaboration and joint working between sponsors and schools, and the SSAT has always been well placed to facilitate, nurture and consolidate these partnerships.

Ever focused on the need to equip young people with the lifeskills they will need to contribute as members of the future workforce, the SSAT has focused its activity over the years to foster long-term commitment from sponsors to education.

As the lead body supporting the government’s very successful specialist schools programme, the SSAT has enabled approximately 2,700 schools to be fortunate recipients of sponsor funding and support that has enriched the curriculum, raised attainment and greatly enhanced the life chances and aspirations of young people throughout England.

The focus for the future is for sponsors to raise educational standards further.  One way of doing this is through the SSAT’s pioneering ‘Employer Engagement at Redesignation Scheme’, which channels sponsors’ expertise, dynamism and innovation. This initiative links sponsors and schools in mutually beneficial formal partnerships that will enable sponsors to contribute to:

• Curriculum involvement, including extra-curricular activities
• Mentoring teachers or students
• Governing-body involvement
• Mentoring a member of a school’s senior leadership team
• Diploma support.

The key purpose of the Employer Engagement at Re-designation Scheme is to harness sponsor support and commitment to schools with a view to supporting the development of high-quality, long-lasting and properly constituted partnerships that rekindle relationships forged at initial designation or create new ones.  In return, participating sponsors will enjoy a range of benefits, including integrated corporate social responsibility programmes through to staff development and learning opportunities.

The SSAT also runs a number of other schemes for sponsors, including sponsorship for aspiring and designated specialist schools, a primary specialist schools pilot and trust schools.

If you would like to learn more about the SSAT, any of these schemes or how you could get involved as a sponsor, please contact Nick Ryan, Head of Development, on 020 7802 2333 or email nick.ryan@ssatrust.org.uk.