Amersham School, 2018 Open Your Space Award Winners!

Last year BookingsPlus was delighted to launch our inaugural Open Your Space Awards, receiving over 100 nominations from schools, hirers, users and members of the community.  The awards are an acknowledgement of the strong partnerships that are forged between schools and local community hirers.  This year’s awards open on 20th May with the deadline for submission on 25^th October 2019.

The inaugural ‘Open Your Space’ Awards 2018 was won by Amersham School in Buckinghamshire, nominated by the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts.

Sharon Jarrett, Head Teacher of Amersham School, commented: “Since last year, we continue to find improved ways of working with our partners to secure positive outcomes for both the school and our hirers, with a particular consideration of how to best utilise space and storage of resources. We are thrilled to say that we will be investing the money from last year’s award into upgrading our stage facility, with an improved stage floor planned to be completed by September. Our close partnership with the Pauline Quirke Academy continues to evolve, and we are investigating how to increase their use of the school’s facilities throughout the summer vacation. It’s been a fantastic year for Amersham School and we look forward to sharing our facilities with even more of the community.”

Liz Charleston, Principal of Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts explains their experience of working with Amersham School: “We are lucky enough to work in complete partnership with Amersham School. On Saturdays we hold performing arts classes in the school’s dance and drama studios, for members of the local community. We are able to offer the school work experience for its students who are interested in the performing arts, as well as running workshops dedicated to the school’s drama students.

“The partnership works really well – we benefit from the use of excellent facilities, whilst supporting the school by providing classes that help students to develop vital communications skills, which, given the demands of the curriculum, the school might not otherwise have the capacity to teach. We are thrilled to be working with Amersham School in this way.”

The Awards has a cash prize of £8,000, and recognises those schools that are exceptional in building lasting partnerships with their local community.

Nominations are invited from all secondary schools who are doing great things in their community by partnering with local groups, clubs and charities. To nominate your chosen school, an entry form must be completed including a description of the partnership in no more than 100 words.

To enter a school and community partnership in to this year’s Awards, click here.