York Racecourse opened up a new world to the children
How our charity partnership broadened pupils’ horizons
York is an affluent city, but our school is in an area of deprivation, and as a headteacher I’m always looking for ways of broadening our pupils’ horizons. When our team heard that York Racecourse had a local charity partnership scheme, we thought it could be an opportunity to give the children an insight into a world they would otherwise never have access to.
We put in a bid from our Friends of School Fund, which is a registered charity, and were thrilled to be chosen two years in a row. The partnership includes a cash sum of £1,000, plus the opportunity to shake our collection buckets at one of the race meets, which brings in about another £3,000.
But even more valuable are the experiences the children have had as a result of the partnership. One of the highlights has been the Year 6 pupils dressing up for the Dante Festival, which marks the start of the racing season each year. They enjoy a VIP tour where they can see the jockey Frankie Dettori’s signature on the changing room wall. They don jockey silks, step onto the weighing scales and race each other up and down the track. We also select children to interview the jockeys in the parade ring.
I’ve struck up a strong relationship with the racecourse’s community officer, Amy Swales, and we’ve been able to craft the way the partnership works. We wanted to use it as an opportunity for the children to learn about different careers, so we agreed that Year 6pupils would spend the day meeting the various teams of people who work at the racecourse.
The children met the catering team and learnt how to do silver service; they also spoke to the grounds team to find out how they look after the racecourse environment. The grounds team later visited the school and helped pupils build a bug hotel, and racecourse staff came in on their volunteering day to put in a new science garden for the school.
Every September, an ex-champion racehorse called Remy visits us from New Beginnings, a retraining facility for former racehorses. The children gather in the field for an assembly with Remy, and then meet him and ask his carers questions. We are also preparing to take 30 disadvantaged pupils to the New Beginnings stables.
The partnership with the racecourse has been so successful that they have decided to make it ongoing. It’s something other businesses could really learn from–working with a local school is incredibly positive publicity.
What it’s taught me is to be cheeky and ask for things. For example, local business Betty’s Tea Rooms recently paid for a coach for the Reception pupils to visit a farm, and a local church is donating money to transport our choir to concerts. There is money out there, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
- Nicola Adams, headteacher, Clifton Green Primary School, York (423 pupils)
- ‘Our pupils wanted to start a radio station’
- How to make a video for grant applications
- ‘Volunteers built our outdoor classroom’