The ‘Social Mobility’ category aims to celebrate independent schools that have made inspirational and decisive contributions to upward social mobility within their community. Read Streatham & Clapham High School’s entry to see how they secured a finalist spot in this category in our 2021 Independent Schools of the Year awards.

Our vision at Streatham & Clapham High School is to be unrivalled in empowering young people to discover, nurture and project their unique identities and character. This is a vision that extends beyond our school gates to all. Through our partnership projects, we aim to build the skills, character and confidence that will ultimately lead to social mobility.

Firstly, we provide academic opportunities. GCSE subjects, such as Additional Mathematics and Classical Civilisation, continue to be elitist as they are disproportionately offered by schools in the independent sector. Our school has sought to address this inequality of educational opportunity in the local community by widening access to these subjects. Pupils from 4 local maintained schools study GCSE Additional Mathematics and GCSE Classical Civilisation alongside our pupils in weekly twilight lessons and despite the pandemic, these lessons have continued online, providing access to the usual 70 pupils to the same excellent Guided Home Learning experience that has been afforded to our pupils.

By the quick pivot online during the first lockdown, our Year 1...