Sparrow Schools Visit and Relay the Impact of Alleyn’s Support

May 16th 2024

This week, we had the honour of welcoming Renata Noble from Alleyn's school charity, Sparrow Schools, who visited to strengthen the charity’s bonds with Alleyn’s and discuss the impact of our support. While here, key figures behind our charitable efforts had a chance to connect with Renata, learning about the different programmes being rolled out by the charity, and the impact their support and fundraising is having on the Sparrow Schools mission.

Sparrow Schools, based in Johannesburg, offers specialised education programmes and comprehensive support services to children facing various learning challenges. It’s their vision to support education for disadvantaged children and young people in Johannesburg, South Africa, a vision that is fully endorsed by Alleyn’s.

In her assembly address to Lower School pupils, Renata highlighted the eye-opening challenges that children in Johannesburg face daily. For them, there are several barriers to learning, from cognitive challenges and the impacts of neglect from the education system to the negative influences of growing up in poverty and the resulting de-priositisation of education as families struggle to make ends meet.

Renata discussed the influence of things as simple as play, which we can take for granted, but has a huge impact on a child's development and ability to learn. She described how, when a child is focused on survival, and doesn’t get to play, they don’t develop gross motor skills like core strength and balance. As a result, fine motor skills are stunted, making eye and hand coordination, rhythm and timing, writing, concentration and learning far more difficult.

All these challenges combined speak volumes about the importance of Sparrow Schools' work, who offer more than just remedial education. Sparrow Schools provide a safe space for 8 hours out of a child's day, they provide meals, and they provide the support and opportunities children need to get into education, and eventually, employment. The Sparrow Learning pathway spans from Foundation School (reception) through their Combined Technical Skills School (high school level supporting up to 180 students each year), to Further Education Training for unemployed young people over 18 (500-600 students a year).

Historically, funds raised by Alleyn’s have been put to full use supporting their work, going toward key projects including refurbishing the Sparrow Schools science classroom, supporting the charity to continue operating throughout Covid and building new sports facilities post-covid. Importantly, the funds raised by partners like Alleyn’s have supported the delivery of the crucial educational programmes that Sparrow Schools run, like Catrobatz, which provides a safe, positive and fun-filled way for children to develop their physical abilities, and their Phono-Graphix reading programme.

The work Sparrow Schools is doing is paramount, and truly life changing. They phrase their efforts as a hand up, rather than a handout. Renata described the ripple effect of their work, expressing how having one person in employment can impact on 7 lives immediately around them, which is astonishing but not surprising.

While Sparrow Schools can support up to 250 children in their Foundation School, they currently only have around 160 pupils in their programmes. This reflects the poverty crisis in Johannesburg, where families cannot afford even the small fee to get their children into school. Because of this, Sparrow Schools are currently doing a huge drive on their bursary funding. Their aim is to get as many kids back into school as they possibly can, and our support along with that of other partners, is crucial in achieving this.

Alleyn’s School is proud to support an ongoing partnership with Sparrow Schools. Through the hard work, imagination and determination of our Charity Committee and partnerships team, we will continue to raise funds for school charities in fun and creative ways. Looking ahead, Sparrow Schools and Alleyn’s want to continue to increase their connection, with ideas like the reinstatement of teacher exchanges and piloting a virtual classroom on the table for discussion.

Thanks to Renata for dropping by, and as always, thank you to all the brilliant people who have supported our charitable activity over the years. We look forward to seeing these kinds of relationships continue to strengthen over time as we work toward a better educational future for all.

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