Forest School was founded in 1834 as part of the charitable work of a group of local dignitaries and opened the white gates in order to educate 22 boys from the local area. In 2020, Forest School set up its Founders’ Day Bursary programme and works closely with the Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation (Springboard) to offer local children access to Forest’s education regardless of their background. Springboard is the UK’s largest bursary charity, helping disadvantaged and vulnerable children access fully funded bursary placements at leading independent schools. The charity has a close historic connection to Forest, having originated as an orphanage in buildings that now form Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Forest School recognises that collaboration with organisations such as Springboard strengthens and improves all who participate. We have strong partnerships with the London Academy of Excellence and the Hackney Empire enabling local children to aspire, achieve and thrive. These partnerships also offer our pupils the opportunity to collaborate with others, to develop and share ideas and expand their horizons.
As part of our distinct all-round educational provision, we are committed to ensuring that all our pupils have the opportunity to participate in activities which have a community focus such as Forest In Action, the School’s community action programme, where Pupils in year 7 commit to working on a community project for two days, learning important skills such as team working and thinking creatively to achieve an objective. We also offer volunteering as part of pupils’ timetabled activities lessons and pupils in the Senior School have the chance to take part in a project across a term or the whole academic year. Last year, pupils painted a mural in a local primary school’s library space and next year, students will be supporting local primary aged pupils with their reading.
We also invite local pupils to some events we host such as author talks and modern foreign language plays to share in the learning experiences our pupils are engaged in which broadens the experience for everyone.
Forest School encourages pupils to be engaged with the wider community through outreach and charitable activities and is proud to be part of its local community.
A summary of our Outreach work can be found here: