A United Approach to COVID-19

Whilst schools were temporarily closed, we continued to do everything we could to provide a high-quality education to our pupils. Comprehensive plans were in place for home learning and we utilised the best technologies to maintain as much contact time as possible.

As part of an established group of independent schools in United Learning, we are benefiting from a wider team to support this. The sharing of best practice, ideas and innovation is something we have always been committed to – and is particularly important in unprecedented times like these.

We are in constant conversations with colleagues across our Group around the best and most successful approaches to distance learning. Our aim is always to be responsive and continuously improve, taking the advice of our network of experts. This ranges from identifying the safest and most effective home learning channels, to implementing subject-specific guidance.

We also fully understand that these are difficult times for parents and, as a group of independent schools, United Learning is committed to helping ease the burden on parents who are facing sudden financial problems due to the impact of COVID-19 on their working or personal lives.

As well as committing to reductions in funding, United Learning has therefore created a £4million COVID-19 Hardship Fund which will be used to assist those families across our Group’s independent schools who have been most severely impacted on by the current situation. For further details of this, please contact the School Office.

United Learning is one of the most established schools groups in the country.

With a history of running independent schools dating back over 130 years, United Learning now comprises 44 state academies and 13 independent schools across England. These include Guildford High School, Surbiton High School, Ashford School and Dunottar School.

As part of United Learning, pupils and staff have access to an impressive range of Group-wide activities, personal and professional development that no stand-alone school could offer. However, we do not believe that ‘one size fits all’ in any aspect of our work; each of our schools is unique in how it operates.

It is our aim to provide excellent education to all the children and young people we serve. Learning should be enjoyable; it should be challenging but fun, ambitious but specifically tailored to each pupil’s ability and aspirations.

As a group of schools working in partnership, there are clear, tangible benefits to children. Our focus on evidence, evaluation and the refinement of practice allows the Group’s support to be highly effective. We are a learning organisation which seeks constantly to improve, looking outwards to draw on the very best practice available, whilst also supporting the development of all colleagues.