Partnership & Community Engagement (PCE)

Our award-winning programme of Partnership and Community Engagement (PCE) is central to a Shrewsbury education.

All pupils and staff benefit from the experience of caring for and connecting with others, and developing a strong sense of social responsibility.

We believe that it is important for the School to play its part in striving for a fairer society and to improve the life chances of children beyond the immediate community of Shrewsbury School. We share opportunities and experiences and gain learning through mutually supportive partnerships. By exchanging ideas and good educational practice, we play a part in improving outcomes for all children. By widening access, and removing barriers to entry, we create a more diverse pupil population at Shrewsbury School. Through partnerships, we learn about ourselves and others.

Through a broad and evolving programme of community engagement, we contribute to the betterment of the society of which we are part. In a political climate that increasingly questions the social value of independent schools, our actions speak louder than words.

These pages are both a summary of the vibrant programme we are delivering - and a call to action as we commit to developing this programme in the years to come.

The Shrewsbury School community dedicates enormous time and energy to the development and maintenance of strong and meaningful partnerships.

We aim to share expertise and resource, and to harness our enthusiasms for mutual benefit. This work is at the heart of our pupils’ experience, integral to ‘The Salopian Way’ and ‘Floreat’ - truly an education for life.

It is a source of quiet, but genuine pride that we were joint winners of the 2020 Independent School of the Year Award for Community Outreach. Our most recent ISI Inspection Report from 2024 awarded us the rare accolade of having ‘a significant strength’ for our PCE work. This year we were shortlisted for the Education Choices Award for working with local charities. All of this is testament to the brilliant work done by our pupils and our staff in close collaboration with valued partners in education, youth work and the wider community including a wide range of charities.

Partnerships are stronger than ever in the town and across the county and, since the last edition of this booklet, we have co-designed and delivered, with Packwood, an exciting and mutually beneficial educational programme with Alpha Academies Trust in Stoke and have established strong ties with Restart Africa in Kenya. Historic relations with ‘The Shewsy’ in Everton, dating back to 1903, continue to be treasured and actively nurtured.

As you read through this booklet, I hope you will get a flavour of the value and impact of our partnership work across all areas of School life.

As you read through this booklet, I hope you will get a flavour of the value and impact of our partnership work across all areas of School life.