Community Partnerships

Normanhurst School and The Oak-Tree Group of Schools are actively committed to supporting local and national organisations to create a positive impact in our community. We strive to enrich and inspire our neighbours through charity days, volunteering and sporting collaborations.

Through our charity partners our pupils gain insightful first-hand experience with various issues, motivating them to drive change within their community.

Normanhurst Pupils visit The Spinney Care Home

Our pupils in Years 3 and 4 recently enjoyed a very special visit to The Spinney Care Home, where they spent time with residents playing a lively game of ‘balloon tennis’. There was plenty of laughter as they worked together to keep the balloons in the air.

After the games, the pupils sat with residents to talk and learn more about their lives. They listened with great interest as stories were shared about families, holidays, and memories from earlier times. It was a wonderful opportunity for the pupils to hear first-hand experiences and gain a deeper appreciation of the residents’ lives and histories.

The pupils showed remarkable kindness, patience, and genuine enthusiasm throughout the visit. Their teachers were very proud of them, and they were excellent ambassadors for the school. Normanhurst look forward to visiting again soon.

Highams Park Food Bank Visit

Our Year 7 pupils visited The Hub Food Bank in Highams Park to learn more about where donated food goes and how it supports individuals and families within the local community. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to see real-life volunteering in action.

Pupils gained insight into the day-to-day running of a food bank, including how donations are collected, sorted, checked, and packed before being distributed. They met volunteers and learned about the vital role they play, seeing first-hand how teamwork, compassion, and community spirit are at the heart of the service. They also discovered that The Hub works in partnership with a zero-waste organisation, ensuring that surplus food is redistributed to other food banks where it is needed most, helping to reduce waste and support wider communities.

The pupils also experienced the process of packing a food parcel alongside volunteers, gaining a deeper understanding of the practical support provided to those in need. They were respectful throughout and represented the school as excellent ambassadors.

The Oak-Tree Group Sporting Collaborations

As a group, we enjoy working with local partners including a variety of sports clubs and facilities. We are open to suggestions for further collaboration, within the limits of the Group’s resources.

Our schools make use of multiple sports facilities in the area including Epping Tennis Club and The Connaught Club.

‘We can never fully express how much your assistance means to our hard-working team of volunteers – thank you from the bottom of our hearts!’

Loughton Cricket Club