Free Saturday morning courses for girls and boys in Years 5-6

Withington Girls’ School has organised and delivered a successful, community-focused series of Saturday School courses since 2007.

The WGS SHiNE Together educational programme is aimed at able students in Years 5 and 6 at maintained primary schools in and around south Manchester. The aim is to increase pupils’ love of learning, boost self-esteem in the classroom, and provide opportunities for academic growth and development.

The programme provides, free of charge, specialist teaching in a range of courses. There is some variation from year to year, and subjects on offer have included Art, Science, Computing, Creative Writing, Design & Food Technology, Classics, Spanish, Drama and Music. In normal times, girls and boys from local state primary schools are invited to come to Withington on a Saturday morning to take part in this exciting programme of themed courses, however 2021 was somewhat different due to the pandemic, and the programme was delivered online. We also offered pupils interested in science and engineering the opportunity to take part in an independent project which led to a Bronze Crest Award. This year, we will return to running the programme face to face in school.

The programme is coordinated by Withington colleagues Mrs Amanda Collard and Mrs Natalie Baguley who organise the wide choice of topics which are delivered by specialist Withington teachers, supported by WGS Sixth Formers.

Applications for this programme are managed between the applicants’ Headteacher and our SHiNE Together Coordinators and are now closed.

Read our Impact Report 2021

Our 2021/22 courses: