Stadium plays host to unique summer school for local young people

• Students from across Haringey given unique learning experience at Club’s iconic stadium
• Summer school delivered by Highgate School, in partnership with the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham, for students most affected by prolonged school closures due to COVID-19
• Nominated by their teachers, participating students have taken part in a range of activities to crucially prepare them for the transition into Year 11 next month
• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been used extensively by its local community throughout the pandemic, also hosting hospital services, drive-through COVID testing and a food distribution hub

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has played host to a unique learning experience for students from across Haringey who have been most affected by prolonged school closures due to COVID-19.

The programme has been delivered throughout the week by Highgate School, in partnership with the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham (LAET) - a state-funded Sixth Form based within the Club’s stadium development scheme.

It is aimed to provide some of the Borough’s most economically-disadvantaged students, many of whom receive free school meals, with additional learning during a key stage of their education.

The initiative has given participating students, nominated by their teachers, the opportunity to crucially learn within a school environment for the first time since March before transitioning into Year 11 next month.

Throughout the week, students have been able to catch up on tutorials in core academic subjects with the help of expert teaching from Highgate and LAET, and take part in careers and employability workshops and sessions designed to introduce them to new skills and hobbies, including textile craft and circus skills, with the ultimate goal of identifying strategies that support wellbeing.

The visit to Tottenham Hotspur saw the students split into teams to debate key social issues affecting their daily lives, such as the planned re-opening of schools, policing and drug culture.

The session took place within the stadium’s Market Place - a huge street-food emporium that has proven popular with fans on a matchday.

Adam Pettitt, Head of Highgate School, said: “It has been wonderful to see pupils at Highgate and LAET this week who are clearly so happy to be back at school. The turnout has been phenomenal and every day the pupils are choosing to be here in their summer holiday and are engaging fully in academic life - brushing up on old skills and learning new ones.

"We know that this will make a huge difference to their readiness to be back in their own schools in September and our teachers and staff are also thrilled to be back in the classroom again - doing what they do best - teaching rich and inspiring lessons to real live pupils!”

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been used extensively by the local community throughout the pandemic:
• Large areas were transformed to host North Middlesex University Hospital’s Women’s Outpatient Services - freeing up much-needed capacity at the main hospital and supporting the safe redirection of pregnant women. Over 41,500 appointments were delivered at the stadium between April and July
• Haringey Council delivered a food distribution hub from the stadium’s ‘pitch pocket’, serving some of the most vulnerable members of the community during lockdown
• Daily drive-through COVID-19 testing continues to take place within the stadium’s basement car park

Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “The Club is rooted within its local community and we are pleased to have been able to offer our stadium for a number of different uses during the current pandemic.

“We have always placed a huge amount of importance on the education of our local young people and have been delighted to support Highgate School and LAET in providing this unique opportunity to students who need it most at such a crucial time.”