Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership launch event

On Tuesday 17 September, St Michael's Catholic College played host to this year’s Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership (SSLP) Welcome Event. The evening brought together teachers, school leaders, and all staff from across our partnership.

The event offered the opportunity to learn more about what the SSLP does, meet the new SSLP team, and network with colleagues from other member schools. With a packed calendar already taking shape, the evening set a positive tone for a year filled with exciting collaborations.

We were privileged to welcome two inspirational guest speakers:

• Margaret Hannuball, Director of Programmes and Research at the Schools Partnership Alliance, spoke powerfully about why cross-sector partnerships matter, highlighting the mutual enrichment and wider educational benefits they bring.
• Tiffany Philipsen-Allen, Assistant Head (Co-curricular and Community) at Streatham & Clapham High School, explored how independent and state school partnerships can remain sustainable, and why it is vital to nurture these relationships long-term.

One of the standout moments of the evening was a series of impressive and highly professional student presentations. Eight students from three schools shared outcomes from the Student Voice AI Project, a major initiative from the last academic year. Their insight, clarity, and confidence were a testament to the power of student-led collaboration.

The SSLP team shared key dates for upcoming events already in the diary and encouraged member schools to get involved.

Here’s to another fantastic year of collaboration.

About the SSLP

The Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership (SSLP) is a unique collaboration between 18 state and independent schools based in, and around, the London Borough of Southwark. The SSLP has two co-directors representing the independent and state schools - Mr Robert Milne, Master of Dulwich College, and Marcus Huntley, Principal at The Charter School Bermondsey.