Commit to Change
The world's local bankHSBC Family of Schools
HSBC has supported a large number of schools in England with funding for a variety of aims and projects. These schools are then invited to join the HSBC Family of Schools (Family schools). Currently, 150 schools in England are Family schools, over 100 of which were supported by HSBC in their bid for specialist school status.
(NB If you are seeking funding, click here to follow our quick reference flow chart and determine if your project might meet our criteria.)
The benefits of being a Family school include:
- Having an HSBC employee become an HSBC Sponsor Governor;
- The chance for students at the school to participate in the Voyage of Achievement;
- The opportunity to take part in the British Council/HSBC's China programme, including the Mandarin Speaking Competition;
- Networking and business opportunities for head teachers and school governors.
To read more about some of the ways in which HSBC has supported Family schools, click below.
Specialist schools were introduced in England 20 years ago and there is strong evidence that students who attend specialist schools (aged 11-18) attain higher test scores. All schools must comply with the national curriculum but specialist schools provide higher levels or a greater diversity of courses in a particular area - for example, sports or languages. This network of specialist schools is coordinated by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, which is partly funded by the Department for Skills and Education. The English government has set 2008 as the target date by which all schools should become specialist schools or academies.
HSBC has given support to more than 100 schools so far to help them achieve specialist status, mostly in the areas of languages, sport, and business.
Academies differ from specialist schools in that they create an innovative partnership between a school that is performing poorly and a sponsor to greatly improve the quality of education provided by the school. Capital costs are met by private sponsors and government grants while the running costs are provided in full by the Department for Skills and Education. The English government aims to have 200 academies up and running or under construction in England by 2010.
HSBC is currently supporting two academies:
- Sandwell Academy (West Bromwich) - this academy opened in September 2006 and has 1,200 students. It specialises in sport and business enterprise.
- Belvedere Academy (Liverpool) - this girls' school will open in September 2007 and provide extended educational opportunities to its students. Belvedere will specialise in modern foreign languages and science.
