Our vision at Tong High School is to be the heartbeat of a powerful network in which everyone involved thrives on the challenge to improve and get better every day. Quality, organic, influential networks and partnerships can be the route to the success of schools and students.

At Tong we have been building our powerful network for the past few years. Our local, national and international partnerships are mutually beneficial and positively influence the achievement of all students, staff and our wider community.

There have been many benefits for children and young people arisen through our networks, but the poignant moment for me is when a child realises their aspirations and has the confidence to know that it can become a reality.

As a school we play a vital role in building and creating a powerful network.  Not all children and young people are fortunate enough to come from families who have personal networks which allow doors to open. 

'It's not just about what you know... it's about who you know!'

We are acutely aware that in the current economic climate, our students need to be more competitive than ever before to get the best jobs and the best places at college and university.  Our commitment to maximising the academic achievement of all our students is matched by our drive to provide our students with the type of cutting edge experiences and links to networks which will help them stand out from the crowd when entering the jobs market or applying to university.

Building these partnerships and networks have already enhanced opportunities and allowed students from our community to realise their full potential.

In November 2013, Deloitte announced the launch of a new relationship with Tong High School.  

Working with Teach First, Deloitte sponsor students from Tong High School to take part in the charity's award-winning HEAPS (Higher Education Access Programme for Schools) initiative - a mentoring programme aimed at supporting and inspiring increasing numbers of students to be more ambitious, informed and successful in the choices that they make for their future. Six students from Tong High School Sixth Form have been matched with a Deloitte mentor from the Leeds practice who will support them throughout sixth form as they consider their options for their future.

These mentors ensure that pupils on the programme are getting access to advice and opportunities whilst inspiring them to achieve the best possible grades.

In addition to supporting the HEAPS students, the Deloitte Leeds office will be working with Tong High School to scope further opportunities to support the school, likely to include workshops on core employability skills like CV writing and interviewing.  The Deloitte Leeds office will use the firm's staff to support students as they develop the skills needed to access the best possible opportunities after their education; whether that is help applying to attend university or entering the professions.

In February 2014, Tong High School won the Schools Category of the Micro-Tyco enterprise challenge mentored by staff from the Deloitte Leeds office and school staff.  The school was also third in the overall competition having generated £3657.06 from a £1 investment from the WildHearts charity.

Helen Kaye, CSR and Global Employer Services partner at Deloitte, says: "We are proud to make use of the full spectrum of our firm's capabilities to encourage the development of students at Tong High School."

Deloitte have already established a very positive and fruitful working relationship with Tong High School and we will continue to build a long lasting relationship which will overtime provide some practical steps to achieving aspirations, pathways to employment and realising and releasing potential.

Providing practical steps to achieving aspirations, pathways to employment...

...and realising and releasing potential.

We are committed to continue to embed a set of common values that successfully bring together such a diverse set of partners as one community, building a network and powerful group of people whose levels of expertise, confidence and passion can ensure students achieve levels of academic achievement far in excess of national norms.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.