Shaftesbury High School is celebrating the arrival of a 17-seater Sunshine Coach with a wheelchair-lift, which will, over its 15-year lifespan, enable over 500 pupils to enjoy practical outdoor learning and educational experiences.

Variety, the Children’s Charity, is delighted to announce this special milestone, which marks the first of five Sunshine Coaches generously pledged as part of our new partnership with The Inflexion Foundation.

Over the next three years, Variety and The Inflexion Foundation will make an immediate difference by providing urgent, practical support to an additional 1,000 disadvantaged and disabled children across the UK. We simply couldn’t achieve this without The Inflexion Foundation’s commitment of £500,000.

A warm welcome from Shaftesbury High  

Shaftesbury High School is a specialist secondary school that serves over 185 children with a range of learning difficulties aged 11-19, with almost half receiving pupil premium and free school meals.

Their sixth form provides an ambitious and comprehensive curriculum which includes a range of qualifications, as well as work experience and life skills training that prepares students for their future, as they transition to adulthood.

The brand-new Sunshine Coach will equip Shaftesbury High School to accommodate their increasing intake of pupils with complex needs, as well as pupils who require use of a wheelchair.

Deborah Stone, Community Engagement Manager at Shaftesbury High School, said: “We are extremely grateful to both Variety and the Inflexion Foundation for providing us with a new Sunshine Coach.

As a special needs school, we will be using the Sunshine Coach daily as part of our hugely popular and successful enrichment programme, enabling us to take more and more students out on school trips and into the community.

To quote from our recent Outstanding Ofsted report: ‘Shaftesbury offers exceptional personal development through experiences like local community visits, travel training and work placements. These opportunities help pupils grow in their understanding of the local area and beyond and support their readiness for adulthood’.

The new Sunshine Coach will be used to build on and further develop the above.”

A milestone moment 

In recognition of our vital partnership, Variety CEO, Laurence Guinness was delighted to welcome our special guests from The Inflexion Foundation, Sarah Gestetner and Marcus Ward, alongside the Mayor of Harrow, Ajana Patel, to celebrate the wonderful occasion.

Together they enjoyed a tour of the school as they learned more about the life-changing impact of their support from the pupils and faculty.

Sarah Gestetner, Partner from the Inflexion Foundation, said: “We were delighted to attend the Variety Sunshine Coach presentation at Shaftesbury High School on behalf of the Inflexion Foundation. The afternoon offered a wonderful opportunity to meet pupils, teachers and governors first-hand.

It was an inspiring experience and an invaluable chance to learn more about the school community and their exciting plans for their new Sunshine Coach.

We look forward to following the school’s progress and hearing all about the many adventures and learning opportunities the Coach will help make possible.”

Laurence Guinness, CEO of Variety, the Children’s Charity, said:

“The Inflexion Foundation’s generous support will have a profound impact, enabling us to reach even more children with the practical tools they need to thrive. This partnership will help transform the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children, providing them with greater independence, better opportunities and the chance to feel truly included.

By supporting this life-changing programme, you are driving change to create brighter futures. Given that over 600,000 disabled children live in poverty, the support from The Inflexion Foundation is vital.

We are delighted to be launching what will be one of five life-changing Sunshine Coaches. These are invaluable community assets that have never been more urgently needed for the communities that we serve.

“From the bottom of our hearts we applaud and thank the Inflexion Foundation for everything you do for children.”