Ian Mikardo High School

Recently, TV documentaries following British school life have been wildly popular, with Educating Yorkshire, Essex and now the East End all capturing the nation’s attention and hearts. So, we were genuinely delighted to see that the outstanding Ian Mikardo School is now getting its turn in the spotlight. In a two part series that debuted on Channel 5 on the 29th September, we’ll get a chance to follow the day-to-day happenings of this pioneering institution. The school holds a special place in our heart as guardian Jasmine is a dedicated trustee and spends hours every month working on varied and creative fundraising ideas.

A last chance for boys aged 11-16 who have been deemed unteachable; the Ian Mikardo School offers something very different from the traditional educational system. There are no rules, no uniforms and no punishments. A much-loved rescue dog called McFlurry roams the corridors and staff and students are all on first name terms. And it seems to work – they’ve won three Ofsted Outstanding School awards and 97% of the students go onto further education.

To help pay for all the services that the local authority simply can’t afford to cover, the school set up Friends of Ian Mikardo High School, a registered charity with a board of brilliant trustees on which our guardian Jasmine sits. They fundraise to support the vital services that give these boys, many who have behavioural difficulties and complex backgrounds, a second chance at life.

They’re currently looking for a brand new trustee to join their team. They meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 6pm in Canary Wharf. So, if you’re inspired by the great work you’ve seen in the programme, are keen to proactively fundraise and could spare a few hours of your time every month they would love to hear from you. Full details can be found here and the closing date for applications is the 31st October.