MEMBERSNEWS
The Norton Knatchbull School - A Level
Results August 2014
Students, parents and staff at the Norton Knatchbull School gathered to celebrate their A level results. In total, our students achieved 22% A* or A grades, and 50% A*, A or B grades. Our overall pass rate was 99.7%. The vast majority of our students will continue their studies at university and have already received firm offers of a place. The average point score per student was 847.94. There are a number of students whose achievements are exceptional across all A2 subjects they studied, and who therefore deserve particular praise: Callum Shaw achieved A* grades in Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and English Literature; Christy Varghese achieved A* grades in Mathematics and Psychology and two A grades in Biology and Chemistry; Ryan Cherry also achieved A* grades in Sociology and Psychology, an A grade in Physical Education and a C grade in Biology; Justin Bean achieved an A* grade in Geography and A grades in Fine Art, Mathematics and Physics; Edward Potter achieved an A* grade in Psychology and A grades in Sociology, Music and Chemistry; Shanice Evans achieved an A* grade in Sociology, B grades in English Language and Literature, Government and Politics and Psychology, and a B grade in the AQA Extended Project.
Ms Staab, Headteacher, congratulates Christy Varghese on his excellent results
In addition to the above, the following students must be congratulated for gaining an A* grade in one of the A2 subjects they studied: Harry Middleton (Government and Politics); Christopher Morley (English Literature); Maisie Newman (Sociology); Michael Parrett (Mathematics); Oliver Potter (Chemistry); Aidan Shell (Psychology); George Tickner (Russian). At AS level, there were many strong results, too. The following students deserve particular praise for gaining A grades in all four subjects they studied: Samuel Barkaway, Michael Ciccone, Daniel Curry, Mohit Dhiman, Charles Mearles-Pay, James O’Donoghue and Daniel Pallant.
Mrs Silvester, English teacher, is delighted with the achievement of her student Temidayo Banwo
Ryan Cherry and Callum Shaw are very pleased with their results
Sam Barkaway, James O’Donoghue and Daniel Curry We wish all of our students the very best for the future, and thank all the staff who helped them to achieve these results.
West Kent College and Ashford Colleges on route to success Like all ‘bad news stories’, the problems associated with K College received massive media attention – the old adage ‘bad news sells papers’ is relevant. Reportage was exclusively negative and the positive aspects – and there were many of them – never achieved coverage. Bad news always dominates! K College was created in 2010 by the merger of West Kent and South Kent Colleges. Suffice to say that it was money - lack of - that finally brought K College down - thus affecting the five campuses in Tonbridge, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Folkestone and Dover. The magnitude of the failure should be judged in line with the fact that the education and training provision is fundamentally important to the Kent business sector and it is no exaggeration that loss of this provision would have dire social and economic consequences throughout the county.
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Following lengthy processes to determine the best solution for all concerned, Hadlow College was selected by the Department of Education to take over the campuses at Ashford, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. By popular consent, the Ashford campus has been re-named ‘Ashford College’ and those at Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells have been re-named ‘West Kent College’. The campuses at Folkestone and Dover now form part of East Kent College. Hadlow has an enviable history in relation to restructuring and turnarounds. Less that fifteen years ago Hadlow itself was threatened with
ThinkingBUSINESS December 2014 - January 2015
closure - at best, merger. Hadlow was is - the only specialist land-based college in Kent, a county that retains its title as the Garden of England in recognition of the quantity and diversity of the food produced in the county. Loss of specialist education and training provided by Hadlow would have left a gaping hole – one difficult to fill - and so the hard-won reversal of the college’s fortunes was important. But Hadlow didn’t just ‘survive’, it has gone from strength to strength; graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2010, today it is numbered amongst the country’s elite educational institutions. Hadlow has gone from strength to strength and
now heads up the Hadlow Group consisting of Hadlow College, West Kent Collage, Ashford College, Hadlow Rural Community school, Hadlow Community Pre-school, Betteshanger Sustainable Parks and Produced in Kent (the latter in a partnership with KCC). Staff and students at West Kent and Ashford Colleges are focused on achieving similar turnarounds and they are receiving encouragement and support from KCC, the borough councils, businesses, parents and the communities and all stakeholders recognise the importance of a successful turnaround.