Education Matters

Education Matters

Spring Grove School recently declared Runner Up in the Better Energy School Awards

Spring Grove School in Wye, was recently declared Runner Up in the ‘Totally Active’ category of the Better Energy School Awards for its recycling project ’Spring Back’, in recognition of the wide range of environmental initiatives carried out over the last 12 months.

Some of the initiatives included a bottle-top collection, ‘Eco-bricks’ made from plastic bottles stuffed full of plastic waste, a school wellie recycling scheme, the creation of a school-based recycling centre, and the creative upcycling of ‘thrown away’ materials both at school and in Spring Grove’s renowned Forest School. Children from Spring Grove also took part in the Guardians of the Deep - a project that involves local people in the protection of Kent’s coast. Every week throughout the Summer term groups from school visited nearby beaches to learn about marine ecosystems and the challenges faced to keep our beaches clean. And they had great fun too!

Visit www.springgroveschool.co.uk for more information.

Wise choice for the new Headmaster at Kent College, Canterbury

Mr Phil Wise had been appointed

Senior School Headmaster at Kent College. It is a fantastic time to be joining Kent College, as the school is celebrating the largest school roll in its history for the next academic year and will also be opening the Great Hall in September which will become an iconic building on the hill above Canterbury. Mr Wise believes that the new Great Hall will become an outstanding meeting and performance space for the students and a real focal point for the Canterbury community.

Visit www.kentcollege.com for more information.

Sandwich Technology School prepares pupils for life in the modern world

Sandwich Technology School is committed to promoting the successful transition from childhood to adulthood of those in its care. There is a culture of high expectation and focussed learning, which is under-pinned by traditional values. The school’s motto, “Hold fast that which is good”, captures those values, which are displayed throughout the school.

Sandwich Technology School aims for all members of its community to be; happy in a safe and caring environment; open-minded and ready to learn; literate, numerate and independent thinkers; determined to achieve the best they can; forward thinking and full of aspiration; active members of the community; be self-confident and inspired to succeed; tolerant and respectful of diversity.

A broad, well-balanced curriculum caters for the needs and interests of all learners and students are supported by an extensive pastoral team. In May 2019, Ofsted concluded that “Pupils are well prepared for life in the modern world”.

Why not visit to see STS at its daily best at one of their forthcoming open days. Visit www.sandwich-tech.kent.sch.uk.

Autumn School Open Days

Ashford School

East Hill, Ashford, TN24 8PB 01233 625171 Fri 13 September , Senior School Fri 27 September, Prep School Sat 5 October, Senior School

Dover College

Effingham Crescent, Dover, CT17 9RH 01304 244 522 admissions@dovercollege.org.uk Sat 28 September, 10am - 1pm.

Junior King’s

Milner Court, Canterbury, CT2 0AY 01227 714000 office@junior-kings.co.uk Sat 12 October

Kent College Canterbury

Canterbury, CT2 9AQ 01227 762436 Open Evenings Sat 28 September, Senior School Monday 18 November, 6th Form

Lorenden Preparatory School

Painter’s Forstal, Faversham ME13 0EN 01795 590030 office@lorenden.org Tues 8 October, 9am - 12:30pm and 2-3:30pm

Northbourne Park School

Betteshanger, Deal, CT14 0NW 01304 611 215 admissions@northbournepark.com Sat 5 October, 9.30am - 12.30pm

Nursery at St Lawrence College voted in Top 20 nurseries in South East

Sandwich Technology College

Deal Road, Sandwich CT13 0FA 01304 610000 admin@sandwich-tech.kent.sch.uk Wed 18 September, 6-8pm Thurs 19 September, 10am-12noon Mon 14 October, 6-8pm Tues 15 October, 10am-12noon

Spring Grove School

Harville Road, Wye, TN25 5EZ 01233 812337 office@springgroveschool.co.uk Sat 28 September, 9.30am-12pm

St Edmund’s School Canterbury

St Thomas’ Hill, Canterbury, CT2 8HU 01227 475600 info@stedmunds.org.uk Sat 28 September, 9am

St Lawrence College

College Road, Ramsgate, CT11 7AE 01843 808080 info@slcuk.com Fri 4 October, Junior School Sat 5 October, Senior School

The Duke of York’s Royal Military School

Dover, CT15 5EQ 01304 245023 admin.office@doyrms.com Sat 5 October, 9am, Whole School

The King’s School

Canterbury, CT1 2ES 01227 595501 Sat 21 September, Sixth Form Entry Sat 5 October, 13+ Entry

The Nursery at St Lawrence College Junior School provides a happy, secure and caring start for its youngest pupils. Families are welcomed into the St Lawrence College community and Nursery pupils are able to enjoy the many benefits of being part of the larger school and having use of its exceptional facilities, including an indoor heated swimming pool.

With a small class size the Nursery embraces a wonderful family atmosphere of learning and playing together, all under the watchful eye of experienced Early Years’ Qualified Teacher, Mrs Rebecca Brown. The enriched curriculum offers quality learning experiences designed to give each child the very best possible start to their education, with a strong focus on core language, literacy and mathematical skills, combined with the most exciting elements of forest school and outdoor adventures where children learn through discovery and exploration.

To find out more about St Lawrence College visit www.slcuk.com.

8 Families East Kentfamiliesonline.co.uk

Education Matters

Flummoxed by phonetics

In a new survey of parents across Britain, an astonishing 89% admitted that the way the education system has changed in recent years has confused them; half don’t understand their child’s school report, or even know what SATs are.

Calls for compulsory climate change education in schools

A petition launched by four Oxford school girls calling for lessons on Climate Change to be made compulsory in schools has gathered over 75,000 signatures.

The students are hoping to make climate change a “core part of the compulsory curriculum” to increase the next generation’s understanding of the global issue. They claim they have “barely learned about the climate crisis at school, even though it’s supposed to be part of Geography and Science.”

According to the petition: “Climate change is the biggest issue of our time, and it must be a part of our education if our generation is to understand it and help us to combat its effects. That’s why we want climate change to be made a core part of the national curriculum.”

More info: www.change.org.

Explore Learning’s research reveals a massive knowledge gap in what is one of the most important aspects in their children’s lives. The good news is that almost two thirds (62%) believe that the standard of education today is better than when they were young. The main reason for this is credited to better teachers with better training, more resources, and a bigger focus on children’s mental health. The 38% of parents who feel that today’s education system is worse, blame under-staffing and teachers’ high workloads, followed by a less rounded curriculum and the rise in class sizes.

Charlotte Gater, Head of Curriculum at Explore Learning commented: “The government needs to provide clearer guidance when it comes to helping parents understand just what is going on with their children at school. It’s hard enough helping them with their homework, let alone getting to grips with new academic terms and changes happening in the curriculum every few years.”

Explore Learning teaches out of school English and maths for 4-14 year-olds through centres across the UK. For more information and free trial bookings, read more online. www. explorelearning.co.uk

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East Kent

Spring Grove School

“Teachers challenge pupils well to achieve more, to learn new skills, and to develop their knowledge.” Ofsted, May 2019

‘A great place to grow’ for boys and girls aged 2 to 11

Learning through enjoyment

Visit our open events to meet the STS team: Wednesday 18 September — 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm Thursday 19 September — 10.00 am to 12 noon Monday 14 October — 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm Tuesday 15 October — 10.00 am to 12 noon

Hold fast that which is good

Deal Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 0FA ▪ Tel: 01304 610000Web: www.sandwich-tech.kent.sch.uk

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