East Kent September 2017 Primary Times

e e r f

IDE U NG O T’S A WH

for families with primary aged children

in East Kent

September Back to School Edition • Issue 105 • 4 September - 8 October 2017

RECEPTION TO SIXTH FORM

The Best Family Guide to What’s On

What’s On Your family diary until October Half Term Ongoing Until 10 Sep

Summer Activity Trail, Lullingstone Country Park, Dartford, DA4 0JF 10am–3pm. Follow the clues and discover the park. Explore the woods following our self-led activity trail and see what you can discover about the park. All completed trails will receive a small prize. For more information visit www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk

Medieval Falconry, Dover Castle, CT16 1HU (Every weekend). 10am–5pm.

Gaze skywards in awe as hawks, owls and falcons soar above the castle. Discover the art of training, exercising and hunting with birds and hear the stories and legends from medieval times. Charges apply.

For more information visit www. english-heritage.org.uk

Until 24 Sep

Open Days, Herne Mill, CT6 7DR (Selected dates) 2-5pm.Visit Herne Mill, a Kentish smock windmill dating from 1789, on one of the open days. It is Grade I listed and is owned by Kent County Council and cared for by the Friends of Herne Mill. Under 16s free. For more information visit www.hernemill.btik.com

Hop Walks, Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, TN3 8JN 11.30am and 2pm. Enjoy a guided walk to the working hop farm and enjoy a taste of Scotney Ale. Charges apply. For more information visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle

Until Sun 1 Oct

Game Plan: Board Games Rediscovered, Maidstone Museum, ME14 1LH An exhibition which celebrates the joy, excitement and occasional frustration of playing board games.

Get ‘hands-on’ throughout the exhibition, learn about different kinds of game and discover what sort of player you are. Charges apply. For more information visit www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk

Until 24 Oct

Seal and Wildlife Watching Trips, The Kiosk Pier Yard, Ramsgate, CT11 8LS Take a trip to an active seal colony inside a National Nature Reserve.

The trips are timed to coincide

2

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

with tidal flows for the best chance of seeing these wonderful mammals in their natural habitat.

For more information, times and to book visit www.seasearcher.co.uk

Until 31 Oct

The Battle of Margate 1387, Market Place, Margate, CT9 1ER An exhibition of a very important sea battle. Fought off Margate between the English Fleet and a combined French, Flemish and Spanish Fleet which resulted in a resounding victory for the English under the Earls of Essex and Nottingham. For more information visit www.visitkent.co.uk/thebattle-of-margate-1387

Until 12 Nov

The Journey to Chatham, Guildhall Museum, Rochester ME1 1PY Visit the exhibition which features original Dutch broadsheets and engravings from the museum’s collections alongside modern recreations of the battle at the Guildhall Museum, telling the story of the battle from the Dutch perspective. For more information visit www.visitkent.co.uk

Until 17 Dec

Mrs Wolfe’s Eighteenth Century, Quebec House, Westerham TN16 1TD Every Sunday volunteers cook eighteenth century delicacies from recipes used by the former resident of Quebec House.

Tackle a colouring in sheet in the exhibition room after. Free event, normal admission applies.

For more information visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk/quebec-house

Britten War Requiem Prints, Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham, ME4 4UG 10am–5pm. A series of 8 prints and linocuts by Ruth Dent, inspired by Britten’s War Requiem as sung by

Our listings are prepared a long time in advance.

To make sure you have the latest details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure they haven’t changed

“

I saw your event in Primary Times....

Please mention you saw the event listed in Primary Times

”

the Rochester Cathedral Choir.

The art represents human skill and individuality. Charges apply.

For more information visit www. re-museum.co.uk

Until 31 Dec

Gruffalo Spotter Trail, Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest, TN17 2SJ Start the trail at the Visitor Centre where you can purchase an activity kit.You can download the app before you visit and point it at the markers to bring the characters to life. For more information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury

September Wed 6 Sep

Colourstrings Parent Information Session, Brittens Music, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RZ 10.30-11.30am. A free short talk and demonstration on how activities in Colourstrings Kindergarten classes are progressed through each age range (0-7s) and how classes lead to the development of musical skills for ‘instrument-ready’ children. Adults and children welcome. For more information and to book call 01892 559 319 or see www.facebook. com/brittensmusiccolourstrings

Thurs 7 Sep

Heritage Open Days, Archbishops’ Palace, Maidstone, ME15 6YE 9.30am - 5pm. A rare opportunity to look around this landmark building. This magnificent medieval Ragstone Palace was originally built as a resting place for the Archbishops of Canterbury on their way to London. For more information and to book visit www.visitmaidstone.com

Thurs 7 – Sun 10 Sep

Heritage Open Days, National Trust, Various Locations This annual festival celebrates our diverse history, architecture and culture, offering you the chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences all for free, not all sites are involved. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Fri 8 – Sun 10 Sep

Leeds Castle Food Festival, Maidstone, ME17 1PL Enjoy delicious food and drink from quality local producers, enjoy tastings, children’s activities and workshops. Admission charges apply. For times and more information visit www.leeds-castle. com

Wheels and Fins Festival, Joss Bay Beach, Broadstairs, CT10 3PG A free three-day, music, action sports and beach festival that includes Soapbox Racing, Skateboard Mini Ramp comp, UK BMX flatland champs, Surf & Stand up Paddleboard events, Trail Bike Display Teams, Fireworks and Live Music. For information visit www. wheelsandfins.co.uk

Sat 9 Sep

2017 Funraisers Dragon Boat Festival, Bewl Water, Lamberhurst, TN3 8JH A fun day out for all the family with a wide range of entertainment for both children and adults so take your friends and a picnic. For more information visit www.funraisers. org.uk

Heritage Open Day, Oast Theatre, Tonbridge, TN10 3AN 10am–4pm. Enjoy tours of all areas of the theatre, including the vast wardrobe which houses wonderful costumes. Plus a display of some of the Theatre’s genuine costumes.

Classic cars will be on show outside and there will be children’s craft activities. Refreshments available. For more information visit www.oasttheatre.com

See Paddington & Family Fun, Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5QY Children’s favourite Paddington™ will be on hand at Groombridge Station to see his fans arriving on

For lots more What’s On ideas see page 10...

For thousands more ideas visit www.primarytimes.net

Dear Readers

IDE GU ON

for families with primary aged children

in East Kent

September Back to School Edition • Issue 105 • 5 September - 9 October 2017

Welcome to the first edition of Primary Times for the new school year. Reception RECEPTION TO SIXTH FORM families may not have seen us previously so let me explain a little about PrimaryTimes magazine. We are the only free local The Best Family Guide to What’s On what’s on magazine for families of children aged 4-11. We publish the magazine 7 times a year, two weeks before each school holiday with a Back to School issue in September. We have competitions and puzzle pages for children to enter and hundreds of listings so that nobody can get bored during the school holidays! We also carry useful education information, local theatre ideas and best of all, we are totally FREE... All we ask is that you mention Primary Times to our advertisers who you read about in the magazine.

We’ll be back in schools from 9 October.

Peter and the Primary Times team The Primary Times Team: Publishing Editor: Peter Watson Sales: Gill Pearce, Sarah-Jane Chapple, Clarry Frewin & Andrew Langridge Listings: Hayley Hughes & Miriam Theobald Editorial: Anna Stringer Production: Alison Watson Office Manager: Chris Blower Administrators: Claire Wood & Tina Love Proof Reader: Catherine Draisey Social Media: Rachel Benson

Primary Times is now printed on recycled text paper throughout, from 100% postconsumer waste, made in Europe by a paper mill that is certified and supports responsible forestry.

Recycle 0% d 10

What’s On............................. 2 News..................................... 4 Family Theatre...................... 6 Education News.................... 8 Choosing your New School.... 11

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E c ola b el P E

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Competitions.......................23

Our next magazine will be published on 9 October, just in time for half term.

The copy deadline is 22 September

Family Travel Ideas.............27 Good Work Page.................31

Primary Times in East Kent 7 Southbrook Mews London SE12 8LG Tel: 020 8318 0400 Email: office@primarytimes.biz Website: www.primarytimes.net Twitter: @PT_Kent

Primary Times is independently published and distributed free in infant and primary schools throughout Kent.

Its aims are to inform families and children of current educational issues, forthcoming events, courses and attractions and to give teachers, pupils and parents the opportunity to participate in the magazine by adding to its contents or joining in the competitions which we run.

It is NOT our intention to publish any racist, sexist or politically based material whatsoever. We also undertake not to carry any advertising which we would consider to be offensive to young families or harmful to the best interests of young children.

The opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements within this publication are not necessarily those held by the editor or publisher. While we take great care with the compilation of information within this magazine, neither the editor nor publisher will accept any liability for the accuracy of the editorial or advertising contained within the publication.

We welcome listings being sent to us for inclusion in our What’s On section. Free listings are dependent on available space and we cannot guarantee to print all the listings we are sent. Please send them to listings@primarytimes.biz Primary Times would like to thank all the schools in Kent for their assistance in distributing the magazine and for their contributions to its contents.

We would also like to thank all the advertisers who have supported this publication and therefore made it possible. Please support their endeavours when and where you can.

No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be reproduced, in part or in whole, without the express written permission of the Publishing Editor.

Primary Times is currently publishing over 2.5 million copies per issue under franchise licences throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Primary Times East Kent is operated under franchise licence.

Follow us on Twitter - @PT_Kent

inside this issue....

F

As well as all our usual features this magazine concentrates on Choosing your New School - something that all Year 5 and 6 families will be thinking about now. We publish the definitive guide to open days for that all important decision.

We’ve already received calls from parents asking when we’re publishing the next guide so here it is. It’s a pull out section so do make sure you keep it and check out all the schools that you are considering. Our comprehensive tables take a lot of work and are prepared a long time in advance. Please check school websites to confirm the latest open day dates.

Contents

C

e fre

’S AT WH

SEPTEMBER 23RD & 24TH

Kent & East Sussex Railway Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HE

Day Out With Thomas™ © 2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. Thomas & Friends™ Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W. Awdry.

Thomas The Tank Engine, Thomas & Friends and Day Out With Thomas are trademarks of Gullane (Thomas) Limited. FISHER-PRICE and associated trademarks are owned by Mattel, Inc. and used under licence from Mattel Europa, B.V. © 2017 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

3

News

Film & DVD

Preview Guide A Dog’s Purpose Available on DVD

This autumn bring home the pawfect family film that follows the story of one special dog as he tries to find his purpose. Based on the beloved international bestselling book,‘A Dog’s Purpose’ shares the heart-warming and uplifting story of one devoted dog who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.The film follows Bailey as he moves through several lives, being born anew into different species and sometimes even gender.As he journeys, Bailey forms an unbreakable bond with a kindred human spirit, Ethan, who he must help to make sense of the world, of identity, of life and of death. Follow Bailey and his other canine counterparts through this feel-good film with a fantastic all-star cast. If you’re a lover of animals then ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ is definitely for you. Lap up the loveable ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ which is available on Blu-ray™ and DVD now, courtesy of Entertainment One.

The Jungle Bunch Returns Based on the award winning French-American-British TV series, the Jungle Bunch are back. Maurice may look like an emperor penguin but he’s a real tiger inside. He journeyed from Antarctica to the equator because he believed he belonged there. Raised by a tigress, he’s the clumsiest Kung-Fu master ever.

Maurice has a group of friends who together make The Jungle Bunch. Junior is a fish who has been aptly named due to being the adopted son of Maurice.

He is usually found in a bowl under Maurice’s arm.They are joined by Miguel, an innocent, banana eating gorilla, Gilbert, a clever but often grumpy tarsier, Batricia the bat, Fred the warthog and Al and Bob, two toads with distinct personalities.

Along with his friends, Maurice intends to maintain order and justice in the jungle as his mother did before him.

But Igor, an evil koala, wants to destroy the jungle once and for all with the help of his army of silly baboons. The Jungle Bunch is released in UK cinemas on 15 September.

Captain Underpants Comes to DVD

Captain Underpants:The First Epic Movie, based on the worldwide sensation and bestselling book series, is coming to DVD. It boasts an A-list cast of comedy superstars headed by Kevin Hart and Ed Helms and comes from DreamWorks Animation.

This raucously subversive comedy for the entire family tells the story of two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold. George, the writer, and Harold, the artist, spend their days creating comic books and dreaming up pranks. One day they accidentally hypnotize their school principal into thinking he’s a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dim-witted superhero named Captain Underpants whose costume consists of underwear and a cape. As if this isn’t bad enough, their newest teacher is a disgraced evil scientist bent on exacting his revenge at their school.

When Captain Underpants stumbles upon this villain, he must band together with George and Harold to thwart the scientist’s evil agenda.

Captain Underpants:The First Epic Movie is due to be released on DVD on 12 September and is also available for digital download from iTunes and Amazon Video.

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN To be in with a chance of winning one of five Jungle Bunch Goody bags, send an email to competitions@primarytimes.biz with ‘Jungle Bunch’ as the subject by Friday 22 September.

Don’t forget to include your name, age, address, school and contact telephone number.

4

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Take a ‘Kid for a Quid’ on the Bus

Stagecoach has introduced a new add-on ticket, ‘kid for a quid’.You can buy a ‘kid for a quid’ £1 add-on when buying or using any adult dayrider or megarider. This allows you to travel with one child (aged 5 to 15) for one day, for just £1. Don’t forget kids under 5 travel free.

The ‘kid for a quid’ add-on ticket is available on any day at any time. So if you buy a weekly or monthly megarider ticket to get to work, you can use it for days out at the weekends too and take the kids for just a quid.

If you’re travelling with more than one child you can buy up to a maximum of four ‘kid for a quid’ tickets. That’s just £4 for four kids. Children must be accompanied by the adult ticket holder at all times when travelling.

You can buy ‘kid for a quid’ tickets on the bus and pay with cash or contactless - all Stagecoach buses in Kent and East Sussex now accept contactless payments. Don’t forget you can get loads of great offers at attractions when you go by bus too. For a full list of offers visit www.stagecoachbus.com.

Teynham School Win Cooking Competition A team of pupils from Teynham Primary School in Sittingbourne were crowned winners of the Kent is Delicious Cookery Competition at the Kent County Show in July. In the competition organised by the Diocese of Canterbury, they fought off tough competition from Hoath Primary School, Canterbury, as they cooked up a tasty breakfast dish in front of a live audience.

As part of the competition schools are asked to show how they developed their recipe, what they found out about local ingredients, the local producers they discovered along the way and how seasonality influenced the ingredients they chose.

David, Oliver, Chloe and Jessica from Teynham School really impressed the judges, not only with a truly locally inspired recipe, but with their knowledge and passion for the local ingredients that went into making their Fresh Kent Berry Smoothie and Breakfast Pancakes made with pure Kent flour and drizzled with honey from Chilton Manor farm. The lucky winners took home a first prize of £300 in vouchers to put towards a school cookery or gardening project of their choice.

The Kent is Delicious Cookery Competition is open to all primary schools across the county and aims to raise their awareness of the quality and importance of local and seasonal produce in Kent. Any schools or uniformed groups interested in taking part in next year’s competition can register online at www.kentisdelicious.org.

For thousands more ideas visit www.primarytimes.net

ll

FIONA LUMBERS

!

SAM BISHOP

y I ok!’

like? What don’t you like?

All the author royalties from the sale of this item will help the NSPCC keep children safe

nspcc.org.uk

Registered charity England and Wales 216401. Scotland SC037717.

‘A great little book . . . fun . . . and beautifully illustrated’

Michael Morpurgo

Frewen College Students Try a Simpler Life

Frewen Sixth Form students have just returned from a 5 day educational ‘trip of a lifetime’ sailing on board the converted Thames Sailing Barge Thalatta, owned by the charity The East Coast Sail Trust.

Pupils took a step back in time, to a simpler, slower way of life. They slept in hammocks for the duration of the four night sail and kept their possessions in a sea chest. They took to crewing with good heart and humour, trying all the vital crewing jobs including hoisting the anchor, setting the sails, swabbing the decks, polishing the brass, preparing meals and washing up.

For many of the Frewen Sixth Form students this was to be their first experience of sailing. One particular highlight of the trip was when the Frewen crew welcomed a royal visitor on board - HRH Sophie, Duchess of Wessex, Patron of Dyslexia Action, who talked at length with the children. The Duchess of Wessex has a prior connection with Frewen as she opened Frewen’s prep school in 2004.

The East Coast Sail Trust is unique in the experience it offers to young people. Thalatta’s working life was spent carrying cargoes of grain between London and Ipswich, but today she is the only wooden barge providing educational cruises.

News

The NSPCC has partnered with publisher Faber and Faber to produce a groundbreaking new picture book that encourages children to voice their likes and dislikes. The new release ‘I Like Bees, I Don’t Like Honey’ showcases a range of opinions from young people on what they like and dislike, covering everything from being tickled to spitting llamas. Every few pages the Sam Bishop Fiona Lumbers reader is then asked what they like and dislike, ending with a page full of speech bubbles at the end for the reader to fill in.

The book, illustrated by Fiona Lumbers, was created on the back of the NSPCC’s work to encourage children to have the confidence to voice their opinions and to speak out about anything that may be upsetting or bothering them, helping with the NSPCC’s main aim to prevent child neglect and abuse. ‘I Like Bees, I Don’t Like Honey’ does this all while providing fun and entertainment to anyone who reads it.

To raise money for the charity, half of all royalties from the book will be donated to the NSPCC. ‘I Like Bees, I Don’t Like Honey’ is priced £6.99 and is available online and from all good bookshops.

What do you

I LIKE BEES, I DON’T LIKE HONEY !

U!

I Like Bees, I Don’t Like Honey

If you would like to know more about Frewen College, visit www.frewencollege.co.uk.

Doodle a Selfie

National Doodle Day is on Friday 22 September and famous faces from the world of TV, fashion, literature and art are busy doodling to raise much-needed funds for national charity Epilepsy Action. The proceeds from this annual event will directly support the 600,000 people living with epilepsy in the UK. Will you take a doodle selfie and donate this National Doodle Day? They’re asking the nation to get squiggling and share doodles with friends and family. Text DOODLE to 70300 after taking your selfie to donate £3 to Epilepsy Action. Epilepsy Action will be sharing their favourite doodle selfies on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook so don’t forget to tag them in your posts.

Tangled Picture Frame To celebrate the release of their brand new series, Disney’s Tangled have been getting creative and have made a brand new step-by-step guide to making your very own Tangled picture frame.

You will need: • • • • • • •

1.

Cardboard Tape Scissors A ruler Different colours of paint Yellow string A Tangled picture Select your favourite picture, maybe of Rapunzel, to be framed. Draw around your picture on the bottom right section of the cardboard, making sure to leave an extra 1cm border around the picture.

2. Draw the outline of a castle on

the left edge of card around your picture. This will be the shape of your frame.

3. Draw around your picture again on a separate piece of card, again making sure to leave a 1cm edge around the picture. Draw a trapezium slightly smaller than this to form the stand for your frame.

Cut out the shapes as well as the inside from your frame on the other piece of card.

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4. Tape everything together using masking tape. Only tape three

sides of the back just in case you want to slot a new picture into your frame at any point. Attach the trapezium on the back and tape it on both sides. Make sure the bottom of the trapezium lines up with the bottom of the frame.

5. Time to get painting! Paint the cardboard one colour (we suggest a light blue). Fold a piece of paper to use as a stamp to create brick effects. After your first layer of paint has dried, dip the paper into a different colour (we suggest white) and get stamping!

6. Using three strands of the yellow string, plait it to create your own Rapunzel braid, tying it off at the end. Once finished, glue it onto your frame using either PVA, a glue stick or a glue gun, running from the top of the tower to the bottom. Make sure you have an adult to help if you are using a glue gun.

Voila! Remember you can mix and match your colours and pictures to make lots of different picture frames.

Set between the stories told in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ acclaimed film Tangled and its short film Tangled Ever After, join Rapunzel in her brand new show Tangled: The Series, as it runs on the Disney Channel. For more information go to www.disney.co.uk

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

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Family Theatre

Storytellers take the audience on a trip into mad worlds that exist only in their heads. Ages 3+.

Marlowe Canterbury Box Office: 01227 787 787 15 Sep – 14 Oct

War Horse

Family Theatre Guide

A powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness.

Gulbenkian Canterbury

8 Oct

Theatre Royal Margate

The Buildy-uppy Dance Show

Box Office: 01843 292 795 7 – 8 Oct

Box Office: 01227 769 075 11 – 14 Sep

Stick Man

A dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree? Ages 3+.

16 Sep

The Showstoppers’ Kids Show

An improvised musical show for kids of all ages. Everything is made up on the spot, entirely from your suggestions… But grown-ups be warned – they only take suggestions from kids.

Ages 5+.

Let your imagination run riot The Tiger Who Came to as hundreds of boxes are Tea stacked, squashed and The doorbell rings just as rebuilt. Help create Sophie and her mummy Enjoy enticing caves, are sitting down to tea. the show! wonky castles Who could it possibly And don’t and fabulous be? What they creatures, as forget to say certainly don’t expect together you you saw it in to see at the door is a learn that the big, stripy tiger.

Primary strongest thing Times! we can build is Winter Gardens friendship. Ages 4+.

15 Oct

Storyteller, Storyteller

With just a pocketful of magic and fun and a lot of strange noises but no words, these

See Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks

The team behind last year’s production of Sleeping Beauty are coming back to Sevenoaks for a ninth record breaking panto season with the spectacular family pantomime, Snow White. It will feature a live band, stunning sets and costumes, an all-star cast and the usual laughs and traditions that the Sevenoaks Panto audiences have come to know and love.

The magical tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is sure to get everyone in the family feeling Christmassy. The Panto runs from 1 December - 7 January and tickets start at just £14. For more information, visit www.sevenoakspanto.com.

Primary Times has a family ticket (for 4 people) for the opening night of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, an invitation to the VIP reception and a free programme to give away to one lucky Primary Times reader.

To be in with a chance of winning, tell us how many dwarfs does Snow White make friends with in the story?

Send your answer along with your name, age, address, school and telephone number to Snow White Competition, Primary Times, 7 Southbrook Mews, London, SE12 8LG or email your answer to competitions@primarytimes.biz with ‘Snow White’ as the subject by 22 September.

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Margate

Box Office: 01843 292 795 14 Oct

Mister Maker and the Shapes Live

There’s a big ‘make’ to take part in, lots of audience participation and….The Shapes. You’ll be able to share the fun with Circle, Square, Rectangle and Triangle too.

Assembly Hall Tunbridge Wells Box Office: 01892 530 613 24 Sep

Milkshake! Live

Set amongst Milkshake’s magical bookcase, this live show is sure to amaze and delight. The Milkshake cast will be singing songs and sharing stories, with the audience young and old.

12 Oct

TW Puppetry Festival :Twinkle Twinkle

A beautiful adventure in music and light, featuring high quality puppetry, magical interaction and a gorgeous original score with live music making for all. 18 months– 3years.

The Woodville Gravesend Box Office: 08442 439 480 14 Sep

Handlebards : A Midsummer Night’s Dream Join the HandleBards’ all-male troupe at the Woodville for A Midsummer Night’s Dream as you’ve never seen it before.

Orchard Dartford Box Office: 01322 220 000 17 Sep

Milkshake! Live

Enjoy this all singing, all dancing, musical masterpiece, which will take audiences on a journey through the world’s favourite fairy tales.

International Thunderbirds Day The first annual International Thunderbirds Day will take place on 30 September, providing fans all over the world with a date to mark their love of the original Thunderbirds TV series as well as its new-generation revival Thunderbirds Are Go. Vue Entertainment will be helping fans across the UK celebrate with a programme of exciting exclusive Thunderbirds Day screenings. A unique event will be held at 2pm on Saturday 30 September in 52 venues nationwide.

Suitable for the whole family, fans old and new, or those looking for an introduction to the world of International Rescue, this is a one-off event that is not to be missed. Fans are encouraged to go dressed as their favourite character (which could be Virgil Tracy, Brains, Parker or Lady Penelope) and post their photos using the hashtag #FAB @Vue to win exclusive prizes!

For thousands more ideas visit www.primarytimes.net

kid for a quid

Education News Mary’s Meals

Mary’s Meals are asking you to bring hope to a hungry child with this World Porridge Day. Children all over the world are preparing for the new term, including more than 1.2 million learners who receive a daily meal from Mary’s Meals. The charity works with some of the world’s poorest communities to set up school feeding programmes that encourage children to attend class, learn, and work towards a better future.

World Porridge Day, 10 October, celebrates the huge difference that a daily mug of porridge from Mary’s Meals makes in the lives of chronically hungry children. This October, schools across the UK will be joining in with the Porridge Smiles fundraising campaign to send a real message of hope to children living in poverty.

Mary’s Meals is inviting you to host a porridge party fundraiser at school, any time in October. It’s a great way to bring staff, pupils and parents together and everyone will have fun creating a smiley face in their bowl of porridge using tasty toppings.

To request your free Porridge Smiles fundraising pack – which includes tips for setting up your party and a poster to publicise your event – visit www.worldporridgeday.com and complete the online form.You’ll also be able to see some of the best Porridge Smiles from last year in our 2016 Hall of Fame.

It costs just 7p to provide one meal, so your school’s fundraising will make a huge difference to children receiving Mary’s Meals. The charity is committed to spending at least 93p of every £1 donated directly on charitable activities.

Your child will be assessed so that the instructor can tailor the level of study precisely to each child’s ability. This creates a positive learning experience, with work set at just the right level.

Assessments are free.

Enrol your child now on the free trial for two consecutive weeks to get a glimpse of how Kumon could help develop their abilities for the future.

The Kumon Broadstairs Study Centre is located at Canterbury Christchurch University. Classes run on Fridays from 4.30– 6.30pm and Saturdays from 9.30am-12.30pm.

For more information and to enrol your child in the free trial, contact the Broadstairs Centre on 01843 650 843 or 07954 815 003 or email broadstairs@kumoncentre.co.uk.

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold, the private property of six of England’s medieval queens, a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon, a Jacobean country house, a Georgian mansion, an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous and in the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain. Leeds Castle welcomes school visits from the UK, Europe and all over the world, all year round.Themed workshops, self-guided visits and fun-packed itineraries ensure school groups will learn that there is much more to Leeds Castle than history.

Try Kumon’s 2-Week Free Trial in Thanet

Your local Kumon Broadstairs Study Centre is offering a two-week free trial between 1 October and 20 November.

Your child can experience how the Kumon Maths and English programmes help children of any age and ability to become confident, independent learners with a positive attitude to study.

8

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

EducationInvestor

Awards 2016

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Two brand new add-on self-guided education packages are now available to pre-book, offering great value for money and enhancing your groups visit.

Choose from ‘Meet King Henry VIII’ or the ‘Private School Falconry Display’.

Meet one of the most famous monarchs in English history in the Castle’s Banqueting Hall. Henry doesn’t mind having his photo taken providing you curtsy or bow before him first.

Alternatively, the Castle Falconry Team offer private free-flying birds of prey displays in the arena before the chance to meet the birds up close and ask questions. For more information, visit www.leeds-castle.com.

KUMON TWO-WEEK

FREE TRIAL 1 OCTOBER - 20 NOVEMBER

KUMON MATHS AND ENGLISH STUDY CENTRES

Ramsgate Arts Primary School

Ramsgate Arts Primary School News

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The newly-launched Ramsgate Arts Primary School is shaping its curriculum in a ground-breaking way – taking inspiration from the award-winning Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate.

During launch week in September to celebrate the opening of the purpose-designed premises at Newington Road, all pupils will visit Turner Contemporary and work with gallery ‘navigators’.

During this time the young artists will create work both at school and in the gallery.

Pupils will also visit exhibitions at Turner Contemporary each term during the academic year 2017/18, and the gallery’s Schools Officer will provide information on exhibitions to help teachers plan how they can be used as a spring-board for cross curricular learning.

Turner Contemporary’s unique use of ‘Hands on Philosophy’ to help children engage will enable school staff to gain new skills ensuring pupils get the most out of visits to the gallery throughout the year.

Ramsgate Arts Primary School, formerly Ramsgate Free School, is part of the Viking Academy Trust. Executive Head Teacher Michaela Lewis said working with Turner Contemporary “recognises the importance to arts development of having a dedicated arts primary school. These are exciting developments.”

Turner Contemporary’s Schools Officer said “It is fantastic to see a new Thanet primary school putting arts at the heart of their approach. We are delighted that Ramsgate Arts Primary School has taken the initiative to make the most of our world class programme and unique expertise to enhance their curriculum across 2017/18.”

The curriculum will focus on specialist teaching of arts subjects including dance, music, drama and art in purposebuilt studios while also delivering the International Primary Curriculum.

Head of School Nick Budge said “For a specialist arts school, the link with such a prestigious gallery as Turner Contemporary is fantastic for our pupils and our staff. It is widely recognised as one of the leading art centres in the UK and we are proud to be working with their team. Our pupils and staff are looking forward to an amazing journey that marries art and education.”

Children have already got into the swing of their link with the local gallery, creating pictures of the distinctive centre at Margate harbour and making models of it from recycled materials.

Ramsgate Arts Primary School is part of the Viking Academy Trust with Upton Junior School and Chilton Primary School.

From September, Ramsgate Art Primary School will have a new address of 140-144 Newington Road, Ramsgate, Kent, CT12 6PP. Their phone number will remain as 01843 582 847. For more information visit www.ramsgateartsprimaryschool.co.uk.

Education News

Arts Primary School

Discover more than just history Leeds Castle offers a variety of fun and interactive workshops which focus on the UK National Curriculum including History, Literacy, Art & Design, Science, Drama, Citizenship and PHSE. leeds-castle.com/education Email: bookings@leeds-castle.co.uk Tel: 01622 767865

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

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What’s On

More What’s On

“

I saw your event in Your family diary until October Half Term Primary Times....

Please mention you and to book call 01892 559 319 saw the event listed in or see www.facebook.com/ Primary Times brittensmusiccolourstrings trains from Tunbridge Wells West

September

at intervals throughout the day.

In the engine shed at Tunbridge Wells West will be our popular face painters and Punch & Judy with shows throughout the day.

For more information visit www. spavalleyrailway.co.uk

Sleeping Beauty Panto Dance Auditions, Woodville Theatre, Gravesend, DA11 0PA Dancers aged 6-18 are invited to audition to join Linda Lusardi and Silly Billy in the 2017 panto. No need to prepare anything, just turn up in suitable dancewear and give it your best shot. Registration at 9.30am for 6-11 yrs, 11.30am for 11-15 yrs and 1.30pm for 15yrs+.

For more information visit www. gravesendpanto.com

Heritage Open Day, The Huguenot Museum, Rochester, ME1 1LX 10am–5pm. Go and visit The Huguenot Museum for free on Heritage Open Day and find out how you can trace your family history. For times, to register and more information visit www. huguenotmuseum.org

Early Bird Walk, Sissinghurst Castle, Nr Cranbrook, TN17 2AB 7–9am. A great opportunity to see and hear the many species of birds with a guided estate walk, and don’t forget those walking boots and binoculars. For more information and to book visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ sissinghurst-castle

Will Adams Festival, Gillingham Park, Medway ME7 5LA 11am–4.30pm. Celebrate the life of Will Adams, the first Englishman to travel to Japan, at this free jam-packed festival. Learn Japanese phrases and words, create your own origami and manga and much more. For more information visit www.medway.gov.uk.

Colourstrings Parent Information Session, Brittens Music, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RZ 3-4pm. A free short talk and demonstration on how activities in the Colourstrings Kindergarten classes are progressed through each age range (0-7s) and how classes lead to the development of musical skills for ‘instrumentready’ children. Adults and children welcome. For more information

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Family Fun Golf Day, Poult Wood, Tonbridge TN11 9QR Enjoy a round on Poult Wood’s fantastic 9 hole course, whatever your ability. After the game a range of tasty food and drink options will be available in the clubhouse, plus prizes and trophies will be awarded. Charges apply, to book your place call Poult Wood on 01732 364 039.

Sat 9 – Sun 10 Sep

The Craft Fair, Quex Park and Powell-Cotton Museum, Birchington, CT7 0BH 10am–4pm. Entertainment from the fantastic Cadet Band, a beer tent, BBQ & refreshments, outdoor children’s play area and lots more. Raising funds for Kent Air Ambulance. For more information visit www.quexpark.co.uk

Belmont WoodFest & Country Fair, Belmont House and Gardens, Faversham, ME13 0HH 10am-5pm. A great family day out with chainsaw demos, horse logging, willow weaving, terrier racing and ferret racing, live music and local arts and craft stalls.

Charges apply, under 16s free.

For a full list of events visit www. belmont-house.org

Hop Festival Weekend, Kent & East Sussex Railway, Bodiam Station, TN32 5UD

Go along to a weekend of fun with steam trains running each day, every 45 minutes. Enjoy Punch and Judy shows, face painting, swing boat rides and balloon modelling.

Look out for Mr Topper the stilt walker. Plus BBQ and bar. For more information visit www.kesr.org.uk

Model Railway Show, West Faversham Community Centre, ME13 7RH 10am-4.30pm. Go along and see a wide range of gauges and traders.

Charges apply, free for under 3s.

For more information visit www. favershammrc.org.uk

Our listings are prepared a long time in advance.

To make sure you have the latest details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure they haven’t changed

”

Hops and Honey Weekend, Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, TN3 8JN

10am–4pm. Join in at the weekend of celebration with tours to the farm, ale tasting and local produce. Charges apply. For more information and to book visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotneycastle

Sun 10 Sep

Bus Rally Day, Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, New Romney TN28 8PL 10am. There will be an impressive collection of buses and coaches on display in New Romney Station Car Park. Take a ride aboard a vintage bus including open top available between New Romney and Dungeness. For times and more information visit www.rhdr. org.uk

Country Fair, Chiddingstone Castle, TN8 7AD 11am–5pm. Go along to the popular annual Chiddingstone Castle Country Fair, where there’ll be displays of countryside activities, shopping, refreshments and loads more. Charges apply.

For more information visit www. chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Demelza Run, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9QG Whether this is your first run, or you want to beat your personal best, Demelza staff, volunteers and Dotty himself will be with you every step of the way. There will be plenty going on for spectators too including refreshments, face painting and the opportunity to take selfies with Dotty. For more information visit www.demelza. org.uk

Art on the Beach, Samphire Hoe, CT17 9FL 10am.You will make a giant fish on the beach. Suitable for all ages, all abilities. Wear clothes appropriate for the weather. Suggested donation of £5 per person towards materials appreciated. Booking essential. For more information visit www.samphirehoe.co.uk

Country Fair, Chiddingstone Castle, TN8 7AD 11am–5pm. Experience the traditions of the countryside in an idyllic rural setting - there’ll be displays of countryside activities, entertainment, shopping,

refreshments and much more.

Charges apply. For more information visit www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Heritage Open Day 2017, Quex Park and Powell-Cotton Museum, Birchington, CT7 0BH 10am–5pm. Step back into the world of Victorian horticulture by exploring the beautiful gardens. Take the opportunity to view several of the public rooms in Quex House which will be open to the public as well. Admission free. For more information visit www.quexpark. co.uk

Betteshanger Bikers, Betteshanger Park, Deal, CT14 0BF 10am–11.30am. (Also 17 Sep and 1, 8, 15 Oct) 10-11.30am. Get expert coaching, learn awesome cycling skills and take part in fun and exciting games from the British Cycling qualified coaches. Ages 8-14.

Book on 01304 619 227. For more information visit www.betteshangerpark.co.uk

Woodland Craft Activity Day, Bough Beech Visitor Centre, Sevenoaks, TN14 6LD 2-4.30pm. Try your hand at country crafts. There will be hurdle and mallet making, wattle and daub, pole lathe, besom brooms, charcoal making and much more in a Country Fayre atmosphere with folk musicians, shop and refreshments. Booking essential, for more information and to book, email lynneflower@tiscali.co.uk

Learn to Ride, Betteshanger Park, Deal, CT14 0BF (Also 24 Sep and 8 Oct) Aimed at children aged 5-12 years these sessions are perfect for those who have never ridden a bike before, those who are ready to move on from stabilisers or those looking to build confidence. Book on 01304 619 227. For more information visit www. betteshanger-park.co.uk

Fri 15 Sep

Bat Walk, Bough Beech Visitor Centre, Sevenoaks, TN14 6LD 7-10pm. A short country walk around local farmland and back with bat detectors and night binoculars.You will be looking for bats, crickets and other animals of the twilight. Booking essential, for more information and to book, email lynneflower@tiscali. co.uk

Twilight Walk, Cyclopark, Gravesend, DA11 7NP 7pm. A fantastic evening for all the family. Whether you are walking in memory of a loved one or looking for a challenge with some friends you will be raising valuable funds for ellenor. For more information and to register visit www.ellenor.org

For lots more What’s On ideas see page 24...

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A Pull Out and Keep Feature

Choosing your New School with

The Primary Times 2017 Choosing your New School feature – the definitive guide to open days for that all important decision.

Open Days

3.

League Tables and Ofsted

4.

Grades and Statistics

Obviously it’s a good idea to visit all the schools you’re thinking of sending your child to. Pay special attention to the environment – you know your child better than anyone so you know best what working atmosphere is most effective for them. Chat to students as well as teachers. It’s good to know that the people teaching want to be there, but if you want a more honest perception of the school you’re more likely to get it from the students. One of the most important things to look for is whether they’re happy – a happy child inevitably means a better education.

With all the statistics floating around about schools, it’s hard to know which to trust. Ultimately these reports aren’t everything, especially as their conclusions are usually based on a few days in a school, but they are all still worth looking at. There is a great resource on the government’s performance information website (head to www.gov.co.uk) which gives a detailed and clear analysis of schools in your area.

The end of the summer holidays marks the beginning of the latest adventure in your child’s life – choosing a secondary school. This task doesn’t have to be a chore however. You and your child can work together to find the perfect place for them to learn, explore and grow.

Here is a list of Primary Times’ top ten tips for choosing a school.

1.

Of course it’s important to look at the grades the school has been achieving, remember to look at the overall statistics as opposed to just the ones from recent history. Final exam results may depend more on the calibre of the original than anything else but tables which purport to show ‘added value’ also have their drawbacks.

Each school year can fluctuate significantly depending on the mix of students, so just because results have gone up/down in the last couple of years, it doesn’t mean the overall standard of teaching has. Look at the general pattern of results and compare these to others in the area.

Make a List

Even if you think you know which school you want to send your child to, it’s important to visit a few just in case, even if it’s just to reaffirm your original choice. Even the best schools can suit some children more than others. Once you have a list of schools in your area, check to make sure each one is logistically possible – does your child meet the entry requirements? Will they be able to travel there easily?

5.

Word of Mouth

Chat to other parents and locals about the different schools.

They may know things (both good and bad) which the schools themselves may not have mentioned. It’s always good to hear from other parents what they wish they had/hadn’t done in hindsight and which questions they wish they’d asked.

6.

Extra-curricular Activities

Not all learning takes place in the classroom, and it’s often in after school clubs that your child discovers something they are passionate for and may even want to pursue as a career. Extracurricular clubs also open your child up to new friendship groups as well as potentially being beneficial to their mainstream education.

7. Discipline

We all respond to discipline in different ways. Some thrive under supervision and strict rules whereas others find this limiting and hard to work under. Make sure to find out what disciplinary structures are in place at each school and determine which would work most effectively with your child.

8.

Equal Opportunities

9.

Where are their friends going?

10.

Where will your child be happiest?

If your child needs SEN support or struggles in a certain area, what structures are in place to aid them and to make sure they don’t fall behind?

Everybody wins with Sport Relief Sport Relief is back from 17-23 March 2018.

It’s a fantastic way for your pupils to set personal goals and help others along the way. So, get a head start and order your free schools fundraising pack today.

Order your free Primary Fundraising Pack at sportrelief.com/primarytimes

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).

Photo credit: Alexander Walker. SR18_125

Choosing your New School

2.

Although this shouldn’t dramatically affect your choice, it is worth taking into consideration. If your child finds making friends difficult then you don’t want to make moving schools harder with the added aspect of socialising. However this could also be a good opportunity for your child to boost their social skills, so it’s worth chatting it through to decide what is best.

When going to open days or evenings make sure to note your child’s initial reaction and how this changes over the course of the event. Ultimately if your child is happy then that’s the best outcome, and hopefully that will be reflected in their results as well. Above all remember not to worry – despite what the media may say, the standard of our secondary schools is still very high and in many cases getting higher. You are simply picking the best environment to unlock your child’s potential.

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St Edmund’s School Canterbury

If you have never considered independent (private) education before, an Open Day is the ideal time to take a first look and you will receive a warm welcome at St Lawrence College in Ramsgate. The school has been a proud part of the town’s heritage since 1879 with generations of Kent families educated within its ivy-clad walls.

You can book a place at the Junior School Open Day on 6 October for either the morning or afternoon session from 9.30am to 12noon or 1.30pm to 3pm. As well as a full tour of the school, you will have the opportunity to meet the Head, Ellen Rowe, other members of staff and pupils. Refreshments will be available, and children and other family members are very welcome too.

If you are considering Year 7 and above, book a place at the Senior School Open Day on 7 October. The Open Day starts with signing-in from 10.30am followed by tours. The Principal, Antony Spencer, will give a speech before a buffet lunch is served for visitors. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions of staff and pupils. The Open Day will end at 2pm.

Call 01843 572 931 or email admissions@slcuk.com to book an Open Day tour. Find out more about St Lawrence College at www.slcuk.com.

St Edmund’s School Canterbury is a distinctive and historic independent school for boys and girls aged 3–18 that provides a lively, challenging education in a nurturing environment.

Academic standards are set high and the school is renowned for its excellence in Music, Drama and Art as well as its sporting success in cricket, tennis, hockey and football.

The current Head of the Junior School, Ed O’Connor, told Primary Times, “We have a very strong family ethos and work hard to help and encourage our pupils in a caring, positive learning environment. Our nurturing approach is underpinned by dedicated and committed teaching, small class sizes, close links with our parent community and a clear focus on first rate pastoral care. To this end, we seek to understand our pupils as individuals and support them closely throughout their learning journey. As a parent whose children have flourished at St Edmund’s Junior School, I know how transformative the experience here can be.”

St Edmund’s welcomes day and boarding enquiries from parents and encourages families to visit the school. Entry points at ages 3+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+ are the norm, but entry into other year groups is possible when places become available.

For more information please call 01227 475 601 or visit the website at www.stedmunds.org.uk.

Choosing your New School

Open Days at St Lawrence College

Co-educational, day & boarding school for 3-18 years in South East England

St Lawrence College provides outstanding opportunities for all pupils academically, in sport, and in the arts.

Junior School Open Day

Be all you can be

Friday 6 October 2017

Senior School Open Day Saturday 7 October 2017

T: 01843 572931

E: admissions@slcuk.com St Lawrence College, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 7AE www.slcuk.com

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St Ed’s is a school where every pupil is connected by a love of learning, the pursuit of possibility and the challenge of being the very best they can be.

01227 475601 www.stedmunds.org.uk

Open Morning Saturday 30 September

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

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Choosing your New School

Kent College Canterbury

Kent College students and staff are celebrating another record year for A level results, with over 79% passing at grades A*-B, a 100% pass rate and almost half of all grades at A* - A. These results follow IB outcomes which were also the best the school has achieved. The results will enable access to the top universities in the UK and further afield - Alice Scharmeli scored a perfect 45 points and will study Medicine at Wadham College at the University of Oxford. Head Girl, Emily Insanally, scored an impressive 44 points which has secured her place at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge to study Economics. Head Boy, Robbie Whittaker also achieved 44 points and a place at St Hugh’s College, Oxford to read History.

All students gained places at their universities of choice including Oxford and Cambridge. Hannah Watton secured a prestigious sports scholarship at Kentucky University, Carla McIntyre and Christy Siu will take up places at LSE, Clio Rudgard-Redsell will study Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nottingham, Jim Lyu has been offered a place at Melbourne University and Filippo Brioni has been awarded a top scholarship at Bocconi University, Milan.

Along with top scores in the IB, these A level results secure UCAS points in the new tariff (the basis for university offers) with an average of over 160 per student, the equivalent of A* A* A. Executive Head Master, Dr. David Lamper told Primary Times, “I am delighted with the very high levels of academic achievement shown by the students who took examinations this summer. They worked extremely hard whilst at the same time adding an immense amount to the extra-curricular, musical, dramatic and sporting life of our community. They have been excellent ambassadors of Kent College and they deserve every success. I am also delighted for my colleagues who have worked so hard in supporting and nurturing the development of all our students. Many congratulations to them all.”

Focused on their Future An outstanding school for boys and girls aged 3-18. At Kent College we can help your child develop their skills and talents Come and see for yourself: Sixth Form Open Evening • IB and A Level Courses Tuesday 3rd October 6.00pm - 8.00pm Senior School Open Morning Saturday 30th September 9.00am - 12.30pm

Senior School 01227 813 906

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

St George’s C of E Foundation School

At St. George’s Church of England Foundation School they are very proud of their school community and the high standards of achievement by their pupils. St George’s is a traditional school in state of the art accommodation that bases everything it does on the strong Christian Values that permeate all through the school.

St George’s vision is based on the idea that, “Every moment, every day, every individual counts” and encourages all members of the school community to have tolerance and respect for each other, whatever their beliefs. They base their ethos on the Christian Values of Compassion, Friendship, Hope, Forgiveness and Wisdom, which support the belief that every child can achieve and that disadvantage is not a barrier to destiny.

At St. George’s Church of England Foundation School pupils have the unique opportunity to develop learning from the age of four through to the Sixth Form with a staff who are committed to improving the life chances of children in their care. A traditional approach, modern facilities and a shared desire to make a difference to everyone in the school as well as their local community are what drive them.

The team at St George’s believe that as a school they have a collective responsibility to provide the best opportunities they can in the classroom, through their pastoral system and in their local community. This does not mean that they always get it right, but it does mean that they are passionate about removing barriers and challenging what is possible.

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Cranbrook School aims for all boarders to fulfil their potential and develop as well rounded individuals.

Cranbrook School is a state funded Co-Educational Grammar School with integrated day and boarding provision. With six boarding houses being home to 250 boarders, the overall school population is 770.

Boarders are admitted from Year 9 (13 years) following a test to assess suitability and students are from a wide ranging area.

Each boarding house has a unique feel fostered by the strong leadership of Heads of Houses and by the expertise of boarding support staff.

Cranbrook School’s fees are extremely attractive at just £12,726 (Year 9) to £15,270 (Year 12) per annum for 2018.

For a state school the facilities are impressive with a Theatre, Lecture Theatre, Performing Arts Centre, Sixth Form Centre and Observatory together with fantastic sports facilities which include an astro turf pitch, gym and swimming pool.

Being keen to educate the whole person, the school has a wide range of extra-curricular activities running both evenings and weekends offering the Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh plus a broad range of sports, music and drama.

Some places are unexpectedly available for Year 9 in September 2017. Please contact the Registrar on 01580 711 804 for more information.

A Day & Boarding school for girls and boys aged 7-19 with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia & Dyscalculia “From the day our daughter started at Frewen we saw her confidence and interest in learning being totally rebuilt.” Parent

Find out more at one of our Open Mornings:

Choosing your New School

Cranbrook School

Thursday 21 September 2017 Saturday 7 October 2017 Daily minibus service from:Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells area, Wadhurst, Hawkhurst, Ashford & Tenterden area.

To book your place on a tour please telephone Annabel Baker on: 01797 252494 or email: office@frewencollege.co.uk Frewen College, Rye Road, Northiam, East Sussex, TN31 6NL

www.frewencollege.co.uk

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

15

Choosing your New School

A Unique Opportunity Canterbury Cathedral Choir is looking to award substantial scholarships to talented boys who would like to join the choir in September 2018. Auditions, for a long time referred to as a Voice Trial, will be held on 11 November.

You don’t have to wait until then however. Any boy who is 7 or 8 years old and who enjoys singing can be considered and the Cathedral organist, David Flood, will be delighted to meet and advise anyone interested at any convenient time. It is not necessary to have had any musical training at all, it is just potential that Dr Flood is keen to see. He will give lots of encouragement and help in how to prepare for the audition.

He can answer any queries and give lots of information. Dr Flood makes sure that all the musicmaking in the Cathedral is fun and the life of a chorister is a wonderful and unique experience.

All 25 choristers enjoy the excellent facilities of St Edmund’s School, Canterbury and receive very substantial scholarships from the Cathedral. Plus, the Cathedral Choir House has recently enjoyed a £2 million renovation.

Canterbury Cathedral choir enjoys the very highest reputation across the world and performs to many thousands of people every year, at home and through radio and television. The choir records regularly and their CDs are highly regarded. The newest CD is due out this October. The choristers have the opportunity to participate in major tours. There was a visit to Rome last October and there will be a two-week tour of America in April next year. The life of a chorister is full of excitement and it is hugely rewarding being part of such a special team. It is the chance of a lifetime.

For more information, please contact David Flood on 01227 865 242 or davidf@canterbury-cathedral.org or visit the website on www.canterbury-cathedral.org.

Join the Spring Grove School Family Spring Grove School offers an outstanding all-round education and fantastic start in life for boys and girls aged 2 to 11 years. The school is a happy, family prep school that specialises in ‘free-range’ children, nurturing and developing all who join to their full potential. Spring Grove is able to do this because it has small classes in which children receive expert attention and tuition, preparing them perfectly for both grammar and senior independent schools.

Located in Wye between Ashford and Canterbury, and within a beautiful 14 acre rural setting – one of the most beautiful playgrounds in Kent - the school is small enough for staff to know every child and their family, and to encourage them all to support the school motto of “Always Do Your Best”.

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Spring Grove loves the outdoors, enjoys competition, sings, dances, plays, explores and loves to learn. Former pupils invariably look back on their time at the school as magical and inspiring. Spring Grove School firmly believes that they are unique and a great place for children to grow.

There is no better way to experience life at Spring Grove School than to talk to staff and pupils and to see the school in action for yourself. The school would be delighted to welcome you and your family and to show you around. If you would like to book a visit, require any further information or have any questions, contact the school on 01233 812 337 or visit their website at www.springgroveschool.co.uk.

Proud to be a Dukie The Duke of York’s Royal Military School upholds its traditions with pride and offers students aged 11 to 18 a unique and iconic place to study for GCSEs and A Levels. Set in 150 acres of countryside near Dover, full and weekly boarding is available with students gaining a quality education at an affordable price.

In addition to a wide academic choice, Dukies enjoy a full and active school life which includes camping at the Brecon Beacons for Gold Duke of Edinburgh, an excellent range of sports, music, dance and drama and representing their school at special parades.

Children don’t have to come from a military family to study at the school and there is no expectation for them to go into the forces when they leave. More than 80% of Sixth Form students go on to University to study a variety of subjects.

The school’s next open morning is on Saturday October 7.

Please call 01304 245 073 to book or visit www.doyrms.com for more details.

VOICE TRIALS for boys aged 7 & 8 11th November 2017 Enquiries are welcome at any time

Substantial scholarships are awarded and choristers benefit from an all-round excellent education at St Edmund’s School Canterbury.

The Master of Choristers, David Flood, is always pleased to meet and advise parents and their sons.

For further details please telephone

01227 865242 davidf@canterbury-cathedral.org @No1Cathedral

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LEADERSHIP • CHARACTER • PRIDE • SELF-DISCIPLINE • SPIRITUALITY • SPORTSMANSHIP • RESPECT

Open Morning Saturday 7 October 2017 9am - 12.30

Prior to Grand Day, 30 students played a central part at a special service honouring the roles of Sir Winston Churchill and General Charles de Gaulle in WWII. They provided a guard of honour and corps of drums for the unveiling of two statues in Park Richelieu, Calais, following a request to attend by British Embassy officials in Paris. The Rt Hon. Sir Nicholas Soames MP PC, Sir Winston’s grandson, inspected the school’s guard of honour. He also spoke with great warmth about the school, having visited in 2009 to act as Inspecting Officer for the drill competition parade and to present the Baroness Thatcher Sword of Honour.

Located on a beautiful 150-acre site in Dover, Kent, The Duke of York’s Royal Military School is a state boarding school for students aged 11 to 18.

Choosing your New School

General James Bashall CBE was guest of honour and Reviewing Officer at the annual Grand Day celebrations when students paraded in full ceremonial uniform for the Trooping of the Colour ceremony led by the school’s impressive military band.

We welcome applications from any student who wants to study GCSEs and A Levels at our unique and iconic school with its strong traditions.

Why Choose Us? • An independent school atmosphere at an affordable

price. £4,332 per term* covers ALL the boarding costs, with the education paid for by the State.

• GCSE results significantly above the national average.

• Graded ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted.

• A £24.9m building programme has just been

completed to enhance our already impressive school site and facilities including new boarding houses, teaching blocks, drama studio, sports centre and climbing wall.

• Full and weekly boarding available.

• Students enjoy an active lifestyle including sport, music, drama and outdoor activities, with over 70 clubs and activities offered.

• Unique ethos helps promote character and life skills,

with students encouraged to achieve their potential in a supportive community.

• Frequent involvement in high profile national events including the Royal Festival of Remembrance.

• Good transport links to London and Europe.

2017/18 fees are just £12,996* per year (£4,332 per term / £433.20 if you qualify for CEA).

Please call 01304 245073 to book your place admin.office@doyrms.com

www.doyrms.com *Fees are reviewed annually

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

17

Choosing your New School

Making the Step: Primary to Secondary School

At the moment your child is the oldest in the school, but from next September they will suddenly seem so small again. Making that move from primary to secondary school can feel like a giant leap. Education expert and teacher, Dr Stephen Curran, has some helpful tips for parents to get their child through this challenging change.

Be understanding Listen to your child’s apprehensions and help reassure them.

If you child has an older sibling or cousin, get them to have a quick chat about what to expect from secondary school.

Hearing about the many interesting and exciting aspects of school life will give your child a positive outlook.

Join teams and clubs Encourage your child to take part in the school’s extracurricular activities. Joining school clubs can help build friendships and confidence.

Organisation is key To relieve the stress of the school-run get everything together the night before – materials, books, uniform. Set times for homework to create a structured day and help your child keep up at school. Building a sense of routine at school and home will make your child’s transition from primary to secondary school as smooth as possible.

Sandwich Technology College Sandwich Technology School believe that anything is possible and do their best to ensure that the students believe it too. Through a mixture of high-quality teaching, a balanced curriculum, nurture and many extra-curricular opportunities, Sandwich Technology College supports its young people to achieve well academically and to become confident individuals ready to face the world. The school is fully staffed with highly-qualified professionals, who are committed to supporting and teaching the diverse student body. Sandwich Technology College fully understands that a “one size fits all” approach does not work in education and adopts an inclusive yet fully differentiated methodology.

Pastorally the school is organised into four colleges: Discovery, Endeavour, Liberty and Union. The college system is very popular and the students know that they can always find a friendly face, a helping hand and extra guidance in their college and from their tutor whenever they need it. The colleges are also very good at ensuring that the students remember to respect boundaries.

Visitors are often impressed by the welcoming, family atmosphere they encounter and the positive and focused behaviour of the students. Don’t take the school’s word for it – visit and see for yourself.

What’s Better than a Day of Sport?

A week of sport, that’s what! Sport Relief is back from 17-23 March. As well as The Mile, there’s a week of activities to choose from. It’s the ultimate ‘feel good, do good’ event for any school. It’s the perfect opportunity to have fun, bring the whole school community together, and teach your pupils about the real difference they can make to people’s lives. Put the date in the school calendar now and make sure your pupils don’t miss out.

To get you off to a flying start, Primary Times has worked with Sport Relief to put together a free fundraising pack, full of ideas, posters, balloons and stickers. The pack also contains curriculum-linked resources to make sure that your Sport Relief event is also a time for your pupils to learn about the difference between their lives and the lives of others. Save the date and order your free primary fundraising pack at www.sportrelief. com/primarytimes.

Last year thousands of schools and nurseries across the country got involved with anything from running a sponsored-mile to taking part in a 24 hour badminton tournament. Everyone had a great time and raised a staggering £6 million in the process.

Michelle Golan, from Childs Hill Primary School in North London, sees Sport Relief as a great way for her pupils to learn about the wider world. She told Primary Times, “Our school believes it is extremely important to support Sport Relief. Our pupils always have lots of fun and work together to help improve the lives of those less fortunate than us. The materials produced by Sport Relief are really useful and inspiring, and help our pupils to see how their contributions can help change the lives of others forever.”

18

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Money raised by schools and nurseries for Sport Relief will help people living unimaginably tough lives on your doorstep in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries. So put the week 17-23 March, in the diary and order your free Fundraising Event Pack today at www.sportrelief.com/ primarytimes

For thousands more ideas visit www.primarytimes.net

An oasis in the heart of the town, Dover College is a coeducational day and boarding school for children aged 3-18.

The Dover College Junior School is a caring and friendly environment where class sizes of no more than 15 allow pupils to grow and develop in surroundings that encourage them to have fun, to play, and to learn creatively.

Dover College children learn to research and extend their knowledge, engaging in individual projects, group work and presentations. Classroom teaching is supplemented by educational visits, hands-on learning sessions and visiting speakers and, from year 4, individual subject teachers use the exceptional facilities of both the Senior and the Junior School to develop a love of learning.

Children as young as three enjoy music lessons twice weekly, and languages begin in year 1 with French, Spanish and Mandarin. The school offers a structured sports programme including football, hockey, netball, rugby and cricket as well as a wide range of after-school activities such as drama club, cooking, gardening and sports clubs, Cubs, Beavers and for younger children, Hedgehogs.

Junior School places are available from September 2017. For more information, visit www.dovercollege.org.uk.

“Relationships between students and teachers are strong. They are based on mutual respect and this is one of the key elements for students making good progress.” Ofsted

Visit our open events to meet the STS team: Wednesday 20 September — 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm Thursday 21 September — 10.00 am to 12 noon Monday 16 October — 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm Tuesday 17 October — 10.00 am to 12 noon

Choosing your New School

Dover College

Hold fast that which is good Deal Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 0FA ▪ Tel: 01304 610000 Web: www.sandwich-tech.kent.sch.uk

Learning Mandarin from age 5.

Co-educational day and boarding for pupils aged 3 to 18 The Junior School at Dover College offers children aged from 3 to 11 a creative curriculum, specialist teaching in sports, music and languages - all in class sizes of no more than 15 pupils.

We create independent, confident, risk-taking learners and we are proud to celebrate every pupil’s strengths and achievements.

Places now available.

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

19

Choosing your New School

Mary’s Meals

This October, Mary’s Meals is inviting you to reach out to children living in poverty by supporting the #PorridgeSmiles campaign To request your free Porridge Smiles fundraising pack, please visit www.worldporridgeday.com

Mary’s Meals are asking you to bring hope to a hungry child with this World Porridge Day. Children all over the world are preparing for the new term, including more than 1.2 million learners who receive a daily meal from Mary’s Meals. The charity works with some of the world’s poorest communities to set up school feeding programmes that encourage children to attend class, learn, and work towards a better future.

World Porridge Day, 10 October, celebrates the huge difference that a daily mug of porridge from Mary’s Meals makes in the lives of chronically hungry children. This October, schools across the UK will be joining in with the Porridge Smiles fundraising campaign to send a real message of hope to children living in poverty.

Mary’s Meals is inviting you to host a porridge party fundraiser at school, any time in October. It’s a great way to bring staff, pupils and parents together and everyone will have fun creating a smiley face in their bowl of porridge using tasty toppings.

To request your free Porridge Smiles fundraising pack – which includes tips for setting up your party and a poster to publicise your event – visit www.worldporridgeday.com and complete the online form. You’ll also be able to see some of the best Porridge Smiles from last year in our 2016 Hall of Fame.

It costs just 7p to provide one meal, so your school’s fundraising will make a huge difference to children receiving Mary’s Meals.

The charity is committed to spending at least 93p of every £1 donated directly on charitable activities.

one person intentionally and persistently tries to upset, hurt or intimidate another, either physically or emotionally. Bullying can have a lasting effect, leaving the young person with feelings of loneliness, fear, anger and anxiety and may lead to depression and self-harm.

Some children are reluctant to tell their parents for fear of the bullying escalating or not being believed.Young people sometimes believe they deserve to be bullied, so when a child does tell their parent, it may have taken great courage so it is important they are listened to and not judged. It can be emotionally challenging when parents learn that their child is being bullied and feelings of anger may overwhelm them as they realise they have been unable to protect their child.

Going back to school, a new pencil case and As some young people are disinclined to tell seeing old classmates is a thrill for many children, for others who have suffered bullying their parents about being bullied, it is helpful to recognise the signs: a change in mood or at school, September can be a daunting behavior, school refusal, an unexplained decline time. 70% of all young people (source: in school grades, unexplained injuries, coming YoungMinds at youngminds.org.uk) have experienced bullying, which can take place at home with missing possessions or money, upset after using the internet or mobile, school, travelling to and from school, online difficulty sleeping, change in eating habits, and at home where it can be perpetrated social withdrawal or self-harm. by siblings. Fortunately, for most children bullying is transitory with short term impact, Once children have opened up to being bullied, parents need to reassure them but for a few the impact can be devastating, demoralising and cause psychological damage. that they were right to confide, that they are believed and that the parent will work Bullying can be carefully disguised leaving young people unsure whether they are being with the school to stop the bullying and to keep them safe. Some children are able bullied as falling out with friends, teasing and to feel better once an adult has been told, name-calling is so prevalent. Bullying is when

Dealing with

Bullying

20

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

knowing that action will be taken to stop the perpetrator, they are able to move on despite feelings of upset and anger. Others can be so adversely affected that they need counselling to help them work through their feelings. They may refuse to attend school and their school work and friendships suffer. If left unsupported, the impact of childhood bullying can lead to mental health problems such as depression, low self-esteem and anger in adulthood.

Fegans is a charity based in Tunbridge Wells, Lambeth and Surrey, which offers counselling to support children and young people suffering emotional distress and challenging behaviours, including bullying. Compassionate and qualified counsellors work with children and young people to re-build their confidence and self-esteem; promote healthy relationships and help them to heal emotionally.

Fegans will also work with the child or young person who is the bully. It can be a shock to parents who find out their child is a bully and may feel challenged by their behaviour.

Counselling could help the child to understand their own behaviour and the root of their unhappiness.

For more information, visit www.fegans.org.uk

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

21

01233 624 910

01227 813 906 01227 463 711 01227 463 567 01227 710 392

Whitstable Road, Canterbury, CT2 9DT

Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3EW

Nackington Road, Canterbury, CT4 7AS

Bredlands Lane, Sturry, CT2 0HD

Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3RL

St Thomas’ Hill, Canterbury, CT2 8HU

Kent College Canterbury

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar Sch

Simon Langton Grammar Sch for Boys

Spires Academy

St Anselm’s Catholic School

St Edmund’s School

01227 272 362

www.stedmunds.org.uk

www.stanselmscanterbury.org.uk

www.spiresacademy.com

www.thelangton.org.uk

www.langton.kent.sch.uk

www.kentcollege.com

www.hernebayhigh.org

www.ccw.kent.sch.uk

www.canterbury.kent.sch.uk

davidf@canterbury-cathedral.org

www.bartoncourt.org

www.archbishops-school.co.uk

Canterbury

www.st-edmunds.com

www.manwoods.co.uk

www.sandwich-tech.kent.sch.uk

www.goodwinacademy.org.uk

www.doyrms.com

www.dggs.kent.sch.uk

www.dovergramboys.kent.sch.uk

www.dovercollege.org.uk

www.dccacademy.org.uk

www.astorcollege.com

Dover

www.wyefreeschool.co.uk

www.towers.kent.sch.uk

www.springgroveschool.co.uk

www.nks.kent.sch.uk

www.north.kent.sch.uk

www.thejohnwallisacademy.org

www.homewood-school.co.uk

www.highworth.kent.sch.uk

Website

Open Morn 30 Sept.

Open Eve 28 Sept 6-8pm. Please check website in case of change.

Open Eve 26 Sept 6-8.30pm. Open Morn 27-29 Sept & 16-18 Oct 9.30-11.30am.

Open Day 3-6 & 18 Oct.

Open Morn 18-20 Oct 9.30-11am. Open Eve 19 Oct 6-8.30pm.

Open Morn 30 Sept 9am-12.30pm

Open Eve 3 Oct 6pm. Open Morn 10-12 Oct 9.15am.

Open Eve 27 Sept. Open Morn 2-13 Oct 9-11am.

Open Eve 4 Oct 7pm. Open Morn 7 Oct 10am-12noon. Open Week 10-13 Oct 9-11am.

Voice Trials for boys aged 7-8: 11 Nov.

Open Eve 5 & 17 Oct 6-8pm. Open Morn 16, 18 & 19 Oct 9-11am.

See school for details

See school for details

Open Morn 19-20 Sept & 17 Oct 9am. Head talk 10.15am. Open Eve 21 Sept 5.30pm.

Open Eve 20 Sept & 16 Oct 6-8pm. Open Morn 21 Sept & 17 Oct 10am-12noon.

See school for details

Open Morn 7 Oct 9am-12.30pm.

Open events happened in June

Open Morn 18 Oct 9-10.30am

Open Morn 23 Sept & 18 Nov 10am-1pm.

Open Eve 28 Sept 5-7pm.

See school for details

See school for details

Open Eve 28 Sept 4.30-7.30pm. Open Morn 2-6 Oct 9am. Booking essential.

Open Morn 7 Oct 9.30am-12noon

Open Eve 9 Nov 6-10pm. Open Morn 23 Nov 9-11am

Open Eve 4 Oct 5-8pm. Open Morn 2-13 Oct 9am (no morning tour 5 Oct)

Open Eve 3 Oct. Open Morn 4 Oct

Open Eve 20 Sept 4-8pm. Open Morn 25-27 Sept.

Open Eve 20 Oct 6-8pm, Head talk at 6.15pm & 7pm. Open Morn 21 Oct 9-10.30am.

Date/Time of Open Days

Choosing your New School

Dates correct at time of going to press. Contact the school to confirm details

01227 475 601

01227 826 200

01227 361 221

Bellevue Road, Whitstable, CT5 1PX

Bullockstone Road, Herne Bay, CT6 7NS

01227 463 971

01227 865242

Herne Bay High School

Canterbury High School, The

01227 464 600

01227 765 805

01304 201 551

01304 613 286

01304 610 000

01304 373 363

01304 245 073

01304 206 625

01304 820 126

01304 201 151

01233 811 110

01233 634 171

01233 812 337

01233 620 045

Community College, The

Cathedral Hse, 11 The Precincts, CT1 2EH

Knight Avenue, Canterbury, CT2 8QA

Canterbury Cathedral Choir

St Stephen’s Hill, Canterbury, CT2 7AP

Longport, Canterbury CT1 1PH

Barton Court Grammar School

Dover, CT15 5EQ

Duke of York’s Military School, The

Archbishop’s School, The

Frith Road, Dover, CT16 2PZ

Old Charlton Road, Dover, CT16 2QB

Astor Avenue, Dover, CT17 0DQ

Dover Grammar School for Boys

Dover Grammar School for Girls

St Edmund’s Catholic School

Effingham Crescent, Dover, CT17 9RH

Manwood Road, Sandwich, CT13 9JX

Melbourne Avenue, Whitfield, CT16 2EG

Dover Christ Church Academy

Dover College

Sir Roger Manwood’s School

Astor Avenue, Dover, CT17 0AS

Astor College

Mill Road, Deal, CT14 9BD

Kempe Cntr, Olantigh Rd, Wye, TN25 5EJ

Wye Free School

Deal Road, Sandwich, CT13 0FA

Faversham Road, Kennington, TN24 9AL

Sandwich Technology School

01304 206 117

Harville Road, Wye, Ashford, TN25 5EZ

Spring Grove School

Towers School

Goodwin Academy

01304 244 522

Hythe Road, Ashford, TN24 0QJ

Norton Knatchbull School, The

01233 614 600

01233 623 465

Millbank Road, Kingsnorth, TN23 3HG

Essella Road, Ashford, TN24 8AL

01580 764 222

North School, The

Homewood School & Sixth Form Cntr

Tel

John Wallis C of E Academy, The

Maidstone Road, Ashford, TN24 8UD

Ashford Road, Tenterden, TN30 6LT

Highworth Grammar School

Address

Name

Ashford

East Kent Open Day Directory 2017

22

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Follow us on Twitter - @PT_Kent

Sandling Road, Hythe, CT21 4HL

Academy Lane, Folkestone, CT19 5FP

Coolinge Lane, Folkestone, CT20 3RB

Cheriton Road, Folkestone, CT19 5JY

Station Road, New Romney, TN28 8BB

London Road, Faversham, ME13 8RZ

Ave of Remembrance, Sittingbourne, ME10 4DB

Brenchley Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4EG

Highsted Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4PT

Minster Road, Minster-on-Sea, ME12 3JQ

Abbey Place, Faversham, ME13 7BQ

Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne, ME10 4NL

Westlands Avenue, Sittingbourne, ME10 1PF

Broadstairs Road, Broadstairs, CT10 2RL

Chatham Street, Ramsgate, CT11 7PS

Broadstairs Road, Broadstairs, CT10 2RT

George V Avenue, Margate, CT9 5RE

Canterbury Road, Birchington, CT7 9BL

Newlands Lane, Ramsgate, CT12 6RH

Westwood Road, Broadstairs, CT10 2LH

College Road, Ramsgate, CT11 7AE

Canterbury Road, Westgate-on-Sea, CT8 8LX

Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, TN17 3JD

Rye Road, Northiam, TN31 6NL

Brockhill Park Performing Arts College

Folkestone Academy, The

Folkestone School for Girls

Harvey Grammar School, The

Marsh Academy, The

Abbey School, The

Borden Grammar School

Fulston Manor School

Highsted Grammar School

Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey (East)

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School

Sittingbourne Community College, The

Westlands School

Charles Dickens School, The

Chatham and Clarendon Grammar Sch

Dane Court Grammar School

Hartsdown Academy

King Ethelbert School

Royal Harbour Academy, The

St George’s C of E Foundation Sch

St Lawrence College

Ursuline College

Cranbrook School

Frewen College

01797 252 494

01580 711 800

01843 834 431

01843 572 931

01843 861 696

01843 572 500

01843 831 999

01843 227 957

01843 864 941

01843 591 075

01843 862 988

01795 477 475

01795 472 449

01795 533 132

01795 873 591

01795 424 223

01795 475 228

01795 424 192

01795 542 443

01797 364 593

01303 252 131

01303 251 125

01303 842 400

01303 265 521

Tel

www.frewencollege.co.uk

www.cranbrookschool.co.uk

Other

www.ursuline.kent.sch.uk

www.slcuk.com

www.stgeorges-school.org.uk

www.rha.kent.sch.uk

www.kingethelbert.com

www.hartsdown.kent.sch.uk

www.danecourt.kent.sch.uk

www.ccgrammarschool.co.uk

www.cds.kent.sch.uk

Thanet

www.westlands.kent.sch.uk

sittingbournecommunitycollege.org.uk

www.queenelizabeths.kent.sch.uk

www.oasisacademyisleofsheppey.org

www.highsted.kent.sch.uk

www.fulstonmanor.kent.sch.uk

www.bordengrammar.kent.sch.uk

www.abbey.kent.sch.uk

Swale

www.marshacademy.org.uk

www.harveygs.kent.sch.uk

www.folkestonegirls.kent.sch.uk

www.folkestoneacademy.com

www.brockhill.kent.sch.uk

Website

Open Morn 21 Sept & 7 Oct.

Open Eve 20 Sept 5pm. Open Morn 22 Sept & 17 Oct 8.45-9.45am.

Open Morn 7 Oct 9.30am-1pm (Last tour 11.30am)

Senior Open Day 7 Oct. Junior Open Day 6 Oct.

Open Eve 2 Oct 4-7pm.

See school for details

Open eve 26 Sept 6-8pm. Open day 27 Sept 9.30-11am / 4-6pm.

See school for details

Open Day & Eve 18 Oct.

Open Eve 17 & 19 Oct 5.30-7.30pm. Morn tours w/c 16 Oct, booking opens 25 Sept.

Open Eve 12 Oct 6-8pm. Open Morn 16, 17 & 19 Oct 9-11am.

See school for details

See school for details

Open Morn 12-13 Oct 9am-12noon. Open Eve 17 Oct 6-8pm.

See school for details

Open event happened in June

Open Days 11 & 12 Oct 10am-12 noon & 1-3pm.

See school for details

Open Eve 27 Sept. Open Morn 29 Sept, 4, 13 & 16 Oct.

See school for details

See school for details

See school for details

Open Eve 27 Sept 5-8pm.

Open Eve 12 Sept from 5.30pm. Principal’s speech at 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm and 7.30pm.

Date/Time of Open Days

Dates correct at time of going to press. Contact the school to confirm details

Address

Name

Shepway

Choosing your New School

Win a Jungle Bunch Goodie Bag Based on the award winning French-American-British TV series, the Jungle Bunch are back in their new film ‘The Jungle Bunch Returns’. Maurice may look like an emperor penguin but he’s a real tiger inside. He journeyed from Antarctica to the equator because he believed he belonged there. Raised by a tigress, he’s the clumsiest Kung-Fu master ever. Maurice has a group of friends - Junior the fish, Miguel the gorilla, Gilbert the grumpy tarsier, Batricia the bat, Fred the warthog and Al and Bob, both toads, who together make The Jungle Bunch. Maurice and his friends intend to maintain order and justice in the jungle as Maurice’s mother did before him. But Igor, an evil koala, wants to destroy the jungle once and for all with the help of his army of silly baboons. The Jungle Bunch is released in UK cinemas on 15 September.

For your chance to win one of five Jungle Bunch goodie bags, tell us where Maurice the emperor penguin originally came from. See below for details on how to enter.

Win a Very Special Prize...

A Dog with Nice Ears is a new Charlie and Lola book from Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate Lauren Child, celebrating the universal longing for pets with Lauren’s trademark humour and originality. Charlie and Lola books are hugely loved by children, parents and grandparents the world over.

This new Charlie and Lola picture book features dogs of all shapes and sizes, but while Charlie and Lola mull over, dream and imagine various options, it becomes clear that the qualities of Lola’s ideal pooch seem oddly like those of a…rabbit! A Dog with Nice Ears featuring Charlie and Lola is published on 28 September.

We have five copies of A Dog with Nice Ears, signed by Lauren Child, for Primary Times readers to win. For your chance to win one, tell us what kind of animal Lola’s ideal pooch seems oddly like. See below for details of how to enter.

A Robot is for Life, Not Just for Christmas The future of technology is looking robotic, and it’s good to be ahead of the game. UBTECH Robotic’s Jimu Robot is one step closer to beating that game and successfully sculpting a brighter future.

This spectacular robot helps parents out at home and teaches children useful life skills like coding. The kit contains 201 snap-together, interlocking parts to create a unique, life-like character.

Through building the robot at home, children’s school work is greatly helped in a fun and motivating way which also improves children’s STEM skills.Your child will be inspired both scientifically and creatively whilst having a fun project to work on. The kits are an easy and engaging way for children and parents to learn together and once the robot is built, it can be connected to Apple’s Swift Playgrounds, a free educational coding app for iPads that offers exciting new ways to code your robot.

The UBTECH Robotic Jimu Robot MeeBot Kit is available exclusively on the Apple website for £109.95. For more information visit www.jimurobots.com.

Times has one UBTECH F F B U I L D B G P Primary Robotic Jimu Robot to give away G X G D V B K N D R to one lucky Primary Times reader. be in with a chance of winning, K S T O B E E M S T To all you need to do is complete the I V T S H T A D U M word search. Then fill out the form T B O L L R M M G A with your details and send it to the address at the foot of the page.

S G B P G N I D O C Robot • Coding • MeeBot H D O O H J N B K H Machine • Science • Maths T S R Z J C B D H I Program • Jimu • Kit • Build A P B M F H P S R N M D N S C I E N C E Name..........................................................................................................................

Address .................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Age .............................................................................................................................

School .......................................................................................................................

To enter any of the competitions send your answer along with your name, age, school, address and phone number to Primary Times, 7 Southbrook Mews, London, SE12 8LG. Don’t forget to include the name of the competition. Alternatively email your answer and details to competitions@primarytimes.biz with the competion name as the subject by Friday 22 September.

If you are entering more than one competition you can put all entries in the same envelope.

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4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

23

Competitions

Competitions

What’s On

More What’s On

Your family diary until October Half Term

September Fri 15 – Sun 17 Sep

Grill ‘n’ Chill, The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY A fun-filled weekend featuring classic VWs. Enjoy the traditional car show but with a more chilledout vibe. For information including tickets and camping visit www. grill-n-chill.co.uk

Great British Beach Clean, Nationwide Join in to make Britain’s Beaches cleaner for one weekend. Marine litter is a problem that we can all play a part in solving, and what better way to start than with a day at the beach. For more information and to register as a volunteer, visit www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch

Sat 16 Sep

Great British Beach Clean, Plumpudding Beach, Minnis Bay CT7 9QP 10am–12.30pm. Clean along the refreshing ‘Northern Sea Wall’ beaches at the very western end of Minnis Bay, Birchington heading towards Reculver. Equipment will be provided. Meet outside The Minnis Bar & Brasserie. For more information visit www.nekmpa. org.uk

Junior Keeper, Wildwood Trust, Herne Bay, CT6 7LQ During the morning, the Junior Zoo Keepers will distribute a feed and meet an animal. Other skills learned include how to plan an enclosure, how to make an animal’s life more exciting, tool use, animal feed preparation and basic health and safety. For more information and to book visit www.wildwoodtrust.org

Alice Through the Looking Glass, (2016) Betteshanger, Deal, CT14 0BF Set in the heart of the Park, both the cinema screen and natural auditorium are entirely uncovered - a perfect way to enjoy long, warm summer evenings in the great outdoors. This the final film of the season. For more information and to book visit www.betteshangerpark.co.uk

Boot & Autumn Fayre, The Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fund, Stelling Minnis, CT4 6AN Boots from 8am, entertainment from 12noon. Go along and enjoy the autumn fayre plus help raise vital funds for the sanctuary. To find out more about the event call 01303 862 622 or visit www. lordwhisky.co.uk

24

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Moonlit Walk, Heart of Kent Hospice, Aylesford, ME20 7PU From 9pm. The Hospice invites you to join its annual 8 mile sponsored walk under the stars to remember loved ones and support its work.

For more information and to register visit www.hokh.org

Wildlife of the Walls (Green Gang), Drop Redoubt, Dover, CT17 9DY 10am-5pm. Collect a quiz sheet to learn about the wildlife that colonises the walls around the fort. Return your quiz sheet on the day to receive a small prize. Drop Redoubt, accompanied children free. Grand Shaft, free. Green Gang event, donations.Visit www. whitecliffscountryside.org.uk

Great British Beach Clean, Pegwell Bay, Cliffsend, CT12 5HY 2.30pm meet on the beach below the former hoverport access road. Join a beach clean and litter survey, as a part of the Marine Conservation Society’s annual national campaign to help the coast. Gloves, sticks and bags provided. For more information visit www.nekmpa.org.uk

Journey Stick Walk, Haysden Country Park, Tonbridge, TN11 9BB 10am–12noon. Go for a walk around the park and make a memory journey stick, using natural objects you find along route. Meet by the flag pole near the main car park, no booking required. This is a free event. For more information visit www.tmbc. gov.uk

Great British Beach Clean, Nationwide Join in to make Britain’s Beaches cleaner for one weekend. Marine litter is a problem that we can all play a part in solving, and what better way to start than with a day at the beach. For more information and to register as a volunteer, visit www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch

Our listings are prepared a long time in advance.

To make sure you have the latest details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure they haven’t changed

“

I saw your event in Primary Times....

Please mention you saw the event listed in Primary Times

Mexican Celebration Weekend, Lullingstone Castle, Dartford, DA4 0JA

”

Dungenness NNR, Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Car Park, TN29 9NA

2–4pm. Go along to one of the best examples of a shingle beach in the world, home to many uncommon plants, insects and spiders. This guided walk will take in the Bird Observatory and the shingle bund. Led by Owen Leyshon. For more information visit www.kentwildlifetrust.org. uk

Sat 16 – Sun 17 Sep

Paws in the Park, Kent Showground, Maidstone, ME14 3JF Endless activities for dogs to enjoy with their owners, including have a go events, arena displays, companion dog show and a wide range of competitions. For more information visit www. pawsinthepark.net

Revolve24, Brands Hatch, Longfield, DA3 8NG A cycle relay open to teams of 2, 4, 6 and 8, and soloists.

The 24 and 12 hour track relay takes place on the 3.9km Grand Prix circuit which delivers pure cycling emotion of arduous climbs, smooth tarmac, banking corners and exhilarating descents. For information visit www.brandshatch.co.uk

Salute to the 40s, Historic Dockyard, Chatham, ME4 4TE Become part of our 1940s Family and be transported back in time for two full days of vintage spirit!

Living history, big band performances, live vintage music, traditional seaside fun, wartime displays – Home Front and Military, Air Raid Experiences and much more.

For more information visit www. thedockyard.co.uk

Dartford Model Railway Exhibition, The Leigh Academy, Dartford, DA1 1QE 10am-5pm (10am-4pm on Sun). The Erith Model Railway Society’s annual exhibition features up to 20 layouts, plus trade support, demonstration stands and refreshments.

Charges apply. For more information visit www. ukmodelshops.co.uk/events

11am–5pm. Immerse yourselves in a Mexican plant tour with Tom, enjoy the music and indulge with a taste of Mexico! Tom will lead guided tours of the ‘Hot & Spiky’ House at 12.30pm and 2.30pm - join at any time. For more information visit www. lullingstonecastle.co.uk

Folly Wildlife Rescue, Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and Jeffery Harrison Visitor Centre, TN13 3DH 7.15pm–9.30pm. A talk by one of the staff from the rescue centre on the work carried out with animal care and treatment and an insight into the ‘Project Hedgehog’ being set up. Refreshments served after the talk. For more information visit www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Thurs 21 Sep

The Wizard of Once, Waterstones, Canterbury, CT1 2SJ 5pm. Go along and meet Cressida Cowell, who has written a new adventure, The Wizard of Once.

Can Xar the Wizard boy forget his hatred of Wish the Warrior girl to defeat a greater evil? Charges apply.

For more information visit www. waterstones.com

Sat 23 Sep

Family Arts Award Day, Maidstone Museum, ME14 1LH Children aged 5+ can gain a Discover Arts Award through the ‘Discover in a Day’ package.

Children, with a parent/guardian, investigate different art forms, find out about the Egyptian collection, create a piece of art and share their work, all in one day. For more information and to book visit www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk

Open Day, Thames-side Fire Station, Northfleet, DA11 8NT 11am-4pm. Go along to the community safety open day at Thames-side fire station. The day will feature a variety of events and activities for all the family to enjoy with the primary aim of promoting safety messages to the local community, in a fun and enjoyable way. For more information visit www.kent.fire-uk.org

Meet Children’s Author Lara Williamson, Waterstones, Thanet, CT10 2QF 1pm. Go along and meet Author Lara Williamson with some questions to ask her about her books. Plus you will have the chance to buy signed copies of Just

For lots more What’s On ideas see page 26...

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Magic Wordsearch

W K Y H O U D I N I

I H I R A B B I E W

Z F T L W V F P C A

A S W K L D Z B A N

R C P E O U R U R D

D F A E Y B S W D P

N M W B L C W I Z A

H A T S W L Z H O M

M A G I C I A N G N

O S O R C E R Y J S

Can you find the following words in the wordsearch - Wand, Hat, Houdini, Card, Magician, Wizard, Illusion, Spell, Sorcery

Spot the Five Differences

What do you call a magician on a plane?

A flying sorcerer!

Answers

Find your way:

Magnificent Magicians

Spot the Difference

lown’s

In Picture B there are two stars on the top hat, it says MagicA, there’s a second set of playing cards, the spade and club have been swapped, the girl’s hair has changed colour

Katie

Did you hear about the magical tractor? It turned into a field!

Did you hear about the angry magician?

He pulled his hare out!

Draw a picture of the most wacky magician your imagination can think of!

Send it to us to have a chance of winning a Primary Times Tee Shirt AND seeing your prize winning entry published in the next Primary Times! Categories: ages 4-7 and 8-11 Name: Age: Address:

Postcode: School:

Send your entry together with this completed form to: Annie's Competition, Primary Times, 7 Southbrook Mews, London, SE12 8LG Closing date: 22 September 2017.

Good Luck!

Try and find your way to Mr.Rabbit without waking him up!

What’s On

More What’s On

Your family diary until October Half Term

September Call Me Spaghetti-Hoop Boy, A Boy Called Hope and The Boy who sailed the Ocean in an Armchair.

For more information visit www. waterstones.com

Apple Fest at Macey’s Meadow Community Orchard, West Malling, ME19 6RW 2-5pm. Apples Galore – go and pick apples in the orchard for pressing and taste the most delicious juice. Taste the apple cakes and have a picnic in the orchard. For more information visit www. kentorchards.org.uk

Sat 23 – Sun 24 Sep

Family Weekend, Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Hythe Station, TN28 8PL Enjoy a family weekend with special trains running to see Peppa Pig at intervals at New Romney station. Pre-booking seats on the special trains is essential. For more information visit www.rhdr.org.uk

BARC Club Car Championships, Brands Hatch, Longfield, DA3 8NG BARC will entertain this weekend with a packed line-up of tin-top races on the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit. The paddock will be open to all spectators this weekend, offering you a chance to meet the teams and drivers.

Under 13s free. For information visit www.brandshatch.co.uk

Our listings are prepared a long time in advance.

To make sure you have the latest details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure they haven’t changed

“

I saw your event in Primary Times....

Please mention you saw the event listed in Primary Times

”

Day Out with Thomas, Kent and East Sussex Railway, Tenterden, TN30 6HE

10am-5pm. Meet Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. The Fat Controller will make your day out with Thomas an enchanting experience, full of entertainment the whole family can enjoy. To book tickets and for more information visit www.kesr.org.uk

Sat 23 – Thurs 28 Sep

Festival of Flowers, Leeds Castle, Maidstone, ME17 1PL Follow a mysterious magical floral world created by international award winning designers.Visitors will be spellbound as they follow pathways leading into secret rooms filled with fantasy floral designs. For more information and to book visit www.leeds-castle.com

Sun 24 Sep

Betteshanger Bikers, Betteshanger Park, Deal, CT14 0BF 10am–11.30am. (Also 17 Sep) 10-11.30am. Get expert coaching, learn awesome cycling skills and take part in fun and exciting games from the British Cycling qualified coaches. Ages 8-14 .Book on 01304 619 227. For more information visit www.betteshanger-park.co.uk

Capstone Festival, Capstone Farm Country Park, Gillingham, ME7 3JG 11am-4pm. Enjoy a celebration of outdoor pursuits to include line dancing, scouting activities, a craft tent, land hovercraft rides, climbing wall and country band, as well as kite and mountain bike displays.

For more information visit www. enjoymedway.org

Community Fun Day, Demelza House, Sittingbourne, ME9 8DZ 11am–3pm. Join Demelza’s Dotty, Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse and Peppa Pig at this year’s Community Fun Day. There will be a variety of activities fun and games to take part in. For more information visit www.demelza.org.uk

For lots more What’s On ideas see page 28...

Cook Home Made Fish Fingers The RNLI – the charity that saves lives at sea - is encouraging people across the UK to cook up a fish supper for friends and family and make a donation to this worthy cause.

The Fish Supper is the RNLI’s annual campaign to raise money for the crew members who voluntarily give up dinner time with their families to respond to emergencies at sea. Fish Supper takes place between 13 and 15 October, but you can hold your dinner party on any date suitable for you. RNLI and their friends at Farmdrop, the ethical grocer have given us a recipe for fish fingers for you to try.

Homemade fish fingers are super quick and easy to rustle up, a perfect dish to get your kids involved with.

Farmdrop’s sustainable fillets of lemon sole from Lyme Bay Reserve have the most incredible delicate taste and tender flesh, the perfect base for a crunchy, herby breadcrumb coating.

If you can’t get lemon sole fillets, you can use another sustainably caught white fish. We tried it with cod which worked well.

26

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Ingredients

180g white bread 1 lemon 2 lemon sole fillets 2 eggs 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp dried thyme 75g plain flour a pinch of salt and pepper

Here’s how you do it 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Preheat the oven to 200°C and lightly brush a flat baking tray with oil.

Tear the bread into small chunks and blitz into breadcrumbs in a food processor. Tip the crumbs into a shallow dish, then mix in the dried herbs, the zest from the lemon and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Slice your fish fillets into chunky fingers, around 2 inches thick. Crack the eggs into another shallow dish and lightly beat then pour the flour into a third shallow dish.

Take a fish finger and dip into the beaten egg. Shake off the excess egg then dredge through the flour and shake. Dip in the egg again before coating with the breadcrumbs. Transfer your breaded fish finger to the baking tray and repeat with the rest.

Bake your fish fingers for around 15 minutes, until the crumbs are golden and the fish inside flakey and delicate. Squeeze over the juice from half the lemon.

Chef’s Tip:

You can use any leftover bread you have lying around to make your breadcrumbs - white, brown, seeded, sourdough or even brioche. In fact, bread that’s a little past it’s best (stale not mouldy) makes the best breadcrumbs so think before you throw away the end of that French stick.

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Family Travel Ideas Villages Nature Paris

Bricknell Cottages, Yorkshire Wolds

The charming Bricknell cottages are approached down a private lane from the peaceful village onto the owner’s farm. Each cottage has a different individual feel and they are all furnished to a high standard with original charms and quirky special features.

The Yorkshire Wolds scenery is breath-taking with rolling chalk hills and valleys situated south of the Yorkshire moors. It is perfect for picnics, walkers and cyclists and was a favourite with famous artist David Hockney too. It is 10 miles from the historic city of York where attractions such as the York Dungeons, Jorvik Viking Centre, National Railway Museum, the city walls, ghost walks,The Shambles, river cruises and much more can be found.There are also shops within two miles and a pub within walking distance.

The ground floor accommodation offers two bedrooms - one king-size fourposter bed with TV/DVD, a bath and en-suite toilet and one twin room with TV and en-suite shower room.There is a lounge/kitchen/diner area with TV/DVD. Unfortunately no pets are allowed.

There is a games room in the private barn area as well as bikes available to borrow. Outside, the courtyard has garden furniture and a BBQ.Amenities Inspire a generation of little explorers in the ‘Forest of Legends’ - a include ample under-cover parking. Bed linen, towels, electric, central heating and Wi-Fi are included. world where children can build and decorate huts, take on their Prices start at £568 from 21 October for the week. For more information on rivals with a team forest challenge, and discover how to build a raft Bricknell Cottages visit bricknellcottages.co.uk. or survive in the woods. See a member of the garden staff for tips on how to grow seasonal plants and vegetables, and take a culinary Sand and Souk in Morocco workshop for a lesson in how best to prepare what you grow.

This outstanding seven-night family activity holiday provides the opportunity to Families can bond over making their own bread and butter from see Morocco from all angles. Going everywhere from quiet Berber villages to scratch and adults with a thirst for knowledge can go to a beginner buzzing city souks, the whole family can try out stupendous activities on sand and wine tasting session. sea and sample local culture and cuisine along the way.

Villages Nature Paris is a brand new eco-friendly holiday village in France with an assortment of fantastic nature-themed activities and workshops for the whole family to enjoy. The village also has Europe’s largest water park heated by geothermic energy to 30 degrees throughout the year. Children can learn about nature and sustainable living across five immersive worlds of activity including a water park, a farm and a beach. Families can even combine the trip with a discovery of the French capital or a visit to nearby Disneyland Paris.

The site’s working farm ‘BelleVie’ provides an agricultural taster for budding farmers and animal lovers. Little farmers can let their imaginations run wild at the almost full-scale farm-themed playground ‘Lait’s Play’ which is made up of indoor slides, hay bale trampolines and tractor bikes. Parents might wish to treat their child to an exploration of the forest on horseback with the Pony Club while they attend a fun course on bee keeping for people of all ages.

The holiday begins close to the beautiful port city of Essaouira. Stay in a luxurious villa at the Rebali Riads hotel - marvellous accommodation with a Moroccan design.

From there, go camel riding on the beach, stopping along the way for a picnic lunch.A hotel chef will provide a tour of the Essaouira souks to pick up ingredients for a personal cooking class.

Prices vary, but a three-night stay in a four person cottage during There will be a choice between quadHalf Term (from 20 October) starts from £176 per person. For biking over the nearby sands or surfing the more details please visit www.villagesnatureparis.co.uk or call 08453 magnificent waves – both adrenaline-pumping ways 512 878. to fill a morning.Also visit a traditional village of the Berber people, learning about their way of life and tasting a specially-made lunch.

Sapori e Saperi Adventures In the free time, try the hotel’s traditional hammam steam room facilities, splash Sapori e Saperi Adventures offers gastronomic holidays for families in about in the pool, or challenge each other to a spot of tennis – all of which can be Lucca,Tuscany.These are hands-on learning experiences personalised to enjoyed on-site. each family.The most exciting activity for October Half Term is picking After that, it’s on to lively Marrakech for a three-hour tour of its astonishing olives, following them to the oil mill, tasting the new oil and having a souks.These open markets are like little universes in themselves, with all kinds cooking lesson using the of cultural treats waiting to be lapped up. Stay outside the busy city areas oil. Stay on an organic in the majestic tents of Les Jardins d’Issil.Take time to make the most of its olive estate where you hammam and mini-golf course before the final attraction in the itinerary, a can also forage for wild day trip to the awe-inspiring Atlas Mountains. edible plants which will For more details of the trip visit www.activitiesabroad.com. be used in the cooking lesson.Another great autumn activity is making bread and focaccia in a wood-fired oven on an organic farm that cultivates ancient varieties of wheat (low gluten). Sapori e Saperi

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aim to get kids interested in eating healthy food by taking them to the farms and families who produce it and are passionate about what they do.

Since the tours are personalised, each one is different, so prices start at 650 euros per person for four to five days including accommodation, most meals and local transport. Flights are not included. For more information visit www.sapori-e-saperi.com.

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

27

What’s On

More What’s On

Your family diary until October Half Term

September Mini Steam Fair, Crampton Tower Museum, Broadstairs, CT10 2AB A day for steam enthusiasts with exhibits which include a miniature beam engine. Free entry, donations are welcome.

For more information visit www. cramptontower.co.uk

Tues 26 Sep

Photo Days, Wildwood Trust, Herne Bay, CT6 7LQ An opportunity to take closeup photos of our animals with the resident photographer Dave Butcher. Different animals will be photographed across the day, with animal feeds for the more elusive animals to help you get close views.

For more information and to book visit www.wildwoodtrust.org

Fri 29 Sep

Bat Walk, Bore Place, Chiddingstone, TN8 7AR 8–9.30pm. Go along to see bats and their amazing aerial acrobatics and other night time animals.

You’ll be guided on a night walk using bat detectors to listen out for bats as they leave their roosts and fly out to catch insects. For more information and to book visit www.boreplace.org

Gorillas & Gowns Charity Fashion Show, Port Lympne Hotel, Nr Ashford, CT21 4PD 6.30-11.30pm. Go along to support the Aspinall Foundations work with gorillas in Congo. The Fashion Show will be organised in collaboration with two Kent based fashion designers, Caroline Bruce and twelve year old Josh Bartfield Birch Jones. For more information and to book visit www.butterfliesanddreamsevents. co.uk/gorillas-gowns

Sat 30 Sep

Sat 30 Sep – Sun 1 Oct Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Brands Hatch, Longfield, DA3 8NG

Visit the UK’s biggest car racing series, featuring highly-modified versions of saloons and hatchbacks seen on the nation’s streets.

Admission charges apply, under 13s free. For more information and to buy tickets visit www.brandshatch. co.uk

Apple and Orchard Weekend, Ightham Mote, Nr Sevenoaks, TN15 0NT 10am-4pm. Celebrate the bounty of the Garden of England with the annual apple and orchard event. With apple tasting and local produce stalls. For more information visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote

Bird Box Making & Bird Trail, Samphire Hoe, CT17 9FL Build yourself a bird box from our specially prepared kits. Take it home together with instructions on where best to site it. Rangers will be by the Education Shelter with binoculars and telescopes for visitors to use to see the wildlife up close. Have a go at the bird quiz trail. To book your slot call 01304 241 806.

October Sun 1 Oct

Open Day, Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, Sittingbourne, ME9 8AT A delightful 2 foot gauge line in the heart of Kent.View a whole range of steam locomotives of varying gauges, freight and carriage stock, and railway artefacts. Enjoy walks in the woods or just sit and watch the trains go by. Charges apply. For times visit www.bwlr.co.uk

The Fossil Roadshow, Maidstone Museum, ME14 1LH 10.30-3.30pm. Go along and take your fossil finds to be identified by the Medway Fossil & Mineral Society. Handle amazing fossils, play fossil games and have your face painted ammonite-style. For more information visit www.museum. maidstone.gov.uk

Waypoint Project Harvest Trail, Maidstone Town Centre, ME15 6AT 10am–3pm. Go along and hunt for baskets, discover more about local Kent food and create your own scarecrow! For more information visit www.waypointmaidstone.org.uk

28

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

Our listings are prepared a long time in advance.

To make sure you have the latest details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure they haven’t changed

“

I saw your event in Primary Times....

Please mention you saw the event listed in Primary Times

”

Sun 1 – Tues 31 Oct The Big Draw Festival, Nationwide

The Big Draw Festival is for anyone who loves to draw, as well as those who think they can’t! It’s an opportunity to join a global community in celebration of the universal language of drawing. For a full list of the venues taking part or to register visit www.thebigdraw. org

Betteshanger Bikers, Betteshanger Park, Deal, CT14 0BF

Thurs 5 Oct

(Also 8 Oct) 10-11.30am. Get expert coaching, learn awesome cycling skills and take part in fun and exciting games from the British Cycling qualified coaches. Ages 8-14. Book on 01304 619 227.

For more information visit www. betteshanger-park.co.uk

Experience the wolves tracking you silently through the woods like silver shadows on silent feet.

Hear the beavers splashing in their pond and spot the wild boar rooting under the pine trees. For more information and to book visit www.wildwoodtrust.org

Sun 1 - Sun 29 Oct

Night Time Tours, Wildwood Trust, Herne Bay, CTY6 1DB

Fri 6 Oct

Autumn Colour Trail, Hever Castle, Edenbridge, TN8 7NG Enjoy the crisp and rich display of autumn colour in the countryside and crunching the leaves underfoot. The Castle is at its most photogenic during the autumn months when the Boston Ivy on the front turns a vivid shade of red.

For more information visit www. hevercastle.co.uk

Astronomy Evening, Bore Place, Chiddingstone, TN8 7AR Go along to look through telescopes to see Venus and the Moon. Enjoy related demos, activities and talks. Ages 5+. For more information and to book visit www.boreplace.org

For lots more What’s On ideas see page 30...

Design the Primary Times Christmas Card!

Every year, we at Primary Times send out thousands of Christmas cards and we’d like you to help us create the picture for this year’s card. It can be any picture you like to do with Christmas in some way.You might like to make it Father Christmas, a snowman, Rudolf with his red nose or maybe a nativity scene.

You can draw or paint your picture on an A4 or A5 piece of card or paper.

Our picture shows our card from last year which was designed for us by Sanuli Athauola from White Meadows Primary School.

Send your entry along with your name, age, address, school and telephone number to: Christmas Card Competition, Primary Times, 7 Southbrook Mews, London, SE12 8LG or you can scan it and email your entry to competitions@primarytimes.biz with ‘Christmas Card’ as the subject

by Friday 3 November.

Teachers and schools are very welcome to send in a whole class’s entries in a single envelope.The winner will see their design used for the Primary Times Christmas card and will also receive fifty copies of the card with envelopes.

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Lapland A Day Trip You’ll Never Forget

Departing December 2017

From £549 Low Deposit £50pp

T

ake your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews on a day trip they’ll never forget as you journey 100 kilometres above the Arctic Circle to a sparkling landscape of snowy forests. For here, in the remote heart of Swedish Lapland, you’ll find Pajala - the secret home of the real Santa Claus, his reindeer and his happy team of helpers.

For a few precious days in December, you can fly direct to Lapland on our specially chartered flight - the only ‘Santa’ flight into Pajala on that day - for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a natural winter wonderland that’s as far away from the everyday, increasingly commercial Christmas celebration as you could ever hope to find.

Lapland Santa Day Trip Highlights

• Exclusive festive flights • Discovering the still, white wilderness of Swedish Lapland • Family fun in the snow • Time to enjoy organised activities throughout the day • A host of treasured memories to cherish

What does the price include?

• Exclusive chartered return flights direct to Pajala, in Swedish Lapland • Return transfers from the airport to Santa’s village • In-flight catering • Warm and cosy thermal clothing including gloves and boots • Hot berry juice to drink • A ‘Search for Santa’ experience • A private family meeting with Father Christmas • A token Christmas gift for every child • An exhilarating snowmobile ride • A traditional reindeer sleigh ride • Husky sledding through the snowy countryside • A two-course lunch of hot soup and Swedish meatballs

See more details of this and other great offers at www.newmarket.travel/ptm For further information, to book by credit card or to request a brochure please call

03301 607703 and quote PTM

This holiday is operated by Newmarket Promotions Ltd - ABTA V787X

What’s On

More What’s On

Your family diary until October Half Term

October Sat 7 Oct

Medway Fun Palace, Chatham, ME4 4BP 11am–4pm. Medway Fun Palace has been in it from the start! This year may include dancing, singing, experiments, painting, building bridges – but building a community too. For more information visit www.funpalaces.co.uk

The Big Draw, Maidstone Museum, ME14 1LH 10.30am-3pm. Go along and design a brick for the Egyptian pyramid.

Will you decorate your brick with heiroglyphs, amulets or Egyptian gods? Drop in to the free family event, design your brick and add it to the pyramid. For more information visit www.museum. maidstone.gov.uk

Murston Heart Fun Palace, Stadium Way, Sittingbourne, ME10

10am-5pm. Now in its 46th year, visit the well-established Folkestone Model Railway Exhibition. It is an ideal day out for the whole family with many quality layouts and traders on offer. Charges apply. For more information visit www. ukmodelshops.co.uk/events

Pick your Own Pumpkin, Ashford, TN25 7HY (Also 14, 15 Oct) Pull on your wellies and come and pick your own pumpkin for Halloween. FREE entry, just pay for what you pick.

For more information visit www. pickyourownpumpkin.farm

Spook Academy, The Canterbury Tales, CT1 2TG (Also 14, 15 Oct) 12noon-4pm.

Enrol in the medieval attractions Spook Academy. Children will learn how to scare their parents in Ghoul School and meet Professor

11am–3pm. A great location for the 3rd Fun Palace this year in the grounds of the Old Church.

Go along and join in for lots of free environmental fun. For more information visit www.funpalaces. co.uk

Sat 7 – Sun 8 Oct

Model Railway Exhibitions, Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, CT20 2DZ

Our listings are prepared a long time in advance.

To make sure you have the latest details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure they haven’t changed

The Cranky Caterpillar

One day Ezra hears a gloomy blue tune coming from the piano. To her surprise, it's a caterpillar making the sound…a cranky caterpillar. Ezra tries to cheer him up with some fresh air, cakes, and new hats, but nothing seems to work... What can Ezra do to help the cranky caterpillar change his tune?

The debut children’s book, The Cranky Caterpillar, from author and artist Richard Graham shows children the magical colours of music in this beautifully illustrated story with a very distinct style. The Cranky Caterpillar takes its young readers on a journey alongside the Caterpillar as he struggles to articulate his emotions, and delights in his inventive band of friends that finally succeed in cheering him up.

The Cranky Caterpillar is published on 14th September at a price of £10.95 and is available from all good book stores and online retailers.

30

4 Sept - 8 Oct ‘17

“

Sat 14 Oct

Boot Fair and Clearance Sale, The Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fund, Stelling Minnis, CT4 6AN

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”

Spring. Families are encouraged to dress up and the best costume will receive a gift. For more information visit www.canterburytales.org.uk

Fun Palaces, Various Locations Fun Palaces are made by local people for their own communities, bringing together arts and sciences, crafts, tech and digital, free and fun, linked by the Fun Palace network – Everyone an Artist, Everyone a Scientist. To view the full programme of events visit www.funpalaces.co.uk

Sun 8 Oct

Wildlife Warden Walk, Bough Beech Visitor Centre, Sevenoaks, TN14 6LD

Fun Palace, Various Locations in Whitstable 10am–4pm. Mural making in the museum, decorating with sweets in the community centre cafe and science and art activities that will create a periodic table using found objects from throughout the town, plus a treasure trail.

For more information visit www. whitstablefunpalace.co.uk

6.30pm. Faversham’s illuminated carnival parade tours the town centre, starting from Whitstable Road. For more information visit www.faversham.org

Sat 14 Oct – Sat 4 Nov Canterbury Festival, Various Locations in Canterbury

The largest festival of arts and culture in the region will provide a wide range of events, including music, theatre and dance, comedy, science, exhibitions, walks and talks.

For more information visit www. canterburyfestival.co.uk

Festival of Apples, Bough Beech Visitor Centre, Sevenoaks, TN14 6LD 12noon-4.30pm. Stroll in the old Apple Orchard, taste, test and select apples of all sizes, shapes and colours. Eat freshly cooked apple fritters, play the bee game, create your own apple pig, weave some willow and much more.

For more information visit www. kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Betteshanger Bikers, Betteshanger Park, Deal, CT14 0BF 10am–11.30am. Get expert coaching, learn awesome cycling skills and take part in fun and exciting games from the British Cycling qualified coaches. Ages 8-14 .Book on 01304 619 227.

For more information visit www. betteshanger-park.co.uk

Tues 10 Oct – Sat 2 Dec

Coins for Care, Heart of Kent, Aylesford, ME20 7PU

Scream & Scream Again, Maidstone Museum, ME14 1LH

Dig out your piggy banks and loose change jars, search your wallets and purses for the old £1 coins before they cease to be legal currency and donate them to help support local people in care. For more information visit www.hokh. org

The exhibition takes a look at films from this period and how they were marketed abroad through a collection of rare original lobby cards and posters from around the world. Charges apply. For more information visit www.museum. maidstone.gov.uk

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Longfield, DA3 8NG A huge hit with motor racing fans, and regularly boasting huge crowds and a fantastic atmosphere, plus breathtaking action on the track.

Under 13s free. To book tickets and for more information visit www. brandshatch.co.uk

Carnival, Faversham Town Centre, ME13 8BD

Sun 15 Oct

Join honorary warden Alan Ford and fungi expert Martin Allison on an autumnal discovery, who will guide you on this short walk starting from Bough Beech visitor centre.You will look for and identify a selection of fungi including porcelain and pink gills. For more information and to book visit www.kentwildlifetrust. org.uk

Fri 13 – Sun 15 Oct

Boots from 8am. Go along and enjoy the boot fair and clearance sale plus help raise vital funds for the sanctuary. To find out more about the event call 01303 862 622 or visit www.lordwhisky.co.uk

Our next copy deadline is

22 September 2017.

If you have something you would like us to try and publicise (space permitting) please email it to

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Good Work Page

Zareen Anjumuddin aged 6

Lucy Baker aged 11

Reggie Goodwin won an annual pass to competitions in our July Bumper Summer magazine. won who e peopl ing follow the to ions atulat Congr her school. Aleezeh Khan, Tirian Prentice, Alice Edinburgh Primary School won a set of books for Blackberry Farm. Amerie-Jasmin Remy-Aidoo from Family park Cyclo Captain Underpants Goody Bags.

Roberts, Sean Gribben and Phoebe O'Malley all won n Beatty, Wilso , Salter a Jessic on, Johns e Sophi Langford, If you would like to see Passes were won by Alastair Weller, Heath & Rosie lcolm AniMa .

Harris Evalyn Oliver and Emma your work displayed Harsharan Kaur Pahal, Alfie Harding, Reece Benfield, a Cook, Jacob Wasp, Jessica Sitko, James Geary books were won by Jasmine Pain, Amara & Raem here then just send us a a.

Nalep Florie and lah Riaz, Julia Hondebrink Andrews, Josephine Roberts, Ollie Melton, Abdul Lily were rs drawing, poem, riddles, winne Park the in Paws tures.

Adven Daisy Drewett won tickets to Millbrook Summer McDade, Riley Mooney, Holly jokes or short story and ford, Crock r Xande s, Costa Zach & tt Partridge, Tracey Edwards, Scarle Bethany Venn. Our Lollies Book Awards and y Rowle tte we'll do our very best to Charlo l, Turvil a Tabith & Luke , Oliver Crellin s to Loxwood Joust. Zareen Anjumuddin aged include it.

Send it to: winner was Adam Merryman. Grace Clark won ticket the er age group and Lucy Baker aged 11 won it for 6 won Annie's drawing competition for the young Good Work Page the artwork on this page. older group. Well done to all our winners and enjoy

Primary Times 7 Southbrook Mews London SE12 8LG

Thank you to Sheng for his colourful racing car scene, Fatima Khemache for her beautiful village and polluting city drawing, Bhavya for her cute country picture and Niladri Kar for his frightening group of dinosaurs We love seeing your work so do please keep sending it to us.

PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE

GET IN TOUCH St George’s C of E Foundation School Westwood Road, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2LH

Tel:

01843 861696

Email: admin@st-georgescofe-thanet.kent.sch.uk Web: www.stgeorges-school.org.uk