Our Early Years strategic partner, Early Excellence, used its national update to highlight their work with Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and chose to focus on its partnership with KCSP. Early Excellence Co-Founder and CEO, Liz Marsden, championed our 19 primaries and the very real Trust investment in bespoke continuing professional development (CPD) for staff, classroom refurbishment and the systemic use of the Early Excellence Tracker for children’s progress and development. Clive Webster, Chief Executive talks about investing in the Early Years, to see the video, please click here.

St Edmund's Catholic Secondary is the best performing non-selective school or academy in the Dover, Deal and Sandwich area, and that The Ursuline College is the best performing in Thanet in terms of progress made by pupils, including all local grammar schools!

Three pupils at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Broadstairs were treated to an out of this world experience this week when they listened in to the International Space Station as it passed over the School at 13.06 on Tuesday.

 

Caitlin, Gracie and Alice, who are members of the School’s girls only science club STEMETTES, downloaded the signal and listened in as one of the astronauts on board the station conducted a question and answer session with school children in Europe.

 

The astronaut, Alexander Gerst, answered 8 questions posed by school children about space and his experiences on board the space station. Conducted in English and German, the conversation was a unique and inspiring way for the three St Joseph’s girls to put to good use the skills learned in the weekly science club although they were surprised to learn that only one of the 6 astronauts on board is female! However, as the three girls found out this week, the sky’s the limit when you’re aiming high!

 

As if that wasn't enough, St Joseph's have also just enjoyed their annual harvest festival!

 

The end of a glorious summer was celebrated this week at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Broadstairs with their annual harvest festival, where their pupils mark the end of the growing season and give thanks for a fruitful summer. It is also a time when their 210 pupils remember those members of their local and global community who are not as fortunate.

 

To this end, their pupils collected vital stationery supplies to send to Ed Aid, a charity which stocks schools in Africa. Contributions of food were also brought in and will be sent out in weekly food parcels for the needy organised by local food banks.

 

A time of refection as well as celebration, their pupils re affirmed the fruitful links with their own parish Church, Our Lady Star of the Sea Broadstairs by hosting a harvest tea for the elderly of the parish. An afternoon tea of scones, cakes and sandwiches was provided for the twenty parishioners, all prepared and donated by our School lunch supplier, Chartwells. Entertainment was provided by each year group who had prepared special songs. 

 

The coming together of parish, school and volunteer parents underlined the true generosity of spirit and sharing that is the hallmark of this most ancient, joyous festival. Our Harvest Festival is always an opportune time within school to reflect on what they have and acknowledge the joy in receiving but also the need for generosity and compassion for those who are unable to share in this fruitful season.

The Province 7 heat of the national Catenian Sixth Form public speaking competition was won by Anitta Biju from St Gregory’s school, Tunbridge Wells who spoke about the evils of smoking. The runner-up was Benedict Doggwiler from St Gregory’s Tunbridge Wells who spoke about “The Del Boy complex”. Third was Dillon Oppon Ferguson from St Thomas the Apostle, Nunhead speaking on “has technology gone too far?”. Anitta goes on to the national finals in Manchester next September. The standard of speaking was very high and congratulations to all who took part. Subjects ranged from euthanasia to Afro hair and water pollution. 6 schools were represented – Coloma Convent Girls’, Croydon, Sacred Heart, Southwark, St Simon Stock, Maidstone and Bishop Thomas Grant school who hosted the event. The judges were Bishop Pat Lynch, retired head teacher Sharon Grange and Province 7 Catenian director Brendan Ducey.  

If your local Sixth form is not represented they are missing out on a wonderful opportunity for their students to improve their communication skills. Contact John Woodhouse johnwoodhousecat@gmail.com.

St Mary's Primary school in Deal, took their year 3 children along to Rochester Cathedral for a ‘STEM’ day. They spent the day looking at the designs of bridges based on Rochester Bridge Trust ‘Bridge Works’ Exhibition. The aim of the Bridge Works exhibition is to tell the story of the bridges across the River Medway and how the Rochester Bridge Trust has cared for them. The children took part in various workshops and 2 of the children, May and Erin were very brave and stood in the puplpit to read the prayers at the end of the day. It sounds and looks as if they had a fantastic day!! 

St Edward's Primary School in Sheerness exam results made it into the local paper! 

Five more leaders to be fully funded on National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership. After a round of strong applications the five successful candidates are James Blomfield, Headteacher, St Richard's Primary, Niall Fox, Executive Principal, Holy Family & More Park Academies, Mike Wilson, Academy Principal, St Edmund's Secondary, Sara Wakefield, Headteacher, St Edward's Primary and Sarah McBennett, Senior Primary School Improvement Advisor, Central Team.