All the latest from Kent's schools and colleges in June
Education news from Kent’s schools and colleges
All the latest from Kent’s schools and colleges in June
Calling all budding school gardeners!
Do you have a wonderful garden at your primary school that you’d like to show off? Perhaps you’re a teacher or a parent and know how much pleasure your children get out of working on their patch, learning about nature, the environment and the sheer delight of growing your own vegetables and herbs.
Now’s your chance to show everyone the fruits of your success: enter the Kent Life Primary School Garden of the Year by the closing date of 18 June and your school not only wins great prizes, but you’ll also get a picture special in your favourite county magazine.
Maidstone dancers get the X Factor
A troupe of 16 dancers from New Line Learning Academy in Maidstone got the opportunity of a lifetime when they performed with former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke at Twickenahm Stadium.
The occasion was the St George’s Day rugby match between Wasps and Bath and the dance students, from Years 9 to 12, performed a routine they had learnt to Alexandra’s hit single Broken Heels and Bad Boys, alongside dancers from other Kent schools.
The NLL dancers also got to meet Alexandra during pitch rehearsals and another celebrity, TV star Tyger Drew-Honey, better known as Jake from Outnumbered.
Star turn
Hollywood came to Hildenborough when a Bafta award-winning make-up artist launched a teaching academy, thought to be the only one of its kind in Kent.
Chrissie Powers, who has worked on Casualty, Coronation Street and the movie Pearl Harbour, has teamed up with Sackville School to open a unique institution specialising in hair and make-up.
The Powers Academy will be open to Sackville students and members of the public when it opens in September. It is believed to be the only school of its kind in the UK where students will be able to study academic A-level subjects as well as taking classes at the academy.
Learning in the garden
A manor house with a history dating back in parts to the 15th century is being transformed into a new children’s day nursery.
Ruxley Manor Garden Centre at Sidcup, which is supporting Kent Life’s new gardening competition (see page xxx), is converting the building into a facility that will offer 43 places to children aged between three months and five years.
“Choosing a day nursery is an important decision for any parent and while looking for childcare ourselves, my wife and I realised there were hardly any nurseries that offered the sort of facilities we wanted,” says director James Evans.
“Grace’s Day Nursery will provide a high quality service, have extended opening hours, easy access and modern facilities within a striking and lovingly restored historical building.”
Scheduled to be fully open this autumn, the nursery will have a team of childcare professionals and operate from 7am to 7pm weekdays. Ruxley Manor’s extensive grounds and car parking, as well as its easy access to the M25, A20 and A2, will also ensure drop-offs and pick-ups are easy for parents and guardians.
Double honours
Two University of Kent students, including a 23-year-old from Gravesend, have won gold medals at the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) national championships.
Kimberley Hughes triumphed in karate, while Jason Plowman was awarded the top prize for trampolining. Both are in the final year of their Sports Therapy, Health and Fitness degree courses at the University’s Medway campus, and competed for the University of Kent against fellow students from across the country.
Jason, from Gravesend, who had to demonstrate his prowess in somersaults and twists as he won gold in trampolining, has ambitions to join Cirque du Soleil when he graduates in July.
