insideKENT Magazine Issue 46 - January 2016 | Page 130

EDUCATION

Kent College, Canterbury takes Senior Leadership
Team of the Year at the prestigious 2015 TES Independent
School Awards
The senior leadership team’s (SLT) energy and enthusiasm for continual improvement has driven Kent
College forwards while keeping at its heart the development of every pupil and colleague. The SLT has
broadened the college’s appeal by improving academic rigour and accountability and gaining
recognition for its innovative approach. Alongside excellent A-level results the introduction of the prestigious
International Baccalaureate Diploma has been key to attracting some of the very brightest students both
locally and from further afield.
Every aspect of the school was found to
be excellent by the Independent Schools
Inspectorate at its most recent inspection, stating:
“The educational vision is defined and developed
and is successful in catering for and stretching
the individual with bespoke timetables and
accelerated learning flowing from Kent College's
Methodist maxim of being 'the best you can be'.
A spirit of innovation and development pervades
Kent College with a palpable sense of connected
thinking and shared vision.”
Kent College is bucking the national trend with
pupil applications increasing year on year. The
school is expanding both locally, by bringing
Lorenden School, a good local prep school, into
the Methodist Independent Schools’ Trust; and

globally with the opening of Kent College Dubai
in September 2016.
The judging panel highlighted “consistent brave
leadership from an impressive school.”

As winners the SLT attended a black-tie event in
at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, hosted
by Michael Portillo, where over 400 attendees
celebrated all that is outstanding in independent
schools across the UK.

Wellesley House and other Kent
schools count down to contact
with astronaut Tim Peake
Thanks to a collaboration between the Amateur Radio on
the International Space Station (ARISS), the Radio Society
of Great Britain (RSGB), the UK Space Agency and the
European Space Agency (ESA), Wellesley House School,
Broadstairs, has been shortlisted as one of just ten schools
nationally that may host a direct link-up with the
International Space Station (ISS) when our first British ESA
astronaut, Tim Peake, is in orbit next year. Not every school
on the shortlist will be fortunate enough to host one of the
calls as this will depend upon Tim’s working arrangements
on board the ISS and suitable times when the ISS passes
over the UK during Tim’s mission.
Tim Peake launched in December with the Principia Mission and will spend six
months working and living on the ISS. In a ten-minute window when the ISS will be
over the UK, on a date to be confirmed, an amateur radio contact will be established
with Tim, and school pupils will be able to ask him questions directly about his life
and work on board the ISS. Wellesley House has been delighted to open up this
opportunity to other schools to join our #KentPrincipia mission.
Simon O Malley, headmaster, Wellesley House School said: "Wellesley is very pleased
with the overwhelming response from Kent schools who we invited to share in the
exciting possibility of speaking directly to Tim Peake whilst he is on board the
International Space Station (ISS) for six months next year. Over 20 have signed up
so far, ranging from nursery to University, private and state schools. For more
information on all the related activities that our Kent team of schools are involved
with, including those on Launch Day, please visit our website or #KentPrincipia."

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