Latest News

Year 11 GCSE Drama Practical

Thu 29 Mar 2018

On Tuesday, 20^th March the year 11 Drama GCSE group had their practical examination. Twenty-one students performed in a variety of plays including ‘A Taste of Honey’ by Shelagh Delaney, ‘Art’ by Yasmina Reza and ‘Amy’s View’ by David Hare.

Well done to the group for all their hard work and commitment over the last few years. Please see below for lots of photos to see them in action.

Mrs Reader – Drama

Maidstone Museum Year 10

Thu 29 Mar 2018

As part of their Year 10 ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness course, a group of students visited Maidstone Museum.

The group were responsible for organising the trip. This included undertaking research on the museum, contacting the curator to set up the details of the trip and helping me to complete the risk assessment for the event as well as the plan of the walk there.

Once there, the group of students completed research on a chosen area and had an opportunity to speak to staff; including finding out what it was like to work there and what facilities they offered.

On their return to school, the students presented their findings to each other.

It was a really enjoyable and practical experience for the group and a great part of their qualification too.

Mrs Denny, Director of Welfare/SEND

Visit to Kent Fire and Rescue Service

Wed 28 Mar 2018

On the 1^st February 2018 a group of Year 9 and Year 10 students went to Rochester to take part in activities organised by Kent Fire and Rescue Service. The students spent the whole day at a very modern and specially adapted educational purposes centre.

During a busy day our students learnt about road and water safety. They also watched a demonstration outside the building on home safety.

The students enjoyed the fact that the activities were interactive and learnt through hands on tasks. For one of the tasks they were split into two teams, acting as crime scene investigators for a road collision. They also had a chance to try special glasses which give a blurry vision, similar to what a drunk driver experiences while driving a car. Undoubtedly the biggest impact on the students was a short film about a young driver who ended up crashing into the lamppost and dying on the spot. What made the scene even more meaningful was bringing the screen up and switching from the clip into a very realistic car crash in which the firefighters from the centre were involved!

The students took home a handful of tips regarding road safety, which filled their conversations on the way back to school!

Throughout the day the students were fully engaged and they showed a real interest. One of them said: ‘I found the day really fun and I would do it again if I could.’

The trip was organised as part of CoPE, the vocational course that the students started last year.

Mrs K Taylor

Mack and Mabel – Thursday, 12th July and Friday, 13th July 2018

Tue 27 Mar 2018

Based on an idea by Leonard Spigelglass

Book by Michael Stewart

Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman

This amateur productionof ‘Mack and Mabel’ is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD.

This summer SSSCS will be presenting Mack and Mabel, a musical set in America during the silent movie era. It tells the story of the comedy film director Mack Sennett and his greatest star, Mabel Normand. This exciting production features lots of great songs, spectacular dances and slapstick comedy.

There are many talented students involved, including Finlay Hunter as Mack Sennett, Niamh Griffiths as Mabel Normand, Laura Prendergast as Lottie, Charlotte Galea as Ella and Ross Wimble as Frank. The production also features a range of students from years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 plus some staff members. Tickets will be on sale next term and best seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. So please put the date in your diary and support the many talented and brave students who may be getting a custard pie in the face.

We’ll be adding updates over the next few months and some pictures of the rehearsals.

Mrs Reader

Duke of Edinburgh Update

Fri 23 Mar 2018

After a successful Duke of Edinburgh information evening, in which more than 260 parents and students attended, it was time for the current Bronze cohort to take part in their Practice Expedition.

The 36 participants completed their planned 12km walk on the Saturday and ended up at their camping destination on Dunn Street Farm. Once all six groups had arrived, it was time for them to pitch their tents and cook their dinner. This was a first for a lot! A few hours of sleep for some and it was time to pack up and start the second day. With all teams navigating through the Norths Downs Way, it was excellent to see them all complete their practice in good time. A lot of very tired students along with some very worn feet it was time to head home. A fantastic weekend overall, in which students learnt a lot of new skills to take into their Qualifying Expedition over the May Bank Holiday.

Numbers are already looking very high for the coming academic year, with 42 already signed up and more joining every day. Please contact Mr Rowe on roweo@ssscs.co.uk for any further information for those who are interested in signing up, who haven’t done so already.

Mr Rowe – PE / DofE

Year 8 Options Evening Presentation

Thu 22 Mar 2018

Thank you to everyone who attended our Year 8 into 9 Options Evening yesterday.

Zimbardo Psychology Conference

Wed 21 Mar 2018

On Monday 19^th March, Year 12 and year 13 Psychology students attended an A Level conference in London to listen to key speakers who discussed topics relevant to the course.

In particular, we had the fortune to hear from the one and only Dr Philip Zimbardo and his wife, Dr Christine Maslach, who both shot to social science fame following on from their Stanford Prison Experiment in the early 70’s. It was fascinating to hear how this early work has continued to be so influential in such a broad spectrum of fields. In particular, Dr Zimbardo took this opportunity to share with us his work on his Hero project which he developed from the concept that bad environments make bad people and we are all potential heroes to stop this. After the conference ended, we managed to get a photograph with the man himself – much to Miss Madeley’s excitement who has now fulfilled a life-long dream.

Overall, the day was incredibly informative and we all left feeling slightly star-gazed from meeting such an influential psychologist.

Miss Madeley – Psychology

SOAR British Street Dance Champions

Wed 21 Mar 2018

After qualifying through the South East regional competition, on the 10th March, Natalia Sharp Martin and Emily McCarthy competed at the SOAR British Street Dance Championships in Manchester. They competed in the 12 and under category for Troupe as part of Dance Dynamics, and together in Duo’s.

In the Duo’s they became the SOAR British Champions which is an incredible achievement, while also placing 3rd in Troup. A massive congratulations to both and we hope they continue to do well in future competitions.

Heart of Kent Fun Run

Fri 16 Mar 2018

Members of staff joined 320 people in freezing temperature on Sunday 18th of March and took to the roads to support the Heart of Kent Hospice.

On an incredibly cold Sunday morning, toward the end of the passage across the UK of the “Beast from the East”, some of our staff took part in the annual 5k Fun Run. Ian Tillott, Alison Brennan, Claire Brown, Sallie Williamson, Katie Underdown, Ollie Rowe and Andrea Denny were “Team Stocky” and helped support one of our school charities, as well as being a place of personal importance for many too.

Well done to all for participating and for the fundraising during Lent.

Heart of Kent EPQ Fundraiser

Thu 15 Mar 2018

On the 9th March Laura Allen (Year 12) hosted a fantastic fundraiser event for one of our main charities of the year, Heart of Kent Hospice.

As part of her EPQ (Extended Project Qualification – an additional qualification which all sixth form students are able to opt in for) the “artefact” section culminated in the lunchtime fundraising event.

A range of cakes and home-baked goods, guessing games and ceramic hearts were all available for attendees to make donations. The raffle included cinema tickets to Odeon Cinema, books from Waterstones, a 4-person scuba diving session with Blue Ocean, voucher from Rush Hair and a box of cakes from Patisserie Valerie. A big thank you to all those who donated these and other gifts too!

In total, £308.44 was raised. A huge congratulations to Laura for such a fantastic afternoon.

“The event was very successful and I’m very happy to have raised this money for such a good cause; already looking forward to doing it again.” Laura Allen

“It was evident on the day that Laura had a put a lot of time and thought into each activity. Although this event was part of the EPQ project, it also reflected her desire to give back and support the most vulnerable in the community. It was a pleasure to support Laura with this event.” – Miss O’Neill

“Laura puts the Fun in fundraising and overall I found it to be a very enjoyable day” Rebecka Smith Year 12

There will be many more events throughout the year for Heart of Kent Hospice, including a group of our staff taking part in the fun run on 18th March. If you would like to donate, please click here.