Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Art Exhibition 2018

  Sat 21 Jul 2018

  Congratulations to the year 12 Photography and Art students for their hard work this year and for the parents and governors who joined us to celebrate their summer exhibition.

  The show was a great success showcasing a range of specialisms on student-chosen themes. Sixth form students and GCSE students enjoyed receiving a number of visitors including staff and parents.

  Miss Livermore

  

• Congratulations to Past Students!

  Fri 20 Jul 2018

  Each year, nearly 200 students leave our school, a small number after Year 11, but mainly after their Sixth Form years

  We like to think that St Simon Stock helps pave the way to future careers and successes, and would like to share a few of our past students’ success stories:

  Firstly, George Tucker has just completed his Masters in Physics. Congratulations George! In the words of his parents…

  “We are very proud to inform you that our son George Tucker was advised today that he is being awarded a First in Master of Physics from Nottingham University.

  “As parents we would like to thank you and your staff for their part in his education journey. I am sure that the staff must also take pride in former pupils achievements.”

  Mr & Mrs Tucker

  Andrew Prendergast has just qualified as a Doctor at Nottingham University Hospital Trust. Congratulations to Andrew!

  We would love to hear more about the successes of any past student. The two above may be university related, but it would be fantastic to keep sharing your own stories with employment, personal challenges and celebrations too. If you do, please send in a recent photograph and we will include that in the post.

• Year 9 Gravity Trip

  Thu 19 Jul 2018

  On our July Enrichment Day, Year 9 ASDAN students visited Trampoline Park ‘Gravity’

  After watching a brief health and safety presentation the students went on a one-hour open jump. They had almost the whole park to themselves and they really made a good use of it.

  After an intense workout the students focused on their research about the park. They completed it very well and collaborated as a whole group. The last part of the trip was the visit to McDonalds for a delicious lunch. Year 9 really enjoyed an active time spent away from the classroom.

  Mrs Taylor

  ASDAN Teacher

  

• End-of-Year Mass celebrated by Bishop Paul

  Thu 19 Jul 2018

  Thank you to Bishop Paul for celebrating a special end-of-year Mass for our Chair of Governors, Michael Powis and for our Geography teacher, Mary Ryan, who have given so many years of brilliant service to our school.

  Well done to all our students. Your participation in the Mass, and in the Founders Day event afterwards, was FANTASTIC.

  

• Iguanodon Theatre

  Wed 18 Jul 2018

  As part of the celebrations of our Jurassic History, we were privileged to welcome a theatre company (and their 30 foot “Iggy the Iguanodon”) to the school.

  They took us on a whistle-stop tour of Maidstone’s connection to William Mantell and the Crystal Palace celebrations of all things ‘Dinosaur’ in 1853. You may be surprised to know that the Maidstone coat-of-arms includes an Iguanodon due to an entire skeleton being found within the borough.

  The very animated and interactive production delivered their historic storytelling to our Year 7 students and then again later in the day for the Year 6 students of St Francis Primary School on a very warm afternoon.

  Mrs Rodell-Jones

  

• STEM Experiences

  Sat 14 Jul 2018

  On 11 June a group of 20 Year 9 students, accompanied by Ms Whitehead and Mr. Rowe set off early in the morning and headed to Merchant Taylor’s School in Rickmansworth.

  Here the students attended three design workshops and learnt about the development of fast racing yachts in the past and up to the present day.

  The students worked in group with pupils from the host school to design the best hull to cut through the water with the least water resistance and to design the best shaped turbine to generate electricity for the yacht.

  The students also had a session of water sports where they were able to choose between sailing, kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding.

  All the students were a great example of Stocky at its best, they worked hard in the challenges, came up with some great ideas, worked well in teams and had fun on, and in, the water.

  If you are interested in taking up sailing or windsurfing please follow this link https://www.rya.org.uk/get-afloat/try-sailing/Pages/try-sailing-sessions.aspx

   

  On 12 June Mrs Hobbs and Mr. Tillott took a group of Year 10 students to Canterbury Christ Church University to compete in a design challenge which involved researching ingredients for a product, designing the packaging, carry out market research, write a catch phrase, present their product to industry STEM ambassadors and to answer questions on their chosen product.

  It was a busy and tiring day but once again Stocky students rose to the challenge and their determination and hard work shone through.

   

  Many thanks to all students who have participated in STEM events this year, to staff who have helped out at STEM events. STEM will be back next year.

  Ms. Whitehead

  STEM Coordinator

  

• Butterfly Conservation

  Thu 12 Jul 2018

  St Simon Stock has taken up the challenge set by the Butterfly Conservation Trust. We set aside a raised bed and filled it with wild flowers as part of the plot for pollinators campaign.

  This is to help encourage more butterflies and moths to our outdoor school environment. Thank you to India, one of our Year 12 photography team who captured the beauty of the wildflowers around the school. If anyone would like to donate any plants to our school gardens please contact me at Tilbym@ssscs.co.uk

  Mrs Tilby

  

• The Big Sleepout 2018

  Tue 10 Jul 2018

  Once again, the 6th form students and staff of St Simon Stock have displayed their amazing dedication to ‘working with love’ by taking part in the annual ‘Big Sleep-out’.

  43 year twelve students and 5 members of staff spent the night sleeping in our ‘cardboard city’ outside the 6th form block to raise money for our local homeless charity ‘Porchlight.’

  As a school, we have forged a great relationship with this charity, starting with them being the House charity for St Therese and now as the linked charity for the sleep-out event. Porchlight representative Nathan Tough has visited the 6th form twice this year, to speak to the students about the wonderful work they do and the sadly increasing need in our area. One visit also included a talk from one of Porchlight’s ‘service users’, David; a young man whose life had been turned around by the charity’s help. It is heartening to know that the work we do will go towards supporting others like David.

  I never fail to be impressed by the compassionate approach of our students and this time was no exception; I don’t think many teachers can say they enjoyed a night spent on the ground, surrounded by students, but the warmth, good humour and camaraderie that they displayed made it a relatively pleasant experience!

  We would also like to say a huge thank you to all those parents, governors, staff, students and their friends and families who have supported our efforts with donations. To date, we have raised an amazing £1,225.89, which can now help more vulnerable young people in Kent. If you would to donate, we still have a way to reach the £2000 target – https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StSimonStock

  Thank you to everyone!

  Miss Lockett

  

• Year 11 Stocky Prom

  Tue 10 Jul 2018

  Sparkly dresses, well attended hair, shiny smiles and proud parents

  The second St Simon Stocky Y11 Prom was an even bigger success than the previous one thanks to all the amazing attendants and the students’ great attitude. Congratulations to everyone for making this night unforgettable, marking the end of an era and cheering on new beginnings. We wish our Year 11 students a fantastic holiday and the best of luck for whatever they do in September.

  Miss Karaoglani

  

• Top University Conference

  Fri 06 Jul 2018

  On our last Enrichment day of the 2017-18 academic year, fourteen Year 10 students had the opportunity to attend the “Getting into the Top Universities” conference.

  The conference was held at Central Hall Westminster from 1.30pm until 4.30pm. Students were given advice on what they need to do to get into the top universities. During the morning we walked to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard, then had some “tourist time” as we walked through central London to the London School of Economics. After a short tour and lunch we walked along the Southbank (and even came across a University Graduation ceremony) then along Westminster Bridge for the Conference. It was a truly brilliant day. 

  Miss Brennan