We are proud of the hard work and commitment shown over the last two years by students.  

The many success stories of our Year 11 students are exemplified by a number of individual pupils, including:

• Archie Whittaker who achieved outstanding results, securing the following grades: English Language 7, French 8, Mathematics 7 and Science Double Award 87.   

• Libby Smith also achieved outstanding results including: English Literature 7, Mathematics 7, Science Double Award 88 and a BTEC Distinction in Hospitality and Catering, Music and Business Enterprise.  

• Another stand out student was Saibh Dunleavy, who achieved Mathematics 8, Science Double Award 87 and three BTEC Distinction grades in Childcare Studies, Information Technology and Health & Social Care. 

• Milly Sheehan achieved Geography grade 7 and BTEC Distinction in Business Enterprise and Information Technology.

• Brad Freed attained Mathematics at grade 7, Science Double Award 76 and BTEC Distinction Business Enterprise.

Steven Shaw, Principal at Folkestone Academy, said: 

“We are all delighted to see our students record such fantastic results. Today’s grades are the end result of a tremendous amount of hard work from these young people and I am so pleased that they have succeeded despite the challenges of the past few years. Thank you as well to our wonderful staff who have worked tirelessly to support these students”

Seamus Murphy, CEO of Turner Schools, said: 

"We would like to congratulate all our Year 11 pupils who are rightly celebrating their achievements today. It has been a delight to see so many young people feeling proud of their achievements, which are a culmination of years of hard work. Their GCSE results will enable them to move forward with their future aspirations and we are excited to see what adventures await these fantastic young people."

Schools Minister, Nick Gibb said:

“Pupils receiving their results in Folkestone, and across the country, should feel very proud today. I want to congratulate them all and express my gratitude to all of the teachers and leaders who have helped them on the way.

“GCSEs are a milestone in any young person’s life, and pupils collecting results today have the opportunity to progress onto one of many high-quality options including A levels, T Levels and hundreds of apprenticeship routes. I wish them all the best whatever they decide to do.”

Students across the country have been awaiting their results after sitting the exams during May and June. It’s been a normal school year after the pandemic disruption, but there have still been challenges to overcome for both staff and students. Many schools are still recovering from Covid-19, and although this is the first year that grading has returned to pre-pandemic standards, exams regulator Ofqual asked exam boards to take this into consideration when awarding grades. 

Staff at Folkestone Academy have worked tirelessly to ensure students had the support they needed to sit the final exams of their school career. In particular, staff offered additional revision and intervention sessions after school, during lunch times and during school holidays to ensure that pupils had every opportunity to succeed. 

We are particularly proud of the following pupils for achieving fantastic results: 

• Luke Murrum, who secured an A in A Level Sociology, B in Applied Criminology and a Distinction in Music Technology. Luke will be reading Creative Music Production and Technology at Canterbury Christ Church University. 

• Elijah Sainsbury, who achieved an A* in Fine Art, an A in Film Studies and a C in Graphic Design, is going on to read Fine Art at the University of Creative Arts. 

• Emma Gardiner achieved a Distinction in Child Development, a Distinction in Sport and a C in A Level History. Emma is looking forward to starting her fantastic journey in the Navy. 

• Poppy Foster, who attained a Distinction * in Child Development, a Distinction * in Health and Social Care and a Merit in Applied Science, will be moving on to study Paramedic Science at Canterbury Christ Church. 

• Katie Inge is also celebrating a Distinction in Child Development, a Distinction in Health and Social Care and an A in Fine Art. Katie will also be moving on to study Fine Art at the University of the Creative Arts. 

Steven Shaw, Head of School at Folkestone Academy, said: 

“We are thrilled to see so many students achieve the grades they deserved across their A-Levels, BTECs, and vocational courses. This is the result of a great deal of hard work and today we see the results of those efforts. Students will be going on to a wide range of exciting destinations and I couldn’t be happier for them.” 

Seamus Murphy, CEO of Turner Schools, said: 

“It is fantastic to see how well this cohort has achieved and they have every right to feel very proud of their success. Today’s results are a testament to the hard work, commitment, and dedication to their studies of these young people, as well as the fantastic teaching team here at Folkestone Academy, and I am delighted by how well they have all done. We wish them the best of luck for the future and know they will continue to excel as they take their next steps after leaving school.”

The aim of the project was to encourage boys to explore their strengths and interests; to raise awareness of career pathways that they may not have otherwise considered; and to develop their knowledge of higher education.

Over a 2 month period, the boys participated in a series of five workshops which included designing a university, creative writing, healthcare, physical theatre, and digital arts, as well as a visit from the author Sam Gayton. The project culminated in a visit to the University of Kent’s campus in Canterbury.

During the visit the students enjoyed taking part in two laboratory-based workshops, in fingerprinting and anthropology. 

In the fingerprinting workshops the pupils wore lab coats and used special powders to get their own fingerprint which they used to create a keyring, while in the anthropology workshop they analysed a replica human skeleton to understand how much they could learn about a person from their remains. 

They were also taught about heptalogy - the study of reptiles - and got to touch a real snakeskin, as well as learning about forensics through flies and maggots to learn a time of death. Finally, they explored the biodiversity of plants and how these can help uncover a crime scene. 

The boys got to take part in real discussion and questioning of the various subject areas, as well as receiving a tour of the university.

A celebratory award ceremony ended the day with boys being presented certificates for taking part in the series of workshops which formed the project. 

Aaron Hughes, a Turner Free School student, said: 

“The campus tour was great! The university was much bigger than I expected. The trip to UKC made me want to go there when I'm older.”

Dylan Dodd, a Turner Free School student, said: 

“I didn't think I would like forensic science, but I really enjoyed learning how to get fingerprints off surfaces using magnetic powder! I also found the tour really interesting, especially seeing the gym, theatre, cinema and library. I was surprised how big the library is as there are 4 floors including a cafe!”

Cillian Moss, a Folkestone Academy student, said:  

“I thought that the university trip was really interesting and it got me thinking a lot about things. I thought about what job I could do in the future if I went to university and how it would affect my life.”

Leeton Gentry, a Folkestone Academy student, said: 

“The trip to the university was really fun and interesting. I really enjoyed the fingerprinting workshop and how it was all real life stuff that we were doing.”

Kelly Jarrett, Careers Advisor at Turner Schools, said:

“It has been a privilege to witness how inspired pupils have been collaborating together, exploring new ideas and concepts that are not part of the standard curriculum. The visit to the University of Kent campus gave the boys valuable insights into university life which was brought to life through exposure to being part of laboratory style activities. 

“We are really proud of how our boys have seen the project through gaining more confidence and knowledge in the process. We would like to extend our thanks to The University of Kent for allowing our pupils to have this opportunity which will hopefully have a huge impact on their future study pathways and careers.”

The donated plants were planted in front of the recently completed Horticulture building. They included a variety of shrubs, succulents, herbs and lavender, all of which are hardy plants and work well in dry environments and need little watering.

The school received these plants after making contact with Tony Woods, Director of Garden Club London, when designing its Derek Jarman inspired Community Garden. Tony was a Gold Medal Winner at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show with his Garden Sanctuary design. The donated flowers come from the Hamptons Mediterranean Garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show which won a Silver Gilt medal. 

When the school received the flowers, it was the Year 8 Horticulture students, under the watchful eye of Horticulture Teacher Alexandra Peacock, who had the job of planting them all and ensuring they were best placed to continue growing. Alexandra and the Horticulture students will now be responsible for watering the plants and looking after them.

David Bowles, Director of Finance and Operations at Turner Schools, said::

“Having flowers from the world famous Chelsea Flower Show to massively enhance the landscaping around the building is the icing on the cake for the pupils, staff, and the local community. It’s really important to all the staff here that students understand the natural world around them and develop a love of the outdoors, so we would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Tony and the team at the Chelsea Flower Show for their generosity.”

Tony Woods said:

“I am delighted to be working with Folkestone Academy and the Horticulture Classroom to re-use the plants from the Hamptons Mediterranean garden at Chelsea Flower Show. Horticultural education is essential to meet many of the opportunities for young people to excel in green careers and inspire a new generation of gardeners. When established, this drought tolerant planting scheme will demonstrate how we can plant for a changing climate as well as providing plants for students to use for propagation, pruning and plant identification in horticultural lessons.”

Alexandra Peacock, Horticulture Teacher at Folkestone Academy, said: 

“We were all delighted to receive this incredibly generous donation of plants and flowers to help brighten up the school site. The students loved taking the time to plan out where each plant would go and deciding how they would best complement each other, and I know they are excited to watch these grow over time. It’s lovely to see how enthusiastic they all were for this project and are already looking forward to more planting in the future.”

Pupils from six different schools competed in a range of sports, supported by coaches from an array of local clubs. 

Over the course of the day the children took part in hockey drills and skills, supported by coaches from Folkestone Optimists, cricket challenges with The Sports Trust, football activities with Kent Lionesses coaches, and even skateboarding, delivered by coaches from F51 skate park. The children particularly enjoyed the football ‘speed cage’, an inflatable goal that tested the speed of a football being kicked into the goal.

Pupils also participated in a range of athletics events with coaches from the Folkestone Junior Athletics Clubs, including learning how to throw a javelin, taking on the hurdles, and running. 

The range of activities meant that pupils had a chance to try sports they might not have participated in before, as well as enjoying old favourites. 

Koby, a Year 5 pupil at Martello Primary, said: 

'I enjoyed the speed cage with the football as I scored 38. I was really shocked how well I did.”

Annabella, a Year 5 pupil at Martello Primary, said:

“I liked the skateboarding session as it encouraged us to try something new.”

Orlando, a Year 5 pupil at Martello Primary, said:

“All of the activities made us push ourselves and gave us a challenge.”

Frankie, a Year 5 pupil at Martello Primary, said:

“I enjoyed being energetic and watching people have fun.”

Joe, a Year 5 pupil at Mundella Primary said:

“The activity I enjoyed the most was cricket because it was fun scoring points against my friends.”

Ayu, a Year 5 pupil at Mundella Primary said:

“I enjoyed it all even though it was very hot. Cricket was the most fun.”

Harry, a Year 5 pupil at Mundella Primary said:

“My favourite was the football, especially the speed cage. I got 38!”

Sarah Green, The Sports Trust Project Manager for Schools and Folkestone School Games Organiser, comments: “It has been a wonderful day seeing so many children associate being active with fun. However, alongside the enjoyment of playing sport, we had a very important message for the children. 

As these year 5 pupils start to turn their thoughts to moving onto secondary school we praised those who stepped out of their comfort zone and tried something new today. 

“We also challenged them to continue to find ways in the near future to step out of their comfort zone to grow and acquire skills needed to be confident secondary school students in 18 months time. I would also like to thank all the primary school staff involved, the Folkestone Academy year 12s who supported the sports coaches, the year 7 students who spent time speaking with the participants about life at secondary school and the secondary staff involved at my School Games host school, Folkestone Academy.”

Steve Shaw, Principal at Folkestone Academy, comments: 

“It is always a pleasure to host our neighbouring primary schools for the Folkestone Olympics and to see such wonderful effort and enthusiasm from these young people. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to try new sports as well as show off their existing skills, all while being supported by the fantastic coaches from a real range of sports clubs.

“We know how important it is that young people grow up to live healthy, active lives, and days like today are crucial to helping them develop a love of exercise. We hope to see many more pupils take up these sports in the future as they continue to live energetic and vigorous lives.”

The six schools taking part in the Folkestone Olympics were:

The Churchill School, St Eanswythe’s CofE Primary, Mundella Primary, St Mary’s CofE Primary Academy, Martello Primary, and Folkestone Primary

Over the past few weeks the group have been working on creating the seasonal decoration to brighten up the window of the Bargain Warehouse. 

Linda Bolt, Lucy Hall and Kate Knight, who all work in the SEND team at Folkestone Academy, run the weekly club. They arranged with Bargain Warehouse for the children’s artwork to be displayed to reward them for their hard work. 

Linda Bolt, from the Turner Stone Community Hub, said: 

“Seeing their artwork displayed in the window of a major shop was a fantastic experience for our children! We know how much they enjoy taking part in the weekly Arts & Crafts club, but to see their work displayed in public like that really does add something special. 

“Our pupils say they enjoy attending the Arts & Crafts club because it’s therapeutic and fun, because it gives them the chance to make new friends while being creative, and because it’s a lovely environment to experiment with new craft ideas. It also lets our younger children chat with and work alongside older pupils which is great for their development.

“We welcome pupils’ families as well which helps create a really lovely atmosphere there. It’s an opportunity for families to spend some time together in a fun way, taking part in something creative with lots to do for children of all ages.” 

Highlights of this focus on creativity include:

Q&A with Sir Stephen Deuchar CBE

Folkestone Academy’s Art pupils were privileged to have a question-and-answer session with Sir Stephen Deucher CBE. Sir Stephen was awarded the CBE for his contribution to Arts and held the post of Director of Tate Britain.

The pupils found out that Sir Stephen had not chosen Art as a preferred subject at school, but rather initially focused on studying History at university. Through this he developed an interest in Art History which led to him pursuing a career in the art industry

Sir Stephen stressed the importance of pupils making the most of every opportunity, and passed on useful advice for those pupils looking to have a career in the art world.

Leon, a Year 8 pupil at Folkestone Academy, said:

“He was very open to share his passion for the things he has worked on, it was very inspiring to hear how his career has progressed. I enjoyed having the Q&A format for his visit because I got to express my interest in his career and ask questions about it that I wouldn't normally get the chance to.”

The visit was organised by Katy Tibbles, Senior Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager, through the Speakers For School charity (https://www.speakersforschools.org).

Katy said:

“We were honoured to be visited by Sir Stephen. Our pupils were incredibly lucky to meet someone with such extensive experience and knowledge of the art world. Sir Stephen was keen to hear from the pupils and to understand their views on the creative industry. He raised awareness of the different roles within the sector and encouraged pupils to pursue their goals and interests.”

Academy FM & Scholarship Mural with Vanessa Clark

Year 8 Scholarship pupils have had the pleasure of working with local artist Vanessa Clark on producing a Mural for the end-of-year Turner Trust Exhibition. Vanessa explained more about working as an artist in the local creative scene, and how she dedicates her practice to encouraging creative minds to follow their own process.

The pupils used the theme ‘Mental Health’ to inspire a cascading mural piece that takes everyday negative thoughts and poses solutions for working past these.

The pupils enjoyed using the abstract process of tearing up their ‘negative thoughts’ and scattering them across a brightly coloured ‘positive space’, full of the everyday things that bring joy. The piece will be displayed at our Turner Trust Exhibition at the end of the school year. 

Grace, a Year 8 pupil, said:

“I learned a new process of creating, the artist was so understanding and encouraged us to be more open with our ideas”.

Leila, a Year 8 pupil, said:

“The work we were doing really encouraged us to open up about mental health. It was fun working with different materials in a new way with Vanessa, she was very enthusiastic and encouraging.”

Academy FM & Scholarship Music workshops with Tim Smith

Year 7 and Year 8 Creative Scholarship pupils enjoyed workshops with local music producer Tim Smith. Using music provided by a Folkestone Academy pupil band, Tim showed the pupils how to set up microphones and record the live band. He also shared stories from his time working in the music industry and passed on advice to the pupils from his experiences.

The workshops came about through the Academy FM Folkestone project. This project is funded by the Kent Community Foundation and over the last year has seen a number of Folkestone Academy pupils meet people working in local creative industries.

Grace, a Year 8 pupil, said:

“Tim was great to learn from, he didn't just tell us how to work the equipment, he really showed us in depth”.

Jazmine, a Year 8 pupil, said:

“It was fun to be in the environment where instruments are being sound tested and be involved in the recording of live music, I loved how the instruments sounded.”

Year 7 Scholarship Trip to the Marlowe Theatre

Year 7 Scholars at Folkestone Academy enjoyed a trip to the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury to see a performance of Matthew Bourne’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’.

 The trip, which was funded through the Creative Arts Scholarship, provided the pupils with many first-time experiences; some had never been to a Theatre before, and none had ever seen a ballet!

 The pupils found particular inspiration from the dances, with a mix of contemporary dance and Tchaikovsky’s original ballet.

Bronte, a Year 7 pupil, said:

“The dancers were amazing, it made me realise that I could be performing dance on a stage one day”.

Annabell, a Year 7 pupil, said:

“The dresses were amazing, the way they moved with the dancers.”

Rayne, a Year 7 pupil, said:

“I love how the style of the fashion changed with the time periods, but it was all still a beautiful ballet style”.

Jacob, a Year 7 pupil, said:

“That was the best performance I’ve ever seen!”

Over the course of the competition pupils took part in six separate maths-based activities. These consisted of: 

1. Speed Test

2. Murder Mystery

3. Code Breaking

4. Number problems

5. Numbers Crossword

6. Number Relay game

All pupils went away with a goody bag and certificate while Steve Shaw, Principal of Folkestone Academy, presented the winners with their trophy, as well as a maths gift set including a scientific calculator and geometry set. 

The competition took place on Red Nose Day, in which pupils were allowed to wear their own clothes and red accessories. Pupils also enjoyed Red Nose themed biscuits made by the Folkestone Academy catering team. 

Keith Denchfield, Director of Maths at Folkestone Academy, said: 

“This was another incredibly competitive Maths Challenge which showcased the wealth of mathematical talent throughout Folkestone. The challenges these pupils faced really were demanding and we were taken aback at the enthusiasm and passion for solving them that we have seen here. I am really looking forward to seeing how these young people continue to develop over the course of their education.”

Steve Shaw, Principal at Folkestone Academy, said: 

“It is always a great day to welcome so many of Folkestone’s primary pupils for such a demanding day of mathematical challenges. There is always an incredibly competitive atmosphere here as these bright young minds tackle the activities and it is clear to see how much they enjoy it. 

“Congratulations again to the winners from Seabrook CofE Primary, as well as the mathematicians from Folkestone Primary and St Martin’s CofE Primary, for making up the top three. Well done to all involved for their efforts and their commitment to learning.” 

The initial design of the project came from Chloe Diwell, Art Teacher at Folkestone Academy, who was tasked by Seamus Murphy Turner Schools CEO to use her talents to create a whole new space.

Her brief was to design a garden design which provided a calm area where staff can eat their lunch, parents at the primary school next door could wait to collect their children, and where school pupils can sit calmly in the morning and collect their thoughts ahead of the school day. The space is designed to replicate themes found throughout Kent’s South East Coast. 

The final creative design for the space was inspired by artist, filmmaker, and gardener Derek Jarman. The garden space evolved throughout the project to include a replica shed of his former home ‘Prospect Cottage’ which is located in Dungeness and following a visit from Tony Woods, local horticulturist, a rowing boat was added with the aim to plant with coastal plants.

Chloe Diwell, Art Teacher at Folkestone Academy, said:

“This has been a fantastic project to oversee and to see come together. Taking such an unloved space and turning it into a calm and soothing garden has been incredibly fulfilling, and it will be wonderful to see the garden grow as we bring more flowers into it. I am looking forward to seeing it used by our entire school community as a tranquil, relaxing, spot.” 

To coincide with the structure changes, the Trust commissioned local artist, Nicole Cowan,  to work with Folkestone Academy Creative Scholars to create a mural design and then painted it herself.

Nicole Cowan said: 

“I worked with the creative scholars at Folkestone Academy to transform the walls of the outside area. This started by thinking about what makes us feel calm and relaxed; including being in and amongst the nature around us. Being located by the seaside, we ventured outside to gather different plants and objects which were then brought to the class to draw.”

“Experimenting with different materials and techniques, and looking at artists such as Matisse, the children created their own artworks of nature which were then incorporated into the final mural design.”

The project would not be completed without ensuring authentic plants were included in the project. The trust worked with Tony Woods, a Chelsea Flower Show Gold medal winning garden designer and horticulturist who lives locally, who volunteered to help out here. He worked with Academy Horticulture pupils to choose and plant suitable plants for the area.

Tony Woods said: 

“The academy has re-imagined vocational learning with a subject that teaches us to nurture food and the environment whilst enhancing our surroundings. Horticulture boosts our mental and physical health too as well as providing some really cool career opportunities. I can’t wait to pass on some of my skills and knowledge to the students”

The pupils had a tour of the campus and a talk from the course lecturers about their options for when they eventually finish their Level 3 studies. The pupils were also able to have a demonstration of the studio and recorded a performance of 'Sweet Home Chicago'

George Tanner, a Year 12 student at Folkestone Academy, left the demonstration saying "I'll definitely consider coming here" after impressing the lecturers with his drumming skills.

Robert Field, Head of Music at Folkestone Academy, said: 

“This trip was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn more about the variety of music courses out there at university. We have some very talented young musicians here who are keen to continue their studies after leaving school and I know they are seriously considering Canterbury Christ Church University after being so impressed by the facilities on offer here. 

“Thank you to the lecturers for being so generous with their time. It was great to see how the studio worked and our students loved recording their own performance!”

Pupils from Years 7 to 13 worked with Academy drama, music, dance, and art teachers to put on a sensational show. In all, 26 pupils contributed to the final production, either performing in it or working backstage to support their peers. With the support of sound and lighting engineers the full stage production allowed pupils to deliver a professional performance.

After all their hard work and dedication, pupils performed two shows. The first was a matinee performance to 180 primary school pupils from the local area and the second was a sell-out show to another 180 family, friends and staff members.

Mr Woodbridge, Drama Teacher at Folkestone Academy who organised the event, said: 

“Congratulations to all of our pupils involved with the High School Musical performance! They have worked so hard over the past year and it was fantastic to see this all come together in such a stunning couple of performances. I know how much our young people loved performing to younger pupils across Folkestone, as well as astounding their friends and family with the quality of their work. They should all be incredibly proud of themselves.”

Steve Shaw, Principal at Folkestone Academy, said:

“The pupils have really enjoyed the experience of participating in the production, and have demonstrated great resilience through working all day at school and then rehearsing in the evening. All their hard work clearly paid off as the actual performance was fantastic! Thank you to Mr Woodbridge as well for his great work in organising the event and pulling this all together.

“This musical is a great example of the opportunities we want to offer all pupils across Turner Schools. Productions like this give young people the chance to see how a large-scale performance really works; whether they’re up on stage or working behind the scenes they are developing key skills and learning more about life outside of the classroom.”

Pupils were tasked to design a costume for a character in the Shakespeare’s play, ‘As You Like It’. They also took part in a workshop where they analysed an extract from the play, where the character of Rosalind is pretending to be the male shepherd, Ganymede.

Discussions took place around the theme of disguising oneself and trying to blend in with the Forest of Arden. Design choices were made about the style of costume with students then being taught a number of tie dye techniques. Students were excited to think that they had created something for everyone playing Ganymede to wear in the production.

James Woodbridge, Drama teacher at Folkestone Academy who organised the trip, said: “This was a fantastic experience for our pupils to learn so much more about Shakespeare and the themes of the play As You Like It. Working with theatre professionals really helped bring the words to life and they loved having the chance to feed into the conversation around designing costumes. Thank you to everyone at the Marlowe Kit for welcoming us so kindly and for such a great experience!”

Michelle Foxwood, Director of Creative Arts at Turner Schools, said: “We know studying Shakespeare isn’t always easy for young people, but this workshop was instrumental to helping our pupils develop a love of the Bard. Having the opportunity to create something for Ganymede’s costume means that our pupils felt they really had a personal stake in the production and they were so enthusiastic about taking part. This meant they could really engage with the play and get a much better understanding of what we’re studying. We can’t wait to see the final performance towards the end of the academic year.”

The hampers included ingredients for a Christmas dinner, excluding meat products, and helped bring festive cheer to families across Folkestone. The project was funded by a £2,000 donation from Folkestone Rotary Club and £900 from Folkestone Town Council, as well as £415 donated by Turner Schools staff. This last figure was match-funded by the Trust.

Katy Tibbles, Senior Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager at Turner Schools, said:

“We were delighted to offer families across Folkestone these festive hampers. We know how tough life is right now for too many families and so we wanted to do what we could to help out. Hopefully this brought a smile to people’s faces and allowed them to have a really special Christmas. Thank you to the Folkestone Rotary Club, to Folkestone Town Council, and of course to our fantastic staff for their support in making sure we can offer these hampers.”

Sarah Morgan, Director of Secondary Improvement at Turner Schools, said:

“Our aim was to bring festive cheer to those in need and to show everyone the Turner spirit. I am so proud of the staff members who donated to this project, as well as those who offered their time to help us pack up and deliver these hampers. I am delighted that we have been able to offer these hampers to so many families this Christmas.”

Items donated included: first aid products, baby milk, hygiene products, sanitary products, instant soup sachets and paper plates. And now, the Trust has made a link with Folkestone’s BigJigs Toys, who are organising and the sorting items before they are transported by Freight 44, another local, haulage, business in the area. 

Following on from this appeal, Folkestone Academy also held a ‘Wear Something Blue or Yellow Day’, a cake sale and Ukraine ribbon sale, which together raised just over £600 in total. The funds will be donated to the British Red Cross appeal.

Seamus Murphy, CEO, Turner Schools, said: “Like many others up and down the country, our school communities have been touched by the crisis in Ukraine and we have felt compelled to act in support. Everyone has rallied around, including pupils from Folkestone Academy, who have volunteered during lunchtimes to help the team at BigJigs sort through the donated items. We teach our pupils the value of charity, community and compassion - it has been humbling to see them enact those values, and show their care for Ukraine, over this past week. We hope this will help in some small way.”

The 12 and 13-year-olds, along with their tutor Miss Diwell, came up with the idea as part of a form tutor class charity initiative. After designing and creating the bags, the pupils sent information around the school and their homes so that parents, staff and other pupils could purchase them from the Reception Desk at Folkestone Academy.

In addition to their tie-dye colour scheme the bags also featured images chosen by the pupils to reinforce their belief in safeguarding the environment and raising awareness of pollution. The reusable bags are designed to replace single-use plastic bags and help keep Folkestone green.

Nathaniel, one of the Year 8 pupils, said:

“We are so proud of how hard we all worked to make the tote bags and also how much money we raised for the Make A Wish charity.”

Miss Diwell said:

“I am so impressed with the dedication by the pupils when making their tote bags for Make A Wish. They did everything from designing the artwork, dying the fabric, ironing each bag and setting up a stall to sell the tote bag. The pupils really admire all the amazing work Make A Wish Foundation does to help other children and hope that their donation can contribute to that.”

The Navy representatives explained that there are more than 100 roles on offer across the service with 9 branch specialties, including Aviation, Engineering, Logistics, Warfare and Medical. They also spoke of the benefits of joining the Navy, the opportunities for lifelong learning and training including the chance to gain NVQs and formal Apprenticeships.

After the careers presentation the Folkestone pupils had the chance to take part in a Ready Steady Cook style task where they were challenged to prepare a meal within a set time limit using their Catering skills. The Navy officers oversaw the challenge and spoke about the similarities to their own roles where they’ll have to prepare meals within strict timeframes, as well as their own life experiences since joining up.

The visit highlighted the challenges of working in the Navy across a variety of roles and linked the pupils’ work on their Catering course to what experienced naval personnel have to do on a regular basis.

Year 11 Ethan said 

"I really enjoyed the cooking lesson. It was interesting to hear about the different jobs in the Navy."

Year 11 Amelia said 

"The lesson has made me think about exploring a job catering within the Navy."

Steve Shaw, Head of School at Folkestone Academy, said:

“Thank you to the Royal Navy Chefs Display team for taking the time to come into school and show off their catering skills to our pupils. It was a really interesting and engaging session which highlighted how the lessons learned in their kitchen can be used in the real world and in such a variety of different roles. It’s given our pupils a better understanding of the possible careers out there for them after they leave school, which is so important as they come to the end of their time here.”  

The aim of the week was to broaden pupils’ awareness of what is meant by diversity and inclusion; to encourage pupils to develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding towards those who are different to themselves; and to gain an appreciation for the diverse community in which we live.

Events included:

• Neurodiversity workshops with The Young Animators Club - Pupils participated in workshops on the concept of neurodiversity and how it feels to be neurodiverse, before producing animations to reflect their thoughts.

• Anti-racism workshops with Books for Change - Pupils actively engaged in workshops delivered by Books for Change where they talked about the impact of racism and the importance of treating people equally. 

• Mark Parrin (Ambassador at Wordly Wise) - Mark delivered assemblies to Year 10 pupils at Folkestone Academy and Turner Free School, sharing his story of how he became paralysed in his mid-twenties, and how having a positive attitude has helped him to live a full and rewarding life. He went on to talk about the work he does now to support other people living with disabilities.

• Mr Lea Baynes, teacher at Folkestone Academy - Delivered assemblies at all schools about his experience of being transgender., speaking openly and honestly about the challenges he faced as a teenager and the struggles of trying to ‘fit in’ before realising that he was transgender. 

• Folkestone and Hythe District Council - Deputy Leader Cllr Jenny Hollingsbee and other Council representatives spoke to pupils about diversity in the workplace, looking at the 9 protected characteristics and why having a diverse body of employees makes the workplace a more successful and happier environment.

• Hearing impairment specialists from Kent Supported Employment  - Helped pupils to understand what it’s like to be hearing impaired and what they can do to support members of the community with these needs.

• Storytime with Dita the Drag Queen - To end the week, pupils spent the day with Dita the Drag Queen, reading stories about gender differences, using appropriate pronouns, and inclusive language. They got to know Dita, asked them questions, enquired about their job, their life, their own experiences at school, and learned exactly what it looks like when somebody, who may initially appear different in some way, is happy and confident and able to express themselves however they see fit.

A Year 7 pupil from Folkestone Academy said:

“This week I have learnt to be more respectful and considerate of other people's feelings. We should celebrate the differences between us; no one should experience discrimination.”

Seamus Murphy, CEO at Turner Schools, said:

“As a trust we embrace the diverse culture in which we live and we want our pupils to grow up having confidence in themselves, no matter what their situation may be. This week, pupils have had the opportunity to explore a wide range of issues and have heard first hand from people with diverse backgrounds. Pupils from all age ranges have approached the week with interest and maturity and I know that they have gained a huge amount from these experiences.”

Katy Tibbles, Community Engagement Manager at Turner Schools, said:

“It has been a privilege to work with such a diverse group of people throughout the week. I am incredibly grateful for the contributions made by members of the wider community and the stories that they have shared with us.”

Working with the Freshwater Theatre Company, Year 6 children going into Year 7 at both schools took part in a drama workshop with a Modern Foreign Languages theme, working with a specialist language performer as they recreate the dramatic opening of the novel, Les Trois Mousquetaires. In the workshop, French and English are woven seamlessly together to ensure pupils follow the action and develop their dramatic skills along with their language abilities.

In addition to the drama workshop, both schools prepared a full range of summer activities, including canoeing, escape rooms, screen printing, skateboarding, boxing, hockey and other sports. In total, more than 150 pupils from each school attended the summer schools.

The workshop is part of Turner Free School’s plans for drama to form a key part of their curriculum, following their work with a Shakespeare company during the last term. 

Krissy Yates, Principal at Turner Free School, said:

“I felt it was important to run a drama activity to boost pupils’ confidence and help develop their oracy skills as they move into their secondary education. At Turner Free School we have a real focus on languages, so we saw it as such a great opportunity to work with the Freshwater Theatre Company, who have expertly combined these two elements through their workshop. This way the pupils will get a taste of life at their new schools, have a head start on their languages, and will get to develop their confidence with their new classmates ahead of the beginning of term in September.”

Their goal was to protect the the environment and make their local community a greener place to live. Over the course of the week pupils collected more than 25 bags of rubbish. Each school now has its own set of litter picking equipment and pupils will be seen regularly around the streets of Folkestone as they help keep the streets clean.

Ryder, Year 9 from Turner Free School said

“I was really surprised to see how much rubbish there actually was. I don’t think you realise until you make a conscious effort to look for it. I think it’s really important that we take care of where we live, not just because of the environment but also because it looks nicer if there’s not litter everywhere.”

Am’e Moris, Principal of Morehall Primary, said:

“I was very proud to see our pupils head out onto the streets of Folkestone and do their bit for the community. I know that they are much more aware now of how much rubbish there is on our streets and will be more conscientious about how they dispose of their own litter.”

 Hayden, Year 6 pupil at Martello Primary, said:

"It was exciting because we got to help the earth and also the local community to ensure that it is clean and tidy!"

 Adam, Year 6 pupil at Martello Primary, said:

"It was fun to be able to walk around Folkestone Knowing that we were doing something good!"

The project came about after pupils learned about bees and their importance to the environment. Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are essential to the environment and, whilst there are other methods of pollination, wild bees are the most important because they pollinate on such a large scale. It is estimated that it would cost farmers £1.8 million per year to fertilise their crops if it wasn’t for natural pollinators such as bees! Despite this, over recent years, colonies of bees are disappearing and they continue to be under threat due to the loss of habit, use of pesticides and climate change.

Whilst most pupils had an awareness of the role that bees play in pollination, many of them had not realised quite how important this is for the environment and future of the planet. Equipped with a greater understanding of the impact on the environment and climate change, the pupils were all keen to create more opportunities for bees to gather pollen, so it was agreed that each school would establish its own wild bee flower patch.

The pupils really enjoyed the project and felt that it gave them a much better understanding of the environment in which they live. They were also very grateful to Folkestone Garden Centre, County Hardware, and W Martin Ltd for donating seeds and plants for the project.

Megan, a year 7 student at Folkestone Academy, said:

“It was lots of fun learning about bees and there were lots of facts that I didn’t know. I think it’s really important that we think about the environment and how we help look after it. I’m glad that I have done my bit to help.”

Louise Feaver, Principal at Folkestone Academy Primary, said:

“As a Trust, we’re very much aware of the role that our schools and pupils play in protecting the environment and so we thought it important that the schools came together to work on this project. We’re pleased to have shared resources and ideas, and ultimately to have established an area in each of our schools where wild flowers can grow.”

The 1 to 1 Device Scheme was launched in June with over 150 Chromebooks distributed to current Year 7 pupils. The scheme was kick started by Friends of Folkestone Academy, who paid for every new Year 7 student to have a device to use during their time at the academy.

Each department has now integrated the Chromebooks into their teaching, including testing pupils’ learning and understanding through quizzes, viewing resources online to make it clearer to read, or accessing specialised apps like Bedrock Learning to practise core skills. Pupils will also have access to an online library systems allowing them to reserve books, access digital books and leave reviews on books they have read for other pupils.

The academy now plans to roll out Chromebooks to every year group from September 2021. This will be supplemented by a Google Hub within the academy which will provide support with access and technical issues, charging points, training, and repairs.

The scheme was led by Cerys Walker, Folkestone Academy’s Google Champion, who worked closely with teachers and pupils to ensure the integration of digital teaching was successful.

Cerys Walker said:

“Introducing technology to the classroom has been an exciting project that both teachers and pupils have thoroughly enjoyed. It is wonderful to see the Chromebooks in lessons with all pupils deeply engaged in learning activities which enable teachers to clearly and quickly see the pupils' understanding. Providing the pupils with Chromebooks has also enabled all pupils to easily access their learning both at home and it develops our pupils’ skills to prepare them for the increasingly digital world we live in.”

 Charlie Henderson, Year 7 pupil, said:

“I really like my Chromebook, it’s really helped me with my homework as all my lessons are in one place so it’s easy to find.

Clemmy Griffin, Year 7 pupil, said:

“I’ve most enjoyed using my Chromebook to practise my times tables on TT Rock Stars. It is easy to access and means I can use it at home as well to help finish my homework.”

 Mrs Thomas, a Year 7 parent, said:

“My daughter is very happy using the Chromebook in class and has not had any problems with it during lessons, as for at home she is more willing to come straight home and do her homework which I'm very pleased with.”

Mr Steve Shaw, Head of School at Folkestone Academy, said:

“Thank you to Friends of Folkestone Academy for their incredibly generous donation which has ensured Year 7 pupils were able to receive a Chromebook. These have already proved so useful in helping these pupils learn and it’s been fantastic to see how quickly our teachers have integrated these into their lessons. Our next aim is to give a device to every pupil at the academy to make sure everyone has the tools they need to thrive and learn at both school and home.”

Working with the Freshwater Theatre Company, Year 6 children going into Year 7 at both schools took part in a drama workshop with a Modern Foreign Languages theme, working with a specialist language performer as they recreate the dramatic opening of the novel, Les Trois Mousquetaires. In the workshop, French and English are woven seamlessly together to ensure pupils follow the action and develop their dramatic skills along with their language abilities.

In addition to the drama workshop, both schools prepared a full range of summer activities, including canoeing, escape rooms, screen printing, skateboarding, boxing, hockey and other sports. In total, more than 150 pupils from each school attended the summer schools.

The workshop is part of Turner Free School’s plans for drama to form a key part of their curriculum, following their work with a Shakespeare company during the last term. 

Krissy Yates, Principal at Turner Free School, said:

“I felt it was important to run a drama activity to boost pupils’ confidence and help develop their oracy skills as they move into their secondary education. At Turner Free School we have a real focus on languages, so we saw it as such a great opportunity to work with the Freshwater Theatre Company, who have expertly combined these two elements through their workshop. This way the pupils will get a taste of life at their new schools, have a head start on their languages, and will get to develop their confidence with their new classmates ahead of the beginning of term in September.”