Mrs Payne's Reflections
Purpose, how can we lead purposeful lives? This was one of the questions that our school week started with as Celts, Danes and Saxons met for their house assemblies on Monday morning. Their first task was to think of ways in which they could be purposeful towards others in the Kent College community? What can we do to help others? Do we look out for colleagues and friends? Do we treat everyone with respect? The challenge for all of us has been to think of our own individual responsibility to the other members of our community. The foundation of our values at Kent College is our Wesleyan motto of “do all the good you can” which calls us to actively engage in positive deeds and to do so for the benefit of others. It is not solely about the deeds however, it is also about doing as much good as possible, no matter how big or how small. This is emphasised in Ephesians 2:10 where we learn that we are created for good works. Our students spent time thinking about how they could actively support their chosen house charities. ‘Doing all the good you can’ is a call to action, a call that our students spent time collaborating on and, I hope, will lead to exciting plans in the future. Our theme of ‘Purpose’ this week also asks our students to look to their future selves in PSHE and form times. Year 9 have chosen their options for GCSE, Year 10 have explored careers in the city and apprenticeships, Year 7 have looked at how they use their money and Year 8 have thought about how they might use their strengths and skills in the workplace. Their purpose driven work now will be rewarded in their futures. Alongside this being ‘Purposeful Citizens’ is one of our ASPIRE values where we challenge our students to make positive impacts not only in their local community but also beyond their form rooms and house families. We are seeing this lived out in our Sixth Formers, volunteering on a weekly basis. It is exciting to think of the many lives that our students will reach once their own potential has been unlocked and they go out into the global community. Wishing you all a lovely weekend! Mrs Payne
60 Seconds with Mrs Smith, Head of Textiles
Tell us a bit about yourself...
I was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and developed an early interest in fashion and textiles. I completed a BTEC in Fashion and Textiles, followed by a degree in Fashion and Textiles, before gaining my PGCE in Cardiff. I began my teaching career in Kent in 2008 and joined Kent College in 2012, where I became Head of Textiles in 2013. I am passionate about supporting students in transforming ideas into meaningful outcomes. In my role, I encourage creativity, resilience, and problem-solving through hands-on, practical learning. My interests include sustainable fashion, surface design, and helping students understand how textiles connects to real-world industries and everyday life. My aim is to help students work with purpose and aspire to achieve their full creative potential.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
My favourite aspect of teaching textiles is seeing students grow in confidence, from making their first stitch to completing a final piece they are truly proud of. Watching students realise that their ideas have value, and that challenges can be overcome through perseverance, strongly reflects our ethos of working with purpose and encouraging students to aspire beyond what they thought was possible.
What top advice would you give to students studying your subject?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, they are an essential part of the design process. Use every project as an opportunity to experiment, reflect, and improve. Work with purpose, take creative risks, and always aspire to push your skills a little further each time. Inspiration can be found anywhere.
What are the department highlights and upcoming events?
The Textiles Department is proud of the creativity, commitment, and ambition shown by students across all year groups. Highlights include student exhibitions, collaborative projects, and a strong focus on sustainable and purposeful design. Upcoming events include student showcases, enrichment workshops, and opportunities to explore textiles beyond the classroom. These experiences are designed to help students aspire to future pathways in the creative industries while developing valuable skills for life. As a department, we are excited to be co-ordinating the costumes for the school production of ‘Anything Goes’ and we look forward to receiving entries for our national competition Young Fashion Designer UK 2026. www.youngfashiondesigneruk.com
Miss Handford chairs the BSA Conference
This week Miss Handford chaired The Institute of Boarding (TIOB) Annual Boarding Conference. In this role, she led discussions with boarding professionals from across the sector, focusing on best practice, current developments, and the future of boarding education. The conference was an excellent opportunity to share expertise, learn from others, and ensure our school continues to benefit from the very latest thinking in boarding care and education.
Global Citizenship Diploma Course
Year 9 are in the midst of their Global Citizenship Diploma course. This involves a range of elements, with 50% of the marks coming from academic work on Global themes in each of five subjects: English, Maths, Science, History and Geography. The other 50% is made up of a Community Engagement project (where the students take practical action as a Global Citizen in the local area), and from work in Global Citizenship lessons. In English lessons, Year 9 have now completed their unit for the Diploma, which was based around the Global Citizenship theme of ‘Identity and Diversity’. This is a key theme as effective global citizens are self-directed and metacognitive thinkers who are able to take brave and positive actions and make informed choices, being aware of their place within the wider world, and how they can be a force for good. The course at Kent College is designed to develop skills of critical thinking, creativity, flexibility and problem solving and for students to be armed with knowledge and understanding in order to make informed decisions and communicate their ideas effectively. With this in mind, Year 9 students have been studying a range of texts focusing on identity and diversity and their final task was to present a 3-minute speech to their peers. On Thursday morning, the 9 students who made it through to the final, presented to a panel of judges (Mr Showell, Mrs Drane and Chaplain Katie). Huge congratulations to all our finalists who presented with such confidence, and a big shout out to our winner Marja and the runners up, Willow and Eve, all of whom gave a truly impressive performance and left us with much to think about!
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Workshops
We were delighted to welcome the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to our theatre on Monday for an engaging acting masterclass led by one of their professional actors Adam Borzone. This exciting workshop offered our GCSE and A Level Drama Studies students a genuine insight into what it’s like to train at a specialist drama school, helping them explore the pathways available after Sixth Form.
Throughout the session, students delved into character development, direction, voice, and movement, gaining hands-on experience that enriched their understanding of their craft. It was an inspiring opportunity for them to refine their skills and glimpse the rigour and creativity of professional acting training.
We look forward to welcoming Central back for more workshops in the near future.
Year 9 Acting Workshop
We were delighted to welcome back a former Kent College student Flavia White to our Countess of Wessex Theatre this Wednesday to deliver a screen acting workshop to our Year 9 students as part of their Silver Arts Award course. Students thoroughly enjoyed exploring how to adapt their acting skills from stage to screen, and the session has even inspired several students to consider pursuing television acting as a future career after Sixth Form. The workshop involved learning key film acting vocabulary, exploring various screen shots and acting extracts from film scripts. Students also looked at a professional ring light and study how to adapt it for each actor. We look forward to welcoming Flavia back again in the near future.
Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE
As part of their non examination assessment, the Year 11 students have designed and made an amazing variety of products. Their brief was to either create foods that were suitable for sports people or to encourage teenagers to eat more fruits and vegetables. They researched the nutrients needed for their target market and then included suitable ingredients into their designs. Everything was made from scratch, even the butter! We are exceptionally proud of all their hard work and ongoing achievement.
Cambridge Classics Offer for Kateryna
Congratulations to Kateryna on receiving a conditional offer to study Classics at the University of Cambridge. This is an outstanding achievement and reflects her hard work and commitment. We wish her every success as she works towards meeting the conditions of her offer.
RSPBA Big Bird Watch
The boarders enthusiastically took part in the RSPBA Big Bird Watch, embracing the opportunity to contribute to a wider community initiative while enjoying time together outdoors. With clipboards and keen eyes at the ready, they worked collaboratively to observe, record, and share their findings, demonstrating teamwork, curiosity, and a strong sense of responsibility. The activity offered a relaxed way to learn more about the natural environment while highlighting the importance of taking part and supporting shared community efforts, making it an enjoyable and worthwhile experience for all involved.
8 James Form Time
In preparation for Chinese New Year, 8 James created some festive decorations, including several smaller dragons and one very long one. Some students also tried to copy the Chinese symbols that Enye wrote for us.
Upcoming Events
Bake Sale - Mon 2nd Feb
It's Showtime - Sat 7th Feb
Join us for a lively, creative morning of music and song in the Theatre, led by our Director of Performing Arts, Ms Helen Bruce. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our specialist teachers and discover what inspires our performing arts programme. The event is for Nursery and Prep-aged pupils. Please do book for yourselves, or share with friends and families who may be interested.
Dance Showcase - Thu 12th Feb
Kent College’s Annual Dance Showcase celebrates the creativity, confidence and commitment of our dancers across the Senior School. The evening features a variety of performance pieces created through curriculum work, including GCSE Dance studies showcasing students’ artistic expression, technical ability and passion for the Arts. This showcase highlights how dance nurtures creativity, collaboration, and self-confidence for our students. We are delighted to share their achievements with you.
Anything Goes - Wed 18th to Sat 21st March - Tickets Now On Sale
Scavenger Hunt
We need your help to bring the 1920s/30s to life. We’re running an “Anything Goes?” Scavenger Hunt to source period-style props for our upcoming production. If you have an item that fits the bill, please bring it to Ms Bruce (clearly named). Everyone who donates an item will be acknowledged in the programme.
Items needed (1920s/30s style)
Martini glasses, cocktail shaker, canvas bag, bottle of gin x 2, clipboard, camera, pocket watch, wallet, FBI badge, Tommy gun, 2 x deck of cards, passport, Wheelchair, cigar, cigar case, small gong, bottle of champagne, table set for a romantic dinner, phone (old), cologne, glasses (to wear), bedcovers, tea cart, mops, buckets, cleaning cloths, deckchairs, 100 dollar bills, binoculars, life preservers, jewellery, Dice x 2, mirror (art deco), broadsword, robe, lighter, hip flask, fake beard, butterfly net, lobsters, champagne flutes, tin cups, keys, watch, scarves, dark glasses, top hat (collapsible), telegram. (Replica items only where appropriate.) Thank you for helping us create a world of glamour, jazz, and intrigue.
Parent Toolbox
The Wellbeing Hub Recognised For Excellence
Congratulations to The Wellbeing Hub on winning the 2026 Bett Award for Wellbeing Resources. The judges praised the resource for being well-structured and comprehensive, highlighting the informed input from a wide range of expert contributors. They also recognised The Wellbeing Hub as an invaluable support tool for educators, particularly in such a vital area where confidence can sometimes be challenged.
Prep Sign-up Links
Free Prep A homework sessions run in the library (1h 15m). Phones aren’t allowed, and students should bring a book to read once they finish their homework. Late bus sign-out is by 5:25pm; parents collecting children should come to the main office. The sign up links for 2025-26 are below:
Prep B sessions (1h) are for students staying past 5:30pm and are held in Boarding and the Dining Hall, with optional supper (extra charge). The sign up links are below:
All sessions must be booked in advance for safeguarding purposes.
Second-Hand Uniform Shop - Spring Term Opening Dates
The Second-Hand Uniform Shop will be open on the first Friday of each month from 3:00pm to 4:15pm. The Spring Term dates will be Friday 6th February and Friday 6th March. For those who cannot make these dates, you can contact the Second-Hand Uniform Shop at kcseniorshop@gmail.com.
Lunch Menu - Week Commencing 2nd February
Chaplain Katie's Reflections of the Week
This Wednesday in Chapel, Year 11 and Sixth Form reflected on Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was on 27th January. Our Chapel theme for this term is 'hope' and I talked with the students about how hope is something that can keep you alive. Brilliant psychologist and philosopher Viktor Frankl, survived the Holocaust and went on in life to teach others about the power of hope. In his book, Man's Search for Meaning, he reflects on his time in a Nazi death camp and how he found meaning in suffering. But it was when he witnessed people who lost all hope that he knew they were not far from death. In Chapel, I brought in a book of poems and artwork by children who were imprisoned in Terezin Concentration Camp. These children were torn from their homes, some never to return. This book is a treasure of first hand accounts, dreams of the future, and hope to return home once again. Some of the children who created the poems and drawings survived the atrocities of Terezin or even other concentration camps only to reflect on how these works of art were what gave them hope that they would survive. Hope can keep you alive, help you move forward, and give you purpose. May God bless you with an unmeasurable amount of hope to keep you going and live out your purpose. Amen.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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