Extra Enrichment Opportunities

Exciting Enrichment Opportunities

Click here to download an example of our Extra-Curricular Activities Brochure for the Autumn Term 2016 to see what is on offer at Kent College throughout the school year.

Enrichment opportunities at Kent College

We want your daughter's experiences at KC to be rich, varied, stimulating and fun - outside the classroom as well as inside. We want her to find as many things as possible which motivate her, enable her to connect more strongly with the wider world, and help her to engage and develop a real passion.

There is much more than the statutory academic curriculum on offer for KC girls with a programme of community events, the Kent College Academies, as well as our extensive extra curricular programme provided throughout the week. The school is a hub of activity after lessons end with a varied and exciting programme of over 100 extra curricular activities.

"Pupils show a committed approach to extra-curricular activity and a determination to compete successfully." ISI Report 2016

Community Events

Bringing the school together as one is an important part of Kent College's special ethos.  Every year the school provides a programme of events and these include the following:

• Whole School Sponsored Walk - September. Families and four legged friends are most welcome to take part in this 10 mile walk around Pembury and the immediate area.
• Birthday Lecture - Autumn Term.  High profile guest speakers have included environmentalist and eminent writer Jonathon Porritt , historian Dan Snow, broadcaster John Sargeant, Comedienne and author Sandi Toksvig, author Germaine Greer and actress Miriam Margolyes.
• Christmas Carol Concert - December.  A lovely way to celebrate the festivities for girls and their parents.
• Drama productions & Music Concerts - various times throughout the year.
• Theatre Trip - Summer term.  Once a year the whole school enjoys an evening out at a west-end theatre.
• Sports Day & Summer Fete - end of the summer term.  Families and four legged friends are most welcome to attend this event which includes a BBQ and other entertainment provided by Sixth Form School Officers.
• Speech Day - July.  Our annual Prize Giving ceremony which celebrates the achievements of all pupils and leavers at the end of the summer term. A guest speaker is also invited.

Clubs and Societies

The school has an impressive and diverse range of lunchtime and after school activities of which there are currently over 100 specialising in all areas of the curriculum as well as the more unusual such as film-makers club, Zumba dance, horse riding, cake-making and Eco Club to name a few. These all help to offer additional scope for students to discover their individual strengths and abilities.

The activities give the girls opportunities to watch Spanish films, study astronomy, learn about and debate current affairs, set up a company as part of the Young Enterprise scheme or study the social, economic and political realities of different countries in preparation for the Model United Nations conference. Further challenges are taken up by those joining the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Almost every school has an annual school magazine but at KC it is the girls who write and edit the articles and get involved in the design. It is also the girls who are driving an ethical Fair Trade initiative which campaigns for the school to purchase more fair trade products to support disadvantaged producers in the developing world.

Academies at Kent College

Kent College is committed to providing excellent enrichment opportunities where girls can perform at their best in an enjoyable and rewarding environment.  With this in mind, over the last three years the school has established a set of Academies which focuses on providing outstanding teaching in weekend and holiday workshops.

Kent College Gymnastics Academy

In 2009 the Kent College Gymnastics Academy was established which trains girls and boys from KC and other schools in the area in Saturday workshops at our on-site Sports Hall.  These fun and safe classes allow pupils to experience the variety of apparatus on offer, learn from experienced coaches an to enhance their natural ability in a safe, enthusiastic and cheerful environment.  In the summer of 2009, Kent College gymnasts were thrilled to meet British Gymnast Champion Beth Tweddle who held masterclasses for the girls.  In 2012, and again in 2013, Kent College hosted the International GISGA Gymnastics tournament which focuses on excellence in the Gymnastics. For more information please click here.

Kent College Theatre Academy

In 2012  the Kent College Theatre Academy was established.  This dynamic workshop based Academy delivers the teaching of Drama, Dance and Singing to a professional standard in The Countess of Wessex Theatre, dance studio and music centre. Kent College has a strong reputation for the Performing Arts with professional teaching staff who have industry experience. Junior and Senior Academy workshops are held on Saturdays and in the school holidays for pupils in year groups 1 – 13. The Academy also welcomes children from other schools.  For more information please click here.

Kent College Swimming Academy

 The Swimming Academy holds classes throughout the year for Beginners through to Advanced swimmers on weekdays and Saturdays to pupils both at Kent College and from other schools. Held in the on-site 20m heated indoor swimming pool, the Academy provides pupils with the opportunity to excel at all levels in this important sport.  For more information please click here.

Service to the Community

Among the most rewarding and enjoyable activities which unite and inspire students are those involving community service. Thousands of pounds are raised every year for charities chosen by the girls.

The biggest charity event in the school calendar is a sponsored walk involving the whole school, each year the school raises around £20,000 for charities elected by the girls, including The Kent College School in Nepal.

At Christmas, elderly residents from local Pembury village are treated to a festive tea and carols hosted by the boarders at KC. Through these, and many other initiatives, students learn the value of giving.

Busy Weekends

A busy schedule of weekend activities is open to both boarders and day girls including sporting fixtures, bowling, cinema and shopping trips. London is only 40 minutes away by train and the girls have plenty of opportunities to visit museums, art galleries and theatres.

Weekend workshops are regularly staged by teachers and visiting experts on subjects ranging from drama and dance to cookery and craftwork.

Residential and Overseas Trips

"The curriculum is greatly enhanced by a wide variety of trips, both day and residential, such as the optional ones to Berlin, Nepal and Iceland, and pupils participate enthusiastically in the D of E scheme." ISI Report 2016

Residential trips, both at home and abroad, are arranged for sporting and cultural activities during half terms and holidays. Examples include:

• RS & history cruise to Turkey, Greece, Lebanon
• Geography trip to the Bay of Naples
• Classics trip to Rome
• Science trip to Indonesia
• D of E Excursion and visit to The Kent College School in Nepal
• Bi-annual skiing trip to Italy
• Year 9 outdoor education trip to the Ardeche
• Choir tour to Wiesbaden
• Day trips to Boulogne, Le Touquet and Calais in France
• Classics Trip to Rome and Pompeii, Italy
• Year 7 residential activity weekend
• Year 9 initiative training and sleepover
• Year 10 residential weekend at the UK Sailing Academy in Cowes, Isle of Wight
• Drama tour to America
• A level geography trip to Morocco
• Art trip to Cornwall

Exchange Programmes

For a small number of lucky girls in Year 9, there is a chance to spend a whole term on a sports exchange to America or a term's cultural exchange with a girl in Australia. The school has exchange programmes with two Australian schools, Fairholme College in Toowoomba, Queensland, New South Wales and Ravenswood School in Sydney.

Language students can spend two or three weeks living with Spanish, French and German families and attending their hosts' schools.  Pupils from exchange schools come to Kent College as boarders or day girls.

A successful A level drama exchange has also been established with schools in America.

Year 10 Florida Exchange 2015-16

In 2015, Kent College created a link with Berkeley Preparatory School, Tampa, Florida, for ongoing exchange programme opportunities. This offers an exciting opportunity for our girls to experience school life in another country in a completely different environment. Invitation to take part in the Florida exchange programme for 2016 is now available. Email Assistant Head of Middle School Mrs Tobin at tobinj@kentcollege.kent.sch.uk

"Florida was amazing, I felt I learnt how to cope in many situations and become more responsible in many ways. It was the best experience I’ve ever had and I’m never going to forget about it. The exchange started at the beginning of our GCSE studies but we caught up on all the work missed and the teachers are really supportive and enthusiastic for us to meet with them privately just to go over a few things. This benefited our understanding of all our lessons.”

Florence Andrews Year 10