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16/09/25

Street Cricket is back at CDS!  Sessions run by Kent County Crick will start again on Tuesday 23 September and will run each Tuesday between 5.30pm and 6.30pm, at CDS.  AND IT'S ALL FREE!!

12/09/25

Kooth are running a webinar on Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) on 23d October 2025. If you are interested in joining this free online session, please use this link to sign up:  connect.kooth.com/events/eve…

11/09/25

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08/09/25

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16/07/25

Barton Court Academy Trust has a Trustee vacancy, for a non-executive Director.  If you, or someone you know, feel you have the experience and expertise for such a role then please see more here: bartoncourtacademytrust.org/…

16/07/25

Barton Court Academy Trust are seeking to recruit Governors for each of the 3 schools within the Trust.  If you, or someone you know, feel you have the right attitude, experience, skills, and time to fulfil this role, then please see the role here:  bartoncourtacademytrust.org/…

15/07/25

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15/07/25

Another year of our Take it Further challenges, and competitions have come to an end and the final reward breakfast celebrating the achievements of our pupils over the last 2 terms has been held. Well done to all pupils who have gone that extra mile over the last year! 

14/07/25

Barton Court Wins Inaugural Trust Eco Challenge... find out more at: cds.kent.sch.uk/238/latest-n…

14/07/25

Barton Manor School hosts Inaugural Trust Eco Challenge... find out more at: Barton Manor Hosts Inaugural Trust Eco Challenge - Latest News - The Charles Dickens School pic.twitter.com/Qlnpy4pVH2

09/07/25

It has been an exciting year for Life Cooking Skills! Club members have made so many cultural and appetising dishes over the year,  The last club of the year was chicken fajitas – All of which were eaten before club ended!  

04/07/25

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25/06/25

From 02/07/2025, if your child receives income related free school meals, you can to book your child’s place on the HAF summer programme with Inclusive Sport.  They advise to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.   Find out more here:  inclusivesport.org.uk/

19/06/25

Year 7 pupils raised a whopping total of £349.19 from their spring fair this year. The year group planned the whole in school event, with a little guidance from their Tutors. The money raised will go to our chosen school charity, Community Kindness Thanet.  

12/06/25

We are extremely grateful to the Rotary Club of Thanet for their recent donation of £2000 to our STEM Club. The money will be used towards 4 new SPIKE kits and 6 expansion packs which will allow the Club to cater to a larger audience and begin outreach to local schools.

11/06/25

KS4 Life Cooking Skills started this term in style! Pupils were taught how to make mocktails with talented Thea Barret from Thorley Taverns, at the helm. Pupils learnt how to “muddle, blend, shake and layer” and it was so much fun!

09/06/25

Y9 Technologists were lucky enough to take part in a STEM Challenge Day at the University of Greenwich in Medway. Working in pairs with other schools, they were set challenges in robotics, E-fit technology, electric cars and medical diagnosis. 

23/05/25

A big thank you to Rotary Club of Thanet for hosting our STEM Club leader, allowing him to present to the Club the ‘Disaster Relief Robot’ that pupils have designed, and programmed, in their after-school STEM Club.

21/05/25

Bounce Forward, supported by the Harry Kane Foundation, are running a free online parent course focused on building resilience in young people and supporting parents in raising resilient young people   bounceforward.com/bounce-for…

20/05/25

A Big Shout Out, and thank you, to Dan Cooper Garden in Broadstairs, who has donated lots of items to our Gardening Club. Our green fingered gardeners were out in the sunshine last week planting and tidying the garden!

15/05/25

As part of last week’s VE day celebrations, pupils created artwork to be a part of the exhibit organised by Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council, at Broadstairs Bandstand.  We hope you had the chance to see some of the work there!  Here’s a sample of our budding artists' work.

15/05/25

Our last Cooking Life Skills session with Noi Silk had our budding chefs making Prawn Tom Yum (hot and sour) soup, using some of the biggest king prawns we have ever seen!

14/05/25

Building community is really important in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Please see the poster for some helpful tips from the National College for parents.

13/05/25

We have 32 entries in the Thanet Schools  Artists Festival 2025, presented by Margate Rotary Club.  The exhibition of all entries across Thanet will be on display in Sainsbury’s at Westwood Cross between 12th and 18th May.  The award ceremony will take place on 17th May at 12pm.

13/05/25

Year 7 got fully involved in a an immersive lifesaving experience!  The ‘ Community Lifesavers’ visited CDS, where they communicated the importance of turning ‘bystanders into lifesavers’. They demonstrated how to administer CPR and how to use the defibrillator/AED.

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Staff List

Senior Leadership Team

Ms K Cardus CEO / Executive Headteacher
Mr W Smith Headteacher
Mrs C Benard Trust Senior Deputy Headteacher: Teaching & Learning
Mrs K Harrison Deputy Headteacher: Quality of Education
Mrs L Kettle Deputy Headteacher: Pastoral Care, Safeguarding and Designated Safeguarding Lead, Attendance
Mr R Henderson Deputy Headteacher: Behaviour & Attitudes
Mr A Weller Assistant Headteacher: Quality of Education
Mrs L Roden Assistant Headteacher: Personal Development, Pupil Voice, Charities, Primary Transition
Mr D Shepperson     Associate Assistant Headteacher: Data Analysis, Assessment, Recording & Reporting, Timetable & Exams 
Mrs N Griffin Associate Assistant Headteacher and SENCO

Extended Leadership Team

Miss S Arthurs Director of Mathematics
Mrs K Burvill Director of English
Mrs R Quaye Director of Science
Mr J Howard Director of Business & ICT
Mr D Allen Director of Teaching & Learning
Ms A Murphy Director of Humanities and PSHE
Ms K Lawman Director of Teaching & Learning

BCAT Business Management Team

Mr M Blake Trust ICT Strategy and Projects Manager
Mrs K Trevor Trust HR Manager
Mrs N Coles Trust Chief Finance Officer

Heads of Year & Assistant Heads of Year

 
Mr P Futcher Head of Year 7
Mrs K Thorn Assistant Head of Year 7
Mr R Smith Head of Year 8
Mrs M Moss Assistant Head of Year 8
Mr L Jones Head of Year 9
Mrs M Derbyshire Assistant Head of Year 9
Mrs K Pluckrose Head of Year 10
Mrs K Strich Assistant Head of Year 10
Mr D Gonzalez-Bello Head of Year 11
Mrs L Knight Assistant Head of Year 11

Business Studies Department

Mr J Howard Director of Business & ICT
Mr D Allen Business Studies Teacher
Mr W Smith Teacher of Business Studies / Headteacher

Computing Department

Mr J Howard Director of Business & Computing / Performance Director: Open Elements
Mr D Shepperson Teacher of Computing / Associate Assistant Headteacher
Mr J Masters Teacher of Computing

Design & Technology Department

Mrs S Cottrell Trust Director of DT / Lead Teacher of DT (BCGS)
Mrs K Naylor Lead Teacher of DT
Miss C Sutton Teacher of DT
Miss D Hodgson DT Technician

English Department

Miss K Burvill Director of English 
Mrs Z Fitzjohn 2nd in Charge English
Mrs M Humphrys 2nd in Charge English
Miss G Harris Teacher of English / Lead Teacher of Media
Miss L Butterfield Teacher of English / Lead Teacher of Sociology
Mrs S Wilson Teacher of English
Mrs R Gammon Teacher of English
Mrs J Carman Teacher of English
Miss I Humphreys Teacher of English/ Literacy Coordinator
Mrs A Maginn Teacher of English
Mr J Sayer Teacher of English
Mrs K Thornton  Teacher of English

Geography Department

Mrs E Milligan Lead Teacher of Geography / Lead Teacher of Travel & Tourism
Mrs K Harrison Teacher of Geography / Deputy Headteacher
Mrs B Shepherd Teacher of Geography / Numeracy Coordinator
Mrs K Lott Teacher of Geography

Health & Social Care Department

Ms K Oborne Lead Teacher of Health & Social Care / Lead Teacher of Child Development

History Department

Miss A Murphy Director of Humanities and PSHE
Mr A Weller Teacher of History / Assistant Headteacher
Ms K Lawman Director of Teaching and Learning and Teacher of Humanities
Mrs N Griffin Teacher of History / Associate Assistant Headteacher and SENCO
Mrs C Topson Teacher of History

Hospitality & Catering Department

Mrs K Naylor Lead Teacher of Hospitality and Catering 
Miss V Grossmith Teacher of Hospitality & Catering / Lead Practitioner
Miss E Williams Hospitality & Catering Technician

Mathematics Department

Miss S Arthurs Director of Mathematics
Mr G Hough 2nd in Charge Mathematics
Mr R Giddings 2nd in Charge Mathematics
Mr R Henderson Teacher of Mathematics / Teacher of Science / Deputy Headteacher
Mr D Gonzalez-Bello Teacher of Mathematics / HOY
Miss D Taylor Teacher of Mathematics 
Ms M Totadze Teacher of Mathematics 
Miss M Stait Teacher of Mathematics
Mrs M Botha Teacher of Mathematics
Miss A Forbes Teacher of Mathematics

Modern Foreign Languages Department

Mrs Z Johnson Lead Teacher of MFL  
Mrs C Harrison Teacher of MFL / Teacher of Art
Mrs D Jordan Teacher of  MFL  

Music Department

Mr P Futcher Lead Teacher of Music 

Performing Arts Department

Miss H Gore Lead Teacher of CAPA / BTEC Quality Nominee
Mr L Jones Lead Teacher of Drama / HOY
Mrs P Cullen Teacher of Performing Arts

Physical Education Department

Mr D Allen Lead Teacher of PE / Director of Teaching & Learning
Mrs L Kettle Teacher of PE / Deputy Headteacher
Mrs L Roden Teacher of PE / Assistant Headteacher & Eco Schools Coordinator
Mr D Shepperson Teacher of PE / Associate Assistant Headteacher
Mrs L Brocklehurst Teacher of PE 
Ms H Denny Teacher of PE & Science
Miss P Godden Teacher of PE & Science 
Mr S Belsey Teacher of PE

Religious Education Department

 
Mr S Goodall Teacher of RE / Lead Practitioner

Science Department

Mrs R Quaye Director of Science
Mrs W Crago 2nd in Charge Science
Mr L Curtis 2nd in Charge Science
Mrs L Powell 2nd in Charge Science
Mr R Henderson Teacher of Science / Teacher of Mathematics / Deputy Headteacher
Mrs K Pluckrose Teacher of Science / Head of Year / Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Mr R Smith Teacher of Science / HOY
Ms D Farmer Teacher of Science
Mrs R Sirett Teacher of Science & Eco Schools Coordinator
Miss H Denny Teacher of Science & PE
Miss H Dhillon Teacher of Science
Mr A Foxley Teacher of Science
Miss J Day Senior Science Technician

Sociology Department

Miss L Butterfield

Lead Teacher of Sociology / Teacher of English

Travel & Tourism Department

Mrs E Milligan Lead Teacher of Travel & Tourism / Lead Teacher of Geography

Visual Arts Department

Mrs S Chapman Lead Teacher of Visual Art
Mrs P Matthews-Crow Teacher of Visual Art
Mrs C Harrison Teacher of Visual Art / Teacher of MFL
Miss A Dinham Teacher of Visual Art
Mrs D Harrison Visual Art Technician

SEN Department

Mrs J Sullivan Deputy SENCo
Mrs J Underwood SEN Administrator
Mrs S Lewis Lead TA: Interventions
Miss H Stanley Lead TA: Interventions
Mr J Holloway Specialist TA: VI Unit & SEN TA Co-ordinator 
Mrs K Stritch Secondary Ready Teaching Assistant
Mrs E Floyd Secondary Ready Teaching Assistant
Miss A Ingram Specialist TA: VI Provisions
Mrs D Harris TA
Mrs S Smith TA
Mrs K Archard-Bailey TA
Mrs J Ganderton-Smith TA
Miss F Valderrama Pinna TA
Ms S Newman TA

Student Support

Miss L Aubry Safeguarding and CIC Welfare Manager
Miss S Tyler Safeguarding and CIC Welfare Manager
Mrs K Lucas Attendance Improvement Manager: KS3
Miss G Birks Attendance Administrator
Mr B Pluck Senior Pastoral Manager
Mrs J Clewley Behaviour & Pastoral Support Assistant
Mr A McDermott Behaviour & Pastoral Support Assistant
Miss H Cornwall Behaviour & Pastoral Support Assistant
Mrs S Corcoran Behaviour & Pastoral Support Assistant
Mrs Z Shrimpton Alternative Provision Manager
Mr T Longdon Cover Supervisor
Mr J Steele Cover Supervisor
Miss C Beer Cover Supervisor / Learning Mentor

Administrative

Mrs D Fitch PA to the Headteacher & Office Manager
Mrs S Kim Management Information Officer
Miss L Turner Examinations Manager
Mrs M Darvell SLT Administrator
Miss K Vickers Receptionist
Mrs C Elassri Reprographics
Mrs G Carey Administration Assistant
Mrs V White Clerk to the Governors

Finance

Mrs N Coles Trust Chief Finance Officer
Mrs K Baldwin Trust Finance and Payroll Officer
Mrs N Higham Trust Finance Assistant

HR

Mrs K Trevor Trust HR Manager
Mrs C Parkins Trust HR Officer
Mrs E Avis Trust HR Officer
Miss M Sharker Trust HR Officer
Miss E Barling Trust HR Officer

ICT Support

Mr M Blake Trust ICT Strategy & Projects Manager
Mr D Savage Trust Deputy ICT & Projects Manager
Mr P Anderson Senior ICT Technician
Mr C Sharp ICT Technician

Site

Mr R Adams Site Manager / Trust Estates Manager
Mr T Pomeroy Assistant Site Manager
Mr P Harling Assistant Site Manager