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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

— The Charles Dickens School () Sep 11, 2025

08/09/25

— The Charles Dickens School () Sep 8, 2025

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

— The Charles Dickens School () Jul 15, 2025

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

— The Charles Dickens School () Jul 4, 2025

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.

13/05/25

The last lesson for many Hospitality & Catering pupils was one to remember. After a 3 year journey we thought we would treat them to a practical lesson they wouldn't forget - Chocolate Pizza! Good luck to all our Year 11s as they take their exams and complete their time with us. pic.twitter.com/rAcT86KPNK

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Duke of Edinburgh Award - Practice Expedition

Posted on: 09/05/2022

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award - CDS took pupils on their practice expedition for their Bronze Award (Duke of Edinburgh).  As a joint expedition with BCGS staff and pupils, the groups went to Ross Wood camp site (near Wildwood).

Day 1 pupils set up base camp and organised themselves into their groups before setting off for a 6 hour walk. For the practice day they were supported by a member of staff from CDS’ amazing team and were able to navigate their way around the Herne countryside. On their way they battled all types of different terrain and had to be fully self sufficient with regard to food, water, cooking, navigation and … without the comfort of a mobile phone!

All five groups returned to base camp safely and full of beans!

They then had a wonderful evening without being connected to the internet and played a variety of silly games, chatted to different groups and were generally more social than normal.

After a ‘difficult’ night in the tents they woke up ready for day 2 (totally independent without the comfort of a member of staff to help). Whilst staff were dealing with camp, the pupils undertook a mammoth task and completed a longer walk than the previous day by themselves. They all returned safely and in one piece.

Mr Masters (CDS DofE Co-Ordinator) said – “I cannot pick out individual pupils as they all did so well battling their own personal challenges.  This practise weekend will have fully prepared them for the assessed weekend on 11th and 12th June.  I have been leading the DofE Award programme since October, and it has been a fantastic role watching pupils gain a number of new skills and grow in confidence.“

 

 

Written by Charles Dickens School
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