28 March 2025 weekly update

Dear Colleagues

Charlton Athletic Football Club comes to Folkestone!

Many of you will know of Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) through their youth work in the county and I am sure all of you know the football club (CAFC). CACT and CAFC are now working in partnership with Folkestone Invicta FC, to deliver and run the Post 16 Academy based at the football club.

This will provide students with full time football and educational services, combining full time football training (same amount as professional players) with education studying Level 2 and Level 3 BTEC qualifications.

Students will have opportunities to play in 2 of the highest leagues beneath professional players whilst also t being professionally coached with unique individual development plans. Education wise, students can study for additional A Level qualifications, retake English and Maths and additional qualifications alongside their course. Referee, coaching courses and work are also available. There is a third year option available to students for HND/HNC options as well as PT course qualifications.

More information available on this link : Football and Education Post-16 Academies | Charlton Athletic Football Club  or contact Richard Styles Kent post 16 academy manager Richard.styles@cact.org.uk

We are in discussions with CACT/CAFC and will be organising briefing meetings for school leaders during the summer term to explain the opportunities available to Kent Primary and Secondary schools.

Communities of schools

The last meeting with the Community Chairs before the go-live date of 1^st of April took place this week. Schools should now have their budgets, clearly showing the protected element and the Communities element.

Please register to attend a Community Induction Meeting details are as follows

• South – Monday 28th April 1pm - 4pm – Discovery Park, Sandwich​
• North – Wednesday 30th April 9am – 12pm – Inn on the Lake, Shorne​
• West – Friday 2nd May 9am – 12pm – Mercure Great Danes Hotel, Maidstone​
• East – Tuesday 6th May 1pm -4pm – University of Kent, Canterbury

These meetings provide an opportunity to meet your Chair as well as​starting to establish relationships with colleagues you may not have worked with previously. Documentation and processes will be shared and attending means you will have clear information from source
To book your place please use the following link: Registration for Community Induction Meetings

School visit

I was delighted to visit Parkwood Hall Special school in Swanley on Monday with ADE Ian Watts and Mary Rigden the new Area Schools Organisational Officer. A big thank you to Principal Simon Collins and Director of Finance and Operations Barry Golding. Following consultation, this academy is phasing out its residential provision and Simon and Barry shared exciting plans for the future to increasingly focus on educating children and young people with more complex needs.

And finally…

It has been a quiet week which is just as well as we have been inundated with press queries about a variety of stories. Kent seems to be in the media on a daily basis currently.

Have  a great weekend.

Christine McInnes
Director of Education and SEN