Term 1 Newsletter
Please click below for our Term 1 Newsletter
Download File:6th Form Open Evening
Sixth Form Open Evening
Aylesford School will be hosting a Sixth Form Open Evening on Tuesday 7th October 2025; 4:00pm-7:00pm and would like to invite students in year 11 and their parents/carers to attend.
Open Evening is usually a popular event that attracts our current year 11 students and also external students who attend other schools in the local area, but are looking for different options. There will be two speeches from the Head of Sixth Form Mrs Dighton, that will be taking place at specific times throughout the evening and you will be able to speak to our KS5 teachers, who will be running a subject market place in the Sixth Form Centre.
This is an excellent opportunity to view the school and the Sixth Form areas, and to engage with staff and students to provide all the information needed to decide on your post 16 destination.
To book a space at the Aylesford School Sixth Form Open Evening, please complete the following
link:
https://forms.office.com/e/Mae704BhN3
To find out more about our 6th form open evening and further information regarding our 6th form please below
KS5_Open_Evening_Letter-_October_2025.pdf
Download File:School Tours, Open Events & Taster Sessions September & October 2025
Aylesford School will be hosting a number of transition events and opportunities throughout this term and we are delighted to invite year 6 students and their parents/carers to attend. We appreciate that the transition from primary school to secondary school can be a daunting experience for both students and their parents/carers. Therefore, we encourage students to take full advantage of the opportunity to look around the school to support the transition process.
School Tours
Aylesford School is delighted to announce that tours will be taking place in Term 1 for year 6 students on the following dates at 9am and 10am:
- Thursday 11th September 2025
- Thursday 18th September 2025
- Thursday 25th September 2025
- Monday 29th September 2025
- Thursday 9th October 2025
- Thursday 16th October 2025
Book a School Tour
Tour places are limited and subject to high demand.
To guarantee your family’s place, book now by calling 01622 717341.
Year 6 Open Evening
Aylesford School will be hosting a Year 6 Open Evening on Thursday 25th September 2025; 4:00pm-7:00pm and would like to invite students in year 6 and their parents/carers to attend. Open Evening is usually a hugely popular event that attracts vast amounts of the public and includes our whole staffing body as well as our students. There will be two Headteacher speeches taking place at specific times throughout the evening. This event is an excellent opportunity to view the school and engage with staff and students currently attending to provide all the information needed to decide on a secondary school.
Book Year 6 Open Evening
To book a space at the Aylesford School Year 6 Open Evening, please complete the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/DvvZYb7mBm
Year 6 Afternoon Taster Sessions
Aylesford School will be hosting an Afternoon Taster Sessions programme on Monday afternoons to help to support the transition process for year 6 students. Please find below more details on the subject program:
Monday 22nd September 2025, 3:45pm-4:45pm, Sport Taster Session
Monday 29th September 2025, 3:45pm-4:45pm, Art, Drama, Music & Technology Sessio
Monday 6th October 2025, 3:45pm-4:45pm, Maths & English Session
Monday 13th October 2025, 3:45pm-4:45pm, Science Session
Book a Taster Session
If you would like to book a place for your student on one or more of the Afternoon Taster Sessions in the program, please complete the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/PcMGCWNfES
Year 6 Family Fun Morning
Our Year 6 Family Fun Morning will be taking place on Saturday 4th October 2025; 9:00am-12:30pm, where as a family you can take part in taster sessions.
Sessions will likely include pickleball, cooking and inflatables to name a few.
Book Family Fun Morning
If you would like to attend alongside your year 6 student, please complete the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/92GHkgGi6z.
We look forward to welcoming you into our school and will do all we can to ensure the smooth transition for students to Aylesford School. All key dates and transition information can be found on the school website and Facebook so please ensure that you regularly check both platforms.
Download
Opening Moves: Chess Club Returns!
As we start a new academic year at school, we look forward to another year of chess!
The chess club is extremely popular during break and lunch, and is enjoyed by a great number of students!
Our school Chess group has been especially supported by the Official Staunton Chess company (www.officialstaunton.com), which we are very grateful for.
Mr Reckless.
Aylesford Celebrates Record Breaking Results
🎉 Record-Breaking Results at Aylesford School! 🎉
We’re thrilled to be celebrating our best ever results — with 53% of our students heading off to university and all of our Sixth Form students securing meaningful destinations! 👏
These results reflect the continued progress of our 6th Form – recently judged Good by Ofsted – and the dedication of both our students and staff. In fact, Aylesford’s 6th Form results have shown year-on-year improvement for the past 6 years! 🔥
✅ 100% of students secured places at their chosen destinations
🎓 Over 50% are heading to university
🎉 Countless individual successes to celebrate!
Headteacher Tanya Kelvie shared:
“We are immensely proud of all the work and achievements of our students and the great character they have shown. Our teachers have worked tirelessly to support them onto their next steps, and we can’t wait to see what they’ll go on to achieve.”
It’s been a fantastic day celebrating our brilliant students and their futures. 💙
👉 Looking ahead to September 2025?
We still have places available in our Sixth Form, and we’re assessing applications on an individual basis — regardless of GCSE results.
📚 Courses on offer at Aylesford Sixth Form include:
A Level Subjects:
🎨 Art
📈 Economics
📖 English Literature
🌍 Geography
📚 History
👥 Sociology
Vocational Level 3 Courses:
💼 Business
👨🍳 Catering
🕵️ Criminology
❤️ Health and Social Care
🧬 Medical Science
🧠 Psychology
⚽ Sport
All of these courses can lead to university and higher education pathways.
✅ Entry criteria: 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above + grade 5 in your chosen subject (unless it’s a new subject — in which case we’ll look at individual circumstances).
📅 Interested in applying?
Come into Aylesford School on Thursday 21st August between 8:30am – 11:00am
📧 Or contact Mrs Dighton (Head of Sixth Form) at:
👉 amie.dighton@aylesford.kent.sch.uk
Headteachers Newsletter Summer 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we head into the break, I would like to take this moment to wish all of our families a happy, healthy, and restful summer. I hope the coming weeks provide you and your children with time to relax, recharge, and enjoy well-earned time together.
As we come to the end of another busy and successful academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued and unwavering support. Parenting is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding roles in life, but we know it is not without its challenges. Your commitment to your child’s wellbeing, education, and character development is something we deeply value. The partnership between home and school is a cornerstone of our students’ success, and we are truly grateful for the trust and collaboration you bring to that relationship.
At the heart of everything we do here at Aylesford is our commitment to character. We believe that academic success, while important, must be underpinned by strong personal values, resilience, kindness, and integrity. This ethos drives our curriculum, our pastoral care, and our daily interactions — ensuring that our students leave us not only with qualifications but also as principled and confident young people ready to contribute positively to the world around them.
Trips and Visits
This year has been one of incredible activity, energy and achievement across our school. We’ve had a packed calendar of trips and visits — local, national and even international — offering our students rich learning opportunities outside of the classroom. From history explorations to science adventures, these experiences have helped our young people to grow in curiosity, confidence, and character.
Students have developed resilience, teamwork, and joy through events like sports day, and have shown compassion and unity during whole-school fundraising efforts, including our much-loved school walk. We were even thrilled to make headlines by breaking a world record in Food and Hospitality — a moment of pride for the entire school community!
If you don’t already follow us on social media, I would encourage you to visit our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/AylesfordSchoolKent
It’s the best way to keep up to date with all the fantastic things happening at Aylesford and to get a real sense of daily life in our vibrant school.
Celebrating Success
At Aylesford, we are proud of the many ways in which we celebrate and recognise student success.
Most recently, our Summer Awards event honoured the achievements, progress, and contributions of students across all year groups. Earlier in the year, we hosted our inspiring Character Awards in December, celebrating students who consistently live out our values in everyday school life.
Across the year, we have also recognised excellence in individual subjects — including the PE and Sport Awards, held just recently — as well as numerous department- specific celebrations that highlight the talents and efforts of our students. These moments of recognition are an important part of school life, reinforcing the value of hard work, kindness, and ambition.
Results Day
We would like to wish the very best of luck to all students awaiting their exam results this summer. Results days are a key milestone, and we strongly encourage all students to attend in person to collect their results and receive any further guidance or support.
- Year 13 (A-Level/BTEC) – Thursday 14th August, 8:30–10:00am
- Year 11 (GCSE) – Thursday 21st August, 8:30–10:00am
Staff will be on hand to offer advice on next steps, including university placements, apprenticeships, sixth form, or college progression. These events are essential for helping students move forward confidently into the next stage of their journey.
Student Success
We are incredibly proud of all our students, who continue to demonstrate great character every day — whether through kindness, determination, leadership, or simply doing the right thing when no one is watching. While every student contributes to the positive culture at Aylesford, we would like to give special recognition to those who have gone above and beyond this year. Well done to the following students, who are have the most character strengths in their respective year groups — your consistent effort, attitude and character has not gone unnoticed. Congratulations!
Year 7
Owen P 416
Annabelle V 404
Jacob H 389
Amelia A 388
Noah N 387
Ruby K 381
Tom S 378
Ellie W 377
Brandon Y 376
Elsa M 369
Year 8
Gyan M 425
Abigail K 392
Dylan K 391
Evie T 386
Cerise K 385
Leanne W 378
Daisy F 375
Miya J 373
Dylan W 372
Chris C 368
Year 9
William P 679
Ariyan P 601
William R 548
Alfie W-W 533
Jenson M 440
Brad B 405
Teddy R 391
Ollie W 350
Rebecca E 340
Isabella M 323
Year 10
Lacey M 375
Riley-Jayne B-W 356
William S 356
Muhammad K 319
Evie P 301
Dexter K 283
Jack H 280
Imogen C G 263
Crystal G 263
Ruby T 262
Term Dates – Academic Year 2025–26
You can find full details of next year’s term dates on our website:
https://www.aylesford.kent.sch.uk/info/quicklinks/term-dates
Year 7 and 12 will return on Wednesday 3rd September 2025
All Students return on Thursday 4th September 2025
Changes to behaviour policy
As previously outlined, I want to remind you that from September 2025, Aylesford School will implement a revised Behaviour Policy aimed at ensuring a calm, respectful, and focused learning environment. The changes include clearer expectations for student conduct and the reintroduction of after-school detentions, with communication managed through Class Charts and email notifications. These updates are designed to reduce low-level disruption, promote consistency, and support all students in being Ready, Respectful, and Safe. We appreciate your continued support in reinforcing these expectations at home.
School Uniform
The school’s uniform policy remains unchanged for the 2025 – 2026 Academic year. Please refer to this when purchasing uniform for September. We expect all students to be in full uniform as per our policy when we return in Term 1
https://www.aylesford.kent.sch.uk/info/quicklinks/uniform-expectations
Staffing Changes
We are also delighted to welcome several new colleagues to our school community in September:
- Mrs Reza – Teacher of Criminology
- Mrs Ware – Attendance Assistant
- Mr Matthews – Progress Leader for Year 10 and Lead Practitioner for Literacy, Oracy and Digital Technologies
- Mrs Ingoldsby – Teacher of French
- Mr Porritt – Head of Maths
- Mr Wheeler – Teacher of Business/ICT
- Miss Friend – Teacher of PE
- Miss Smith – Head of MFL
- Mr Ichipi – Teacher of Maths
At the same time, we also say goodbye to some valued members of staff. We thank them sincerely for their service, and for the great character and commitment they have shown during their time with us:
- Mr Butterworth
- Mrs Butterworth
- Mrs Lawton
- Mr Neeve
- Mr Richards
- Mrs Abbott
- Mr South
- Mrs Gryntus
We thank them for their service at Aylesford wish all the very best in their future endeavours.
Thank you once again for your support this year. We look forward to welcoming students back in the autumn term. Until then, enjoy the summer break.
Yours sincerely,
Miss T Kelvie
Headteacher Aylesford School
Click to download in PDF format
Year 7 Trip to Howletts
Our Year 7 students had an unforgettable day at Howletts, exploring the incredible world of animal adaptations and habitats! From watching majestic big cats to observing the social behaviour of primates, the students deepened their understanding of how animals survive and thrive in their environments.
They also learned about the vital conservation work being carried out at the park, and came away inspired by the efforts to protect endangered species around the globe.
We’re incredibly proud of how our students represented the school – they showed genuine curiosity, open-mindedness, and were respectful to both the public and the animals throughout the day.
Photos credit to Mr N Herrod - Teacher of Science
KS3 - Preparation for Term 1
As we head into the summer break some students are already interested to find out what they will be studying next year. Attached is some optional project work designed to keep minds active, build confidence, and give students a great start for September.
The work for year 7 would be suited to our new students who wish to gain an insight into what they may be studying in term 1.
The year 8 and year 9 work is for students moving into those year groups.
Please note these are optional but it would be lovely to see students showing motivation and completing some of these tasks
Art Ambassadors Summer Newsletter 2025
We launched our new Art Ambassadors club in November 2024 with the aim to bring together students across all year groups, to give them the opportunity to work on collaborative whole school and community-based Art projects. Students completed an application form to explain why they would be the ideal candidate for the role, and we were inundated with applications! After final selection, we appointed a total of 34 Art Ambassadors in Years 7-13! Each Ambassador was given a badge to celebrate their role.
The group meets every Wednesday after school and has planned out various ideas for projects they would like to work on, as well as being given set briefs. It has given students in different year groups a chance to make friends, but also learn from one another and share ideas.
Download the Art Ambassadors Summer Newsletter 2025 here
Download the Art Ambassadors Summer Newsletter 2025
Sports Awards 2025
🏆SPORTS AWARDS🏆
What an incredible evening spent celebrating our students at the annual Sports Awards last week. We are bursting with pride as we recognise the hard work, dedication and sportsmanship shown by so many of our nominees and award winners.
From breaking personal bests to demonstrating fantastic character these students have gone above and beyond.
A huge congratulations to all our award winners and thankyou to parents/carers for giving up your afternoon to celebrate with us.
Aylesford School’s Best of British Dementia Cafe 2025
Friday 11th July saw our Best of British Dementia Summer Cafe. It was a tremendous success and all students were a credit to the school with the character that they showed.
All students showed excellent confidence and enthusiasm in performing songs, talking to our guests and serving teas coffees and a light lunch.
Our thanks must go to the Bearded Pluckers (Mr Ellis and Mr Thompson) who treated us to a fantastic performance of a selection of songs from the last 60 years. These brought back memories for many of our guests who often remembered the lyrics word for word despite living with dementia.
It was a pleasure for Aylesford to host such a positive community event and the day would not have happened without the help of staff and students who made the day so successful. Special thanks must go to Ms Day and Mrs Gryntus, who ensured the hall was set up and tables were decorated so well with themed placemats and decor. Thanks also to Mr Edwards who ensured our catering students gave everybody a fantastic lunch and to Mrs Duff who provided her skill and expertise in leading the floristry club.
A final thank you and farewell must go to Mr Neeve for organising the event and for all his community work in establishing this Dementia Cafe events whilst at Aylesford. We wish him well in his new school in September.
The Dementia Cafe will be taken on by Mrs Dighton who will be hosting our next event at Christmas- watch this space for further information about this and other events in future.
Year 9 Trip to Nausicaá
Our Year 9 students had a fantastic day exploring history and marine life on their cross-curricular trip to France!
At La Coupole, a World War Two site, they showed great respect and compassion as they deepened their understanding of the past. Later, at Nausicaá, one of Europe’s largest aquariums, they displayed real curiosity and open-mindedness as they explored the wonders of the ocean and the importance of marine conservation.
A brilliant day of learning beyond the classroom — well done, Year 9!
Celebration of outstanding English students from Y7-9
We celebrated 18 outstanding students from Years 7–9 who have consistently demonstrated excellence in their English lessons throughout the year — showing impressive effort, dedication, and contribution.
With so many worthy candidates, our teachers had a tough job making their selections. We’re incredibly proud of all the achievements across Key Stage 3 this year.
Each of the selected students received a token for our book vending machine as a reward for their hard work — a well-deserved recognition!
Stepping back in time: History students visit Battle Abbey
📜 Stepping Back in Time: History Students Visit Battle Abbey 🏰
On Monday our History GCSE students stepped back in time with a visit to Battle Abbey, the historic site of the Battle of Hastings (1066). Walking the very ground where history was made, they explored the legacy of a moment that shaped our nation.
Through listening and participating in active learning on the battlefield as well as honouring those that have given their lives in the past, our students demonstrated both motivation and respect. They were also able to reflect on the value of integrity by linking the qualities of great leaders and responsible learners. The students had a great day and have created a strong foundation as they begin looking at the Anglo-Saxons and Normans in class.
Year 7 Explore Rochester’s Rich Heritage
🏰 Year 7 Explore Rochester’s Rich Heritage
Today, our Year 7 students embarked on a memorable journey through the historic town of Rochester, and what a day it was! From awe-inspiring architecture to literary legends, the trip offered a perfect blend of education and excitement.
📸 Highlights of the Day 📸
Rochester Cathedral: Students were captivated by the grandeur of one of England’s oldest cathedrals. Its stunning stained glass windows and centuries-old stonework sparked curiosity and admiration.
Castle Grounds: The group roamed the impressive Rochester Castle grounds, imagining medieval life and enjoying the scenic views from the ancient keep.
Charles Dickens Culture: Rochester’s deep connection to Charles Dickens came alive as students explored locations that inspired his iconic works.
We’re proud of how engaged with their surroundings and respectful our students were throughout the day to members of the public, and grateful to Rochester for being such a welcoming and inspiring destination to visit.
Work Experience
🌟 Work Experience! 🌟
Last week, our students took part in work experience placements—and we couldn’t be prouder of the character they showed throughout! 💼✨
We’ve received incredible feedback from employers who were impressed by our students’ maturity, enthusiasm, and willingness to go the extra mile. Many described them as a credit to the school, and we couldn’t agree more! 💙
Parents also told us how valuable and eye-opening this experience was for their children—and the smiles in the photos say it all! 😊📸 From stepping into new environments to trying new challenges, our students showed resilience, positivity, and real curiosity.
For those who stayed on site, we made sure they didn’t miss out. Students attended engaging presentations from 11 fantastic organisations, including local businesses, national employers, and education providers. Their thoughtful questions and genuine interest reminded us just how bright the future is for Aylesford students. 🌍🚀
We are so proud of the respect, responsibility, and determination our young people demonstrated this week. What a brilliant example of Aylesford character in action! Below is just a taster of what our students have been up to! 💪👏
Y7 Rocket Cars Challenge
Our amazing Year 7 students had an unforgettable experience taking part in the Race to the Line Rocket Cars Challenge, kindly sponsored by Ash Contracting Ltd. 🎉
Throughout the day, students showed incredible creativity, resilience and enthusiasm as they designed, developed, and tested their own rocket-powered cars. It was a fantastic opportunity for hands-on learning, teamwork and innovation — and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts!
A huge thank you to Ash Contracting Ltd. for making this exciting STEM event possible! 👏💡
Thorpe Park Trip
🎉230 students had an unforgettable time filled with fun, laughter, and a whole lot of rides! 🎢🎡
Even the heat couldn’t slow them down — the energy was high, and the smiles were even bigger. ☀️😄
Thanks to everyone who made the day so special!
#FunInTheSun #SchoolTrip #230Smiles #MemoriesMade
Sixth Form Induction Day
On Monday 23rd June, we were thrilled to welcome so many internal and external students to our Sixth Form Induction Day!
It was fantastic to see everyone getting involved — from meeting the staff who’ll be teaching you in September, to trying out our Level 3 subjects, enjoying a delicious breakfast, and taking part in some brilliant team-building activities like Speed Dating, Stay in Your Square, and Mrs White’s legendary Whitney Houston Music Challenge! 🎶💃
There was a real buzz around Sixth Form, and we hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did!
If you attended, please take a moment to check your ClassCharts, Kent Choices, or email and fill out the student survey – your feedback means a lot to us.
We can’t wait to work with you in September — and best of luck with your GCSE results! 🍀
Mrs Dighton & The Sixth Form Team
Congratulations to our amazing Year 11 students!
🎉 A huge congratulations to our amazing Year 11 students! 🎓
We are so proud of all the hard work, dedication, and resilience you’ve shown throughout your exams – you’ve truly earned a well-deserved break.
It was a pleasure to celebrate with you all at the Village Hotel – a fantastic evening full of smiles, laughter, and special memories. 💃🕺
We wish each and every one of you the very best in whatever comes next – whether it’s 6th Form, college, apprenticeships, or new adventures. You’ve got bright futures ahead, and we can’t wait to see what you go on to achieve! 🌟
Ofsted Inspection 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
Following our recent Ofsted inspection, I am writing to share the outcomes of the report and, most importantly, to outline the plans we are putting in place to ensure our school moves forward successfully.
We were categorised as ‘good’ in three areas and ‘requires improvement’ in two areas which we are understandably disappointed about. There were concerns raised by some students, parents and staff about the inspection process and we have put these forward to Ofsted. However, we do accept the findings and are now focusing on making the improvements that we know are needed in specific areas. Firstly though, I am very keen to emphasise that the report recognises many of the excellent qualities of our school and the things we are doing very well.
Inspectors praised the countless opportunities for pupils to develop positive character traits, noting that our students show courage, confidence and resilience. They highlighted the inclusive and nurturing environment where pupils feel happy and free to be themselves. The calm and orderly atmosphere in school was also noted, with students behaving respectfully and kindly towards each other and staff. This is something that is very important to us – and which we are rightly proud of. Our commitment to Personal Development was recognised as a key strength. Initiatives such as the Dementia Café were described as shining examples of how pupils learn vital life skills alongside developing empathy and responsibility. Our careers guidance, personal development programme and wider enrichment offer were also highlighted as strong and impactful.
Importantly, our safeguarding arrangements were found to be effective and attendance is consistently above national averages. This demonstrates that our pupils want to come to school, which again is hugely important to us.
However, we know that last year’s academic outcomes had dropped from previous years, and that not all pupils are learning as well as they should be. The report makes clear that while our new curriculum and staff stability are showing early signs of improvement, these changes need more time and support to be fully embedded, which we are prioritising.
We are absolutely committed to addressing these areas and are taking the following actions:
- Continuing to support staff to ensure Teaching and Learning is consistently good across all subjects.
- Prioritising high quality recruitment to ensure we have subject specialists in all curriculum areas
- A continued focus on behaviour to ensure all our pupils can learn well and achieve to their full potential
We are working closely with the Trust and governing body to ensure robust oversight and accountability. Our leadership team has already begun implementing an action plan that responds directly to the report’s recommendations, and we will keep you updated on our progress.
Thank you for your ongoing support. While the outcome of the inspection may not reflect the full picture of our school, it does give us a clear path forward. We are approaching this with a continued focus on what matters most, which is ensuring your children receive the very best education and care.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the report further, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. With kind regards,
Tanya Kelvie - Headteacher
Download a copy
To download the latest Ofsted report please Click Here.
Pepper the Dog is Top Trumps!
🐾 Pepper the Dog is Top Trumps! 🐾
We’re excited to share some paws-itively amazing news — Pepper, The Aylesford School Dog, is going to feature in a special edition of Top Trumps!
This unique edition celebrates the brilliant dogs across our school community, and Pepper is proudly representing Aylesford. These cards don’t just showcase our four-legged friend’s lovable personality — they’re also a fantastic resource for Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI). Whether in the classroom or therapeutic settings, the cards help to spark conversations, support introductions, and encourage student engagement.
Thanks to the incredible efforts of Mrs Simpson and Mr Reckless, Pepper has been making wonderful progress. As part of this initiative, some of our students are even on track to earn an AQA Award in “Exercising and Caring for a Dog”, a testament to the powerful impact of Pepper’s presence in school life.
A huge well done to everyone involved in this heartwarming project. Keep your eyes peeled for Pepper’s feature in Top Trumps — it’s a tail-wagging moment you won’t want to miss!
Dementia Cafe needs your vote !
AYLESFORD SCHOOL DEMEMTIA CAFÉ
🎉 Exciting News – We Need Your Vote! 🎉
Our Dementia Café Project has been shortlisted for Tesco’s Community Grant Scheme, and we’re thrilled to be in the running for crucial funding — BUT we need your help to make it happen!
🛒 If you shop at Tesco Larkfield Express (ME20 6HJ) or Tesco Lunsford Park Extra (ME20 6RJ), please vote for us using your blue token at checkout! Every vote brings us one step closer to receiving up to £1,500 to support our future Dementia Café events.
💬 Our Dementia Café’s offer a safe, welcoming space for those affected by Dementia. These events also offer our students and staff the opportunity to come together and do something really educational and rewarding - with your support, we can do even more.
🙌 So spread the word! Tell your friends, family, neighbours — anyone who shops at Tesco — to vote for the Dementia Café Project and help us make a real difference in our community.
Let’s win this together! 💙
Students prepare for their Duke of Edinburgh expedition
🏕️ Our students have been hard at work getting ready for their Duke of Edinburgh expedition — they nailed one of the essentials: pitching their tents! 💪⛺
It was fantastic to see such great teamwork, enthusiasm, and motivation on display. Well done to everyone involved — you’re off to a great start! 👏👏
#DofE #Teamwork #OutdoorSkills #ProudMoment
Year 8 Team Repair Challenge
This week, our incredible Year 8 students took part in the Team Repair Challenge as part of the e-Waste Warriors campaign.
Working together to troubleshoot and repair handheld gaming devices, they showed impressive curiosity, resilience, and teamwork. This hands-on experience not only deepened their understanding of electronics but also highlighted the importance of reducing e-waste and thinking sustainably. 💡🔧♻️
Well done, Year 8 – future tech heroes in the making!
A Big Hospitality Thank You
A Big Hospitality Thank You! 🍽️
This week, Mr. Edwards’ Year 11 Hospitality & Catering students had the incredible opportunity to hear from the Deputy Manager of The Cumberland Hotel, part of the prestigious London hotel chain. The session was full of valuable insights just ahead of the Year 11 afternoon exam. The students truly rose to the occasion showing great character, asking thoughtful questions and showing genuine interest throughout. 👏
A special thank you to Lucia Strokendlova from The Cumberland Hotel for making this inspiring visit possible! 🌟
Celebrating Student Success!
🎉 Celebrating Student Success! 🎉
We are incredibly proud of our Year 11 students Nathan and Arthur, who played a key role for Kent, in winning the South Eastern Schools Cup! 🏆⚽
In a thrilling final in Eastbourne, they helped secure a 2-1 victory over Sussex, showcasing exceptional skill, determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship on the big stage.
This fantastic achievement is a true reflection of their hard work, dedication, and passion for the game. They’ve made both themselves and our school incredibly proud. 🙌
Well done, Nathan and Arthur! We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next. 👏💪
Students achieve their 1st Dan Black Belts!
👏 Huge congratulations to Jack and Isabelle on achieving their 1st Dan Black Belts! 🥋
This is an incredible accomplishment and a true reflection of the dedication, self-discipline, and perseverance they’ve shown over the past 6 years.
Your hard work and commitment have truly paid off – well done to you both! A proud moment for them and for us all!
Year 7 take on the challenge of investigating motion!
🚀 Our amazing Year 7 students took on the challenge of investigating motion! Using their scientific skills, they explored how an object’s movement changes with speed through hands-on experiments and keen observations.
We were so impressed by their curiosity, confidence, and teamwork as they asked thoughtful questions, tested ideas, and deepened their understanding of key physics concepts.
Well done Year 7—keep up the fantastic work
Year 7 & 8 Girls Football
🏆⚽ Well Done, Year 7 & 8 Girls Football Teams! ⚽🏆
A huge congratulations to our Year 7 and Year 8 girls’ football teams who recently took part in the Maidstone Schools’ Annual Girls Football Tournament! 🌟
👏 The Year 8 team finished in a strong joint 5th place, narrowly missing out on a spot in the finals.
👏 The Year 7 team finished 2nd in their group and faced off against Lenham to secure a place in the finals at the Gallagher Stadium. After an incredible performance, they won 3-0, with a hat-trick from Ruby! 🙌🔥
We’re thrilled to announce that they’ve earned a place in the finals, with the date to be confirmed. 🎉
Keep up the amazing work, girls! We’re so proud of you! 💪⚽
Italy Trip February 2025
We had an incredible time in Italy with 79 Year 10/11 students! From exploring the ancient ruins of Pompeii and climbing Mount Vesuvius to taking in the stunning views of Capri Island and marvelling at the Colosseum, the trip was packed with unforgettable experiences. The students displayed exceptional integrity, curiosity, and respect throughout, making this educational journey both enjoyable and enriching. Highlights also included some fun karaoke! A huge thank you to all the students for being fantastic representatives of our school.
Easter Dementia Cafe March 2025
This week saw the return of our Easter themed Dementia Cafe. It was a tremendous success and all students were a credit to the school with the character that they showed.
Thanks must go to Mr Hawkes and Mr Thompson for coordinating and preparing our music students so expertly. They all showed excellent confidence and enthusiasm in performing songs they had chosen themselves. There was an excellent selection of live music including a great rendition of Bohemiam Rhapsody by Joe in Year 10. This was followed by Miss Stow’s fantastic dancers dancing to Rock around the Clock.
Our guests enjoyed eating a selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes which were all created by students during their lessons in our Food and Cookery Department and were ably led by Mr Edwards, Ms Layberry and Mrs Wyatt. We were then lucky enough to be joined by Daisy Johnson’s Cobtree Young Farmers who brought guinea pigs, rabbits and a therapy dog to entertain our guests.
It was a pleasure for Aylesford to host such a positive community event and the day would not have happened without the help of staff and students who made the day so successful. Special thanks must go to Ms Day and Mrs Gryntus, who ensured the hall was set up and tables were decorated so well with Easter decorations and also to Mrs Duff who provided her skill and expertise in leading the Floristry club in making Easter baskets for our guests.
Finally, additional thanks must go to all staff and parents who donated an Easter egg. All guests were delighted to receive one and this made a very special end to a very uplifting event.
The next Dementia Cafe will be in the Summer July 2025 - watch this space for further information about this and other events in future.
Easter Raffle!
🐰🌸 Easter Raffle Alert! 🌸🐰
Get ready to hop into the Easter spirit with our exciting Easter Raffle just for students! 🐣✨ We’re giving away some egg-cellent prizes that you won’t want to miss. 🎁
50p a ticket can be purchased via reception 🗓 Date of draw: Thursday 3rd April 2025
Let’s make this Easter extra special! 🐇💐 Good luck to everyone! 🍀
School Garden Donations Needed!
Aylesford School would like to reform our garden area and would love your help with this. Due to bad weather last year our much loved garden space is not fit for purpose and needs some TLC. We would be so grateful if anyone is able to donate any of the following materials, or is aware of a way that we can get materials at an affordable rate. Some of our students will be undertaking some community based project work in order to improve our garden space and we would love to share and update you all on their progress with this. If you are able to help us with this, please bring any material to our school reception who will gratefully recieve all donations.
•Tarpaulin large for waste
•Fence posts 75x75mm
•Decking boards 1800mm/2400mm/3600mm length
•Gardening tools spades/shovels/forks/garden pruners
•Pick axe/mattocks
•Waste/rubble bags
•Paving slabs
•Greenhouse
•Wire brush
•Large garden brooms
•Ready made post crete
•Hippo bag
•Garden gloves
•Sledge hammer/ club hammer
Kenward Trust Assembly
This week we had a powerful and moving presentation on substance misuse from Kenward Trust.
The presentation encouraged students to think carefully about the decisions that they make and was very informative about the risks. Our students listened really attentively and were hopefully inspired to continue to make positive choices!
We are really grateful to one of our parents whose generous contribution allowed this to happen!
You can find out more about the great work that Kenward Trust do at www.kenwardtrust.org.uk
British Science Week
🚀 Our KS3 students had an explosive time celebrating British Science Week by designing and launching their very own film canister rockets! 🌟
The challenge? To see which group could propel their rocket the furthest, using science, creativity, and team work.
But this wasn’t just about physics, it was a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their character strengths in action! From resilience in testing different designs, to self-discipline in refining their techniques, and curiosity in exploring the forces at play, they truly embodied the spirit of scientific discovery. 👩🔬👨🔬
PC Mundy visits Aylesford School
Year 7 and 8 students were visited by PC Mundy from the Child Centred Policing team, who delivered an important session on the dangers of drugs, including vaping. 🚭💡
Students were not only educated about the risks but also encouraged to show good character, make positive choices, and look out for one another.
At Aylesford we believe in equipping students with the knowledge and values they need to stay safe and make the right decisions. Next week, The Kenward Trust will be delivering similar assemblies for our Year 9, 10, and 11 students, ensuring that every young person understands the importance of being responsible, respectful, and making choices that can lead to a brighter future.
A huge thank you to PC Mundy for supporting our students in becoming the best versions of themselves! 👏
£400 raised for Sport & Comic Relief!
A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone for your incredible participation and generosity! 🎉 As a school, we’ve raised an AMAZING total of just under £400 for Sport & Comic Relief! 👏🏽 Your support really made a difference, and together we will help make the world a brighter place! 💪🥳
Sport Relief gets off to a fantastic start!
🏓 Sport Relief ⚽️
A fantastic start to our fundraising for Sport & Comic Relief with over £150 raised so far!
So far we have had a great turnout from students hoping to beat our teachers at Table Tennis and Foot Tennis! Plenty to come this week and still time to donate on parent pay or on the Just Giving page!
Thankyou for all your support so far 🤩⭐️
Assembly Focuses on Compassion and Kindness
This week during the whole school assembly, Mr Neeve spoke to the students about the powerful character strengths of Compassion and Kindness. 🌟 Kindness was even voted as the children’s Word of the Year for 2024! 🏆
Students were encouraged to reflect on their own actions and think about the importance of fostering a kind and compassionate society. 💖 Mr Neeve and the school staff will be on the lookout all this week for acts of Kindness and Compassion throughout the school! Let’s spread kindness wherever we go! 🌈
Easter Dementia Cafe 2025
A quick reminder we are holding our annual Easter Themed Dementia Cafe next week 26th March 2025! Last year we provided an Easter Egg for every guest with Dementia thanks to the generosity of parents, staff and students who donated. This year we would like to continue this tradition, so if you feel able and would like to donate an Easter Egg to this wonderful event, please bring it into the school reception by the end of this week. THANK YOU 🐣
Join us on 26th March 2025 from 11.30am to 13.30pm for a morning of Easter activities.
For further information and to book your place please contact philip.neeve@aylesford.kent.sch.uk or call 01622 717341.
Canterbury Christchurch University deliver an excellent workshop to Year 9 students
Canterbury Christ Church University visited Aylesford School today and delivered an excellent workshop with two classes of our Year 9 students. The workshop centred around the question ‘What makes us human?’ and it explored AI and Philosophical Dilemmas about the role of robots within human society. Our students showed a lot of curiosity and even had the opportunity to make their own little ‘Bristlebots’ out of a toothbrush, a battery and a motor!
Year 7 Battle of Hastings Project
Year 7 History have been diving into the Battle of Hastings, both in class and through their homework. For their creative project, students have shown incredible motivation and talent, producing some amazing work, using a variety of materials and techniques. It’s clear that they’ve really brought the Battle and the bravery of the soldiers to life! 💥⚔️
Sixth Form Trip to Ninja Warrior
Our Sixth Form were treated to a trip to Ninja Warrior to end the term. Students had the opportunity to scale “the wall”, tackle the obstacle course and race the inflatable assault course. This trip was particularly good for team building and character development for students and staff, with everyone showing resilience, courage and confidence in having a go at all of the activities on offer. Thanks go to all of our Sixth Formers who went on the trip, Ms Rookard for driving the minibus and Mr Neeve and Mrs Dighton for organising.
Sixth Form News !
A Message from Mrs Dighton & The Sixth Form Team:
We have carried out over 90 interviews of both Internal and External students who have applied to join Aylesford Sixth Form, many of whom have received conditional placement offers.
We just wanted to congratulate all of you for showing such fantastic character and maturity during these interviews- they have been a pleasure to carry out. If you are still undecided about applying to Aylesford Sixth Form- it is not too late.
We are still accepting applications and we would be happy to interview you- please get your applications in via Kent Choices as soon as you can. Good Luck to all of our year 11’s in your up and coming PPE’s 😊
Martin Jones CBE visits year 13 criminology students
Year 13 Criminology students were lucky enough to meet Martin Jones CBE who is HM Chief Inspector of Probation. Mr Jones discussed with students the work of the Prison system, probation service and the links between the different agencies involved in the Criminal Justice System and its overall effectiveness. Students showed respect and curiosity in asking questions about topics related to the parole board and what happens to people reaching the end of their sentences prior to any release into the community. Students were also able to take the opportunity to ask career related questions and it was a perfect chance to hear of the best routes into and opportunities for working within the Civil Service and/or Criminal Justice System. Special thanks go to Mr Neeve and Miss James for organising.
Year 11 and Year 13 PPE timetable
Year 11 and Year 13 PPE timetable
We would like to inform you that Year 11 and Year 13 students will be undertaking their Pre-Public Examinations (PPE) over the next few weeks. These critical assessments will play a significant role in gauging students’ current understanding and readiness for their upcoming summer examinations.
It is imperative that all students arrive at school in full uniform, equipped with the necessary materials for their exams, including pens, pencils, rulers, and calculators. We urge them to approach these examinations with a dedicated mindset and to do their absolute best.
The grades achieved in these PPEs will provide a true reflection of each student’s current working grade. This invaluable feedback will enable our teaching staff to identify clear areas for development and support tailored improvement strategies.
We appreciate your cooperation and continued support in ensuring that your child is prepared and ready to excel.
Download File: Year_11_and_Year_13_PPE_Timetable_1AEN Celebrate & Reward Students
The AEN department took 14 selected students on a trip to Hollywood Bowl in Maidstone to celebrate and reward their excellent behaviour and character. Everyone had an excellent time bowling and enjoyed some tasty food in the bowling alley, followed by a short time in the arcade to end the trip. Well done to all our Y7 students who were selected. Keep up your hard work! Special thanks for Mr Reckless for fundraising and arranging this trip.
Year 13 Visit HMP Elmley!
Saturday 1st February year 13 had the rare opportunity to visit HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey. This was a fantastic chance to visit a working Category B prison and one which holds people who have committed all types of offences, including the most serious of crimes. Students were expertly guided through main reception and where all prisoners are processed by Mr Haynes and Ms Newsham. Students heard about the importance of sniffer dogs and technology that is used in the prison to get an understanding of the problems with drugs, knives and guns being bought into the gaol. Students also had the opportunity to see inside a prison cell, try on personal protective equipment used with the most violent inmates and also see around other important areas of the prison that focuses on rehabilitation of offenders such as the gym, library and the Chapel.
Our students were very glad to be let out by the end of the visit and all enjoyed a McDonald’s tea, making the most of their freedom.
All students showed tremendous courage, respect and resilience when touring the gaol. Special thanks to Mr Haynes and Ms Newsham as well as Mr Blair and Mr Neeve for accompanying our students and organising such an educational trip.
Food Tech Receive Free Mussels
We were so fortunate to be one of the 200 schools selected to receive 8kg of fresh, rope-grown mussels, free for our students to prepare and cook, thanks to the amazing Fish Heroes Programme! 🦪🌊 This experience has been invaluable, especially for those who had never tried mussels before – many likely wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for this opportunity. Now students know how to de-beard, clean, and cook them in a delicious tomato & garlic sauce! 🍅🧄
A huge thank you to Offshore Shellfish for their incredible generosity and to the Food Teachers Centre FISH Hero Programme for organizing it all! 🙌
Today, Mr Edwards worked with our Year 10 & 11 hospitality and catering students to create a small selection of mussel dishes. Many students were trying mussels for the first time, and it was fantastic to see them so curious and excited to try something new! 😋
RE trip to Wat Buddhapadia Temple, Wimbledon
The Religious Studies GCSE class recently visited Wat Buddhapadia Temple in Wimbledon. The focus of the trip was to develop an understanding of Buddhist practices. Students enjoyed practicing meditation and speaking with a Buddhist Monk.
Students were asked lots of questions about Buddhism which they answered with confidence; our hosts even congratulated the students on their knowledge.
A great trip was had by all.
Congratulations to our EFA stars!
Aylesford School teachers are currently involved in a 2-year CPD course, called the Embedding Formative Assessment Programme, which develops and embeds formative assessment in lessons. One of our key focuses for developing teaching and learning is making sure we are checking students understanding and adapting our lessons to support this.
There are four groups of teaching staff, called TLC’s - Teacher Learning Communities, who take part in EFA CPD sessions throughout the year. These are lead by our wonderful TLC leaders - Mr Haydon-Caton, Mr Mushekwa, Mr Baker, Mrs Baker, Mr Heather, Mr Herrod, Mr Nichols and Mrs Lawton.
These TLC leaders run the CPD sessions and make sure staff are all focused on developing their formative practice in lessons and they play such an important role in supporting the development of teaching and learning.
We asked the TLC leaders to nominate 2 members from each group who have shown great commitment to participating in the EFA course, to be nominated as EFA stars for Term 1 and Term 2.The TLC leaders did struggle as they said lots of staff had shown great engagement but the following have stood out these past two terms.
Term 1 and 2 EFA stars are:
Group 1 - Mrs Johnston and Mr Martindale
Group 2 - Mr Weare and Miss Watson
Group 3 - Mrs Nixon and Mr Aka
Group 4 - Mrs Duff and Mr Green
We thank you all so much for engaging in this programme of teaching and learning development. We know this will have such a positive impact on our student’s progress!
We look forward to see who the next EFA stars will be for Terms 3 and 4!
Christmas Dinner 2024
Today we held our annual Christmas Dinner for over 530 students. Students enjoyed a main meal of either Roast Turkey, Gammon, Beef or Quorn with roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, stuffing, carrots, peas and gravy, followed by ice cream. Thank you to Mel and the Chartwells catering team for preparing such a wonderful spread.
Special thanks to all of our staff who helped serve, supervise, organise and clean up after the event. Without a collective school wide effort this event wouldn’t have been as successful as it was so THANK YOU ALL!
Christmas Raffle Winners !
We are delighted to announce the winners of our Christmas Raffle 2024!
Congratulations to all our winners and a big THANK YOU to everyone who bought tickets. Your contributions helped us raise £834 which will go towards our future Dementia Cafe events.
Parent Mrs Stevens and two of our Dementia Cafe guests, Lesley and Laura were the lucky winners of three beautiful hampers full of goodies. Student Isaac was the lucky winner of our student hamper.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Lille Trip 2024
Our Year 7 had a great time on their trip to Lille! Students were an absolute joy to be with, showing fantastic confidence as they navigated the Christmas market, using their French skills to order food and ask questions to stallholders.
Curiosity and self-discipline
Their curiosity and self-discipline shone through during our visit to the Planetarium, where they actively engaged again asking and answering questions throughout the show.
We are all really proud of our students!
Joyeux Noël to all!
Character Awards 2024
This week we have had the pleasure of recognising the hard work of some of our Year 7, 8 and 9 students who were nominated by their teachers to receive Character Awards at our Christmas Awards Ceremony.
A big well done to all our Winners!
Year 8 Girls Football Success
Following the year 7s success two weeks ago, our year 8s took a while to ‘warm up’ but they just got better and better with each game.
The year 8s even went on to beat the Invicta B team and were the only team to score against the Invicta A team!
All our students represented the school brilliantly and showed such motivation, especially as there were only a few minutes between each game. Goals came from Imogen, Eva and Madison. Sophia was superb in goal…the next Mary Earps?!?
Team:
• Sophia
• Eva
• Madison
• Dolly
• Evie
• Imogen
• Olly
• Hunnie
• Mabintu
• Cerise
Tristan Osborne MP visits Aylesford School
Friday 6th December - The A team and Character Ambassador students were lucky enough to meet with Tristan Osborne MP for Chatham and Aylesford.
This was a fantastic opportunity for our students and the school to discuss pressing matters with our local MP. Students showed tremendous respect, integrity and open mindedness when discussing national, local and school issues.
There was a lot of discussion about feeling safe in the local community, concerns about traffic on Teapot Lane and the use of mobile phones in the classroom. Students also raised the dangers of vaping as a concern, to which Mr Osborne explained about the positive changes and restrictions the Government are planning to make in the near future.
We are very grateful to Mr Osborne for his time.
Aylesford School Dementia Cafe 2024
Today saw the return of our Dementia Cafe, this time with a Christmas theme and it was a tremendous success!
Firstly, all students showed excellent confidence, character and enthusiasm in performing songs, such as a selection from Bugsy Malone. Thanks must to Mr Hawkes, Mrs Davies and Mr Thompson for preparing the students so well.
Our guests were served a selection of sandwiches, Christmas cakes and mince pies and were then treated to a Christmas sing-a-long, led by Mr Thompson and the Aylesford Community Singers. Everyone enjoyed joining in with classics such as Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Rockin around the Christmas Tree.
It was a pleasure for Aylesford to host such a positive community event, and the day would not have happened without the help of staff and students who made the day so successful.
Special thanks must go to Ms Day and Mrs Gryntus, who ensured the hall and tables were decorated so well with Christmas decorations and themed placemats.
Thanks also to Mr Edwards and Ms Layberry who ensured our catering students gave everybody a fantastic Christmas themed lunch and to Mrs Duff who provided her skill and expertise in leading the floristry club in making Christmas candle decorations.
A final thank you must go to Mr Neeve for leading and organising the event.
Please don’t forget raffle tickets are still on sale and can be bought from the Christmas Raffle page or from the school office - all proceeds go towards the running of future Dementia cafes.
The next Dementia Cafe will be at Easter - watch this space for further information about this and other events in future.
Aylesford School Christmas Carol Concert 2024
What an incredible evening at the Aylesford School Christmas Carol Service 2024!
It was a wonderful community event filled with festive cheer and holiday spirit. Many of our students gave fantastic performances for the very first time, doing so with such confidence and enthusiasm, really showcasing their hard work and dedication.
A huge THANK YOU to all the staff who supported and guided our students, making this event such a success. Your hard work behind the scenes made all the difference.
Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season ahead!
Year 7 Girls Football Team - First Tournament
Last week the squad of 12 attended their first football tournament ...in fact their first game !
For many this was the first time they had represented the school in a sport. The team looked brilliant in the new kit and they represented the school brilliantly.
The team had five games and it was a tough start, as we had to face Invicta Grammar; unfortunately we conceded three goals. The second game we only lost by one goal…clear progress! After two defeats we had to change things up and for the best…we went on to win 3-0, 1-0, and 3-0!! The team were absolutely buzzing.
Resilience and confidence paid off and we finished further up the table.
It’s not the best photo, but it was rather cold last Thursday and they wanted to get back to the bus!
Christmas Raffle 2024 - Buy your tickets now!
The Aylesford School Christmas Raffle 2024 is now live!
- We have 4 hamper prizes 3 for adults and 1 for students.
- Tickets can be purchased from the school office or Parent Pay
- £1 a ticket or £5 a strip.
- All proceeds will go toward funding our future Dementia Cafés.
- Draw takes place on 18th December!
Don’t delay get your tickets today - Good Luck!
Year 8 visit Hampton Court Palace
Year 8 have been exploring the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, learning information taught across both history and geography at the school.
From Henry VIII and his wives to the locational importance of the buildings.
Students have shown great curiosity and respect whilst travelling through history!
Police and crime commissioners workshop - Update
The influence of social media and the internet
Character Ambassadors and the A Team were lucky enough to take part in a workshop with the Police and Crime Commissioners looking at the influence of social media and the internet. All were tasked with making a podcast related to this topic and were able to record and present their ideas.
They showed great confidence, motivation and enthusiasm to produce these and the best examples will be entered into a national competition.
We look forward to sharing the results in due course.
Christmas Carol Concert 2024
Join us for a wonderful evening of music and readings to usher in the Christmas season.
St Peter and St Paul’s Church Aylesford
7:30PM December
There will be a retiring collection for the Grace Tutt Fundraiser.
Aylesford School marks Remembrance Day with reflection and respect
Today, Aylesford School took time to honour and remember those who have served and sacrificed for our country. We held a special assembly for all students, featuring a powerful presentation from the Royal British Legion, followed by a moving two-minute silence at 11.00am
In addition, a small group of our students had the privilege of visiting the Royal British Legion to mark this important day alongside local veterans. It was a heartwarming and humbling experience, showcasing the compassion and respect our students hold for those who have fought for our freedom.
We are incredibly proud of our students for their thoughtfulness and dedication to remembering the brave men and women who have served.
Lest we forget.
Dementia Café - Memories of Christmas, 5th December ••FULLY BOOKED••
••NOW FULLY BOOKED••
Updated 12/11/24:
Aylesford School’s next Dementia Café on 5th December is now FULLY BOOKED and we are looking forward to welcoming all those attending.
The theme for this special event will be “Memories of Christmas” – a wonderful opportunity to reminisce and share cherished moments of the holiday season. 🎄✨
Community events like this are so important in building connections and supporting one another, especially when it comes to those affected by dementia. They help create a space where memories are honoured and new bonds are formed, all while fostering a sense of belonging.
Best of British Dementia Summer Cafe!
Yesterday saw our Best of British Dementia Summer Cafe. We had over 50 people from our local community join us for this special event, it was a tremendous success and all students were a credit to the school with their excellent character, confidence and enthusiasm they showed in performing songs, talking to our guests and serving teas coffees and a light lunch.
Thanks must go to Lidl for their contribution to the food supplies and to Mr Andrew Kennedy for his very kind donation towards funds for the day. Further thanks to our friends the 2 G’s who treated us to a fantastic performance of a selection of songs from the last 60 years. These brought back memories for many of our guests who often remembered the lyrics word for word despite living with dementia.
Special thanks
It was a pleasure for Aylesford to host such a positive community event and the day would not have happened without the help of staff and students who made the day so successful. Special thanks must go to our staff members Ms Day and Mrs Gryntus, who ensured the hall was set up and tables were decorated so well with themed placemats. Thanks also to Mr Edwards and Ms Layberry who ensured our catering students gave everybody a fantastic lunch and to Mrs Duff who provided her skill and expertise in leading the floristry club.
A final thank you must go to Mr Neeve for initiating and organising the event.
Next Dementia Cafe
The next Dementia Cafe will be at Christmas - watch this space for further information about this and other events in future.
Aylesford year 8 football team make Maidstone Schools Football Final
The Aylesford School year 8 football team have made the Maidstone Schools Football Final!
After a very close game ended in a 0-0 draw the match went to a penalty shoot out and to sudden death!
The winning penalty falling to Liam Innes.
Penalty scorers
- Frankie Aarons
- George Davies
- Alfie Sharp
- Connor Chapman
- Liam Leggett
- Liam Innes
Man of the match
Alfie Sharp
Maidstone Schools Football Final
4pm kick off at Maidstone United on TUESDAY 21st MAY.
Students head to Florida to compete in the Cheerleading World Championships
Ellarose and Crystal in year 7 will be travelling to Florida on the 16th April to compete in the World Championships with their team, Mystify.
This amazing opportunity arose after Team Mystify of MCDA Allstars won a bid to compete in the prestigious competition taking place in Orlando, Florida between April 19-21. Bids are won by attaining the highest scores across UK regional competition.
Go Ellarose, Crystal and Team Mystify!
Anyone who wants to help them on their journey they can contribute to footwear, training sessions and of course hair bows, HERE.
Part of the
The Character Education Trust is a multi-academy trust (MAT) that exists to provide outstanding education in both primary and secondary schools.
Building Character, Creating Opportunities.
