Twitter @BartonCourtGS

06/03/24

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12/12/23

Thank you to Abbie from , one of our school charities, for coming in last week to talk to our students about the work they do.We are looking forward to continuing to raise lots of money to support their cause. pic.twitter.com/6fWGNjA7FO

12/12/23

We're extremely proud of Toral in Y12 who was selected to play for the first ever U18 female Barbarians squad this weekend. The team was selected to play against Rugby School to celebrate 200 years of rugby union. An amazing experience and an excellent achievement. pic.twitter.com/mMtZfPMjyf

17/11/23

There's a real & growing concern re how many young people share inappropriate images online, leading to potential exploitation, blackmail & harm from a young age & leaving a lasting digital footprint. If you share it, you're involved. Speak to the DSL team if you've concerns. pic.twitter.com/LNQ3U09XeH

16/11/23

We were delighted to welcome the BBC Bitesize Careers Roadshow last week. Students learnt about a wide variety of career pathways in fashion, TV production & academia which many found very helpful and interesting pic.twitter.com/dhjOOePsQ0

09/11/23

Y12 Health & Social Care students enjoyed a visit to Medicine, Health & Social Care Dept's Simulation Suite. With dummies that can be programmed to simulate different disorders students practiced their CPR skills & saw who was the most accurate with compressions! pic.twitter.com/UCylXt9upM

09/11/23

We are looking for three new Exam Invigilators so if you, or anyone you know, is interested please click the link below:https://t.co/jognYVbWWF

08/11/23

We were delighted to open the Schools’ Lunchtime Concerts at this year's Canterbury Festival. Y7-Y13 students presented a variety of styles & the Barton Manor Djembe Drummers, who were the opening act joined us. The organizers described it as “a hard act to follow". pic.twitter.com/RwxQqiyS24

30/10/23

Y11 enjoyed a great trip to The Globe last term to see a production of Macbeth. They really enjoyed the immersive experience of being a "groundling" with some having lines delivered directly to them! pic.twitter.com/3EVO0LLwpB

25/10/23

🚨 it’s coming 🚨 We know it’s a ‘bit’ early but we have to get ready. Team up with family/friends/colleagues this November to help us help those who need it pic.twitter.com/UxfWbgwEgD

25/10/23

We are seeking an Attendance & Cover Officer to work term time only. Should you, or someone you know, be interested, please click the link below.https://t.co/ZHSU1P9JfN

24/10/23

Amazing self portrait from a student in Y8 in the style of Kehinde Wiley who the year group have been studying.#art pic.twitter.com/VbI9F0kuyB

23/10/23

🚨 it’s coming 🚨 We know it’s a ‘bit’ early but we have to get ready. Team up with family/friends/colleagues this November to help us help those who need it pic.twitter.com/UxfWbgwEgD

17/10/23

Y5 students from local primary schools discovered last week what it's like to learn languages at BCGS. They did a language session on pets & a cultural one on the Festival of Lights! Workshops are held regularly for primary school students to discover what life is like at BCGS. pic.twitter.com/C19F3HmDcu

12/10/23

We're very proud of this group of students who won the KSSA Annual Regatta School Trophy at Whitstable for BCGS! All the hard work and dedication paid off. pic.twitter.com/pBdlLrFrk1

12/10/23

The ever-popular Spanish Exchange took 30 students ranging from Y9 to Y13 to Madrid last week to learn all about Spanish lifestyle & culture. While immersed in the language they enjoyed an amazing week full of activities with great weather & fantastic traditional Spanish cuisine pic.twitter.com/r3qXMkfw1v

09/10/23

Congratulations to two of our Y13 students who were short-listed for the Canterbury Festival Poetry Comp 2023. Gideon was awarded 1st place & Alicia 2nd place in the 16-18 category from a field of over 400 poems submitted from a host of other Kent schools. pic.twitter.com/gbg8f5YxoQ

09/10/23

We are looking for an Attendance & Cover Officer to start at BCGS as soon as possible. If you, or someone you know, is interested please click the link below for more information.https://t.co/ZHSU1P9JfN

28/09/23

Yesterday's guide summarized what trusted adults need to know about the potential dangers of vaping for young people. pic.twitter.com/0U9RSSGOnO

23/09/23

The BCGS community raised a massive £18,789 for our chosen charities last year & This exceeded our target of £15k and as a result we are aiming to raise £20k this academic year for the charities students choose in the coming weeks

23/09/23

Our talented Asst Site Manager has been at it again taking fantastic pictures of the Canterbury skyline from our roof! pic.twitter.com/uNSZnMj6pZ

02/08/23

We're delighted to be awarded status which recognises the value we place on music both within the curriculum & through extra curricular activities & events. Thank you for recommending us. We'll use this to develop links with partners & expand our provision pic.twitter.com/m1DoNrxNRQ

27/07/23

Students had a brilliant time visiting .Yet another great activity filled day in our Enrichment Week at the end of last term. pic.twitter.com/ewM3W3xSrD

24/07/23

We were delighted to welcome students from Zhangjiagang Liangfeng International School in China at the end of term. They shadowed their BCGS buddy & participated in enrichment activities, such as Sports Day, calligraphy, cooking, the cinema, orienteering & a tour of Canterbury. pic.twitter.com/EtazSo9Lvu

24/07/23

What an amazing time students had in Lake Garda, visiting Sirmione, Malcesine and Verona. Very hot days required squeezing in some time for dips in the pool and delicious Italian ice cream. So great to have Italy back in our Enrichment Week activities again! pic.twitter.com/xTtV7HsX6O

Wellbeing

Wellbeing can be understood as how people feel and how they function, both on a personal and a social level, and how they evaluate their lives as a whole. New Economics Foundation

Why is Wellbeing Important?

Wellbeing is a vital factor in each of our lives, shaping the way in which we understand ourselves and one another, and influencing a range of long-term outcomes.  In the journey from childhood to adolescence and early adulthood, it becomes even more vital.  Enjoying positive wellbeing opens the door to improved physical and cognitive development, better relationships with family members and peers, and a smoother transition to independence.

HeadStart Kent

At Barton Court Grammar School we are delighted to be the only Grammar School in the Canterbury District to be chosen for phase 3 of the HeadStart Kent Project. The project  aims to support young people by developing their skills of resilience and perseverance as they take the steps into young adulthood. Full detail of the Headstart project, along with associated resources can be found here: http://www.headstartkent.org.uk/

Wellbeing Room

The school boasts a fully refurbished and staffed ‘Wellbeing’ room in the old school house; this is a specialist room developed and led by our SENCO, which provides a space within school for students to relax and discuss any issues, including strategies to move forward. The wellbeing room also hosts lunchtime mindfulness sessions for students, and provides a space for our 100+ trained peer mentors to be available for drop in sessions during break and lunch. We also have full provision to support the mental wellbeing of our learners, through access to school counsellors and external agencies where required.

Peer Mentors

Over 100 students from Y8 to Y13 have been trained as peer mentors over the last 2 years. Each peer mentor is matched to a tutor group in the year below. Peer mentors attend tutor times with their matched tutor group at least once per fortnight and provide small group support for their peers, as well as providing 1:1 support for individuals.

Resilience Questionnaires

All students in the school complete a termly survey on wellbeing and resilience during tutor time. We use this survey to help identify students who may need additional support but have not yet come forward. We also use this information as a baseline measure to compare against, since students will repeat the survey each term, so we can see trends and patterns in wellbeing amongst our student population.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for Staff and Sixth Form

Through our involvement with HeadStart Kent, 3 members of staff have received the full Youth Mental Health First Aider training. In addition, a further 9 members of staff completed the introductory YMHFA lite course in 2018-19. This course was also open to parents and Sixth Form students to broaden our reach and enhance understanding and support amongst our school community. Training is provided by Maidstone and Mid Kent Mind – for which the link can be found below.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a core aspect of the HeadStart Kent research. Opportunities for mindfulness are built into tutor time, using materials provided from the mindfulness training course. The pastoral team have received training in mindfulness techniques.

Online Counselling

Students have access to Kooth.com, a website dedicated to supporting wellbeing by providing forums, articles and online counselling. The link for Kooth can be found below.

Wellbeing Forum Teams

At Barton Court Grammar School we have a dedicated team of staff who meet termly to discuss and address wellbeing issues among the student and staff body. There are strategies in place to boost staff wellbeing embedded throughout the academic year. Within each tutor group there is a wellbeing representative, who sits on a student wellbeing forum team to discuss and address wellbeing issues amongst students. The work of this team directly influences the content of PSHEE and tutor time, reacting to current issues within the community and providing educational support in matters such as knife crime, exploitation and drugs, in response to student requests.

Provision of Opportunities to Support Wellbeing

Elements of the PSHEE curriculum for KS3 and KS4 are supported by subjects across the school, particularly Science, PE, Food Technology, and RPE. The PSHEE curriculum includes the following core themes:

  • health and wellbeing
  • relationships
  • living in the wider world

Enrichment Days across the year provide opportunities for students to engage with a range of topics, issues, speakers, and access to sources of support. Enrichment Days offer directed activities that help students to identify ways in which they can identify risks, make choices that lead to emotional and physical wellbeing, and can deal with the roles and responsibilities they will encounter as they mature and reach adulthood. The wellbeing days are coordinated by Miss Breeds (Lead Teacher of PSHEE) with the support of Mrs Smith (Assistant Head Teacher). Students are involved in the planning of the Enrichment Days via wellbeing form representatives and evaluation forms.

Useful Links

HeadStart Kent: https://www.headstartkent.org.uk/

Kooth.com: https://www.kooth.com/

Maidstone and MidKent Mind https://www.maidstonemind.org/

Mindful: https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/

Youth Mental Health First Aid: https://mhfaengland.org/individuals/youth/

Youth Wellbeing Directory: https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/youth-wellbeing/

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