012 KENT’S BRIGHTEST & BEST TALENT!
OUR COUNTY’S GOT
As students across the county prepare to sit a multitude of exams, we look at the rich wealth of talent Kent has produced – past and present – and explore the options open to scholars today
Vicky Hales-Dutton
revision and exams – from Year 3 SATS and GCSEs to degree fi nals – taken in hot, stuffy halls around the county. All that hard work pays off, though. Kent boasts an impressive roll call of talent through the ages. Distinguished alumni include the extremely famous (HG Wells, Geoffrey Chaucer, Sir Mick Jagger) alongside those who are well respected in their fi eld, contributing much to our understanding of the world. Such lesser known luminaries include physicist and Nobel Prize-winner Cecil Powell and 19th century botanist Anna Atkins, both from Tonbridge. Of course, the route to success is not always straightforward. Both Charles Dickens and HG Wells left school early because of fi nancial hardship. Dickens achieved fame at 24 with his fi rst novel, The Pickwick Papers, and Wells was a draper’s apprentice before winning a science scholarship. More recently, Detectorists’ creator/star and ex-grammar school pupil, Maidstone-born Mackenzie Crook supported his stand-up/writing career by working in the likes of Pizza Hut. These are all inspiring examples of what can be achieved after setbacks.
J
une – for many of us it’s the best month of the year, bringing us Kentish strawberries and asparagus, Wimbledon and roses in bloom. But for thousands of young people, June heralds frantic, last-minute
You’re hired!
Today’s school-leavers face an exhilarating, if baffl ing, choice of pathways to follow. While the increase in university fees has not necessarily dissuaded people from applying for degree courses, it has prompted the creation of a variety of lower-cost options, ranging from sponsored degrees to degree-level apprenticeships.
Expected to contribute a huge £3.4 billion to the UK economy by 2022, apprenticeships are available in 1,500 job roles, covering more than 170 industries, from the arts and media to engineering, construction, health, business and law. They enable people to work and earn money while studying for a nationally- recognised qualifi cation. The schemes were given a boost recently
via government changes widening out the scheme – and funding – to anyone over 16 and improving training. Also improved are the higher and degree level apprenticeships, which will appeal to those wanting to graduate with a debt-free degree. “In 2015/2016 there were 11,130
apprenticeship starts in Kent and this fi gure looks set to grow in 2016/2017,” says Dan Ratcliff of Kent County Council’s Skills and
William Caxton
(c.1415–c.1492) PROFESSION Writer, printer, translator, merchant and diplomat. CLAIM TO FAME He introduced the printing press to England and printed the fi rst book – Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. He printed a total of 108 books. EDUCATION Not known.
KENT CONNECTION He
probably grew up in his family’s manor in Hadlow.
Employability Service. Last October Dan and his team launched the ApprenticeKent website to match would-be apprentices with employers, and provide information and support to both sides. “Around 2,000 students are
registered with us and we have advertised over 750 vacancies so far. The recent changes to apprenticeships funding has opened opportunities to all. With new apprenticeships being designed by employers, there has never been a better time to look for an apprenticeship.” The team regularly emails out lists of vacancies while apprentice ambassadors covering the whole of Kent go out and about engaging with schools.
School’s out
Michael Kennedy, Director of Learning at The Folkestone School for Girls, says that
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© Shannon Fagan
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