News


Pets poised to jump to it for relay success


A SCHOOL sports hall has become a breeding ground for a sport you’ve probably never heard of. Flyball is a sport with a difference


as the main competitors are dogs – but they also need the help of their handlers. And Aces High, who have the sec-


ond best time in Europe in the event, have begunmeeting at the Cornwal- lis Academy in Linton. The team, usually based in Rain-


ham, comprises 20 members and more than 40 dogs and has been sponsored by Future Schools Trust, which runs Cornwallis Academy. Each Sunday, the club takes over the Cornwallis Sports Hall for its


weekly training sessions – and now some of the students want to join! The canine connection with Corn-


wallis came about after science teacher Maria Worrall and head of science Adam Williams, both keen members of Aces High, brought the dogs into school for a demonstra- tion. They have since been invited to give displays at the Trust’s other


schools – New Line Learning, Tiger Primary and Tiger Cubs – where the children have been equally enam- oured by the animals’ antics. In Flyball, teams of dogs race


against each other over a line of four hurdles, 10 feet apart, to a box that releases a tennis ball to be caught when the dog presses the spring- loaded pad. The dogs return the ball to their handlers, as part of a 25-


Aces High dogs and owners get ready for their relay race


metre relay sprint. Aces High are the current British


multibreed record holders,winners of the British Open Championships in both 2015 and 2016 and runners up in the 2017 finals. Maria said: “It’s not something


many people have heard of, but it demands a lot of training with the dogs. It’s very much a hands-on, handler-driven sport.”


Invicta is top school in town


INVICTA Grammar School has been rated as one of the best state schools in the south-east of Eng- land, according to the Sunday Times. Thrilled at the accolade, head


teacher Julie Derrick said the rank- ing shows its students “are verywell taught and provided with a unique plethora of opportunities to enrich and develop themselves”. It rates Invicta as the best school in


Maidstone and also the 23rd best state school in the South East. The Sunday Times Parent Power


SchoolsGuide 2018 ranks schools by GCSE and A level examination re- sults and presents statistics on uni- versity destinations of school leavers. Mrs Derrick said Invicta is one of


the fewsecondary schools inKent to be rated in the top 100 schools in England and top 25 in the South East. Only four non super selective schools inKent achieved these rank- ings.


Head Julie Derrick hopes Invicta students will become well-rounded citizens She said: “Invicta staff, students


andparentswork veryhardtogether and deserve this accolade. “At Invicta, we do not sit back on


our success; indeed the school has a constantdrive to improve ourselves, our students are very well taught


ents,whohavemade Invicta the spe- cial school it is today.” Invicta students achieved 75%A*-


B grades atAlevel and 57%A*/Aor 9-7 grades atGCSEin 2017. Students also achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.74, meaning that they scored, in every subject, nearly three-quarters of a gradehigher than theirpeersna- tionally of the same ability. Invicta students also raised nearly


£50,000 for charity in 2016-2017. Besides the school’s reputation for


and provided with a unique plethora of opportunities to enrich and develop themselves into well rounded citizens of the 21st century. “I am proud of our students'


achievement andgrateful to thehard working staff and supportive par-


academic achievements, Invicta is also known as a leading school in opportunities for students inmusic, the arts, sports, close linkswith uni- versities, businesses, local commu- nity and international links with schools fromover 20 countries. It is part of the Valley Invicta


Academies Trust (VIAT)which also runs a number of primary schools, Valley Park and the newly-formed Lenham School. It is also behind a specialist science school to be built nearGroveGreen


Teens’ quick-thinking helped savewoman’s life


KENT’S chief constable has praised a group of teenagers who stopped awoman jumping froma bridge on Blue Bell Hill. The group of seven were in two cars travelling on theA229 in July


when they spotted the woman on the crossing near Common Road. Those at the bravery awards’


ceremony at Kent Police College heard how the youngsters had seen the woman standing on the


wrong side of the railings and ran to her aid. They grabbed her as she started to fall and together helped each other hold on to the railings until the emergency serv- ices arrived.


Receiving certificates of merit


from Chief ConstableAlan Pugh- sley for their efforts in protecting the woman were: Darren Porter, Lewis Fisher and IbrahimKhwaja; along with Charlotte Vince, Harvie Costello, Chloe Kemp and Danny Orlando (pictured). The woman survived and re-


ceived support frommental health services. Chief Con Pughsley said each


one showed huge courage and cit- izenship, adding: “Despite the threat and unpredictability of the situation they found themselves in, their decisive thinking and brave actionsmay have saved this woman’s life.”


4 Maidstone January 2018


Young anglers’ course success


FISHINGhas proved an unlikely saviour forMaidstone youngsters finding themselves in deepwater at school. Three young anglers involved in


a novel approach to inspiring young learners have now been recognised by their local MP at a presentation in theHouse of Com- mons. The Fishing for Schools initiative,


run by The Countryside Alliance Foundation, provides angling courses to teenagers who struggle to respond in the classroom. The scheme offers another chance to shine for those with problems in- cluding physical, learning or be- havioural difficulties. Each school was asked to nomi-


nate the person they thought had achieved themost fromthe course, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday. In Maidstone, they were James


Luckhurst, from Bower Grove School; Callum Jones, from Maid- stone andMallingAlternative Pro-


DROPPING A levels was “probably the best decision” head teacher Carl Roberts hasmade in the decade he has been in the job, he has told the Times Edu- cation Supplement. Mr Roberts, of The


Malling School, said that for many years his stu- dents at the non-selec- tive secondary school underachieved at A level, failed to win uni- versity places “or posi- tive onward routes” after year 13. Writing in the prestigious news-


paper, he said: “Three years ago, I took the bold decision to stop offer- ing A levels and to introduce the In- ternational Baccalaureate Career- related Programme (IBCP). “Wasn’t the IB only for very aca- demic students and therefore really


vision in Bower Mount Road, and Lewis Blair, from Maplesden Noakes School in Buckland Road. Helen GrantMP, who met them


at the Commons in London, said: “I was delighted to meet these in- spirational young people. Getting children out into the great out- doors and taking part in sport is an issue very close to my heart and I truly believe that sports such as fishing have the power to change and improve lives.” Fishing for Schools director


Charles Jardine said: “These stu- dents are a tremendous example of what can be achieved. “Many have had challenging


school careers but fishing is a sport without barriers and seems to have struck a chord with them, offering something they can achieve and benefit from, teaching all manner of life skills along theway.” Mr Jardine is awidely-respected


fisherman, author and naturalist who is well-known for encourag- ing youngster to take up fishing.


Head’s A level decision is sound


only suited to grammar and inde- pendent schools?Well,maybe so to the diploma programme – although that is debatable – but the career-related pro- gramme is a more ac- cessible course.” Mr Roberts said that


this year, every student had passed or exceeded his or her target grades. He added: “The decision to drop A levels...has transformed the life chances of students at


my school by turning themintowell- qualified, confident and well- rounded individuals, who have the skills and attributes necessary to thrive when they leavemy school.” The number of pupils at The


Malling School with special educa- tional needs and disabilities is higher than the national average.


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MP Helen Grant with Fishing for Schools achievers (l-r) James Luckhurst, CallumJones and Lewis Blair


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