THE CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIP


Kent is one of the few counties that retains a grammar school system – a form of educational segregation that is open to charges of elitism. So it’s interesting that a partnership between non-grammar and independent schools in the county has emerged as a success story of effective collaboration. Established three years ago,


East Kent Schools Together (EKST) has attracted thousands of pounds in funding for its extra- curricular student development programme, and is saving partner schools substantial sums through shared expertise, venues, resources and online subscriptions. ‘East Kent has a diverse


demographic, with a large rural and coastal community that faces many economic challenges and feels quite isolated from London,’ says Christina Astin, head of partnerships at The King’s School, an independent secondary in Canterbury. ‘We know that schools can do more when they work together, so the aim of EKST was to expand educational provision, increase social cohesion, and widen student horizons.’


Initially, she admits, some state


schools, were ‘sceptical’ of a partnership with the independent sector. However, four non-selective state schools (Herne Bay High School, Dover Christ Church Academy, St Anselm’s Catholic School and Spires Academy) signed up, along with three independents (The King’s School, St Edmund’s School and St Lawrence College). The partnership was given added clout by Canterbury Christ Church University being involved. ‘Every partner school recognises


that pupil experience is broadened by collaborating with young people from different backgrounds, and by experiencing an enriched education beyond the curriculum,’ says Jon Boyes, principal of Herne Bay High. ‘We all pay the same annual levy of £2000, but each school has made cost savings and received benefits- in-kind far in excess of that. The fact that we can demonstrate the different ways in which each school has benefited has enabled us to secure additional funding to expand our work.’ Part of the levy goes towards a part-time coordinator, and EKST


also received £5,000 in core costs for both 2018 and 2019 from The Lawson Trust, via the Kent Community Foundation. With such foundations in place, the partnership has been able to develop a range of events and projects. The Big Explore, for instance, was an outdoor pursuits experience for young people who needed help getting back on the right track, funded by local grant provider The Cleary Foundation. In early 2020, staff from all schools worked to organise The Big Chill – a ‘getaway’


THE STEM PROJECT PARTNERSHIP


Successful partnerships are driven by people who share similar values and ambitions. And when David Birkenhead, STEM coordinator at Ifield Community College in Crawley, met Dr Andrew Spiers MBE, director of science and technology at Ardingly College, two years ago, there was an instant meeting of minds over the project under discussion. Ardingly had been running an


extra-curricular design challenge to build a solar-powered car and was keen to join forces with a state school partner to share resources and teacher knowledge – and to involve more students in developing technologies to combat climate


change and pollution. As a focus, the challenge was to design and build a two-seater car to take part in the gruelling Australian Bridgestone World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide, where, in 2019, the team outperformed major universities, including Cambridge. ‘The project combines the


ethos of reuse and recycle with new technology,’ says David Birkenhead. ‘It’s the best thing I have ever done as a teacher – our students have acquired a phenomenal range of design, build and marketing skills, and have really developed as confident young people. ‘The Year 10s have given marketing presentations to


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