Tomorrow's Future Today
A huge farewell party is being organised to mark the closure of Senacre Technology College in Maidstone.
More than 400 people are expected to attend the party which is being organised by former pupils Sharon Reynolds, Janet Spicer and Carol Hunt.
Those expected to take a trip down memory lane are ex-teachers, staff and pupils.
Sharon, who attended the school from 1977 – 1982, said: "We did a massive leaflet drop throughout Senacre, Shepway, Mangravet, Park Wood, Madginford and Bearsted. News travelled so far, even an ex-pupil now living in Australia is making the journey over and others who attended when it first opened in 1957 are coming too."
The occasion, on Friday July 11 from 7pm, will see a disco and buffet provided. There will also be memorabilia on display such as old photographs and school journals.
T-shirts are being printed to commemorate the school's opening and closure by head teacher Guy Hewett who has taught at the site for 16 years. His wife and daughter are also former pupils of the school.
He said: "It will be a sad day when Senacre Technology College closes its doors for the last time. There have been changes but the one thing that hasn't changed is its heart, which has brought a sense of community, togetherness and care mixed in with a liberal dash of fun. We are moving to a better site and building a state-of-the-art school for young people of this area, but that warm heart of Senacre is going with us and will be celebrated in style on July 11."
For more details about the party, contact Sharon on 0778 6254 626.
**Senacre Technology College will make way for a housing development with money from the sale of the school going towards funding New Line Academy in Maidstone.
Left to right: Carol Hunt, Janet Spicer, Guy Hewett and Sharon Reynolds.
Guy Hewett has been appointed Head of New Line Learning Academy in Maidstone.
Mr Hewett, who has a passion for sport and is an avid Chelsea supporter, has been Head of Senacre Technology College for 12 months and has taught there for 16 years.
Delighted about his new role, he said: "I’m very proud and excited to be able to lead New Line Learning Academy forward for the benefit of young people in this area. I firmly believe our students are amongst the best in the world, and committed to this community in every sense. I look forward to leading NLL pupils towards the success they richly deserve."
After May half-term holiday, Mr Hewett will oversee the transition of pupils from Senacre to the Oldborough site in Boughton Lane, Loose, where the new Academy will be built.
New classrooms are currently being installed at the location so 960 pupils can continue with lessons uninterrupted as building work commences.
Discussions are currently taking place with companies hoping to win the contract to build the new Academy.
Mr Hewett, a former Maidstone Grammar School pupil who has spent most of his life living in the County Town, adds: "The school is considering a number of bids and a decision is expected to be made soon. The Academy will be fully operational by 2010 and promises to be one of the most modern in the country if not Europe."
New Head of New Line Learning Academy - Mr Guy Hewett.
PUPILS aged 11 to 16 can now apply for a Kent Freedom Pass offering unlimited travel on buses throughout the borough for just £50.
The scheme is designed to ease congestion on roads by getting more young people to use public transport when travelling to and from school.
This will also reduce pollution, frees up parents’ time during rush hours and gives young people complete travel freedom. Pupils can apply for their passes from June.
For more information contact Kent County Council on 08458 247 247.
PUPILS with a passion for football and business were given a tour of Arsenal’s home ground, Emirates stadium, on a trip to London.
Highlights for the 40 students from New Line Learning Academy in Maidstone included visiting the directors’ lounge/box, walking down the players’ tunnel and sitting in manager Arsene Wengers match chair.
They also took a peak inside the home team changing rooms, checked out the museum and bought some mementos at the shop.
Afterwards the pupils boarded their coach and were whisked to The Bank of England where they lifted a gold billion worth £186,000, had a talk on Money Matters, saw printed money being produced and visited the museum.
Subject Leader for Business and Public Services at NLL Academy, Kerri Pellow, said: "The day was really interesting and both businesses commented on how well behaved our students were – they really were a credit to the school."
** Arsenal moved to the larger Emirates stadium, which holds 60,000 supporters in 2006, after a century at nearby Highbury.
Pupils get comfortable in the directors' box.
PUPILS took to the slopes in Austria for five days during February and tested out their skiing skills.
The youngsters from Years 8, 9 and 11 from New Line Learning Academy in Maidstone were accompanied by three teachers to Badgastin and stayed at a youth hostel.
They spent five hours a day being taught how to ski, leaving them shattered by the evening.
Surprisingly enough, they still had the energy to partake in a host of entertainment at the resort.
This included ice skating, Austrian curling, pizza/kebab nights, quizzes and trips to the local town to see frozen waterfalls and souvenir shops.
Intermediate group with their instructor Oden