Twitter @tcdskent

08/10/26

Image

08/10/26

We were delighted to welcome Sue Leach from the QEQM League of Friends, our charity partner for 2025-26, and present a cheque for an incredible £2,193.05 raised by our school community last year. A huge thank you to all our pupils and families for their generosity and support.

07/10/26

You can register for this workshop here:   events.teams.microsoft.com/e…

01/10/26

We had a bumper night at KS4 Cooking Skills Club and, continuing with our popular TikTok recipe theme, students took on the challenge of making pan-fried hash browns completely from scratch. A hugely successful session with some seriously impressive results!

29/09/26

We are delighted to introduce you to our Senior Prefects for this academic year.  Recognisable by the red trim on their blazers, these young leaders play an important role in supporting our school community.

29/09/26

Our Y9 pupils have been developing their observational drawing skills by exploring mark making with ink to capture the intricate details and textures of shells. The results were fantastic, with excellent examples demonstrating creativity, precision and attention to detail.

28/09/26

Image

28/09/26

Image

28/09/26

Image

28/09/26

Image

24/09/26

Image

24/09/26

Life Skills Cooking Club: This week we tackled TikTok marshmallow ice cream cones! Sticky, messy and trickier than expected, but creativity and perseverance won the day!

23/09/26

The NHS Trust Emotional Wellbeing/Support Team are hosting a series of workshops throughout Terms 1 and 2.  Here is the first.  If you would like to register, you can do so here:  events.teams.microsoft.com/e…

23/09/26

Attached is information about an excellent support resource available for parents.  This online service is designed to support parents whose children may be experiencing low-level anxiety.  x.com/tcdskent/status/210275…

22/09/26

Image

21/09/26

Our Y11 after-school intervention programme launched this week, with an impressive 66% of students attending extra GCSE support sessions. Interventions run after school Tuesday to Friday and pupils should check the in school timetable for more information.

21/09/26

We're collecting donations for the Salvation Army Food Bank to support local families in need.  Donations can be given to your Tutor, Head of Year or Mr Allen.  Every donation, no matter how small, will make a real difference. Thank you for your support and generosity.

21/09/26

A fantastic start to our enrichment programme, with pupils already getting involved! It's been great to see so many pursuing their interests and new skills. Check out the Term 1 Clubs on the accompanying poster. For more information, contact Mr Allen at dallen.kent.sch.uk.

21/09/26

Thinking about an Army career? 💂 Join a free online Army careers session on Tuesday 22 September, 6pm to 7pm, where Army experts will explain the Assessment Centre process, what to expect, and how to prepare. 👉 Register here:  jobs.army.mod.uk/meet-your-a…

18/09/26

KS4 Life Skills Cooking Club took on another viral TikTok recipe this week: Mama’s Crispy Chicken Wings with hot honey drizzle! They practised butchery, marinating and oven-baking techniques, discovering the secret to extra crispy wings: baking powder. Next week, something sweet!

17/09/26

Image

14/09/26

KS4 Life Skills Cooking Club is back! Term 1's theme is Viral Recipes & Online Food Hacks, and we kicked off with Big Mac Tacos, a huge hit with pupils who couldn't wait to tuck in. Next up: chicken wings! Y9 & Y10 pupils can still sign up outside TE1 or speak to Mrs Naylor.

11/09/26

After school activities are on offer in school from next week, week commencing Monday 14 September.  Pupils should see the teacher who runs the activity if they have any queries.

11/09/26

Lunchtime activities are on offer in school from next week, week commencing Monday 14 September.  Pupils should see the teacher who runs the activity if they have any queries.

10/09/26

Start the day the right way! All CDS pupils are welcome to enjoy a FREE breakfast in the school canteen. Great food, a friendly atmosphere, and the fuel needed for a successful school day.

Menu

Enrichment Activities

Character Education

The Charles Dickens School offers a broad range of enrichment activities, designed to develop our pupils as a whole person, through the PSHEE curriculum, extra-curricular activities and Cultural Capital activities.

Character Education enables us to provide experiential learning opportunities to pupils.

Character Education helps pupils to develop their interests and abilities, provides valuable learning experiences outside their studies, and promotes independence and interpersonal links with pupils in other year groups.

The core aims of our Character Education programme are to:

  • Develop pupils’ resilience
  • Promote co-curricular opportunities to broaden pupils’ horizons
  • Develop independence, self-esteem and responsibility
  • Play an active role as members of a democratic society
  • Make the most of their own abilities and those of others
  • Behave in a socially and morally acceptable way including towards authority and each other
  • Encourage pupils to become involved in the life of their community, both inside and outside of school.
  • Value the achievements they make, and the achievements of others
  • Make informed choices about dealing with risks and meeting challenges now and in the future.
  • Decide on values by which they want to live their lives, helping pupils make informed, ethical choices.
  • Prepare pupils for the future, pathways and progression with pupils realising their potential.
  • Develop a sense of belonging that allows pupils to have a voice and to influence society.
  • Develop confident communicators.

 

The Charles Dickens School Core Values of Character

The school values of Compassion, Aspiration, Resilience and Enthusiasm are embedded into the planning and delivery of Character Education within the school.  Consistent promotion, delivery and reference to our core values to our pupils encourage them continue their development to become well-rounded and exceptional young people:

Compassion; empathy, kindness and an understanding of those around us.

Aspiration; challenge oneself to pursue our dreams and ambitions.

Resilience; manage the change in our lives and develop coping mechanisms to make the right choices and overcome obstacles.

Enthusiasm; to have the energy, equilibrium and happiness in life.

Recognising Character:

We know how important it is for pupils to be rewarded and recognised for doing the right thing. Pupils have the opportunity to earn over 50 badges that represent our “pupils of character”, ranging from Orator, College Bowl champions, Attendance, Intercollege Champion and pupil leadership roles and so many more.

We truly believe in the power of empowering pupils to tell their own story of personal development through these badges; proudly displaying the characteristics and values that they have achieved.

CARE values:

Throughout the academic year, pupils will be exposed to the CARE values consistently to embed the importance of these values as future life skills, alongside opportunities within the Personal Development curriculum to broaden pupils’ experience of extra-curricular opportunities to develop them as a whole.

Continued exposure to the school’s core values (CARE) will allow the consideration of these values to become routine, alongside the explicit highlighting of specific values through PSHE, assemblies and extra-curricular provisions.

Character Caught:

Pupils will develop the strength of their character through the regular reinforcement and empowerment of the school’s CARE values. Character will be caught through the ethos and the values of the school.

Character Taught:

Pupils are provided with structured teaching of character, through lessons, PSHE, assemblies and form time. Throughout the school year, the school CARE values, virtue and character are consistently taught.

Character Sought:

Pupils are provided with multiple opportunities to encourage them to actively seek to develop their own character, for example through (but not limited to) Duke of Edinburgh award, PIXL LORIC, Diana Anti-Bullying award and Debate club, alongside our extra-curricular offer. 

Pupils are given opportunities within school to experience:

  • Outside speakers into assemblies
  • One off workshops
  • Long term programmes
  • Drop in sessions
  • Vote in school-based elections
  • Pupil Voice (Sit on pupil council and various ‘drive teams’).
  • Attend clubs at lunchtime, and after-school
  • Go on school trips
  • Brilliant Club
  • Gifted & Talented club

Values

Documents

Page Downloads  
Extra curricular activities term 1 Download
Lunchtime Clubs Term 1 Download