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12/09/25

Kooth are running a webinar on Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) on 23d October 2025. If you are interested in joining this free online session, please use this link to sign up:  connect.kooth.com/events/eve…

11/09/25

— The Charles Dickens School () Sep 11, 2025

08/09/25

— The Charles Dickens School () Sep 8, 2025

16/07/25

Barton Court Academy Trust has a Trustee vacancy, for a non-executive Director.  If you, or someone you know, feel you have the experience and expertise for such a role then please see more here: bartoncourtacademytrust.org/…

16/07/25

Barton Court Academy Trust are seeking to recruit Governors for each of the 3 schools within the Trust.  If you, or someone you know, feel you have the right attitude, experience, skills, and time to fulfil this role, then please see the role here:  bartoncourtacademytrust.org/…

15/07/25

— The Charles Dickens School () Jul 15, 2025

15/07/25

Another year of our Take it Further challenges, and competitions have come to an end and the final reward breakfast celebrating the achievements of our pupils over the last 2 terms has been held. Well done to all pupils who have gone that extra mile over the last year! 

14/07/25

Barton Court Wins Inaugural Trust Eco Challenge... find out more at: cds.kent.sch.uk/238/latest-n…

14/07/25

Barton Manor School hosts Inaugural Trust Eco Challenge... find out more at: Barton Manor Hosts Inaugural Trust Eco Challenge - Latest News - The Charles Dickens School pic.twitter.com/Qlnpy4pVH2

09/07/25

It has been an exciting year for Life Cooking Skills! Club members have made so many cultural and appetising dishes over the year,  The last club of the year was chicken fajitas – All of which were eaten before club ended!  

04/07/25

— The Charles Dickens School () Jul 4, 2025

25/06/25

From 02/07/2025, if your child receives income related free school meals, you can to book your child’s place on the HAF summer programme with Inclusive Sport.  They advise to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.   Find out more here:  inclusivesport.org.uk/

19/06/25

Year 7 pupils raised a whopping total of £349.19 from their spring fair this year. The year group planned the whole in school event, with a little guidance from their Tutors. The money raised will go to our chosen school charity, Community Kindness Thanet.  

12/06/25

We are extremely grateful to the Rotary Club of Thanet for their recent donation of £2000 to our STEM Club. The money will be used towards 4 new SPIKE kits and 6 expansion packs which will allow the Club to cater to a larger audience and begin outreach to local schools.

11/06/25

KS4 Life Cooking Skills started this term in style! Pupils were taught how to make mocktails with talented Thea Barret from Thorley Taverns, at the helm. Pupils learnt how to “muddle, blend, shake and layer” and it was so much fun!

09/06/25

Y9 Technologists were lucky enough to take part in a STEM Challenge Day at the University of Greenwich in Medway. Working in pairs with other schools, they were set challenges in robotics, E-fit technology, electric cars and medical diagnosis. 

23/05/25

A big thank you to Rotary Club of Thanet for hosting our STEM Club leader, allowing him to present to the Club the ‘Disaster Relief Robot’ that pupils have designed, and programmed, in their after-school STEM Club.

21/05/25

Bounce Forward, supported by the Harry Kane Foundation, are running a free online parent course focused on building resilience in young people and supporting parents in raising resilient young people   bounceforward.com/bounce-for…

20/05/25

A Big Shout Out, and thank you, to Dan Cooper Garden in Broadstairs, who has donated lots of items to our Gardening Club. Our green fingered gardeners were out in the sunshine last week planting and tidying the garden!

15/05/25

As part of last week’s VE day celebrations, pupils created artwork to be a part of the exhibit organised by Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council, at Broadstairs Bandstand.  We hope you had the chance to see some of the work there!  Here’s a sample of our budding artists' work.

15/05/25

Our last Cooking Life Skills session with Noi Silk had our budding chefs making Prawn Tom Yum (hot and sour) soup, using some of the biggest king prawns we have ever seen!

14/05/25

Building community is really important in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Please see the poster for some helpful tips from the National College for parents.

13/05/25

We have 32 entries in the Thanet Schools  Artists Festival 2025, presented by Margate Rotary Club.  The exhibition of all entries across Thanet will be on display in Sainsbury’s at Westwood Cross between 12th and 18th May.  The award ceremony will take place on 17th May at 12pm.

13/05/25

Year 7 got fully involved in a an immersive lifesaving experience!  The ‘ Community Lifesavers’ visited CDS, where they communicated the importance of turning ‘bystanders into lifesavers’. They demonstrated how to administer CPR and how to use the defibrillator/AED.

13/05/25

The last lesson for many Hospitality & Catering pupils was one to remember. After a 3 year journey we thought we would treat them to a practical lesson they wouldn't forget - Chocolate Pizza! Good luck to all our Year 11s as they take their exams and complete their time with us. pic.twitter.com/rAcT86KPNK

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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

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Term 2 PE - After School Clubs Download
Extra curricular activities term 3 KS3 Download
Extra curricular activities term 3 KS4 Download