News

We are offering a limited number of extra-curricular PE activities during term 1.
Information here.

• We have published an addendum to our full attendance policy
• We have published our policies specific to sixth form on conduct, dress code and attendance and punctuality.
• Headteacher Mr Jones wrote a letter to all parents and guardians welcoming existing and new students at the start of term 1.
  Accompanying the letter was a message containing details of the first two days of term and an notice about students' personal water bottles and which types are safe to be refilled using our free water dispensing machines:
  - Staggered leaving times: this will continue until Friday 11 September. The exact timings can be found on the timetable that was also sent out last week. From Monday 14 September all students will be leaving at 3:20pm.
  - School site will be closed promptly at 4:30pm daily- Water bottles: students will be allowed to refill water bottles at the water stations around the school as long as they have a removable drinking section, please see illustration below:

  Acceptable			Not acceptable

• A message from Mr Pleasant & Mrs Linton to students joining our sixth form or continuing their studies:
  "Dear students & parents, here is the letter sent previously which outlines the arrangements for the first day in September. We look forward to welcoming you between 8:00am and 8:30am through the main entrance."
• Head of School, Mr Jones has written to all parents regarding face coverings in school. Read the letter here.
• We have received information from our school bus operator Stagecoach and Kent County Council (KCC).
  Read more here.
• We have published our usual Summer Mailing for the academic year 2020-2021. It contains the latest versions of information and policy documents most of which are relevant to all students and parents.
  Documents related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found here.
• To accommodate our COVID-19 precautions, there will be a few changes to routine activities so we have written to all parents with some requests and advice to help the start of term run smoothly. Here is a summary.
• On Thursday 27 August 2020 we sent two emails to parents of students due to attend school from Thursday next week. They contain detailed information and guidance about our full reopening next week.
  The following file contains all the information from both emails in PDF format: 
  pdf Emails to parents about first two school days in September 2020 (581 KB)
• If you are considering paying us a visit or have an appointment, please read our COVID-19 Visitor Policy first.

• The letter accompanying the GCSE results collected in school by year 11 students on 20 August 2020 is available here.
• We have prepared a fact sheet about this year's GCSE results for year 11 students and their parents to them help understand the information they will receive tomorrow.
• ALL year 10 students
  Ms Rolls has written to all year 10 students regarding the procedure for receiving GCSE Statistics results.
  Read the year 10 letter here.
• ALL year 11 students
  Ms Rolls has written to all year 11 students regarding the procedure for receiving GCSE results on Thursday 20 August 2020.
  Read the year 11 letter here.

• ALL year 11 students
  Ms Rolls has written to all year 11 students regarding the procedure for receiving GCSE results on Thursday 20 August 2020. Read the letter here.
• Message for all year 13 IBCP students
• As you know, the results for your vocational subject arrive in school on Thursday, 13 August 2020. You will need to come into school at a certain time (dependent on the career-related subject you studied) to collect your result.
  Details of the times, coronavirus precautions you will need to take and what to do if you need to do if you cannot attend are in this letter from Mrs Linton.
  For all enquiries about remarks and resits for the IB May 2020 exams, please contact Mr Pleasant, Head of Sixth Form This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• ALL year 13 students
  This week is important for many of you;
  - waiting for your vocational results (see above also)
  - told by universities that you must wait until A Level results are released before confirmation of your place.
  We're here to help should you consider making univeristy applications through Clearing.
  Read more

• The sixth and final part of our guide for students starting with us in year 7 has been posted on the Year 6 transition page (you will need to scroll down to find it).

• We have published Part 5 of our guide to starting in year 7 at Dane Court Grammar School. It can be found on the Year 6 transition page (you will need to scroll down a little).

• In preparation for our return to school in September 2020 and with reference to teaching and learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have written to all parents informing them of the changes that we have made to how lessons will be delivered should their child have to self-isolate, if the year group bubble is required to self-isolate or if the school or the area in which they live, is locked down.
    pdf Teaching and Learning - September 2020 (362 KB) .

• We have published the risk assessment for our plans to reopen the school in September 2020.
• Head of School, Mr Jones, has written to parents about our plans for reopening in September 2020.
• Our 2020-2021 academic year planner showing the two-weekly timetable rotation is available to dowload here.
• The Summer edition of Chatter, our student magazine, is available here.
• We have published part 3 in our series of presentations for year 6 students joining us in September and their parents. See our Year 6 transition page.

• Our International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme results were released on Monday 6 July. They represent the fruits of our year 13 students' exceptional effort over nearly two years. Read the highlights.
• We are around the time of the year where we would normally have Sports Day, an athletics competition where houses compete. In an attempt to have a school sporting challenge this school year, we would like to invite all students to take part in Virtual Sports Week Challenge, beginning on Monday 13 July 2020 and ending at 3:00pm on Friday 17 July. Read more here.

• To support our face-to-face year 6 transition events planned for 16 and 17 July 2020, we are producing a series of online presentations suitable for both students and parents to help you become more familiar with the school. The first part is available to view on our Year 6 transition page. Please check the page weekly as we will be uploading new presentations each covering a different aspect of school life.
• All year 13 students
  A letter detailing the arrangements for collecting your IB results is being emailed to you, It is important to read this letter so that you can get your results as quickly as possible.
  IBCP students please note that the results of your career-related qualification are released on 13 August 2020 and you will be emailed instructions on how to receive them nearer the time.
• We have published an important message from Mrs Rolls for year 11 students. It includes instructions about preparing for textbook return and clearing your locker.
  Plus, updates about Transition activities and GCSE results day.

• We have published an important message from Mrs Rolls for year 11 students. It includes instructions about preparing for textbook return and clearing your locker.
  Plus, updates about Transition activities and GCSE results day.
• Parents/guardians of students in years 7, 8, 9, 10 or 12: Could you please let us know if you do not currently have access to a fixed broadband connection at home? You can contact us by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., use the General enquiries form on this site or call our main office on 01843 864941.
  Thank you
• On Thursday and Friday this week we welcome back the first of our year 12 students. Groups of Year 10 students continue to attend school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
  A pdf letter containing guidance for parents of those year 12 students returning (259 KB) was sent home on 5 June 2020.

• This week we started our students' phased return to school. On Monday, year 10 were the first to attend on a part time schedule.
  A pdf letter containing guidance for parents of those year 10 students returning (268 KB) was sent home on 5 June 2020.
• Year 12 students are due to begin part time sessions from Thursday 25 June 2020.
  Guidance for parents of year 12 students can be found pdf here (259 KB) .
• We have published week 5 of our transition programme for year 11 students wishing to join us in September 2020.

• We have published week 4 of our transition programme for year 11 students wishing to join us in September 2020.
  There now more subject enrichment materials to explore.
• Thanet Inclusion Support Service has passed on two useful Newsletter-style lists of help sources and advice on the subject of emotional wellbeing. One is designed for pdf parents and carers (332 KB)  and the other focuses on support for pdf young people (326 KB) .
• Additional information for parents of year 6 students joining us in September has been published on our year 6 transition page. It includes details of;
  • PE kit requirements and purchase
  • uniform requirements
  • our online payment system called WisePay
  • registering for free school meals and
  • school use of photographic and film footage of students
• We have published addenda to our first aid and health and safety policies:
  • pdf ADDENDUM First Aid Policy COVID-19 (172 KB)  (to be read in conjuncion with our  pdf First Aid Procedures Policy (381 KB) )
  • pdf ADDENDUM Health and Safety Policy COVID-19 (185 KB)  (to be read in conjunction with our  pdf Health and safety policy (453 KB) )

• Mrs Holmes would like to draw your attention to a potentially useful website.
  She says, "It details book reviews and recommendations for children to help with physical, emotional and mental health, written by someone with a wealth of knowledge on the subject". The following link will take you to each subject and then list the books, and book reviews:
  http://www.healthybooks.org.uk/browse/

• We now have a dedicated page for year 6 students joining us in September 2020 and their parents.
  There is also a quick link to the page via the blue button above.

• We have published three documents providing help and and advice to parents, carers and students about mental health and wellbeing:
  • Mr Jones has written a pdf letter (238 KB) to parents and carers containing information received from Kent County Council
  • A pdf letter (196 KB) to parents from Kent Educational Psychology Service along with a dowloadable version of a pdf leaflet (297 KB) providing Guidance around supporting children and young people's wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak.
• We have launched our transition progamme for year 11 students intending to join our sixth form in September.
  This includes students joining from other schools.
• Dane Court Grammar School staff were pleased and privileged to provide practical support to Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School's Design Technology department in their amazing visors for health workers project last month. Congratulations to them for being nominated for the Daily Telegraph DIY Lockdown Awards and making it to the top three.

• From the start of Lockdown our Food Technology department has been asking students in years 7, 8 and 9 to get creative in their kitchens with the aim of cooking meals for their families at home and then reporting back with recipes and photos of their creations.
  Initially Mrs Leese recommended a couple of recipes to give the students a little help but the project soon became a popular activity with some students planning day-to-day menus and recording 'consumer feedback'. Click here to see a small selection of meals and individual courses developed by our students over their time in Lockdown.
• Ellie is one of our very talented year 9 students, who wanted to compose a song to express how much she missed her friends and school life here at Dane Court. Ellie has perfectly captured how much school and her friends mean to her, in: 'Don't Be Afraid'.
  Listen and view the video here.

• Inspired by the tasks being set for her year group by the Food Technology department, Sophia in year 8 devised her own.
  This is her Family Cooking Challenge complete with evaluations or "What went well" (WWW) and suggestions for improvement or "Even better if..." (EBI) ready for the next time Sophia takes on feeding the family for two whole days. Read more here.

• We have written a pdf letter to parents (338 KB) about the Government temporarily extending the eligibility criteria for free school meals to some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds.
• Mrs Holmes asks students - pdf Are you getting enough sleep? (70 KB)  However you answer this question, you should find her notes very useful.
• Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust have created a COVID-19 FAQs for parents page on their website. It contains lots of useful advice and references to other organisations who can help.
• Our Head of School, Mr Jones marks the start of Term 5 in a pdf letter to parents (218 KB) . 
• This week Dane Court staff supported Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School (CCGS) in its truly amazing efforts to provide face shields (visors) for health workers on the frontline in the battle against the coronavirus (COVID-19). Read the story.

• Thanet Inclusion Support Service has provided us with an updated  list of external services to support parents with children at home during lockdown mentioned in this more detailed article.
• Our Food Technology department would love all Dane Court students to share photos of their cooking with us.
  Years 7-10 have a Google Classroom space to upload photos of their cooking to. We are so impressed with all of the cooking that has been shared so far. Keep it up Dane Court.
  This week's recipe is for pdf mini fruity pasties (117 KB) . There are some filling suggestions on the recipe - let us know if you come up with any other ideas.

• When your child is ill or injured it is very difficult to decide if/when to call your child’s GP, NHS 111 or go the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E). During the current situation and while the government is asking everyone to stay at home, it can be confusing to know what to do.
  pdf Here is some guidance (541 KB) designed by primary and secondary care clinicians from Barts Health & North-East London STP.
• The Chatterers (a group of Dane Court student journalists and editors) have not allowed lockdown to halt publication of the Spring edition of the student newspaper DCGS Chatter. Download your copy here.
• We've published an addendum to our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
  You can read it here: ADDENDUM - DC Safeguarding and CP Policy

• People will be reacting in different ways to the change in lifestyle, and we are aware that some of our students and their families are finding it hard to adjust to the new restrictions. With this in mind, our colleagues at the Thanet Inclusion Support Service have compiled some resources to support parents with children at home during lockdown.
  Firstly, there is a pdf list of external services (300 KB) still available for support or set up to help support the community during the crisis. Contact details for these services are provided, however please bear in mind the speed at which the landscape is changing; some services may be difficult to reach or may have already been withdrawn.
  Secondly, they have created a pdf pack of resources (1.29 MB) to support positive mental health and provide emotional support while at home. These are activities that can be explored by the whole family if necessary.
  If you have any particular concerns or worries, we are happy to hear from you and will do our best to support you. Mrs Holmes (SENCO) can be contacted by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Mr Sunderland at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Mrs Ives at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
  
  
• Faced with a global pandemic, Emily keeps calm and carries on. Service Learning is an important element of our IB career-related programme (IBCP) in the sixth form which could have been hit hard by the coronavirus measures.
  Under normal circumstances students liaise with members of the local community and undertake unpaid and voluntary activities that help the community and also have a learning benefit for the student. That's not even a possibility at the moment but thanks to the swift action and advice of her teachers IBCP student Emily Vaccaro has devised a plan. Read more here.
  
  
• Our Food Technology department has been ecouraging year 8 students to get involved with the preparation of meals at home and many have taken photos of the delicious-looking creations and submitted them to their Food Tech Google Classroom.
  Inspired by the response, Mrs Leese has started uploading more recipes (at least one each week) to this website.
  Take a look here.

• published a factsheet to help you incorporate school work into your household routine
• provided a safe place to work for our students whose parents are fulfilling critical roles in the national response to the coronavirus.
• sent year 11 students and their parents updates about the DfE's more detailed guidance on GCSE results this Summer
• posted plenty of help with keeping students safe when they are learning online at home
• written directly to our sixth form students with the latest information about their written exams
• set specific tasks and activities for students learning from home (check your school email and Google Classrooms)
• provided technical support to get students at home up and running when the online technology doesn't seem to work properly