West Kent ISSP launches GCSE Astronomy Programme

The West Kent ISSP has launched a GCSE in Astronomy for 25 students from Kent College, The Judd School and The Skinners' School. This is the first time GCSE Astronomy has been offered in Kent.

Aims

There was no other GCSE Astronomy offered in Kent. The aim is to roll this out to other WK ISSP schools in the academic year 2024/25.

The West Kent Independent State School Partnership (ISSP) is a partnership of six secondary schools - The Judd School, Kent College Pembury, Mascalls Academy, Oakley School, The Skinners’ School, and The Skinners’ Kent Academy.

It has been established with the aim of sharing resources and providing high aspirational learning opportunities for pupils. The projects also enable teachers to extend their professional development, free from curriculum constraints. 

Background

The partnership was established in 2019 after a need was identified by Kent College to share facilities, resources and ideas with other local schools, for staff to network and collaborate with peers from other local schools and to create learning opportunities for high achieving pupils. 

Resources

All schools use their own facilities for the online sessions. Practical work has only taken place at Kent College so far.

There is a teacher from each of the three schools and they rotate to deliver the content of the GCSE every three weeks.

There was a small charge to students to cover programme materials. 

Impact

This first cohort of pupils will sit public exams in 2025, which will demonstrate the programme's success initially.

Pupil Involvement

Pupils are from all three schools and are from Year 9 and 10. There is a combination of boys and girls.

Frequency

Students have online lessons each week with termly practical activities.

We hope that a new cohort will start each September.