West Kent ISSP runs Masterclass lecture for KS3 pupils
On Monday 28th November, the West Kent ISSP held an evening lecture at Kent College Pembury on the theme of the Boston Tea Party to mark the 250 years anniversary of the historical event in 2023.
135 Key Stage 3 pupils from across the partner schools along with their parents attended.
There were three speakers; James Mossman, Deputy Head (Academic) of Kent College, who gave a very entertaining introduction to the theme and provided background and context before Andrew Bebb, Head of Science at The Skinners' School and Doug Clucas, Head of History at the Skinners' School, explored the reasons for the Boston Tea Party and the events that led up to it, in the style of a conversation acted out.
Further lectures and masterclasses on the same theme are planned for 2023. This will be workshops for Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils from the partner schools to choose from, looking at the history, language, life style, politics and music from 1773.
Approximately 70 pupils will attend.
Aims
The West Kent Independent State School Partnership (ISSP) is a partnership of eight secondary schools - The Judd School, Kent College Pembury, The Malling School, Mascalls Academy, Oakley School, The Skinners’ School, Skinners’ Kent Academy and Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School.
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.
The theme for this lecture was chosen to give high-achieving pupils from across the partner schools the opportunity to explore a different period of history, not covered by the curriculum.
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
The lecture was free to attend.
It was held in the Kent College Pembury theatre. There were staff from most of the partner schools present and the Headteacher from The Skinners' School.
Impact
A feedback survey was sent to all attendees. 24 responses were received. Each was very positive and everyone said they would be very likely to attend another event.
Pupil Involvement
The pupils were from Years 7, 8 and 9, both male and female.
All schools in the partnership, both independent and state were represented by attendees, with the exception of Oakley School.
The split was approximately 12% independent, 88% state school.
Frequency
This is an ongoing theme which will last until the end of the academic year 2022/2023.
A further lecture has been planned for spring 2023, plus a day of masterclasses will be held in summer 2023.