All the latest from Kent's schools and colleges in March

All the latest from Kent’s schools and colleges in March

A cut above the rest

Schools, woodland owners, farmers and community groups across Kent and the south east are being urged to take part in the Royal Forestry Society’s Excellence in Forestry Awards 2010, which take place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on a seven-year rotation.

This year it’s the turn of London and the south east, with the awards being presented at the Bentley Weald Woodfair in September.

There are five classes – Duke of Cornwall Multi-purpose Woodland, Silviculture, Community Forestry, Farm Woodland and a Schools Award, which together celebrate all that is best about woodland management and forestry in the UK.

RFS competition co-ordinator, Trefor Thompson, said: “Schools do not need to own or manage their own woodlands to take part.

“There is huge variety of work being undertaken in primary and secondary schools across the curriculum, in the form of classroom projects, art work, story telling or in hands-on field study work, relating to the very many different aspects of woodland management and to the uses that wood can play in our lives.

“This is an opportunity for schools to showcase the work of their teachers and their pupils and to develop stronger links to forestry and woodland management.”

�– Prizes of �1,000 for the winners and �500 for runners up are available in each category. The closing date for entries is noon on 8 March.

Entry forms and further details are available from Trefor Thompson on 01824 704230 or email rfscompetition@boyns.net .

Clean and green

An eco-friendly school is having a double celebration after being awarded two top green awards.

Christ Church in Folkestone has been awarded an Eco-Schools Green Flag, the highest accolade achievable under the international Eco-Schools programme. It shows that the whole school is committed to improving its environment and currently, only 47 schools in Kent have the flag.

Part of the school’s green efforts include a group of year 3 to year 6 pupils forming an eco committee, called Planet Pirates Team, which meets regularly to discuss environmental issues around the school.

The school has also been awarded a Red Flag as part of the Clean Kent Schools programme. Pupils carried out a survey questioning local residents and businesses about their views on litter and then used this information to organise a clean up in the local community.

Oxbridge Success

Eltham College is celebrating a bumper year of Oxbridge results, with 15 students having been offered places at Oxford and Cambridge, beating its average of 12 every year.

Among those offered places are twins Rosalee and Georgina Edwards who are off to Oxford University to read German and English: Rosalee at St Hugh’s and Georgina at Worcester College.

And Philip Franklin is the first Eltham pupil in the last 15 years to obtain a place to read Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge (Sidney Sussex), while Sophie Smith has also gained a place to read Land Economy at Cambridge (Robinson College), the first for more than 20 years.

Paul Henderson, Headmaster, says: “Entry to the very best universities is no longer just about being able to show a passion for their subjects and real academic potential. Applicants must also be strong personalities with skills and interests outside the classroom.”