Sponsored Editorial

Sandwich Technology School are acutely aware of the pressures that young people are facing are ever changing and they felt as a school they needed an opportunity for their students to discuss pastoral issues that may have impacted their current and future lives.

In light of this, students engaged in a non-curriculum day during the last term of the academic year.

Having had their first event like this back in June 2019, they were so pleased that the COVID measures had eased to allow external providers to return to school to give valuable presentations, workshops and performance to their students; for what they hope will become an annual event.

You don’t have to look far into the news to see heart-breaking stories of young people taking risks with drug use, gang involvement and knife use. The number of cases of self-harm and suicide in young people is on the rise.

The figures for young people out of employment need to be reduced. The obesity rate in youth is increasing. They used this whole school event to highlight and address these issues head on with their students.

The day included the annual 10 mile pledge walk from STS to Sandown Castle in Deal and back by their Year 7 Students, this raised an incredible £1903 and counting for their efforts which will be donated to The Disasters Emergency Committee – Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Year 8 and 9 students took part in a variety of positive mental health activities, inter college cricket and rounders matches, yoga and mindfulness sessions.

Followed by inspirational performances by Uprising,exposing life in gang culture, highlighting signs to look out for and sharing the importance of good decision making skills, and Irini Mando, an up and coming artist who shared positive messages with students on body image, coping with anxiety and the importance of sharing your worries.

The Rah Rah Theatre carried out drama workshops focusing on communication skills with their Year 10 students.

They also benefited from a variety of external providers sharing information on the opportunities available to them including workshops and presentations from Sixth Form Leaders, the Head of the Chelsea FC Football Academy, local colleges and apprenticeship providers to ensure their students have high expectations for their future and are inspired to achieve their goals.

The day was met with great excitement from the students and the school leaders received great feedback from pupils and parents alike. A parent commented that their child had opened up to them after the day in ways that they had never done so before.

Mrs Savage praised her staff team and the visiting practitioners for their dedication to ensuring students’ mental and physical health is well supported at Sandwich Technology School.

If you are considering Sandwich Technology School for your child’s secondary education, they warmly invite you to join them at one of their open events:

• Wednesday 14th September 6pm - 8pm
• Thursday 15th September 10am -12pm
• Wednesday 19th October 6pm - 8pm
• Thursday 20th October 10am - 12pm