+
Twitter Wall

Twitter Wall

Close

19/11/24

Author Luke Palmer workshops with year 9 students, helping them create a ‘matrix of minor misdemeanours’. #creativewriting pic.twitter.com/WDTU61auIG— Valley Park School () November 19, 2024

19/11/24

Today we welcome author Luke Palmer to our school for a series of workshops with year 9. pic.twitter.com/JyHPJusjif— Valley Park School () November 19, 2024

17/11/24

There are many reasons why a student might struggle with attendance at school. Valley Park has a dedicated team to help & support you. To speak to someone, contact us by phone or email & a member of the attendance team will get back to you. pic.twitter.com/wMq7BUhR18— Valley Park School () November 17, 2024

15/11/24

Don't forget, applications for Sixth Form are now open on Kent Choices!#wearevalleypark#wearevalleyparksixthform— Valley Park School () November 15, 2024

15/11/24

Drama and Performing Arts students went to the Marlowe Theatre on Wednesday to watch the poignant musical production Come From Away. An incredibly clever and moving production, inspiring for us all to see. #wearevalleyparkperformingarts#weallcomefromaway pic.twitter.com/PStT4Dom9g— Valley Park School () November 15, 2024

14/11/24

We're looking forward to welcoming you to our Sixth Form Open Evening today, which starts at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/kbUKdAxY57— Valley Park School () November 14, 2024

12/11/24

Year 8 & 9 students joined a Cyber Security workshop led by Baasit Siddiqui from Gogglebox. They learned about cyber security events, threats, and the Cyber Explorers platform. Students enjoyed interactive quizzes and were eager to earn badges. pic.twitter.com/itGYCLfhwu— Valley Park School () November 12, 2024

12/11/24

This Black History Month, students at Valley Park paid homage to the Black unsung heroes of the ‘Wild Wild West’. Read more: https://t.co/ujfOCgICs2 pic.twitter.com/QX9byiX5Zh— Valley Park School () November 12, 2024

11/11/24

Valley Park remembers, lest we forget.#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/mSNEqu0n9O— Valley Park School () November 11, 2024

10/11/24

Don't forget to register your attendance for our Sixth Form Open Evening, which is on Thursday 14 November from 5pm. There are two speeches by the headteacher and his sixth form colleagues at 5.15pm and 6.15pm. https://t.co/hold7UCBA2 pic.twitter.com/dUIBkP6XtZ— Valley Park School () November 10, 2024

10/11/24

If a student’s attendance in Term 1 was below 90%, this means that they missed at least 3 days or 15 hours of learning across the school year. pic.twitter.com/KF0LtUP9cE— Valley Park School () November 10, 2024

08/11/24

On Tuesday, Sixth Form IT students attended a masterclass led by Canterbury Christchurch University lecturers. They discussed AI's societal impact, recent advancements, ethics & future possibilities, including the potential for AI to surpass human intelligence pic.twitter.com/08yMGA4D49— Valley Park School () November 8, 2024

07/11/24

Don't forget our Sixth Form Open Evening is on Thursday 14 November from 5pm. There are two speeches by the headteacher and his sixth form colleagues at 5.15pm and 6.15pm. Register your attendance on our website. https://t.co/hold7UC3Ku pic.twitter.com/yX7MnhElya— Valley Park School () November 7, 2024

04/11/24

We hosted the Dementia Action Alliance award event at Valley Park on Monday 21 October. What a wonderful day working with our community to raise awareness of Dementia!#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/Ftpxuw4B4q— Valley Park School () November 4, 2024

04/11/24

Our Sixth Form Open Evening is on Thursday 14 November 2024 from 5pm - 7.30pm. If you would like to attend, please register on our website: https://t.co/hold7UC3Ku pic.twitter.com/z7KyMHta9D— Valley Park School () November 4, 2024

17/10/24

Performing Arts Students went to the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury to watch &Juliet, which was absolutely brilliant. The students were so excited by the music, the story and just the sheer joy of the production. #&Juliet pic.twitter.com/t9Cg1IYeDb— Valley Park School () October 17, 2024

13/10/24

In 2019, secondary school pupils who didn’t achieve grade 9 to 4 in English and Maths missed 10 or more days on average during key stage 4 than those who achieved grade 9 to 5 in both English and Maths. pic.twitter.com/gJ78WA9z3c— Valley Park School () October 13, 2024

10/10/24

We look forward to welcoming Year 5 and 6 Students, together with their families, to visit our amazing school today. pic.twitter.com/10oSEnPmvd— Valley Park School () October 10, 2024

09/10/24

Remember, students finish school at 1.20pm on Thursday 10th October pic.twitter.com/X1zv2mcIQ6— Valley Park School () October 9, 2024

07/10/24

Have you booked your place at our Year 5 and Year 6 Open Evening? Book here: https://t.co/hjtqJfXztJ— Valley Park School () October 7, 2024

07/10/24

After a thorough selection process, we're pleased to announce our Student Executive Team for 2024/25: Head Students (L-R) Tom, Maisy, Oliver & Finley. Congratulations to them and all applicants for their hard work and dedication. . pic.twitter.com/tHoZKRmgND— Valley Park School () October 7, 2024

06/10/24

There are many reasons why a student might struggle with attendance at school. Valley Park has a dedicated team to help & support you. To speak to someone, contact us by phone or email & a member of the attendance team will get back to you. pic.twitter.com/Z5lqcknAy3— Valley Park School () October 6, 2024

04/10/24

Valley Park Cascade Dance Company 2024 has been launched! Students from Year 7s to 11 are participating in weekly specialist dance training…watch out for upcoming performances and showcases! pic.twitter.com/MUfxXZPKgF— Valley Park School () October 4, 2024

03/10/24

We have the following vacancies on our website:Teacher of EnglishHead of PEHead of MFL To apply, please go to https://t.co/TzTpHcFgLy pic.twitter.com/Zfj1A3yIi8— Valley Park School () October 3, 2024

03/10/24

3. 2. 1... Action! Both Sister Act and Shakespeare Society had their first rehearsals this week. We are so excited to be starting these projects. Great to see lots of new faces. The Marlowe building was buzzing! pic.twitter.com/6AwGm2SUKy— Valley Park School () October 3, 2024

Rewards and House System

Rewards

At Valley Park, we have cultivated a robust rewards culture that seeks to celebrate not only academic achievement but also students' embodiment of our ARK Values: Ambitious, Respectful, and Kind. This ethos is fundamental to creating a holistic educational environment where all aspects of student development are recognised and valued.

Positive house points serve as a direct link to our ARK Values, encouraging students to engage actively both individually and collaboratively. House points can be earned through various avenues, including individual or  group work, as well as participation in wider school initiatives through the futures programmes. This inclusive approach allows for the recognition of student efforts in diverse contexts, thereby reinforcing the importance of our school values.

As students accumulate positive house points, they are recognised through a tiered award system, which includes Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Emerald, and Platinum awards. Each of these levels corresponds to specific thresholds of house points, ultimately leading to a range of exciting awards, experiences, and unique opportunities throughout the year. Notably, all students who achieve a Silver award are invited to participate in a celebration during the summer term, with additional recognitions for those who have excelled beyond expectations and silver awards. At the end of each term, each year group hosts a rewards assembly by where individual certificates are handed out, positives from the term are shared, prizes given and the top house per year and across the school is shared. Ending the term on a positive message and acknowledging the students hard work and commitment. 

In Term 2, each year, we proudly host an awards celebration for students from the previous academic year who have consistently exemplified our school values across all subjects and year groups. Awards have been carefully tailored for each key stage, ensuring that every student receives appropriate recognition and understands the significance of positive reinforcement for their diligent efforts. Awards during this evening are:

  • The Rider Cup For courage and determination to succeed
  • The Grant Cup For Academic Progress - YEAR 11 (Just finished year 10)
  • The Paul Carter Most diligent student in Key Stage 3
  • KS4 Academic Achievement
  • KS5 Academic Achievement
  • The ARK Award For the student who represents the spirit of Valley Park
  • Headteachers Award

The ARK Award

This award is to recognise the students who are going over and above in all aspects of their school experience. They are embodying our schools values and truly are an ARK student. They have taken part and completed their futures passport and are supporting others, they have achieved the highest accolades for positive points and they support the wider school community when they can. This award Is recognised and celebrated when a student’s meets specific milestone by where a golden horse is embroidered onto their blazer, this award will be introduced in the academic year 24 – 25 and aims to join the schools house system, values, rewards and futures programme together an authentic way to support the students into become the best possible versions of themselves they can be and so that we can also celebrate their hard work and commitment to the school, year on year.

House System

To support our rewards culture, Valley Park School introduced a new House System in 2023, following a democratic process in which students voted for the names of the houses.

Officially implemented during Sports Day 2023, this system has quickly become an integral motivator for our students. It is woven throughout key events, opportunities within our curricula, and our Futures Programme. Each week in their Futures sessions, students discuss their houses and the points accrued, fostering a sense of pride and community. Their successes are celebrated in rewards assemblies at the end of each term during year assemblies.

The houses at Valley Park School are: 

All house logos

These names represent significant landmarks across Kent, serving to bridge the gap between year groups while instilling a sense of local heritage. Throughout their time at Valley Park, students are actively encouraged to visit these historical sites. Our commitment to these experiences encompasses four whole year group trips designed to enrich students' understanding of cultural contexts, allow them to engage in first-hand research closely linked to their curriculum, and celebrate their dedication and hard work. Furthermore, these trips provide invaluable opportunities for students to bond with their peers, cultivating a robust sense of community within their respective houses.

The house system serves as a vehicle for our school values, promoting healthy competition and collaboration across all key stages at Valley Park School. By encouraging teamwork and individual achievement, we aim to cultivate a stimulating educational environment that prepares our students for future challenges while celebrating their personal and collective successes.