Creative team scoop Skills Challenge trophy

A team of Cornwallis Academy students who developed a fundraising initiative for the Heart of Kent Hospice were crowned winners of this year’s Skills Challenge last night (22 July).

The group of sixth formers competed against three other teams at Oakwood House and came out triumphant due their creative campaign and presentation.

With a budget of just £1000, they developed a fundraising box crammed full of ideas for schools across the borough to raise money for the Aylesford based charity.

They also came up with the catchy slogan ‘Giving is a piece of cake’ which caught the imagination of the judges and ensured they secured the Skills Challenge Trophy.

The team were presented their award by Chair of Governors at Cornwallis, Ray Harris, who sat on the judging panel alongside local business representatives.

In addition, winning team members were given £100 each, while the team in second place received £50 per person and runners up £30.

The winning team are presented the Skills Challenge Trophy by Chair of Governors at Cornwallis Academy, Ray Harris.

Rag Week raises funds for good causes

Students and staff at Cornwallis Academy took part in the 10th annual RAG Week to raise money for charity.

A variety of different actives took place including a quiz night, penalty shoot-out, retro sports day, cake sale and raffle.

Pupils were also allowed to wear nail polish for the week and their own clothes on the last day for a donation.

All in all around £2,500 was raised for three charities: SPARKS, NSPCC and Kent Air Ambulance Trust (KAAT).

Winners of the canteen raffle which raised £52.15 for KAAT were:

• Peter Georgiou – fruit basket.
• Hannah Jones (10N) – rucksack.
• Lizzie Goodridge (10W) – teddy bear.
• VI Unit – set of drawing pencils.
• Nadine in the canteen – set of stationary.
• Tony Browne – remote control car.

Students worked hard selling home-cooked cakes.

Carillion appointed to construct academy buildings

Carillion Construction Ltd has been awarded the contract to construct the new buildings at New Line Learning Academy and Cornwallis Academy.

It is anticipated works will commence this autumn at the NLL site in Boughton Lane, Loose and early next year at the Cornwallis campus in Hubbards Lane, Linton.

Deputy Executive Principal, Gigi Luscombe, said: “We are incredibly excited about Carillion being appointed and facilities for each academy will be state-of-the-art and absolutely stunning. The academies are being designed to support the delivery of a curriculum that prepares young people for the 21st century.”

Bronze medal for James at English Schools Athletics

Cornwallis Academy pupil James Alcock scooped a bronze medal in the long jump at the English Schools Athletics in Newcastle over the weekend.

Representing Kent, James was the only athlete from a Maidstone school taking part in the event and competed in the long jump and 4 x 100 relay.

Overall Kent won 13 medals throughout the two-days - five gold, four silver and four bronze.

James (right) proudly wears his medal.

Sixth formers meet Skills Challenge mentors

Sixth form pupils from Cornwallis Academy taking part in a Skills Challenge met with their business mentors for the first time yesterday (Tuesday 8 July).

The 11 teams also found out what projects their mentors had in store for them and now have two weeks to come up with viable business solutions.

Representatives from each organisation, including several from Maidstone, will act as their business mentors throughout, alongside an Academy staff member.

Preliminary judging will follow at Cornwallis on Monday 21 July with final judging of the challenge scheduled for Tuesday July 22 at Oakwood House in Maidstone.

Overall winning team members walk away with the Skills Challenge Trophy and receive £100 each, runners-up £50 and group number three scoop £30 per person.

** Last year’s champions were a team that devised an advertising campaign for Keith Wood, owner of a sports car company and Alanco Agricultural Ltd in Marden.

Challenges assigned to each group

• The Mall Corporation – Plan a retailers’ award event to take place at The Mall in Maidstone. Budget: £4,500. (Mentor - Suzie Brindle).
• Marriott Tudor Park Hotel - Prepare a campaign to launch three new food and beverage concepts. Budget: £3,000. (Mentor – Susan Atallah).
• Pillory Barn Public Relations – Create a direct mail campaign designed to expand the company. Budget: £5,000 (Mentor - Miranda Chapman).
• Connexions – Help develop youth engagement components of the business while acting as a PR company to the charity. Budget: Open. (Mentor – Lynnette Morrissey).
• The Mall Corporation – Put together a marketing campaign to promote ‘The Maidstone Bus’ serving young people. Budget: £3,000. (Mentor – Paul Alcock).
• CFA Marketing Communications – Create a ‘creative centre’ within Maidstone for graduates and young marketing professionals. Budget: £5,000. (Mentor – Lucy Harries).
• Royal Bank of Scotland – Plan a launch event for a brand new coffee shop in town aimed at attracting new customers. Budget: £1,500. (Mentor – Sandra Latter).
• Buttercups Goat Sanctuary – Find a way for the charity to generate enough income to move location and continue to operate. Budget: £1,000. (Mentor – Bob Hitch).
• Demelza House – Come up with fundraising ideas centered on the number 10 as 2008 is the 10th anniversary of the charity. Budget: £1,000. (Mentor – Donna Wells).
• Business Link – Using games as a tool, develop ideas to teach individuals/groups about business in a more informal manner. Budget: £2,000. (Mentor – Janice Sandwell).
• Heart of Kent Hospice – Develop a new and sustainable income generation using a new innovation which targets young people. Budget: £1,000. (Mentor – Caroline Brinkman).