The Kent Academies Network APP meet-up was held at Tonbridge School and all four cohorts were in attendance, creating a fantastic atmosphere as always. It is great to have all of our students in the same place and we always encourage them to learn from and use each other as much as they can. We hope the experiences they are sharing are life-changing, and that they can help each other along the way.

The specific programme for each cohort was designed with their particular and current needs in mind, and we were delighted to host old friends 2-3 degrees to work with our oldest and youngest groups, and the Brightside Trust to introduce the older cohorts to the new e-mentoring platform that the younger students have been using since the summer. The Schools Liaison officers from Queens’ College spoke about the UCAS process and applying to Russell Group Universities, and in addition to catching up on the progress of their mentees the mentors were able to work through the tasks that the students had been completing since the summer.

Given United Access only launched in the summer the meet-up at Caterham School was a slightly smaller affair, but it was equally important in allowing the highly impressive group of young people involved in that programme to come together again, to reflect on their experiences during the summer residential and since, and to get back to working closely with their mentors, further consolidating and developing the relationships built in the summer. Both programmes are unique in the sense of intimacy that they are able to create, and the students are always excited to see each other, and to share stories and experience about how they have been getting on.

The focus of the United Access event was similar to that of the APP, with the students building their confidence in giving presentations on topics they had researched, broadening their horizons in terms of UCAS and the wide range of opportunities that are potentially available to them, and taking part in leadership activities to develop the skills that will equip them for success. The bespoke nature of our meet-ups reflects the core aims and goals of the wider programme, and they represent a key part of our annual provision.

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For more information about the programmes we run watch the videos below:

United Access

KAN APP