Community engagement

We have an active outreach team who work with a variety of local schools in order to provide opportunities to students from low income households, from low participation areas, who are care experiences, who are young carers, who are or have previously been in receipt of free school meals, from military families, from traveller communities, who are asylum seekers or refugees, or who are studying without the support of their family.

We are proud to be a part of Discovery Planet’s efforts to bring inspirational, enriching and creative experiences to the heart of local communities. Historically, this support has consisted of running a series of workshops for primary schools in Ramsgate. If you are interested in learning more about this program, we recommend checking out Discovery Planet’s website.

We are always excited and willing to host subject specific campus visits for classes interested in learning more about what sport science is all about! These visits are quite flexible and can be adjusted to incorporate any particular curriculum topics currently being taught, but frequently feature a chance for students to test their own reaction time using university equipment and to develop their own sports drinks. Due to the visits bespoke nature, it can be adapted to suit a variety of age groups.

Research has repeatedly shown how important support during ones GCSEs are when it comes to predicting future A-level grades and university attendance. With this in mind, we launched our GCSE Curriculum Support program which aims to assist a selection of local schools with required science practicals. The Reaction Time event run by the School of Exercise and Sport Science allows the students to visit our university labs, perform the required practical with support from university student ambassadors, and meet academics who will share how these techniques and theories are applies within their current research.

The School of Sport and Exercise Science is a proud supporter of the collaborative project between the Kent and Medway Progression Federation (KMPF) and Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) which aims at engaging young people and educating them on the wide range of careers available in sport. This program is aimed at KS4 students.

This Silver CREST Award program is designed to give students the opportunity to run their own STEM research projects with the support of academic staff, student ambassadors and our laboratory facilities. The required 30 hours of research and development time will take place both on-campus and in-school, and will culminate in a reward ceremony where students will be given the opportunity to present their research posters. This is aimed at KS4 students.

If you are interested in participating in any of the above outreach programs or wanting to offer it out to your students, feel free to email us at natsoutreach@kent.ac.uk for more details.