Please come along and help raise money for our international netball trip in October 2026 for our Yr 7,8,9 and 10 students.

An evening of fun with prizes to win!

Book your tickets here:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/president-kennedy-school

The students were assigned the roles of Proposer, Opposer, and Chairperson and had to answer questions from a member of the Rotary Club.

The evening was incredibly formal, and it was great to hear their opinions on the night. Mrs Arnett said, "The students have worked so well as a team in researching their topic.

Their motion was: 'The School Curriculum is flawed and needs to change'.

It was great to see how the students prepared for this process, working closely with Zak Adams, who is in his final year at Harvard University.

On the night, they were against teams from Year 9 from other schools, and they all did a fantastic job in presenting their opinions.

Although they did not win any trophies, they have all gained valuable life skills for living in the wider world. Well done, all!"

They attended a talk by Dr Fred Parker on the theme of fear in Macbeth, took part in an unseen poetry seminar with a PhD student, and explored the roots of the English language in an Old English lecture with Professor Richard Dance. 
The day ended with a very wet and windy tour of the campus, including Clare College and the historic Trinity building. Staff at the university were hugely impressed by the students’ confidence, oracy, and the PRIDE they demonstrated throughout. 

We look forward to returning soon, so please keep an eye out for future opportunities.             
                                                                                                                                                                                            Mrs Moss, Teacher of English

Despite nerves, busy schedules, and the demands of working as a large ensemble, the cast supported one another and showed real perseverance. Their willingness to keep trying, take feedback on board, and work together resulted in fantastic, confident, performances that reflected just how much they had grown along the way.

The production was not only an entertaining show, but also a powerful example of resilience, teamwork, and commitment. Well done to all Year 7 students involved. Their hard work and positive attitude made the production truly 'practically perfect in every way'!

Thank you to all parents, carers and the wider community for joining us as an audience. Your presence, encouragement and support meant so much to the students and staff. 

A massive thank you to the Performing Arts team for their hard work, time and support.                                                                               

Miss Walsh, Leader of Performing Arts 

Chloe in Year 11, Eden in Year 10, Ava and Sayla in Year 7 were greeted by the staff and the residents, who were so pleased to meet them.

The girls served cold drinks and mince pies to the residents and sang Christmas songs, engaging the residents in singing and dancing. Everyone had lots of fun!

The care home staff thanked the girls for coming and spending time with the residents who were really grateful. 

Ms Sandhar, Pastoral Manager of Inclusion | Family Support Worker | CAP Co-Ordinator

This event was organised by the Year 13 BTEC Business group as part of their coursework, and they did a fabulous job with the organisation of this event, as well as our Year 9 Ambassadors who served the meals and chatted to our guests.  

Mr Finlayson, Teacher of Business

It was an amazing experience for all and  Mikey, the host of the evening said, "The opening scene of The Tempest was a powerful representation of the storm."

Mrs Arnett said, "I am very proud of all the students. They really showed great team work on the performance day – especially when a cast member was ill. Special shout-out to Lara, who without hesitation stepped in as understudy."
 

Coventry City Council ran week long workshops which involved creating a cardboard structure of Coventry old cathedral which was bombed during the Blitz. 

During the Tuesday session, twelve students were given instructions by Olivier Grossetête the artist who showed them how to tape together boxes that would form the roof section of the structure. 

On Saturday and Sunday the Cathedral came to life in Broadgate where members of the public could help to bring the build to life, before being pulled down to depict the cathedral bombing. Volunteers working along side our students commented on their fantastic conduct and manners throughout the session. 

Well done to Harriet, Elizabeth, Kadir, Bobby, Sienna, Anoop, Zainab, Karshin, Ava, Soraya, Gracie and Harrison. 
Thank you to Mrs Downs, Year 8 Senior Supervisory Assistant, for supporting the trip. 

In the Post 16 tutor curriculum we have been focusing on aspirations after Year 13.

Students in the workshops spent time this week reflecting on their strengths and interests, their career goals and how to work towards them. This will really benefit students in choosing university courses and apprenticeships.

Students were given a realistic scenario where they were lost at sea with broken communications. They would have to make contact with another vessel or land by building a tower with two satellites attached.

These activities are designed for small groups to work on strategy, communication and teamwork.
The equipment used is simple in structure (think very large Meccano) but designed to encourage the use of students’ imagination and STEM skills. 

Group sessions like this will develop student’s ability to work together as a group, adapt, improvise and communicate to ensure their design is as effective as possible. 

Miss Worwood, Careers Leader

Tia explained how she wrote her book and the real life 'Erik'. Some Year 8 students then took part in a workshop focusing on the use of text in the book. 
These student then led sessions with their tutor groups and they produced some great pieces of writing.

For more information about Tia, click here:  https://www.tiafisher.com/

Mrs Murray, Head or Year 8

Working in study groups over the summer, they investigated dissertation style questions that went beyond the curriculum, often exploring themes of future innovation. 

Each group produced a scientific poster and presented their findings, articulating complex ideas with clarity and confidence.

The conference was an inspiring celebration of research, collaboration, and academic excellence, highlighting the curiosity and creativity of our students. A huge well done to all involved for their hard work, dedication, and the professional way they rose to this challenge.
                                                         

Mr Green, Head of Science
 

They had a chance to speak to specialist staff, witness demonstrations, interact with subjects, and sample food from our catering staff.

Parent/carers and prospective students listened to Year 8, Year 13 students and the headteacher, Mr Lane, talk about the ethos of the school, expectations from the students and what it's like to be a student here.

Click here https://www.pks.coventry.sch.uk/ for our prospectus. (scroll down to the bottom of the homepage and click on the 'Prospectus 2025' tab).

For those who came, thank you for considering our school as one of your choices. We understand this is a huge next step - we hope to see your child/children in The Bridge next year!

To find out more, please click here.

Congratulations to our Year 11 students on a brilliant set of GCSE results!

We are extremely proud of your hard work and determination.

We wish you every success as you move on to the next stage in your lives!

Performing allows students to perform in front of an audience and instill a sense of belonging. It also contributes to a student’s confidence and self-belief, and potentially creates a more well-rounded individual.

Each student involved has shown commitment, enthusiasm, determination and PRIDE whilst rehearsing for LEGALLY BLONDE.

A HUGE well done for all involved!

Well done to all our students who have worked incredibly hard.

Good luck with the next chapter in your lives!

They raised an amazing total of £855 for this very worthy cause. Well done to all involved!

The last few weeks have seen both the end of a long exam season and the start of a heatwave! They have also witnessed the History Project at Sherbourne Fields Special School, surely, one of the highlights of the School Calendar for many a year.

Dating back to the early 2000s, the History Project has created a close bond between the two schools and provided a major enriching experience for many young people. Not only does it offer the opportunity to make friendships and share fun experiences with a wider, diverse peer group, but it also presents a responsibility and a challenge. To be able to provide inclusive learning opportunities to students of a Special School is an untapped skill that few members of the group realised they had at the outset.

The project provided a great revelation that learning about the past can be great fun for everyone. All students rose to the challenge of dressing themselves in Anglo-Saxon outfits. Colour, sounds and images help the SF students identify this as a special topic. During the week, we made jewellery, we built boats, we told stories, we danced and we played. We did so with smiles on our faces and had genuine fun. It helped us to bring to life the legend of King Arthur, the various festivals which dominated the Anglo-Saxon calendar, the hard times that Anglo-Saxon workers had to endure to keep their families alive and the wonderful story of King Alfred the Great.

During Friday afternoon, awards were given out to members of both schools for their excellent efforts. For one member of the group, talented musician Dara Agbato, this provided a great opportunity to showcase her keyboard skills and play some Anglo-Saxon inspired marching tunes to help us put together a battle-march dance.

Those delivering the project were clearly buzzing from the experience as it ended. One member of the team, Scarlett Gray said “Meeting the kids from Sherbourne Fields was a once-in–a lifetime experience. It made me realise that education is far greater than our own experiences at Kennedy”.

Jeyani Murugananthan added that “going to Sherbourne Fields was a massive eye-opening experience for us. They showed us how to appreciate even the smallest things in life.” To Natalia Kolodiy, the whole experience was “unforgettable! The kids there were just so fun to be with and everything was interactive. Leaving brought me close to tears.”

So... a huge vote of thanks to the 2025 SF team…. Dara, Heya, Bisma, Madeena, Bella, Seb, Esme, Ollie, Scarlett, Natalia, Toba, Jeyani, Fatma, and Roark.

The sessions are a variety of realistic scenarios, in which the teams are given challenges to design, build, and utilise a range of models relating to a humanitarian aid incident. These sessions aim to develop students’ ability to work together as a group; to adapt, improvise, and communicate to ensure their final designs are as effective as possible.

Students were given the following scenario in which the aim was to build an emergency flare.

'The Royal Navy is involved globally with humanitarian support, both on land and at sea. If a ship gets into difficulty at sea, it will send out a distress signal called a ‘Mayday' signal. This notifies other vessels in the area that they require emergency assistance. Once they have sent their distress signal, they will then fire a flare into the air to illuminate the area for any passing aircraft or ships to help locate them. The higher and brighter the flare, the greater the chance the crew has of being rescued. Students will make and fire a flare (paper rocket) outside'.

As you can see from the pictures, the students worked incredibly well together. The aim was to get the paper rocket higher than the school building. Lots of teamwork took place with some great designs being delivered by students.

These trees were all planted before Christmas.
This latest purchase sees the school orchard increase to 25 fruit trees which include both eating apples and cooking apples.
Add to this the 20 Blackcurrant bushes and the 50 flowering cherry trees that have also been purchased by Smart Learner Driving School.

Essentially, this commitment to planting trees and bushes is designed to offset the carbon footprint of the driving school when they are working In the local community.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rob Bromfield, School Gardener

He was sourced from Medical Detection Dogs, who are members of Assistance Dogs International, a charity that trains dogs for medical purposes, and Medical Alert Assistance Dogs. He has had a career change after being assessed as a suitable dog for being in a school. Many students have been asking questions about him and he is looking forward to working with targeted students before the end of this term.

Mr Arnett said,

"Having a dog in school is an amazing opportunity for our students. It allows us to explore lots of avenues associated with dogs; careers; training; responsible dog ownership and of course helping with positive mental health. It's also an exciting opportunity for me to bring all the vast experience I have had with dogs in my previous profession as a Service Dog Trainer to my role as Pastoral Leader in the school. I have already seen the positive impact he can have firsthand on some of our students and know he will help to instill the school values of PRIDE."

The students had a great experience! 

"Romeo and Juliet rehearsals were tough and tricky but the process was fun. We learnt a lot about projecting our voices, blocking and theatre etiquette. We had a theatre professional come to our school for a workshop which helped us to 'land our lines!' Shannon and Mya

"I had the experience of a lifetime doing Romeo and Juliet. I decided to do this because I thought it would be a great gateway to an acting career; and it is! It has helped with my stage fright as I have ended up with a small part. It has been so much fun performing with everyone!" Eliot 
"The Belgrade was so much fun! I had a great time and got to experience so many fun things! I made lots of new friends and I felt like I could express my feeling, especially as Romeo. Overall, it has been amazing and if I could do it all again, I would!" Seb

"It takes ages to learn your lines but it is all worth it! The stage is beyond anything and the feeling of everyone seeing you is really exciting." Wren 

Mrs Arnett said, "The process this year was tough, but the cast pulled through and showed their commitment to the performance process. They were so mature in the tech and dress rehearsal and had lots of positive comments on the night. Well done all!" 
  
Mrs Arnett, Student Leadership and Character, The Bridge

Attachment theory explains how children build an internal working model of themselves and the world through relationships. Trauma, abuse, neglect, separation, and bereavement have adverse effects, which means the child and adult's sense of safety and relationships need to be rebuilt in order for them to learn.

The Attachment Research Community (ARC) supports schools and settings to develop best attachment and trauma-aware practice. ARC is a charitable organisation set up in 2017 with a mission to support all schools to be attachment and trauma aware.

Mrs Jones, Assistant Headteacher and 
Subject Leader of English

They began their day listening to the first keynote speaker, Dan Belcher. Dan is an education specialist and leads on the SSAT's leadership programmes. He delivered a insightful talk on the impact of ethics in education and asked students in the audience thought-provoking questions to get them to consider their own values. Students then attended two workshops of their own choice based around their future career aspirations. There were workshops held on theology and the Holocaust; social care; sustainability; medicine; law; politics; violence prevention; philosophy; education; policing; charity; AI; marketing and finance. 
All workshops explored the role ethics plays within these fields. 

Speakers ranged from President Kennedy School alumni, Jas Bhambra, to local councillor Esther Reeves. In total 19 professional speakers delivered talks across the course of the day. Students ended the day by listening to an incredibly moving keynote speech from Holocaust survivor, Peter Lantos. Peter spoke about his experiences in concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. 

To end the day, Mr Lane began a question and answer forum with Peter, then students from the audience were invited to ask their own questions to Peter. It was a truly moving and memorable experience for all students involved. It was a truly remarkable experience for Year 12 to be able to learn from so many industry professionals.

Sophie Rejali,Teacher of Religious Education and Leader of Personal Development in Post-16

The Year 7 students have impressively settled into their new school environment, quickly familiarising themselves with 'The Bridge' and establishing a strong sense of belonging.

Their commitment to putting their best foot forward is evident as they consistently present themselves in professional and smart uniforms, which speaks volumes about their character and dedication.

I am incredibly proud of how they have embarked on their secondary school journey so far, and I eagerly look forward to witnessing their successes unfold throughout the year. 

Miss Tovey, Director of The Bridge

We wish you all the very best on your next steps to Building a Brighter Futures for yourselves!

Click on the link below to hear Councillor Sandhu speak about what is a truly remarkable day for students all over the country.

https://tinyurl.com/3duwcvr8

The students worked so hard on such detailed and difficult choreography, characterisation and vocals. The talent on stage made it hard to believe it was a school production.

Lead roles delivered with maturity and class.  The team work, passion, commitment and resilience shown by every single cast member was amazing, but above all they were kind and supportive to each other.

To say we are proud would be an understatement! WELL DONE ALL!

Thank you to our PKS community for constantly supporting us. We look forward to seeing you at our next show. 

Miss Walsh, Leader of Performing Arts

It is an annual celebration of Shakespeare's plays and students from across the city perform his plays at The Belgrade Theatre.

Over the years, The Bridge has performed Macbeth, The Tempest, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet.

Mrs Arnett said, "To receive this award is a fantastic achievement! We will participate in the November festival with our new Year 7 cohort- Romeo and Juliet! Watch this space!"

President Kennedy School has been fortunate enough to receive regular visits from Peter. On this visit, marked by the historical significance of the D-Day, Peter met with several students from Years 8, 9, 10, and 12. He spent the morning unveiling the new signs in the Holocaust memorial garden and speaking to students about what happened to him during the Holocaust. 

Some of our Year 8 students then read poems written for Peter to mark the importance of remembrance. Year 10 students then visited the garden and asked Peter some moving questions. 
Peter spent the next part of the day working with students involved in an 'Echo Eternal' performance last year. The performance was an artistic retelling of Peter’s testimony through shadow work and puppeteering. 
The students showed Peter their film and then presented him with their experiences of working on the project. 

For the final part of the day, Peter met with some students for a discussion on his books. Year 8 students asked Peter about his book ‘The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die’ and Year 12 students asked him about ‘Parallel Lines.’ 
The questions students asked were deeply thought-provoking and they learned a lot about the importance of peace and reconciliation from Peter’s responses. 

Students gifted Peter a book of the poems and speeches they had read through on the day as a thank you for all of the time he has devoted to President Kennedy School. 

It was a fantastic day for everyone involved, and we look forward to welcoming Peter back in July when he speaks at our Post-16 Ethics Conference.
Mrs Rejali, Teacher of Religious Education and Leader of Personal Development in Post-16

The sun was bright and after entering the gates, I was able to walk around the lovely gardens and listen to inspirational speeches on the satellite stages.  

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, gave a speech from the balcony alongside two gold award winners. 

Their speeches were incredibly inspiring, talking not only about their journey through the different awards, but what they had gained from it which inspired them in their careers and future ambitions.

We have had seven students receive their D of E Gold Award going through the school awards system and have a further six working towards it this year.

Miss Kirkham,Teacher of Design and Technology 
Centre Manager of Duke of Edinburgh's Award 

Through a series of workshops,seminars, and hands-on experiences, participants will have the opportunity to develop 
their skills, expand their knowledge, and make informed 
decisions about their future career paths.

This programme offers a unique chance for students to explore various career paths and gain valuable insights into their future endeavours. 
 

They went on to represent the Midlands at the national competition. Here, they competed against schools from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland with their debate on Cancel Culture. The team won second place with their outstanding teamwork and high-quality debate. 

Isla also won best chairperson out of all the contestants due to her excellent control of the debate and warm and engaging talk. 

It was a fantastic day, with members of the Coventry Rotary Club and Ms Rooke and Mr Lane going along to support the team. 

The team are now looking forward to using their debate experience for school projects in future.

Ms Rejali, Teacher of Religious Education and Leader of Personal Development in Post-16

Post 16 student, Harman approached    Ms Rooke wanting to introduce a more robust recycling process into the school.
Ms Rooke supported the idea and located £300 for Harman to spend on new recycling waste bins.

After careful consideration, Harman has started her recycling initiative with five bins; three for paper and two for mixed recycling (plastic, aluminium, and card).

Harman is now considering where the best location within the school will be for the bins.
As a school we already recycle, with about a third of our waste processed by Tom White wastes recycling plant.

Harman’s initiative will contribute to the overall ratio of recycling. As a school we plan to increase our recycling year on year. The site services team will monitor the use of Harman’s new bins, and if successful we will introduce more special recycling waste outlets within the school.
 
Well done to Harman, you are a credit to President Kennedy School and to the school environment!

Following on from the fifty flowering cherry trees that are establishing themselves in the garden, the fruit tree orchard comprising of ten apple trees is starting to show plenty of new spring growth. We now also have twenty blackcurrant 

bushes which have been planted in the garden.

Smart Learner Driving School have a commitment to offset their carbon footprint by way of providing trees and bushes to local organisations.

All of these trees and fruit bushes that have been planted will assist with this commitment. These trees and bushes will provide a lasting legacy for future generations to both enjoy and provide a healthier environment.
 

We were honoured to have special guests Coventry Poet Laureate John Bernard and international author Bali Rai visit our school to inspire our students. 
Every child in Key Stage 3 had the opportunity to attend a talk or workshop with one of these renowned speakers. A copy of Bali Rai's book was given as a memento to every student in Year 7, and they all had the opportunity to have their copy personally signed by Bali himself. 

John Bernard hosted a lunchtime open mic session on World Book Day, showcasing the talent and creativity of our students - the atmosphere was electric! Festival stalls were set up for students to explore, featuring quizzes, competitions, and valuable career advice from a visiting lecturer from Coventry University. 

The festival was filled with celebrations as our students showed remarkable engagement, creativity, passion, and PRIDE throughout the event. 
We are incredibly proud of their hard work and enthusiasm.                                                    

Mrs Jones, 
Assistant Headteacher and Subject Leader of English 

In the Post 16 tutor curriculum we have been focussing on how to successfully prepare for job applications.

We have spent time this week looking at how to write a cover letter, and the workshop supported this by unpicking how to write an effective CV.

Students saw examples of CVs (good and no so good!) and have now been given the tools to write their own CV.

                                      
Mrs Mitchard, College Director of P16

After winning the Youth Speaks District debating competition, the President Kennedy School team moved on to compete in the Regional Senior Competition, held at Campion School on Sunday 11th February. 

Isla, Mason and Alisha debated on the topic of ‘Cancel Culture.’ They competed against five schools from around Warwickshire.

It was a fantastic event with each team putting forward convincing debates. President Kennedy School once again secured first place at the competition. Judges remarked that the team impressed them with their memorisation of the debate, their definitions of ‘cancel culture terminology’ and the statistics and examples they use to support each side of the discussion. 

The team will be now moving on to compete in the next round of the competition

The team competed against seven other secondary schools in Coventry and Warwickshire with a debate on the topic of ‘Cancel Culture.’ 

The team discussed whether cancel culture provides a service in ensuring accountability in society, or if it is a detriment to mental health. 
Isla was the chairperson who introduced and summarised the debate, whilst Alisha proposed that cancel culture was helpful and Mason the team with the opposing argument. 

The President Kennedy School team won first place, with judges commenting that students performed an engaging debate with a sophisticated line of argument. The judges were impressed by each student’s confidence and their ability to captivate the audience with their enthusiasm and big smiles. 

The team will go onto compete in the district finals on Sunday 11th February.

Ms Rejali, Teacher of Religious Education and Leader of Personal Development in Post-16

They worked so hard and showed such passion and determination. The cast performed to a sell-out audience over two nights and every student involved rose to the occasion.

There was much talent on stage - it was hard to believe these students are eleven and twelve years old with only a few week’s worth of rehearsals under their belt!

A massive well done to all - a proud Performing Arts department!

Miss Walsh, Leader of Performing Arts

During the lunch guests were entertained by our fabulous President Kennedy School choir who performed a number of festive favorites. The event was organised by Year 13 students Codie Cannell and Jordan Isaac who were assisted by the Year 7 College Council who served the meals in a very professional manner and enjoyed having a chat with our guests.  
It really was a lovely afternoon.