In May 2022, the Maritime Academy Trust appointed a Community Engagement Lead to work across Maritime’s schools, focussing initially on three priority schools, Bligh, Ebbsfleet Green and Hook Lane. Quickly we established that the key to success is building a programme tailored to the needs of each community – not simply trying to apply a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

Two new Community Hubs have been set up to provide our communities with the confidence to support their child’s development through different stages and transitions throughout their time at school. This will cement the concept of working together as a team, will promote community connections and help parents play an active and positive role in our children’s education.

At Ebbsfleet the focus is on building a school community in an area that is just being created, through regular coffee mornings which include introducing wider services such as local NHS support. 

At Bligh the focus is on connecting our children to the wider community and supporting our parents with the skills and services they need to ensure every child thrives, such as healthy living support from Medway Council. 

At Hook Lane our Year 5 children have created a wonderful partnership with a local care home, with children attending the care home and care home residents visiting Hook Lane too, with both sides gaining hugely from this partnership.