The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden created a Spots and Stripes Day, to raise awareness of big cats. Our students really enjoyed the day, which included a lecture on the importance of the sanctuary, a poster-designing competition, games and more.

This was an academically focused event for our Lower Sixth Biology and Media Studies students and our First Form Geography students. The Juniors enjoyed a lecture about conservation during their Friday assembly before they played ‘sleeping lions’ in the sports hall during their PSHE lesson.

Our Lower Sixth students produced a poster campaign for the Sanctuary, based on a brief from Tanith Brown, the Sanctuary’s Press and PR Officer, and examples from the Sanctuary’s own marketing department.

First place was awarded to Yves Davis, with George Abrehart coming second and Marko Jankovic placing third: 

Our Lower Sixth Biologists, attending a question and answer session related to the A level syllabus:

Our Third Form English students working together on their practical criticism skills looking at The Jaguar by Ted Hughes and Mountain Lion by DH Lawrence:

Our First Form Geographers being taught using resources provided by the Big Cat Sanctuary:

The Juniors learning about the work of the Sanctuary and the role and importance of apex predators to ecosystems across the world:

The Juniors enjoying supporting the Sanctuary and its conservation work by playing sponsored sleeping lions:

Future projects include our Fourth Form Design and Technology students visiting the Sanctuary to look at designing appropriate accommodation and stimulus materials for animals kept in captivity. We look forward to our next Spots and Stripes Day in October. To find out more about the Big Cat Sanctuary, you can visit their website – https://thebigcatsanctuary.org/.

A big thank you to Tanith Brown from the Sanctuary and Mrs Porter who made this event so successful.