What is Beyond the Classroom?
Beyond the Classroom (BTC) is a programme through which TRS ensures that pupils take part in employer focused events and activities outside normal lessons for one afternoon a week. It helps them grow as individuals, connects them to the local community and enables them to explore a wide range of career options and opportunities. These days doing your own thing as a business is as much as an option as working for someone else or running it alongside other work or studying.
During Terms 1, 2, 3 & 4 local employers come in to school one day a week during period 5 and offer sessions around their businesses which all pupils take part in. Many of the employers have their own business that they have started from scratch and they will take pupils on their journey; how they started, what worked and what didn’t, what they learnt and useful tips. Alongside this they will teach pupils how to create or develop a marketable product so as to put theory into practice.
To add an element of real life, pupils are taken out into the community to promote or sell their product. For example, a group who set up a Face Painting business have attended local primary schools for a Christmas jumper day to face paint Year 2, a Michael Jackson Thriller performance with Year 3 and an Egyptian day with Year 4. Another group made Christmas craft items which were then sold at the Margate Teenage Festival Market in support of a local charity.
This video and the school virtual tour video was designed and made by the pupils with Andy Betts, Esprit Drone Services as part of the Beyond the Classroom programme. This interview takes place with Andy and describes his experience of working with TRS.
For the academic Year 2026 to 2027, the BTC sessions groups running are:
Video Production: Pupils will work with Andy from Esprit Drone Services to create a careers video for the school. They will learn how professional videos are planned and produced, developing a storyboard before filming, directing and editing their own finished video. This year a new Careers video is being produced alongside a school virtual tour for the Canterbury school.
Communigrow: Pupils will get hands-on outdoors, helping to maintain the school grounds while learning about growing and caring for plants and vegetables. They will grow fresh produce for Rob in the kitchen, as well as seasonal plants and flowers to be sold through the coffee shop.
Painting and Decorating: Pupils will develop practical painting and decorating skills while working in their own dedicated pods. They will learn techniques including preparing and painting surfaces, basic woodwork, hanging frames, and building confidence in a range of useful practical skills.
Hairdressing: Pupils will develop practical hairdressing skills including hair washing, styling and creating different looks, while gaining an insight into working in a professional salon. They will also have the opportunity to visit a salon and put their skills into practice by styling real clients’ hair.
Theatrical Make-Up: Pupils will explore the creative world of theatrical make-up, learning how to create fun, imaginative and themed looks using a range of techniques. They will then put their skills into practice in a real world setting by creating theatrical make-up looks for a live production.
Pottery Painting: Pupils will get creative by designing and painting their own pottery, with seasonal themes such as Halloween and Christmas to inspire their ideas. Their finished pots will be planted up using the plants grown by the Communigrow group and prepared for sale in Bulunga, giving students the opportunity to turn their creativity into a real product.
In the Staplehurst school, the team organises an internal programme throughout the academic year of in school speakers and activities across a range of employers, charities, professional bodies and higher education providers.
Christmas Fair Margate 2025 hand painted pots
Michael Jackson Thriller zombie at Littlebourne Primary school
Beyond the Classroom is managed by our Work Experience Co-Ordinator Nikki Wilson and we welcome any contact from business who would like to take part. Nikki’s email address is n.wilson@trs.kent.sch.uk and her direct contact number 08907 717100.