Education, Schools and Sports.

Thanet has an excellent selection of schools, colleges and nurseries in the isle to cater for a wide range of requirements. There are about 41 primary schools, 13 secondary state and independent schools as well as several schools providing specialist education for those with learning difficulties or handicaps.

Grammar schools

These are Chatham House Ramsgate, Dane Court Broadstairs and Clarendon House Ramsgate.

Private Schools

There is the excellent St Lawrence public school in Ramsgate and a number of preparatory schools such as Wellesley House and Haddon Dene in Broadstairs.

Primary and Junior Schools

There are quite a selection of primary and junior schools in Thanet to choose from

• Birchington C of E Primary
• Bromstone Primary, Broadstairs
• Christ Church C of E Junior, Ramsgate
• Cliftonville Primary, Margate
• Dame Janet Community Infants, Ramsgate
• Dame Janet Community Junior, Ramsgate
• Drapers Mill Primary, Margate
• Garlinge Primary, Margate
• Minster CofE Primary Minster
• Monkton CofE Primary, Margate
• Newlands Primary, Ramsgate
• Newington Community Primary, Ramsgate
• Priory Infant Ramsgate
• St Crispin's Community Infant, Westgate
• St Gregory's Catholic Primary
• St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Broadstairs
• St Laurence in Thanet C of E Junior
• St Mildred's Infant, Broadstairs
• St Saviours C of E Junior School Westgate, Broadstairs
• Upton Junior, Broadstairs

Secondary Schools

Our secondary schools are also state of the art having undergone major refurbishments and complete rebuilding in some cases which began in 2005. These include St Georges and Charles Dickens in Broadstairs, The Royal Harbour Academy Ramsgate, Hartsdown High School Margate, Ursuline College Westgate and King Ethelbert’s in Westgate.

Further Education

In addition, as far as ongoing education is concerned the much improved East Kent College offers a vast selection of courses from its high profile catering and hospitality courses to the entrepreneurial and business courses via The Peter Jones Academy and new facilities for creative arts. If you are coming to Thanet from a non English speaking country and want to improve your English, there are a number of English language schools that cater for all abilities.

Extra curricula activities

For those with a thespian bent there is the Thanet Stage School of Performing Arts. Equestrian enthusiasts can improve their techniques at the Nelson Park and Manston Riding centres, while would-be Bondi Beach specialists can enhance their surfing skills at the Joss Bay Surf School Broadstairs.

Sporting Activities for All.

Whether you are an avid sportsman or woman or just a spectator, Thanet offers an enormous variety of energetic and not so energetic options in the world of sport.

Bowls

The quote from the Thanet Bowls Club probably says it all: “Our aim is to promote bowls as healthy, fun and if you want it to be a competitive sport enjoyed by everyone whatever your age, sex or ability.” No longer just considered something for the more mature members of the community to indulge in, bowls has increased in popularity among all age groups in recent years. With indoor bowls clubs springing up in many areas, it is now a sport that can be enjoyed – whatever the weather or time of year

The Thanet Bowls Club in Montefiore Avenue in Ramsgate includes a beautifully maintained green, one of the best in the area, and a delightful clubhouse. Throughout the summer there are a variety of matches for men and women of differing skill levels and coaching sessions are available for anyone who wants to improve their skills. There is a very active social membership with non-bowls events taking place throughout the winter.

The Birchington Bowls Club in Beach Avenue also includes tennis courts and a large car park. There are full, junior and social membership categories and, as families are encouraged to get involved, there is also a family membership.

Walpole Bay Bowls Club is opposite the Walpole Bay Hotel in Cliftonville where new and inexperienced members are always welcome and there are times when you can just ‘roll up’ and have a go. When the weather is inclement you can always carry on in the Thanet Indoor Bowls Centre in Cliftonville.

If you want something a little different don’t forget croquet one of the most fiendish games on the planet. To find out why, you can always pop round to the Ramsgate Croquet Club on the Royal Esplanade they are very friendly and always looking for new members, but you can go along and just have a try to start with.

Boxing

Boxing is quite a popular sport in Thanet so if you want to get involved try one of the many clubs available. These include O’Neill’s Boxing Club in Margate that welcomes all men, women and children of all ages and abilities. Free boxing training for youngsters is available at Millmead Hall in Margate while the Margate Amateur Boxing Club offers sessions to young people over seven at Hartsdown Barn. There is also the Ramsgate Boxing Club in Bellevue Avenue, Ramsgate.

Cricket

While many of us think of cricket being England and Australia fighting it out over a small urn containing someone’s ashes, or a lazy afternoon on the local village green listening to the sound of leather on willow, residents of our towns and seaside resorts can be equally avid followers of the sport – and Thanet is no exception.

Broadstairs Cricket Club has been established for about 100 years and has just achieved promotion to Division 1 of the Kent League. It is based at The Pavilion, Park Avenue in Broadstairs. It offers a variety of facilities for both players and supporters including pre-match warm up nets, a bar and regular training for both juniors and seniors with winter indoor training taking place in the East Kent Sports Hall, Marlowe Academy. Here, indoor cricket takes place for those who enjoy the sport all year round through the Thanet Indoor Cricket League. Virtually opposite the football club in Hartsdown Road, you will find the Margate Cricket Club. It has a very busy summer schedule and an active ladies section as well as a juniors coaching program.

Football and Rugby

For footie fans, Thanet has Margate Football Club and a raft of local clubs covering the whole of the area including St Luke’s, Minster, Ramsgate, Thanet and District, Belmonte and Galaxy disabled football. There are also seven junior clubs including

Ramsgate, Margate and Thanet Colts.

If rugby union is your game, Thanet Wanderers based in Broadstairs is a very active club for both juniors and seniors – men and women. There is also Broadstairs Beach Rugby and theBroadstairs Bulldog Rugby League Club.

Golf

Thanet is a magnet for golfing enthusiasts, whether you are an absolute beginner or a budding Nick Faldo there are clubs and courses to suit all handicaps and age groups. There are three main golf clubs – North Foreland in Broadstairs, Westgate and Birchington Golf Club and St Augustine’s Golf Club outside Ramsgate. In addition there is The Manston Golf Centre at Manston, the Stonelees Golf Centre at Ramsgate and for the children Strokes Adventure Golf on the promenade at Westbrook and The Lost Adventure dinosaur themed indoor golf course in Margate.

The North Foreland Golf Club is more than 100 years old but has moved with the times and offers both members and visitors two excellent cliff top golf courses – The Main Course or the long course and the Northcliffe Course which is excellent for beginners and visitors, where you are also invited to ‘pay and play’. There are also tennis courts and you can join as a social member and be involved in some of the many social activities.

The Clubhouse at the Westgate and Birchington Golf Club is open daily, offering refreshments to members and visiting golfers alike. The dining area provides fine views over the historical links course while the lounge and the bar are the perfect places to relax after a round of golf. For the over 55s there is the Evergreens section, where Tuesday and Thursday morning are set aside for their use and special events are organised for the older members and visitors.

St. Augustine's Golf Club is a private members club with the reputation of being very warm and welcoming both guests and visitors alike. Situated in the Pegwell Bay area of The Isle of Thanet, the Club was established in 1908 and opened by the famous Tom Vardon. St. Augustine’s is named after the missionary who landed in England to convert the Saxons to Christianity in AD 597 and a cross stands adjoining the Golf Club to mark the spot where he landed.

Stonelees Golf Centre Whether you're a total beginner, an improving golfer, or an expert looking for a test, there's a golf course for you at Stonelees Golf Centre, between Ramsgate and Sandwich. There is a par three course, an Executive course and the full-length Heights course. Having some lessons with one of the excellent pros at Stonelees will assist you to improve your golf where you can test out the floodlit driving range, have a go on the putting green or even try the golf simulator.

Manston Golf Centre is just the place to learn the basics of golf. There is an excellent driving range, a nine hole course, a well stocked golf superstore, a custom fitting service and the Positive Impact Golf Academy. You will be sure of a warm and friendly welcome from all the staff and they will look after all your golfing requirements. There is a delightful clubhouse where you can have a snack and a drink including outdoor and sheltered terraces as well as a newly created decked area – just the place to look out over the course and Pegwell Bay.

For the very experienced golfer there is of course the nearby Royal St Georges open championship course at Sandwich as well as the Prince’s Club.