A SENIOR head teacher has been honoured for his drive and commitment to pioneer business and enterprise links between his school, its students and staff, the community, and commerce.

Keith Rumblo, principal at St George’s church of England Foundation School at Broadstairs, has been presented with a framed certificate and an award "for outstanding practice" by the business development organisation Technology Enterprise Kent.

Mr Rumblo, who received his award at a ceremony at Dover Town Hall, said: "It was a shock, a bolt out of the blue. I have headed a team of senior teachers at St George’s that successfully drove through our bid for specialist status as a centre of business and enterprise excellence.

"The award reflects the hard work, commitment, enthusiasm and dedication of all our staff who do so much to ensure our students have the best possible opportunities for a successful life after school."

Mr Rumblo is a firm believer that Thanet’s deprived area needs as much help as possible to ensure students get on when they enter the jobs market.

He said: "Our links with all sorts of businesses are proving so valuable. We actively encourage our students to consider adult concepts like career interviews, arranging and managing loans and finance for items like cars and property.

"Specialist status as a centre for business and enterprise has been successful in the last 18 months since it was awarded, and St George’s now has a multi-purpose centre dedicated to developing these aspects of education.

"The complex can also be used by community groups and organisations, our partner schools and teachers, and businesses."

Developing the needs of education, business and the community together has been a long-term project for Mr Rumblo.

He said: "It was clear to me quite early on that a community like Thanet that has high pockets of social deprivation needs a strategy to enable our young people to move from school into jobs, as well as targeted training facilities, and somewhere community groups can expand their skills or retrain.

"Our specialist status is enabling us to help a cross-section of people and we hope eventually it will enrich their lives and open up a range of opportunities for them."