Latest News & Updates

Bexleyheath Academy sends weekly updates to all parents/carers by email.  If you are a parent/carer of a student at Bexleyheath Academy and are not receiving this email, please click here to provide us with your current email address.

On Latest News This Week:


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Term Dates 2025/2026 | The term dates for 2025/2026 can be found here. These are provision dates and subject to change. 


Term 03 | Year 09 Priority Parent’s Evening | This term, we will be providing families the opportunity to book appointments with all their child's subject teachers to discuss their engagement, progress, and attainment this year. This event is scheduled for Thursday, 13 February 2025 | 15:30-18:30 |  Priority appointments available for booking from Monday, 27 January 2025 at 10:00am for TEN Days. From Thursday, 06 February 2025 at 10:00am, parents/carers in the remaining year groups (Y07, Y08, Y10, Y11, Y12 & Y13) will also be able to book appointments with any available teacher. As many of our teachers do not teach Y09, this will provide all parents/carers with additional opportunities to meet with their child's teachers.  These events will take place virtually. Parents/carers can book virtual appointments using our online booking system. Appointments are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Information on booking appointments can be found on the Parents' Evening page of the Academy's website. If you have any questions regarding our Parents' Evening’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms Fisher, Data Manager (dfisher@bexleyheathacademy.org.).


Branding Update | We continue to work with our graphic designer to develop the logo design that Samuel (Year 09) had started work on. The move to Lift Schools presents an excellent opportunity for us to update our school name and appearance. Over the coming months, you’ll start to notice some changes, including:


These changes reflect our high aspirations for all students. You can expect to see these changes introduced this year, and we will keep you updated on when this will happen. We are also taking this opportunity to review our school uniform, guided by our commitment to quality and affordability. As our name, colours, and logo will change, we plan to introduce a new uniform and guidelines. As we have previously addressed, our uniform guidelines will not change for current students, and you will not need to purchase a new uniform for your child. Current students will continue to wear their existing uniforms until our stock has run out, at which point the supplier will transition to selling the new uniform. We will also make sure that second-hand options will be available to support families and promote sustainability. From next year, new students Year 07 will begin in our new uniform using our updated guidelines. Our approach focuses on reducing the number of branded items and keeping any changes cost-effective. Any families with children starting next year will receive information on the new uniform in the transition sessions.  


We’re incredibly excited about what this new chapter means for our school. While the day-to-day experience at Lift Bexleyheath won’t change, a new name and fresh look gives us the opportunity to create environments that are even more inspiring, inclusive, and focused on helping every child thrive.

What's been happening in Art this week? | In art lessons, students across different year groups focus on developing a wide range of skills and knowledge, gradually building their confidence and creativity. They explore various techniques, such as drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture, while also learning about different artistic styles, movements, and cultural influences. 

This progressive learning journey ensures that by Year 11, students can bring together their technical skills, critical thinking, and personal creativity to produce outstanding outcomes for their GCSE coursework. Studying art is essential as it nurtures self-expression, problem-solving, and resilience, valuable skills that extend beyond the classroom. It also encourages students to think independently, develop visual literacy, and appreciate the role of art in society, preparing them for further education and a wide range of creative careers. 

We are showcasing what students in each year group have been working on.

Year 07

Chloe | Year 07

Arham | Year 07

Bo | Year 08

Oskaras | Year 08

Anastasia | Year 08

Year 09

Year 09

Year 09

Amayah | Year 10

Asher | Year 11

Skye | Year 11

Stanley | Year 11

Romi | Year 11

Princewell | Year 12

What's been happening in English this week? | In Year 10, students have been delving into the world of Macbeth and exploring the sinister and suspenseful events of Act 1. So far, they’ve been captivated by the eerie prophecies of the witches, Macbeth’s growing ambition, and Lady Macbeth’s chilling determination. As we approach the iconic “unsex me here” speech in Act 1, Scene 5, the tension is building, and students are starting to unpack the themes of power, ambition, and morality that drive this gripping tragedy. It’s been fantastic to see their enthusiasm for Shakespeare’s timeless work!


Meanwhile, in Year 09, students have been thoroughly enjoying Small Island by Andrea Levy. This text has introduced them to complex and thought-provoking themes such as identity, prejudice, and the experiences of post-war Britain. They’ve been engaging in meaningful discussions about the challenges faced by the Windrush generation and the enduring importance of empathy and understanding. It’s been wonderful to see their curiosity and insight shine through in lessons! 

Extra-Curricular Clubs |  Drama club is important for secondary school children as it enhances communication skills, boosts confidence, and promotes creativity. 

It helps students develop clear speech, express emotions effectively, and build self-esteem by performing in front of an audience. Drama fosters teamwork, encouraging collaboration and empathy while also improving academic performance through reading comprehension, memorisation, and critical thinking. It provides an emotional outlet, allowing students to process feelings and reduce stress in a supportive environment. 

Additionally, drama club instils discipline, responsibility, and time management skills, preparing students for future careers and leadership roles. It also broadens cultural awareness by exposing students to different perspectives, traditions, and social issues. Overall, drama club nurtures essential life skills while creating a sense of belonging and artistic expression among students. 

This term, students have be creating puppets and bringing life to these puppets through their performance stills. Over the weeks these students will act as a trial-run to see if a SOW can be incorporated into the curriculum at a later date. They will be exploring differing styles of puppetry over the next few weeks. 

Careers Insight Talk | Evaluation | Last Friday, your child attended a career talk with a professional who shared his career journey and experiences in the field of International Educational Technology. These sessions aimed to provide valuable perspectives and inspire students as they begin to consider their own paths in the future. To help us assess the effectiveness of this experience and continue to improve our career exploration programs, we kindly ask that you take a few moments to complete a brief evaluation as soon as possible. Your feedback will be invaluable in shaping future events and ensuring that we are meeting the needs of our students. You can access the evaluation form through the link here. We appreciate your time and input. Thank you for supporting your child’s educational journey and for helping us make these experiences as meaningful as possible. If you have any questions or would like to talk to our students about your job role and sector contact Dr Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org).  


TFL Travel Information Workshop | Transport for London (TfL) came and spoke to our Year 09 students this week. The session covered unacceptable behaviours on public transport, common and involuntary reactions to sexual harassment, being an active bystander, reasons for reporting, and information on the different avenues to report sexual harassment. Understanding safety on public transport is essential for young people as it empowers them to travel confidently and responsibly. Knowing how to identify and respond to inappropriate behaviour ensures that students feel safer and can help others in need. Learning about reporting procedures also encourages a culture of accountability, making public transport a more secure environment for everyone. Additionally, awareness of bystander intervention equips students with the skills to support victims and challenge unacceptable behaviours in a safe and effective manner. If you would like to know more about the TFL Project Guardian, please see here: TFL Project Guardian


Social Media | Although ‘Latest News’ is a fantastic way to keep up-to-date with everything going on at Bexleyheath Academy, we also encourage you to follow us on Facebook so we can share even more amazing things with you. Moreover, if your child has done something amazing outside of the academy then please do share it with us and we'll proudly post it. 


Year 10 and Year 12 Work Experience | We would like to remind families that our Work Experience programme for Year 10 and Year 12 students will run from Monday, 14 July until Friday, 18 July 2025. Just a reminder of the key deadlines:

 If you have any questions regarding Work Experience, please contact Dr Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Lion King Trip | Last week, students had the exciting opportunity to attend a theatre production of The Lion King as part of their BTEC Tech Award course. 

This experience provided valuable cultural capital, exposing them to the world of professional theatre and enhancing their understanding of performance arts. Witnessing the vibrant staging, intricate costumes, and powerful storytelling firsthand enriched their appreciation of live productions beyond the classroom. The trip also deepened their knowledge of key theatrical elements such as lighting, sound, and stage design, which are essential for their coursework. 

Experiencing a globally renowned production allowed students to engage with diverse cultural influences, particularly the African inspired music, dance, and storytelling that make The Lion King unique. Now, students will refer to this experience in their schoolwork, using it as a case study to analyse theatrical techniques, evaluate performance styles, and apply industry knowledge to their assignments. 

This first hand insight will not only strengthen their written evaluations but also inspire their own practical work, helping them develop as creative and informed theatre practitioners. 

Emotional Literacy | All children will experience challenging feelings sooner or later. Emotions are a natural part of life, and while youngsters should be encouraged to express themselves, it is equally important that they learn how to understand and manage these emotions in a healthy and mindful way. 

Emotional literacy refers to the ability to recognise, understand, and appropriately express emotions, helping children develop self awareness, resilience, and positive coping strategies.

Strengthening emotional literacy enables children to communicate their feelings effectively, build strong relationships, and navigate difficult situations with confidence. 

This free guide offers expert advice on supporting children in processing difficult emotions constructively, fostering their emotional wellbeing and overall mental health. 

Anti-Social Behaviour and County Lines Assembly | This week, we held an assembly with all our students to discuss anti-social behaviour, our expectations of them in the local community, and to raise awareness of county lines. 

Anti-social behaviour includes actions that cause harm, distress, or nuisance to others, such as vandalism, aggressive behaviour, or public disorder. We expect our students to be respectful, responsible, and positive representatives of our school when in the community. 

We also highlighted the dangers of county lines, where criminal gangs exploit young people to transport drugs between different areas. It is crucial that students understand the risks and know how to seek help if they ever feel unsafe or pressured. We encourage families to have conversations at home about these important topics to reinforce the same messages and help keep our young people safe. If you need any guidance, please feel free to reach out to the school for further support. 

We would like to thank families in ensuring that students are going home straight afterschool and not spending unnecessary time on The Broadway. 

Revision Links for Term 03 | To support you in making sure learning continues at home and to inform you about what your child is learning each term, we have provided you to links to resources for each curriculum.  Whilst these resources can be found in the Curriculum section of the website, we have added the links below for ease for our core subject only. If you have any questions, please contact the relevant Faculty Director:

Spotlight | Attendance


Research has shown that regular attendance and good punctuality are crucial factors in students achieving their full potential in education. At Bexleyheath Academy we wish to work in partnership with parents and carers and so are seeking your full support in ensuring that your child attends the academy every day and on time. We are always pleased to work together with parents/carers in resolving any difficulties, but we are also committed to improving attendance levels at the academy.


The target attendance figure for all pupils is a minimum of 97% attendance. Based on current attendance figures your child will be placed in one of the following groups below. 


Group 1: No Concern | Green Group | The student attends for 97% - 100% of the time. 

Group 2: Concern | Yellow Group | The student attends for 95% - 96.9% of the time.

Group 3: Risk of Underachievement  | Amber Group| The student attends for 93% - 94.9% of the time.

Group 4: Severe Risk of Underachievement | Pink Group | The student attends for 90% - 92.9% of the time.

Group 5: Extreme Risk of Underachievement  | Red Group| The student attends for 0% - 89.9% of the time.


Your child will be informed of their Attendance Group by their pastoral manager. Bexleyheath Academy are monitoring students closely whose attendance is falling and will contact you if your child’s attendance does not improve. It is important that you monitor single day’s absence, as these days soon add up to weeks.

At Bexleyheath Academy we reward pupils who attend the academy each day and whose attendance is improving. Students are also rewarded for good punctuality. Here is an example of rewards for good attendance:

If you are concerned about this new ‘Focus on Attendance’, there are important steps that you can take:


Thank you for working in partnership with us to achieve the highest possible levels of attendance and punctuality at Bexleyheath Academy.

Term 03 | Week 04

Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Netball Success | This week, our Year 07 Netball team took to the court and delivered a spectacular performance, securing an impressive 10-5 victory against Trinity School! The team showcased their incredible skills, teamwork, and determination, leaving the spectators in awe with every pass and goal. Their hard work and practice truly paid off as they played with energy and enthusiasm, dominating the game from start to finish. The players supported one another throughout, embodying true team spirit, and their smiles showed just how much fun they had while achieving this well deserved win. Congratulations to the Year 07 team for such an amazing achievement. We couldn’t be prouder of you! 


Term Dates 2025/2026 | We apologise for the delay in releasing term dates. We are still awaiting approval to ensure that there are minimal changes to this. The dates will be released by next Saturday. 


Arbor Parent Portal App | For those families who have not logged into their Parent Portal account, please find guidance on how to access this here.  Emails were sent yesterday to families who have not logged on.  The link expires after 96 hours. Please contact Ms Fisher, Data Manager (dfisher@bexleyheathacademy.org.) requesting a link, if you did not receive this. The Parent Portal App will allow you to see your child's profile which will contain their termly reports as well as daily updates on positive and negative points. Thank you to the families that actively use this daily and have meaningful conversations with their child regarding positive and negative points. 


Term 03 | Year 09 Priority Parent’s Evening | This term, we will be providing families the opportunity to book appointments with all their child's subject teachers to discuss their engagement, progress, and attainment this year. This event is scheduled for Thursday, 13 February 2025 | 15:30-18:30 |  Priority appointments available for booking from Monday, 27 January 2025 at 10:00am for TEN Days. From Thursday, 6 February 2025 at 10:00am, parents/carers in the remaining year groups (Y07, Y08, Y10, Y11, Y12 & Y13) will also be able to book appointments with any available teacher. As many of our teachers do not teach Y09, this will provide all parents/carers with additional opportunities to meet with their child's teachers.  These events will take place virtually. Parents/carers can book virtual appointments using our online booking system. Appointments are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Information on booking appointments can be found on the Parents' Evening page of the Academy's website. If you have any questions regarding our Parents' Evening’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms Fisher, Data Manager (dfisher@bexleyheathacademy.org.).


Year 09 Options Evening and Events | This week, we celebrated the success of our Year 9 Options Event, an evening brimming with enthusiasm, insight, and support for our students making this important educational decision. Our Year 11 students truly stole the show, passionately showcasing the subjects they are studying and love. With first hand experience of the courses, they provided invaluable insights into the structure, content, and challenges of each subject, skilfully answering families’ questions even the tough ones with confidence and clarity. 

Year 11 students showed off the work that they had been producing in each of the subjects and talking through the units that they had covered. It was great to hear the 'Top Tips' also being shared by the students to ensure the Year 09 students are successful in the subject. 

Their dedication to supporting Year 09 students and their families in making informed choices was nothing short of inspiring. Feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the poise and professionalism of our Year 11 students. 

We are proud to celebrate this milestone moment, made even more special by the contributions of our incredible student ambassadors. 

Each day this week, student have also heard from the different subjects during prep period to provide them further insight into each student. If you have any questions regarding the options process, please contact Ms Ikuesan, Year 09 Year Group Lead (mikuesan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


What's been happening in Science this week? | In KS3 science, students performed a flame test experiment to identify different metals based on the distinctive colours they produce when heated in a flame. This fascinating activity helps students understand how elements emit specific wavelengths of light, a principle rooted in their electronic structure. During the experiment, students dip a clean wire loop into a sample of a metal salt solution, then place it in the flame of a Bunsen burner. The flame changes colour, with each metal producing its unique hue, such as the bright orange of sodium or the vibrant green of copper. This technique is not only important for chemical analysis but also highlights the real-world application of metals. For instance, the same colourful reactions are harnessed in fireworks displays, where metals like strontium create red explosions, and barium adds green brilliance. The flame test is a vivid demonstration of chemistry in action and sparks curiosity about the elements that make up our world. Students had a lot of fun with this experiment. 


Safeguarding | Travel & Safety Outside of the Academy | Thank you to the families that have supported us in keeping students safe outside of the academy. Thank you for listening to us and acting on our guidance to ensure that children are going directly home and not waiting on the Broadway. We have seen a massive drop in students in the Broadway in comparison to last year but there is still work to do. 

As the school year progresses, we kindly remind you to discuss with your children the importance of staying safe in our community. Please emphasise the following:

Bexleyheath Academy will continue to have staff on duty around the vicinity of the Academy, we will encourage the students to continue their journey home. As mentioned previously, if your child is not making good decisions outside of the academy we will let you know and sanction them in the academy. 

TfL Year 09 Drop Down Days | To further support students in making the right decisions in the local community and on public transport and to ensure that students know what to what out for and how to get help when needed, Transport for London (TfL) will be onsite this week delivering workshops to our Year 09 students. The sessions will cover the following:

Essentially, the education is to reinforce school messages around consent and sexual harassment, but demonstrate to students how these apply in a public transport setting 


Spelling Bee Year 07 - Year 09 | We are excited to build a team of exceptional spellers to represent our school in the upcoming regional spelling bee! While our staff could select participants based on their English performance, we believe this opportunity should be open to all enthusiastic students. If your child has a passion for reading and spelling, we encourage them to take part in this rewarding experience. To apply, students can visit Ms. Mensah, Faculty Director during lunchtime any day this week. Don’t miss this chance to showcase their talent and be part of something inspiring! The competition will take place at the end of this term in our Richmond Park school. If you have any questions about the spelling bee, please contact Ms Shalo, Vice-Principal (ishalo@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge 2025 | This week, our Year 10 students had the exciting opportunity to participate in the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge workshops, a dynamic program designed to build confidence, communication, and public speaking skills. The workshops are part of the larger Speak Out Challenge, one of the UK's largest youth speaking initiatives, aimed at empowering young people to express themselves, share their ideas, and develop the skills needed to make a positive impact in their communities. The program is funded by the Jack Petchey Foundation, established by Sir Jack Petchey, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who dedicated his efforts to inspiring and motivating young people to achieve their potential. Through engaging activities and expert guidance, our students honed their ability to articulate their thoughts with clarity and confidence. It has been an incredible experience, and we are excited to see how they carry forward these invaluable skills in the future.  


What's been happening in Design & Technology this week? | This week in Design & Technology, our Year 08 students showcased their creativity and graphic design skills by creating striking posters on the important topic of staying safe online. Their task was to design eye-catching posters featuring top tips for online safety, aimed at educating younger students in our school community. Through the use of vibrant colours, impactful imagery, and thoughtful typography, the students experimented with various design elements to craft visually engaging and informative posters. The results were impressive, reflecting both their artistic talents and understanding of this critical subject. These posters are not only a testament to their skills but also a valuable resource for promoting online safety across the school. Students have also become proficient in design software to create posters that look very professional. 

Medication and Painkillers | Children should not carry painkillers or medication to the academy due to several important safety and policy concerns. Without proper medical supervision, students might accidentally take the wrong dosage or use medication unsuitable for their condition, potentially causing serious health issues. There is also a risk of misuse, such as sharing painkillers with peers, which could lead to harmful consequences due to allergies or medication interactions. Additionally, self-medicating can mask symptoms of more serious conditions, delaying necessary medical attention. To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, families are encouraged to work with academy staff to manage their child’s medical needs appropriately. Of course, there are some students with medical conditions that require medication to be taken at specific times. For these instances, the academy must be informed of the medical condition and we must have a medication consent form completed and brought to the academy. Any medication brought to the academy is stored safely for the student to use with supervision. If your child has medication that needs to be taken during the academy day to treat a medical condition, please contact Ms Kelly, Medical Lead (dkelly@bexleyheathacademy.org). If medication is found and we do not have consent, these will be confiscated, disposed of and families will be contacted.  

Term 03 | Week 03

Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Year 09 Options Evenings | This is a reminder that there are two family events as part of the options process this week:

To ensure that you have enough time to speak with staff to find out more about each subject, we have allocated you and your child a time to attend the event, the groups are based on their timetable band. If you are not aware of your child's band please check their timetables. Please stick to the timings: 

Year 10 and Year 12 Work Experience | We are excited to remind parents about the upcoming Work Experience Program for Year 10 and Year 12 students that will take place from Monday, 14 July to Friday, 18 July 2025. This invaluable opportunity is designed to give students real world exposure to potential career paths and allow them to gain hands on experience in a professional setting. Parents and students of Year 10 and 12 are to find a placement for work experience by Friday, 04 April 2025. To ensure both students and parents are well-prepared for this experience, we will be holding an informative workshop on Thursday, 23 January between 18:00 - 19:00. This session will provide detailed information about the work experience program, including how to secure placements, expectations during the program, and guidance on supporting your child throughout the process. We strongly encourage all parents and students of Year 10 and 12 to attend as this will be a great opportunity to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what the program entails. We will send the Google Meet link for the session to parents and students early next week. We look forward to working with you and your child to make this experience a valuable part of their educational journey. Should you have any questions before the workshop, please do not hesitate to contact  Dr Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

What's been happening in Personal Development this week? | In Personal Development, students have been honing their research and presentation skills through an engaging and collaborative project. Working in groups, they explored various job roles, gathering valuable insights into responsibilities, qualifications, and career pathways. Each group then presented their findings to the class, developing their ability to communicate effectively, work as a team, and confidently share information with others. 

This activity not only enhanced their knowledge of potential careers but also built essential skills that will benefit them in many areas of their future endeavours. Personal Development helps prepare students for real-world challenges and supports their growth as well-rounded, capable individuals and therefore is a vital part of our curriculum. 


Careers Insight Talk | Evaluation | We are excited to inform you that your child recently had the opportunity to hear from two professionals who shared insights into their career journeys. These sessions aimed to provide valuable perspectives and inspire students as they begin to consider their own paths in the future. To help us assess the effectiveness of this experience and continue to improve our career exploration programs, we kindly ask that you take a few moments to complete a brief evaluation as soon as possible. Your feedback will be invaluable in shaping future events and ensuring that we are meeting the needs of our students. You can access the evaluation form through the link here. We appreciate your time and input. Thank you for supporting your child’s educational journey and for helping us make these experiences as meaningful as possible. If you have any questions or would like to talk to our students about your job role and sector contact Dr Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org).  


Spelling Bee Year 07 - Year 09 | We are excited to build a team of exceptional spellers to represent our school in the upcoming regional spelling bee! While our staff could select participants based on their English performance, we believe this opportunity should be open to all enthusiastic students. If your child has a passion for reading and spelling, we encourage them to take part in this rewarding experience. To apply, students can visit Ms. Mensah, Faculty Director during lunchtime any day this week. Don’t miss this chance to showcase their talent and be part of something inspiring! The competition will take place at the end of this term in our Richmond Park school. If you have any questions about the spelling bee, please contact Ms Shalo, Vice-Principal (ishalo@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Extra-Curricular Clubs | Our extra-curricular clubs resumed this week. This week we would like to spotlight three clubs. Our Netball Club is a fantastic opportunity for students to enhance their passing, shooting, and footwork skills. Beyond that, it helps develop essential hand-eye coordination and fosters teamwork as members participate in exciting external competitions against other schools. This is a great way for students to grow their athletic abilities while building confidence and camaraderie.  

Our Bands Club offers students an exciting opportunity to explore a variety of musical instruments and enhance their vocal abilities while playing alongside their peers. Members not only learn and practice their chosen instruments but also collaborate with others to refine their musical talents. As they grow in skill and confidence, students have the chance to showcase their talents by performing at school events and within the broader community.  

Our Mathematics Circle is an exciting and rapidly growing club that brings the joy of problem-solving to life! This week, a group of enthusiastic Year 07 students tackled challenging puzzles involving geometry and numbers, sparking curiosity and creativity. Led by our inspiring Teacher of Mathematics, Ms. Salmon, these weekly sessions are designed to ignite a passion for math through engaging activities such as puzzles, riddles, and code breaking challenges. Beyond sharpening problem solving skills, the club fosters collaboration and lively discussions as students work together to crack the solutions. If your child loves math and enjoys a good challenge, encourage them to join the fun, reach out to Ms. Salmon today!  


Free School Meal Eligibility | At Bexleyheath Academy we want all of our children to thrive and be fully engaged in their learning.  A healthy mind and body feed a child's drive to learn and we believe every child deserves that opportunity.   Your child may be able to get free school meals if you receive any of the following: 

● Income Support 

● Income-based Jobseekers Allowance 

● Income-related Employment and Support Allowance 

● Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

● The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit 

● Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190) 

● Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit 

● Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you may get)


Our current cashless system ensures confidentiality and funds would be uploaded daily to your Parent Pay account. We will be more than happy to make an application on your behalf and ask you to complete this short Guardian Information form or alternatively, if you meet the criteria above, you can then apply via the following links:

If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) that they are currently in on 31 March 2025.


Punctuality to the Academy | Being on time to school in secondary school is essential because it helps students establish strong habits of responsibility and time management that will benefit them throughout life. Punctuality ensures they maximize learning opportunities by not missing important instructions or the start of lessons, which can lead to gaps in understanding. It also minimises disruptions to the class, fostering a respectful and focused learning environment. Additionally, arriving on time reduces stress from rushing and helps students start their day with confidence and preparedness. By being punctual, students demonstrate respect for their teachers and peers, build a positive reputation, and avoid potential academic or disciplinary consequences related to tardiness. To tackle concerns with punctuality, from Monday, 13 January, students that arrive late to the academy will have a one hour correction at the end of the same day. We advise that you take time to ensure that students are waking up on time and coming directly to the academy. Should you have any questions or would like support in ensuring that your child is arriving on time to the academy, please contact Ms Delver, Vice-Principal (pdelver@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Safeguarding | Concerns about TikTok | TikTok, with its staggering 220 million young users, including children and teenagers, offers a seemingly endless stream of short videos designed to entertain, educate, and engage. However, its immense popularity is accompanied by significant potential risks. Ofcom has identified TikTok as the app where teenagers are most likely to encounter harmful content. It’s crucial for parents to be aware of these dangers and take proactive steps to protect their children. This guide outlines the most pressing risks associated with TikTok and provides expert advice to help parents safeguard their youngsters as they explore the platform. 

As an academy, we have a number of prohibited items that must not be brought to the academy, these include:

As you are aware, we conduct random bag searches at the academy. If these items are found, they will be confiscated and disposed of. These can happen in sample groups or for the entire year group. Our bag searches are to ensure that our students are safe at all times. We appreciate your support and understanding for our bag searches. 

If you would like support and advice about this or anything relating to safeguarding, please contact Ms Kendall, Designated Safeguarding Lead (nkendall@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


What's been happening in Science this week? | Graphs are a very important part of exam papers. Last year, there were 14 graph-related questions in the Foundation paper and 9 graph-related questions in the Higher paper. To improve Year 11 students' exam skills in drawing and interpreting graphs, I conducted a graph revision session on Thursday and Friday. During the session:

This approach aimed to enhance their confidence and accuracy in handling graph-related questions.

Medication and Painkillers | Children should not carry painkillers or medication to the academy due to several important safety and policy concerns. Without proper medical supervision, students might accidentally take the wrong dosage or use medication unsuitable for their condition, potentially causing serious health issues. There is also a risk of misuse, such as sharing painkillers with peers, which could lead to harmful consequences due to allergies or medication interactions. Additionally, self-medicating can mask symptoms of more serious conditions, delaying necessary medical attention. To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, families are encouraged to work with academy staff to manage their child’s medical needs appropriately. Of course, there are some students with medical conditions that require medication to be taken at specific times. For these instances, the academy must be informed of the medical condition and we must have a medication consent form completed and brought to the academy. Any medication brought to the academy is stored safely for the student to use with supervision. If your child has medication that needs to be taken during the academy day to treat a medical condition, please contact Ms Kelly, Medical Lead (dkelly@bexleyheathacademy.org). If medication is found and we do not have consent, these will be confiscated, disposed of and families will be contacted.  

Term 03 | Week 02

Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


PE During Colder Months | As the colder months approach, we would like to remind you of the Academy’s guidelines regarding appropriate PE attire during cold weather. It is essential that students attend the Academy on PE days dressed in warm clothing, as many groups are scheduled for outdoor activities, and our indoor facilities have limited capacity. Physical Education is a vital part of the curriculum, contributing to students’ physical health, well-being, and overall development. We are committed to ensuring that all students can participate in PE lessons, regardless of circumstances. If a student forgets or does not bring their PE kit, the Academy will provide a kit to ensure they do not miss out on these important lessons.

Students are required to wear long trousers (e.g., joggers), the BA PE top, and the BA PE jumper. If your child does not have a BA jumper, they may wear thermal layers or a warm jumper underneath their BA PE top. Beanie hats and gloves are also permitted for added warmth, but coats are not allowed during PE lessons. Additionally, in cases where a student is unwell or injured, it remains Academy policy for them to attend school with their PE kit and get changed as usual. This ensures they have dry and warm school uniform to change back into if they are outdoors and it rains. Please ensure your child brings their PE kit along with a note if there are any issues. If their BA PE top is unavailable, a plain alternative top is acceptable as a temporary measure. Your cooperation in ensuring students are properly equipped for PE lessons is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions regarding PE, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org).

Extra-Curricular Clubs | Our new extra-curricular clubs timetable starts from Monday, 13 January. The offers for the terms can be found here. Attending extra-curricular clubs is essential for a student’s holistic development, as these activities provide opportunities to explore interests, develop new skills, and foster creativity outside the classroom. Participation helps students build confidence, teamwork, and leadership abilities while forming friendships with peers who share similar passions. Extra-curricular involvement also enhances time management and commitment, as students learn to balance their academic responsibilities with other pursuits. Additionally, these activities can support physical and mental well-being by offering a productive outlet for stress and encouraging active lifestyles. Engaging in extra-curricular clubs can also strengthen college or job applications, demonstrating a student’s dedication, initiative, and well-rounded character. Please take time to look through the timetable this weekend and encourage your child to join a club. If you have any questions about clubs, please contact Ms Dello Buono, Assistant Principal (edellobuono@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Warhammer Club | We are saddened to inform you that our one of our most popular cubs, Warhammer Club will not longer be running. This is due to changes in the London Metropolitan Police which has meant that Schools Police will no longer be operating in schools. Our schools police designed and ran this club. We hope to bring back this club soon.


National Examinations | We have national examinations running from Tuesday, 07 January until Thursday, 16 January. This involves select Year 11, 12 and 13 students. As a result of this, their academy days will look different a head of these examinations to support preparation for great outcomes. We have already been in contact with students and familiar of those that have a national examination but the full timetable of examinations can be found on our Assessments & Examinations Page. If you have any questions about examinations, please contact Ms Shalo, Vice-Principal (ishalo@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Uniform Expectations | We would like to thank our families that continue to support our high expectations of our students and ensure that their children are adhering to the academy uniform policy. A reminder of the School Uniform Policy can be found here. Please ensure you take time to read the policy and ensure child is ready to return to the academy. A reminder of the following:


We have high expectations of our students. Please ensure that students are adhering to our uniform expectations. Students will be issued a correction for failing to comply with our uniform expectations. 


As mentioned previously, should students not have the academy branding tie, they are permitted to wear a black or navy blue tie. Students who do not arrive to the academy with a tie will be issued a correction. We currently have a number of ties in stock at the academy. If you would like to purchase a tie, please complete this form and make the required payment of £5 via your Parent Pay account. Once the form has been completed and we have received payment, the tie can be collected from reception. 


We also do not permit jersey fabric flared trousers. Trousers must be in traditional suit fabric and straight legged. 

Free School Meal Eligibility | At Bexleyheath Academy we want all of our children to thrive and be fully engaged in their learning.  A healthy mind and body feed a child's drive to learn and we believe every child deserves that opportunity.   Your child may be able to get free school meals if you receive any of the following: 

● Income Support 

● Income-based Jobseekers Allowance 

● Income-related Employment and Support Allowance 

● Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

● The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit 

● Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190) 

● Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit 

● Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you may get)


Our current cashless system ensures confidentiality and funds would be uploaded daily to your Parent Pay account. We will be more than happy to make an application on your behalf and ask you to complete this short Guardian Information form or alternatively, if you meet the criteria above, you can then apply via the following links:

If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) that they are currently in on 31 March 2025.


Punctuality to the Academy | Being on time to school in secondary school is essential because it helps students establish strong habits of responsibility and time management that will benefit them throughout life. Punctuality ensures they maximize learning opportunities by not missing important instructions or the start of lessons, which can lead to gaps in understanding. It also minimises disruptions to the class, fostering a respectful and focused learning environment. Additionally, arriving on time reduces stress from rushing and helps students start their day with confidence and preparedness. By being punctual, students demonstrate respect for their teachers and peers, build a positive reputation, and avoid potential academic or disciplinary consequences related to tardiness. To tackle concerns with punctuality, from Monday, 13 January, students that arrive late to the academy will have a one hour correction at the end of the same day. We advise that you take time to ensure that students are waking up on time and coming directly to the academy. Should you have any questions or would like support in ensuring that your child is arriving on time to the academy, please contact Ms Delver, Vice-Principal (pdelver@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Basic Life Support Training | As part of our Personal Development curriculum, students gain qualifications in Basic Life Support. Teaching secondary school students basic life support (BLS) training is critically important in the current climate, as it equips young people with essential skills to respond effectively in emergencies, potentially saving lives. With increasing awareness of health-related emergencies such as cardiac arrests, choking, and severe bleeding, empowering students to act confidently can make a significant difference before professional help arrives. This training fosters a sense of responsibility, resilience, and community awareness, preparing students to assist in crises both within and outside school settings. Furthermore, with healthcare systems under strain, widespread BLS knowledge enhances societal readiness to address emergencies, ensuring timely intervention and improving survival rates in critical situations.  

Homework | The new homework has now been released. Students have until Thursday, 22:00 to complete this homework. A correction will be issued if they fail to complete the homework. Please ensure that your child spends time completing their homework this weekend. 

As shared last week, in response to your feedback, there are some changes to our homework platforms this term. This is to make it easier for families to track the homework but also to make it easier to recall the platforms that are being used.  As a reminder, our Homework tasks are set in English, Mathematics, Science and Spanish. The platforms are as follows for January:

As a reminder, homework goes live every Friday morning at 08:00. Students will have the entire weekend up until 22:00 the following Thursday to complete them. After the deadline, student Homework reports are shared on the school portal. Parents can see these and will be made aware if their child attracts a Homework Correction for not meeting the expectations. 


Year 09 Options | This term, our Year 09 students will be thinking about the subjects that they would like to study for their GCSEs. As an academy, we want to ensure that our students have the very best of outcomes and ensure that our students are not limited in their future educational and employment options. Students at Bexleyheath Academy are will study:

Students in addition to this, will have two free options to select a subject of their choice as well as Sports and Personal Development. To support Year 09 students and their families for this process of decision making, we will be holding two events this term as follows:

We will be in contact during the term with more information. If you have any questions about the Year 09 Options Process, please contact Ms Ikuesan, Year 09 Year Group Lead (mikuesan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Term 03 | Week 01

Start-of-Term Arrangements | Term three starts on Tuesday, 07 January 2025 at 08:30.  


INSET Day | We will have an INSET on Monday, 06 January. During this day, staff will be working with students to prepare for their national examinations or coursework completion. We have been in contact with students and families directly if this affects them:


Extra Curricular Clubs and Interventions | There are no extra-curricular clubs or Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 Interventions this week. Our Extra-Curricular Clubs Programme and Year 10, 11 and 13 Intervention Programme will resume from Monday, 13 January. 


National Examinations | We have national examinations running from Tuesday, 07 January until Thursday, 16 January. This involves select Year 11, 12 and 13 students. As a result of this, their academy days will look different a head of these examinations to support preparation for great outcomes. We have already been in contact with students and familiar of those that have a national examination but the full timetable of examinations can be found on our Assessments & Examinations Page. If you have any questions about examinations, please contact Ms Shalo, Vice-Principal (ishalo@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Getting Ready to Return to the Academy | A reminder of the School Uniform Policy can be found here. Please ensure you take time to read the policy and ensure child is ready to return to the academy. A reminder of the following:


We have high expectations of our students. Please ensure that students are adhering to our uniform expectations. Students will be issued a correction for failing to comply with our uniform expectations. 


As mentioned previously, should students not have the academy branding tie, they are permitted to wear a black or navy blue tie. Students who do not arrive to the academy with a tie will be issued a correction. 


We also do not permit jersey fabric flared trousers. Trousers must be in traditional suit fabric and straight legged. 

Supporting Children Return to Routine | Returning to the usual routine after the holidays can be a stressful time for anyone  and that includes those children and young people who are making their way back to school. Difficulty readjusting to a structured schedule, worries about reuniting with classmates and teachers, and potential pressures around continuing their education cannot only impact children’s academic performance, but have further negative effects on their emotional wellbeing.  

 

Please see this week’s free guide that offers you expert advice on exactly that topic which will give you tips for helping children settle back into the school routine.


Punctuality to the Academy | Being on time to school in secondary school is essential because it helps students establish strong habits of responsibility and time management that will benefit them throughout life. Punctuality ensures they maximize learning opportunities by not missing important instructions or the start of lessons, which can lead to gaps in understanding. It also minimises disruptions to the class, fostering a respectful and focused learning environment. Additionally, arriving on time reduces stress from rushing and helps students start their day with confidence and preparedness. By being punctual, students demonstrate respect for their teachers and peers, build a positive reputation, and avoid potential academic or disciplinary consequences related to tardiness. To tackle concerns with punctuality, from Monday, 13 January, students that arrive late to the academy will have a one hour correction at the end of the same day. We advise that you take time to ensure that students are waking up on time and coming directly to the academy. Should you have any questions or would like support in ensuring that your child is arriving on time to the academy, please contact Ms Delver, Vice-Principal (pdelver@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Year 11 Prep Folders | Year 11 students took their Prep Folders home over the course of the holidays to support their revision. Please could all folders be brought back to the academy on Tuesday, 07 January. These will be needed in school for their Prep Period. 


Homework | As shared last term, in response to your feedback, there are some changes to our homework platforms this term. This is to make it easier for families to track the homework but also to make it easier to recall the platforms that are being used.  As a reminder, our Homework tasks are set in English, Mathematics, Science and Spanish. The platforms are as follows for January:

Homework goes live every Friday morning at 08:00. Students will have the entire weekend up until 22:00 the following Thursday to complete them. After the deadline, student Homework reports are shared on the school portal. Parents can see these and will be made aware if their child attracts a Homework correction for not meeting the expectations. All students have received their log-ins. Although the Homework task will not appear until Friday, 10 January 2025, we advise each  student to log in this weekend to check they have access or contact Mr Uwaechi without delay [fuwaechi@bexleyheathacademy.org] if they have trouble doing so. This must be done before Tuesday, 07 January 2025.


Year 09 Options | This term, our Year 09 students will be thinking about the subjects that they would like to study for their GCSEs. As an academy, we want to ensure that our students have the very best of outcomes and ensure that our students are not limited in their future educational and employment options. Students at Bexleyheath Academy are will study:

Students in addition to this, will have two free options to select a subject of their choice as well as Sports and Personal Development. To support Year 09 students and their families for this process of decision making, we will be holding two events this term as follows:

We will be in contact during the term with more information. If you have any questions about the Year 09 Options Process, please contact Ms Ikuesan, Year 09 Year Group Lead (mikuesan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Careers Insight Talks | We will be restarting our Careers Insight Talks again this term. These sessions provide students with the opportunity to hear from professionals across various industries about career pathways and options within their chosen fields. The Careers Insight Talks will take place every Friday this term, with each session dedicated to a specific career field. The first talk of the year will be on Friday, 10 January 2025, and it will focus on career opportunities and pathways in the Publishing sector. Please make sure to have a discussion with your child about this valuable opportunity. We look forward to an inspiring series of talks and hope that the students benefit from hearing firsthand experiences from industry professionals. Should you have any questions regarding this programme or would like to take part in this programme to talk about your own profession, please contact Dr F Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org)


Year 10 & Year 12 Work Experience | We are excited to inform you that Year 10 and Year 12 students will be participating in their Work Experience programme at the end of Term 06. This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain valuable hands-on experience in a professional environment, explore career options, and develop essential skills for their future pathways. To ensure that each student has a meaningful work experience, we kindly ask that both Year 10 students and their parents collaborate to secure a suitable work placement during this period. The deadline for confirming a placement is Friday, 04 April 2025, so we recommend starting the search as soon as possible to allow ample time for confirmation and preparation. To support you in this process, we will be holding a Work Experience Workshop on Thursday, 23 January at 18:00 - 19:00. This will be a virtual event and we will be . The workshop will provide valuable information on how to find placements, complete the necessary documentation, and address any questions or concerns regarding the program. Both parents and students are encouraged to attend to ensure a smooth and successful experience. We are confident that this work experience opportunity will be a rewarding one for all involved. Should you have any questions please contact Dr F Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org)


Supporting Children with Gender Identity | Understanding gender identity is an important part of supporting your child's growth and well-being. Gender identity refers to how a person perceives and identifies themselves, which may align or differ from the sex assigned to them at birth. For children, exploring and expressing their gender is a natural part of their development. It’s essential to provide a safe and loving environment where they feel free to share their thoughts and feelings. Educating ourselves about gender identity helps us foster open communication, empathy, and acceptance, ensuring every child feels valued and respected for who they are. Please take a moment to read the following information, which offers insights and guidance from NSPCC on this important topic. If you would like to speak with a member of staff regarding this topic, please contact Ms Kendall, Designated Safeguarding Lead (nkendall@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Christmas Art & Design Competition | Calling all Artists and Photographers! This holiday season we are looking for more remarkable art entries!  We are looking for artwork based on the theme: Up in Lights.  Images can be in any art media, 3D, 2D, Digital or Photographic.  Please send photographs of your entries to Mrs Priscott, Faculty Director of Art & Design (spriscott@bexleyheathacademy.org) by Monday, 06 January 2025. 


Inclusions Update | We were happy to meet with over 100 families last half term through our drop-in sessions and coffee mornings. It was not only great for us to get to know our families better but to also answer your questions and provide families with more information regarding our provisions. This term, we will be holding these events again and the dates are as follows:

We will be in contact with families next week to allow them to book onto these events. If you have any questions about Inclusion, please contact Ms Cookson Edwards, Inclusions Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Term 02 | Week 07

Start-of-Term Arrangements | Term three starts on Tuesday, 07 January 2025 at 08:30.  


INSET Day | We will have an INSET on Monday, 06 January. During this day, staff will be working with students to prepare for their national examinations or coursework completion. We will be in contact with students and families directly if this affects them:


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Food Banks and Emergency Food | Winter is a particularly difficult time for many families, and food banks play a vital role in helping those in need. Last winter, the Trussell Trust distributed 600,000 food parcels to individuals and families facing hunger and poverty. This year, the demand for support is expected to be just as significant. Please feel free to click on  this information for more information on how you can receive help to ensure that you and your children do not do without this Christmas. 


Christmas Art & Design Competition | Calling all Artists and Photographers! This holiday season we are looking for more remarkable art entries!  We are looking for artwork based on the theme: Up in Lights.  Images can be in any art media, 3D, 2D, Digital or Photographic.  Please send photographs of your entries to Mrs Priscott, Faculty Director of Art & Design (spriscott@bexleyheathacademy.org) by Monday, 06 January 2025. 


What's been happening in Food Prep & Nutrition this week? | This week, our Year 11 chefs have been completing their food science experiments for their examinations. Ms Gaskin, Faculty Director of  Design & Technology said: "The students' dedication and curiosity shone brightly during their food science experiment, where they tackled the critical question: Is flour truly essential in making pasta? With creativity and precision, they explored a variety of flours and ingredients, pushing the boundaries of traditional pasta-making techniques. Under timed conditions, they demonstrated remarkable focus, meticulously crafting their experiments and articulating thoughtful evaluations. Their efforts not only showcased their scientific inquiry but also celebrated the fusion of culinary art and science. This achievement is a testament to their resilience, ingenuity, and passion for discovering the science behind the food we love. Bravo to these future food scientists!


A Christmas Wish.... | Students and their families came together with compassion and generosity to collect thoughtful gifts for the residents at Parkview Residential Care Home. this half term. We delivered 82 parcels to the residents of things to bring them Christmas cheer! The students not only delivered these heartfelt donations but also shared their time and joy with the residents, singing together and engaging in meaningful conversations about their life stories. This heart-warming initiative brought smiles and connection across generations, making a lasting impact on everyone involved. A heartfelt thank you goes to the families for their incredible generosity and kindness in supporting this endeavour, demonstrating the true spirit of community and care. Projects like these are vital for a child's development as they nurture essential social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Engaging in activities that involve generosity, empathy, and teamwork fosters a sense of responsibility and connection to their community. Participating in community outreach, like collecting gifts and spending time with care home residents, cultivates compassion, communication skills, and an appreciation for diverse life experiences. These projects build confidence, encourage creativity, and instil values that prepare children to be thoughtful, capable, and well-rounded individuals in the future. We look forward to running this project next year!


Taekwondo Champion | Red Belt | Shout out to our Year 07 Xander A who achieved a Red Belt at the recent Taekwondo grading contest which took place at the Leigh Academy Dartford on Sunday, 15 December. Xander said this was the hardest grading he's ever taken part in because he competed against three different students from other schools in the county and the entire drilling went on for a whole hour non-stop! Xander wants to thank his PE teachers who have supported him and helped him to build his confidence and resilience since he started Bexleyheath Academy and he hopes to inspire different types of students to push the limit and take up a sport even if they think they are not sporty. 


Taekwondo Champion | Black Belt | Another shout of needs to go to Amber (Year 08). Amber started Taekwondo when she was 04 years old. This is incredible dedication to the sport. She has achieved a black belt and trains twice a week. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and can't wait to see how she progresses in this sport. She is currently training to becoming a 'Master'. 


Message for Year 07 Families from Ms Golding | Ms Golding said: "As we come to the end 2024, I wanted to take a moment to share just how proud I am of our Year 07 students and everything they have achieved in their first 14 weeks at Bexleyheath Academy. The transition into secondary school can be challenging, but your children have handled it with maturity, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to doing their best.

Since September, Year 7 have earned an incredible 24,198 remarkable points—an outstanding achievement that highlights their hard work, focus, and dedication. On top of this, their attendance has been exceptional, reaching an impressive 96.3%—the highest in the entire school. This is a testament not only to their commitment but also to the support and encouragement they receive at home.

I have also received countless positive comments from staff about how impressively Year 07 conducts themselves, particularly during line-up and transitions between lessons. Their behaviour, focus, and sense of responsibility have been truly impressive, and they have quickly become a year group that sets the standard for others to follow.

To celebrate their successes from Terms 01 and 02, we have planned some exciting rewards for next term, including a pizza party, a goals trip, and queue jump passes for those students who have earned them. These celebrations are a well-deserved recognition of their efforts and achievements. Looking ahead, we will be working to maintain our position as the top-performing year group for attendance and aiming for 98% attendance. I am confident that, with the continued resilience and commitment we have seen so far, this is absolutely achievable.

As we move into the new year, we will continue to focus on supporting Year 7 to demonstrate resilience and hard work in lessons. While we all experience difficult days, it is in overcoming those challenges that we grow stronger. Equally, we will continue to encourage kindness—both to themselves and to others—something that has been so evident throughout this term.

Your children have done incredibly well in their first term at Bexleyheath Academy, and I could not be prouder of all they have achieved. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping them settle so successfully. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a restful holiday period, and I look forward to seeing everyone back, ready for even greater success, in 2025."

Message for Year 08 Families from Ms Kama | Mr Kama said: "As we reach the end of term and look forward to the Christmas break, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a truly remarkable experience for me as the new Head of Year 08. It’s been a pleasure getting to know the students, and I’m proud of how they have embraced the challenges of this term.

Our students in Year 08 in particular are generous and want to take part in projects in giving back to the community and helping others which I look forward to fostering in the new year. 

I’m happy to report that attendance has improved as the term progressed, and I’m confident that with your continued support, we can make even greater strides in Term 03. Additionally, we are committed to fostering positive behaviour and working together to make further improvements in this area. We look forward to seeing every Year 08 back in the academy on Tuesday, 07 January 2025. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with joy, rest, and quality time with loved ones. Thank you again for your support, and I look forward to an exciting and successful year ahead.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"


Message for Year 09 Families from Ms Ikuesan | Ms Ikuesan said: "As 2024 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve all come. It’s been an absolute pleasure to teach some of you since Year 07, and for others, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know you over the course of this year. Watching each of you grow has filled me with immense pride. When I took on this role, I knew that Year 09 was the best year group to be with, and I can confidently say you’ve proved me right.

This term, we’ve celebrated every single one of you for your achievements and unique strengths—whether it's for showing bravery, spreading kindness, or growing in independence. During our celebration assembly, I shared that one of the greatest strengths of this year group is your confidence, eagerness to learn, and resilience. As a result, we’ve earned an incredible total of 10,068 points since September!


As we discussed, our main focus for next year will be our attendance. Our average attendance this year has been 91.1%, which currently places us at the bottom compared to the other year groups. However, since our last conversation, we’ve seen a slight improvement. Next year, I want us to start fresh and get it right from the very beginning. I know we have the potential to be the best year group, so let’s show everyone what we’re capable of!

Looking ahead, next term will be a crucial time for all of you as you begin choosing your GCSE options. There will be plenty of communication coming your way, so please keep an eye out for updates. But for now, I encourage you to rest well, enjoy the holidays, and recharge for the year ahead. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you all bright and early when we return.

I want to take a moment to thank all of the Year 9 students for being so amazing. Your hard work and dedication is truly unmatched. However, I want to say a special thank you to all parents and carers for your ongoing support. Your encouragement has played such a big part in helping Year 9 succeed. It’s been a rewarding experience watching them mature, overcome challenges, and get things right. I can’t wait to see what next year has in store for us!

Merry Christmas from me and the team. Enjoy the holiday break, and I’ll see you all in 2025!"

Message for Year 10 Families from Ms Flis | Ms Flis said: " I am thrilled to reflect on the many achievements and milestones Year 10 students have accomplished during Term 02. It has been an inspiring term full of hard work, collaboration, and memorable moments. I am incredibly proud of the resilience and determination our students have demonstrated, and I’d like to share some highlights from this term.

Our Year 10 Art students embarked on a creative journey to the Tate Modern Art Gallery in London, where they explored renowned works by artists such as Matisse, Magritte, and Bridget Riley. Highlights included the immersive “dark room” art films, a towering sculpture of radios, and post-9/11 photographs. Students sketched and photographed extensively, drawing inspiration for their Component 01 coursework on Travel. Ms Priscott shared her pride in the students, saying, “The students were impeccably behaved, and this experience will significantly enhance their work.”

The Year 10 Rugby team achieved a fantastic victory against Bexley Grammar, and we are excited for their next match! In addition, our Year 10 Football team secured a resounding win against Cleeve Park School with an impressive score of 5–0. Well done to all the players—you’ve made us incredibly proud. Keep up the great work!

Year 10 students have shown tremendous commitment to their studies this term. From extra effort during vocational subject intervention sessions to completing required science practicals, their hard work is paying off. Let’s keep up the momentum to ensure all first assignments are submitted on time.

Our Year Leaders, Sara and Tilly, have done an excellent job supporting their peers. If students have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, Sara and Tilly are always ready to help. Together, we are creating a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

A big thank you to all Year 10 students who have gone above and beyond to support new classmates. Whether helping them navigate their timetables, find their lessons, or settle into school life, your kindness and inclusivity have made a huge difference.

To celebrate the term’s successes and encourage continued excellence, we introduced some exciting festive rewards. Students who worked on improving their punctuality earned a “Skip the Line in the Canteen” Pass with their Jingle Bell Timers Cards. Those with 100% attendance and no corrections were entered into a prize draw featuring the Wheel of Names, and one lucky winner received a special festive prize. Each week, we also recognised the most improved attendance with festive surprises through the “Present for Presents” programme. Finally, students with the best attendance and the most reward points were invited to an exclusive, top-secret Christmas Pizza Party—a well-deserved celebration of their hard work and dedication!

Looking ahead to next term, I want to emphasise the importance of regular school attendance. Consistent attendance is crucial for ensuring students make the most progress and meet their deadlines, especially for vocational subject coursework. To that end, I will be closely monitoring attendance with a target of 95%. Please encourage your child to attend every day, as each moment in school contributes to their learning and success.

In addition to focusing on attendance, I will be supporting students in developing individual revision strategies and improving their exam skills. These tools are vital for their academic growth and will help them approach their studies with confidence as we prepare for the challenges ahead.

As the term wraps up, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to families for your unwavering support. Your encouragement has been instrumental in helping Year 10 thrive. I wish you all a joyful Christmas and a restful holiday. Let’s look forward to even greater achievements in 2025!"

Academy Council Elections | As you are aware, we have been looking for now academy council members and have taken time to allow families to find out about the role and then apply. We want families that can commit time to the academy to help it grow. 

We encourage all families to take a moment to read the statements from each of our Academy Council candidates and cast their vote for the person they believe will best support our school community. Parent members play a vital role on the Academy Council, bringing a unique and valuable perspective to decision-making and helping to shape the academy into a place where students thrive. By voting, you’re helping to choose individuals who will work collaboratively with the academy to ensure it remains a great place for everyone. Your voice matters, so please get involved and make your choice count! 

Please find the statements from each Academy Council candidate here

The voting form can be found here. The form will close on 31 December 2024. 

Term 02 | Week 06

End-Of-Term Arrangements | Term two ends on Friday, 20 December, at 12:00. 


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Girls' Football Training | Our girls' football teams have been on fire this year. Exciting news for all girls who love football! Our amazing Girls’ Football Club is gearing up for an incredible new year filled with action and fun! After Christmas, we’re planning to host loads of thrilling tournaments at Goals, giving everyone a chance to shine on the pitch. But to be part of these exciting opportunities, we need YOU back at training! We’re building something truly special with our successful team, and we’d love for you to be part of it. So, dust off your boots, bring your energy, and let’s make this season one to remember! If you are interested, please attend on Monday, 15:20. We look forward to seeing you there. 


Position 32 out of 500+ | What an incredible achievement for our U13 Year 08 Girl' Football team last week in the English Schools Cup! Facing tough competition against Alleyns Private School, the team secured a fantastic 3-0 victory, propelling them into the last 32 in the entire country—an absolutely phenomenal milestone! Huge congratulations to Sophie M for a brilliant goal and Isobel F for her stunning double, but this win was truly a team effort, showcasing outstanding skill, teamwork, and fitness from every player on the pitch. Well done, girls—your hard work and dedication continue to make us so proud! 


Bexley Borough Targeted Youth | Bexley Borough is proud to offer a fantastic Youth Service every Thursday from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, specially designed to support students with Special Educational Needs (SEN). This welcoming and inclusive program provides a safe space where students can connect, grow, and thrive through engaging workshops that tackle key challenges young people face, including bullying, anger management, and essential life skills. Led by experienced and supportive facilitators, these sessions aim to empower students, build confidence, and equip them with tools to navigate life’s challenges. Join us and discover a space where everyone is valued, supported, and inspired!  Details are in the poster. 

Christmas Jumper Day | This week, our school was filled with festive cheer as we celebrated Christmas Jumper Day, all while raising money for the incredible charity, Save the Children. Students and staff alike donned their most colourful, creative, and cosy Christmas jumpers, embracing the holiday spirit with enthusiasm. Save the Children is a truly amazing cause, dedicated to improving the lives of children worldwide by providing education, healthcare, and emergency aid to those in need. Our students were especially passionate about this project, knowing their contributions would make a real difference to children less fortunate. It was heart-warming to see everyone come together to spread joy and generosity this holiday season!  


Academy Council Elections | As you are aware, we have been looking for now academy council members and have taken time to allow families to find out about the role and then apply. We want families that can commit time to the academy to help it grow. 

We encourage all families to take a moment to read the statements from each of our Academy Council candidates and cast their vote for the person they believe will best support our school community. Parent members play a vital role on the Academy Council, bringing a unique and valuable perspective to decision-making and helping to shape the academy into a place where students thrive. By voting, you’re helping to choose individuals who will work collaboratively with the academy to ensure it remains a great place for everyone. Your voice matters, so please get involved and make your choice count! Please find the statements from each Academy Council candidate here. The voting form can be found here. The form will close on 31 December 2024. 


What's been happening in Mathematics this week? | Our Mathematics staff were onsite this weekend working with our Year 11 students to bridge those gaps in learning to ensure exam success in a few months time. 

Ms Sanni, Faculty Director of Mathematics said: "A huge well done to our Year 11 students for their fantastic attendance at this Saturday’s Mathematics Booster session! Your dedication to improving your skills and preparing for exams is truly commendable. Intervention sessions like these are so important because they provide targeted support, helping to strengthen understanding and boost confidence in key areas. Every extra effort you make now brings you one step closer to achieving your goals and exam success. Keep up the great work—we’re so proud of your commitment and can’t wait to see the results of all your hard work!"


High Attainers | This week we launched our High Attainers programme. This programme intends to support students who arrived with a high average KS2 Scaled Score. This programme will ensure that students make the correct amount of progress by the time they leave us. This intervention may include work with outside partners and booster sessions. In addition to this, teachers will be adopting Teaching and Learning strategies which will benefit not only those deemed High Attainers but all students who attend Bexleyheath Academy. We also understand that despite this being rolled out this week there were some technical issues. This coming week we are aiming to share some more information with the families of children involved. 


Homework Changes | We have listened to community feedback and will be changing our homework platforms for most of our homework for January 2025. This is to make it easier for families to track the homework but also to make it easier to recall the platforms that are being used.  We will hold a virtual information evening regarding these changes on Thursday, 09 January 2025 from 17:30 - 18:00. 


Homework tasks are set in English, Mathematics, Science and Spanish. The platforms are as follows for January:


Homework goes live every Friday morning at 8:00am. Students will have the entire weekend up until 10:00 pm the following Thursday to complete them. After the deadline, student Homework reports are shared on the school portal. Parents can see these and will be made aware if their child attracts a Homework correction for not meeting the expectations. During Prep Period next week, we will be getting students to practise logging into the platforms to avoid any issues in January.  


What's been happening in Science this week? | GCSE Triple Science practical: Light Intensity | Our Year 10s conducted a required practical this week investigating light intensity and the effects on respiration in plants. The aim of this practical is to investigate the relationship between light intensity and distance from a light source. According to the inverse square law, the light intensity (brightness) should decrease as the distance from the source increases. Specifically, if the distance from the light source is doubled, the intensity should decrease by a factor of four. This experiment allows students to test and confirm this theoretical relationship through hands-on data collection and analysis. This practical serves as a foundation for understanding light and radiation behaviour. It is applicable in fields ranging from astronomy (e.g., understanding how light intensity changes with distance from stars) to practical applications in plant growth, photography and optical systems. By extending the experiment, students could investigate the effects of different wavelengths of light or explore the behaviour of light from multiple sources. 

A-Level Biology required practical: Osmosis | In this week’s AQA A-Level Biology practical, students delved deeper into the process of osmosis, exploring its effects on plant cells using potato tissue and solutions of varying salt concentrations. Osmosis, the passive movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane, was investigated in a controlled laboratory setting, providing students with an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world data. The experiment involved cutting potato chips to a uniform size and placing them in solutions with different molar concentrations of sodium chloride. After allowing the chips to incubate for a set period, students measured changes in mass to determine whether water had moved into or out of the cells. In hypotonic solutions (low salt concentration), the potatoes gained mass as water entered the cells, while in hypertonic solutions (high salt concentration), the potatoes lost mass due to the osmotic movement of water out of the cells.

Term 02 | Week 05

End-Of-Term Arrangements | Term two ends on Friday, 20 December, at 12:00. 


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Extra-Curricular Activities This Week | All clubs will be running this week. 


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


More Rugby Recruits Needed | We are looking for more players for our Year 07 and Year 08 rugby team for our match on Wednesday. If you are interested, please come and see the PE department on Monday. You will need to purchase a gum shield before this date if you would like to play. These can be bought from Sports Direct or online at Amazon.


School Football Shirt Amnesty | When students play for our teams, we provide them with a loaned kit which is BA branded. This is to ensure that the costs to attend clubs and matches are minimal. However, these items are loaned and need to be returned. If your child has ever represented the Academy in football, please could you check their drawers for any navy blue or yellow football shirts and return them to the PE department. If you are unsure if it is one of ours, please send it in and we will send it back if we don´t recognise it.


Final GCSE Results | We would like to celebrate this achievement for one more week! We are happy to announce our updated GCSE results for August 2024. A reminder that we compare ourselves to 2019 results as this was pre-covid. The 2020, 2021 and 2022 results were courses that had been adapted to consider the impact of covid. All qualifications and their measure were back to pre-covid standards in 2023. As you can see, as an academy, we continue to improve on student outcomes year-on-year. We thank you for your continued support of the academy. 


Young Writer Competition | The English Department is thrilled to announce The Young Writers Competition – a national contest celebrating creativity and storytelling. This competition is open to students in Years 07-10. This term, students have had time to work on this during some lessons to raise awareness of this prestigious competition but it is now down to students to submit their entries. The task is as follows:


Craft a mini saga – a complete story told in just 100 words! Follow these golden rules:

How to enter:

What do we win:

Submission Deadline: Friday, 13 December 2024. One entry per student. Let your creativity soar, and make your mark as a young storyteller! 

Christmas Production  | Our students have been working hard to refine their contributions to the Christmas production. This event will take place on Wednesday, 18 December from 16:45 - 18:30. If you would like to join us for this event, tickets will cost £3 per ticket. The money for the ticket is to be paid at the door. In order to make sure we have enough seats, please complete the google form in the Latest News email to book your tickets. If you have any questions regarding the production or tickets, please contact Mr Gibbons, Faculty Director of Performing Arts (dgibbons@bexleyheathacademy.org). We really look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. 

Student Safety  | You will see our staff in key locations after school to ensure that students have a safe passage to go home and to ensure that there is harmony in the community. You will also notice that we are the only academy in the borough that does this daily. We would like your support in ensuring that students are going straight home after school. Ultimately, after 15:10 the responsibility of our students goes back to their families and we need your help to make sure that students are safe. Should we see students not heading home, we will contact you to collect them. We are also happy for students to stay onsite and attend a club whilst they wait to be collected.  


Chicago 05 Essentials Survey| As an academy, we aim for continued improvement in order to make sure staff and students are: safe, well, happy and successful. We will be sending families surveys to complete so we can gather an insight into what further improvements we need to make. We would love to hear from you and thank you for the time that you will take to complete this form. If you have any questions, regarding this form, please contact Ms Shalo, Vice-Principal  (ishalo@bexleyheathacademy.org).  


Kooth, Methal Health Support App | Kooth is an organisation that provides young people with 1:1 mental health support. It is aimed and designed for young people and therefore, they provide ways of accessing support that makes the service easy to engage with such as: emails, text messages and chats. To find out more information about Kooth, please watch this video or click here to go to the Kooth website. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Ms Kendall, Designated Safeguarding Lead (nkendall@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


What's been happening in Science this week? | Despite the awful weather this Saturday, our Year 11 students attended their Saturday Science Physics Booster session in force. The energy levels were high in each classroom and students were not phased by the storm as they skipped through the gates early. Ms Ghai, Faculty Director of Science said, "This year group is different from any other year group I have experienced at Bexleyheath Academy. They want more help and support and take up every opportunity to boost their knowledge and skills. We are also very lucky to have supportive families who ensure that they are up, dressed and arrive at their Booster sessions. This week, we focused on Physics as this was an area of improvement we identified in their recent mocks. This week, we also introduced Sparx Science to further support them with their knowledge recall and examination practice."


Parkview Residential Care Home | Parkview is a residential care home that takes care of over 70 residents. They specialise in care for those with dementia. We were saddened to hear that many of the residents do not receive any visitors over the holiday period and our students got thinking last year about how we can bring joy to the residents over the festive period. Our students have been visiting the residential care home over the last two year, last year, they introduced a project called 'A Christmas Wish......'. For this project, all members of the community donated items that go into a good bag that residents can tuck into over the Christmas period. To ensure that the residents get items that they need, we have a plan for donations which we have outlined below. If you would like to donate, please bring items to our reception team who will store them safely until Christmas:

As a community, we made such a difference to these residents last year, lets come together to do the same again this year. 

For more information about this project, please contact Ms Chan, PA to the Principal (lchan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Year 11 and Sixth Form Motivational Speaker | Last week, we held our mock examination results evening. This week, we invited James Aidoo from Innerscope to deliver a keynote speech for our Year 11 and Sixth Form students because of his exceptional ability to inspire and empower young people to unlock their full potential. James is a dynamic and engaging speaker who connects deeply with his audience, blending personal storytelling with actionable insights that resonate with students on both a personal and academic level. His work with Innerscope, focusing on fostering resilience, self-awareness, and effective communication, aligns perfectly with our school’s commitment to equipping students with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in their studies and future endeavours. By addressing topics such as overcoming challenges, staying motivated, and building meaningful relationships, James provided our students with invaluable tools to navigate this critical stage of their educational journey with confidence and purpose. We look forward to having James return soon. 


What's been happening in Business Studies this week? | As part of their Level 03 Cambridge National Business qualification, our Year 13 students have to develop a live business project which has to demonstrate an improvement in a business. The students selected Bexleyheath Academy as their business. They have selected to increase the number of students attending our Sixth Form provision by 10%. Students prepared: a business plan, created mock ups for their ideas for promotions, worked with professional graphics designers and worked through costings for the project. This is an exciting live project which they must design and implement, they have been meeting with the Principal (their client) on a frequent basis to update her on progress. We love vocational learning at Bexleyheath Academy. Through live projects, students develop a sense of what job roles are like in real life as well as developing their presentation and organisational skills. 


Regional Educational Director Visit | Last week, our Regional Educational Director visited the academy to congratulate our students on their successes. He spent time with our new student leadership team finding out about their plans for continued academy improvements. He met with our logo competition winner and took great joy in understanding how Samuel developed his design ideas. He also met with our Christmas card competition winners and stated that he could not wait to receive the printed version of the cards.  The winners of this competition were: Ava (Year 07), Eric (Year 08), Xander (Year 07) and Vinh (Year 07). We have added the designs that are being made into our academy Christmas cards for the community to see.

Term 02 | Week 04

INSET Days | The academy is closed to students on Wednesday, 04 December for an INSET Day. 


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Extra-Curricular Activities This Week | All clubs will be taking place this week apart from the following: 


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Final GCSE Results | We are happy to announce our updated GCSE results for August 2024. A reminder that we compare ourselves to 2019 results as this was pre-covid. The 2020, 2021 and 2022 results were courses that had been adapted to consider the impact of covid. All qualifications and their measure were back to pre-covid standards in 2023. As you can see, as an academy, we continue to improve on student outcomes year-on-year. We thank you for your continued support of the academy. 

Art Trip | Tate Modern | Our Year 10 and Year 11 Art students went to the Tate Modern Art Gallery in London. Ms Priscott, Faculty Director of Art & Design said: "The purpose of the trip was to expose our students to how art is exhibited and to conduct research for their controlled assessments at the academy. We had a fantastic day out, where students got to see first hand just some of the opportunities that Art and Design can lead to.  Students got to see famous paintings by artists such as Mattise, Magritte and Bridget Riley as well as some exciting installations, sculptures, digital and video media.  Some students preferred “the dark room” where you could sit and watch art films on a loop, others were amazed by the tall tower of radios playing different sounds while others engaged by photographs of ground 0 taken after the 9/11 attacks.  Staff and students got the opportunity to sit and draw the artworks they saw as well as take many, many photographs which they can refer back to at the academy to inform their work.  Not only was this a remarkable experience but will be also used as primary evidence for their Component 1 coursework project on Travel, helping them achieve the grades I know they are capable of.  The students were impeccably behaved, we were so proud of how they represented our department and the school. For most of our students, it was the first experience that they have every had of an art gallery."  

Year 07 Art Rewards Cinema Trip | Robot Dreams | Our Art department led not just one trip but TWO this week as we took over 70 Year 07 students to see the film “Robot Dreams”.  The Art department is one of the best at giving out reward points, and this trip was awarded to students who had the top amount of reward points given to them within their Art lessons.  Robot Dreams is an animated film based on a Graphic Novel of the same name.  The story follows the friendship of a Dog and a Robot over the course of a year, witnessing each find their happy ending!  Students were able to see how different art mediums influence each other while enjoying the experience of watching the film with their friends.  Again the students did us proud and we had a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Career Insight Talk | Parent Evaluation | Last term, students attended a series of career talks where five professionals shared their career journeys and experiences. We would greatly value your feedback to understand the impact of these talks and how we can further support your child's career aspirations. We would appreciate it if you could complete the feedback form that can be found in the Latest News email. If you have any questions regarding careers, please contact Dr Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Year 08 | English and Mathematics Intervention | As part of our commitment to supporting each student’s academic success, we are excited to offer selected Year 08 students places in our English and Mathematics Champion’s Classes. These sessions are designed to help close any gaps in English and Mathematics skills and provide a strong foundation as they progress toward their GCSEs. During these sessions, students will receive support in small groups, focusing on key areas identified from their past assessments. The families of selected students have been invited to an English and Mathematics workshop, which will take place on Wednesday, 04 December 2024, from 17:30 until 18:00. If you would like further information about this, please contact Dr Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Safeguarding | Snapchat | Snapchat is a messaging app which allows users to send images, videos and texts to others. It is best-known feature is that anything sent 'disappears' 24 hours after it's been viewed; however, users are known to take screenshots or use another device to obtain photos from their screen. In 2023, Snapchat added a chatbot function called 'My AI'. There is concern around this function due to the incorrect and biased information is it providing users. Generally, we are concerned about student usage of this app. Detailed information about concerns around Snapchat can be found here. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Ms Kendall, Designated Safeguarding Lead (nkendall@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Parkview Residential Care Home | Parkview is a residential care home that takes care of over 70 residents. They specialise in care for those with dementia. We were saddened to hear that many of the residents do not receive any visitors over the holiday period and our students got thinking last year about how we can bring joy to the residents over the festive period. Our students have been visiting the residential care home over the last two year, last year, they introduced a project called 'A Christmas Wish......'. For this project, all members of the community donated items that go into a good bag that residents can tuck into over the Christmas period. To ensure that the residents get items that they need, we have a plan for donations which we have outlined below. If you would like to donate, please bring items to our reception team who will store them safely until Christmas:

As a community, we made such a difference to these residents last year, lets come together to do the same again this year. 

For more information about this project, please contact Ms Chan, PA to the Principal (lchan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Year 11 and Year 13 Mock Examination Results Evening | This week, we held out mock examination results evening. 

Mock examination results evenings are a vital part of the academic journey for secondary school students. They provide an opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to come together to review progress, identify strengths, and address areas needing improvement ahead of final examinations. This evening serves as a reality check, helping students understand their current performance and set realistic goals for future success. It also allows parents to gain insight into their child's achievements and challenges, fostering a partnership with the school to support the student's academic growth. By reflecting on these results and receiving constructive feedback, students can build confidence and develop strategies to excel in their upcoming exams. 

Some students and families were ecstatic about the results achieved at this point in time. This was positive motivation for them and helped them to see that with the time remaining they could achieve even better outcomes. 

Some students and families were not happy with the current outcomes and it is important to have gone through the process to ensure that the time that we have left we can do things differently to ensure that students can get the outcomes that they deserve.

We look forward to seeing improvements in March for the next mock examinations results evening.  

What's been happening in Performing Arts this week? | This week, the Year 11 Performing Arts students have been rehearsing for their final end of component performance. This took place in a wonderful showcase on Wednesday evening where: friends, family and staff came to support students in the audience as they performed. Mr Gibbons, Faculty Director of Performing Arts said: "Performing Arts is such a crucial part of our KS3 curriculum as it fills students with confidence and helps them develop their public speaking persona. When students get to KS4 and select to complete a GCSE in this subject, their develop them foundations skills and become artists. Our students worked hard with hours of practise to ensure that their lines were well memorised, their facial expressions conveyed what they were trying to communicate and their body language communicated the mood needed to immerse the audience. I am incredibly proud of the Year 11 students and their dedication to their craft." 


Inclusion Events this Term | The Inclusions team have been liaising with families of current and prospective students from the first academic term with much success. Over the past few weeks, at BA the Inclusions Team has been able to host a number of face-to-face and virtual meetings. The purpose of these interactions are to ensure that families are well informed with regards to the types and level of support that students benefit from at BA, as well as to ensure that families are afforded the opportunity to interact and enquire with regards to the methods and processes we administer at BA in order to support our students. We will continue to have a range of options for families in order to interact with the Inclusions Team, off of the back of the successes thus far this academic year, which will include:

If you have any questions regarding Inclusion, please contact Ms Cookson-Edwards, Inclusion Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org).


Christmas Quiz | We want to continue to build positive relationship with our community members. This half term, we have already held a number of face-to-face events. Our next face-to-face with be a quiz night for staff and parent/carers. This event will be taking place on Friday, 13 December at 18:30. The event will finish by 19:30. If you like to attend our Christmas Quiz, please complete the google form in the Latest News email. We are hoping that it will be an enjoyable event for all. If you have any questions about this event or have ideas for other community engagement projects that we can run, please contact Mr Whitham, Assistant Principal (dwhitham@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Thank a Staff Member | It is often easy to voice our concerns or complaints when something doesn’t go as expected, but we sometimes overlook the importance of expressing gratitude when it is well-deserved. Just as we celebrate and reward students for their hard work and achievements, it is equally important to recognise and thank the staff who dedicate themselves to nurturing and supporting our children. A simple acknowledgment of their efforts can have a powerful impact, fostering a positive and encouraging environment for everyone. Taking a moment to share appreciation when someone goes above and beyond can make a meaningful difference in building a strong, supportive community we which strive for everyday. If you have wanted to provide a staff member with positive feedback or to thank them for something and have not known how, we will be providing you a google form in the Latest News email. We will be sharing these comments directly to staff emails as we receive them between now and the end of the term. 


Christmas Jumper Day | Christmas Jumper Day will be taking place on Thursday, 12 December nationally in support of Save the Children UK. This is a charity that helps children around the world to make sure that they are safe, healthy, happy, educated and helps them to become who they want to be. We will be supporting this charity. Students and staff can wear a Christmas Jumper on this day. A full school uniform must be worn, students can wear their Christmas Jumpers on top of their school shirts and under their blazer. If students and staff would like to wear a Christmas Jumper, they need to make a minimum donation of 50p on the day. Money will be collected at the gate in the morning. 


Student Leadership | We are excited to introduce the new student leadership team for this academic year. These exceptional students have been selected to represent the voices and interests of the student body, lead initiatives, and work collaboratively with faculty and administration to enhance the student experience. Each member brings unique skills, dedication, and a passion for fostering a positive and inclusive campus culture. 

This week, we will introduce you to our Head Student Leaders from Year 07, Year 08 and Year 09. 


Year 07 Head Students | Dieka and Elizabeth

Elizabeth Tomasova Liza has valuable experience from Primary School, having served as a Rights Respecting School Ambassador and Digital Leader, roles that involved public speaking and assisting others with technical issues. Liza is dedicated, honest, organised, and passionate, always working to the best of her ability, whether in leadership roles or day-to-day tasks. She is committed to representing the school and ensuring that every student feels heard, respected, and comfortable expressing their opinions. Liza values building positive relationships and creating a welcoming atmosphere where all students can feel included, no matter their background or personality. She is motivated by a desire to develop her leadership skills, Liza aims to be a helpful, reliable, and responsible leader who works hard to improve the school experience for everyone.


Dieko has previously excelled in leadership positions, such as being a Maths Champion in primary school, where he helped students across year groups, and he believes leadership is crucial for guiding others through life's challenges. Dieko has demonstrated his versatility by participating in his school’s football and tag rugby teams, and has volunteered to assist special needs students at Shenstone School, earning recognition for his contributions. Dieko aims to make a significant impact in the sports and PE departments to increase the school’s visibility, along with creating advanced learning opportunities to enhance student development and capabilities. Dieko is committed to ensuring every student’s right to freedom, education, and safety. He plans to gather student feedback regularly to support continuous school development and ensure every voice is heard.


Year 08 Head Students | Katie & Tyler

Katie is passionate about supporting students through personal challenges and creating an environment where they feel safe to share their concerns without fear or shame. Having benefited from speaking to someone in the school community herself, Katie wants to make it easier for all students to access support, believing that sharing problems can help improve mood and enable better learning. Katie has previous leadership experience from her time in the student council during primary school, as well as her roles as a leader in both Beavers and Cubs, where she developed valuable skills in listening, communication, and helping others. She is known for her kindness, strong listening skills, and ability to put others before herself. Katie is committed to working hard to bring the concerns and ideas of students to the school management team. 


Tyler is committed to ensuring every student feels heard and valued in the school community. He believes leadership is about taking positive action to benefit both peers and the school, and is eager to use his voice to make a difference. Tyler co-directed the Year 7 drama showcase, gaining valuable leadership experience in guiding and working with others. He is known for being a good listener, Tyler listens to his peers’ ideas and concerns to find solutions that benefit everyone. Tyler is focused on fostering an environment where all students can thrive academically, socially, and personally. As a Head Student Leader, Tyler aims to help the school grow and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed and shine.


Year 09 Head Students | Frankie & Mohammed

Frankie is passionate about becoming a student leader to help create a positive and supportive environment for both students and teachers at Bexleyheath Academy. Frankie is known for being strong, kind, and always ready to lend a helping hand. He is dedicated to being a positive role model and ensuring that all students feel safe and valued. Frankie aims to make the school a kinder, more inclusive place, where no student feels scared or left out. He is determined to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and respected. Frankie is enthusiastic about the role and eager to bring forward ideas, such as a breakfast club, extended break times for high-attending year groups, and food options for the canteen. He is committed to working hard to improve the student experience at Bexleyheath Academy.


Mohammed, known as Mo, is confident and determined to make a positive change at Bexleyheath Academy. He is eager to listen to his peers and work with teachers to improve the school community. With a broad mind and a creative approach, Mo is ready to bring fresh ideas to the table, aiming to improve the school in meaningful ways and ensure all students are happy and successful. Mo is passionate about becoming an aerospace engineer and believes that the leadership skills he develops now will support his future career goals. His extroverted nature and love of working with others will help him connect with students and staff alike. Mo’s key goals include reducing canteen prices by 10% to make food more affordable, and organising cultural days to celebrate the diverse backgrounds of students at Bexleyheath Academy. Having overcome his initial shyness, Mo is confident in his ability to take on the responsibilities of a student leader and is dedicated to ensuring that Bexleyheath Academy thrives in success and happiness.

Term 02 | Week 03

INSET Days | The academy is closed to students on Monday, 25 November and Tuesday, 26 November for INSET Days. During these days, selected students will be invited from Year 10, 11 & Sixth Form for Booster Sessions to support them in specific subjects. Parents/carers of those invited will be contacted directly. 


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Extra-Curricular Activities This Week | Due to the shorter week, our extra-curricular programme will not run on the week commencing Monday, 25 November. Our Year 11 and Year 13 Interventions will continue as normal. 


Term Two Priority Parents’ Evening’s | This term, we will be providing Parents/Carers the opportunity to book appointments with all their child's subject teachers to discuss their engagement, progress, and attainment this year. There are two priority Parents' Evenings that will be taking place:

From Thursday, 28 November 2024 at 09:00am, parents/carers in the remaining year groups (Y07, Y08, Y09 and Y10) will also be able to book appointments with any available teacher. As many of our teachers do not teach Y11, Y12 & Y13, this will provide all parents/carers with additional opportunities to meet with their child's teachers.  These events will take place virtually. Parents/carers can book virtual appointments using our online booking system. Appointments are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Information on booking appointments can be found on the Parents' Evening page of the Academy's website. If you have any questions regarding our Parents' Evening’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms Fisher, Data Manager (dfisher@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


EFL U13 Girls' Cup | Mr Sheehan said: "On Thursday 21st November, eight girls' from  Year 08 took part in the EFL Tournament at Charlton Training Ground. Our team were trying to win the chance to play at Wembley. We had to play 04 games to try and win our pool so that we could get into the semi-finals. We began with a 4-0 victory over Bishop Justus with Lexi and Isabelle scoring two goals each. Our second game was against Faringtons and Mia put us ahead before they equalised, the game finishing 1-1. Our third game was vs Bexley Grammar and Bella, Lylah and Lexi scored a goal each to help us win 3-0.  This left us second in the table needing to beat a strong Crown Woods team, with an Arsenal and Millwall player in their squad, to make certain of a semi-final place.  It was a hard fought game but a super strike from Isabelle secured us a 1-0 victory.  This took us into a semi-final against Cleeve Park, which we sadly lost 2-0. However, it was a fantastic effort by our girls team who are also in the last 64 in the country in the ESFA cup and the last 16 of Kent. We are very proud of the team. If you know our players, please congratulate them when you see them."  

What's been happening in Art this week? | This was an exciting week in the Art department this week as they have a famous sculptor byt the name of Alex Pavelescu onsite working with our students. Ms Priscott, Faculty Director of Art said: "On Monday, 18 November, the Art department welcomed professional 3D artist and sculptor Alex Pavelescu to its corridors.  Alex Pavelescu is a contemporary artist from Romania, who is now living in London. He focuses on the idea of using theatrical 3D elements into VR performances.  Alex gave a talk to selected students, showing them examples of his work, including a large scale masks which were completely made from recycled products!  Alex then stayed at the academy to run two workshops for our KS4 Year 10 Art students and then our KS3 3D Art club, who worked with him creating masks out of clay.  The students had a fantastic time working with Alex and created some wonderful results which we hope to display in an exhibition in the last week of term. It was such a remarkable day and so lovely to see the enjoyment and engagement of our students in creating artwork."  

One of our students said: "I didn't realise you could make money from doing something so fun!".  

MHST Drop-in Day | We will have a member of the MHST (Mental Health for Schools Team) on site on Thursday, 28 November. The MHST team works directly with our students during school hours.  If you would like your child to be seen by a member of the team please email Ms Kendall, Designated Safeguarding Lead (nkendall@bexleyheathacademy.org) so this can be arranged. 



Eligibility for Free School Meals | Here at Bexleyheath Academy we want all of our children to thrive and be fully engaged in their learning.  A healthy mind and body feed a child's drive to learn and we believe every child deserves that opportunity. Your child may be able to get free school meals if you receive any of the following: 

● Income Support 

● Income-based Jobseekers Allowance 

● Income-related Employment and Support Allowance 

● Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

● The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit 

● Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190) 

● Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit 

● Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you may get)

Our current cashless system ensures confidentiality and funds would be uploaded daily to your Parent Pay account. We will be more than happy to make an application on your behalf and ask you to complete this short Guardian Information form or alternatively, if you meet the criteria above, you can then apply via the following links:- 

https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals/bexley or to apply via London Borough of Bexley website https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/free-school-meals 


If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) that they are currently in on 31 March 2025.


Extra-Curricular Clubs Update | STEM Club & Gymnastics Club | You have requested for us to bring back our weekly feature about our clubs to help students make decision about which clubs that they might want to join. Ms Ghai, Faculty Director of Science said: "STEM club allows students to develop their problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and logical reasoning skills as they complete a project from design, creation, testing and evaluation whilst pursuing their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM club runs every Thursday with the Science Team in C208. In the photo, you can she students working together to conduct a flame test."

Gymnastics club will help students develop their flexibility, core strength, balance, upper and lower-body strength, power, mental focus, and discipline. Mr Pressney, Teacher of Sports said: "Through completing a variety of routines using different apparatus, students will develop their skills as a gymnast. Gymnastics club runs every Thursday in the Gymnastics suite. In order to attend, students need to sign up each week."


Parkview Residential Care Home | Parkview is a residential care home that takes care of over 70 residents. They specialise in care for those with dementia. We were saddened to hear that many of the residents do not receive any visitors over the holiday period and our students got thinking last year about how we can bring joy to the residents over the festive period. Our students have been visiting the residential care home over the last two year, last year, they introduced a project called 'A Christmas Wish......'. For this project, all members of the community donated items that go into a good bag that residents can tuck into over the Christmas period. To ensure that the residents get items that they need, we have a plan for donations which we have outlined below. If you would like to donate, please bring items to our reception team who will store them safely until Christmas:

As a community, we made such a difference to these residents last year, lets come together to do the same again this year. 

For more information about this project, please contact Ms Chan, PA to the Principal (lchan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


What's been happening in Science this week? | This week, one of our Year 10 Triple Science classes participated in a scientific practical on Microscopy. Mr Nestfield, Assistant Principal said: "In the practical, students used light microscopes to observe and investigate the microscopic structures of plant cells. They had the opportunity to explore the detailed features of an onion epidermis (Outer layer of an onion). Through careful preparation and observation, students learned how to prepare slides, adjust magnification, and apply scientific methods to record their findings accurately. 

The practical was designed to:

All students fully engaged and participated in the practical, which was full of ‘eureka’ moments when the students were able to achieve success in the practical.

Our scientific research at Bexleyheath Academy encourages students to be independent in everything they do, from planning, preparing equipment and completing the experiments. We look forward to sharing more moments like this with you all."

What's been happening in Humanities & Social Sciences this week? | This week, Mr Mack-Poole, Faculty Director of Humanities and Social Sciences would like to talk to you about what some of his team members have been doing so you can get to know them better.

"We had a week of marking this week. Here you see Ms Bannerman marking the mock papers for student in Sociology making sure she understands the gaps in knowledge to prepare meaningful interventions for her students over the coming weeks. 

We also have Ms Bailie who is marking the RE test papers for KS3."

"This is Mr Reavell. He is one of our most loved historians at the academy. In this lesson, he was teaching students about the Medieval period, specifically about the Crusades. In this phase of the lesson, he is helping to widen out students' cultural and geographical capital by demonstrating where the disputed holy lands of Palestine and Israel are located."  

"This is DR Jaswal. Dr Jaswal has a PHD in Sociology and teaches both GCSE and A-Level subjects. In this phase of the lesson, he is checking the prior knowledge of the students through our Check In activity." 

"In Ms Jones's Psychology lessons this week, students were studying the complexity of the human mind." 


Inclusion Events this Term | Just a reminder of the up and coming events:  

If you have any questions regarding Inclusion, please contact Ms Cookson-Edwards, Inclusion Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org).


Term 02 | Week 02

INSET Days | The academy is closed to students on Monday, 25 November and Tuesday, 26 November for INSET Days. During these days, selected students will be invited from Year 10, 11 & Sixth Form Booster Sessions to support them in specific subjects. Parents/carers of those invited will be contacted directly. 


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Interventions for Year 11 & Year 13 | Our intervention programme will resume from Monday, 18 November. A reminder that our morning intervention starts at 07:50. 


Homework Update | Communications have gone out regarding Year 10 students who will be in homework workshops on Monday. These are for those who did not complete any of their homework in: English, Mathematics, Science or Spanish. Other year groups will follow in the coming days. Students will not be collected for the workshops, they are expected to make their way by themselves. 


As a reminder, homework is released every Friday morning. Students will then have the whole weekend and the following week up until Thursday to complete them. During this period, they can be supported by their teachers if they need help. However, this assistance must be sought before the Thursday deadline.


The workshops for students that failed to complete their homework run from 15:10 - 16:00 on the following days:

During this time, students will be supported by staff to complete the next series of homework to minimise the chances of noncompletion for the following week. 


Term Two Priority Parents’ Evening’s | This term, we will be providing Parents/Carers the opportunity to book appointments with all their child's subject teachers to discuss their engagement, progress, and attainment this year. There are two priority Parents' Evenings that will be taking place:

From Thursday, 28 November 2024 at 09:00am, parents/carers in the remaining year groups (Y07, Y08, Y09 and Y10) will also be able to book appointments with any available teacher. As many of our teachers do not teach Y11, Y12 & Y13, this will provide all parents/carers with additional opportunities to meet with their child's teachers.  These events will take place virtually. Parents/carers can book virtual appointments using our online booking system. Appointments are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Information on booking appointments can be found on the Parents' Evening page of the Academy's website. If you have any questions regarding our Parents' Evening’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms Fisher, Data Manager (dfisher@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Girls' Football Success, AGAIN! | We just keep winning and we can confidently say that at this stage our girls' football provision is the best in the borough. Ms Duffy, Teacher of Sports said:  "On Monday, the Year 08 Girls' Football Team travelled to Rainham Girls School to play the next round of the ESFA cup. The team had a win and beat the opposition 3-0 with goals coming from Sophie M, Isabell F and Bella T, This means the girls are now down to the last 64 teams nationally out of a massive 500 teams entered. This is an incredible accomplishment for the team and the academy. This time, we added to our team with the debut of Ellie H (goal) and Lily N, both delivered on the ground. Our 'Lady of the Match' went to Isabell F who put in some great tackles and showed great strength to score an excellent goal. We look forward to the next round and want to wish them all luck for the next game." 


Year 10 Rugby Success! | Our Year 10 Rugby team played Bexley Grammar and won! We can not wait for the next match, the boys are ready!


Lift Bexleyheath Logo Competition | We had 154 entries into our logo design competition. competitors have worked hard to visualise what they think the academy represents and it was no easy task. Thank you to all of the community members that voted for the winning design. Samuel (Year 09) won the public vote with 54% of the votes wanting his design to be developed into the new academy logo. Samuel had the opportunity to meet with a design agency to talk through his concepts. He will be meeting with them in a few weeks time to see how they have develop his design. All participants will be awarded for their entries. The third, second and first winners will have an extra special treat in the coming weeks.  


What's been happening in English this week? | Mr Mensah, Faculty Director of English said: "This term, students across all years have engaged with a range of texts, developing their reading, writing, and analytical skills. From poetry in years 7 to 8 to Gothic Literature in Year 13, students across the school have shown great enthusiasm and progress in English.


In Year 9, where they’re building up their knowledge before GCSEs commence, they have been studying the art of persuasion. They’ve been reading adverts and letters and they have had the opportunity to create their own. Mr Pexton in this lesson was showing them a masterfully persuasive letter written to Sadiq Khan in order to encourage him to make a change. These skills are life long tools to help our students be powerful and influential forces in the future. 


This term has seen Year 10 and 11s fine tuning their exam skills. Mrs Mack-Poole and other Year 10 classes have been examining the mark scheme in detail and understanding exactly what to do to push themselves to the best level they could achieve. 


In Literature, they have been studying poetry and Molly (Year 10) has been excellent, much like many students, in sharing her perceptive ideas and analysing her anthology poems in more depth at home she has done all this whilst challenging herself to get through her collection of 60+ books. She is aiming for Grade 09 and it's great to see. 


Year 07s have been studying powerful animal poetry; Year 8s studying love sonnets full of somewhat backhanded Shakespearean compliments; it's an exciting term in the run up to Christmas and it has been great to see such wonderful engagement from both staff and students!"

What's happen happening in Design & Technology this week? | Ms Gaskin, Faculty Director of Design & Technology said: "This term, Year 10 Engineering students have been developing their design skills by learning different technical drawing techniques such as: one and two point perspective, oblique and isometric. This is going to help prepare students for the start of their NEA later this year. These are traditional drawing techniques that will support them in industry should they chose to opt for this path."  


MHST Drop-in Day | We will have a member of the MHST (Mental Health for Schools team) on site on Thursday, 28 November. The MHST team works directly with our students during school hours.  If you would like your child to be seen by a member of the team please email Ms Kendall, Designated Safeguarding Lead (nkendall@bexleyheathacademy.org) so this can be arranged. 


Sixth Form Trip | All of our Sixth Form students went Bexley Cinema yesterday to watch Amy Winehouse: Back to Black. This film explored themes around: fame and consumerism, addiction, abuse and family and friendships. The students had some meaningful conversation regarding their own lives and tough decisions they have made and might have to make in the future. 


Charlton Athletics | Charlton Athletics have an amazing football opportunity for Year 07 - Year 10 students. From Monday, 18 November, each Monday at Ballerz, they are running free Premier League Kicks sessions. See information provided by the organisers below:

Watch our Launch Video here and see more details below:


Eligibility for Free School Meals | Here at Bexleyheath Academy we want all of our children to thrive and be fully engaged in their learning.  A healthy mind and body feed a child's drive to learn and we believe every child deserves that opportunity.   Your child may be able to get free school meals if you receive any of the following: 

● Income Support 

● Income-based Jobseekers Allowance 

● Income-related Employment and Support Allowance 

● Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

● The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit 

● Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190) 

● Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit 

● Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you may get)

Our current cashless system ensures confidentiality and funds would be uploaded daily to your Parent Pay account. We will be more than happy to make an application on your behalf and ask you to complete this short Guardian Information form or alternatively, if you meet the criteria above, you can then apply via the following links:- 

https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals/bexley or to apply via London Borough of Bexley website https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/free-school-meals 


If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) that they are currently in on 31 March 2025.


Remembrance Day | On Monday, our staff and students took part in an assembly to remind everyone of why we observe Remembrance Day. Three of our students who are part of various organisations linked to service, wore their uniforms to honour people of service. The students had been attending events during the weekend representing their service and meeting with members of the community.  

Bentley (Year 09) said: "My name is Bentley and I am part of Squadron 56 of the Air Training Corp ( ATC). 

From Friday in celebration of remembrance I have attended multiple events meeting people such as the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Greenwich. I also met some member of the RAF regional band and so many more. A few weeks ago I was a recruit with not a lot of experience under my belt and within a five weeks period I have become a respected, loved and welcomed cadet in Squadron 56. I would like to say a thank you to the academy for allowing me to attend these events and to the squadron leader Sir Bird who has helped me along the journey. I love cadets as it gives me an opportunity to learn life long skills and allows me to help the community."


Parkview Residential Care Home | Parkview is a residential care home that takes care of over 70 residents. They specialise in care for those with dementia. We were saddened to hear that many of the residents do not receive any visitors over the holiday period and our students got thinking last year about how we can bring joy to the residents over the festive period. Our students have been visiting the residential care home over the last two year, last year, they introduced a project called 'A Christmas Wish......'. For this project, all members of the community donated items that go into a good bag that residents can tuck into over the Christmas period. To ensure that the residents get items that they need, we have a plan for donations which we have outlined below. If you would like to donate, please bring items to our reception team who will store them safely until Christmas:

As a community, we made such a difference to these residents last year, lets come together to do the same again this year. 

For more information about this project, please contact Ms Chan, PA to the Principal (lchan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Help Mr Whitham Save Lives! | Mr. Whitham is deeply passionate about supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust, an organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life and care for young people facing cancer. 

Demonstrating his commitment, this month he will be participating in the 3,000 Push-Ups Challenge, a rigorous endeavour aimed at raising awareness and funds for the charity. By pushing himself through this demanding physical feat, Mr. Whitham hopes not only to gather vital donations but also to inspire others to contribute to a cause that provides invaluable assistance to teenagers battling cancer. His dedication reflects a heartfelt drive to make a meaningful impact on their lives.

Mr Whitham said: "Every year, 3755 young people are diagnosed with cancer. Every six days,  another young person is diagnosed. Since 2000, there has been a 22% increase in the diagnosis of cancer in young people. These are worrying facts and being a father myself and an educator of over 1500 students at the academy, should this condition reach our children, I want to make sure there is a charity that can support them and their families. If you would like to help me raise money for this wonderful charity, this click here."


Inclusion Events this Term | Just a reminder of the up and coming events:  

If you have any questions regarding Inclusion, please contact Ms Cookson-Edwards, Inclusion Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org).

Term 02 | Week 01

Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mrs Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please find the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Extra-Curricular Clubs this Week | Our extra-curricular clubs will resume from Monday, 11 November. We look forward to seeing students in their extra-curricular clubs next week. 


Homework Update | Homework tasks in; English, Mathematics, Science and Spanish are now live on the following homework platforms: 

Students are reminded to complete their work by Thursday, 14 November 2024 by 23:59 pm. They are required to complete all four subjects. Those who fail to do so will be placed in workshops from Monday, 18 November 2024. The workshops run from 15:10 - 16:00 on the following days:

Subject teachers are available to support students in the homework workshops. However, such assistance can only be offered before the due date through our Homework Clubs. For the current homework, this will be up until Thursday, 14 November.


Term Two Priority Parents’ Evening’s | This term, we will be providing Parents/Carers the opportunity to book appointments with all their child's subject teachers to discuss their engagement, progress, and attainment this year. There are two priority Parents' Evenings that will be taking place:

From Thursday, 28 November 2024 at 09:00am, parents/carers in the remaining year groups (Y07, Y08, Y09 and Y10) will also be able to book appointments with any available teacher. As many of our teachers do not teach Y11, Y12 & Y13, this will provide all parents/carers with additional opportunities to meet with their child's teachers.  These events will take place virtually. Parents/carers can book virtual appointments using our online booking system. Appointments are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Information on booking appointments can be found on the Parents' Evening page of the Academy's website. If you have any questions regarding our Parents' Evening’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms Fisher, Data Manager (dfisher@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

A Sonnet from Freddie | Our Year 08 students were tasked with writing a sonnet about something they love and are passionate about. Ms Fashina said: "Our students truly love the academy and this is evidenced through their passion and creativity that they have demonstrated through their poems as many of them chose to write about the academy. Out of all of the sonnets, Freddie's stood out. Freddie had the opportunity to read out his sonnet to the whole of his year group this week and everyone celebrated his success. This was not an easy task to read something out that is so meaningful to you in front of over 300 students. We congratulate him for his skills and courage."

Freddie's sonnet is below but you can also click on his photo so you can listen to the sonnet read by Freddie:


For ever greatness we achieve, 

all of us are so different:

and ever so live,

so don't think we are ignorant.


For all of us aspire,

a beautiful diatribe;

a calling vocation higher:

listen to our jive.


We all stand here so diverse,

all of us so lovely;

for better or worse,

we try to be here softly:


never to cause harm,

but instead to warm.


Knife Crime Assembly | This week, our assemblies focussed on the issues around knife crime. Students were spoken to about the risks and repercussions of using or carrying a knife. The student reaction was brilliant even when faced with the staggering and grim statistics around knife crime. 

Students were also told (and need to remember) that there are always adults  to talk to at school if they have concerns about knife crime or if they have questions that they need to/want to ask. These assemblies will be followed by year group workshops by the London Metropolitan Police later this term. 

Inclusion | MFL and Dyslexia | There is some misinformation regarding students with dyslexia and learning a different language and we thought we would take the time to share some facts. Modern and Foreign Languages is a key area of the curriculum at our school, aligned with the National Curriculum profile for all schools within our trust and nationwide. While the challenges of dyslexia often include difficulties with reading, writing, and phonological processing, engaging with a new language can provide unique benefits that support their experiences in learning, as well as developing life skills. Dyslexia specialists agree that students learning a second language will benefit from multi sensory teaching methods (British Dyslexia Association, 2024). Language learning can help in developing problem-solving skills. In particular, for dyslexic students, learning an additional language can significantly support the development of metacognition, problem solving skills and task management skills (Bialystok, 2001; Costa & Sebastián-Gallés, 2008). A range of resources and mixed teaching styles make learning a new language more engaging and accessible as well as offering a change of teaching style that can support a dyslexic student's multi-sensory needs (Higgins et al. 2010; Tompkins, 2010).

For students with dyslexia learning a new language can reinforce practices and skills needed to master their native and foreign languages (Snow & Uccelli, 2009; Kormos & Smith, 2012). By being able to develop additional language skills, students with dyslexia present as more empowered, improving their self-esteem and confidence in all areas of the National Curriculum (Cummins, 2000; García & Wei, 2014). In conclusion, students with dyslexia learning an additional language significantly supports in developing their confidence and resilience, which if channelled correctly will significantly support their progress across subjects. If you have any questions about our modern foreign languages provision, please contact Ms Wickington, Faculty Director of MFL (swickington@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

References


Careers Insight Talks | During Term One, each Friday, we have a guest speaker from a different professions. We had the pleasure of welcoming six industry professionals from diverse fields to share valuable insights on career opportunities and pathways in their respective sectors. The sessions were informative and inspiring, providing students with a glimpse into the variety of career options available today. The speakers and career paths we covered were as follows:

During Term Two, our Friday sessions focus on Think Pieces however, we will returning to careers again in January. If you would like to talk to our students about the industry that you work in, please contact Dr Lucas (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org).  


Christmas Card Competition | Our trust are inviting all students of Lift to design the first Christmas for Lift Schools 2024. To enter, they must create a Christmas card design. Winning designs will be created into Christmas cards for the trust to send across the country. Their design must be submitted on A4 paper or submitted as a jpeg or PDF. The design can be hand drawn, digitally created or be a photograph that you have taken. All entries must be submitted to Ms Luthfa by Friday, 15 November 2024. If they are submitting a paper copy, this can be left in reception. 

Inclusion | MFL and Dyslexia | There is some misinformation regarding students with dyslexia and learning a different language and we thought we would take the time to share some facts. Modern and Foreign Languages is a key area of the curriculum at our school, aligned with the National Curriculum profile for all schools within our trust and nationwide. While the challenges of dyslexia often include difficulties with reading, writing, and phonological processing, engaging with a new language can provide unique benefits that support their experiences in learning, as well as developing life skills. Dyslexia specialists agree that students learning a second language will benefit from multi sensory teaching methods (British Dyslexia Association, 2024). Language learning can help in developing problem-solving skills. In particular, for dyslexic students, learning an additional language can significantly support the development of metacognition, problem solving skills and task management skills (Bialystok, 2001; Costa & Sebastián-Gallés, 2008). A range of resources and mixed teaching styles make learning a new language more engaging and accessible as well as offering a change of teaching style that can support a dyslexic student's multi-sensory needs (Higgins et al. 2010; Tompkins, 2010).

For students with dyslexia learning a new language can reinforce practices and skills needed to master their native and foreign languages (Snow & Uccelli, 2009; Kormos & Smith, 2012). By being able to develop additional language skills, students with dyslexia present as more empowered, improving their self-esteem and confidence in all areas of the National Curriculum (Cummins, 2000; García & Wei, 2014). In conclusion, students with dyslexia learning an additional language significantly supports in developing their confidence and resilience, which if channelled correctly will significantly support their progress across subjects. If you have any questions about our modern foreign languages provision, please contact Ms Wickington, Faculty Director of MFL (swickington@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

References


Careers Insight Talks | During Term One, each Friday, we have a guest speaker from a different professions. We had the pleasure of welcoming six industry professionals from diverse fields to share valuable insights on career opportunities and pathways in their respective sectors. The sessions were informative and inspiring, providing students with a glimpse into the variety of career options available today. The speakers and career paths we covered were as follows:

During Term Two, our Friday sessions focus on Think Pieces however, we will returning to careers again in January. If you would like to talk to our students about the industry that you work in, please contact Dr Lucas (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org).  


Christmas Card Competition | Our trust are inviting all students of Lift to design the first Christmas for Lift Schools 2024. To enter, they must create a Christmas card design. Winning designs will be created into Christmas cards for the trust to send across the country. Their design must be submitted on A4 paper or submitted as a jpeg or PDF. The design can be hand drawn, digitally created or be a photograph that you have taken. All entries must be submitted to Ms Luthfa by Friday, 15 November 2024. If they are submitting a paper copy, this can be left in reception. 

Safeguarding | Encouraging Children to Choose Respect | As part of our curriculum we teach our students how to be respectful when there are differences between students to ensure that there is no escalation between students. Sometimes, students will disagree with each other and it is important that families and the academy have the same messages about being respectful to each other. Please click here to read more about this. 

Poppy Appeal | This week, our students sold over 700 poppies to our students, staff and community members. All the proceeds of the sales of these poppies will go to The Royal Legion. The Royal Legion is an armed forces charity that support ex-serving personnel and their families. 

Parkview Residential Care Home | Parkview is a residential care home that takes care of over 70 residents. They specialise in care for those with dementia. We were saddened to hear that many of the residents do not receive any visitors over the holiday period and our students got thinking last year about how we can bring joy to the residents over the festive period. Our students have been visiting the residential care home over the last two year, last year, they introduced a project called 'A Christmas Wish......'. For this project, all members of the community donated items that go into a good bag that residents can tuck into over the Christmas period. To ensure that the residents get items that they need, we have a plan for donations which we have outlined below. If you would like to donate, please bring items to our reception team who will store them safely until Christmas:

As a community, we made such a difference to these residents last year, lets come together to do the same again this year. 

For more information about this project, please contact Ms Chan, PA to the Principal (lchan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Help Mr Whitham Save Lives! | Mr. Whitham is deeply passionate about supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust, an organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life and care for young people facing cancer. 

Demonstrating his commitment, this month he will be participating in the 3,000 Push-Ups Challenge, a rigorous endeavour aimed at raising awareness and funds for the charity. By pushing himself through this demanding physical feat, Mr. Whitham hopes not only to gather vital donations but also to inspire others to contribute to a cause that provides invaluable assistance to teenagers battling cancer. His dedication reflects a heartfelt drive to make a meaningful impact on their lives.

Mr Whitham said: "Every year, 3755 young people are diagnosed with cancer. Every six days,  another young person is diagnosed. Since 2000, there has been a 22% increase in the diagnosis of cancer in young people. These are worrying facts and being a father myself and an educator of over 1500 students at the academy, should this condition reach our children, I want to make sure there is a charity that can support them and their families. If you would like to help me raise money for this wonderful charity, this click here."

Lift Bexleyheath Logo Competition | We have been amazed at the number of entries we have had for this competition that will make history. All entries will receive a prize as a recognition of their investment in our community and their hard work and creativity. 

All stakeholders of the academy will receive a form today with the 10 entries that have made it to the final round. All selections need to be made by Monday, 09:00. The winner will be contacted by the end of Monday. They will meet with the academy graphic designer on Tuesday morning to start developing their design idea. 

Inclusion Events this Term | Just a reminder of the up and coming events:  

If you have any questions regarding Inclusion, please contact Ms Cookson-Edwards, Inclusion Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org).


What has been happening in Science this week? | Ms Ghai, Faculty Director of Science said: "My lesson drop-ins this week were glorious. In Ms Poudyal's class students investigated whether the felt pens used in art lessons are made of pure ink. The image shows students using chromatography to analyse the ink composition. When I visited Year 10 lessons, teachers were live marking the independent allowing students to respond and make immediate progress.  I also dropped by Mr Osadebay's Year 12 Biology A-Level class who were using dual coding techniques, such as diagrams and flowcharts, to revise for their mock exams."

What has been happening in Mathematics this week? | Ms Sanni said: "This week, we have been celebrating the success of the students that have gone above and beyond their MathsWatch targets. The  tasks included watching the mini lessons and completing the maths challenges. The most recent challenge was to complete 200 questions  in the shortest time possible. These challenges provide students an opportunity to practice their proficiency with numeracy skills as well as developing their problem solving skills. MathsWatch is a powerful revision tool that allows students to practise what they have learnt in the classroom. The students are able to deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts by watching the mini lessons and practicing additional questions."

Term 02 | Week 00

Message from the Principal | "We are excited to see our students back in the academy on Monday, 04 November. At our academy, the safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities, and we are committed to providing a secure, nurturing environment for everyone. Our dedicated staff undergo regular training to stay updated on best practices for school safety, student mental health support, and proactive measures to prevent incidents. We maintain clear protocols for all scenarios, ensuring students feel both safe and supported throughout their time with us. Additionally, we continually review and strengthen our safety policies in partnership with local authorities and other external stakeholders. Rest assured, we are steadfast in our efforts to make the academy a safe place for every student to learn, grow, and succeed. Some of the things you can expect to see and hear about this term:

We would like to remind community members of our behaviour policy. Sharp objects such as; sharpeners, metal rulers, compasses, scalpels and knives are not permitted onsite. These items are not permitted even for religious purposes."


Start-of-Term Arrangements | Term two starts on Monday, 04 November at 08:30. 


Getting Ready to Return to the Academy | A reminder of the School Uniform Policy can be found here. Please ensure you take time to read the policy and ensure child is ready to return to the academy. A reminder of the following:


Uniform Ties | Having spoken to the uniform supplier, they have stated that they have resolved all outstanding orders as of this week and therefore, there should not be any issues with outstanding uniform for those that were waiting for items to be back in stock. As an academy, we have agreed that if you are unable to purchase a tie, we accept black ties. If your child is missing a branded tie, they can wear a black tie whilst they wait for a branded tie. Please ensure that your child arrives to the academy with a tie on Monday. 

School Trousers | We have noticed a increase in students wearing legging type trousers with a flared bottom. These are not permitted at the academy. Trousers worn must be straight legged and must be made out of traditional suit fabric. All issues with these trousers must be rectified by Monday, 04 November. Should students arrive at the academy with these legging type trousers with a flared bottom, students will be provided uniform to wear. 

We thank you for your support in this. If you have any questions about uniform, please contact Ms Delver, Vice-Principal (pdelver@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

New Branded Uniform | Many of you have been in contact about the new branded uniform. As an academy we are conscious about waste especially when it comes to uniform. The new uniform will be for Year 07 for September 2025. We will phase out the current uniform over the next two years so when you are buying new items from September 2025, these are replaced with the new items. 

Fixtures Next Week | Fixtures for this week:

The Sports team would have been in contact regarding fixtures and timings for students that are taking part. If you have any questions regarding fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sports (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Extra-Curricular Clubs this Week | Our extra-curricular clubs will not run on the first week back after each half term. We will also not run clubs on short weeks. Clubs this term will resume on Monday, 11 November. We apologise for the inconveniences caused. 


Interventions Year 11 & Year 13 | Due to mock examinations on the weeks commencing Monday, 04 November and Monday, 11 November, our regular intervention timetable for the am and pm will not be running. The only interventions that will run will be on Thursdays for Year 11 Mathematics only. Should students be found on the Broadway afterschool, they will be brought back to the academy to revise with members of staff until 16:30. Please ensure students go straight home after school. Our regular intervention timetable will run from Monday, 18 November. 


Homework Update | Thank you for supporting your child with completing their homework. Homework is important to support students in retaining knowledge, this also supports managing studies outside of the academy and helps to develop time management and organisation skills. At the end of term, we had shown students how to log on and access the various online platforms. Google forms were forwarded in advance to students to report any issues with their username and password following the demonstration. As of the time of this publication, no forms have been returned. We can therefore be confident that all students can now access all the homework platforms. The only exceptions are those who have only recently enrolled, perhaps in the last week or so. It became necessary to undertake this exercise to ensure that when we return after the half-term break and going forward, students will have no difficulties completing their homework. As a reminder, below are the homework platforms: 


Each piece of homework is released every Friday at 08:00. Students will have the entire weekend and the following week, up until Thursday to complete the homework. Access to the homework will be restricted after 23:59 hours on that Thursday. The next day, communication will go out to parents informing them whether their child will be in a workshop during the succeeding week. Homework workshops are triggered when a student fails to complete the tasks set in the four subjects. The implication is that even if a student completes three out of the four subjects, they will still be expected at the workshop. They are a good opportunity for students to get help to complete the missed homework and the homework for the following week. The workshops run from 15:10 - 16:00 on the following days:


Homework completion is measured differently for each subject:

As a school, we are aware that students have different abilities. There are those who will work at a slower pace and/or require additional help. Homework champions are on hand to support students throughout the week. However, this assistance is only available before the homework deadline. All students need to do is ask.

We want everyone to know what is required to avoid being placed in a homework workshop. Kindly familiarise yourselves with this information. If in doubt, please email Mr Uwaechi, Assistant Principal (fuwaechi@bexleyheathacademy.org).

Christmas Card Competition | Our trust are inviting all students of Lift to design the first Christmas for Lift Schools 2024. To enter, they must create a Christmas card design. Winning designs will be created into Christmas cards for the trust to send across the country. Their design must be submitted on A4 paper or submitted as a jpeg or PDF. The design can be hand drawn, digitally created or be a photograph that you have taken. All entries must be submitted to Ms Luthfa by Friday, 15 November 2024. If they are submitting a paper copy, this can be left in reception. 


Poppy Appeal | Remembrance Day honours those who serve to defend our democratic freedoms and ways of life. Through remembrance day, we unite across faiths, cultures and backgrounds to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from United Kingdom and the world. 

From Monday, 04 November, we will be selling poppies at the academy to students and families. The money raised through selling poppies is donated to the Royal British Legion and supports those affected by war. We have not got a price for the poppies but we recommend a minimum donation of 50p. If your child would like to buy a poppy, they can be bought during break and lunch. Student leaders will be selling them in playground.  


Parkview Residential Care Home | Parkview is a residential care home that takes care of over 70 residents. They specialise in care for those with dementia. We were saddened to hear that many of the residents do not receive any visitors over the holiday period and our students got thinking last year about how we can bring joy to the residents over the festive period. Our students have been visiting the residential care home over the last two year, last year, they introduced a project called 'A Christmas Wish......'. For this project, all members of the community donated items that go into a good bag that residents can tuck into over the Christmas period. To ensure that the residents get items that they need, we have a plan for donations which we have outlined below. If you would like to donate, please bring items to our reception team who will store them safely until Christmas:

As a community, we made such a difference to these residents last year, lets come together to do the same again this year. 

For more information about this project, please contact Ms Chan, PA to the Principal (lchan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Help Mr Whitham save lives! | Mr. Whitham is deeply passionate about supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust, an organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life and care for young people facing cancer. 

Demonstrating his commitment, this month he will be participating in the 3,000 Push-Ups Challenge, a rigorous endeavour aimed at raising awareness and funds for the charity. By pushing himself through this demanding physical feat, Mr. Whitham hopes not only to gather vital donations but also to inspire others to contribute to a cause that provides invaluable assistance to teenagers battling cancer. His dedication reflects a heartfelt drive to make a meaningful impact on their lives.

Mr Whitham said: "Every year, 3755 young people are diagnosed with cancer. Every six days,  another young person is diagnosed. Since 2000, there has been a 22% increase in the diagnosis of cancer in young people. These are worrying facts and being a father myself and an educator of over 1500 students at the academy, should this condition reach our children, I want to make sure there is a charity that can support them and their families. If you would like to help me raise money for this wonderful charity, this click here."


Lift Bexleyheath Logo Competition | From September 2025 we will be known as Lift Bexleyheath. This is part of the rebrand for the trust and the academy. As part of this rebrand, we need a logo. We will be having a competition to design the logo for the school which will be open to: all staff, students and parents/carers. This is your chance to make history!

The logo must only consist of: 

You should have annotations on your design to explain the different features. You may wish to show where the logo could go and how it could look on our uniform. 

The top entries will go into a public vote to determine which logo is the winning logo which we will have as part of our branding for years to come. If you would like to take part, please submit your idea for a logo on a sheet of A4 paper or digital slide. Submissions can be left in reception or emailed to Ms Luthfa, Principal (rluthfa@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

The deadline for this competition is Monday, 04 November.

Inclusion in Numbers for Term 01 | We would like to share some successes from Term 01 from our Inclusion Team:

As with any educational establishment, we continue to develop our provision but are proud of the work we have been doing with our students so far.   


Inclusion Events this Term | Just a reminder of the up and coming events:  

If you have any questions regarding Inclusion, please contact Ms Cookson-Edwards, Inclusion Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org).


Up & Coming Events | We have two community events this half term that we would like you to pop into your diaries:


There are three scheduled INSET days this half term, these are:


Year 10 Trip to Spain | We are excited to announce that we are planning a trip to Spain for our Year 10 students to enhance their Spanish language skills! Immersing students in the vibrant culture and everyday life of a Spanish-speaking country is one of the most effective ways to deepen their language learning. This trip will provide students with real-world opportunities to practice speaking, listening, and understanding Spanish in authentic contexts, such as interacting with locals, ordering food, navigating public spaces, and exploring cultural landmarks. Beyond the classroom, students will gain confidence in using the language naturally, improving fluency, pronunciation, and comprehension, while also gaining a richer understanding of Spain’s culture, history, and traditions. This hands-on experience is an invaluable step in making Spanish more meaningful and accessible for their continued studies. The trip is due to take place in June, the dates are to be decided. The price of this trip will be between £690 - £800, the price will be determined by how many students go on this trip. This trip is only open to students studying Spanish as a GCSE. We will send an expression of interest form to families of Year 10 directly next term.  

Term 01 | Week 06

Start-of-Term Arrangements | Term two starts on Monday, 04 November at 08:30. 


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please see the weekly newsletter from Ms Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please see the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Year 10 Trip to Spain | We are excited to announce that we are planning a trip to Spain for our Year 10 students to enhance their Spanish language skills! Immersing students in the vibrant culture and everyday life of a Spanish-speaking country is one of the most effective ways to deepen their language learning. This trip will provide students with real-world opportunities to practice speaking, listening, and understanding Spanish in authentic contexts, such as interacting with locals, ordering food, navigating public spaces, and exploring cultural landmarks. Beyond the classroom, students will gain confidence in using the language naturally, improving fluency, pronunciation, and comprehension, while also gaining a richer understanding of Spain’s culture, history, and traditions. This hands-on experience is an invaluable step in making Spanish more meaningful and accessible for their continued studies. The trip is due to take place in June, the dates are to be decided. The price of this trip will be between £690 - £800, the price will be determined by how many students go on this trip. This trip is only open to students studying Spanish as a GCSE. We will send an expression of interest form to families of Year 10 directly next term. 

Art Gallery | Studying art in school is vital because it nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression, all of which are essential for personal and academic growth. Art education helps students develop problem-solving skills by encouraging them to think outside the box and explore new perspectives. It also fosters cultural awareness and empathy, as students learn about diverse artistic traditions and histories. Additionally, creating and interpreting art enhances communication skills, allowing students to express complex ideas visually and emotionally. By incorporating art into the curriculum, schools promote a well-rounded education that prepares students for the complexities of life and work in a rapidly changing world.

As an academy, students study art as part of their core KS3 curriculum (Year 07 - 09). As students move from year to year, their skills develop. Each term, we will be sharing you some of the work produced either in class or through assessments so that you can see the great work that is being produced by the students at Bexleyheath Academy. 

Art Competition Winners | During the summer, we set a competition titled 'The Great Outdoors'. We had over 200 entries for this competition from all year groups. Students could capture their interpretation of this title with a range of different mediums. The winners of this competition are below. All students received a prize and recognition for their entries.  


Half Term Art Competition | We have a new art competition for this half term. This will be for students and well as parents/carers. This will be a photography competition and the theme is 'Autumn'.  Ms Priscott, Faculty Director of Art said: "Photography is a medium everyone can use to get creative these days. Editing photos is a skill set everyone has these days with the use of smartphones. We were amazed with the amount of students that entered our last competition and after our recent family transitions workshop where parents fed back that they would loved to have entered these types of competitions, we are opening the competition up to parents as well. People can use; traditional cameras, digital cameras or phones. We look forward to seeing all the entries coming in by Friday, 01 November. Good luck." To enter this competition, email Ms Priscott by Friday, 01 November 2024. 


Lift Bexleyheath Logo Competition | From September 2025 we will be known as Lift Bexleyheath. This is part of the rebrand for the trust and the academy. As part of this rebrand, we need a logo. We will be having a competition to design the logo for the school which will be open to: all staff, students and parents/carers. This is your chance to make history! The logo must only consist of: 

You should have annotations on your design to explain the different features. You may wish to show where the logo could go and how it could look on our uniform. The top entries will go into a public vote to determine which logo is the winning logo which we will have as part of our branding for years to come. If you would like to take part, please submit your idea for a logo on a sheet of A4 paper or digital slide. Submissions can be left in reception or emailed to Ms Luthfa, Principal (rluthfa@bexleyheathacademy.org).  We will be speaking with students on Monday regarding this competition. If you have any questions regarding this competition, please contact Ms Luthfa.  


Year 11 Geography Trip | As part of their Geography GCSE, students must complete fieldwork and data collection. Students were examined on their fieldwork. during this trip. The students have studied coasts and went to observe coastal processes and the impact of regeneration in Margate.  Ms Victor, Subject Lead of Geography said: "Our adventure kicked off at Reculver Beach, where we swapped the classroom for the coastline! Students got their hands sandy, measuring how sediment size changes as we moved up the beach. It was a great chance to see how coastal processes work in real life!"


Inclusion Update | Last weekend, we mentioned that we would be holding a range of events next half term to allow families more contact time with staff members from the Inclusion Team. This is either to find out how students are getting on or to find out more about provisions. 

If you have any questions regarding Inclusion, please contact Ms Cookson-Edwards, Inclusion Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Uniform | School Trousers | We have noticed a increase in students wearing legging type trousers with a flared bottom. These are not permitted at the academy. Trousers worn must be straight legged and must be made out of traditional suit fabric. All issues with these trousers must be rectified by Monday, 04 November. Should students arrive at the academy with these legging type trousers with a flared bottom, students will be provided uniform to wear. We thank you for your support in this. If you have any questions about uniform, please contact Ms Delver, Vice-Principal (pdelver@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Transitions Events | Thank you to everyone that has taken part in our transitions activities over the past two months. We have had contact with nearly 2000 families. This week, we had a range of workshops and masterclasses which both future students and parents got involved with. We continue with our Art focus this week. The art department held a clay workshop with families. Attendance and engagement was fantastic and no one worried about getting their hands dirty.  

We have had some fabulous feedback from the families that have taken part in our transitions activities. We have shared some comments below:

Should you have any questions prior to applying to Bexleyheath Academy, please contact Mr Choudhury, Assistant Principal  (schoudhury@bexleyheathacademy.org). We look forward to receiving your applications.

U13 Girl's Football Team | Another footballing success this week for our U13 Girls Football Team. They have managed to secure themselves a place in the English Schools National Competition 3rd round. This is a huge achievement and also made it into the 3rd round of the Kent Schools Competition. Getting so far in the Kent School Competition is a first for our team which shows the calibre of these players. The team have played amazingly through the last six matches and have shown determination and fantastic skill. Yesterday, the girls beat Newstead 4-1 with two goals from Bella in Year 07, one from Isobel and one from Grace in Year 08. The girls now face some tough games coming up after half term which the girls and the P.E team are all looking forward to.  


Glass Bottles | Glass bottles are not permitted in the academy due to safety reasons. We have noticed an increase of students bringing in perfume in glass bottles which have broken in bags causing safety concerns. Should students be found with glass bottles, these will be confiscated and disposed of. The academy does not take responsibility for these items. 


Pain Killers | Students are not permitted pain killers at the academy unless they are prescribed by a doctor and the packaging is unopened and has the pharmacy labelling on it. This will need to supported by written consent by parents/carers. Any pain killers that have been brought to the academy will be disposed of. We will not hold pain killers unless they are issued by a doctor in the conditions stated. 


Term 01 | Week 05

End-of-Term Arrangements | Term one ends on Friday, 18 October at 15:15. 


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please see the weekly newsletter from Ms Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please see the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Fixtures for next week | The following fixtures are planned for next week. Mr Sheehan and the team would have made contact with families already if your child is attending a fixture:


On Monday, there will be no Girls’ Football or Year 07 Football this week. Please also note that from after half term Year 07 Football for boys will be taking place on a Monday. We also have Rugby taking place on a Wednesday with Dartfordians that we would love to see more students attending. If you have any questions regarding the fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sport (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Inclusion Update | SEND opening evening. On Wednesday this week, we had a successful Opening Evening with prospective families of current Year 06 students who attended with a view to the students joining us for the next academic year. We would like to thank our students and families that took part in this event and spoke with perspective parents. During the event, families were able to field questions pertaining to how we at Bexleyheath Academy support students with SEND and the provision we offer. Families were able to meet with the Assistant Principals, SENDCo and support staff and have an extended tour of the school. Next term, we will be holding events for events for our current students that include:

If you have any questions regarding Inclusion, please contact Ms Cookson-Edwards, Inclusion Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Uniform | School Trousers | We have noticed a increase in students wearing legging type trousers with a flared bottom. These are not permitted at the academy. Trousers worn must be straight legged and must be made out of traditional suit fabric. All issues with these trousers must be rectified by Monday, 04 November. Should students arrive at the academy with these legging type trousers with a flared bottom, students will be provided uniform to wear. We thank you for your support in this. If you have any questions about uniform, please contact Ms Delver, Vice-Principal (pdelver@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

Lift Bexleyheath Logo Competition | From September 2025 we will be known as Lift Bexleyheath. This is part of the rebrand for the trust and the academy. As part of this rebrand, we need a logo. We will be having a competition to design the logo for the school which will be open to: all staff, students and parents/carers. This is your chance to make history!

The logo must only consist of: 

You should have annotations on your design to explain the different features. You may wish to show where the logo could go and how it could look on our uniform. 

The top entries will go into a public vote to determine which logo is the winning logo which we will have as part of our branding for years to come. If you would like to take part, please submit your idea for a logo on a sheet of A4 paper or digital slide. Submissions can be left in reception or emailed to Ms Luthfa, Principal (rluthfa@bexleyheathacademy.org). 

We will be speaking with students on Monday regarding this competition. If you have any questions regarding this competition, please contact Ms Luthfa.  


Student Leadership Update | Our applicants for student leadership have been working hard this week to film and edit their campaign videos. We have shared one of the videos with you from a Year 12 candidate. The next step will be the elections during which each applicant's video will be shared with students in their respective year groups. To ensure a smooth voting process, all students will receive an email with a ballot form listing the names of the applicants for their year group, enabling them to cast their votes. In addition, during our assemblies, we emphasised the importance of democracy, one of the five British Values. We encourage parents to discuss this opportunity with their children and highlight the significance of participating in the voting process. Thank you for your support in motivating your child to engage in this valuable leadership experience. 

Joining a student leadership program offers numerous benefits for children, including:


Year 12 Psychology Trip | Our Year 12 Psychology students visited Canterbury Christchurch University this week. Ms Jones, Teacher of Psychology said: "As part of our Psychology A-Level course students are expected to develop an understanding of Forensic Psychology. To ensure that that knowledge is contextualised and explored in depth we wanted our students to get the opportunity to re-enact features of the justice system in a way that will enrich their Forensic Psychology knowledge. During the trip, they attended a number of different lectures and completed some hands-on investigations. This trip allowed students to get a better understanding of what a Psychology/Social Sciences degree might offer them as well. In additional, this trip helped guide students who are curious about careers in Forensic Psychology and inspire those who might not be sure what field work they hope to go into. It was a great trip that was loved by all."


Year 06 Transition Events | Thank you so much to all our families that joined us for our Year 06 Inclusion Open Evening on Wednesday, 09 October 2024 where families had the opportunity to speak to our Assistant Principal for Inclusion, Mr Nestfield, our SENDCO, Ms Chiculita along with with other members of the Inclusion team. We also had our Year 06 Mathematics Masterclass at Bexleyheath Academy on Wednesday 09 October 2024 where we welcomed Year 06 students to the academy.

Please see below photos from the workshop.  Mr Choudhury, Assistant Principal said, "I have been managing the Bexleyheath Academy transitions process for two years now and truly believe that in order to make the right decision about your child's secondary school you need to engage with as many activities that your selected school offers. This helps you familiarise yourself with the academy, understand the systems of the school, build relationships with academy and reduce anxieties about joining a new school. We look forward to holding more events in the summer term for the students that have been lucky enough to be given a place at the academy to ease them into the academy."

To keep up-to-date with our Open Events for Year 07, please complete this google form. See some of the remaining events below for this half term:


Extra-curricular clubs | This week, we  will be looking at two extra-curricular clubs Dance Club and Illustration Club. In Dance Club, which takes place every Thursday with Mr Cook, students have the opportunity to learn a variety of styles and techniques including: ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. Mr Cook said: "Its a great way for students to be creative, be active and develop cultural awareness of different dance styles and the symbolic movements from different cultures. We are currently choreographing a range of performances ready for our Christmas concert where students can celebrate their achievements for the term."  In Illustration Club, which takes place every Thursday with Mr Ridout and Mr Hook, students have an opportunity to develop their artistic skills. Mr Ridout said: "Students work on different projects such as: comics, posters and decorative items. Students are given a theme which they must apply their illustrations skills to. Through the term, they work with a range of different tools and materials to help develop their portfolio of work." It has been another week where students have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in extracurricular clubs. Where students would like to attend a particular extra-curricular club, but did not sign up to it, students can just turn up and attend the club; teachers will add them to the register. If you have any questions regarding Extra-Curricular Clubs, contact Mr Choudhury, Assistant Principal schoudhury@bexleyheathacademy.org


Year 10 World Challenge |  We are very excited to announce that we can now offer our Year 10 students the opportunity to join our expedition to Morocco in Summer 2026. This will be after their GCSE exams. The trip is also open for our current Year 11 and 12 students. To find out more, join our Parent/Carer information evening on Tuesday, 15 October at 19:00. Register for the parent evening here. Trips such as these as a young person are important for several reasons:

In summary, expeditions not only enrich students' educational experiences but also contribute significantly to their personal development, helping them grow into well-rounded individuals.


Celebrating Sporting Achievement | Congratulations go out to Jake (Year 07) for taking part in the Junior World Karate Championships and achieving great success returning with 01 Silver medal and 03 Bronze medals. Karate is a martial art that originated in Okinawa, Japan, and has become popular worldwide. It emphasizes self-defence, discipline, and physical fitness through a combination of techniques. We are incredible proud of Jake and can not wait to see what he wins next!

Safeguarding | Fire Safety | A Home Office study has found that approximately 350 children are injured in accidental fires every year.  Naturally, this highlights the importance of educating young people on fire safety – ensuring they're aware of what precautions they can take to keep themselves protected around flammable materials and naked flames. It can be difficult to know where to start when teaching children and young people about this potentially life-saving topic. Please read this free guide, offering expert advice on how to educate those in your care about fire safety. It breaks down the steps you can take to protect youngsters in common situations – from bonfire night  to lighting a few scented candles. If you have any questions regarding safeguarding, please contact Ms Kendall, Designated Safeguarding Lead (nkendall@bexleyheathacademy.org).  


Glass Bottles | Glass bottles are not permitted in the academy due to safety reasons. We have noticed an increase of students bringing in perfume in glass bottles which have broken in bags causing safety concerns. Should students be found with glass bottles, these will be confiscated and disposed of. The academy does not take responsibility for these items. 


Pain Killers | Students are not permitted pain killers at the academy unless they are prescribed by a doctor and the packaging is unopened and has the pharmacy labelling on it. This will need to supported by written consent by parents/carers. Any pain killers that have been brought to the academy will be disposed of. We will not hold pain killers unless they are issued by a doctor in the conditions stated. 


Academy Council Members | As a school, we continue to grow. We currently have over 1500 students but only two parent/guardian Academy Council representatives. We are looking for parents/guardians that would like to support the academy in its continued improvement. There are three Academy Council meetings a year. In between these meetings, there is an expectation to visit the academy and:

If you are interested in this voluntary role, please contact Ms Chan, PA to the Principal (lchan@bexleyheathacademy.org) by Wednesday, 02 October. 


Aspens Catering | As you are aware, we will be updating our till systems over the October half-term to use finger prints instead of cards and students providing their name. The reason for this is to speed up the process of buying items from the canteen. The cards are effective in reducing the time needed to pay for an item so we ask that in the meantime families ensure that students are using their cards. When students do not use their cards, this causes significant delays in the canteen. To also speed up the process in the canteen, it would be helpful for students to also know what they want to have before they get to the tills. We have provided the lunch menu for next week from the catering company below. The menu for the morning break items can be found here. Please take time to talk your child through the menu. The cost of items can be found here

Term 01 | Week 04

End-of-Term Arrangements | Term one ends on Friday, 18 October at 15:15. 


Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please see the weekly newsletter from Ms Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please see the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Fixtures for next week | The following fixtures are planned for next week. Mr Sheehan and the team would have made contact with families already if your child is attending a fixture:

If you have any questions regarding the fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sport (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Medical Conditions | Each year, we update our Medical Conditions register. We require all families to complete this form if your child has a medical condition despite whether the academy has previous information about this or not. Please could we ask families to complete this form per child at the academy. 


Student Leadership | We are thrilled by the impressive number of students who submitted their scripts for the student leadership second stage applications! The quality of the submissions is outstanding and truly reflects the calibre of leaders they are becoming. The next phase of the process is the recording of their speeches, which will take place through the coming week. Each student will receive an email the day before their filming date with a time and location. In the meantime, we encourage families to support their children by helping them practise their speeches at home. Thank you for your continued support. We will be sharing the campaign videos with you soon. If you have any question about the student leadership programme, please contact Ms Shalo, Vice-Principal ishalo@bexleyheathacademy.org


Parents' Evening | Our first Parents' Evening of the year will take place on Thursday, 17 October from 15:30. These are virtual appointments and we will continue to use this platform as we have seen more families through the virtual meetings than we have ever seen during  face-to-face events. Conversations are concise due to the time limit and families can join from anywhere they want. Year 07 have had the priority slots so far but the books for all other families across the year groups will open from Thursday, 10 October. Families can book virtual appointments using our online booking system. Appointments are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Information on booking appointments can be found on the Parents' Evening page of the Academy's website. If you have any questions regarding our Parents' Evening’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms Fisher, Data Manager: dfisher@bexleyheathacademy.org.  


Inclusion Update | With termly assessments in full swing, we understand that this time can be especially challenging for students with SEND. However, with the right support and preparation, students can approach assessments with greater confidence and reduce anxiety. There are a few things you can do at home to support your child such as: 

If you feel your child is struggling with assessment preparation or may need additional support, please do not hesitate to contact the Inclusion Team. Your involvement and encouragement are invaluable to your child’s success, and together we can help them feel better prepared and more confident. Should you have any questions of need help, please message Ms Cookson-Edwards, our SEND Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org).  


Safeguarding | Instagram | Instagram is one of the most well-known social media platforms around, frequented by users of all ages all over the world, and allows them to share photos and videos with friends, family and the wider public if they wish.  The site has many younger users, allowing people as young as 13 and to create an account and engage with its community. As a popular choice of platform for teenagers, it's vital that families understand the risks associated with the site and what can be done to mitigate them.  This free guide lets you know about the most prominent safety concerns on Instagram, offering expert advice on how to make young people's experiences on the app as secure as possible. We have mentioned previously that Instagram is often used to:

If you have any questions or would like support about anything safeguarding related, please contact Ms Kendall, Designated Safeguarding Lead nkendall@bexleyheathacademy.org


BMX Superstar Returns | Our community has been eager for an update about Roxie (Year 09) and her BMXing career. The BMX season has come to an end and therefore, we thought we would provide an update on how she has performed over the last few months. Roxie has completed her first expert season competing against some of the top national riders in her age group in the South BMX Region series. 

Throughout the season, she raced at challenging tracks such as CycloPark, Peckham, Merton, Bournemouth, Hayes, Runnymede, and Broomfield, showcasing her talent on both her BMX and Cruiser bikes. 

In the BMX category, Roxie finished 07th overall, and in the Cruiser category, she secured 02nd place. Her strong performances didn’t stop there. Competing in the South Championships in Gosport, she placed 07th on BMX and 04th on Cruiser, which qualified her to compete in the Nationals and British Championships in 2025. 

We can not wait to hear more about Roxie's successes in BMXing!

If your child is doing incredible things outside of the academy that could inspire and motivate others, please contact Ms Luthfa, Principal (rluthfa@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Sixth Form Open Evening | We will be holding our Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday, 10 October 2024 from 17:00 - 19:00. We are inviting our internal students and any external students that would like to join us. During the evening you will:

There is no need to book, just turn up at the event!

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Mr Read, Assistant Principal dread@bexleyheathacademy.org.


Year 06 Transition Events | Thank you so much to all our families that joined us for our Year 06 live virtual open evening on Wednesday 02 October 2024 where families had the opportunity to hear from the Principal, Vice Principals and key members of staff, along with our students. If you missed the live virtual event, you can still watch the virtual open evening by  using the link here on YouTube.


We also had our Year 06 English Masterclass at Bexleyheath Academy on Wednesday 02 October 2024 where we welcomed Year 06 students to the academy to take part in a descriptive  writing workshop. 


Mr Choudhury, Assistant Principal said, "I have been managing the Bexleyheath Academy transitions process for two years now and truly believe that in order to make the right decision about your child's secondary school you need to engage with as many activities that your selected school offers. This helps you familiarise yourself with the academy, understand the systems of the school, build relationships with academy and reduce anxieties about joining a new school. We look forward to holding more events in the summer term for the students that have been lucky enough to be given a place at the academy to ease them into the academy."

To keep up-to-date with our Open Events for Year 07, please complete this google form. See some of the remaining events below for this half term:

To book onto events, please click here


Extra-curricular clubs | This week, we  will be looking at two extra-curricular clubs Drama Club and Keyboard Club. In Drama Club students are planning and preparing to re-enact our Christmas play, A Silent Night. Ms McGuigan said: "Our numbers are strong and now we need to find a new space as students keep bringing their friends. This is great as we need a community to put on this magical show. It does not matter if students do not want to act or sing, we have a group of students who are working of lighting, set design and costume design so there is a role for everyone. Drama club is great fun and brilliant at confidence building so come a long if you have some time to spare." In Keyboard club students are currently learning to play a melody to accompany songs for the Christmas Concert. This club allows students to develop their skills in playing the keyboard and developing creative compositions. Whilst the current focus is to prepare for the Christmas concert, students are learning how to use the keyboard and develop confidence in reading sheet music. Ms Liu, Teacher of Music said: "My students are so supportive of each other. I have a range of different year groups in this club and whatever their confidence level, they are supporting each other develop their skills. They are really looking forward to putting on the Christmas show so please come along to support them." It has been another week where students have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in extracurricular clubs. Where students would like to attend a particular extra-curricular club, but did not sign up to it, students can just turn up and attend the club; teachers will add them to the register. If you have any questions regarding Extra-Curricular Clubs, contact Mr Choudhury, Assistant Principal schoudhury@bexleyheathacademy.org


Improving Social Media Presence | We are proud to be the only academy in the borough that provides its community members with a weekly update of what is happening at our academy, provides reminders for you of how to prepare for in the new week and key knowledge in keeping our children safe in today's world. We have a presence on YouTube which allows us to post video of our events and is helpful for families to refer back to information. This week, we will be reopening our Facebook Page which can be found here. We invite community members to follow us on this platform. Through this platform, we hope to post articles about daily life at the academy. If you have any questions about social media channels, please contact Mr Kirby, Assistant Principal (jkirby@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Academy Council Members | As a school, we continue to grow. We currently have over 1500 students but only two parent/guardian Academy Council representatives. We are looking for parents/guardians that would like to support the academy in its continued improvement. There are three Academy Council meetings a year. In between these meetings, there is an expectation to visit the academy and:

If you are interested in this voluntary role, please contact Ms Chan, PA to the Principal (lchan@bexleyheathacademy.org) by Wednesday, 02 October. 


Aspens Catering | As you are aware, we will be updating our till systems over the October half-term to use finger prints instead of cards and students providing their name. The reason for this is to speed up the process of buying items from the canteen. The cards are effective in reducing the time needed to pay for an item so we ask that in the meantime families ensure that students are using their cards. When students do not use their cards, this causes significant delays in the canteen. To also speed up the process in the canteen, it would be helpful for students to also know what they want to have before they get to the tills. We have provided the lunch menu for next week from the catering company below. The menu for the morning break items can be found here. Please take time to talk your child through the menu. The cost of items can be found here

Term 01 | Week 03

Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please see the weekly newsletter from Ms Froggatt here


Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Please see the weekly newsletter from Mr Read here


Fixtures for next week | The following fixtures are planned for next week. Mr Sheehan and the team would have made contact with families already if your child is attending a fixture:

If you have any questions regarding the fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director of Sport (tsheehan@bexleyheathacademy.org). 


Another Win! | On Wednesday, our U15 Girls Football Team had a triumphant win. They played against Harris Beckenham and they were no match for our skilled footballers. The team was fantastic and won 09-02. The team was made up of girls from Year 08, 09 and 10. Players of the match go to Sara (Year 10 and Nell (Year 09). This is another team that has made if through to the next round of the cup! 


Medical Conditions | Each year, we update our Medical Conditions register. We require all families to complete this form if your child has a medical condition despite whether the academy has previous information about this or not. Please could we ask families to complete this form per child at the academy. 


Inclusion Update | The Inclusion Team would like to remind all families of the importance of homework, particularly for students with SEND. Homework provides an opportunity for students to practise and reinforce what they’ve learned in school, while also developing independence, time management, and problem-solving skills. For SEND students, completing homework can sometimes be more challenging, but it remains a vital part of their academic progress.  Completing homework builds a sense of routine and discipline, which can be especially beneficial for students with SEND, especially for our students with ASD and ADHD. Equally, homework encourages students to work independently, helping them develop skills that will serve them both in and out of school. Finally, homework allows our students to revisit material at their own pace, providing them the time they need to fully grasp concepts and prepare for termly assessments. We understand that for some students, completing homework at home can be difficult, whether due to learning challenges or other factors. Please know that help is at hand! If your child is finding it hard to complete their homework, our Inclusion Team is here to support you and your child. If your child is struggling with their homework, we encourage you to reach out to the Inclusion Team so we can work together to find solutions that work for your family. Please message Ms Cookson-Edwards, our SEND Administrator (acooksonedwards@bexleyheathacademy.org).  There are also a number of homework support clubs that students can attend:

Students can also get support during the morning Focus & Organise Club and lunchtime Chill Club.


What's happening in Design & Technology this week? | Ms Gaskin, Faculty Director for Design & Technology said: "Students from all year groups have been attending Sketchup Club. The students have created their own designs using the programme. They are then printing their designs using the 3D printer in the DT department to bring their designs to life! 

In the image you can see a desk organiser, a phone case and flexi animals. Anyone is able to join this club on Thursdays in T14 between 15:10 to 16:10. 

Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) are so important in the design industry today, it is important that students know how to create designs and use machines to manufacture. I am amazed at the problem solving skills that our students have to be able to create the animals that have multiple parts that fit together to create movement. Whilst creating their CAD designs, they are also developing Mathematics skills as if one part is not the correct size, nothing else will fit together or move!  


Year 11 Graphic Design students have been creating visual knowledge organisers to help aid their revision. These organisers also help with the completion of their NEA. The organisers help the students consolidate their knowledge and display the information in a visual way using colours, imagery and text. You can see examples of these below. This makes information easier to remember for them. This is something we will be rolling out to our other Design & Technology subjects next week as we prepare for January examinations."


What's happening in Mathematics this week? | This week, students started their UKMT Challenge preparations. The UKMT Challenge is run by UKMT which is the UK Maths Trust who are the leading British charity that advances the education of people in Mathematics.  Ms Sanni, Faculty Director of Mathematics said: "Year 7, 8 and 9 students with a flair in Mathematics have been preparing for the UKMT Challenge. This challenges aims to promote the love of problem solving in young people. The UKMT leads, Ms Ikuesan and Mrs Adegboye have been creating practice resources that students have been using in their maths lessons to prepare them for this challenge. The challenge will take place in January 2025. This will be great opportunity for students to showcase their mathematical prowess in this globally recognised challenge."


Year 06 Transition Events | For our prospective 2025 cohort of year 07 students, we will have a number of Open Events over the next term. To keep up-to-date with our Open Events for Year 07, please complete this google form. See some of the remaining events below for this half term:

To book onto this event. please click here

To book onto events, please click here


Thank you so much to all families that attended our week-long Open Morning Tours this week. We welcomed 380 families during the course of the week. 


Over 95% of guests visiting the academy feedback that they:


We look forward to sharing more feedback with you soon. 


Extra-curricular clubs | Our extra-curricular clubs started this week and it was great to see students’ enthusiasm and excitement as they took part in their extra-curricular clubs. 


*This week, Gymnastics will not be taking place on Thursday. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. 


Each week, we will celebrate a different club so you can find out what happens in different clubs which could help inform decisions about which clubs to join in the new year. This week, we revisit a club we introduced last year which is run by our local Police Officers. Warhammer Club became the fastest growing club last year and this year, the attendee numbers increased again.