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Principal's Welcome
Principal's Welcome
As we cross the finish line of Module 6 and reach the end of what has been another incredible academic year at Leigh Academy Bexley, I am filled with a genuine sense of pride in our academy community. This year has been a remarkable journey of growth, determination, and milestone achievements.
We have successfully completed our first Ofsted inspection, demonstrating the high standards and nurturing environment we strive to maintain every day. If you haven’t had a chance to read the report or see the positive local press, you can find it here. Also this year, we had our virtual authorisation visits with the International Baccalaureate (IB) for both the Career-related Programme (CP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). These significant events represent a massive step forward in our mission to provide a world-class, globally-minded education for our students, and they are a testament to the dedication of our exceptional staff. We will share the outcomes with you as soon as we are able.
Of course, the true heart of our academy is our students. Over the final few weeks of the module, as the weather turned significantly warmer, I have been extremely impressed by their incredible resilience. Despite the rising temperatures, our students maintained their focus, positivity, and drive, ensuring it was "business as usual" right up until the end. Whether sitting mock exams, participating in academy and LAT sports days, our inaugural face-to-face work experience, or developing our academy values through our second Cultural Capital Day, their conduct has been exemplary.
Thank you to our amazing families for partnering with us every step of the way. An academy thrives when its community works together, and this year has proven just how strong our partnership is. I hope you all have a wonderful, restful, and safe summer break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in September, refreshed and ready for another exceptional year ahead.
John Dixon | Principal
‘Be relentless in your pursuit of becoming your best self’
‘If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail’.
As we reach the end of the academic year, we want to look back and celebrate the incredible achievements of our Holkham students. At Holkham, we live by our mottos: ‘Be relentless in your pursuit of becoming your best self’ and ‘If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail’. Thanks to the hard work of our students and the brilliant support from you, we are ending the Module on an absolute high. We are proud to share that Holkham College has achieved the lowest negative behaviour points and the highest positive points in the entire academy for the second year running.
In 7H1, Tom showed us exactly what it means to strive for your best self in Drama. He blew everyone away during a whole-class roleplay, completely transforming into a father being questioned about his son and showing an exceptionally high standard of detail. In 8H1, Barakah has proven to be our most committed Drama student. She has taken part in every single academy show and has given 100% to both the acting and the written side of the subject.
Year 9 has had a remarkably busy and successful module. Behind the scenes, Beth in 9H1 has taken on the vital role of backstage management for our Drama shows. A huge congratulations go to the 9H1, especially Teddy, who came first in the relay and in quite a few running rounds at Sports Day!
Also in Year 9, Davina and Sid enjoyed an enriching visit to the Charles Dickens Museum, where they explored Victorian history and even got to handle real artefacts in the author's writing room. This was followed by a public speaking workshop where every student bravely wrote and delivered a speech to the class. The experience was a huge success, leaving many students confident enough to speak in front of an audience without using a script.
Our Year 10 students have currently finished their end of year mock exams and have shown incredible dedication and hard work preparing for these. Alongside this, we send huge congratulations to Mamadou, Charlotte, Lacey, Mia, and Chelsea, who all passed their first BTEC Performing Arts exam. This involved a 4,000-word project on the play ‘Things I Know To Be True’ as well as demonstrating live sound effects to a packed room backstage at The Old Vic theatre.
Finally, a massive well done to our Year 11 students on finishing their 2026 GCSEs. They showed exceptional maturity, discipline and focus from the very first paper to the final exam, working hard in drop-down and intervention sessions. Their resilience has set a powerful example for the younger year groups, and we are incredibly proud of them.
Thank you to all our parents and carers for your ongoing support. Have a wonderful, safe summer break!
D Pieroulli | Head of Holkham College
As another academic year comes to an end, we look back with pride on the many accomplishments and successes of our Knole students, and celebrate all they have achieved. We would firstly like to say our final goodbyes to 11K1 and 11K2. They’ve been a great asset to Knole College and great role models for our Year 10s who have just finished their first exam mocks. We wish the Year 11s all the best and look forward to results day.
KS3 entered into a robotics competition. Congratulations to our participants: Evie, Emily , Seth , Asad , Harry, Noah and Reggie.
We were delighted to celebrate Sports Day 2026 at Erith Track this year. It was a fantastic day filled with determination, teamwork, and school spirit. A huge well done to every student who took part. Your enthusiasm, effort, and sportsmanship made the day a great success.
Congratulations to our event winners:
Shot Put: Gracie, Sharan, Lorenzo, Archie, Fawwaz, Liam.
Discuss: Jessica, Amilia, Rosie , Nevaeh, Atlanta, Paul, Arijus.
Javelin: Millie, Reggie, Sidney, Marcus, Adrian, Arijus.
Long Jump: Farisah, Connie, Nevaeh, Betsie, Harvey, Callum, Louie, Arijus.
800m: Skye, Akshanna, Alexandra, Edward, Oliver, Mason, Asad, Callum, Mosey.
300m: Akshaya, Poppy, Kayleigh, Amy, Oliver, Harvey, Archie, Boom, Arijus.
200m: Emmanuel, Noah, Samson, Fawwaz.
100m: Ruby, Nevaeh, Jesse.
We are incredibly proud to have finished the day with silver overall, a fantastic achievement for Knole College!
Our students continue to impress us beyond the classroom with their many talents and achievements. Special congratulations to Harvey, who not only excelled in several Sports Day events but also represented London at the London Youth Games, winning a gold medal in swimming.
We would also like to wish Tilly the very best with her singing and dancing performances at Theatre Box Performing Arts School. Finally, good luck to Noah and his band, Sound Bites. We hope you enjoy a fantastic summer filled with successful performances!
A heartfelt thank you to all of our parents and carers for your continued support throughout the year. We wish you and your families a relaxing, safe, and enjoyable summer break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new academic year.
J Shiyani | Head of Knole College
‘Integrity is doing the right thing when you don’t have to - when no one else is looking or will ever know. When there will be no congratulations or recognition for having done so.’
It has been an incredible year for Petworth, with students excelling both in and out of the Academy, excelling in the classroom, sporting arena or within their own personal interests outside. We have the highest attendance across all colleges by 0.5% and the lowest unauthorised absence as well. Our attendance has also improved on last year. As I write this, we are a close second to Holkham for positive behaviour points on 72,278. This is a whopping 37,400-point increase from last year, so even if we don't catch Holkham, the students of Petworth should be incredibly proud of this progress.
Sports Day was a display of sheer dominance, seeing us win in all four competing year groups (Years 7 to 10), which, needless to say, left us as the overall 2026 Sports Day winners for the second year running. As the attendance table shows, Petworth turned up! Not only were we there in numbers, but we also participated brilliantly and were well represented in every discipline, including taking all the medals in the Year 8 boys 100m final, the Year 7 girls 100m final, the Year 10 girls 200m final and the 800m final. An amazing feat that was not achieved by any other college, and again, we are very proud of everyone who participated on the day.
A list of all our medal winners is below:
Gold Winners
Girls Shot Put - Ella, Chloe and Sophie.
Boys Shot Put - Onyekachi , Liam , Tom and Khushroop.
Girls Discus - Sidney and Sophie.
Boys' Discus - Madushan, Murty and John.
Girls' Javelin - Zainab and Sharon.
Boys' Javelin - Onyekachi and Luka.
Girls Long Jump - Reeymah and Chloe.
Boys Long Jump - Samuel.
Girls 800m - Chelsea.
Boys 800m - Henry.
Girls 300m - Chloe and Banjo.
Girls 200m - Casey and Irene.
Boys 200m - Ethan, Henry and Anjola.
Girls 100m - Eva, Joybella and Chloe.
Boys 100m - Romario and Dami.
Silver Medalists
Girls' Shot Put - Julia and Alexia.
Boys Shot Put - Freddie and Benjamin.
Girls' Discus - Melanie and Glory.
Boys' Discus - Luka and Bryan.
Boys' Javelin - Enrik.
Girls Long Jump - Lily , Ella , Tillie and Daria.
Boys Long Jump - Dami and Anjola.
Girls 800m - Elizabeth.
Boys 800m - Godswill and Enrik.
Girls 300m - Oluwajomiloju.
Boys 300m - Georgi, David, Jeziah and Robert.
Girls 200m - Oluwajomiloju and Daria.
Boys 200m - Godswill.
Girls 100m - Gladys and Irene.
Boys 100m - Tomiwa and Godswill.
Bronze Medalists
Girls' Shot Put - Lily.
Girls' Discus - Eloiza and Oluwajomiloju.
Girls Javelin - Betty and Sidney.
Boys Long Jump - Chebuka and Danny-James.
Girls 800m - Sophie.
Boys 800m - Josh, Danny-James and Ayden.
Girls 300m - Lily Ann.
Girls 200m - Gabiya, Praise, Sharon and Sophie.
Boys 200m - Ethan F, Ethan P and Ayden.
Girls 100m - Whitney, Nellie and Sophie.
Boys 100m - Ola and Jeziah.
Praise of 8P2 has also been busy winning awards recently. Praise entered The Young Translators Award, run by the University of Oxford’s Queens College and out of 25,000 entrants, Praise was whittled down to one of 5,400 finalists, then selected by an esteemed panel made up of literary translators and some of the university’s Modern Language students as one of the strongest entrants across the UK. This is an amazing achievement and Praise should be incredibly proud of herself.
A good-bye from Mr Wilson
After serving Leigh Academy Bexley for 3 and a half years, I will be leaving at the end of this academic year to pursue a new challenge in international education. My time at Bexley, culminating in the recent Ofsted inspection has given me some of my most rewarding years professionally and it has been a pleasure supporting the young people and working with the great families within our community. I have also been very grateful to lead and work within a wonderful team in Petworth College, they give so much to the students of Petworth College, making students feel supported and allowing them to thrive. I wish the students, parents and staff of Petworth all the very best for the future and am excited to watch Leigh Academy Bexley continue its exciting journey.
…And the new Head of Petworth College is…
I am also really pleased that my successor will be one of our own and am thrilled to announce that Mrs Baldock will be taking the reins in September, as both Head of Petworth and Designated Safeguarding Lead for Leigh Academy Bexley. Mrs Baldock was an integral part of us securing a ‘Strong’ standard for Inclusion and will no doubt continue to drive progress in Petworth College and Leigh Academy Bexley. I am sure the community will be very pleased with this appointment and wish Mrs Baldock the best of luck in her new role.
Our last thank you and well done go to the parents of our students, particularly those who have supported their sons/daughters through year 11 this year. As a year group, they have worked hard and deserve to have the best GCSE results of this Academy to date. We hope to see many of these students return to our sixth form but for those of you moving on with your sons and daughters to new educational establishments, we wish you all good luck. The relationships with all our families have continued to grow stronger, your support is greatly appreciated, and the success of the students at Leigh Academy Bexley is only possible by us all pulling together to provide the care and support your children deserve. Have a wonderful summer, and we look forward to seeing you all again in September.
P Wilson | Head of Petworth College
As we approach the end of the academic year, it is a good time to reflect on the year and look forward to the next.
In June, Year 13 students finished their final examinations and we wish them the best of luck. The quality of their controlled assessment was very strong and they worked incredibly hard in the lead up to their examinations. We look forward to celebrating their results with them on 13th August and supporting them with their transition into university, apprenticeships and employment.
Year 12 students recently visited the University of Kent as part of their preparation for higher education and future progression planning. The visit provided an excellent opportunity to explore university life, learn about different academic pathways, and gain a better understanding of the opportunities available after sixth form.
During the day, students took part in a range of workshops covering university courses, degree options, student life, clubs and societies, and the support services available to students. These sessions helped broaden their understanding of higher education and the different routes they may wish to pursue.
Students also enjoyed a guided campus tour, which gave them a first-hand insight into the university environment. They explored a variety of academic facilities, study spaces, and learning resources, while also learning about on-campus employment opportunities that can help students gain valuable experience alongside their studies.
A student finance session provided useful information on tuition fees, maintenance loans, bursaries, scholarships, accommodation costs, and budgeting. This helped students develop a clearer understanding of the financial support available for higher education.
Students were highly engaged throughout the visit, asking thoughtful questions and participating actively in discussions. The experience encouraged them to reflect on their future aspirations and provided valuable information to support their next steps beyond Year 12.
Students in Year 12 completed in-person work experience, providing them with opportunities to learn about different types of employment which will be available to them in 12 months' time and into the future. We are extremely grateful to our community business partners who provided these valuable opportunities to our students.
In June, we hosted the final part of the verification process for the International Baccalaureate Careers Related Programme. Members of the organisation met with staff, students and parents in order to confirm that we are aligned with the values and principles of the organisation. We look forward to receiving our final report and starting the programme in September 2026. If successful, we would become the only provider of the programme in Bexley, and it would further enhance our sixth form provision for our students.
On Monday, 6th July 2026, we hosted our induction day for our new Year 12 students joining in September. Students took part in a range of opportunities to gain a greater understanding of the IB Careers-Related Programme.
Our superstar athlete, Danielle, continues to shine. In March, she came 2nd in the 60 metres event at the Tricounties Indoor Championships which took place at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre. In May, she came 1st in the 200m at the Kent County Championships. Then, in June, she came 3rd in the 400 metre event at the Welsh Athletics Senior & U18 Championships at the Cardiff Athletic Stadium. We look forward to seeing her growth continue and wish her the best of luck.
The sixth form would like to extend our thanks to the parents and carers of our sixth form students. This partnership is extremely important as we support our young people towards independence whilst maintaining the highest of expectations.
C Dillon | Head of Woburn College C
SEND
SEND
Since opening our doors in November, Chatsworth—our Specialist Resource Provision (SRP)—has been a vibrant hub of growth, learning, and incredible milestones. We are absolutely thrilled with the progress our learners have made on so many levels over these past few months.
For several of our students who had previously been out of education, returning to a school environment was a major step. We are incredibly proud to share that these students are now attending school regularly, having adjusted well to the daily routines, structures, and expectations of school life.
At Chatsworth, we recognise that the educational journey of each student is unique and moves at its own pace. We take great pride in providing flexible, personalised support that allows every individual to navigate their education in a way that suits their strengths.
Crucially, our support for our Autistic students stretches far beyond the walls of the provision itself. Chatsworth students regularly engage in mainstream lessons, access targeted interventions, and share social times alongside their mainstream peers, fostering a wonderfully inclusive school community.
This term has been packed with exciting key achievements that highlight the growing confidence of our students.
Students attended their very first Cultural Capital outing! It was a fantastic morning out where everyone thoroughly enjoyed spending time with and learning about the animals.
Year 10 Work Experience: Celebrating independent skills, one of our brilliant Year 10 students successfully participated in on-site work experience, demonstrating fantastic focus and dedication. To end the week, they enjoyed teambuilding activities.
Welcoming Our Future Year 7s
Welcoming Our Future Year 7s
We are already looking ahead and building for the future! Recently, we welcomed a group of Year 6 children who will be joining the Chatsworth provision this coming September as they transition into Year 7.
The pupils enjoyed a full tour of the school, took part in fun getting-to-know-you icebreakers, and dived into some creative Lego challenges. As many of our current students know, Lego is always a firm favourite in Chatsworth, and it proved to be the perfect way to make our newcomers feel right at home.
Our exceptional SRP staff continually sets the highest standards for our provision. They are driven entirely by a shared mission: ensuring that every single student has the support they need to reach their full potential.
A very special, well-deserved shout-out goes to Ms Kerlen and Ms Mwangi. Thank you both for your tireless dedication, deep care, and unwavering support you give to our Chatsworth students every single day. You make a world of difference!
We are absolutely thrilled to share the fantastic recognition our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision received in our recent Ofsted report. Ensuring that every single child is supported to thrive is at the heart of our school ethos, and we are delighted that inspectors highlighted this dedication.
The report noted that:
"Leaders and staff identify any needs accurately, using a range of assessments to ensure support is appropriate for each pupil's individual circumstances."
Furthermore, Ofsted praised our commitment to inclusive teaching practice, stating that leaders ensure staff have access to high-quality training, making the necessary adaptations and reasonable adjustments that enable all pupils to experience success at school. This is a wonderful testament to the hard work and care of our entire team.
Bexley SEND Games Triumph!
We have some monumental news to celebrate from the sporting arena! Last month, our incredible Bowling Team traveled to Romford for the grand final of the Bexley SEND Games.
We are over the moon to announce that our team—100% of whom have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)—were officially crowned champions of London and the South East!
We are hugely proud of every single member of the team. Not only did they bring home the trophy, but they have also set an incredibly high standard for what comes next. Huge congratulations to our regional champions!
A massive part of our success this year has been the brilliant range of bespoke interventions we have utilised to support our most vulnerable cohorts. These programs have had a profound impact on our students, and the success of these initiatives this year has allowed us to tighten our multi-agency partnerships even further as we prepare for the 2026/27 school year.
Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) Support: We have loved working in partnership with Football Beyond Borders. This year, the program specifically targeted our Year 8 boys with SEMH needs, using the power of football and structured mentorship to successfully build up their engagement, emotional regulation, and teamwork skills.
Speech, Language, and Communication Needs (SLCN): Building on our proud work as a Bexley Local Authority case study for comprehensive SLCN screening, we utilised extra Secondary Speech Link support this year to catch and dismantle communication barriers early. Looking ahead, we have also been offered an exciting new pilot programme via the Local Authority for further support in SLCN—more details on this will follow soon!
Resilience and Wellbeing: Working in close collaboration with the local authority, we maximised extra Safety Valve support this year. This funding allowed us to expand our Friends Resilience programmes and significantly boost our ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) capacity, providing a vital safety net for our students' mental wellbeing.
Enhanced ASD Outreach: We tightly linked our practice with the Bexley LA ASD Advisory Outreach Team. This partnership granted us enhanced weekly pupil support and bi-modular planning meetings that sync perfectly with our Chatsworth resource provision, creating a seamless network of expertise around our Autistic students.
True inclusion relies on a strong bridge between school and home, which is why we have been absolutely delighted by the fantastic attendance at our Parent Coffee Mornings this year. Thank you to every parent and carer who came along to connect, share experiences, and collaborate with us. Because these sessions have been such a success, they will absolutely continue next year! We will be running them in each module, with a different specialised focus for each session to ensure parents continue to get targeted support, information, and a welcoming space to chat.
It is important to recognise the team that makes all of this possible. Thank you to our LSAs, HLTAs, SEND admin officers and counsellors.
We look forward to building on all of these incredible achievements as we move into the next academic year, continuing to ensure that every student at our school can reach their full potential.
Just to let you know that over the Summer break, should your child need any support with their mental health or well-being, please encourage them to reach out/connect to one of these services:
English
English
Culturally Speaking Project
This module, 24 of our brilliant Year 9 students took part in the Culturally Speaking Project, a fantastic initiative organised by the Kusuma Trust and the Speakers Trust. The project offers a unique opportunity for students to visit a major cultural institution before participating in a full-day oracy workshop, culminating in them delivering a speech inspired by the themes and ideas they encountered.
Our students enjoyed a fascinating guided tour of the Charles Dickens Museum, where they even got to handle real historical objects—including a "mother's help" milk bottle and a traditional laundry mangle! They learnt all about Dickens’ early life, the realities of the workhouse, and the hardships of the debtors' prison (though Billy Spikes, the resident kitchen hedgehog, was a definitive highlight!). Despite the blistering hot weather, our students were highly praised by the museum staff for their exceptional engagement and impeccable behaviour throughout the visit.
Back in the school library for the oracy workshop, students threw themselves into confidence-building games like Call My Bluff and Modes of Transport—the latter of which treated us to some incredibly well-constructed arguments for why riding a grizzly bear to school should be permitted!
By the end of the day, the inspiration from their trip was clear. Every single student in the group successfully wrote and performed an amazing speech in front of their peers, showcasing immense growth in confidence and public speaking.
Congratulations to Our Winners!
Congratulations to Our Winners!
While everyone did a fantastic job, special congratulations go to our top three speakers:
1st Place: John – Recycling
2nd Place: Mya – Overcoming Adversity
3rd Place: Julia – Immigration
Well done to all the Year 9s involved for representing the school so brilliantly!
Maths
Maths
Celebrating Year 11 Resilience and Hard Work
A massive well done to our incredible Year 11 students on finishing their GCSEs! Throughout the high-stakes exam period, they showed exceptional maturity, discipline, and focus from the very first paper to the final exam. Their dedication was clear to see as they worked tirelessly during drop-down sessions and early morning intervention workshops. By showing such immense resilience, they have set a powerful example for all our younger year groups, and the entire department is incredibly proud of their efforts. We wish them the absolute best of luck as we look forward to Results Day!
Year 10: Determination Through the Mock Season
Our Year 10 students have reached a crucial milestone in this module by completing their very first set of formal mock exams. Facing these rigorous assessments can be daunting, but our students rose to the challenge with tremendous ambition and resilience—even while battling through an intense summer heatwave! Their focus inside the exam hall was matched by their fantastic engagement with valuable work experience placements across the community. Balancing the high expectations of their first exam season with the independence of the workplace is no small feat, and they have proven they have the grit required as they head into their final GCSE year.
Top of the trust: Sparx Maths success!
It has been a phenomenal term of digital dedication across the academy, and our students have truly outdone themselves on Sparx Maths. Week after week, students have logged on, tackled challenging problem sets, and pushed their independent learning to new heights.
Because of this unparalleled work ethic, Leigh Academy Bexley was officially awarded a Certificate of Achievement for the most improved homework completion rate across the entire Leigh Academies Trust, achieving a brilliant 6% improvement! Presented by Academies Director Mrs T. Trusler, this recognition is a testament to the collective effort of our students.
A massive congratulations go out to our incredible individual champions dominating the Yearly Leaderboard with mind-boggling XP scores:
The Sparx Maths Hall of Fame: Our Galactic Achievers!
Earning a massive 6% trust-wide improvement didn't happen by accident—it was driven by individuals pushing the boundaries of independent learning. Meet the math titans who have scaled the summit of our Yearly Leaderboard:
🥇 The Unstoppable Force: Emma — 73,993 XP. Emma has redefined what dedication looks like, operating in a league of her own and proving that consistency unlocks unparalleled academic heights.
🥈 The Supersonic Challenger: Olawamiri — 69,123 XP. Hot on the leader's heels, Olawamiri electrified the leaderboard this term, racing through complex problem sets with the speed and precision of lightning.
🥉 The Daily Dynamo: Praise — 54,626 XP. Securing the podium with a radiant score, Praise brought brilliant energy to her independent studies, illuminating the pathway to success for everyone around her.
🏅 The Strategic Mind: Summer — 46,699 XP. Summer approached every single module with pure mathematical focus, proving that methodical practice builds elite skills.
🏅 The Visionary Thinker: Barakah — 45,398 XP. Engineered for excellence, Barakah locked down her spot among the academy's elite by inventing creative paths through tough problem sets.
These five champions are the engine behind Leigh Academy Bexley, taking home the Trust-Wide Certificate of Achievement. They have shown us all that with enough grit, any mathematical summit can be conquered!
Maths Beyond the Classroom: Connecting Our Learning Throughout IDUs
Mathematics isn't just about formulas in a textbook, it connects us seamlessly to the wider world! In this module, our Year 7 and Year 8 students showed fantastic participation in their Interdisciplinary Unit (IDU) lessons, where subjects intentionally collaborated to help students make meaningful connections, build projects over time, and solve real-world problems right within their normal timetabled slots.
Year 7: Recycling in School Proposal (Geography/Humanities + Science)
Our Year 7 students took on the "Big Idea" of creating effective solutions to environmental problems, focusing on the critical real-world context of reducing waste and improving recycling in school and wider society. Students began their journey by exploring the immediate reality of school waste and examining its broader environmental impacts. Moving into a dedicated Geography focus, they unpacked the core theories of recycling and sustainability before researching existing solutions used successfully in other schools or communities. Bringing their focus back to Leigh Academy Bexley, students identified specific waste issues on our own academy and drafted realistic,evidence-based plans. Utilizing mind maps, data, and letters to local authorities, teams designed highly persuasive proposals. The unit culminated in wonderful group presentations and critical reflections, demonstrating how combining subject knowledge and strong communication skills can build a genuinely convincing proposal.
Year 8: Healthy Eating Cookbook (PE + Food Technology + Digital Design + Maths)
Year 8 discovered how physical health, mathematical proportions, and digital media align to promote healthy lifestyles through the creation of a digital cookbook page and nutritional justification. The day began with students exploring balanced diets and discovering howkey nutrients support the human body. Putting their mathematical and research skills to the test, they selected real recipes and carefully adapted the ingredients to significantly.
Improve their overall nutritional value. Shifting into a design mindset, students meticulously planned out their layouts, balancing text clarity, step-by-step instructions, and vibrant imagery. Working with digital ICT tools, they built professional-looking final cookbook slides alongside a thorough written defense justifying why their meal choices were perfectly suited to a target audience. The unit concluded with students presenting their complete cookbooks and reflecting on exactly how their newfound nutritional knowledge directly guided their technical design choices.
Year 9: Real-World Extension
Extending this brilliant multi-subject focus beyond the school gates, our Year 9 students embarked on an exciting trip to Greenwich University with a very similar purpose. They had the pleasure of discovering how Maths dynamically weaves into Art, Music, Magic, Game Theory, and Chaos. They were also fortunate enough to hear directly from industry professionals about how mathematics shaped their unique career paths. The university visit has inspired brilliant cross-curricular connections, showing our young mathematicians just how far their numbers can take them!
Music
Music
Year 7
This term, Year 7 students have been exploring the energetic world of West African Drumming, focusing closely on the foundational musical concepts of rhythm and pulse. Instead of reading traditional Western sheet music, the students learned using oral tradition such as listening, repeating, and working together to build a drum circle.
Throughout the module, students mastered the physical coordination needed to play the djembe, a traditional goblet-shaped drum. They learned how to strike the drum correctly to produce two very distinct sounds: a deep, booming bass hit in the centre, and a sharp, ringing tone on the rim. They used these techniques to keep a steady, continuous "heartbeat" (the pulse) while layering complex patterns (the rhythm) over the top.
As their skills developed, the class tackled the challenge of polyrhythms. Students were split into different groups to play completely different cyclic rhythms at the exact same time, learning how to listen to each other so the beats interlocked like a puzzle. They also practised call and response, a musical conversation where they had to listen for a dramatic cue from the leader and instantly reply with the correct collective rhythm.
Through this hands-on unit, Year 7 developed fantastic teamwork, active listening skills, and physical coordination. Don't be surprised if you hear them tapping out these repetitive beats on the dinner table at home!
Year 8
This term, Year 8 students have been exploring the evolution of modern music by diving into two incredibly influential genres: Jazz and Electronic Dance Music. This module allowed students to see how musical traditions evolved from acoustic instruments and live improvisation into digital production and sequencing software.
In the first half of the term, students stepped back in time to explore the roots of Jazz. They learned about the importance of swing rhythms, syncopation, and walking basslines. A major focus of this unit was improvisation, where students stepped out of their comfort zones to compose their own melodies on the spot using the blues scale. They also explored the concept of chords and seventh chords, which give jazz its uniquely rich and sophisticated sound.
In the second half of the term, the focus shifted to the modern technology of Electronic Dance Music. Students swapped instruments for digital audio workstations to understand how modern tracks are built. They studied the foundational elements of club music, including four on the floor drum patterns, synth basslines, loops, and effects like panning and equalisation. Students also analysed the structure of EDM tracks, learning how to build tension and excitement through breakdowns, build-ups, and drops.
Through this diverse module, Year 8 developed a strong understanding of both performance and music technology. They have built fantastic skills in creative music composition, arrangement, and digital production that will serve them well in future musical studies
Year 9
This term, Year 9 students have been developing their critical listening and communication skills through an innovative module that combines music analysis with media production. The focus of the unit was on researching and analysing the rich traditions of West African drumming, and then presenting their findings in the form of a professional, engaging podcast episode.
To prepare for their broadcasts, students went beyond just playing the rhythms to deeply analyse the musical structures and cultural context of West African music. They used advanced musical vocabulary to evaluate how texture, dynamics, and tempo are manipulated in a drumming ensemble. Students investigated the role of the master drummer and analysed how cyclic patterns and polyrhythms create complex layers of sound that serve specific community functions and celebrations.
Once their research was complete, students stepped into the role of radio hosts and audio producers to script and record their podcasts. They learned how to structure an audio documentary, speak articulately about music, and integrate audio examples smoothly into their dialogue. This process required them to master digital audio software to edit their voices, balance volume levels, and layer background music effectively to engage an audience.
Through this module, Year 9 developed high-level skills in musical analysis, scriptwriting, and digital audio production. They have not only deepened their understanding of world music traditions but have also built valuable transferable skills in communication and media technology.
Science
Science
Science has been the usual hive of activity with our KS4 students diligently undertaking their preparations for their GCSEs and our Year 10 students preparing for their end-of-year exams. We are so proud of all the effort and resilience that our students have shown, especially Year 11s during one of the most stressful times of their lives.
Practical work has been at the forefront of students’ daily activities, including Year 11s working through the required practicals and Year 10 students performing heart dissections.
The end of this module included the Cultural Capital trip days, where a group of 15 Year 8 students made their way to the Science Museum in London. An excellent day was had by all students who spent the day discovering the magic and wonder of Science in the real world and enjoying some time outside the classroom.
Well done to Stanley, Joby, Frankie and Harry who between them have broken the record for me hearing “come and look at this” and “that's sick!” All students behaved impeccably during the day and were a credit to the Academy.
Sparx Science:
Well done to the following students for topping their year group for this year:
PE
PE
What an incredible, action-packed year it has been in the Physical Education department! From the very first whistle in September to the final track events of the summer, our students have brought boundless energy, determination, and outstanding sportsmanship to every single lesson, club, fixture and competition. We could not be prouder of how they have pushed their limits, learned new skills, and supported one another as teammates.
Over the past six modules, our curriculum offered a diverse range of sports designed to challenge and inspire every student. We kicked off the autumn and winter months by focusing on Football, Handball, Rugby, and Basketball.
As we moved indoors, students shifted their focus to precision, rhythm, and self-expression, showcasing incredible control and creativity in both Gymnastics and Dance.
Finally, as the weather warmed up, we moved outside to embrace the classic traditions of summer sports. Students tested their individual speed, strength, and endurance in Athletics, while demonstrating brilliant communication and striking skills on the pitches in Rounders and Cricket.
Whether scoring a spectacular goal, or beating a personal best on the track, every student has contributed to a vibrant year of sport. Thank you for your continued support from the sidelines—please read on to see some of our highlights.
Girls Football
Our Girls' Football Club has enjoyed another fantastic year, with excellent attendance from Year 7 and Year 8 students, as well as several enthusiastic Year 9 players who have joined the sessions every Tuesday after school.
One of the highlights of the club has been the dedication shown by everyone involved. Rain, wind, or sunshine, the girls have turned up every week with enthusiasm, determination, and a positive attitude, demonstrating a real commitment to improving their football skills and working together as a team.
Throughout the year, the club has proudly represented the school in a number of cup competitions as well as LAT Trust competitions. The players have shown great sportsmanship, resilience, and teamwork, competing with confidence and representing the school brilliantly on every occasion. These experiences have helped the girls develop not only as footballers but also as leaders and supportive teammates.
It has been wonderful to see so many students grow in confidence, make new friendships, and develop their technical skills throughout the season. The commitment and enthusiasm shown by all the players has made the club a huge success.
A big thank you goes to everyone who has attended training, supported the team, and represented the school with pride. We look forward to welcoming even more players next year and building on another successful season.
Boys Football
Our weekly Football Club remains one of the most popular extracurricular activities on the calendar, with massive turnouts every week.
While the standard of football is high, the real value of the club is the social aspect. It has become a great space for students to unwind, stay active, and socialise with peers outside of the classroom. Students from different year groups and friendship circles are mixing seamlessly, making it a welcoming and relaxed environment for anyone wanting to get involved.
The Year 7 football team has shown impressive resilience and a genuine passion for the game this season. Stepping up to secondary school football means facing tougher opponents and a much higher pace, but the squad has adapted quickly. Rather than letting their heads drop during difficult matches or narrow defeats, the players have consistently dug in, supported one another, and fought back in the second half. Their commitment to improving at every training session and their hard work on the pitch have built a strong team spirit, proving they have the determination to match their love for the sport.
Year 8 Football
Success on the pitch isn’t just about who scores the goals; it’s about how we work together as a unit. This season, our Year 8 football team has proven that true strength lies in teamwork and cooperation. By backing each other up, communicating through every play, and showing incredible spirit, we’ve transformed from a group of individual players into a cohesive squad. Every pass, tackle, and assist is a testament to our collective dedication and collaboration. Looking forward to more success next year!
Year 9 Football
Our Year 9 squad truly stepped up a gear this season, proving that football is as much a game of brains as it is of brawn. The defining moment of our year was undoubtedly our spectacular win over our local rivals, a victory built entirely on tactical discipline and flawless execution. Instead of relying on individual brilliance, we stayed compact and executed our high-pressing strategy perfectly. It was a masterclass in cooperative play and positional awareness, showing exactly what happens when every player trusts the game plan and works for the collective.
Year 10 Football
Despite a frustrating season where outside cancellations left us with only a handful of fixtures, our Year 10 squad refused to let their heads drop. The true measure of this team wasn't just found in the match results, but in the incredible commitment shown week in and week out at training. When we did finally get onto the pitch, that hard work paid off massively, resulting in some spectacular displays of football. Equally impressive was the team's impeccable behaviour and sportsmanship; every player was an outstanding ambassador, representing the school with pride and maturity. If this dedicated work ethic and team spirit continue into next year, there is no doubt that next season will be a massive success.
Basketball
Hoop Dreams: The Massive Success of Our Thursday Basketball Club!
What an incredible season it has been for our Year 7 to 11 Basketball Club! Every Thursday afternoon, the sports hall transforms into a high-energy arena of crisp passing, superb shooting and great teamwork.
With a packed house of up to 35 dedicated players every week, the courts have been absolutely buzzing.
What makes this club truly special is the incredible mix of age groups. Seeing our seasoned Year 11s stepping up to mentor the energetic Year 7s has been a massive highlight. We’ve watched raw beginners turn into confident ball-handlers and experienced players sharpen their tactical game.
Every Thursday session focuses on:
Skill Drills: High-tempo passing, dribbling clinics, and shooting form.
Tactical Awareness: Learning to read defensive presses and execute fast breaks.
Full-Court games: Putting those skills to the test in fast-paced, friendly matches.
A particular mention must go to the Year 11 team, who remained unbeaten all season.
Rugby Club
It is wonderful to see the club continually growing in size, welcoming more students each week. In particular, we would like to give a special mention to the number of Year 7 and 8 girls who have been attending; their passion and enthusiasm for the game have been fantastic to witness and have added so much to the atmosphere of our sessions.
Netball club
The netball club became more popular as the year went on. Starting with just a few, it ended with about 20 pupils participating each week. Skills practices ranged from different types of passing, silky footwork, and shooting. Unfortunately, the competition they were entered into was cancelled at the last minute but hopes are high that it will be rescheduled in the new academic year.
Striking and Fielding Club
Our after-school Striking and Fielding Club has evolved into a cricket club. Over the weeks, the students have thrown themselves into mastering a massive variety of skills, from the precision and patience of batting to the strategy of bowling to the lightning-fast reflexes needed for fielding. Beyond just learning the game, it’s been fantastic to see everyone's physical fitness levels visibly improve as they sprinted between the wickets and chased down balls in the outfield. Every session was packed with high-energy, fun games that kept everyone laughing and cheering each other on. It has been an immensely enjoyable experience for all the students who attended.
Sports day
The annual Years 7–10 Sports Day, held this year at Erith Sports Centre, was an outstanding success. The event saw excellent participation, exceptional student behaviour, and seamless coordination by the staff. The day fostered high spirits, healthy competition, and remarkable individual and team athletic achievements.
Notable performances included:
Chloe in year 9 winning the 100m, 300m, Long jump and Shot put.
Callum in year 9 winning the 800m and Long jump.
Nevaeh in year 10, winning the 100m and Long jump
Sophie, in year 10, won the Shot put and Discus.
Harvey in year 8 winning the Long jump and 300m.
Finally, a big well done to Petworth College, who won every year group!
LAT events include:
Cross country
Congratulations to every single runner who laced up their shoes and represented LA Bexley at the Cross-Country Competition earlier this year. While crossing the finish line is a great achievement, the true victory was witnessing the 100% effort, resilience, and heart all the students poured into every single kilometre.
Cross-country is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one, and each student proved they have the grit to face tough terrain and push through the limits.
Year 7 Mixed Handball
Our Year 7 mixed handball team also took to the courts recently for a tournament that proved to be a major success.
Despite it being an incredibly hot day, the weather didn't slow the team down. While they ultimately finished mid-table, the final standings didn't quite do them justice; the squad gave every opponent a real challenge and made them work for every single point. The highlight of the tournament was how well the boys and girls worked together. Their communication was excellent, passing with precision and ensuring everyone was involved in the play to carry them through the heat. It was a great performance to start their school sporting careers.
Year 8 Mixed Handball
On an absolute scorcher of a day, our Year 8 mixed handball team showed incredible commitment and teamwork to become the undisputed champions of the Leigh Academies Trust competition right here at Leigh Academy Bexley. Competing in blistering heat, the squad never let their energy drop, flawlessly maintaining the tournament’s mixed ratio by ensuring an equal balance of boys and girls on the pitch at all times. Their success was rooted in brilliant communication and a genuine desire to work together, passing with precision and backing each other up in every tough fixture. What made the day even more outstanding was the team's exceptional character off the court; as the host school, every single player stepped up to help set up the goals and clear away the equipment afterward. It was an excellent, trophy-winning day that showcased not only their fantastic athletic talent but also their superb sportsmanship and pride in representing our academy.
5-a-side Football
Our students from years 7- 10 competed in the highly anticipated Inter-Trust 5-Aside Football Tournament, squaring off against rival schools from across the trust. It was an exhilarating day of sport, defined not just by the talent on the pitch, but by the incredible spirit, determination, and unity shown by every single one of our players.
The tactical discipline was impressive, but the way our players lifted each other up after a tough shift was the real victory.
The fast-paced nature of 5-aside football demands high energy, and our students delivered. Rotations were seamless, and the players on the bench were just as vocal and supportive as the ones on the pitch. Whether they were defending a narrow lead or pushing for a late equaliser, the work rate never dropped.
Badminton
The PE department was thoroughly impressed by the performance of our students at the recent Badminton Tournament.
Going into the event, the players had received very little, if any, formal lesson time on badminton this term. However, they more than made up for the lack of training with natural athleticism and a highly competitive drive. Casual rallies quickly turned into fast-paced, intense matches, with students adapting well on the fly. Every point was fiercely contested, and the standard of sportsmanship throughout the day was excellent.
Boys 7’s Rugby
Tag Rugby Tournament: Years 7–10
Tag Rugby Tournament: Years 7–10
The recent Tag Rugby Tournament saw fantastic engagement from Years 7 through 10, with every student showing great work ethic from the opening whistle.
The Year 7s played with fearless energy, while the senior students demonstrated excellent tactical awareness. A special mention goes to the Year 9 and 10 teams, who put on a masterclass in teamwork and came agonizingly close to winning the entire tournament, missing out by the narrowest of margins in the final moments. It was great to see students across all four year groups pushing through fatigue and communicating well on the pitch.
LAT Tag Rugby Competition: Years 7, 8 & 9 Girls Shine on the Pitch
LAT Tag Rugby Competition: Years 7, 8 & 9 Girls Shine on the Pitch
Our Year 7/8 and Year 9 girls’ rugby teams recently headed out to compete in the LAT 7-a-side Tag Rugby Competition, putting on a fantastic display of athleticism, teamwork, and school pride.
Both teams faced tough opposition, but they stepped up to the challenge with incredible determination, showcasing just how much talent we have in our girls' sports programs.
Year 7 & 8 Girls: A Fantastic Foundation
Year 7 & 8 Girls: A Fantastic Foundation
The combined Year 7 and 8 team hit the ground running. For several of our younger players, this was one of their first major competitive tournaments, but you wouldn’t have known it from their performance.
The Highlights: The girls showed off excellent handling skills, quick footwork, and a sharp understanding of the game’s tactics.
The Tries: Their hard work paid off with a series of brilliantly worked team tries that left the opposition chasing shadows.
Year 9 Girls: Leading by Example
Year 9 Girls: Leading by Example
Our Year 9 squad brought maturity, pace, and tactical awareness to the pitch. Competing in a highly physical and fast-paced tournament, they ran hard, defended brilliantly as a unit, and transitioned from defence to attack seamlessly.
The Highlights: Their communication on the field was outstanding, allowing them to spot gaps in the opposition's line and exploit them effectively.
The Tries: Exceptional individual runs combined with selfless offloads resulted in a fantastic tally of tries throughout the day.
Other achievements
A huge congratulations to Harvey, who was selected to compete in swimming at the London Youth Games.
He participated in three events, gaining two gold medals and a fourth place.
Well done, Harvey. This is an amazing achievement.
Danielle Continues to Shine on the National Stage
Everyone at the school is incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Sixth Form student Danielle, who continues to balance the demands of full-time study and university preparation while competing at the very highest level of junior athletics.
Danielle's 2026 season has been nothing short of exceptional, demonstrating the dedication, resilience and determination required to succeed both academically and in elite sport.
Her season began in January at the London Indoor Games, before enjoying a hugely successful March at the Kent Indoor Championships, where she was crowned Kent Champion in both the 60m and 200m.
Competing against older athletes has not fazed Danielle. At both the Southern England Championships and the UK Indoor National Championships, she stepped up into the Under-20 Girls age group and produced outstanding performances, finishing third in both the 60m and 200m to claim national-level medals against older competition.
The outdoor season has been equally impressive. In April, Danielle competed in the Youth Development League, winning 1st place in the 200m and helping her team secure 1st place in the 4 × 100m relay. During the same month, she was also recognised for her dedication and achievements by receiving a Greenwich Sports Foundation Award.
Representing Cambridge at the Kent Championships in May, Danielle was crowned Kent Under-18 200m Champion, winning the gold medal, while also taking silver in the 100m.
More recently, Danielle proudly represented the Kent Team at the national championships. After travelling on Thursday and not returning home until Saturday evening, she helped the county team earn a National Silver Medal and also secured an excellent bronze medal in the 200m.
Although delighted to come away with two more medals, Danielle's competitive mindset means she is always striving for more. Challenging temperatures and strong winds made conditions difficult throughout the competition, but she showed tremendous resilience and viewed the experience as another valuable opportunity to learn and develop.
Remarkably, after arriving home on Saturday evening, Danielle was back competing the very next day in the Youth Development League, where she once again demonstrated her incredible consistency by winning 1st place in the 200m and 1st place in the 4 × 100m relay. Three consecutive days of competition left her understandably tired—and even with a slight sunburn—but her determination never wavered.
Despite her packed competition schedule, Danielle continues to attend Sixth Form full time, balancing the demands of her studies while preparing for a place at university. Her commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom makes her a fantastic role model for younger students.
Danielle's season is far from over. This weekend, she has the exciting opportunity to compete at the prestigious London Diamond League at the London Stadium, with the event being streamed live on the BBC. She will then turn her attention to the UK Under-18 National Championships the following weekend, where she will once again compete against the country's very best young athletes.
Danielle said that every competition provides another opportunity to improve, learn and push herself towards even higher standards, and we have no doubt there are many more successes still to come.
We are incredibly grateful to have played a small part in Danielle's journey this season. The support provided by staff has helped her balance the demands of elite sport alongside her education, and we are immensely proud to celebrate her achievements.
Congratulations, Danielle, on an extraordinary season so far. We wish you the very best of luck at the London Diamond League and the UK Under-18 National Championships. The entire school community will be cheering you on!
Business Studies
Business Studies
This has been a brilliant year for the Business Department at Leigh Academy Bexley, with our students achieving success across both Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5.
Year 10
Our Year 10 Business students successfully completed their Component 1 coursework, demonstrating excellent knowledge, creativity and commitment throughout the assessment process. In addition, students gained a greater understanding of key business concepts such as customer service, finance, branding and entrepreneurship. These experiences encouraged them to think critically, solve problems creatively and apply their knowledge to real-world business situations. The skills developed in Component 1 provide an excellent foundation for Component 2, where students will apply their knowledge by planning and developing their own micro-enterprise ideas. More importantly, these transferable skills prepare students for further study, apprenticeships and future careers in business and beyond.
Year 11
Building on this success, our Year 11 students completed their Component 2 coursework to a high standard. As part of the project, they developed and refined their own business ideas before pitching them through individual presentations to their classmates. Throughout the process, students demonstrated excellent creativity, initiative, and entrepreneurial thinking, while applying their knowledge of business planning, market research, finance, and marketing strategies.
Their presentations showcased not only the quality of their business concepts but also the confidence and professionalism with which they communicated their ideas. Students developed valuable skills in public speaking, presentation, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and responding to questions, all of which will support them in their future studies and careers. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm, resilience, and dedication they displayed, and they should be extremely proud of the high standard of work they produced.
Year 12
Year 12 students have been studying BTEC Business Unit 2, where they have explored how businesses plan and deliver effective marketing campaigns. Through research, case studies and practical tasks, students have developed valuable skills in market research, data analysis, communication, problem solving and decision making, preparing them for external assessment and future careers in business.
Year 13
Our Year 13 Business students have also enjoyed a fantastic year. They have successfully completed all 4 units for their BTEC Extended Certificate in Business with excellence in both their internal and external exams.
These outstanding outcomes are a reflection of the hard work and commitment shown by our students, supported by the expertise, passion and unwavering dedication of the Business teaching team. The positive reports from the external examiners provide independent recognition of the high-quality teaching and learning taking place within the department.
We are incredibly proud of everything our students have achieved this year. Their success is something we can all celebrate, and we look forward to continuing to build on these achievements as we strive for even greater success in the years ahead.
Congratulations to all of our Business students and staff on a truly successful year!
Computer Science
Computer Science
Donatas K
Another busy and exciting term for the Computing Department! Across all year groups, students have been working hard on a range of engaging projects, developing new knowledge and skills while showing fantastic enthusiasm in lessons. We are incredibly proud of the effort, resilience and creativity our students have demonstrated throughout the term.
Year 7
This term, Year 7 students have been learning all about what is inside a computer. They have explored the different hardware components, including the CPU, RAM, storage, motherboard and input/output devices, discovering how each part plays an important role in making a computer function. Students have also learned how these components work together to process information and run programs. It has been fantastic to see their confidence grow as they explain the purpose of each component and apply their knowledge to the technology they use every day.
Year 8
Year 8 has taken a journey through the history of computing, exploring some of the most influential people and inventions in computer science. They began with George Boole and the development of Boolean logic before travelling back to World War II to learn about Alan Turing and the role he played in breaking the Enigma code. Students then explored more modern developments, including the rise of Apple, Microsoft, the internet and social media. Throughout the module, students have shown excellent curiosity and have gained a greater appreciation of how these innovations continue to shape our everyday lives.
Year 9
This term, Year 9 has been exploring the impact technology has had on society and the wider world. Students investigated how laws help to protect our personal data, how technology has transformed communication and education, and the environmental impact of issues such as electronic waste. As students prepare for the next stage of their education, this unit has encouraged them to think critically about both the benefits and challenges of technology, helping them become informed and responsible digital citizens.
Year 10 Creative iMedia
This term, our Year 10 Creative iMedia students have been preparing for their mock examination, working hard to build their knowledge of the R093 Creative iMedia in the Media Industry exam unit. They have explored topics including media sectors, job roles, planning documentation, legal and ethical considerations, health and safety, and media codes and conventions. Students have shown great resilience and determination while tackling these challenging concepts, and it has been fantastic to see their confidence grow. After returning from work experience, they will begin exploring the client brief for their new coursework project, ready to start creating exciting media products in September.
Year 10 Computer Science
This term, our Year 10 Computer Science students have been developing their Python programming skills. Starting with the fundamentals, they have progressed to writing more complex programs using selection, iteration and variables to solve increasingly challenging problems. It has been fantastic to see students persevere through the challenges of programming, using trial and error to debug and improve their code. Several students have even taken on an additional algorithm challenge to extend their learning, demonstrating fantastic enthusiasm and determination both inside and outside the classroom.
Oliver
Food and Nutrition
Food and Nutrition
Food & Nutrition Year 8 & Year 9 – Transition into Food Preparation
Food & Nutrition Year 8 & Year 9 – Transition into Food Preparation
As both food rooms are now becoming fully operational, our Year 8 and Year 9 students have begun their transition into regular Food Preparation and Nutrition practical lessons. This marks an exciting new chapter for the department, allowing students to develop essential life skills alongside their understanding of nutrition, food science and healthy eating.
Students are already building confidence in food hygiene, knife skills, organisation and teamwork, providing an excellent foundation for future GCSE study.
GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition – Year 10
GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition – Year 10
Our Year 10 GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition students are continuing to strengthen their practical skills by applying the theory they have learnt in the classroom. Each practical session is carefully designed to prepare students for the demands of the NEA 2 Practical Task and NEA 1 Food Investigation, where they will investigate the scientific principles behind food preparation and cooking.
Students have explored a range of food science concepts while refining their technical skills, ensuring they are well prepared for the challenges of their coursework next year.
LABex Bake-Off at Leigh Geoffrey
LABex Bake-Off at Leigh Geoffrey
Congratulations to Year 8 student Barakah, who showed tremendous courage by representing Leigh Academy Bexley at the LAT Bake-Off at Leigh Geoffrey, despite having very little previous baking experience. Stepping outside of her comfort zone, she embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and determination, representing the academy with confidence and pride. We are incredibly proud of her willingness to challenge herself and be an excellent ambassador for our school.
Year 6 Transition Food and Nutrition
Year 6 Transition Food and Nutrition
We were delighted to welcome Year 6 students as part of our transition programme.
During their visit, students took part in an engaging Healthy Eating lesson where they learnt about the importance of a balanced diet before preparing their own colourful vegetable wraps. The session was filled with enthusiasm, teamwork and smiles as students confidently developed their food preparation skills while learning how healthy eating can also be enjoyable and delicious.
DT/Engineering/Food
DT/Engineering/Food
Year 7 – Picture Frame Project
Year 7 – Picture Frame Project
Our Year 7 students have been developing their practical workshop skills through the manufacture of their own wooden picture frames. Throughout the project, students have learnt how to work safely with a range of hand tools and equipment, accurately measure and mark materials, and produce a high-quality finished product. It has been fantastic to see the pride students have taken in their work, with many producing frames they can proudly display at home.
During this practical workshop, students demonstrated creativity, precision and excellent craftsmanship as they designed and manufactured their own wooden mobile phone holders. Beginning with accurate measuring and marking out, students carefully cut, shaped and assembled the individual components before sanding and refining their work to achieve a smooth, professional finish. Throughout the session they developed valuable workshop skills, including the safe use of hand tools and equipment, while gaining a deeper understanding of the design and manufacturing process. The session was filled with focus, collaboration and pride as students confidently transformed raw materials into attractive and functional products they could take home.
Engineering – Year 10
During this Year 10 Engineering NEA project, students applied the knowledge and skills developed through the WJEC Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Engineering to design and manufacture an adjustable desk lamp that met a given design brief. Following the engineering design process, students interpreted technical drawings, selected appropriate materials, and used a range of workshop tools and machinery to accurately measure, mark out, cut, shape and assemble each component. Throughout the project, they demonstrated precision, problem-solving and quality control while refining their products to meet the requirements of the specification. This practical experience enabled students to develop the core skills assessed within the WJEC Non-Examination Assessment (NEA), including planning manufacturing processes, applying safe working practices, producing engineering products to a high standard, and evaluating the effectiveness of their final outcome. The project showcased students' growing confidence, technical competence and ability to apply engineering principles to create a functional, high-quality product.
PSHE
PSHE
Personal Development: This Module
Personal Development: This Module
In this module, students across Years 7–10 have continued to develop the knowledge, confidence and decision-making skills needed to navigate everyday life safely and responsibly. Through discussion, real-world case studies and practical activities, students explored topics that will help them make informed choices both now and in the future.
Year 7
Year 7
Year 7 developed practical skills to help them stay safe and become more independent. Students learned basic first aid and emergency response, explored how to make safe and informed decisions about their own bodies, and discussed how influence can affect identity and self-expression. Throughout the unit, students were reminded that everyone has the right to feel safe and know where to seek help if they are worried.
Year 8
Year 8
Year 8 focused on navigating the digital world safely and responsibly. Students explored online relationships, the influence of social media, and how digital content can shape expectations and behaviour. They also learned how to recognise healthy and unhealthy online influences and created guidance to help younger pupils stay safe online.
Year 9
Year 9
Year 9 developed their financial awareness by exploring the risks of financial exploitation, online scams and image sharing. Students investigated how criminals manipulate young people, examined the growing risks posed by AI-generated deepfakes and online exploitation, and created advice to help younger students protect themselves, make informed decisions and know where to get support.
Year 10
Year 10
Year 10 explored substance misuse and addiction through a scientific lens. Students investigated how addiction affects the brain, why recovery can be challenging and why support is so important. By understanding the science behind addiction, students challenged common misconceptions and created information leaflets encouraging young people to seek help, reinforcing the message that recovery is always possible.
This module has reinforced an important message across every year group: making informed decisions, recognising risk and knowing when to ask for help are essential skills that will support our students throughout their lives.
Across every lesson, one message remained consistent: making informed decisions, recognising when something is wrong and knowing how to ask for help are essential life skills that will support our students both now and in the future.
STEM
LABEX celebrated International Women's Engineering Day with an amazing visit to Greenwich University! Some Year 7, 8, and 9 students were treated to a day packed with interactive workshops, inspiring tours, and enjoyable activities. For many of them, it was a thrilling first experience at a university! They had the chance to meet incredible female engineering students, gaining valuable insights into this exciting field. With women representing just 13% of engineers, this trip aimed to inspire and showcase the remarkable contributions women are making in engineering. By the end of the day, students left feeling curious, motivated, and optimistic about the bright opportunities that await them in the world of engineering!
Careers
As part of Module 6, 104 Year 10 students and all 26 Year 12 students completed in person work experience placements. Feedback from employers has been extremely positive, with students praised for their professionalism, dedication, communication skills and ability to integrate into professional environments. Employers highlighted students’ teamwork, organisation, creativity, willingness to take on additional responsibilities and growing confidence throughout their placements. This is a testament to our students’ character and their commitment to upholding the school’s high expectations.
Many organisations have expressed an interest in offering further work experience and voluntary opportunities to our students. For those unable to secure an external placement, a carefully planned in-school programme was provided. This included guest speakers from ARC Group and DVF Recruitment, who delivered sessions on the recruitment process, CV writing and the responsible use of social media. Students also took part in employability and team-building activities, many of which were planned and led by Year 10 students completing departmental placements within the school. Their leadership, maturity and enthusiasm were exceptional.
The 2026 work experience programme has been a tremendous success, with students demonstrating a strong commitment to developing their skills and making the most of every opportunity.
Humanities
Humanities
As we come to the end of a busy yet rewarding year, here in the Humanities department, we have lots to reflect on and even more to celebrate! We are incredibly proud of the curiosity and dedication all of our students have shown. Our Year 7s and 8s have particularly enjoyed learning more about what it means to be a ‘risk taker’ in an educational setting and are taking more ownership over their learning as a result.
Last week, our Year 7’s took part in their first IDU day. This was a joint planning event between Humanities and Science, looking at how waste can impact the school environment. Students first explored what happens to rubbish after we put it in a bin and ended the day by presenting their own ideas about how our school can tackle the issue of waste by adopting more sustainable practices!
The Humanities department has been hosting one of our own Year 12’s on a work experience placement this week. Ms Anderson has been supporting by checking the Sociology KVG’s, reviewing our stationery levels, creating source packs and being a TA for some of our Year 7’s and 8s. She has worked really hard and has been genuinely surprised by how much more there is to teaching than providing lessons.
Finally, we want to take a moment to reflect on some of our achievements this year,
Historians have taken part in an archaeological dig at Lesness Abbey (for which they were commended by the site team for their wonderful participation and behaviour).
Year 11 and 12 have been involved in our 360 Holocaust Experience, interviewing AI reconstructions of Holocaust survivors and digitally exploring sites where the Holocaust was carried out- an amazing next step in combining History teaching with modern technology..
There was a Holocaust Memorial Design competition, in which one of our KS3 students won her category. An outstanding achievement!
In addition to our diverse curriculum, this year we have visited the coastal area at Reculver Towers (Year 10), as well as the urban contrast of Canary Wharf (Year 11) to aid their exam preparation.
Some students have been involved in the LAT Geography competition, whereby all the schools in the Leigh Academy Trust were involved. We were delighted that one of our KS4 students was runner-up, a wonderful effort considering the large number of entries into this competition.
Looking forward
We are proud to announce the introduction of RE as a GCSE option starting this September! This new course offers a brilliant blend of philosophy, ethics, and world religions, pushing students to think critically about the law, human rights, and global politics. GCSE RE isn't just about understanding faith; it’s about developing the analytical and communication skills necessary for success in the 21st-century workplace. We are incredibly excited to see our students step up to this academic challenge and pioneer this new chapter for our school, and we can't wait to welcome our very first GCSE cohort next term!
Whether analysing a historical source, decoding a geographical matrix, or studying human behaviour, the dedication, maturity, and empathy shown across all key stages have been fantastic. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and wish everyone a wonderful, well-deserved summer break!
Yorkshire Hills - Nevaeh
Reculver 2026
Art and Photography
Art and Photography
Year 7
Our MYP Year 7 Art students have been diving into environmental activism by collaboratively sculpting a clay coral reef to explore the impacts of climate change and plastic pollution on our oceans. The reef will be painted entirely white to represent coral bleaching—the tragic process where rising ocean temperatures cause stressed coral to lose its colour before dying. To highlight the secondary threat of marine pollution, students will be wedging brightly coloured plastic waste into the white clay structure, creating a stark visual contrast. This powerful project combines hands-on artistic technique with global awareness, showing our young artists how creativity can be used as a voice for conservation.
Year 8
In this module, our Year 8 Art students have been diving into an exciting MYP project centred around the Statement of Inquiry: "Creativity often grows through play as students explore opportunity, risk, and consequences." Students embraced this mindset by getting hands-on with clay, taking creative risks as they experimented with sculpting different, highly expressive facial features. This playful, trial-and-error exploration of texture and form culminated in a fantastic final project: each student designed and crafted their very own unique clay gargoyle head. Through this process, they not only developed excellent foundational sculpting skills but also learned to embrace the unexpected consequences of working with a three-dimensional medium.
Year 9
In this module, our Year 9 Art students have been exploring the theme of architecture. This exploration culminated in a collaborative final project: the construction of a massive clay favela town. Inspired by the vibrant, stacked architecture of the favelas in Brazil, each student meticulously sculpted their own individual clay hut. When assembled together, these unique pieces formed an incredible, interconnected community installation. We are immensely proud of how well the students worked together, demonstrating both brilliant individual craftsmanship and fantastic teamwork to bring this miniature city to life!
Drama
Drama
Year 7
This term, Year 7 drama students have been building their performance and storytelling skills by exploring two very different styles of theatre. The students started the module by diving into the world of Bugsy Malone, focusing entirely on script work and physical theatre rather than the musical numbers. They stepped into the roles of rival gang leaders Dandy Dan and Fat Sam, learning how to use their posture, facial expressions, and vocal projection to bring these iconic, larger-than-life characters to life. Alongside characterisation, the class learned the importance of stage blocking, mastering how to position themselves and move purposefully on stage to ensure their scenes looked professional and engaging for an audience.
In the second module, the focus shifted to a gripping, inquiry-based project titled Jo. For this unit, students took on the roles of investigators after being presented with the confusing facts of a mysterious case. Working in teams, they analysed the evidence to form their own theories about what happened, and then brought their ideas to life through dramatic performance. To tell their stories effectively, the students mastered several advanced drama conventions, including still images to capture key moments of tension, flashbacks and flash-forwards to reveal hidden secrets in the timeline, and immersive roleplay to explore the motives of different characters.
Through these two contrasting units, Year 7 developed fantastic confidence, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. They have learned not only how to interpret and embody a text-based script but also how to collaborate creatively to build their own original mysteries from scratch.
Year 8
This term, Year 8 drama students have been stretching their creative boundaries by exploring a classic text alongside modern devising techniques. The students began the module by diving into the dark, dramatic world of Shakespeare's Macbeth. They focused on understanding the complex motivations of the characters, mastering the delivery of the language, and exploring the play’s core themes of ambition, guilt, and betrayal. Through practical staging, the class experimented with physical theatre and vocal contrast to bring the supernatural elements and high-stakes tension of the tragedy to life on stage.
In the second half of the term, the focus shifted from text-based acting to original theatre creation, using contemporary social media as a stimulus for devising. Students analysed how digital platforms, viral trends, and online communication affect modern life, using these concepts as a springboard to invent their own unique stories. Working in small ensembles, they collaborated to script, structure, and block their own original scenes from scratch. This process challenged them to think abstractly about how to represent digital concepts like notifications, scrolling, and online personas through live physical performance.
Through this combination of classical text and modern devising, Year 8 developed excellent versatility as performers and creators. They have sharpened their ability to interpret demanding scripts while building crucial skills in teamwork, creative problem solving, and original scriptwriting.
Year 9
This term, Year 9 drama students have been challenging themselves with highly stylised performance methods and deeply personal storytelling. The students began the module by exploring the unique and physical world of the practitioner Steven Berkoff. They studied his signature techniques, including total theatre, heightened facial expressions, exaggerated vocal delivery, and the use of mime and chorus work. By breaking away from realistic acting, the class learned how to use their bodies and voices as powerful instruments to express intense emotions and create striking, non-realistic imagery on stage.
In the second half of the term, the focus shifted to a major devising project centred around the theme of identity. Students used this stimulus to explore personal and universal questions about who we are, how society labels us, and what shapes our sense of self. Working collaboratively in groups, they drew upon Berkoff's physical techniques to build their own original pieces of theatre from scratch. This process required them to experiment with abstract storytelling, script editing, and spatial awareness as they transformed complex thoughts and discussions into an engaging live performance.
Through this advanced module, Year 9 developed exceptional maturity, artistic independence, and physical confidence. They have not only mastered a demanding style of theatre but have also sharpened their skills in collaborative scriptwriting, critical thinking,and creative problem solving.
Year 10
These students are taking the Btec Performing Arts in Acting nad Musical theatre. They have completed their component 1 and are now reachingthe end of their component 2, where they select and perform a a scene
Theatre Trip to The Old Vic To see ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’
Year 10 students visited The Old Vic this week to watch a performance of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. This was the third theatre trip students studying the BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts have attended this year, continuing to develop their understanding of professional performance and production skills through live theatre experiences.
Students were particularly engaged by the powerful performance itself, which included many dramatic twists that shocked the audience and kept them fully invested throughout the production. The performance was staged in the round, meaning the audience surrounded the acting space on all sides. This created an intense and immersive atmosphere, making the audience feel closely connected to the action and emotions of the characters. The use of lighting, sound and staging helped bring the world of the play to life, while the ensemble work effectively showed relationships, conflict and emotion between the characters.
The trip also linked to the backstage sound design workshop students had taken part in the day before. During the workshop, students explored soundscaping and live Foley techniques, helping them better understand how sound can create atmosphere, tension and emotion within performance. Watching the production afterwards allowed students to recognise these techniques being used within a professional theatre setting.
The performance ended with a standing ovation from the audience, showing the impact the production had on everyone watching. It was a fantastic experience for our students and an invaluable opportunity to experience professional theatre-making first hand. We were extremely proud of the maturity, creativity and enthusiasm shown by all Year 10 students throughout the visit.
Thank you to Ms Mann and Mr Powders for their support with the visit.
These students have now completed their course with a final devised piece using the stimulus from the exam board of ‘Common Ground’. We had various pieces covering grief, war, transgender, social media and lockdown. They definitely finished on a high!
I am proud to announce that Connor has secured a place at The Brit School, and Freya has a place at The London College of Performing Arts. These are particularly special as they are an extension of this course, and we wish them all the luck in the world, alongside all our other students, in whichever path they choose.
MFL
MFL
The MFL Department is delighted to share some fantastic news.
Congratulations to Praise, who has been recognised as a Commendee in this year's Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators, a prestigious national translation competition for schools organised by The Queen's College.
This is an outstanding achievement. This year, more than 25,000 students from across the country took part in the competition, with judges assessing over 5,400 entries. The judging panel commented on the exceptionally high standard of work submitted, making Praise's recognition even more impressive.
Praise will receive an official certificate in the post, and her name will be published on the official prize website later this month.
We are incredibly proud of Praise's dedication, linguistic talent, and hard work. Please join me in congratulating her on this well-deserved success. We look forward to celebrating many more achievements from our talented linguists in the future.
We are also delighted to recognise two students who have demonstrated excellent effort and commitment in French during Modules 5 and 6.
Congratulations to Louis and Neveah, who have consistently worked hard, shown a positive attitude to learning, and made excellent contributions in their MFL lessons.
Their dedication, resilience, and enthusiasm have not gone unnoticed, and they should be very proud of their achievements. We look forward to seeing their continued success.
Well done to both students on this well-deserved recognition!
In Spanish, we would also like to recognise the excellent efforts of several students who have demonstrated commitment, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude to learning during Modules 5 and 6.
Congratulations to Henry, Gavriel, and Freddie, who have all worked consistently hard and made excellent progress in their Spanish lessons. Their dedication and willingness to embrace new challenges have been commendable.
We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing their continued success. Well done to all of you on this well-deserved recognition!
Jack Petchey
Jack Petchey
We are incredibly proud of our Jack Petchey Achievement Award winners this academic year. Each winner received a grant to improve our school community, and they have all put a tremendous amount of thought into how to spend it.
Thanks to their generosity, a fantastic variety of resources has been delivered across our departments:
The Library & Literacy: Sarah enriched our library with a wonderful selection of new books and craft supplies (including wool and cross-stitch kits). Praise and Aisha also teamed up to stock the library shelves with highly requested romance, fantasy, humour, and PE books.
English & Media Studies: Yusra purchased dedicated flashcards to help her English class study for their upcoming GCSEs. Meanwhile, Bethany supported her peers with Media Studies revision guides and a subscription to Mojo magazine.
The Music Department: Loemie and Aisha pooled their efforts to bring beautiful new instruments to our music students, including new violins and ukuleles.
The PE Department: Eddie and Uthman focused their grants on sports and active learning. Eddie selected brand-new football equipment, while Uthman purchased a high-quality video camera to help students record their practical GCSE PE coursework next year.
All of this year’s amazing award winners will be officially presented with their medals at a special ceremony at the Orchard Theatre next academic year.
Congratulations to all our winners for their leadership, thoughtfulness, and brilliant contributions to our school!
Prom
Prom
Celebrating an Unforgettable Year 11 Prom!
What a spectacular night! LABex Year 11 students celebrated their Prom, and it was an absolute triumph from start to finish. It was a joy to see so many parents, carers, guardians, and extended family members arriving to cheer them on.
The evening got off to a spectacular start with a glamorous red carpet arrival. Students stepped out in style from an incredible lineup of cars, welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of cheering friends. The excitement was so infectious that everyone willingly sacrificed the cool comfort of the air-conditioned venue, remaining outside to celebrate and cheer on every single arrival until the final car rolled in.
Inside, the energy didn't drop for a second. Highlights of the night included:
The Big Surprises: A surprise ice-cream van appearance went down an absolute treat.
Special Mentions: Our custom sweet cart - bespoke-built by Mr Wilson (our very own Mrs Wilson’s husband) was loaded with sweet treats. In addition, beautiful, delicious cupcakes lovingly baked by Miss G Wilson were on display and thoroughly enjoyed by all!
The Buffet: Huge thanks to Mrs Bateson and Ms Rafferty, who put so much care into supporting Mrs Sardar and Miss Green, preparing a fantastic sandwich selection enjoyed by all and also to Ms Nieto for helping display the delicious ensemble.
Non-Stop Dancing: The dancefloor was packed all night. Even when the lights came on, the DJ was reluctant to stop playing!
Memories Captured: The photobooth was in constant use, with even a few staff members spotted sneaking in to capture some fun memories.
Official Photos: We employed the services of a professional photographer to take shots of our staff and students enjoying the night.
It was a beautiful, well-deserved celebration for an incredible year group! We wish them all the best and hope they keep in touch as our LABex alumni continue to grow in numbers.
Cultural Capital
Cultural Capital
This academic year, the academy delivered two highly successful Cultural Capital Days, held in March and July, providing students with an extensive range of enriching experiences beyond the classroom. Across the two events, students were offered 36 different educational visits and experiences, giving them the opportunity to explore new places, develop new interests and broaden their understanding of the world around them.
Our Cultural Capital programme offers a broad and balanced enrichment experience that is carefully designed to complement the curriculum while supporting students' personal development and raising aspirations. This year's programme included a diverse range of visits that catered for a wide variety of interests and talents. Students experienced exciting outdoor adventure activities at Hangloose Adventure, enjoyed water sports and team-building challenges, and took part in recreational activities such as bowling and cinema visits, which promoted teamwork, communication and positive relationships.
Students also benefited from a wealth of educational and cultural experiences, including visits to the London Aquarium, Tate Modern, London Dungeons and London Zoo. These visits enabled students to engage with history, art, science, geography, conservation and the natural world in authentic settings, bringing classroom learning to life while developing their curiosity and appreciation of different cultures, environments and perspectives.
At the academy, we believe that learning extends beyond the classroom. Our Cultural Capital Days provide every student with access to high-quality enrichment opportunities that broaden horizons, raise aspirations and enhance personal development. Through these experiences, students develop confidence, resilience, independence, communication and teamwork while strengthening links between their classroom learning and the wider world, preparing them for future education, employment and life beyond school.
One of the most significant successes this year has been the substantial increase in student attendance and participation across both Cultural Capital Days. This continued growth demonstrates the value that students place on these experiences and reflects the high levels of engagement and enthusiasm generated by the diverse range of opportunities available. The increasing participation also highlights the academy's commitment to listening to student voice and continually developing an enrichment programme that reflects the interests, needs and aspirations of our students. Building on this success, we are delighted to announce that from the next academic year, the academy will expand the programme from two Cultural Capital Days to three. This additional enrichment day will provide even more opportunities for every student to participate in high-quality educational visits and experiences that develop knowledge, character and aspiration. Increasing the number of Cultural Capital Days will further strengthen our commitment to providing an ambitious, inclusive and broad enrichment programme, ensuring that every student benefits from a wide range of experiences that prepare them for success in education, employment and life beyond school.
We are incredibly proud of the success of this year's Cultural Capital Days and would like to thank our staff, students, families and external partners for their continued support in making these experiences such a valuable and memorable part of academy life. Through these opportunities, we continue to ensure that every student has access to the experiences, knowledge and skills needed to flourish both within the academy and beyond.
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