Halley's Comment - Issue 37

Halley's Comment

Issue 37- Module 2

“Our Academy values - respect, achievement, collaboration, integrity and resilience - permeate everything we do"

Introduction from the Principal

When writing my contributions to Halley’s Comment, I am always struck by the sheer breadth of fantastic achievements and exciting developments that have taken place across the Academy in such a short space of time. Since November, our community has once again been exceptionally busy, and it is hard to believe just how much has been accomplished over the last seven weeks.

This edition of the newsletter provides a wonderful snapshot of the commitment, talent and ambition that exists across the Academy. In particular, I am proud of the way our students continue to embody our core values of respect, achievement, collaboration, integrity and resilience in their learning, their conduct and their wider contributions to Academy life. These values underpin everything we do and are brought to life each day by our students and staff.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and carers for your continued support, particularly in ensuring that students attend every day and arrive ready to learn. Strong attendance remains one of the most important factors in securing success, and your partnership in this makes a significant difference.

This module has also seen us welcome many visitors to the Academy, including colleagues from across Leigh Academies Trust, the local authority and schools from further afield, all keen to see the excellent work taking place within our community. This has included our recent Ofsted inspection, and we look forward to sharing their feedback and the published report with you in January.

As always, the pages that follow celebrate the dedication of our staff, the achievements of our students and the strength of our wider Academy community. They are a testament to our shared commitment to providing the very best education and opportunities for every young person in our care.

Thank you, as ever, for your continued support, and I wish you and your families a restful and enjoyable break. We look forward to everybody returning to the Academy in the New Year, on Tuesday 6th January 2026.

Ben Russell

Principal

“Those who can imagine anything can create the impossible”

Turing School

The end of module 2 is a time for reflection, for recognising and celebrating our key achievements, and for challenging ourselves by setting new goals for the next calendar year. Turing School recognises the incredible achievements staff and students have made since September of this year. The amazing work of the small school team is always at the forefront of the success of Turing school. I would like to congratulate all the students who have continued to model the values of the academy consistently and have therefore made students in Turing School shine across all year groups.

Throughout module 2, Turing School students and their families received several praise emails from their teachers, small school staff and tutors, celebrating their excellent commitment to learning and attitude around the academy. Turing students have also achieved the completion of 12 award cards in lessons, demonstrating that our students are committed to diligently completing all learning activities to the best of their ability. These two figures alone show that, despite the uncertainty outside of the Academy gates, Turing students continue to flourish across the Academy.

Turing students are positively committed to learning and this is reflected in student attendance; the number of Turing students who are setting the standard by maintaining 100% attendance this year is outstanding.

Individually, our students also continue to astound us with their exceptional talent and brilliance in lessons and the wider community. The following students achieved the highest number of praise points in Turing school; Arinze N (8T3) with 99 points, Solomon K (8T3) with 97 points and Harriet P (8T2) with 97 points.

Turing School will continue to provide its students with the environment and support to thrive. We also get immense pride from the information you provide us about your child and their achievements outside of the Academy, so please do continue to share this with us in the Turing School.

As we approach the close of 2025, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support in helping your child strive for excellence. I wish you all a joyful and restful festive season with your family and friends.

If you would like to contact the Turing Small School, then please do so by emailing turing@halley.latrust.org.uk.

Mr Kamya

Head of Turing School

Easley School

As the Autumn term draws to a close and the festive break approaches, I am delighted to reflect on what has been an incredibly successful module 2 at Easley Small School.

First and foremost, I must state how extremely proud we are of the way our students conduct themselves every single day. This was particularly evident during our recent Ofsted inspection. The students were wonderful ambassadors for the school, showcasing their best selves to the inspectors. Thank you all for representing our community with such pride.

It has been a busy and productive few weeks across all year groups:

Year 11 Mock Exams: A huge "well done" goes to our Year 11 cohort. Your behaviour and attitude during the recent mock exams were exemplary. You approached this crucial period with maturity and focus, laying strong foundations for the summer ahead. I know they will look forward to applying all the feedback that teachers will provide them with in the next module.
Year 7 Milestone: We also want to congratulate our Year 7 students on successfully completing their very first full term with us here at Easley Small School. You have settled in brilliantly, and it feels like you have always been part of our school family. It was a joy to witness their enthusiasm as they arrived for their various Cultural Capital trips.
Positive Points: We are thrilled to announce that students have collectively accumulated over 10,000 positive points this term! This is a fantastic testament to hard work and positive behaviour. We are setting the bar high and fully expect to see even more points achieved in the Spring term!

In addition to the excellent work that student complete for their academic studies, we are always amazed by the talents our students nurture outside of school hours. Huge congratulations to the following students for their recent outstanding achievements:

CM (8E2), who demonstrated incredible skill and determination to secure the 48-51kg belt in a recent boxing tournament.
AB (7E1), who has taken a brilliant step into the world of performing arts, acting in the recording of an upcoming series.
AT (9E2), who continues to show immense dedication to her ballet, working hard in preparation for an upcoming major production.

I am pleased to report that attendance figures this term have been very strong with an overall Easley's attendance of 94.6%. As we look toward January, we want every single student to aim for 100% attendance in the Spring term as our goal is to ensure overall attendance is above 95% by the end of module 3. Thank you for ensuring your children are present, on time and ready to learn. Every day counts towards their individual success.

Finally, on behalf of all the staff at Easley Small School, I wish you all a wonderful break. Please ensure you keep safe, rest well, and enjoy quality time with family and friends over the festive period.

I look forward to welcoming everyone back, refreshed and ready to go, in the New Year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

If you would like to contact the Easley Small School then please do so by emailing easley@halley.latrust.org.uk.

Mr Senior

Head of Easley School

“You can do anything you want to, but you have to work at it”

“All that is necessary is the belief that by doing our best we shall come nearer to success and that success ..... is worth attaining”

Franklin School

As we come to the end of a highly successful module, we are proud to celebrate the achievements, progress, and enrichment experiences across Franklin School. This term has showcased our strong commitment to our academy values and meaningful opportunities to build students’ cultural capital, all of which embody the spirit of Rosalind Franklin.

It has been pleasing to see so much of the work of Franklin students embody the mantra upon which our Small School is founded “by doing our best, we come closer to success”. Well done to all those students who have achieved high commitment to learning scores in their academic studies, or who have achieved personal milestones during the last module. Our top achieving Award Card holders illustrate the power of being driven consistently by the pursuit of high standards: Henry U (9F1) and Zahra J (7F2).

Our award ceremony in the closing stages of this module was testament to the great achievements of so many of our young learners in so many categories ranging from academic excellence, sporting achievement, creativity to service to the community. A number of our students achieved their full colours this module and are now wearing the badges with pride: Beau H (11F1), Akeen D-A (9F2), Emmanuella D (11F1), Salvador N (10F2, Rayhanath A (10F1) and Anisah A (11F1)

As a small school, we have already accumulated over 11000 praise points and particular mentions should be given to the following students who have achieved a phenomenal number of praise points already and are all in the top ten of the whole academy: Jessica A (8F1), Vijus Z (8F2), Jayden S-S (8F2) and Sofiyullahi A (8F1).

Attendance has been consistently well above national averages and our Hot Chocolate winners in this module have been 10F2, 7F2, 9F1, 10F2, 11F1 and 9F2. Well done to all those students who have ensured this collective achievement. In the penultimate week of this term, 7F2 was also awarded with their pizza and wings party for the best attendance within Franklin of 97.41%.

Mentions should also be provided to the following students who have embodied our school values and through their resilience, respect and achievement have all been nominated for this module’s Breakfast with the Principal: Haya K (8F1), Adelina B (8F2), Zahra J (7F2) and Henry U (9F1). Emmanuella D (11F1), one of our student ambassadors has also been nominated for a Jack Petchey Award for her incredible commitment to all of her studies and her service to the community, epitomised by the part she played in the exceptional delivery of the student-led assembly this module on STEM and our participation in the Eco-School Award.

Finally, it was a very proud moment for Franklin to achieve the accolade of first place in the STEM quiz final. The students that participated in this event were Amelia B (7F1), Jayden S-S (8F2), Archie A (8F2) and Pebbles H (10F2).

Every day, we remain committed to providing the highest standards of academic support and pastoral care to ensure all students are able to succeed and transition confidently into adulthood. We would like to thank parents and carers for your continued support and commitment this module, which plays a vital role in strengthening our home–school partnership.

As we approach the festive season, we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

If you would like to contact the Franklin Small School, then please do so by emailing franklin@halley.latrust.org.uk.

Mrs Parsons

Head of Franklin School

Hawking School

As module 2 comes to an end, we are pleased to reflect on the exciting and meaningful experiences that have enriched our Sixth Form community. This term has offered several opportunities for growth, engagement, and achievement across Years 12 and 13.

Sixth Form Open Evening

On 20 November 2025, we hosted our most well-attended Sixth Form Open Evening to date. Prospective students, both from within our school and beyond, explored the wide range of dynamic Key Stage 5 courses on offer. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and curiosity, highlighting the strong appeal of our Sixth Form provision.

Year 13 Parent/Carer Evening

Our final Year 13 Parent/Carer Evening is an important milestone for students preparing for the next stage of their journey. Families and staff held valuable conversations focused on supporting students to reach their full potential as they approach the end of their school experience. With our highest attendance ever, the evening demonstrated the strong and supportive partnership between home and school.

Cultural Capital Day at the University of Greenwich

Students took part in a rich and informative visit to the University of Greenwich, including:

A detailed introduction to university life
A full campus tour
An engaging lecture delivered by student ambassadors, covering university finances, extracurricular opportunities, and personal development

This experience offered invaluable insight into higher education pathways and encouraged students to reflect on their future aspirations.

UCAS Progress Update

As the January deadline approaches, we are delighted to report significant progress, with many UCAS applications already submitted. Our students have worked exceptionally hard, and we are confident they will continue to thrive as they take their next steps toward higher education.

This progress was further supported by a dedicated UCAS and Apprenticeship Day for Year 13 on 17th December. We were also fortunate to welcome back a number of former Hawking students, who generously shared their experiences and offered guidance on university life, apprenticeships, and career pathways—bringing valuable first-hand insight to the day.

Financially Focused Tutor Sessions

Students also benefited from targeted sessions exploring budgeting, tax, credit cards, and loans—equipping them with essential financial literacy skills for life beyond school.

Mock Examinations and T-Level Assessments

Both Year 12 and Year 13 students demonstrated impressive commitment during the recent mock examinations. Their high attendance and focused approach reflected their determination to succeed academically.

T-Level students in Engineering also completed their Employer Set Projects and Core Exams, showcasing their growing practical expertise and theoretical knowledge while preparing for future professional pathways.

T-Level Work Placements

This module also marked a significant milestone for our Year 12 and Year 13 T-Level cohorts as they continued their industry placements.

Engineering students gained hands-on experience with local employers, applying their technical knowledge in real-world settings and developing essential professional behaviours education. Early Years students started their placements in a local primary school, and early years settings, strengthening their understanding of child development, safeguarding, and classroom practice.
Both groups received excellent feedback from placement providers, reflecting their professionalism and enthusiasm.

Year 13 Masterclasses

To support students to prepare for the year ahead, a series of Year 13 Masterclasses were delivered across a range of subjects. These sessions focused on sharpening revision skills, strengthening exam technique, and building confidence ahead of the upcoming assessment window. Through targeted support and expert guidance, students learned effective strategies for structuring responses, managing time in exams, and consolidating key knowledge. The masterclasses have been extremely well received and will play a vital role in helping students achieve their best possible outcomes.

IB Art Trip to the V&A

Our IB Art cohort enjoyed an enriching trip to the Victoria & Albert Museum, where they explored exhibitions connected to fashion, design, and creative careers. Students gathered research, engaged with inspirational displays, and deepened their understanding of creative industries and potential future pathways.

This module has truly showcased the ambition, energy, and dedication of both our students and staff. As we look ahead to module 3, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our students, parents, carers, and staff a restful and joyful festive break. We encourage everyone to take time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the season with loved ones.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year, refreshed and ready for another successful term.

Mr Cowie

Head of Hawking School

"Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet"

Collection of non-perishable food from Leigh Academy Halley

Student Leaders listening to answers to their questions at

Emmaus Greenwich

Giving Back Together - Emmaus UK

On Wednesday 15th December, student leaders from Years 10 to 12 visited Emmaus, a homeless charity based in Plumstead, to deliver food generously donated by our school community. During the visit, students had the opportunity to meet with staff and learn about the incredible work Emmaus does to support adults who are homeless, vulnerably housed, or at risk of homelessness.

Emmaus communities provide a home for as long as it is needed, offering stability and security to help individuals rebuild their lives after experiencing homelessness. The visit was both informative and inspiring, highlighting the importance of community support and compassion.

Student Leaders will continue to strengthen their links with the local community in the new year. After the festive season, they will be visiting Queen Elizabeth Hospital to deliver toys and books donated by our students, staff, and parents.

Festive Celebrations at Leigh Academy Halley

Everyone at the Academy was invited to a wonderful festive dinner on Thursday 18th December, which coincided with Christmas Jumper Day. It was a truly magical event filled with delicious food, great company, and holiday cheer.

Year 11 students held a festive cake sale to raise funds for their prom in June 2026 next year. There were many scrumptious delights available to purchase.

We're so grateful to have such a wonderful community at Leigh Academy Halley. Thank you for helping to make this special time of year so memorable. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Culture Capital Day

All students in the academy were off timetable on 17th December to take part in our first Cultural Capital Day this academic year. Hawking Small School students spend the day contemplating their futures, with Year 12 visiting Greenwich University, and Year 13 students in workshops hosted by former Halley students.

Year 10 students took part in the Jack Petchey Speak Out! Challenge, and we look forward to updating you on how our two chosen winners fair against their borough competition at the Greenwich finals in February.

Years 7-9 students travelled to different historic and exciting places of interest across London. From Wembley to Whitechapel, students visited 18 different locations, visiting locations such as the Museum of Home, Science Museum and the Cartoon Museum for a hands on workshop. The trip to see the stage production of Wicked was a highlight of the day.

Upstart Creative Careers Festival Schools' Day - V&A Museum

Year 10 GCSE Art students, alongside our Year 12 and 13 IB Visual Arts students, were invited to take part in the Upstart Creative Careers Festival Schools’ Day workshop at the Victoria & Albert Museum on Friday 14th November.

During the visit, students engaged in a creative skill-building and wellbeing workshop, worked closely with a professional fashion designer, and gained valuable insight into the wide range of opportunities available within the creative industries. The experience provided an inspiring look at potential creative career pathways while developing students’ confidence, creativity and understanding of the sector. The students all came away feeling enriched and gained valuable knowledge of creative careers available to them.

Student Ambassadors

Student Ambassadors from Years 7 to Years 11 meet every Friday morning before school to share ideas and plan meaningful projects. They have been working closely with the STEM department to develop an eco-friendly initiative within the academy. As part of this work, they delivered a presentation during a small school assembly to raise awareness of the project and outline the different stages involved.

Further information has been shared through tutor slides to ensure the wider school community is well informed. We look forward to module 3, when eco-friendly projects will be selected and begin to roll out across the academy.

Student Ambassadors will also have opportunities to collaborate with the Gardening Club, which is currently staff-led. This partnership will further strengthen our commitment to creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly academy.

Reading Lab Celebration

Another cohort of Reading Lab students graduated from the intervention programme in this module. On Thursday 11th December we held a celebration in our library for parents and students involved in the programme, to highlight the fantastic reading progress students have made. Many thanks to the parents who attended this celebratory event.

Mohamed in Year 8 said: "I have really enjoyed working with Kevin Heaney, Reading Lab tutor - he has made me think about books and ideas in them in a different way". The next cohort of students will begin their interventions with the Reading Lab tutors in module 3.

Danielius 8T2 and Kevin Heaney, Reading Lab Tutor

Creative Arts Mock Examinations

This module, our Creative Arts mock examinations gave students a valuable opportunity to showcase their skills, creativity, and commitment under exam conditions. Across Art, Music and Drama, students have approached their practical components with focus and hard work, producing work that has reflected both their technical development and personal expression. The mock examinations have not only highlighted areas of strength, but have also provided opportunities to help students refine their ideas, manage their time effectively, and feel more confident in their final exams. We are proud of the enthusiasm and resilience shown throughout this process, well done!

Independent Travel & Support Programme

The Royal Borough of Greenwich runs programmes for young people with SEND to help them to gain the skills and confidence to travel safely between home and school. It includes training on personal safety, road safety, and journey planning.

Students from the LARP attended a 6 week Travel Safe Programme that was delivered by Mr John Butcher, Royal Borough of Greenwich, with assistance from Ms Georgina Mellon, HLTA and Ms Mason, Lead Practitioner, SEND.

During this 6 week course, students developed the following skills and knowledge: Road safety awareness, how to travel to and from the Academy independently, tips for dealing with travel anxiety and practical travel advice

The course was primarily classroom based, however, there were times when students travelled out of the Academy to practice travel safety.

MINDs UP Workshops

Students in Years 8, 9 and 10 took part in a mental health and wellbeing training programme (Minds UP), delivered by South East London Mind (SEL Mind) throughout module 2, and will continue in module 3

The aim of these workshops was to give students practical tools to understand and support their own emotional wellbeing. Students learnt about mental health and why it matters, they explored feelings, thoughts and behaviours that they may experience, learnt to develop healthy coping skills for managing stress and challenges, how to build confidence, resilience and problem-solving skills and were encouraged to recognise when they may be struggling and shown how to seek help.

SEL Mind’s trained facilitators deliver these workshops in schools across the UK, and the content is age-appropriate, supportive and focused on equipping students with lifelong skills.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow

As part of their MYP curriculum, the Academy seeks to provide practical, immersive, and inspiring learning experiences that bring subjects to life wherever possible. Students are encouraged to see a range of live theatrical performances so they can confidently analyse playscripts and live theatre productions in English and Drama lessons.

On Friday 21st November & Friday 12th December, Year 8 and 9 students travelled to the Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross to see Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

The performance was outstanding. The staging was incredible and it has some of the best special and visual effects ever seen on stage. Students behaved responsibly and were courteous and mannerly throughout the journey.

STEM Club

STEM club team members investigated what makes fireworks brightly coloured using flame tests. In addition to this they learnt, how easy it is to spread diseases by coughing, sneezing and not washing your hands correctly by using glow in the dark powder to represent germs. Students also learned how to crash proof a car to protect the egg passengers from harm (you will be pleased to know all eggy passengers survived unscathed)! Animals are very resilient creatures and students found it incredibly interesting to learn how animals are adapted to survive in cold conditions.

New members to the STEM club are always welcome - although primarily for Year 7 students, older students are very welcome to come along, plan and carry out an investigation of their choice which will then be submitted for a CREST award. This is a nationally recognised award available at a number of levels - participation at Bronze level and achieving a Bronze award has been shown to improve student attainment at GCSE by half a grade. Please speak to Mr Mensah or Mr Simpson for more details.

Investigating what makes fireworks brightly coloured using flame tests.

Glow in the dark powder to represent germs.

Investigating how to crash proof a car to protect the egg passengers from harm.

STEM Quiz

Leigh Academy Halley Small Schools STEM quiz final was held on Wednesday 10th December. Teams of 4 students representing Years 7-10 came together to contest the title of LAH Small Schools STEM Quiz Champions 2025. After a tough quiz consisting of a number of challenging rounds covering topics such as lateral thinking, general STEM knowledge, practical problem solving and maths, the teams entered the final round separated by only a few points. The final round gave students the opportunity to gain points for correct answers and lose them for an incorrect answer, and after a tense final few minutes the team from Franklin emerged victorious. Next module, other LAT academies will also hold initial STEM quiz rounds, and shortly after that successful teams from each Academy will take part in a grand final to compete for the overall Leigh Academy Trust STEM Quiz Champions Award.

The Competing Team Members from Easley, Franklin and Turing Small Schools

The winning team Franklin Small School

Jayden, Pebbles, Amelia-Lily and Archie

EcoSchools Project

The EcoSchools project launched this module. This is an international programme that encourages young people to learn about the challenges facing our planet, and to make small but significant changes to their local environment. The project is largely student led, and provides the opportunity to develop skills in teamwork, administration, project planning, carrying out and evaluation, communication as well as encouraging our young people to become more eco aware global citizens.

The first steps are to perform a baseline eco review of our academy: the results from this will be used to formulate an action plan and to decide upon three ego-based projects. Schools and Academies who successfully complete the application process are awarded Green flag status.

More details about EcoSchools can be found by clicking here.

Gardening Club

This module Gardening Club has made wonderful progress in the LARP garden. Firstly, members cleared the remains of the vegetation from the raised vegetable beds, and then prepared them for planting early next Spring. The beds in the LARP garden were set up using the Hugenkultur system; the empty bed is lined with cardboard, then layers of large branches/small logs, twigs, waste bedding from the old chicken house, and compost are placed on top. Over time the woody components break down, releasing nutrients back into the soil. The soil level does drop as this happens, so our first job was to top up the bed. First we added a layer of turf (grass side down) and topped this with a thick layer of topsoil. To finish off, we planted a green manure crop, comprising rye, clover and mustard. The crop will be dug into the soil in the spring, adding more nutrients to the bed ready for planting.

Mr Azarkan kindly provided some enormous beef tomatoes - club members removed, cleaned and dried the seeds so we can try growing some ourselves next year.

There are as many as 30,000 different apple varieties but only a tiny proportion are regularly eaten. We carried out an apple tasting session to taste some of the less commonly available varieties such as Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Egremont Russet, Scarlett Paradise, Kissabel (an apple with red flesh), and Braeburn. Club members were surprised at the variation in flavour - the favourite variety was Scarlett Paradise which is both sweet and juicy. Seeds were saved from all of the apples for planting.

Members of the Gardening Club joined in the festivities and made natural decorations for the Academy Christmas Tree - a variety of designs were constructed using natural birch twigs and log slices, dried orange and lemon slices, pine and larch cones, cinnamon sticks and biodegradable glitter - a fun and sparkly time was had by all, and the decorations are now on display on the tree.

Items used to create the decorations - sliced lemons, pine cones, cinnamon sticks & biodegradable twine.

The completed natural tree decorations.

Timofei, Aedan & Giosue from bee club with some of the natural decorations.

Bee Keepers

Beekeeping is now in the quieter months as the bees are mainly in the hive eating their stored food, with occasional excursions outside if its a calm day with a temperature over 10 degrees.

As there isn’t much we can do outside, this module bee club members made honey cookies - these came in a great variety of sizes, shapes and degrees of varying gold colours - they were delicious!

Bug houses to give overwintering insects a safe place to live and have helped with the natural tree decorations. Hopefully next year our colony will continue to grow and we may be able to harvest some honey.

In the meantime, a plea please to keep a look out for Asian hornets emerging next spring. There have been 160 nests destroyed this year, with over 500 credible sightings of hornets - this is a massive increase from the year before, and suggests that the hornets are here to stay. Any sightings should be reported via the free Asian hornet watch app.

Students (and staff) are always welcome to join beekeeping club. Throughout the active season, we inspect the hive on a weekly basis to check that all is well, make and repair the hives and hive parts and process the honey ready for sale.

Sporting Fixtures

Football

We are delighted to report an outstanding module of football results for the Academy. Year 8 students demonstrated superb form and secured two impressive wins over the winter period: a hard-fought 4–2 victory against tough opposition from St Mary Magdalene School, followed by an excellent 3–0 win over The John Roan School, featuring some brilliantly worked team goals that highlighted their tactical cohesion.

Similarly, the Year 7 team secured a dominant 6–3 win against The John Roan in a frantic game; their superior performance, particularly in the second half, was commendable given the cold conditions. These results are a fantastic reflection of the commitment and quality across both our Year 7 and 8 squads. Congratulations to all those involved.

Looking ahead, we are actively working to arrange competitive fixtures for our Year 9 students in module 3. Elsewhere, the focus will shift to a more intense, smaller-sided format as the Academy will be preparing for the exciting Leigh Academies Trust 5-a-side football competition. We wish all those performing the best of luck and look forward to further success in the coming months.

LAT Cross Country

The autumnal chill of November did not dampen the competitive spirit of our cross-country runners as they took part in the annual Leigh Academy Trust Cross Country Competition. The course, challenging and undulating, was made even tougher by recent persistent rain, resulting in heavy, muddy conditions that truly tested the athletes' endurance and grit.

Our students from Years 7 to 10 competed throughout the day, demonstrating fantastic teamwork and resilience over distances ranging from 2.5km to 4.5km.

The year 7 and 8 runners started the day with incredible enthusiasm. In the Year 7 Boys race, Oliver set a blistering pace and secured a commendable top-15 individual finish against a very strong field.

The challenge increased for the older students, tackling the longer and more demanding routes. The Girls in years 9 & 10 delivered the standout performances of the day. Libby showcased her talents by winning her race with Sasha finishing strong to secure the Bronze Medal in the year 9 race.

Congratulations to all the runners, the LAH are immensely proud of all that you achieved during this year's competition and we look forward to watching you race again.

LAT Badminton

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the fantastic debut performance of our boys' and girls' badminton teams at the LAT Badminton Competition. This marked our school's first-ever competitive appearance in a formal badminton tournament, and our students rose to the challenge brilliantly against a large and experienced field.

Facing a total of 18 teams from across the Trust, the atmosphere was highly competitive, requiring tactical thinking, excellent court coverage, and composure under pressure. Our players, many of whom were new to tournament play, showed tremendous grit throughout the demanding day of fixtures.

Girls' Team – A Top-Third Finish

The girls' team had an outstanding day, demonstrating sharp net play and powerful clearing shots. Their strategic doubles partnerships proved to be a major strength, allowing them to secure crucial wins in the group stages. Finishing 6th out of 18 teams in their debut competition is an exceptional result and a testament to their dedication in training.

Boys' Team – Strong Mid-Table Debut

The boys' team faced some formidable opponents early in the draw but battled hard in every rally. They showed impressive court speed and mental toughness, particularly in their final two matches, which were decided by very small margins. Securing 10th place in their first attempt is a highly respectable result that lays a strong foundation for future tournaments. The experience gained in managing the pressure and pace of a large-scale competition will be invaluable.

Netball

Year 8

The Year 8 netball team played their first game of the season against St. Mary Magdalene. The first quarter was marked by nerves, allowing the more experienced St. Mary Magdalene team to take an early lead. However, the Year 8 girls quickly displayed resilience, settling their play by the end of the quarter and beginning to work together as a cohesive team. Although they ultimately lost the game, the team's performance was promising. The match was deemed a valuable learning experience, showcasing the players' potential and strong commitment to implementing what they had learned in training. The team consisted of: Elizabeth I, Annie N, Simone W, Pema D, Nicoll C, Rachel W and Isaiah T (who was also voted as player of the match for her determination and drive during the game). Well done to all!

Year 9

The Year 9 netball team started their season with a fantastic 10-8 win against a very experienced St. Mary Magdalene team. The girls were brilliant, showing great commitment and never ceasing their effort throughout the game. They successfully integrated new players and adapted well to new positions, putting their training work into action immediately. The team achieved the victory by delivering a consistent, energetic performance and working together effectively, which indicates potential for a successful season. The team consisted of: Sabrina W, Marsha M, Dahlia K, Maliha J, Elizabeth K, Lollicia A and Celina G.

Year 7 Girls vs St Thomas More

The Year 7 netball team played their very first match representing the academy against St Thomas More, showing excellent focus, effort, and composure throughout the game. Despite it being their first experience at this level, the girls remained calm under pressure and demonstrated a willingness to learn and improve. The team took on board coaching comments extremely well, making adjustments during the game and applying them effectively in their play. Their movement, decision-making, and teamwork improved as the match went on, highlighting their strong potential for the games ahead. Excellent turnovers from Peniel created multiple scoring opportunities, while strong attacking play from Emma kept constant pressure on the opposition. Their impact on the game saw them voted joint Players of the Match by the opposition. Although it wasn’t their day on the scoreboard, the girls should be very proud of their performance, narrowly losing by just one goal in a closely contested match. The team consisted of the following: Emma Rose M, Peniel LK, Ayla MW, Zaarah B, Lillia S, Maddy K and Seren DG.

Year 7 Netball vs Woolwich Poly Girls

The Year 7 netball team played their second match of the season at home against Woolwich Poly, delivering an excellent performance to secure an 8 – 4 victory. From the warm-up, the girls showed strong focus and clear intent, preparing themselves to go out and win the match.A key focus for the game was footwork and passing to a free player, which the girls applied effectively throughout. It was evident how much they have developed since their previous match. The team displayed excellent composure in the shooting circle, while controlled and disciplined play from the defensive end ensured the game was managed well until the final whistle. A fantastic all-round team performance and a well-deserved win. Well done to the following players! Ayla MW, Emma Rose M, Joanna F, Maddy K, Lillia S, Zaarah B, Seren D-G and Peniel LK.

Year 8 Netball vs Woolwich Poly Girls

The Year 8 netball team faced Woolwich Poly Girls in a competitive and closely contested match, narrowly losing by two goals. This game gave the opportunity for new players and combinations to play out on court. Despite the result, there were many positives to take away from the performance, particularly the strong defensive effort throughout the game. The defenders produced a number of excellent turnovers, applying consistent pressure and creating valuable opportunities for the team to transition the ball into attack. Joint Players of the Match: Daria D and Simone W, recognised for their outstanding defensive work rate, composure, and impact on the game. Well done to the following: Simone W, Daria D, Pema D, Rachel W, Eliana P, Elizabeth I, Isabella E, Su M and Elif C.

Year 8 Girls vs St Thomas More

The Year 8 netball team played a competitive and well-fought match against St Thomas More, finishing with a deserved draw. With several new combinations on court, the first half required the team to settle into their play and build confidence in their positions. As the game progressed, the students began to gel effectively, creating numerous opportunities through strong defensive pressure and impressive turnovers. The ball worked well down the court with improved timing, communication, and support in attack, allowing the team to capitalise on these chances. Both teams showed great determination throughout the match, resulting in an exciting and evenly matched contest until the final whistle. Well done to the following students: Elizabeth I, Elizabeth D, Eliana P, Pema D, Annie N, Rachel W and Olivia I.

Year 9 Girls vs St Thomas More

The Year 9 girls netball team delivered an outstanding performance on Monday, November 13th, securing a brilliant 11-5 victory against a strong St Thomas More side. From the first whistle, the team displayed remarkable composure and technical skill, really focusing on the points given at training. Their excellent shooting accuracy was a key factor in building an early lead, converting hard-earned possession into points consistently throughout the game. What was most impressive was the team's commitment to winning back the ball. Every player showed determination and commitment to intercept passes and disrupt the opposition’s attacking play. The game allowed us to try out different on-court combinations, but this didn’t affect the girls as they stayed calm and composed, demonstrating how far they have developed their understanding of the game. This ability to adapt and maintain focus is a testament to the hard work and growth shown by every player this season. A well-deserved and impressive win! Well done to the following students: Elizabeth K, Sabrina W, Chelsie H, Kahye OR, Mishu G, Felicia EP and Taylor F.

Year 10/11 vs St Thomas More

The combined Year 10 and 11 netball squad faced a significant challenge on November 13th, playing against a highly tough and experienced netball team from St Thomas More. Despite the pressure, the girls upheld the school's standards with their tenacity and impressive attitude. The final score does not reflect the sheer commitment and resilience shown by the team, who did not give up for a single minute of the game. They continuously fought for every centre pass and chased down loose balls, refusing to let the opposition walk away easily. The students should be incredibly pleased with how they played as a team and with the passion they showed in representing the school and are looking forward to a rematch in the new year. The team consisted of: Harley MM, Libby P, Anisah A, Pebbles H, Zainab SG, Azeezat O and Daisy B.

Year 11 & 13 Mock Exams

Year 11 and 13 students completed their first set of mock examinations between 1st December - 17th December 2025. The Mock Examinations are an opportunity for students to sit a full set of exams similar to the ones they will complete during their GCSE, IB and A Level exams towards the end of the academic year 2025/2026.

The attendance, punctuality and attitude of the students was exemplary throughout the examination period.

Students will receive the results of their mock examinations in the first weeks of module 3. Please ensure that they have an opportunity to rest and enjoy the Christmas break and also complete all the homework that their teachers have set for them as the work they complete at home will help lay a strong foundation for the work they will be doing from module 3 to their final examinations.

Breakfast with the Principal

As part of our Rewards Programme, Haya 8F1, Adelina 8F2, Zahra 7F2, Henry 9F1 and Jeffrid 8E1, all achieved their Gold Medal Awards. To celebrate this wonderful achievement, students and their families were invited for Breakfast with the Principal on Friday 19th December.

A Gold Medal Award is a culmination of award marks given by teachers and support staff where students produce work of a high standard, demonstrate a positive commitment to learning, contribute significantly to the Academy community through acts of kindness, or demonstrate our Academy's values.

The breakfast was a wonderful event to celebrate the fantastic achievements of our students, who have made such a positive start to the academic year.

Parental Teaching & Learning Workshop

We were delighted to welcome families to our parental workshop on December 4th, on supporting children’s reading at home. The session was led by our Lead Practitioners and our Assistant Principal, Ms Panton; a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school, reinforcing our shared commitment to nurturing confident, enthusiastic readers.

During the workshop, parents and carers explored practical, easy-to-use strategies that can be embedded into everyday routines. From sharing stories and asking thoughtful questions, to building vocabulary through conversation and making reading a positive, enjoyable experience, the session highlighted how small actions at home can make a big difference to a child’s reading development.

The workshop sparked thoughtful discussion and reflection, with parents sharing experiences and ideas with one another. We would like to thank all parents and carers who attended and contributed so enthusiastically. Your ongoing support plays a vital role in your child’s learning journey.

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