FAQ

How much curriculum time is given over to music, drama and dance? 

In Year 7, all students will have 1 hour a week of Drama and Music. Like the rest of our Key Stage Three curriculum, our performing arts curriculum is underpinned by the IB Middle Years Programme. 

By the time the students reach Year 10, Drama and Music will be available to study as individual GCSEs or equivalent qualifications as one of their two option subjects. 

What extracurricular / enrichment activities do you run for Drama and Music?

We have a wide range of opportunities within the performing arts and we hope to expand this even further as we grow our curriculum. Current opportunities include Music Technology Club, Private Practice clubs and from September 2026, we will be expanding this offer even further. Furthermore, we are always open to new suggestions so if there is something you want us to offer, please ask! 

All students currently have the opportunity to sign up to instrument lessons with either Kent Music Services or MusicStation. 

What about plans for the visual arts in the academy? 

Students’ work should be showcased throughout the academy to inspire the rest of the community. We plan to grow the arts in the academy to offer textiles, ceramics and photography as part of the key stage three curriculum. We will look to expand the GCSE offering even further by the time the students reach Year 10. 

What does the LATon library offer? 

The library has been redecorated with furniture upgrades and a substantial investment in the library stock to ensure it provides a stimulating environment for our students to further develop their passion for reading and to provide a calm, purposeful environment for independent study. Our PTA raises funds every year which enables us to continue to invest in books for our students. 

Do we have to pay for the Chromebooks? 

Parents pay a monthly contribution to cover the cost of repairs and warranty over the device’s 3-year lifespan. The contribution guarantees access to a fully serviced and insured device throughout this period. 

Parental Contribution:

• £5.99/month (or £3.99 for families eligible for Pupil Premium), covering:

• Repair and warranty service for 48 months

• Google Chrome licence and setup

• Safeguarding software and monitoring 

Upon completing Year 9 students will be able to keep their device rather than returning it to the academy.

We will send you a personalised link to sign up for the scheme. This link will take you to a secure platform where you can choose your preferred device option and enter your payment details.

If a Chromebook needs to be repaired a loan device will be issued to the student to use whilst theirs is at the repair centre. If this loan device is damaged whilst in their care a £50 fee will be charged to cover the repair of the loan device. 

We ask that Chromebooks be charged every night, that the students bring them to school every day, and that they take care of them by always storing them in a padded case when they are not in use.