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Principal's Welcome
I am sure that you will see from the articles in this publication how far we have come in a short space of time. We officially became part of Leigh Academies Trust on 1st June 2023 and we are very proud of the LABex community and our stakeholders.
Module one has been overwhelmingly successful; we have welcomed 16 new members of teaching staff and 3 new members of support staff to the Academy as well as our new Year 7 and Year 12 students who have made a positive start to their LABex journey. Our Year 10 and 11 students have made an excellent start to their Key Stage 4 studies.
Over the Summer break we continued our planned Academy improvement works, completing the following (in only 5 weeks!): Redecoration of all corridors and communal areas, creation of four Small College offices, transition into a new Post 16 building (Woburn College), the completion of our new Academy library (opening soon), new fire alarm and boiler installations and the completion of our new restaurant run by our Trust Partner, Cucina.
Additionally, during Module one, the first phase of our digital strategy implementation with all students receiving personal learning devices (Chromebooks), transition to a Google workspace including creating a Google classroom for every physical classroom and providing training for all students and staff. Plans for Module two include classroom redecoration and the complete installation of 8 new science labs.
On behalf of all staff at Leigh Academy Bexley, I would like to thank you for your support as we continue our Academy improvement journey, ensuring we provide a safe environment, a positive culture and a climate of excellence for students.
John Dixon, Principal
Holkham College
Holkham College
Module 1 has been exciting as both staff and students in our new college have been getting to know each other. Mrs Woodham, Administrator, Ms Cooper, Student Support Manager and Mrs Sardar, Head of Year, have worked incredibly hard setting up our new college office which is the envy of the academy as it is a bright airy space for our students to use when needed.
Our attendance is the best in the Academy, showing how dedicated our Holkham students are to their learning journey. Mrs Pieroulli, Head of College, formally welcomed students into Holkham College during a whole college assembly where she explained how the college had come to be named and what it stood for as a small school within Leigh Academy Bexley. Mr Morgan and Miss Mann, Deputy Heads of College, have enjoyed supporting tutors during tutor time, praising exemplary uniform and handing out our superstars of the week praise postcards on a Friday!
We, at Holkham College, pride ourselves on upholding the moral expectations of our students and staff. We are all on a journey together and endeavour to support our students to achieve the best, to be the best and most importantly to watch out for one another in our College community. Through understanding individuals’ pastoral needs we can also enhance their love of curriculum. We look forward to what Module 2 brings and wish Holkham College a safe and restful holiday.
Knole College
Knole College
Module 1 has been incredibly successful, filled with brilliant energy from the students and staff. We welcomed the new Year 7 students, new staff, new uniforms and new positive attitudes. Students have really taken the changes extremely well and we are thoroughly looking forward to Module 2. The year 7s have made lots of friends, not just in their year groups, but with other year groups too. They’ve really transitioned well from Primary to Secondary.
The Knole College
Ms Shiyani - Head of College
Mr Powders - Deputy Head of College
Mr Addison - Deputy Head of College
Miss Chana - Head of Year
Miss Osifeso - Student Support Manager
Miss Pearson - College Admin Assistant
The College team are doing their rounds and checking in with the students to see how they have settled in. The Knole Office is very quickly looking like our lovely home for us all so students have a safe space to go. We look forward to welcoming the Knole students in for the Knole office regular check-ins.
Petworth College
Petworth College
Petworth College is the college of integrity. Integrity is characterised by honesty and strong moral principles. Even behind closed doors, a person with integrity behaves ethically and does the right thing even when no one is watching.
Petworth College derives its name from West Sussex's Petworth House and Park. The same family has lived there for 900 years! The image displayed above is a snapshot of the 1600s-era Pleasure Gardens.
OUR TEAM
Mr Harding - Vice Principal
Ms Ansell - Assistant Principal
Ms Hull - Assistant Principal
Mr Larkin - Head of Year
Ms Kydd - Student Support Manager
This module has been all about making our own history by settling into our new college and form groups; becoming accustomed to our new uniforms; adjusting to our new classes; and meeting our new teachers. Already assessments have been completed, and we can see how diligently Petworth students are working. Let's maintain this momentum!
Ms. Ansell, the school's Literacy Lead, is thrilled to be a part of Petworth and will ensure that KS3 students in Petworth make the most progress on the recently launched Bedrock Reading Programme!
Mr. Larkin is in charge of the school football club, and we hope that some Petworth superstars will represent the school in upcoming matches.
COMING SOON...
Watch for the launch of myON, our personalised digital library that will provide students with access to over 6,000 digital books with enhanced content!
Richmond College
Richmond College
Richmond Park was named due to its vicinity to Richmond Palace, an area Charles I turned into a hunting park filled with beautiful fauna. Richmond Park in the autumn displays the changing of the seasons which represents the progress at LABexley. In module 1 students have showcased the new uniform. Students are using their Chromebooks to improve their learning experience and students are enjoying the benefits of our new restaurant all exemplifying the belief we have in our learners.
The Richmond team of Mr Crowther-Green (Head of college), Mr Harris, Mr Shazore, Ms Windsor, Ms Marinou and Ms Pease are working with tenacity to develop Richmond students, whom I am glad to report have welcomed all our support.
The team want to recognise those Richmond students that have represented LABexley during our open event or open mornings. Those that have represented the school in a sport or have been a positive role model for others.
We all look forward to continual improvements and work together to improve the community and our own futures.
Woburn College
Woburn College
We look forward to inviting our future post 16 community and their families for our first Sixth Form open evening. It is an exciting time to be a Sixth Form student at Leigh Academy Bexley following our move into a new building which has been incredibly successful this module. The Woburn College building has exclusive use to sixth form students, housing 6 classrooms, a lecture room, a silent study area and a common room, giving our students the opportunity to develop independence whilst getting support from the Academy to be successful and progress into their desired destination. As well as a new building we are offering T Levels for the first time, as well as traditional A level and vocational courses.
Sixth Form Careers Evening
During module 1 we hosted our first evening for students and their families to provide information on how to select the right destinations for next year. We hosted the evening in our Woburn College Lecture room and the evening was well attended. Hopefully this will have some of our students to explore both academic and vocational routes beyond sixth form.
Year 6 Open Events
Year 6 Open Events
We ran our first Open Events at Leigh Academy Bexley as part of this year's Transition programme. Families and students were invited to attend our Open Evening in September and one of three Open Mornings in October. All of the events were very successful, with both staff and students articulating and demonstrating how proud they were to be part of the LABex family. This point was reinforced with over 100 students giving up their time on Open Evening to be Student Ambassadors and continuing to support the Academy during the Open Morning events.
118 families attended Open Evening and 131 families have attended the Open Mornings. These attendance figures are extremely encouraging, as it is a reflection of the significant and positive changes that have been implemented over the last year and how these have not gone unnoticed within the community. Feedback from parents included; "we attended a tour of Leigh Academy on the 3rd October and were impressed with the changes being made at the school and the direction the school is heading", "I visited the school on the opening evening last week and again this morning and I wanted to say how impressed I am with the school and improvements that have made been so far", "the school environment seemed very calm and the pupils looked engaged in classes and most importantly happy".
Further events will be planned as part of the Transition program and I am sure they will build on the positive experiences that prospective families have already experienced.
PE Department
PE Department
On behalf of the PE Department, we would like to commend students for their excellent start to the academic year. We have seen improved participation levels in PE lessons, where students have been learning through Problem Solving/OAA and Aesthetic Activities. We have also had excellent participation levels at Co-curricular clubs, and many girls and boys have represented the Academy in football in the Kent Cup.
Notable performances in the Kent Cup include both the Under 16 Boys and Girls progressing to Round 2, in penalty shootouts. Well done to both teams!
There are two exciting upcoming LAT Competitions in Module 2, in Cross Country and Swimming. Please speak to Mr Crowe or Mrs Beswick if you are interested in participating in these events.
Leigh Academy Bexley has relaunched its Co-curricular offer and has 29 weekly clubs, with more being added throughout Module 2. The club offer is intended to develop all areas of our pupils' interests outside the classroom and includes sports and non-sports clubs. A complete list of the club offers can be seen on the link below.
Module One and Two, Clubs Available
If you would like your Son or Daughter to attend any of the clubs on offer, please sign them up through the SOCs platform. All parents will have a SOCs account created when they join the academy. Please follow the below instructions.
Digital Learning: Chromebooks
Digital Learning: Chromebooks
Here at the Leigh Academy Bexley, we are pleased to confirm that all students have now been allocated a Chromebook and the vast majority have been collected by parents:
Year 7 - 100%
Year 8 - 96.75%
Year 9 - 96.24%
Year 10 - 97.87%
Year 11 - 98.25%
As part of the Leigh Academies Trust digital strategy for learning, all students are loaned a free Chromebook for use both in school and at home for the duration of their time at the Academy.
By integrating technology both within the classroom and out, LABex aims to promote safe online learning where students are engaged with the curriculum at all times.
Homework and resources are provided in the virtual Google classrooms to support effective learning.
My Child at School App
My Child at School App
Module 1 also saw the launch of our new parent app, My Child at School (MCAS) to all LABex families. So far an impressive 93% of all priority 1 contacts have logged in to the app.
At present, you are able to use the MCAS app to look at your Childs attendance, behaviour and timetable as well as student details and this will be expanded on during the course of the academic year.
Looking forward to Module 2 we will be utilising the app for Parents Evening bookings and also improving communication home with the 'Announcement' function.
Performing Arts
Performing Arts
After school Drama club Act Too! is open to all years, and has now been launched for 2023-24 attracting many new year 7 students! The year 7 cohort will be completing their first ever performances at the end of Module 1 and the quality of work has been excellent.
Year 8's are completing module 1 on the topic of 'How to Stage a Play'. They have been experimenting with lights, sound, costume and setting with a view of preparing for a school production in 2024.
On a more serious note, our year 9 Drama students have been exploring the tragic case of Derek Bentley. Marking the 70th anniversary of the 19 year old being hanged for a crime he did not commit. To delve deeper into the case, students have worked on a script 'Let Him Have It' and used improvisation and Forum Theatre style techniques to get to the heart of a very serious subject.
Year 10 BTEC students have been viewing, researching and performing Frantic Assembly's extremely moving and profound play Things I Know to Be True. The play examines the emotional rollercoaster of the Price family, with both hard hitting and humorous dialogue, ultimately ending in tragedy. To get to the heart of performing such roles, the students are now embarking on the acting techniques of Stainslavski.
Our intentions for the academic year ahead is to offer for the first time theatre trips for KS3 and KS4 students and invite companies such as Frantic Assembly to the school to engage students in physical theatre workshops.
After a lull of almost four years, we will also be preparing for a major school production during Module 6, preceded by a 'showcase' production in Module 3.
Art
Art
In Year 7 students have been exploring the question 'why do we draw?' by looking at a variety of Artists and practitioners such as Henri Matisse and David Shrigley. Students are making excellent progress and have made a range of Artworks including paper cutouts and observational drawings.
In Year 8 students are working on a project themed around portraits. Students have explored how the face can be divided into facial planes to help with adding tonal values to our portraits.
In Year 9 students have been looking at ‘War and Conflict’ and how these themes have inspired the work of artists throughout history. Looking closely at the work of Kathe Kollwitz, students are making a variety of drawings in preparation for Module 2 where they will be turning one of their drawings into a lino print.
Year 10 Btec Art students have been making fantastic progress exploring their theme ‘Landmarks’. Students have investigated the theme by creating mood boards and responding to Artists including Eduardo Chillida, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michael Paulus. The Year 10 Art students also need to be congratulated on their fantastic contributions to open evening. Staying back working on their coursework late into the evening, they were fantastic role models for the school.
Year 11 have been working hard to complete their Art coursework on the theme ‘War and Conflict’. Students have been responding to the theme by creating a range of responses from drawings to rubbings and lino prints. Students are now looking at the recent history of Afghanistan and how the conflicts there have led to changes in the motifs women are including within their traditional woven rugs.
Music
Music
This year in music will be an exciting one! In Year 7 and 8 we have been getting to grips with some of the basics in music looking at the elements of music, particularly focusing on ‘duration’ and ‘pitch’ in relation to how we read and perform music. Year 7 have been learning how to play ‘Lightly row’ on the keyboard, which may sound familiar to fans of ‘Young Sheldon’, whilst year 8 have been learning the very familiar Eastenders theme. Some of them were very shocked to find that there is a version with lyrics!
In year 9, it is all about film and advertising. We have looked at why someone may want their music connected to a film/product and how this may increase product sales. We have looked at intellectual property rights, if you have composed a piece of music and someone else uses it, you should be paid for it!
In our year 9 practical lessons on keyboard students have had an independent task where they choose from one of the following to learn; My Heart will go on, Skyfall, Stand by me, Pirates of the Caribbean, Let it go, Jurassic park and Can you feel the love tonight. Through this task they also reflect on the effect music has on the audience of a film.
Next term will see final performances from Years 7 to 9 on their pieces and we begin something new!
Our Year 11 BTEC Music class are busily working away on their PSA Component 2 developing their professional music skills through performing and composing pieces of music centered around the theme of celebration. Some of the Year 11’s have ventured down the celebration of Love with ‘Can you feel the love tonight’ where others gone down the more seasonal route of Halloween with both the theme ‘HALLOWEEN’ and ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’
After school music will be starting up again soon with Keyboard club.
Design and Technology
Engineering and design are ubiquitous, and it is our responsibility to inspire and engage all students in this exciting, fast-paced world. Every year, new types of positions are available in the field of engineering, which remains a growing industry.
We began the year with an exceptional group of Year 7 students, whose positive learning energy and inspirations were immediately reflected in the creativity and quality of the products they are producing. With adequate support and resources, the department is maintaining parity with their aspirations.
With an emphasis on creative design and manufacture, the Engineering/Design Technology department has made an excellent start to the module. The students have enjoyed the lesson's straightforward structure and emphasis on safe practical sessions.
Our curriculum area is modest in size but not in ambition. We are engineers, no? Now that all of our students have Chromebooks, new opportunities and design programmes have become available.
Humanities
Humanities
It has been a very busy module in the Humanities dept. We have welcomed a number of new staff who specialise in our A level subjects and classes have gotten off to a really good start.
Criminologists are preparing for the Controlled Assessments (Unit 1 for Y12 and Unit 3 for Y13) to be sat next module whilst our Sociologists are doing their best to impress our new Vice Principal.
In terms of Geography, our Y11 classes have already benefited from feedback following their first round of assessments and have now been reorganised so that they may benefit from the best possible support moving into the Y11 mocks.
Our A level Historians are well underway with their coursework and progressing well with their knowledge of Germany’s economic change throughout the 19th and 20th centuries (not the most exciting topic but the students did well to produce presentations on different policies in most engaging ways. Mrs Turner even got to participate in a Kahoot to test her own knowledge!
ICT
ICT
The Computing Department would like to congratulate all the students for an excellent start to the new academic year. With our newly refurbished ICT suites, our KS3 students studied digital safety and we’ve welcomed our new Year 10 and 12 Option groups. Our Year 11 and Year 13’s continued to work hard as well and we are impressed with the motivation and dedication shown by all of our students. With the new chromebooks and our upgraded facilities, we can already see how our students are becoming more confident digital leaders.
What is new?
We are looking forward to introducing our new Esport extra curricular clubs very soon.
What is ESports?
Esports, short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organised, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams. We are looking forward to competing against other Leigh Academies soon.
Do you have the following skills or want to improve on your skills? Then Esports is for you!
1. Communication · 2. Research · 3. Critical Thinking · 4. Multitasking · 5. Determination
Possible clubs we might offer:
Valorant (16+)
Fortnite (Y8 and Above)
League of Legends
Overwatch 2
Rocket League
FIFA 22
F1 22
Each of these games are part of the British Esports Association student champs (FIFA - Not Included). More to follow on this soon.
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