All of our Leigh Academy Year 12 were lucky enough to visit the University of Kent, Canterbury Campus, on Thursday 7th March, for a much anticipated campus tour and insight into university life. 

Leigh students began by meeting the university student ambassador team who spoke about their experience of applying to and attending the university. Our students were able to research courses, develop their thoughts and plans for their future career paths and ask questions about the practicalities of life as a university student. After a detailed campus tour, our Year 12 students made use of the brilliant on-site facilities before heading back to the university lecture theatre for a discussion about the extra- curricular side of uni living and a competition to create the most exciting student union group.

The Leigh Academy is a partner school to the University of Kent, and as such we regularly have talks from the university staff who explain the entire UCAS process and encourage Leigh students to apply for their Succeed Programme. We are delighted that this year we have 7 students successfully apply to take part, when we know places are so limited. These students will be able to visit the university, with guided tours with university ambassadors, as well as take part in workshops and even have the opportunity of residential stays. We hope that visiting Kent has inspired our Year 12 even more to academic success and to believe that a university education is within their reach. We have had 80% of our Year 13 students apply to universities this year through UCAS and we are sure that our even more of our Year 12 students will now wish to follow the same pathway.

In January, Longfield Academy hosted its annual Careers Fair. We were delighted to welcome representatives from a huge range of organisations, including our own sixth form, Leigh Academies Trust, Darent Valley Hospital (DVH), The ASK programme, THB, Royal Navy Recruitment, RAF Recruitment, J & E Hall International, Ebbsfleet Garden City, London South East Colleges, Canterbury Christ Church University, Hadlow College, North Kent College, University of Kent, Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and the Metropolitan Police Service. A huge thank you to all of our visitors who came to inspire our students!

This module we have hosted three events which have celebrated the talents of our Mascalls Academy actors and artists. Our KS3 students performed a WW1 promenade piece which was set around the academy site and the sets created by our students were just exceptional.  We really felt that we had been transported back in time. Three performances were held during the evening and all were very well attended by parents, grandparents, Mascalls Academy staff and other students.

The music department has hosted two Rising Star concerts in this module, one for key stage 4 students and one for key stage 3. Both of which demonstrated the phenomenal talent that we have in the academy. The KS4 Rising Star concert even had some cameo appearances from some Year 7 percussionists, which showed how the arts can bring our students together and have them working collaboratively. Our key stage 3 concert was the first time that some of our students had ever performed in front of an audience and they certainly did themselves very proud.

At the start of module 4, we were fortunate enough to welcome a group of students from the north of Spain into our academy for a week. These students were buddied up with volunteers from our academy, and spent the week attending all lessons and extra curricular activities with these students. 

Throughout the week, students experienced a full Strood Academy style timetable, attending all lessons from English and maths to MFL, Art and DT. Students were highly engaged in these lessons and the level of spoken English and commitment to learning was commented on by members of staff across the academy. These students also spent break and lunch times with students of Strood Academy, playing football, attending lunch time extra curricular activities and clubs as well as socialising and building friendships. It was fantastic to see these students enjoying these activities and interactions as much as they did. During the evenings, as these students were staying in a local hotel, they got to explore the area and see all that Strood and Rochester had to offer.

At the end of the week, as we said goodbye to these students, there were many tears and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude both from Strood Academy students, as well as the students we welcomed into our academy.

All students involved spoke of what an amazing experience they had, how much they had learned and how much they valued and cherished the relationships that had been built during this time. 

We are so proud of our entire community for welcoming these students into our academy with open arms, allowing them an insight into life in the UK, as well as the opportunity to form friendships and memories which will surely last a lifetime. While some of our students took this opportunity to improve their spoken Spanish, others took this opportunity to get an insight into life in Spain and how this compares to what we know in the UK. Above all, all students took this opportunity to show their kindness and open mindedness, showing a huge amount of pride in Strood Academy and to be a representative of our community. All students who were buddies throughout this time were rewarded with certificates and a huge round of applause during lineups. However, we recognise that every single member of Strood Academy had an impact on these students and their experience with us, and this does not go unnoticed. We are immensely grateful for all members of our community for being a part of this experience; it was hugely successful and we cannot wait to host more groups of students as this academic year progresses.

In March SJWMS’s school politics department hosted a visit from Lord Michael Cashman. Cashman has had an eclectic career which encompasses Eastenders, Stonewall, the European Parliament and the House of Lords. Cashman started his career as an actor culminating in playing the first openly gay character ‘Colin’ in the early years of Eastenders. He left acting to co-found Stonewall and campaign against the introduction of Section 28 by the Thatcher government. He subsequently worked closely with Tony Blair to repeal it.

Cashman was able to discuss all aspects of his work with our students who were keen to hear about his experiences in the EU Parliament, the House of Lords and his anecdotes about Prime Ministers John Major, Tony Blair & Gordon Brown. Some of our drama students were also keen to hear about his stories from the set of Eastenders! Cashman’s principle message was to inspire our students to get involved, become active citizens and use whatever democratic levers are available to change things which they are unhappy about.