Wow… what an amazing year 2022-2023 has been for the entire LAB learning community. Receiving an Outstanding judgement in our first OFSTED inspection, followed by dual authorisation for the IB Diploma and Careers Related Programmes (making us only one of two non-selective state schools in the UK authorised to deliver the IB MYP, DP and CP programmes collectively), has definitely made this year one to remember! We have always recognised the value and importance of strong working relationships between home and school, and achieving both these external validations has further highlighted the collective strength we have as a community: of students, staff and families. Thank you for your relentless support and the contributions you consistently make as LAB parents and carers.

The end of this academic year has been quite emotional as we say goodbye to our very special cohort of founding students. They are a unique group of individuals and we are proud to have been part of their journey from childhood to adolescence and young adulthood. We are delighted that many of them will be returning in September as founding students of LAB16, and look forward to celebrating their GCSE results on August 24th.

Once again the end of the year has been packed full of exciting activities, celebrations and learning opportunities for our students, such as: The Founders Prom, Year 10 Work Experience, KS3 Graduation and the Summer Arts Celebration, LAB Lit Fest, Sports Day, DofE Bronze and Silver expeditions, Year 8 Digital Festival, and the charity tutor group walk raising money for CASK.  I hope you enjoy reading more about each of these events later in the Summer newsletter.

This year we are sad to see a number of key staff leave us as they move on to new challenges, either through promotion or for personal reasons.  We will be saying goodbye to Elizabeth Nuttall - VP Fawcett -, following her decision to take a career break to look after her son Henry; Jack Ritchie - VP Sancho -, who is taking up the post of Associate Director of Targeted Support for the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM); Rocio Garcia - AP Sancho -, who is moving to Dulwich College as Head of Spanish; and James Cowie - AP Fawcett -, who is joining The Halley Academy as their new Head of Sixth Form.  Sharifa Khatun - Coordinator of Computing -, is moving to Qatar with her family; Matthew Nixon - Teacher of English -, will be leaving us as he moves with his family to South Wales; and Tiwalola Roberts - Teacher of PE -, who is moving to Plumstead Manor as Deputy Head of PE.  Whilst we are incredibly sad to see these colleagues leave, and recognise and thank them for the huge value they have brought to LAB during their time here, we are also proud to see them all move on to exciting new opportunities. 

We are looking forward to September 1st: to welcome both new and existing students back to LAB for the new academic year.

Have a wonderful and safe summer break.

Best wishes,

E Smith