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Principal's Welcome

I am delighted to share with you the fourth edition of LABextra! our Academy newsletter. We have been keeping Parents/Carers up to date over the last few weeks with our latest news on the Academy website but this publication is designed to be a full round-up of the 2024/2025 academic year so far.

Our Open events in September and October were a huge success, with more visitors than ever before coming to look around the Academy. We had to put on extra dates for prospective families to view the Academy ‘live’ due to popular demand. What a lovely position to be in. We are proud to be rapidly becoming the school of choice for the local community, with a 36% increase in first-choice preferences for September 2025.

The investment into the Academy has continued this year with an upgrade to our Main Entrance which is due to be completed in January 2025 along with continued improvement to our learning environment. The IT infrastructure was overhauled during the summer break meaning connectivity is more stable for all device users.

We continue to recruit high quality staff to the Academy to further strengthen the subject specialisms across the curriculum. We have promoted two of our College Administrators to Student Support Managers and welcomed excellent new administrators to the College Teams. All our new staff are already settled into Academy life as we look to welcome a highly experienced Director of Learning for Business and Finance and three Lead Practitioners in the new year. The staff body goes from strength to strength which in turn improves the quality of education for our students.

Governors joined the Academy for the day in September for their Immersion Day which truly lived up to its name, as they got to experience a day in the life of the Academy. They met with various groups of students and senior leaders to capture the progress of the Academy as well as visiting lessons and reviewing important documents. The feedback from the Governors was overwhelmingly positive; they thoroughly enjoyed their day-in-the-life-of Leigh Academy Bexley.

This academic year has seen the launch of the Academy’s social media online presence. Whilst this initiative is still in its infancy, the importance of reaching our stakeholders through digital channels is an increasing priority for us, so do follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest news and events.

We welcomed the very talented Dan Pullen back to the academy in October to take the photographs for our new prospectus. The students involved really enjoyed the photoshoot and we are delighted with the pictures. Just a few of the images are shared below; look out for the new Academy prospectus coming later in the academic year.

It’s not just the students that learn at Leigh Academy Bexley, we continue to develop our staff with a bespoke Continual Professional Development programme on Wednesday afternoons. This ensures our staff are one step ahead of the latest developments in classroom practice and pedagogy.

I hope you enjoy taking a look through what goes on inside the Academy gates. Don’t forget, even though the Academy buildings are closed over the winter break, you can always reach out to us via the info@labexley.org.uk email address if you need any support.

Have a wonderful break and we will see you when the Academy reopens on Tuesday 7th January 2025 for all students.

John Dixon, Principal

As Holkham College ends the first full term for 2024/2025 we take this opportunity to thank every one of our students (and Parents/Carers) for making us stay at the Number One position since the last academic year. With our positive attitude and respect growing for our community, we have all collectively proven that change for the better can and has happened.

However, we do not mean to stop here, we are a reflective College who will endeavour to learn and make improvements. Our Holkham motto to ‘Be relentless in your pursuit of becoming your best self’ is what our Holkham students strive for. Here are a few insights to what has been happening at the college:

The Christmas Hamper Interform Quiz is back again for its second year, due to its huge popularity. Years 10 and 11 answered questions on GCSE content and Years 7-9 tackled some tricky general knowledge questions. This year, however, we see two hampers being awarded; one each for upper and lower Colleges. There was some extremely strong competition which gathered momentum between our forms.

Our Year 11s have also been sitting their first official Mock Exams, please congratulate them as they have been through some tough moments. Nonetheless, this will strengthen their confidence for their summer exams of 2025.

We have been collecting food and toiletries for the Trussell Trust charity organisation and are currently in first position for collections.

We would also like to acknowledge the achievements of one of our College students outside of the school setting - Archy in Year 10 was invited to play football abroad with his team!

I am sure, you would agree, that we are in a strong position to make this year the best yet and no matter what the new year brings - We Will Always Be The Winning Team!

Have a restful and well-deserved break and we look forward to collaborating in 2025.

D Pieroulli | Head of Holkham College

Knole College would like to thank all of our students and families for the ongoing support we have had during Module 1 and 2. With the families and teachers support, Knole students have been working extremely hard in lessons, keeping attendance as high as possible, positive behaviours as high as possible, and negative behaviours low.

11K1 had their first round of mock exams in November. The students have been engaged, focused and determined. Well done to the Year 11s for getting through an incredibly stressful and difficult time. Students will be well prepared for their next round of mocks in February 2025.

7K1 has really settled in well. We had our first Meet the Tutor evening which was extremely positive. Well done to 7K1 for getting through the transition period from Year 6 to 7. We know it’s a difficult stage and there are lots of changes, but they have managed this incredibly well.

We wish our students and families a lovely winter break, and we look forward to seeing all the students in January.

J Shiyani | Head of Knole College

The students of Petworth College have been an absolute credit to themselves and the College during Modules 1 and 2 of this 24/25 academic year. They have recorded the College's highest collective attendance of 91%, with 7P1 leading the achievement, recording 95%. 59 students in the College have 100% attendance this year and 118 students are above 96%. The College has also amassed 10,183 positive behaviour points through excellent work and attitude to their studies.

In the build up to Christmas the Academy has been running a College competition, which has resulted in a substantial amount of supplies of food and toiletries to the Trussell Trust charity, currently we are neck and neck with Holkham as the biggest contributors to date. Thank you to everyone who has contributed.

Our Year 11s have had a busy Module 2, taking part in their first set of mock examinations. Again, they have conducted themselves impeccably and whilst the process can be stressful it is invaluable preparation for the public examinations in the summer of 2025. There will be opportunities in the coming Modules to meet staff and discuss progress, but you are welcome to approach us if you have any queries in-between the planned events.

Finally, we are delighted to announce that one of our very own Petworth students produced the Leigh Academies Trust Christmas Card, jointly winning the competition with the wonderful design below. Well done Amelia, you’re a credit to Petworth and Leigh Academy Bexley!

P Wilson | Head of Petworth College

Richmond students have made a fantastic start to the academic year.

They have shown tenacity with their attendance, which has significantly increased and is higher than the Academy average. Students, parents and staff continue to work collaboratively to unlock barriers and improve attendance.

As our Year 11 and 13 students prepared for their mock examinations which began on Monday 25th November 2025, it highlighted the importance of positive engagement with learning and independent learning for all year groups. Richmond students have reflected on the improvements this academic year with Sparx being extended to science.

Parents/Carers, we appreciate your continued support to motivate students while learning outside the Academy and for promoting the positive effects this will have on our students' future lives.

Year 10 Richmond students led an assembly on Breast Cancer awareness across all Colleges. Educating and raising awareness with students on how we can support those affected by cancer.

Congratulations to all Richmond students who represented the Academy by performing excellently as tour guides; promoting the Academy with prospective Year 7 students and their parents. Our visiting future students and parents commented on their professional outlook and attitudes.

A special mention to Noah. As a keen drummer, his band have been selected as finalists in this years ‘Battle of the Bands’ which took place at the Orchard Theatre West Dartford.

M Crowther-Green | Head of Richmond College

Our Woburn community has continued to grow due to an increase in the number of students choosing to stay with us for their post 16 journey, as well as a further increase in students from other schools joining us.

Year 13 have successfully completed their mocks and a number are working towards external examinations in January. We wish them luck with their preparations for these assessments. Many of them have also been preparing their university applications which will be submitted in January.

Year 12 have settled well into their leadership roles within the Academy by supporting numerous Academy events as well as speaking with external stakeholders. A number of students have also started supporting extra curricular events for lower school which is fantastic.

We have recently implemented JSTOR in the Academy to support students with their studies. JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books and primary sources which students can use for additional research and to develop their academic writing.

In the new year, we have a number of events planned to support students with developing their wider skills through our developing partnerships with external organisations. Students in Year 12 will also be visiting a university with a focus on applications and financial support.

I would like to thank the Woburn team for their continued support and dedication to ensure that students in Woburn have a strong post 16 experience.

C Dillon | Deputy Principal and Head of Woburn College

English

Key Stage 3

An exciting start to the academic year with Year 7 starting their MYP journey. Students are embracing the opportunity to explore fiction and non fiction texts in a new, inquiry based approach to the learning.

Another initiative for Key Stage 3 was the introduction of SPARX reader. Being part of the same stable as SPARX maths, students have enjoyed the competitive nature of the platform and individuals are working hard to be top of the leaderboard.

Trip to Moon Lane Books

On Thursday 21st November a group of students from Year 8 visited Moon Lane Books in London to choose books for the school library, using a grant that we had been given from the Siobhan Dowd Trust. The students spent time at Moon Lane carefully choosing books that they wanted to read as well as books that they thought that their fellow students would enjoy reading. The students have made some brilliant choices covering a range of genres and topics, everything from the latest thriller novel by Karen McManus to newly published graphic novels, and old favourites like Tom Gates. They're on the shelves now for students to read.

Key Stage 4

In Key stage 4 Year 10 and 11 have the privilege of seeing performances of Macbeth and An Inspectors Calls in school. The Globe Players spoke highly of students engagement, the performances were well received, and being GCSE texts it was a fantastic opportunity for the students to be an audience member of live theatre.

Computer Science

Year 7

Since the increase of digital devices, staying safe online is becoming increasingly difficult. We asked our students to research different Internet Safety issues. We asked them to create an E-Safety leaflet aimed at Year 6 pupils (10-11 Year Olds), that can be taught across primary academies in the trust. Please see below some great examples of leaflets created by our Year 7 students.

Kizzie Kiara Suyane

Annabel L

Year 8 and 9

We asked our Year 8 and Year 9 students to create a range of greeting cards that they can use for Religious festivals, birthday celebrations as well as other different special occasions. The students went through a whole design process where they experimented with different sketches before choosing their final design. Please see below some great examples of cards created by our students.

Emily W

Alfie F

Elouise A

Lexi W

Layla H

Naimoh

Atlanta

SEN

Congratulations to all of the Year 7 SEN students that took part in the Transition groups and Draw and talk groups with Ms Leahy in Module 1. Every student that took part was a joy to work with!

Every day is a SENSORY CIRCUIT day for some of our students. A group of students who find the need for rest breaks, are a bit restless or have ADHD, are invited to Sensory Circuit every morning to test their coordination and agility in a number of exercises. The feedback from students is that this is really helping get ‘rid’ of lots of energy and it helps them focus on the day ahead.

LEC Rewards Activity

As part of our provision in the LEC, students participated in a group festive craft activity that supported a range of needs such as communication, social interaction, fine and gross motor skills and sensory issues.

SEND Parent Engagement

Over the last two Modules we have held two coffee mornings and two parent workshops.

At one of our parent coffee mornings we were lucky to have one of our school counsellors to attend to discuss ways to support students at home, and for parents to understand the work that is being put in place at school. SEND parent workshops have been very well attended and in this Module the Academy was fortunate to have a Bexley Voice Representative to talk to parents about the service and what the local authority has to offer. Feedback from parents was really positive and they would welcome more opportunities like this. Next Module we have planned for the ASD outreach team to hold a session.

SENDCOs Ms Kwok and Mrs Baldock have been meeting students and their parents/carers across the Module to review and write new Individual Learning Plans (ILPs). This will continue throughout the year. These meetings have proved really positive with parents/carers feeling more involved and informed about the SEND provision at the Academy.

DT/Engineering

We are thrilled to share the exciting developments happening in the Engineering department. Year 10 Engineering are currently working on the WJEC Engineering Unit 1 NEA 2022/23. They are asked to make a flexible lamp using the engineering drawings provided by the exam board. In order to complete the coursework, they have to demonstrate skills in marking, cutting, finishing, shaping, preparing, filing, joining and assembling. In order to achieve this they are required to show competent use of a variety of tools and equipment. They use wood, metal and plastic to produce the components needed to assemble the flexible lamp. Through the production process, students gain knowledge of the properties and stock form of the materials. Project based learning provides students the opportunity to develop these skills under the umbrella of the project. Students are able to work collaboratively, supporting each other and enhancing their skills. These pictures show a small group of students working together and sharing good ideas and skills to build this project.

They are proud to show off the skills they have acquired in this course. These students are keen to develop these skills further by choosing a career in electrical installation, carpentry and mechanical engineering. We are also proud to inform you that the engineering department will be renovated soon and this will include having modern equipment such as a CAD (Computer-Aid Design) booth where students can draw 3D structures. A 3D printer and also a laser cutter will be some of the modern investment bought into Leigh Academy Bexley.

We look forward to highlighting the final products of our Year 10 projects in future editions.

Humanities

Lots of exciting things have been happening in Humanities this Module. We were very lucky to be able to send two students to take part in the Lessons From Auschwitz project with the Holocaust Educational Trust. Below you will find a summary of the visit from one of the students.

‘Being given the opportunity to participate in the Lessons for Auschwitz programme has truly been such an eye opening experience and has given me a true understanding of the events that occurred during the Holocaust. To start, me and many others on the course were shown videos taken of Jewish people before they were taken to the concentration camps, imprisoned and murdered. They were only simple videos of normal, everyday life. Ordinary people that just happened to be Jewish. It really portrayed the personal aspect of each individual that suffered from this event. It creates a dramatic juxtaposition between life before and after the Holocaust because all humanity was stripped from these people. We have kindly been shown through the programme, videos of Rabbi Daniel Epstein, explaining that even though the Nazis aim throughout the Holocaust was to wipe out Judaism in Europe and to dehumanise all the victims, many prisoners still held out hope and found loopholes for prayer and worship. This clearly illustrates the immense resilience that those that were imprisoned endured, and I really believe that it should be praised, and taught as we learn about the Holocaust and History as a whole. It's such an important event to learn about and understand’.

In addition, we also had our Year 11 Geography students visit Reculver to support their fieldwork:

Year 11 students went to Reculver Bay as part of their Coastal Fieldwork unit for GCSE Geography. Students used this time effectively to survey the profile of the beach and look at coastal defence and management strategies. The trip was supported by our Leigh Academies Trust Geography Curriculum Advisor, Miss Milne, who demonstrated how to use the equipment and ensured that data was correctly collected. Despite the cold weather and conditions, students were well behaved and inquisitive as they completed a vital component of their studies.

A huge thank you to Miss Milne, Miss Cooper and Mr Morgan for a successful trip!

Our Key Stage 3 students have been impressing their teachers this Module with their commitment to learning, whether it be learning about Philosophy, Science and Religion (Year 9) or the Germanic Reformation (Year 8), we have been very impressed by the volume of work being completed and the positive attitudes of students around the Academy.

Maths

A Look Back: Maths Department Updates Since September

As we progress through this academic year, we wanted to share some of the achievements and developments in the Maths Department since September. It has been a busy and productive term, and here are the highlights.

Key Initiatives and Projects

We are working on the Key Vocabulary Guide as a team to enhance students' mathematical language and understanding. SPARX Independent Learning clubs were launched, and we would like to see students taking these opportunities to ask not only IL questions but also any inquisitive questions.

Student Achievements

Students have been actively earning positive points for completing their SPARX independent learning tasks. They also receive SPARX certificates, which are displayed on the display board to celebrate individual success. This recognition highlights their dedication and consistent effort in engaging with the platform to reinforce their mathematical skills.

Teaching Innovations

In Key Stage 3, we are using Maths Mastery as part of our curriculum. Maths Mastery is an approach that focuses on developing a deep understanding of mathematical concepts through problem-solving, reasoning, and fluency. It emphasises the use of multiple representations and collaborative learning to ensure all students grasp fundamental ideas before moving on to more complex topics. Robust assessment techniques, including cold calling and live feedback, have kept students on track and actively involved.

Student Support

Year 11 students have taken their first mock exams, and the Maths Department has supported them by providing past exam papers and offering morning sessions before the exams.

Looking Ahead

Next module, the Maths Department will focus on helping students strengthen their problem-solving skills and deepen their understanding of key mathematical concepts. We will introduce targeted revision sessions for exam preparation and offer additional resources to support independent learning.

Thank You

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement. Together, we can help every student excel in maths. Let’s look forward to another successful module.

Drama

Year 7s have been exploring drama techniques in Module 1 and now the median of radio in Module 2. They have been creating music, sound effects and using a variety of vocal techniques to create various characters, across genres including ‘Soap Operas’ and ‘Radio Presenting’.

Year 8 students performed a duologue called ‘Fault’ which is about two teenagers who get into trouble at school and are waiting outside the Headteacher’s office. In Module 2 they have explored a variety of scripts and ways to approach ‘character’ and ‘rehearsals’.

Year 9 explored the ‘Craig and Bentley’ case in Module 1 in order to debate whether capital punishment should be brought back into the UK criminal justice system. Following this students were introduced to ‘Forum Theatre’, created by Augusto Boal. We are using Anne Frank as the vehicle for exploring the theme of ‘the oppressed’.

On Tuesday 26th November 28 of our Year 10 BTEC Performing Arts students were invited to watch ‘A Christmas Carol’ with the infamous John Simm at The Old Vic. This is the second of four performances with The Old Vic School’s Club which we have been fortunate to gain access to this academic year.

The show was a mixture of bell playing, singing and dancing. The auditorium was snowing at one point, and with the amazing lighting on a stage that was in the shape of a cross the whole audience was immersed in the performance.

A thoroughly enjoyable time was had by both staff and students. We look forward to taking our young people to the next available show in the new year.

As part of this project, students also met with actors from the show who visited the Academy to deliver a workshop, on Monday 2nd December in our Drama Studio. This gave our students an opportunity to gain further insight into the different styles and approaches to acting whilst using a script.

Year 11 are working hard to complete their Component Two Paper on the monologues they performed as their final piece. In January they will complete the final component, where they devise their own piece of theatre from stimulus material.

Helen Forbes-Bareham

Coordinator of Learning Creative Arts

LABex Drama Club

With its rebranding to Actors LAB, we are now in our eighth year of successful extracurricular Drama. Numbers have grown significantly after the group performed in July to over seventy people in the Drama block. This was the first school performance for over five years! Following the success of the show, interest to join Actors LAB has increased greatly - we now have close to thirty students and are currently embedding the new students to the disciplines required for a future school production. Fundamentally, they have been engaging in Drama exercises that ensure they are able and willing to work with everyone in the group. Improvisation has been an essential Drama skill they have been learning alongside script work, which will put them in good stead for next year’s production.

To be inclusive of the whole school, Mrs Forbes-Bareham and myself plan to hold open auditions for next year’s show.

Mr N Wardzynski

Teacher of Drama

Art

Year 7: Students have started the year positively. Following the MYP, students have been exploring the question 'Why do Artists draw?' and ‘How can Abstract Art be used as a form of language to communicate ideas'? Next Module students will be introduced to painting and colour theory; thinking about why and when artists might use particular colour pallets.

Year 8: Throughout Modules 1 and 2 students have been exploring the theme of portraiture. Creating a range of artworks including polyblock printing and photomontage. Recently students have been creating their own surreal portraits inspired by the work of Kensuke Koike.

Year 9: Students have been exploring the theme of 'War and Conflict'. Exploring how and why artists choose to respond to these events. After taking their own set of portrait photographs students have been editing them and turning them into lino prints inspired by the German artist Kathe Kollwitz.

LABex Art Club

This Module saw the launch of our brand new art club! Students have been exploring the architecture of our school, taking and editing photographs of the architecture in preparation for making a series of six large (6ft by 4ft) canvas paintings. Students have been looking at the brightly coloured paintings by British artist Michael Craig Martin as inspiration for their large architectural paintings. Please look out for images of their progress in the next edition.

Mr Britton-Field

Lead Practitioner of Visual Arts

Photography

In Key Stage 4 photography we have been learning how to edit our photographs digitally using the online site ‘Photopea’. Students have been experimenting with what the software can do and what tools are available to them to edit their coursework photographs.

Students have been creating their own photomontages of portraits, they have played with juxtaposition of objects, and created surreal landscapes. All work they are creating links to their overall project theme of ‘Surrealism.’

Students have been using tools such as crop, brightness and contrast to add basic editing to their photographs. They then stretched themselves further through learning how to use more complex tools, such as the magnetic lasso tool and the liquify tool.

Miss Adams

Lead Practitioner for Art

Science

The Science Department has made an outstanding start this year, with a strong focus on developing investigative skills and fostering a love for inquiry. Our Open Evening was a resounding success, as parents thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic array of hands-on practical demonstrations. The enthusiasm and passion our students displayed for science were truly inspiring.

Beyond daily activities, the Science Department has taken a pioneering approach by launching two innovative after-school clubs: the STEM Science Club and the Sparx Independent Learning Club. These initiatives are designed to ignite curiosity and cultivate a deeper engagement with scientific exploration.

In our mission to elevate the profile of science, we have organized a host of remarkable enrichment activities, including the celebration of National Science Week, World Science Day, Breast Cancer Awareness Day Assembly and exhilarating science-based competitions such as Science Selfie Competition. Furthermore, we offered an unforgettable educational trip to a renowned science museum, providing students with real-world exposure to cutting-edge scientific advancements.

Through these endeavors, the Science Department continues to inspire and empower students, nurturing the next generation of critical thinkers and innovators.

MFL

Modern Foreign Languages Update

In the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on enhancing our students' language skills through increased use of oracy, choral speaking, and songs. These activities have been incredibly effective in helping students embed high-frequency language and key vocabulary, making the learning process more engaging and memorable.

For Year 7, we’ve been exploring the theme of "Myself and My Identity." This topic has allowed students to learn how to introduce themselves, describe their family, and discuss their hobbies—skills that are essential for building confidence in using a new language.

For Year 8, we've tapped into students' interests, including TV, actors, music, and sports personalities. By connecting language learning to things they enjoy, students have been more motivated to engage and participate actively in lessons.

In Year 9, we've shifted our focus to school life, diving into vocabulary and phrases that help them talk about their daily routines, subjects, and opinions on school life. This has been a great way to prepare them for conversations they’ll need in real-world situations.

Year 10 has been busy revising tenses, with a particular focus on mastering the basics to ensure a solid foundation for future GCSE work. We've also been planning for the Year 10 oracy assessments, incorporating role play and activities that mirror the GCSE exam format to give students a head start.

We’ve been using Conti’s MARS EARS approach and sentence builders to help students feel more confident in constructing accurate and complex sentences. These tools have been fantastic in supporting students at all levels, helping them engage with the language in a more meaningful and structured way.

Lastly, our KMT trainees are gearing up for their placements at Wilmington Grammar School for Boys and Wilmington Academy. We’re all really excited for them as they prepare to apply their skills in a different classroom setting and return to us at the end of Module 3.

PSHE

We have had a busy time at Leigh Academy Bexley welcoming external speakers, visitors and taking part in community projects.

Black History Month visiting speaker

LABex were fortunate to be able to welcome back Usifu Jalloh, The Cowfoot Prince who took our students on a magical journey from Erith to Africa! The students thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling session with much clapping, singing and laughter. All whilst taking in the important message that Bexley is like a blender, full of a mix of many different ingredients that together create a ‘delicious smoothie’ - a blend of many cultures.

Assemblies

This Academic year we have seen Year 7 step up to bravely take part in assemblies supporting Ms Hull in our College assemblies to mark the start of Black History Month. This year’s Black History Month theme was ‘Reclaiming the Narrative’, so Year 7 introduced us to six different people who have contributed to our understanding of black history by sharing their stories, and highlighting the stories of others. Throughout October, students learnt more about these six people, and their roles in history, in their tutor sessions. Mrs Wilson, with help from Year 7 tutors, rehearsed with their tutor groups in order to present their stories with their Colleges. Students enjoyed taking part and listening to their peers. We were very proud of their efforts and look to more student voices in assemblies in the near future.

Little Fish Theatre Company workshops

LABex welcomed the return of our external partners, the Little Fish Theatre Company who were delighted to give their last performance of 'Straight Up!' to Leigh Academy Bexley. Year 9 were a wonderful audience who engaged with the three very different stories performed. These were based around the theme of when young people haven't been believed because of prejudices, like discrimination based on race, gender, disability, or age. We were also honoured with the presence of both the project coordinator from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as well as the writer herself. Year 9 were particularly impressed with how easily the performers moved in and out of character when discussing with the audience what their thoughts were, after each story had been performed. The Theatre Company were very impressed with our students and complemented them on their ability to focus. We look forward to working with Little Fish Theatre again this academic year.

Parent Engagement - RSE Workshop

We welcomed Parents and Carers to LABex for a workshop on the RSE Curriculum. Mrs Wilson delivered an engaging presentation, sharing with the audience how we deliver the statutory content along with a taster of what it is like to be in the classroom as a student of PSHE.

There was much welcomed discussion afterwards with positive comments on how well we plan our delivery of what can be challenging, confusing and often controversial content, to our students. Parents and Carers were pleased to hear that we triangulate between home, school and use Smoothwall on students’ Chromebooks, to ensure that our students are able to safely explore the world of RSE with ‘safety, consent and healthy relationships’ being the pillars of the curriculum. The best comments were ‘More parents should attend’ and ‘This content should be taught earlier on’.

Community Project Food Bank collection inter-college competition

Our LABex school community collected donations for the Trussell Trust Charity who provide items for the Bexley Foodbank. We are proud to be a part of supporting those in need in our local area, and there was strong competition to see which College hit the highest number of donated items. To recognise this, Mrs Wilson adorned our 'Collection Christmas tree' which was on display in the Restaurant. Each College had baubles on the tree representing their donations and the winning College found out on Monday 16th December when the star lit up in their colour! Thanks to all those colleagues involved in collecting, counting and storing items.

Christmas Jumper Day

Our final celebration for 2024 saw the Academy community alive with colour as students and staff put on their Christmas Jumpers. We raised funds to support another worthy charity whilst enjoying the Christmas Lunch provided by our wonderful Cucina Restaurant Team.

Special thanks goes to the Breakfast Club staff and students who jumped at the chance to decorate our LABex Christmas Tree which was proudly on display in the Restaurant for all to enjoy!

Music

LABex Music Club

New to Leigh Academy Bexley, the Music Club has begun in earnest. We have grown the student membership as more students have been hearing about the fun they are having exploring Viva La Vida by Coldplay. Students have been collating their different parts using various instruments such as drums, guitar, piano and singing. We look forward to them building up their confidence and working towards performing live to the rest of the school in the near future.

LABex Music Department

Year 7 students have been learning the key elements of music and different instrument families in the orchestra. They have been exploring the keyboards by changing the voice to other instruments, and learning pieces that typically fit that certain instrument. They’ve all made excellent progress and should be very proud of themselves!

In Module 1, the Year 8s were looking at video game music. They began playing some well known video game songs and creating their own video game characters. They then had to compose music on BandLab for their characters. In Module 2, we’ve been looking at Keyboard skills. They’ve been learning all about how to read music, where the notes are on the keyboard and how to play some well known pieces.

The Year 9s started the year with Film Music. They looked at trailer and advert music and how this influences the consumer as well as creating music on BandLab for a trailer. This Module, they have been songwriting. We started off building a drum beat and week by week they have been adding new things to their songs. Some have decided to re-create well known songs and this has been a great success. I look forward to hearing the fully created songs at the end of the Module!

Mrs Hildebrand

Teacher of Music

PE

PE Department Update: Year 9 Football and GCSE Rock Climbing

The PE department continues to work tirelessly in the lead-up to the Christmas break, providing students with opportunities to participate in competitive sports and explore new activities. Two recent highlights include a thrilling Year 9 football fixture and the GCSE rock climbing experience.

Year 9 Football Success

On Tuesday evening, the Year 9 football team faced Trinity in a closely contested match. The students performed exceptionally well, showcasing outstanding teamwork and determination to secure a 4-2 victory. Standout players included Alfie D, who scored twice, and Enrik L, who also netted two goals. Their efforts, along with the whole team’s cohesive play, were a credit to the College. Congratulations to all involved on a well-deserved win!

GCSE PE Rock Climbing

This week, 25 GCSE PE students embarked on an exciting trip to The Reach Climbing Centre in Woolwich for the first day of a two-day rock climbing course. This initiative aims to enhance their practical coursework grades and provide a unique and challenging experience.

For many students, it was their first time rock climbing, but they enthusiastically embraced the challenge. Throughout the day, they learned a variety of essential skills, including:

Tying knots
Belaying (managing the safety rope for a climbing partner)
Traversing (horizontal climbing)
Bouldering (low-height climbing without ropes)
Tackling progressively challenging climbs, including overhangs

While some students were initially nervous, their confidence grew as the day progressed. By the end of the session, all participants had made significant progress and felt a sense of accomplishment. Feedback from the instructors was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the students’ determination and willingness to learn.

Day 2 of the course will take place in late January, where students will complete their assessments. We are confident this experience will not only boost their practical skills but also positively impact their coursework outcomes.

Well done to all the students who took part and to the PE department for their continued efforts in providing these enriching opportunities!

Soaring Successes and Sporting Thrills!

Trampolining Club

Our talented trampolinists continue to amaze us with their incredible skills and dedication. They've been mastering new tricks like twists and seat drops, pushing their limits and achieving personal bests. The supportive club environment has been instrumental in helping members overcome challenges and reach new heights.

Football Clubs

Boys' Football - Our boys' football teams (Years 7-10) have been training hard every Thursday, with over 50 students regularly participating. They've been honing their skills in ball control, shooting, teamwork, tactical awareness, and physical fitness.
Year 7 Girls' Football - The Year 7 girls' football club has been a huge success, with consistent attendance of 15-20 students every Monday. Our Year 12 mentors have been instrumental in providing guidance and setting a positive example. Miss Windsor is incredibly impressed with the team spirit and hard work displayed by all.

Basketball Club

Every Tuesday, our energetic basketball club attracts over 20 players from Years 7-10. This dedicated group, consisting of both experienced players and enthusiastic newcomers, focuses on skill development, teamwork, and friendly competition.

Netball Club

Our vibrant Netball Club meets every Thursday. With a strong focus on skill development, teamwork, and friendly games, we're committed to fostering a love for the sport and empowering our athletes.

Football Match Updates

Year 7 Boys
- Team A: Made it to the second round of the Kent Cup, showcasing impressive skills.
- Team B: Fought hard in the Kent Cup, narrowly losing to Cleeve Park on penalties after a thrilling 4-4 draw.
Year 8 Boys
- Worked tirelessly and secured a well-deserved victory against St. Columbus.
Year 9 Boys
- Celebrated a 4-2 win against Trinity School.
Year 10 Boys
- Faced tough competition in recent cup matches, but are still determined to progress to the knockout stages.
Year 11 Boys
- Balanced studies with football, securing impressive wins against Ebbsfleet Academy and Trinity School.

Netball Tournament

Both our Year 9 and Year 10 netball teams participated in the Leigh Academies Trust tournament at Mascalls Academy. Despite challenging weather conditions, the girls displayed excellent teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship.

A Word of Thanks

The Physical Education Faculty would like to thank all students for their dedication, hard work, and positive representation of Leigh Academy Bexley. Keep up the great work!

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