Secondary
Academies
The Leigh Academy
Culture Week at The Leigh Academy Diversity Club
Members of The Leigh Academy Diversity Club proposed that a Culture Week should be added to the academy this academic year. The purpose of Culture Week was to celebrate different ethnic cultures that are represented at The Leigh Academy, as learning about ethnic cultures can help us gain a greater appreciation for the diversity of human experiences and increase our understanding and tolerance of other cultures. We aimed to promote empathy and respect as we believe that understanding the values, beliefs, and practices of other cultures can help us develop empathy, respect and kindness for people from different backgrounds.
We focused on a different continent each day and looked at a variety of music, sports, belief systems, food and language through the week. We had a non-uniform day when we encouraged staff and students to wear their traditional cultural attire or colours of their national flag.
Students Amber, Cassidy and Gloria, ambassadors of the Diversity Club wrote, "We started planning for Culture Week in January. We have been excited about sharing culture week with the school and put it into action. To see the reaction the week before was amazing to see. People were planning what they were going to wear and what cultural attire they’d wear. It was really good for us in Diversity Club to see as we have been working and waiting since January. We are grateful that the school has allowed us to put this into place for the students. Last year we had the opportunity to put on a Fashion Show for the Seacole College and had students participating and showing off their fantastic cultural attire. We had people from Nepal, India, Jamaica, Algeria, the Republic of Congo, Vietnam and so many more. It was wonderful to see people getting to express themselves and not feel as though they were different but a part of an accepting and open-minded community. We are so happy to have been able to do this for other students as students ourselves. It is good to have a voice and to be able to make others feel comfortable with who they are."
Ofsted Inspection April 2023
The Leigh Academy was inspected in April 2023 and our report has now been published. It is an excellent report that we are truly proud of as it reflects the character and ethos of our academy that “opens minds to success.”. The report captures some real highlights of life at The Leigh Academy and the excellent education provided, with a “curriculum [that] prepares pupils well for the future” as well as the IB curriculum that develops character and IB profiles and teaches pupils to be ”resilient and respectful learners.”
Inspectors commented that the “high quality pastoral care pupils receive means that they feel safe and happy” and noted the “exceptional opportunities” that we offer for all of our young people. They felt that our ‘healthy minds’ programme is “extremely well-thought-out [and] covers all the important topics” for our learners.
The opening paragraph in particular, is a pleasure to read as it states “Pupils are proud to be part of The Leigh Academy. They enjoy school and the friendships they develop. Bullying is rare and always followed up. The working relationships pupils have with staff are strong. Pupils enjoy their lessons and want to do their best.” We are proud that the hard work and dedication of our staff and pupils has been recognised.
The report goes on to highlight that “high expectations are embedded” and the inspectors found that “pupils learning is fun and keeps them hooked” and that “staff understand pupils’ needs. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).”
We would like to thank parents as well as the Leigh Leadership Team, Leigh staff, our governors and Trust leaders who supported us through the inspection and support us always in our ambition to provide the very best education, experiences and opportunities to our community of young people. Thank you too, to all of our pupils who were proud to showcase their academy to the inspectors and continue to conduct themselves to our highest standards.
The Leigh Academies Trust IBCP Student Conference at The Leigh Academy
For the first time since July 2017 when the first LAT academies were authorised as IB World Schools, able to deliver the IB Career-related Programme, Year 12 IBCP students collaborated with one another for a day at The Leigh Academy on 27th June. In sessions facilitated by staff from The University of Greenwich, IBCP students from The Leigh Academy and Wilmington Academy developed skills in critical thinking, creative thinking, leadership and public speaking. These skills are fundamental to success in both the world of work and at university and students were able to articulate how the day had helped them to both approach problems in different ways and work with other people to find solutions.
Overseas Trips
Year 8 Normandy
Year 8 students had the opportunity to go to Normandy in Module 6. Students enjoyed a wide variety of different activities including a trip to the famous Mont St Michel World Heritage site, a trip to a local market, archery, French conversation classes, a trip to a goat cheese farm and outdoor pursuit activities.
Students had a fantastic time and immersed themselves in the local culture, putting their understanding of the language into good practice wherever they were able to do so.
Year 9 Madrid
Year 9 & 10 students from The Leigh Academy were invited to go on a trip to Madrid, Spain for four days during Module 6. It was an early start from school at 02:30 am for a 07:30am flight from Heathrow.
The days consisted of a variety of activities and tasks to test the Spanish skills of the students. During these four days they visited famous tourist places in Madrid such as the royal palace which was part of a walking tour. They also visited the Santiago Bernabeu stadium and the historic bullring. Students enjoyed the famous “churros con chocolate” and had a night of “tapas” to try typical Spanish foods. They also enjoyed a game of bowling on our last morning where students and staff showed their competitive side!
Students had to put their speaking skills to the test when they had to communicate in Spanish ordering food and drinks at the different restaurants. Thanks must go to all staff on the trip and The Leigh MFL team.
Longfield Academy
Celebration and Awards Evening
On Wednesday 5th July, Longfield Academy celebrated over 80 of our most exceptional students, at the annual Awards Evening. The evening included prize giving ceremonies led by Deputy Mayor Andy Lloyd, inspiring speeches from Dr Donkor and our 3 Heads of Colleges, and a fantastic range of performances from the academy choir, band and production teams.
Students were awarded for their work in a particular subject, kindness and positivity around the academy or for their incredible achievements in the local community. A special congratulations went to Jerry, who was recently described as a ‘Teen Hero’ by a local newspaper, after rescuing a man from a burning building. Our Student of the Year award was given to Emily, for achieving the highest number of teacher nominations, having over 200 positive points and being an active member of the Student Leadership Group. The evening also celebrated 5 of our outstanding members of staff, recognising their hard work and commitment to Longfield Academy.
Fishing Trip
A group of students had the opportunity to go fishing at lakes where the charity Fishing for Schools provided qualified angling coaches to help teach the students basic fishing skills. Thankfully, the weather was glorious every day we were there. The students quickly got the hang of it and fish were plentiful. Initially, the early catches were Roach and Rudd with a few Perch, moving onto Bream and Tench and many impressive Carps!
"It was great to see how much the students learnt in the sessions and they all pushed their own personal boundaries to do their very best." - Mrs Peters - Trip Leader
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter
"A group of students studying either iMedia or Film Studies had the opportunity to visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. Students enjoyed a workshop on how digital graphics are created for film, before being able to explore the tour." Mr Lowe - Trip Leader
Marley Year 11
Congratulations to Marley, who recently performed a sponsored skydive to raise money for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). An amazing achievement, well done Marley!
Wilmington Academy
It gives me great pride to share that the Lead Ofsted Inspector and team judged the academy as outstanding in every category. This is the highest accolade a UK school can achieve under the Department for Education's Ofsted framework.
Wilmington Academy is an exceptional school providing a world class education for its pupils and sixth formers.
Many of our staff, students and parents (past and present), have been on our transformational journey since 2009 when Leigh Academies Trust revolutionised Wilmington Enterprise College to Wilmington Academy and moved from an Ofsted special measures grading to this recent outstanding judgement. I am delighted that the hard work undertaken by the Wilmington Academy staff and Trust community has been recognised, including the comments regarding exceptional behaviour, careers guidance, opportunities available for our students, the meticulously sequenced curriculum, the reflective and driven nature of leaders/governors, effective safeguarding and the impact of the quality of education all underpinned by the International Baccalaureate characteristics and programmes.
To receive an outstanding judgement in all areas of the framework derives from years of ambition, dedication and a strong core belief that anything is possible if you put the hard work in. I am most proud of the references made towards our students as confident, responsible and respectful world citizens which reflect our achievement towards our goal of students as true IB Learners.
The report itself is very detailed and highlights the many elements of our outstanding provision at Wilmington Academy. Please take the time to read the inspection report in full as it evidences to you as a parent/carer of our provision what your child receives on a daily basis.
At a time when the benchmark for ‘outstanding’ is at the highest level it has ever been and within a challenging time for the education sector, we have been acknowledged as a beacon for secondary modern education. The Ofsted inspection process was thorough, robust and professionally rigorous, leaving no stone unturned. The leadership team and I were open and transparent around all aspects of school life and had much evidence to support the inspection process.
Wilmington Academy’s Inaugural Awards Evening
On Wednesday 28th June, Wilmington Academy held its inaugural Awards Evening, celebrating the academic excellence of students, commitment and dedication of staff, and engagement from Business partners.
The opening address was given by our Principal, Michael Gore who warmly welcomed award recipients, their guests, representatives from the Trust, members of staff and our Business Engagement partners including: Fujitsu, Lionscreed, and the NHS. The event was effortlessly catered by the Impact Foods Group, expertly compèred by Stephanie Goodall (Vice Principal - Jupiter College), and attendees enjoyed an evening of delicious food, celebration, humour, and conversation. We also enjoyed musical performances from Keanu on the cello and Priya on the piano.
It was an inspirational evening recognising the achievements of everyone who has helped make the academy an ‘Outstanding Provider’. We are immensely proud of our award recipients and our achievements here at the academy and look forward to next year’s event with great anticipation.
One award recipient commented “It was motivating to see everyone receiving their awards. There was so much positive energy in the room and I was so happy to see others, including Ms Elson, rewarded for their efforts. I was immensely proud to receive my award - I always try to have a positive impact on other people’s lives and make them smile and I was overwhelmed to see this recognised. The food was out of this world and everyone was full of joy - it was a great way to end my Year 12 studies.” - Raymond, Year 12 Student
The Leigh UTC
Made in Bluewater Business Challenge
Made in Bluewater is a business challenge in partnership with Chillys Water Bottles and Bluewater. Leigh UTC students had to create a logo and social media campaign for Chillys with sustainability, Bluewater history and Lansec (the company that designed Bluewater) at the forefront of their planning. There were 7 teams but our team won! They will now have their logo printed onto 100 Chillys water bottles (special edition) and will return to Bluewater in May/June to sell them raising £2500 for their chosen charity.
The winning logo will be printed on 100 special edition Chillys water bottles to be sold at Bluewater by the team of Year 10 students on Friday 26th May. All proceeds go to a charity of the students choice.
Bluewater are keen on “Bluewater EST. 1999” to incorporate the group’s intention to share the opening date as this will line up nicely with the 25th Anniversary of Bluewater next spring!
The winning team:
Oscar, Sam, Lucas, Daniel, Carson & Shahid
Mascalls Academy
The summer term has been a particularly busy one with more trips taking place than ever before. We are so pleased that our students have access to such a variety of different experiences outside of the classroom including a Year 9 trip to the Ardeche in France where they really got to demonstrate the MYP attributes of being risk-takers and excellent communicators through the variety of different activities they got to do such as sleeping under the stars, kayaking and all sorts of other great activities.
Over 120 Students in Key Stage 3 were invited on a trip to Bewl Water if they had received a subject achievement award, represented our student voice panel or were in the top 20 for reward points in their year group. Students had the opportunity to paddle board, canoe and raft, whilst developing their leadership and teamwork skills. Students had a fantastic time learning and developing skills outside the classroom in such a beautiful environment.
Congratulations to our 1st cohort of 45 Year 9 students who completed their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze expedition in May in the countryside surrounding Tunbridge Wells and Southborough. To be able to offer students the opportunity to work as a team, develop independence, build on new skills and to foster new friendships is something I hope will become part of the diet that all students at Mascalls Academy will be able to experience in the future. Special thanks to Miss Gough, Mr Collis and Miss Murphy for leading the group in what is an exciting new accomplishment for the academy and our students.
Mascalls Academy 6th Form Politics students travelled to Parliament to watch the Business questions which were led by Penny Mordaunt MP, Leader of the House of Commons. This was key to seeing how parliamentary debates work.
After this, all headed to the Supreme Court where we were able to look at 2 courtrooms. We were also able to walk around the exhibition showing the Court’s history and its purpose, solidifying our knowledge on the UK Judiciary.
We were also lucky enough to enter the House of Commons chamber which is a lot smaller in real life than you realise from TV! This is because we were able to have a Q+A with Greg Clark MP.
This module we held our annual celebration evening for our Year 13 students. It was a wonderfully uplifting evening where parents, students and staff had a chance to remember all of their achievements, and see some pictures of them as eager Year 7 students also! Subject Awards were given by Honour Chivers, who left Mascalls in 2018 gave an insightful and motivating talk about her journey since leaving Mascalls Academy and her career now working in sustainability for a financial company. It is always wonderful to have ex-students come back and speak to our current students about what the world has to offer and excite them about what is to come. We wish you well Year 13 in the rest of your examinations and beyond!
This module, the Mascalls High-Performance Academy offered a fascinating talk and Q&A session with Professor of Biorobotics Andy Philippides, who is based at the University of Sussex. Andy regaled students with stories about how he had made the difficult transition from a very deprived area in North Wales to studying Mathematics at Cambridge, something he described as a real shock to the system. Andy's advice was plain: when you are struggling academically, and feeling out of your depth, always talk to the teachers and instructors around you - they are there to support you! Andy then told students about how he ended up studying his PhD at the University of Sussex, eventually working there longer-term. He explained how his work took him from Maths to working on understanding the brain and artificial life. Ultimately, Andy is an interdisciplinary academic and brought the MYP principles of interdisciplinary thinking to life for our students, using his skills in Maths in different areas like Biological Science, Geography, and exploring sustainability. Andy was really keen to stress this point: he'd gone from feeling like a fairly mediocre mathematician to applying some of those skills in all sorts of different fields, showing you that you never know where a certain career might take you.
Ebbsfleet Academy
Gurdwara Visit
Year 10 students enjoyed their visit to the Gurdwara Temple in Gravesend on Wednesday 28th June, as part of their chosen GCSE subject, Religious Studies. As you can see, our students had a really enjoyable afternoon!
ECAA County Target Championships
Ebbsfleet Academy’s Archery Team shone at this year’s ECAA County Target Championships in Essex. The team came home with 7 gold medals and 5 silver medals. A special mention must go to Maetha who also won an AGB Blue Rose Award at her first outdoor competition. Ms Shergill was delighted to receive a note from the organisers commenting on the behaviour, conduct and comradery of the team.
STEM Challenge Day
Year 8 students visited the University of Greenwich, Medway Campus on Friday 16th June for the STEM Challenge Day. They were joined by other students from Tunbridge Wells Boys Grammar to form teams to compete! There were 3 challenges: Diagnostics, Robot Programming and Police E-fits. We are very proud of our Ebbsfleet Academy students’ achievements, 2 of whom qualified for the final and 4 were runners up! Well done Year 8 science class!
Invitation to the Palace of Westminster
Staff and governors from Ebbsfleet Academy and Cherry Orchard Primary Academy were amongst those living or working in the Ebbsfleet Garden City, invited to the Palace of Westminster, by our local MP, Gareth Johnson.
The visit took place on 5th June 2023 and included a personal tour of both the chambers of the House of Commons and House of Lords.
It was a fantastic day and thank you to Gareth and his team for such a great experience.
Our Annual EA5K
Students and staff enjoyed an hour of fresh air and exercise on Friday 26th May, running 5,000 metres on our annual EA5K. As always it was a fantastic event, inclusive to all. Participants were able to run, jog or even walk to complete the course. Well done to everyone involved!
Hayesbrook Academy
Open Events
It has been an extremely busy term for recruitment with open events, transition days, tasters sessions and local outreach days. In all, we have had 265 Year 5 students visit for a variety of fun activities including trampolining, games design and music tech. We also had 150 guests (89 families) attend an open event and have another 750 booked for similar events in September. From two local primary schools, we received 150 Year 5 pupils who enjoyed a number of fun and academic lessons. We are beginning to see, from our student visitors, a clear 60/40 split male to female which is exciting for our development as a co-educational academy.
Year 6 into 7 Transition
Our new (160 strong) Year 7 cohort spent the day in transition participating in various team building and academic activities. For the first time in our history this included 30 female students.
CCF Summer Camp
Our CCF cadets had a brilliant time away on summer camp, taking part in an escape room, an obstacle course and other fun activities.
Charity Fundraising
We are so proud of all Year 7 pupils and their families for supporting us in raising money for charity, during the ATL subject of ‘Practising Empathy.’ In total, £169 was collected and donated to UNICEF. The pupils made ‘grass heads’ while learning about germination; these were then sold to raise the money.
Year 7 Solar System Project
Year 7 pupils also worked hard on solar system models and lots of staff enjoyed helping to consume those of which were baked goods!
Year 8 Trip to Hastings
Year 8 students spent a sunny day in Hastings on Friday 16th June. They visited the aquarium, smugglers caves, castle ruins and spent some time on the beach looking at rock types. Students were a credit to the school and had an excellent time, complete with an ice cream!
Year 11 Farewell
It was a pleasure to wish our Year 11s well with the rest of their GCSE exams on Monday 5 June. In line with Hayesbrook tradition, the students were clapped off site to officially commence their study leave.
Football
Finally, our Year 7s won 7-0 in their football final against St Gregs recently. We are so proud of them!
Stationers' Crown Woods Academy
Let's take a moment to reflect on the year behind us and celebrate the achievements that our community at Stationers' Crown Woods Academy (SCWA) has accomplished. As we look back on this past year, we see our core values - Scholarship, Fellowship, and Leadership - woven into every part of school life. From our first-ever Sports Celebration Evening to our progress in the Duke of Edinburgh program, and the academic achievements of our students, it's clear that these values are at the heart of the SCWA community.
Ofsted: Scholarship Through Quality Education
A key highlight was the 'Good' grading we received from Ofsted in all areas. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team - students, teachers, and staff alike. The inspectors commended our pupils for their excellent behaviour, the curriculum for its ambitious and far-reaching nature, and our commitment to providing a range of opportunities to our students. Their praise reflects the quality of education we strive to provide every day at SCWA. We are proud of the high expectations we have set, and more so of our students who rise to meet them, demonstrating their commitment to scholarship.
As we embark on another academic year, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience, promoting a culture of high expectations, and securing high-quality destinations for our students.
Year 13 Graduation: Leadership in Action
Our annual Year 13 Graduation was a heartening event. Over a hundred proud parents, teachers, and pupils came together to honour our Year 13s' dedication to their studies, personal development, and their contribution to the community. This commitment is a beautiful illustration of their leadership abilities.
A noteworthy mention goes to our Arden Star Student, Charlie, who exemplifies unwavering dedication to his studies. His journey is a testament to the ambition, commitment, and leadership qualities we cherish at SCWA. We also celebrated Bethany's aspirations to pursue a career in the media and communications industry with a £1,200 bursary from The Stationers' Company. This grant will support her future success and exemplifies the valuable partnerships we foster.
Left to right: Linda Drew, Bethany (Year 13), Jani Levanen.
Creative Learning at the Digital Media Centre: Scholarship in the Digital Age
The Digital Media Centre (DMC), our innovative hub, offers a unique learning experience. This year, we showcased a brilliant showreel crafted by our Media Technician, Joe Yates. This platform helps students acquire vital digital skills and provides an opportunity for creative exploration. This initiative aligns with our commitment to promote scholarship in the digital age. We are proud of our partnership with The Stationers' Foundation which has enabled us to equip our students with the latest digital tools.
Sports Celebration Evening: Fellowship Through Sports
Our first-ever Sports Celebration Evening showcased our dedication to fostering a sense of fellowship at SCWA. The evening saw hundreds of prizes distributed across various team sports. These awards represent our students' athletic abilities and their spirit of teamwork, commitment, and fellowship. The success of the event underlines the strong sporting culture at SCWA, where every achievement, big or small, is celebrated.
Left to right: Finley (Year 9), Elliot (Year 9) and Grace (Year10).
SCWA Marks 30th Visit to Disneyland Paris: A Celebration of Fellowship
Our 30th visit to Disneyland Paris, coinciding with the park's 30th anniversary, was a remarkable shared experience, underlining our emphasis on fellowship. The three-day adventure, filled with thrill and joy, was a testament to the enduring magic of our school community. It provided our students with an opportunity to build lasting friendships and shared memories.
SCWA Students Excel in Duke of Edinburgh Programme: Leadership Skills Honed and Showcased
SCWA, a significant Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) centre, champions the core value of leadership, a principle vividly illustrated in our students' accomplishments in the DofE awards this year. Our Year 9 students demonstrated remarkable leadership skills during the Bronze DofE expedition. This demanding venture required strategic planning, teamwork, and self-reliance - critical qualities of effective leaders. Their successful completion underscores the strength of their leadership abilities.
The spirit of leadership continues to thrive in our ambitious Year 10 students who recently completed the Silver DofE expedition. This step up from the Bronze expedition represents a leadership journey that we are confident they will navigate successfully.
Finally, the pursuit of the Gold DofE award, the highest accolade in the programme, by a dedicated group of our Year 12 and 13 pupils, exemplifies leadership at its finest. Their tenacity and resolve speak volumes about their leadership skills and serve as a motivation for the younger cohorts.
At SCWA, our unwavering commitment to cultivating leadership skills is epitomised by our students' triumphs in the DofE programme. These accomplishments underscore our belief that effective leadership is a fundamental skill for future success.
As we bid farewell to another academic year, let us remember these stories of dedication, teamwork, and success. They remind us of our core values: scholarship, fellowship, and leadership.
Let's carry this momentum into the new academic year and continue striving for excellence.
Leigh Academy Blackheath
The 2022-2023 academic year at Leigh Academy Blackheath (LAB) has been exceptional. Recognised by Ofsted in December 2022 as an Outstanding provider, we also finish this year as an IB World School authorised to deliver the MYP, Diploma and Careers Related Programmes: one of only a handful of non-selective state schools in the UK authorised to do so. In September 2023, we open LAB16 and look forward to welcoming back so many of our founding students as sixth form scholars. Reports of other noteworthy achievements and events worthy of celebration can be found below:
IBSCA MYP Conference
We were delighted to host the IBSCA (International Baccalaureate Schools and Colleges Association) MYP conference in June, and gave a warm LAB welcome to all of our visiting colleagues from other IB schools across the UK. The event programme included a live session on MYP enhancements from the Hague. Delivered by Lenny Dutton, Curriculum Manager for Learning and Teaching at the IB and Guillermo Duff, Senior IB World Schools Manager, it took us on a deep dive into the PDP. LAT IB excellence was showcased throughout the day, with several sessions delivered by colleagues from across the Trust, on topics including The Universal Design for Learning and MYP Assessment in Practice, as well as a Q&A session delivered by both Mike Gore, Wilmington Academy Principal and Emma Smith, Leigh Academy Blackheath Principal (both of which were judged Outstanding by OFSTED in 2022-2023), around the IBMYP and the OFSTED framework.
LAB MYP ambassadors were on hand throughout the event to support delegates and share the many varied opportunities provided to them through the IBMYP framework. They enjoyed the event so much that they requested LAB host one every week! Unfortunately, a weekly event won’t be possible, but the LAB community are looking forward to welcoming IB colleagues back again in the future!
Year 8 Digital Fair
On Monday 3rd July, Year 8 students at LAB had their timetable transformed into a Digital Fair, and spent the day exploring all things digital: including flying drones, using VR Headsets, exploring careers in the technology industry and writing code using Micro:bit
Below is a student’s accounts of the day:
"In today's technology-driven world, exposure to different computing skills and concepts is crucial to communicating effectively with one another. LAB’s digital fair allowed Year 8 students to delve into computing, providing information on many different career paths and opportunities to consider. It was eye-opening to explore Adobe’s design tools and its possibilities for visual communication. The ability to create compelling visuals and manipulate images left me with a newfound respect for online design, and provoked genuine interest in a career path in this field, something I had never previously considered. Additionally, working with Lego robots was an exhilarating experience that brought together my love for problem-solving and engineering, whilst engaging in Micro:bit and App Lab introduced me to a whole new world of coding (it was inspiring to see how a few lines of code could bring an idea to life and address real-world difficulties!)
The digital fair not only exposed me to new fields of interest but also provided valuable opportunities that extended beyond the activities themselves; I developed critical skills, analysed problems, devised strategies, and implemented solutions to practical, real-world problems. The fair gave me a feel for how I could use my knowledge of computing in real life, and in a future career." - Sriya, Year 8
Trinity Laban - Songs Project
On 6th July 2023, 16 Year 8 LAB students took part in the Songs Project associated with Trinity Laban. The project provided students with a memorable experience working with leading professionals in the musical theatre industry, singing with university graduates and showcasing their talents to an audience. The performance was accompanied by a live orchestra on stage at the Laurie Grove Theatre in New Cross, home to Trinity Laban’s esteemed Musical Theatre department.
Our students had the opportunity to work closely with renowned West End performers Verity Quade (whose credits include Carousel, The Sound of Music and Sweeney Todd) and Tom Self (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Aladdin and Sweet Charity) receiving coaching to refine their singing skills and enhance their performance abilities.
GCSEs and the Founders’ Prom
Our very first season of formal GCSE examinations went well, and we look forward to celebrating our first set of KS4 results with founding students in the summer. To mark the end of the exam season, and for some, the end of their time at LAB, staff and students came together for our very first Prom at the end of June. Normally very smart in their uniforms, our Year 11 students came dressed to perfection for the event; there truly was a rainbow of colours on show as guests made their way down the red carpet on arrival.
LAB16 Taster Day
On July 4th, we hosted our very first LAB16 taster day. Our prospective sixth formers enjoyed a range of sessions on the IB Core. A particular highlight of which was an introduction to Theory of Knowledge (TOK), where students were asked to solve Descartes’ sceptical challenge; debate such questions as whether Euer’s identity (e^(iπ) + 1 = 0) can be considered beautiful and even consider whether Adolf Hitler’s paintings can claim to hold artistic value.
Taster lessons in a range of Diploma subjects were followed by a networking lunch, where students met with a range of guests including: four recent IBDP graduates from Dartford Grammar School (with whom they discussed the IB experience and university applications); Alastair Robertson (medical applications outreach from QMUL); and the National Citizenship Service (with whom they discussed service opportunities for CAS).
The afternoon was spent completing a range of fun team building challenges, before a presentation on the importance of Transdisciplinarity in meeting 21st century challenges, delivered by Dr Mary Richards of Brunel University.
Students left hugely excited about the prospect of returning in September, as founders of LAB16, before a week-long residential in Kent due to take place only a few weeks into term, where they will begin the experiential learning journey that is at the core of both the Diploma and Career-related programmes.
Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge
On the 28th June, The Jack Petchey Foundation visited Leigh Academy Blackheath to deliver a series of public speaking workshops. The workshops were intended to prepare our students with the skills needed to perform their English Language speaking exams.
One of the key benefits of attending the public speaking workshop was the significant improvement it brought to the communication skills of our students. The workshop provided a dedicated and supportive environment where our young people learned and practised effective techniques for delivering presentations, speeches and engaging with an audience. By participating in the workshop, students were able to overcome the fear and anxiety associated with public speaking, develop confidence and learn how to articulate their thoughts with clarity and conviction.
Another advantage of the public speaking workshop was the opportunity for participants to refine their body language and non-verbal communication skills. The workshop focused on aspects such as posture, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions, teaching them how to use these elements effectively to enhance their message and connect with their audience. By mastering these techniques, students were able to establish a strong presence and engage listeners more effectively.
Furthermore, the public speaking workshop provided a platform for participants to receive constructive feedback from experienced instructors and their peers. This feedback helped them identify areas for improvement, refine their delivery styles and build upon their strengths.
Beyond honing their speaking skills, the public speaking workshop also boosted the students' confidence and self-esteem. As they overcame their fear of speaking in front of others and witnessed their progress throughout the workshop, they developed a sense of accomplishment and empowerment.
Please see below for a student’s account of the day:
"Our instructor made us feel comfortable; they reassured us that speaking in front of others can indeed be daunting for everybody. We had to introduce ourselves one by one by going up to the front of the class and we had a criteria to follow in our introduction: our name, its meaning, our passion, dislikes and ambition. Everyone was very supportive and respectful, and we all were able to comfortably speak in front of everyone. Then we were given impromptu statements and, in small groups, had to argue either for or against (by articulating using a point, providing three justifications and a punchy conclusion). We would give each other feedback and try to focus on these for the rest of the day.
During the afternoon, we had to perform two speeches, both within small groups of around 5 or 6. For the first speech of the afternoon, we were asked to describe a moment in our lives when we felt strong emotions; our aim was to make these entertaining. Our peers listened attentively to each story before providing advice on how we could improve engagement levels. Following this, we moved onto the final speech of the day, where we practised and improved our already written speeches in preparation for our English oral mock exam. We practised them to 5 other attentive listeners and delivered them twice, with a timer to help us to moderate how fast we should be speaking. Then we made some adjustments to the speeches, using what we had learned throughout the day whilst incorporating comments from peers.
The Jack Petchy workshop helped give us confidence when delivering our formal English oral assessments. At the start, we didn’t want to so much as tell our names to the group. However, through practice we ended up being able to deliver our entire speech to groups of our peers. This opportunity to practise public speaking provided so much encouragement and useful feedback. Public speaking is something that many people dread mainly; the workshop definitely made the thought of it much less daunting." - Stanley, year 10.
The Halley Academy
First Give Project
As part of our Service as Action Programme, our Year 8s have been engaged in the First Give Project throughout modules 5 and 6. First Give is a charity that helps to inspire young people to make a difference in their local communities.
Within their tutor periods, our students chose a charity of their choice based on research and discussions revolving around local community needs. Once the charity had been chosen, the students worked together in their classes to partake in social action and raise awareness and money for their charity of choice. These activities ranged from bake sales, drama productions to toy auctions carried out within and outside of school.
The classes then partook in a grand final which took place on Thursday 29th June. Families and charities attended to watch the students showcasing their work and explaining why they had chosen their charity of choice to the judging panel involving teachers, sixth form and two of our councillors from Greenwich. The students were incredible ambassadors for their charities and the Academy. They were articulate, confident and passionate about their social action. It was a true celebration and highlighted the positives of the Middle Years Programme in engaging our students to become life-long learners. The event was completed with the winning group being presented with a £1000 cheque to provide to the charity of their choice. Additionally, the two councillors from Greenwich were so impressed with the resilience and empathy of our students, that they also provided a further cheque of £500 to another tutor’s group for an excellent cause. We look forward to our current 7s partaking in this project in the next academic year whilst the skills learnt for our Year 8s will set them up for success in their Community Projects which will take place in Year 9.
Parental Workshop
Our final Parental Teaching and Learning Workshop of this academic year was held on Thursday 6th July between 5.00pm and 6.00pm. This is part of the Academy’s focus of working with families to support their child’s learning and development; parental involvement and engagement has been recognised as a key determinant of academic progress and achievement. The feedback we have had from our previous workshops has been overwhelmingly positive and we are keen to develop and continue to foster this partnership.
Our team of Lead Practitioners, expert teachers in their field, facilitated this session which is aimed at preparing all students for the new academic year. This workshop allowed parents/carers an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of our curriculum expectations and homework schedules. It also introduced them to the learning platforms which we now use as part of our online teaching practice.
British Biology Olympiad
This year we entered the British Biology Olympiad (BBO) from the 1st-10th of March. The BBO challenges and stimulates students with an interest in biology to expand and extend their talents. Students were presented with topics and ideas which they are not familiar with and competed with their problem-solving skills and understanding of core principles. We are incredibly proud of and wish to congratulate the following students on their achievements:
2 Gold: Alisa & Zona
3 Silver: Daniel, Grace & Sara
3 Bronze: Crystal, Ellie-May & Murewa
3 Highly Commended: Alice, Emmanuel & Selina
10 - Commended
The UKMT Junior Challenge
We are delighted to share the outstanding results from the highly acclaimed UKMT Junior Challenge, a prestigious national competition designed to ignite a passion for problem-solving among students in Years 7 and 8.
Our Mathematics department extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the talented participants who showcased their skills in this exhilarating event. We take immense pride in announcing the remarkable achievements of the following students who went above and beyond in their performances:
Year 7 - Bronze
Harley-Marie (Best in Year), Samuel, Josiah, Artemii, Bennett, Ruxandra & Malhaar
Year 8 - Gold
Malik (Best in School)
Year 8 - Silver
Daniel & Luna
Year 8 - Bronze
Lilly-Rose, Supriya, Crystal, Aurora & Kayden
Strood Academy
Principal's Message
What an incredible summer term we’ve had at Strood Academy. From Year 11 and Year 13 external examinations, transition events, a large number of trips and visits and of course preparations for the new academic year in September.
The support from the community, parents/carers, pupils as well as the staff at the academy has been excellent to be part of. Over the summer terms we have been working to achieve the following objectives:
To provide stability to all stakeholders during a transition in leadership
To enable Year 11 pupils and Year 13 students to achieve excellent examination results
For all stakeholders to be involved in creating a new 5 year vision for Strood Academy
Improve culture for learning throughout the Academy
To provide our pupils transitioning between key stages the support and experiences to succeed
To relaunch our College systems providing pupils excellent pastoral care through revised structures
As you can read above one of our key objectives has been to create vision 2028. Below is our mission statement that all stakeholders have created to embark on the journey to excellence.
Mission Statement
Our collective mission through our small school model ensures our pupils receive a world class IB education which allows them to become highly ambitious, successful citizens who are well positioned to create a better world.
We set unapologetically high expectations, challenging our pupils to believe in their ability and have the choice in life they truly deserve. We ensure our pupils are at the forefront of tomorrow.
Our pupils believe in the value of their learning journey and are proud of their education.
Our parents believe in our mission and work in partnership to achieve excellence.
Our staff believe in the transformative power of education.
Throughout creating our Vision 2028 we have agreed upon 10 foundations, these will be the cornerstone of all that we say, think and do. We will use these to measure our progress and ensure we remain focused on providing an excellent education for our community of Strood.
Core Foundations
We hold the highest expectations and embed positive engagement as part of our curriculum
We teach an ambitious and knowledge rich curriculum
We inspire every individual to become an active global citizen
We are relentless in creating a better world
We develop strong, collaborative community relations
We take pride in our safe, nurturing and inclusive learning environment
We lead with expertise
We care about our staff
We harness the power of technology
We promote social justice through excellent outcomes for all
We will be launching vision 2028 in August when we return for the new academic year, but the above provides you an insight into the direction of travel at Strood Academy over the next 5 years.
Student Council
The student council met with Mr Richardson this term to discuss agenda items raised by the student body. Students were keen to discuss upcoming events such as sports day and contributions as to what students had enjoyed in previous years to ensure that sports day is the best one yet. Students were also keen to discuss suggestions for future school trips which will be taken forward for the next academic year. The students have also been busy being part of the student panel to assist with recruitment for teaching staff for the next academic year.
The Student Council worked to analyse suggestions from their peers on the recent pupil survey. They discussed concerns/comments raised and worked to create solutions on these issues.
This year’s Student Council has shown high levels of dedication to wanting the best for their peers and their school community. They have been a real credit to themselves, their families and their school.
Elections for the academic year 2023/24 will take place in term 1!
Transition
We were delighted to open our academy to the new Year 7 students on Thursday 6th July. It was lovely to meet our new students and parents/carers as the start of their journey at Strood Academy.
Students took part in different activities that included competitive games in PE, identifying acids and alkalis in science and making a frame in DT.
The students got the opportunity to be part of their new small school structure and meet staff and students who will be part of their secondary school journey.
Transition Day is key to allow us to give our new students a taster of what their new journey will be like. After moving from primary school to secondary school, students will encounter familiar subjects in new ways and in more depth. They’ll be expected to become more responsible for their own learning and take on greater independence, such as:
Travelling to school by themselves
Understanding a lesson timetable and navigating to the right room
Getting used to a larger building
Using a homework planner and completing homework on time
Remembering to take specific books and equipment to classes
We look forward to seeing you all at summer school at the end of the month.
Shine Media Awards
The Shine School Media Awards is a national competition rewarding UK secondary schools who produce an outstanding newspaper, magazine, podcast or website. Sascha wrote an article for the school newspaper The Perspective in which he described the challenges he has faced as a hearing child with deaf parents entitled ‘Freedom of Speech’. Sascha won a Highly Commended certificate and attended the awards in London on 3rd July with the Year 13 Editor of The Perspective.
Sixth Form
It’s been a busy year for both our year 12s and 13s.
Firstly, I would like to recognise the hard work and dedication of our Year 13s who have completed their formal examinations this year. Over 60% of our Year 13s have applied for university all over the country, from Canterbury to Northumberland, and other students are hoping to pursue careers in finance, the marines, and careers within the NHS. 41 of our Year 13s collected their IB results on Thursday 6th July and we look forward to seeing all of the students on Thursday 17th August to collect the remainder of their level 3 qualifications.
We would also like to celebrate those students who graduated from the Ivy House Award during the term. Through this programme, students have been able to acquire leadership skills that have prepared them for the next chapter of their lives and exposed them to world class mentors within the corporate sector. The 6th form team are grateful to have been part of this journey and are excited in welcoming the change this training will have had within our students personal and professional development. Well done and good luck.
Year 12s have shown great adaptability and resilience this year with completing examinations in some of their subjects like Criminology and Sport, and completing work experience. They have also been able to take part in competitions such as the Intermediate Biology Olympiad where two of our students, Sophia and Carolina, were commended - well done!
And finally, the 6th form team welcomed 80 Year 11 students on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th June for our Year 12 induction days. Students took part in taster sessions and team building exercises. We were also fortunate enough to have Lloyds Banking group talk to our students about apprenticeship opportunities within the financial sector, and Greenwich University provided a talk on dispelling myths about university.
Ski Trip
During the Easter break a number of pupils enjoyed the opportunity to experience a ski trip. Pupils embraced the opportunity to learn a new skill and were challenged each and every day by their coach. Pupils had the opportunity to experience another culture and local food as well as enjoy a different climate. A fantastic opportunity for our pupils.
Man City v Chelsea
45 students took the long drive up north to see Manchester City v Chelsea in the final home game of the season at the Etihad Stadium. Students watched the premier league fixture and got to witness Manchester City lift the premier league trophy for the third successive season.
A fantastic experience for the students and a memory that will stay with them for many years.
District Athletics
On Thursday 22nd June a number of Strood Academy students took part in the annual District athletics competition at Medway Park. The students took part in a variety of track and field events as well as the relays at the end of the day. There were some excellent individual performances throughout the day with Dylan getting 2nd in the Year 10 boys high jump competition with a jump of 1.6m as well as 3rd in the Year 10 boys 100m. Jack secured 3rd in the Year 9 boys shot put competition and also made it through to the Year 9 100m final. A couple of other mentions should go to Aidan and Kaluba who secured 4th in the 800m and 400m respectively. Harrison also performed well in reaching the 200m final for the Year 9 boys. In the girls competition there were also some really good performances with Esme making it through to the Year 8 girls 100m final and Imogen just missing out on a medal in the Year 10 high jump competition with a jump of 1.2 metres. The students enjoyed a great day and were extremely resilient especially in the heat - a massive well done to all involved.
SRP - The Endeavour Centre
Following our theme of ships, the SRP will be named: The Endeavour Centre
The building is going up quickly and it’s been amazing to watch the build and see it grow.
Over the coming weeks, we will see some major external changes that will take it from a shell to a watertight building:
Drylining commencing w/c 10th July
First fix M&E commencing w/c 17th July
Roofing (firrings and boarding) commencing 11th July
External doors, windows, curtains all glazing 17th July
Cladding commencing 24th July
The contractors will be completing on the 15th September 2023 and we expect to officially open The Endeavour Centre at the end of September.
Digital Strategy
At Strood Academy, online safety is a priority. We want to make sure all of our pupils are safe online. It is important that you are also aware of how to be safe online. You can support your child by completing the online courses that the school has paid for. Please follow this link and sign in: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/enrol/strood-academy
You will need to select the course that states: Annual Certificate in online Safety for Parents and Carers.
We want all of our parents to be certificated.
Esports
We are developing our new online gaming suite. Further information will be coming out so please watch this space. 2023-24 we will be offering Esports as an extracurricular activity. This message is to tantalise the taste buds. Mr Minshull wants to know who is a gamer. Please see how ESsports can have a positive effect on all! We will be sharing pictures, plans and successes. But our aim is for Strood to have a team in the nationals by 2024!
The Hundred of Hoo Academy
Wellbeing for Schools Award
Over the last two years, the Academy has undertaken work to achieve the wellbeing award for schools. This has involved collating pupils, parents and staff views on how the academy addresses and supports mental health and wellbeing in everything that we do. Since the start of the award we have increased the amount of support available to members of our community and ensured that all understand which services are on offer. We have also provided opportunities for staff development in trauma informed practice and delivered PACE CPD methods of communication. Hundred of Hoo community members were able to articulate how mental health and wellbeing are supported in the academy and where they could go should they need help. As a result, we are proud to have been granted the Wellbeing Award for schools and continue to ensure our community feels well supported.
HSSP Dance Festival
On Friday 1st July, the Hundred of Hoo Dance Club took part in the HSSP Dance Festival at Brompton Academy. This was a celebration of all things dance, where both primary and secondary schools from across Medway entered dance groups to perform to an audience. There were no rules for this festival, just to bring something that had a message. Our dance team have been working hard since the beginning of Term 5 to create their own dance to the song ‘Made You Look’ by Megan Trainor, which focussed on the theme of body image and celebrating the way that you look. The team thought it was important that, given this age of social media and photoshop, that they start to celebrate being happy with who they are; it was an inspirational message that they wanted to spread to everyone watching. It was an incredible evening and we cannot wait to participate again next year.
Sporting Achievements
We are very proud to share our sporting achievements this term, demonstrating the hard work and determination of our pupils inside and outside the academy. In June, we were excited to make it to the Kent Cricket County Finals & Cricket REGIONAL finals with the chance to play at Lords Cricket Ground in the national finals.
We’re also incredibly proud of our Year 7 & 8 Girls football teams, who in their first season together came runners up in the Medway Girls Football League. The girls lost out on goal difference and will look to push and win the league next year in their respective age groups. In addition, Mr Davis and all the Year 9 boys football team have had an excellent season and won the Year 9 Football League.
Outside of the academy, Caleb (Year 8) has made it to the last 15 players for Super South England Basketball U13.
To get to this point he has successfully progressed through multiple rounds of cuts, moving from South East into Super South.
Year 13 Farewells
Our Class of 2023 were officially celebrated by staff, parents and the Year 12 students with a Graduation Afternoon following the final A Level exam of the season. Students had spent the year raising some money so that they were able to have a Fish and Chip van as well as Ice Cream van on site for our celebration lunch. Once we had ensured the shirt signings, lunch and graduation photographs, parents arrived on site eager to see the final presentation of the awarding of graduation certificates as well as staff and student awards ranging from Most Kind, Most Supportive, Most Likely to Win and Lose their lottery ticket and Most Likely to be a Millionaire!
After 7 years of study with us as an academy this was an incredible opportunity to celebrate the exceptional young men and women of our sixth form and our final moments were to send the graduating class of 2023 off site with a guard of honour and a heartfelt round of applause from parents and pupils in Years 5-12 for all that they had achieved.
We are so proud of all that they have achieved, and their continued resilience and dedication to their academic studies to become the very best versions of themselves.
Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School
Lower School Celebrations and Prize Giving
Lower School student achievements have been celebrated this term with the Year 7 Celebration Evening and Year 8 and 9 Prize Giving. A few words from our prize recipients:
“Hello, my name is Archie and I attended SJWMS’ Prize-Giving Event and would like to tell you all about it. I achieved the Form Tutor and Character Award and felt so proud of myself after receiving my award. With my family gathered among the school community, it felt prestigious when I was able to walk upon that stage and receive my prize. The excitement and sense of accomplishment within the hall was amazing and brought the whole community together to celebrate our achievements. Furthermore, I believe that the student speeches given were effective and definitely enabled the people there to not only hear from our School Captain, Head of Years and guest speaker but also us as a student body.
Moreover, I really enjoyed the guest speaker’s speech and found it really inspirational as it opened my eyes as to what I could truly achieve after leaving school and to hear this from a past School Captain was amazing. In addition, to also hear from our current School Captain, Darrah, was incredible and it meant a lot to hear from him, his praise and commendation to those who won awards.” - Archie (Yr9)
“On the night of the Year 7 Celebration Evening parents were greeted by gentle piano music played by Charles (Year 7). Parents took their seats and Mrs Manchaud-Green began her opening speech introducing the parents to members of staff and informing everyone about the prizes being handed out that evening. Then the School Captain (Darragh) made a speech to everybody and then, before awards were announced, No Time to Die was played on the Piano by Charles. Then a few awards were handed out consisting of best achieved of the subject and the most endeavoured student for said subject. Students were called in groups of five to come up onto the stage to shake Mr. Hodges's hand and collect their well-earned certificates. After about 5 subjects, a piece from Star Wars was played on the clarinet by Kavidu. Then the rest of the subject awards were handed out, and Ronit played and sang Wonderwall on the guitar. Final awards were then handed out including the Head of Year 7 award Head of Lower School award, and saving the best for last, the Headteacher’s award won by Patrick. The choir performed the final music piece I'm Still Standing.
It was a great experience with everything going smoothly and a great selection of music played by various students. Behaviour was exceptional from all students and overall a very impressive night.” - Charles (Yr7)
Under 14s Hockey
On 4th May the U14 hockey side competed in the first ever National State School hockey championships held in Nottingham at the National Hockey Centre. After finishing a tough pool made up of schools from across the country in 2nd place we were through to a semi final which we won 1-0. The final was an end to end affair vs our Kent rivals Langley Park which we won 4-2. The boys were delighted to be crowned national champions, a testament to their hard work over a long season.
Economics Olympiad Final
On Wednesday 5th July students took part in the Economics Olympiad final. We are proud to announce that Temitope, Kofi and Matthew have secured a place to represent the UK in the European final. This is a significant achievement; out of 3,500 students entered they will make up a UK team of 6 students who now compete against other countries in Europe. We wish them the best of luck.
UKMT Competition
It has been another year of success in the UKMT competition. In the individual challenges, 59 of our students achieved outstanding results which put them in the top 5000 nationally in each of their respective age groups. The best in each year group were Abayomi in Year 13, Toby in Year 12 and Elliott in Year 11. In Year 9, Arishan achieved a Bronze medal in the Cayley Olympiad round which places him in the top 100 in the country in his age group. Over 400 students achieved certificates this year in our school including 72 gold certificates which are awarded to students in the top 10% nationally. Well done to all of our students for their hard work in mathematics.
Leigh Academy Rainham
MYP and Personal Development
The Middle Years Programme at Leigh Academy Rainham continues to go from strength to strength as we await our final authorisation visit. As part of our continued commitment to deliver a highly ambitious programme of study which goes well beyond the requirements of the national curriculum, leaders have planned a Year 9 scheme of learning which will thoroughly prepare students for their GCSEs and beyond. Students can look forward to learning about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in Language and Literature; a celebration of British food in Design; Python Coding; the development of India’s human and physical geography, and communism in China through History. They’ll be learning about Surrealism in Art and the evolution of the popular British music scene. As you can see students at LAR continue to learn about Britain and our British Values whilst maintaining an outward gaze towards the rest of the world.
The role of the academy is not only to ensure students leave us with incredible exam results which gives them the required currency to go out into the world and achieve their dreams but also how do parents and the academy work together to ensure we produce well rounded individuals, able to think critically, be courageous and thrive in the modern world.
We now have produced a five year plan of progression for the tutor time programme which focuses on the academy values, local, national and international issues. It is firmly rooted in the fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, respect and tolerance, and individual liberty.
Year 7 Dover Castle Trip
Across two days in May, the Individuals and Societies department took 180 students to Dover Castle to enhance their learning that they acquired in Module 2 on the significance of castles and how they enabled William to establish control over England. The students were exceptional in both their behaviour and inquisitiveness to discover more about this mediaeval landmark particularly about the role Dover Castle played in modern conflicts such as: Operation Dynamo. In addition, students had time to explore Henry II’s Great Tower and how the castle was used as a means to meet other European ambassadors and prepare for war. Due to the success of the trip we will continue to run this trip next year in conjunction with our careers focus day too!
Matilda
We put on our first full scale production this year thanks to Mr Clarke’s brilliant directing skills. Our wonderful Year 7 student Luke played the role of ‘Matt’, cast due to his exceptional singing voice and acting skills. The show was a fantastic success, running two nights and was attended both by current families and those of our new Year 6 students.
The dynamic cast also performed a shortened version for our new Year 6 students on the Transition Day which was incredibly well received. We would like to celebrate and congratulate all the performers and the backstage crew who made the show such a success!
Year 7 Army Day
It has become a feature of the Year 7 personal development curriculum that we have a team building and careers day with the Army. The Army kindly came into the academy and delivered a full day of active team building linked to our Leigh Learner values. Students must work together to perform a variety of tasks. Station one was an intense workout giving students the opportunity to show their grit and determination to succeed and maximise their effort. At station two they had to navigate a minefield, working as a team with limited equipment and input from the instructors. This gave students the ability to work on their humility and learn how to fail well and work together towards a better solution. Station 3 was designed to test the students’ ability to communicate with others; they had to come up with as many words as possible from a limited selection and physically act these out for a partner to interpret Lastly there was an opportunity to work on their leadership skills in a task which combined the physicality of moving in unison and the challenge of competing against others to deliver objects to a given location while all having to balance on planks.
The army also led an assembly where students learnt about all the different roles within the service and how they might become involved in the future.
The leader from the two days said, “we just love coming here each year. The students are so up for the challenge and treat us with such respect. They are the politest and most inquisitive students we engage with every year.”
What a fantastic achievement that is for the students and the work that we collectively do through our shared parental and academy values.
STEM Drop Down Day
For the first time students got to experience a ‘drop down day’, which is a full day of activities themed around a subject group within the academy. As part of London Tech Week, students engaged in a STEM themed drop down day named ‘Astronaut Training Camp’. Activities were run across science, maths, PE, DT and there was a special Planetarium activity, all with a space exploration theme.
Students really enjoyed the activities across all subject areas and were very grateful for the time that staff had put in to plan and run these activities for them. Some incredibly special students received a ‘Most Valuable Player’ nomination from a member of staff. These students were those that had made special contributions or effort in certain activities or areas across the day. We also had a Year 7 overall MVP winner (Ruby), and a Year 8 overall MYP winner (George). Congratulations to these two students and to all the students who were nominated as a MVP by members of staff.
Leigh Academy Bexley
Jack Petchey Awards Evening June 2023
Leigh Academy Bexley students were awarded medallions for their outstanding achievements in the 2022 to 2023 academic year by the Jack Petchey Foundation at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford.
Students from all year groups were asked to nominate their colleagues and state reasons for the nominations. Teachers were also invited to nominate students for an award. The following students won the achievement award based on the citations and nominations they had from their colleagues and teachers:
From left to right seated: Warwa, Jamie, Lucy, Charlotte, and Grace.
Standing from left to right: Aaron, Paige, Keira, Khushi, and the Chief Bexley Borough Councillor who graced the occasion.
Jack Petchey Award winners November 2022 and May 2023 Citations
Lucy: Lucy has shown great resilience and fantastic positive attitude all term. She has been a role model to her peers in terms of good character and having high aspirations. Lucy works very hard and humbly assists her peers with such an infectious smile which always makes her approachable. Lucy spent her £300.00 grant award to provide indoor table tennis equipment to support students in the table tennis club.
Jamie : Jamie shows resilience and kindness. He is very helpful, well behaved and helps students he does not know. He is always willing to go the extra mile to serve and help others with such dedication and calmness. Jamie spent his £300.00 grant award to support Modern Foreign Language students to go on a learning trip this academic year.
Marwa: Marwa shows great respect to both teachers and students. She responds well to teachers’ requests to assist her peers without complaining. She shows a great attitude to learning and is always willing to serve. She is very humble and always willing to put others first. Such a spirit of dedication is hard to find. Marwa spent her £300.00 grant award to provide an additional video camera to support drama students in the drama department.
Charlotte: Charlotte is very hard working and supportive to her peers. She has tremendously supported one of her peers to overcome her struggles with some of the concepts in maths. Due to Charlotte’s continuous support, her fellow student is becoming increasingly confident in maths and has made so much progress. Charlotte spent her £300.00 grant award on a school trip to Thorpe Park with peers.
Grace: Grace is always kind, considerate, polite, hard working and shows resilience in and around the school. She always puts others first and supports her peers in their learning. Grace spent her £300.00 on a portable projector as an additional resource for students in the drama department to do ‘showcase’ drama productions.
Khushi: Khushi is very courteous, polite, and always ready to help others. She has raised funds for cancer research by baking and selling cakes in school and the community. Khushi spent her £300.00 grant award on a bookshelf, furniture, and additional reading materials for students to use in the sixth form common room.
Keira: Keira has applied herself well and has shown great attitude in helping others. She has shown outstanding progress in A level business. She always goes above and beyond to support her peers to get a better understanding of the main concepts in business studies. Keira spent her £300.00 grant award on additional resources such as textbooks for students to use in the Sixth form Business and Finance department.
Paige: Paige is very caring and supportive of her school mates. She channelled students’ view across to teachers very well while being a member of student parliament. Paige spent her £300.00 grant award on a school trip to Thorpe Park with fellow students in the school.
Aaron: Aaron is very brave, confident, and supportive. He bravely stood up for his brother at a time when his brother was having difficult moments. Aaron did this while having a broken leg and his leg was in a plaster cast. Aaron spent his £300.00 grant award on additional indoor table tennis equipment to support students in the PE department.
The award night was enriched with music and dance from other schools in the London Borough of Bexley. Students were called onto the podium and presented with their medallions by the Chief Councillor of Bexley. Their citations were read out and photographs taken.
Leigh Academy Bexley new uniform photoshoot 2023
We were delighted to welcome Brandon Baily (Leigh Academies Trust Web Manager) to Leigh Academy Bexley for a photoshoot showcasing the new student uniform for the academy. The sun shone and the group of students taking part soon got the hang of being in front of the camera. Leigh Academies Trust will be purchasing all the branded items of uniform for the entire school ready for the start of the academic year in September 2023. We can’t wait to see them all looking so smart.