Attenborough College

As another incredibly busy term in Post-16 comes to an end, here is your round up of all the exciting things that have been going on in Attenborough College since the Easter Newsletter.

Goodbye, Year 13!

Another school year has come and gone more quickly than we could have imagined and, on Friday 26th May, we said goodbye to our latest Year 13 cohort.  After two years of grit and determination, they gave a final push to hand all their coursework in and sit their final exams.  This was the year group that had had the most impact on their GCSE studies by pandemic-related school closures, so the way they dug deep and got through their exams was impressive.

We celebrated the end of their two-year journey with us in Attenborough College with a DJ, sweet treats and of course, the obligatory slideshow of photos, depicting their time at The Leigh Academy. As the first graduating class from the new Post-16 college, the event was presided over by Big Dave himself, proudly wearing his own leaver's T-shirt, which the students signed before they left.

We wish all of them the very best for the future and look forward to celebrating again on results day on 17th August. 

Year 13 IB Results 2023: Successes Galore!

Year 12 visit to the UK University and Apprenticeship Fair at The University of Kent

The whole of the tutor time and assembly programme in Year 12 is devoted to supporting students with exploring their Post-18 options. Every year, we pay to take every student in Year 12 on a visit to see exactly what is on offer to them once they have finished their Post-16 studies. This year we made our way to The University of Kent, where the university and apprenticeship fair was being held on their fantastic campus. 

Students got the chance to speak to over 100 different university and apprenticeship providers and ask questions about the courses they offer. There was also the opportunity to listen to seminars on different aspects of university life, from the application stages, right through to applying for student finance and uni life. There was enough free time for students to be able to have a wander around the beautiful Canterbury campus and speak to the plethora of student advisors. It was a great day out and staff and students made the most of all the free goodies on offer!

Attenborough College Day - Year 12 trip to Mote Park

For our annual College Day, we took all of Year 12 for a day of fresh air and team-building fun at Mote Park in Maidstone as their end of year activity on 29th June.  Students (and staff!) had a brilliant time climbing the high ropes, scaling the climbing wall and playing crazy golf, as well as enjoying some free time to explore the rest of Mote Park and take in the scenery.

Work Experience Week

At the end of Module 6, our entire Year 12 cohort have dipped their toes into the world of work during Work Experience Week. Students in Post-16 can participate in work experience whenever they like but, for the first time, we sent them all off simultaneously at the start of July. As part of the programme to explore Post-18 options, students thought about career options, travel arrangements and work hours, reaching out to companies and arranging placements that would hopefully provide a meaningful experience to either try out a career or gain valuable transferable skills that they could use at university or in work.  

George in Year 12 completes the 

London-Brighton Bike Ride

The Leigh Academies Trust IBCP Conference

For the first time since academies in the Trust were authorised as IB World Schools, authorised to deliver the IB Career-related Programme, in July 2017, 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.

Pride Week in Attenborough College

Eryn in Year 12 and Mr Burton delivered a powerfully personal assembly to Attenborough College students on 30th June to conclude the academy's Pride Week events. Eryn's assembly became the 6th student-led assembly of the year and students showed their solidarity with the academy's LGBT+ community at the end by wearing a Pride sticker. Equality is built into the PARADE Standards to which Post-16 students are held to account and many of this year's student-led assemblies, like Eryn's, have focused upon different aspects of it, such as Black History Month and mental health awareness.

Year 10 students try out life in Attenborough College

For the last two days of the year, Year 10 students were given the opportunity to experience taster lessons in all the subjects offered in Attenborough College.  They could choose up to 8 different subjects to try out over the 2 days, so that they can make informed decisions when they make their subject options for Post-16 this autumn, after our Post-16 Open Evening on 15th November. Year 10 students came out from their sessions buzzing and they thoroughly enjoyed their break and lunch times enjoying the facilities in Attenborough College. We look forward to seeing as many of them as possible choosing us for their Post-16 studies from September 2024.