LAR  NEWSLETTER 

16/05/25 , Module 5

The academy is currently in the full throes of year 10 mocks, with our new examinations officer successfully leading our trained team of invigilators to support students through their exams. A significant amount of work goes on behind the scenes to prepare and setup the variety of bespoke exam places for our students, especially those with exams access arrangements and I would like to publicly thank Mrs Holmes and her team for the time and commitment they have invested to ensure these mocks have run as smoothly as possible to ensure students' exam experience has modelled precisely what it will be like in year 11. 

In addition I would very much like to publicly thank our parents and carers at home who have been supporting year 10 students in the weeks prior to these mocks and over the course of the mock period. I recognise that this can be an anxious and stressful time for our young people and it is down to your invaluable support, encouragement and efforts at home that have enabled our students to embrace their exams with resilience. I am aware many of you have been supporting your children with revision timetables at home, quiet focused working spaces for them to revise, providing additional revision resources eg revision guides, flash cards and stationery, all of which make a genuine difference to how well your child can access and achieve their potential in their examinations.   Unfortunately, we have had a number of students arrive without the necessary equipment to examinations (in particular rulers and calculators).  Whilst we have spares, it causes unnecessary stress for the students in the examinations and so please do use this weekend to check that your child has everything that they need.

Please note there is a change to next week's examination schedule - The Spanish "Listening" exam will now take place in your child's lessons next module.  

With the growing cohorts and improving weather we have begun to utilise our field for social times this week, encouraging students to spend more time outside. We have now been able to work with our landscaping team to identify a designated area on the field adjacent to our courtyard where students can sit and relax in the summer weather and this has been welcomed, particularly by our lower years. We are also in the process of completing some additional landscaping works on the field now possible thanks to support from the developers next door, which should mean it is suitable for students to play football at lunchtime next module- something out student leadership have requested!

Mrs Cramlington

Principal

After School Club via MCAS

If your child goes to a club after-school, you should now be able to see this on your MCAS app. As well as ones they're attending, you can see what ones your child has signed up too.

Water Bottles

As the weather is getting warmer, we've noticed the increase in students not bringing a water bottle. Please can we ask that students come to the academy with a water bottle to ensure that they're staying hydrated.

PE Kit

For the next week, please can all students in Year 7-9 come to school wearing PE kit if they have PE on that day.  Year 10 students should NOT come to the academy wearing PE kit but should bring trainers if the are scheduled to have PE on that day.

Road Safety Reminder - Bicycles and Helmets

As we begin to enjoy the sunshine at this time of the year, it is lovely to see so many of our young people riding their bikes to school. We want them to be safe and responsible as they ride to and from school. So, if your child rides a bike to school, please continue having those important road safety conversations with them and remember that they must wear a helmet; this is non-negotiable.

On a similar note, we would also like to remind parents to take extra care as they drop off their children, from the car, in the mornings. Please only use designated drop-off areas that are provided for the safety of our young people.

A huge well done to our amazing Silver Duke of Edinburgh students who planned, camped and walked over 15km for three days in a row through a completely new area in East Grinstead and Ashdown Forest. They were a credit to the Academy and should genuinely be so proud of an incredible achievement. A fantastic experience and one to put on that CV in the future. 

Here are some pics of the students that let me take their picture!

A HUGE congratulations to Mr Smith and Mr Naidoo who received their Kent Teacher of the Year Awards last Friday.

We are incredibly proud to have two staff represented at this prestigious event, it’s a delight to see their commitment to our students recognised!

We celebrated VE day across the academy, for this momentous 80th anniversary.  At the start of the module Mrs Cramlington delivered an assembly about Operation Postmaster from WWII and spoke to students about the importance of VE. On the 8th May, Cucina made a lovely VE day display and menu and Miss Alchin created a WWII themed scavenger hunt across the academy where students had the opportunity to find items around the building linked to rationing. In addition the History department put some resources together for all the students across the academy and these were delivered in every lesson period 1 to explain the importance of VE day and why we commemorate it. 

We are off to a strong start with the Year 10 mocks. We are so proud of all the students for their resilience and hard work. We only have 1 week left, keep up the good work!

Our Year 7 students took a trip to Dover Castle this module to expand their learning on Norman Castles and the reign of Henry II. 

In the morning, some of our students got the chance to experience tours of the underground tunnels at Dover, including the Hospitals which were used during the evacuation of Dunkirk, and the war planning rooms that were used to prepare the British Expeditionary Force for beach landings at Normandy. 

In the afternoon students worked in groups to tour around the grounds of Dover Castle. Students saw a replica of Henry II's bed, his dining hall, his kitchen, and Becket's chapel. Students were even lucky enough to see the Church of St Mary in Castro, which was decorated for Easter celebrations. 

Our students displayed impeccable behaviour and we can't wait to take our next cohort of Year 7s next year! 

A massive well done to all the students in the academy for receiving this achievement. We are smashing this, well done to every one of you!

Nominations:

Kayleigh V - 8A - Geography

Bow T - 8A - Pride of Medway

Pops R - 8A - Geography

Albie M - 8A - Science

Elora W - 7A - Art