HEADTEACHER'S BLOG - 4th october 2025

The students loved being part of the Pop Symphony Orchestra, they played Badminton like professionals and were put through their paces by the Year 11s who ran an energetic Basketball training camp as part of the Junior NBA. 

There was also so much excitement as the new Touch Rugby Team & Year 7 Football Team started their practice sessions, showing great teamwork on the field & on the courts. Our head coach Alfie in Year 11 is so excited to see how the team progresses!

A huge thank you to all the staff who make the school come alive on Tuesday afternoons for all the Year 7 students - we can't wait to share more highlights & to celebrate Year 8 Peak Performance which begins on Monday! 

“Showing Up, Shining Bright: Attendance Matters 🌟👩‍🎓👨‍🎓” 

Attendance: The Halfway Point 📈

We are now at the half-way point of this first half-term and with only another 4 weeks to go until the October break, we would like to recognise and thank all the parents and carers who support our attendance priority in school. 

With our school community growing and increasing in size, we are delighted to see attendance levels remain consistent; Year 7 and Year 8, regularly achieve attendance percentages above 95%. 🏆

This week, all students have taken part in an 'Attendance Assembly' and we have enjoyed celebrating their achievements with them. 

Every Friday, students now receive double Class Chart 💯 points for being in school each day, with points and rewards available for those who are making progress to improve attendance and reduce the number of days missed.

We know just how valuable parent/carer support is in ensuring that students come to school every day. Here are some ways in which you can help your son to maintain or improve his attendance in school:

• Make attendance a daily priority: Let your child know that you value school attendance and are interested in their school life. 

• Establish a consistent routine: Ensure your child goes to school regularly and on time to help them develop positive attendance habits. 

• Don't provide inappropriate excuses: Avoid letting children take time off for minor illnesses that wouldn't prevent you from going to work. 

• Familiarise yourself with school policies: Understand the school's expectations for attendance, punctuality, and when a child should stay home, including how to report and absence and how to request leave from school. 

Thank you to all our parents and carers and a huge well done to our amazing students 🙏 who attend our school and make this a brilliant environment in which to learn.

From Mrs Greatrix, Vice Principal

Celebrating European Languages Day! 🌍🎉💃

Last Friday, we had a fantastic European Languages Day, and I would like to extend a huge thank you to all staff for your incredible support and participation in this whole-school celebration.

The PowerPoint presentation provided for lessons served as an excellent starter activity, giving students a shared introduction to the importance of languages and cultural diversity. It was wonderful to see how creatively staff brought this to life in their classrooms and around the school.

Students embraced the day with energy and enthusiasm, taking part in engaging activities that highlighted the richness of languages and cultures across Europe. Our shared commitment to promoting cultural awareness helped make this event a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone.

Thank you once again to all staff for making European Languages Day such a huge success! 💃🇪🇸🥳🇷🇴🇬🇧🏴🇫🇷🤩⭐🌍 and a huge thank you to Ms Iosim for coordinating the day.

College & Extra-curr Highlights

From Mr Insley, Assistant Principal

Think Hard. Pull Harder. Lead Strong – College Spirit in Action! 

Our College events are now in full swing, with both Intellectual and Athletic competitions kicking off this term!

🧠 Intellectual:
Our much-loved LBS Quiz returns this week, supported by Mr Noble. This event is open to all year groups, so make sure your College has a strong team ready and that you’ve been brushing up on your general knowledge!

💪 Athletic:
At the end of this half term, we launch our first athletic challenge: the high-energy, strength-testing Tug-of-War, led by Mr Mitchell. On Thursday 24th October, all students are invited to wear their PE kit and compete for their College to secure those crucial first points of the year.

🎓 College Captains:
As outlined in assemblies, the College Captain process has been relaunched. If you’d like the opportunity to demonstrate leadership, belief, or self-discipline, please submit your application to your Head of College. This is your chance to lead by example and represent your College with pride!

Extra-Curricular, Extra-Ordinary!

Just like our College events, our Extra-Curricular programme is already in full swing — with an incredible 328 students having attended at least one club or intervention so far!

Our Year 7s are leading the charge, with 84% already taking part in a club during their very first month at LBS. What a brilliant way to dive straight into the spirit of our school!

At present, there are 37 clubs and activities for students to get involved in — and the opportunities are still growing. Keep an eye out for the exciting launch of E-Sports, coming soon!

A special shout-out goes to Ilias, who has taken part in an amazing 17 sessions across six different clubs — a fantastic example of making the most of every opportunity.

With even more clubs set to launch, make sure you watch for upcoming announcements and get involved. There’s something for everyone — don’t miss out.

Teaching & Learning and Homework updates

From Ms Bunger, Assistant Principal

Behaviour & Attitudes updates

From Ms Davis-Musabayana, Assistant Principal

Eagles, Dolphins, Seahawks: Literacy Leaders Revealed!

We are thrilled to share the three literacy groups with the highest Positive Praise Points in just the first four weeks of school!

🥇 1st Place – Eagles 🦅 – 3,121 Points
What an incredible achievement! The Eagles have soared high this term, leading the way with their outstanding teamwork, focus, and enthusiasm. Congratulations to the Eagles for setting such a fantastic example!

🥈 2nd Place – Dolphins 🐬 – 2,579 Points
Making a huge splash this term, the Dolphins have impressed us with their creativity, resilience, and drive to succeed. A brilliant effort from everyone involved!

🥉 3rd Place – Seahawks 🦅🌊 – 2,562 Points
Soaring close behind, the Seahawks take third place with an amazing total. Their dedication and persistence have been fantastic to see, and their near-tie with the Dolphins shows just how close the competition has been this term.

A huge well done to all students for their positive contributions — keep up the great work!

Safeguarding Updates

From Mrs Metcalfe-Molinari, Assistant Principal

If you have any questions relating to safeguarding and need support, we have a very experienced team of Designated Safeguarding Leads in school, please get in touch using the contact details below:

• Mrs Metcalfe-Molinari, Assistant Principal/Lead DSL, d.metcalfe-molinari@lordswoodboys.co.uk

• Mr Richard Stanford, Deputy DSL, r.stanford@lordswoodboys.co.uk

Weekly Sports Round-Up

From Mr Janes, Director of Sport

Sport fixtures and training schedules 

⚽ Match Report: Lordswood 1–3 Fairfax ⚽ 

Lordswood put in a spirited performance against a much stronger Fairfax side, who featured several players with FA Cup experience, but ultimately fell to a 3–1 defeat.

The first half showcased resilience and organisation from the hosts. Fairfax dominated possession, but Lordswood’s disciplined defensive shape limited them to very few clear opportunities. On the break, Lordswood threatened with a couple of half-chances, hinting at their counter-attacking potential. The teams went into the break with Fairfax holding only a narrow 1–0 lead.

After the interval, Fairfax increased their possession, but Lordswood’s quick counter-attacks continued to create the majority of chances in the second half. Fairfax grew visibly frustrated as they struggled to break down Lordswood’s organised backline, who stood firm under mounting pressure.

Two moments of real quality from a Fairfax half-time substitute ultimately turned the game, extending their lead to 3–0 – a scoreline that felt harsh on Lordswood given their attacking intent and defensive resilience.

Lordswood’s perseverance was rewarded late on with a deserved goal from Ethan, reflecting the team’s consistent efforts. While the match ended 3–1, the performance highlighted Lordswood’s ability to challenge higher-level opposition and create problems on the counter.

It may have been a defeat, but the commitment, organisation, and team spirit on display left plenty of positives to take forward. Congratulations to the team for their amazing effort and a huge thank you to Mr Mitchell for supporting the students.

KS3 Fitness Club 💪🏃‍♂️

Our Key Stage 3 students threw themselves into Fitness Club on Monday after school, taking on a combination of weights training and light cardio. It was fantastic to see their enthusiasm as they explored ways to improve their fitness and build healthy habits for the future.

Great commitment from all involved – keep it up! ⭐

Year 7 Football ⚽🔥

Our Year 7 boys were put through their paces on Tuesday in a fantastic training session led by Year 11 student Alfie Cutler. Alfie planned the session in advance, shared it with Mr Janes, and then delivered it brilliantly on the day.

The boys responded with great energy and enthusiasm, really enjoying the challenges and developing their skills. A superb example of student leadership in action! 👏🙌

Weekly Music News & Schedules

From Mrs Lowndes-Ford, Director of Music

🌍 European Languages Day Music Assembly Celebration 🌍

• Last week, our school proudly celebrated European Languages Day.

• In the Music Department, all of our Year 7 students are currently working on a scheme of work titled “Celebrating Music”, where they explore different genres of music for celebration — culminating in performances throughout the unit.

• Yesterday, our Year 7 students gave their debut performance of Voices of Europe during their assembly. 🎶

🎵 A Big Thank You from the Music Department 🎵

• The Music Department would like to extend a huge thank you to all students who are actively taking part in our music clubs. Over the past week, we have seen a fantastic increase in participation, and it’s wonderful to see so many of you engaging with music beyond the classroom.

• We also have several exciting events and new projects launching in the coming weeks, keep an eye out, as the dates for our upcoming events will be released next week!

🎶 Instrumental Lesson Opportunities 🎶🎼

• We currently have spaces available for Brass, Flute, and Clarinet lessons.

• Please note that these are paid lessons, taught by a specialist teacher from our Music Hub who visits the school weekly.

• If you are interested in taking up this exciting opportunity, Mrs. Lowndes-Ford will be handing out information and application forms next week.

Check the Music Timetable on the noticeboard or speak to our Music staff for more details. Get involved and make some music!