General notices

Parent Survey

The annual Leigh Voice Parent Survey is now open! This survey gives you the opportunity to share your views on your child’s experience at their academy. Please click the this link to share your thoughts: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/PVoice/?Academy=RAI

Your feedback is very important as it helps us understand what is working well and where we need to focus our attention. The survey covers areas such as your child’s wellbeing, safety, learning experience, communication, and support. Please could you complete the survey by Friday 6th February.

February Mock Exams

Parents are reminded that the next Year 11 mock exams begin on Monday 9th February and continue after the half-term break. 

Communication

We want to ensure our school remains a positive environment for everyone. We have noticed an increase in communications—both in person and via email—that have not been respectful. We kindly ask that all interactions remain polite and calm so we can work together effectively as per the following section of our 'Working in Partnership Agreement' that all parents and carers sign upon enrolment: 

Treat all Academy staff with respect and courtesy, accepting that they are professionals whose judgement should be trusted. Promise to work with the Academy in a gracious manner should you feel there is a concern that you wish to raise and trust the Senior Leadership Team to resolve this with you.'' 

To help us assist you, please put your query in writing so it can be directed to the correct member of staff. As our team is often with students, they may not be available immediately, but we will arrange a call back or meeting as soon as possible. Thank you for your kindness and cooperation.

The KS4 raising standard team have generated a blank revision timetable for students in year 11 to map their revision over the mocks period. Students have been working on designing this in their form times to ensure they have carefully mapped all their revision for their mock exams. We have shared this template below for parents and carers should you wish to make copies of this with them and support them in mapping their revision over the next 4 weeks. 

Fairies, Foliage, and Film: Year 8’s Shakespearean Spectacle!

For anyone who has walked past the Year 8 classrooms lately and thought they heard the sound of braying donkeys or seen a suspicious amount of glitter on the floor, don't worry—it’s just our students diving headfirst into the magical world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

As part of their MYP Interdisciplinary Unit, our Year 8s have been busy blurring the lines between the classroom and the Athenian woods. This week, the cohort swapped their notebooks for popcorn (metaphorically, of course!) to enjoy a modern film adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic comedy.

Watching a contemporary film version allowed the students to see how a story written over 400 years ago can still feel fresh, funny, and relevant today. Seeing Puck’s mischief play out on screen helped bridge the gap between the printed page and the vibrant, multi-sensory performances they are currently creating in their own elective rotations.

It’s been wonderful to see the students draw connections between these subjects, proving that whether you’re painting a backdrop or writing an essay, "the course of true love never did run smooth"—but it certainly makes for great art!

Mastering the Art of Revision: Year 11 Get "Study Sensei" Savvy!

This week, a group of Year 11s leveled up their academic game by participating in the renowned "Study Sensei" workshop, delivered by Elevate Education.

As the name suggests, the session was all about turning our students into masters of their own learning. Moving away from the stress of "cramming," the Study Sensei programme showed the cohort how to replicate the habits of the world's highest-performing students.

Key Takeaways for our Senseis-in-Training:

• The "Note-Taking" Trap: Learning why simply transcribing a textbook is a waste of time and how to create dynamic, condensed notes instead.

• Conceptual Learning: Shifting focus from memorizing facts to truly understanding the big ideas.

• The Power of Practice: Why doing past papers is the single most effective way to prep for the real deal.

The energy in the room was fantastic, and it was great to see students realizing that success isn't about being a "genius"—it’s about having the right system. We’re excited to see these Study Sensei techniques in action as the year progresses!

Level Up Your Child's Digital Toolkit - Read & Write Toolbar! 

Your child’s Chromebook comes equipped with Read&Write, a powerful toolbar designed to make reading and writing more accessible. To help you support their learning at home, we are sharing two simple guides:

• The Install Guide: Double-check that the tool is pinned and ready to use.

• The Quick Reference Guide: A "cheat sheet" for parents to understand how features like Text-to-Speech or Talk&Type can help with homework.

By familiarising yourself with these tools, you can help your child become a more confident, independent learner!

Read&Write Install Guide

Read&Write Quick Reference Guide

https://leighacademyrainham.org.uk/sixth-form/

admissions@rainham.latrust.org.uk 

Careers Assemblies Inspire Future Ambitions

Last week, all students took part in a series of engaging careers assemblies, giving them the opportunity to hear directly from a wide range of professionals across different industries. These assemblies were designed to broaden horizons, challenge perceptions and help students begin thinking about their own future pathways.

Each year group heard from a different guest speaker, sharing their personal career journeys and insights:

Year 7 met Chris , Head of Engineering at Flivum Ltd

Year 8 heard from Richard Jones, Owner of a Painting and Decorating business

Year 9 were inspired by Martin Davies, Chief Inspector at Kent Police

Year 11 welcomed Alexander Cook, European Sales Manager at Lonza

Meanwhile, Year 10 were introduced to the Work Experience programme, which will take place from 29th June to 3rd July. This has already sparked some fantastic conversations about future ambitions and potential career pathways. We have been especially impressed with a number of Year 10 students who have already successfully secured, agreed, and logged their work experience placements on Unifrog for Miss Bashford to approve.

A reminder to all Year 10 students and families that the deadline for securing placements is 2nd April. Letters have been sent home outlining how families can support their child through this process.

We would like to thank all of our guest speakers for giving up their time and sharing their experiences, and we look forward to seeing our students continue to explore and develop their career aspirations. 

Year 8 Find Their Voice in English Spoken Language Project

Year 8 students are currently developing their confidence and communication skills as part of an exciting Spoken Language assessment in English. Working collaboratively in groups, pupils are exploring a big literary question: Should Shakespeare still be taught in schools?

This project encourages students to think critically, form clear viewpoints, and support their opinions with well-reasoned arguments. Through researching, planning, and debating different perspectives, Year 8 are sharpening their persuasive writing skills while also learning how to deliver ideas clearly and confidently to an audience.

A key focus of the assessment is spoken delivery. Students are practising how to speak with clarity, expression, and conviction, considering tone, pace, and body language to make their arguments more impactful. These are vital skills not only for English lessons, but for future academic success and life beyond the classroom.

Importantly, this task also prepares students for the Spoken Language GCSE assessment, which they will complete at the end of Year 9. By introducing these skills early, students are building confidence and experience in formal speaking situations, ensuring they feel prepared and capable when it matters most.

This project has sparked lively discussion, thoughtful debate, and plenty of strong opinions. Whether defending Shakespeare’s lasting influence or questioning his relevance today, Year 8 are proving that they are more than ready to make their voices heard.

We look forward to seeing their ideas come to life as they step up, speak out, and persuade their audiences with confidence.

Year 7 – Modules 3 & 4: Coding for Creativity and International Mindedness

Year 7 students have been (and will continue) learning the basic coding constructs needed to design and build a Scratch game or animation.

This project has an exciting international focus: students are creating digital work that promotes an attraction from around the world, encouraging them to think globally and explore other cultures. This links directly to our IB MYP approach, supporting students in developing international mindedness while also strengthening their computational thinking.

Key skills being developed include:

• Sequencing and events

• Selection (decisions)

• Repetition (loops)

• Variables and debugging

• Designing interactive outcomes for an audience

Year 8 – Branding, Visual Identity & Image Editing

Year 8 students are learning how brands communicate meaning through visual identity. They are exploring the key features that make branding effective and consistent, while also building confidence with the basics of image editing.

They are developing skills such as:

• Logos, colour palettes, typography and layout

• Audience and purpose in design

• Editing and improving images (cropping, layering, effects, composition)

• Creating professional-looking outcomes

Year 9 – Visual Identity & Advertising: Bollywood Movie Festival

Year 9 students are building on their design knowledge by creating an advertisement for a Bollywood Movie Festival. This is a great opportunity to combine creativity with real-world media design skills, as students consider how to communicate clearly to an audience while creating a visually engaging promotional product.

They are focusing on:

• Strong and consistent visual identity

• Layout and composition for advertising

• Image editing techniques and refinement

• Communicating a message effectively and creatively

GCSE Pathway Link: Creative iMedia Foundations

The skills Year 8 and 9 are learning are laying the foundation for a potential Creative iMedia GCSE pathway, should students choose that option later. Branding, visual identity, image editing, and designing for an audience are all core elements of creative digital media work.

It has been a busy and successful period for our sports teams. In football, our Year 7 and 8 girls finished an impressive 4th out of 16 schools in their competition. The Year 7 and 8 boys finished 12th out of 16 schools, while our Year 9 and 10 teams also competed strongly, with the girls finishing 10th and the boys 12th.

Basketball has seen excellent performances from our Year 7 and 8 team, who recorded two outstanding results against all-boys schools — a 16–16 draw against Howard and a 23–21 win over Greenacre. These are fantastic achievements and reflect the team’s determination and teamwork.

Netball has returned this term with the welcome return of Miss Pedelty, and fixtures are now well underway. A special mention goes to the Year 9 netball team, who secured a strong win against Hoo.

Well done to all students who have represented the school — your effort and sportsmanship have been excellent.

Year 8 have been working hard on their 'Afternoon Tea' project. As part of the scheme of work, they’ve been exploring food provenance and food production, and 8K1 have produced some really lovely pieces of work.  

Year 10 have also been busy in the kitchen, focusing on potato side dishes. They successfully made dauphinoise potatoes and duchess potatoes, developing their complex practical skills as part of their preparation for the Year 11 practical examinations .

 In addition, students have been jointing chickens to use in upcoming practicals, where they will be cooking lemon, garlic and thyme chicken and chicken kievs.

On Tuesday 20th January, our year 10 drama students visited The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury to see the stage adaptation of Agatha Christie's 'Death on the Nile' in preparation for their GCSE exam next year. 

Shape the Future of Cozenton Park Skatepark!

We are excited to announce a series of design workshops to revamp the Cozenton Park skatepark, and we need your students' voices! The first session kicks off on Saturday, 31 January, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the Cozenton Park Sports Centre (upstairs studio). Whether they skate, BMX, or scoot, this is a unique chance for young people to directly influence the local landscape.

AMG Dance - Medway-based dance and performing arts company 

Elevate Your Dance Skills! 

Join our high-energy Senior Commercial Dance class every Thursday (4:45–5:30 PM) at Woodlands Arts Centre, Gillingham. 

Perfect for students aged 11–16+, this inclusive class focuses on street-style techniques, confidence, and performance—ideal for those pursuing GCSE Dance or simply looking for a fun, creative outlet. Led by qualified teachers, we welcome all experience levels. 

Claim your FREE taster session today: Book Here. 

Easter 2026 Music Courses

Join the Medway Music Association this spring for a fantastic range of musical opportunities! 

Whether you're picking up an instrument for the first time or looking to advance your skills, there is something for everyone. 

• KS1 Music Course: For Years 1 & 2 (no experience required).

• Beginner Music Course: For newcomers up to Grade 1 standard.

• 2-Day Instrumental Course: For players at Grade 2 to Grade 8 standard.

• Online Music Tech: Available for both Beginner and Intermediate levels.

For further information please visit: medwaymusicassociation.co.uk/easter-music-courses-2026

The Leigh Academy Rainham Safeguarding Team works to promote the safety of all students. If you are concerned about a child's safety, please call the academy and ask to speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead.