General notices

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. A full timetable will be sent home to parents next week. 

Lost Property

We have accumulated a large volume of lost property over the past few weeks, including coats, water bottles, and PE kits. If your child is missing any items, please encourage them to visit Student Services as soon as possible to identify and collect their belongings. To help us return items more efficiently in the future, we kindly ask that all personal property be clearly labelled with your child's name 

Medication

For the safety and well-being of all students, please be reminded that no medication should be carried by students while on school grounds. The only exceptions to this rule are Inhalers and EpiPens, which should remain with the student for immediate use. All other medications must be handed into Student Services for secure storage. To ensure we can administer or monitor these correctly, please ensure the medication is clearly labelled with the student's full name and the required dosage. 

Uniform 

With the winter months here, it is vital that all students arrive at school with a warm, waterproof coat every day. In the event of a fire alarm or emergency evacuation, the entire school is required to remain outside for an extended period regardless of the temperature. To ensure student safety and comfort during these essential drills, please make certain your child is properly equipped for the weather before leaving home. 

We would like to remind parents the only trousers any student should be wearing are straight cut tailored school trousers, this excludes trousers such as flares which we have recently seen in the academy. 

For further information please see the Uniform and Equipment Policy

Empowering Our Future: The 'Make it Make Sense' (MiMS) Programme

We are delighted to highlight the Make it Make Sense (MiMS) initiative, an exciting careers-focused programme delivered in partnership between Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) and the University of Greenwich.

This week, our Year 9 students participated in this three-session programme. We were incredibly impressed with how well they engaged with the sessions, showing great curiosity and enthusiasm throughout.

Designed specifically for secondary school students, MiMS aims to take the "mystery" out of life after school. Navigating the transition to further education or the workplace can often feel overwhelming; this programme breaks down those complexities into manageable, actionable steps to help students feel more positive and confident about their next steps.

What does the MiMS programme offer our students?

• Aspiration & Confidence: Engaging workshops designed to raise students' aspirations and help them believe in their potential.

• Essential Life Skills: Practical sessions on "real-world" topics, including money management, mental health awareness, and building resilience.

• Career Readiness: Targeted support for job interviews and CV building, providing students with the tools they need to stand out.

• Industry Insights: Unique opportunities to hear from external speakers and global companies, offering a first-hand look at different career paths—from telecommunications to professional sports and beyond.

By connecting the classroom to the wider world, the MiMS programme ensures that our students don't just dream about their futures, but have a clear, sensible plan to achieve them. 

Looking Ahead: Careers Week at LAR

Next week marks an important milestone in our school calendar as we celebrate Careers Week. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to begin visualizing their future paths and understanding the vast array of opportunities available to them.

Inspirational Guest Speakers Throughout the Week - We are delighted to welcome a variety of guest speakers into our school assemblies. These professionals represent a wide range of employment sectors and will be sharing their personal career journeys, industry insights, and advice on how to succeed in the modern workplace. We hope these talks will inspire our students and broaden their horizons regarding their own future careers.

Year 10 Work Experience Launch  - For our Year 10 students, next week also marks the official start of their journey toward Work Experience. During their sessions, they will receive a comprehensive introduction to the process, including our expectations for professional conduct and the benefits of gaining first-hand industry exposure.

Information for Families - We understand that parents and carers play a vital role in supporting these transitions. Detailed information regarding the work experience process, including key dates and next steps, will be sent home to all Year 10 families via Bromcom at the end of next week.

We look forward to a week of ambition, discovery, and forward-thinking!

On Friday 9th January, 46 year 11 students visited the Tate Modern in London to kick start their preparation for the externally set assessment based on the challenging and exciting theme of 'Found'.

Their exemplary attitudes to learning ensured that a brilliant day was had by all as they captured ideas and inspiration from existing artist work as well as the unique architectural environment around them.

The exam theme of 'Found' requires students to explore everything from found objects and materials to people, the natural world, and man-made objects and environments. The Tate Modern provided a phenomenal resource for this.

In the general collection, students were encouraged to look closely at works that incorporate found materials or ready-mades. Artists like Marcel Duchamp pioneered the use of everyday, found objects, and seeing such works in person encouraged our students to think beyond traditional art materials. We observed and analysed how artists deconstruct and re-contextualize discarded items—such as scrap metal, plastic waste, or recycled textiles—into powerful new sculptural and mixed-media forms. This research will directly feed into their preparatory work, inspiring them to select and transform their own primary source material.

We were also lucky to visit the 'Nigerian Modernism' exhibition which offered a particularly rich source of inspiration, connecting the 'Found' theme to concepts of identity and cultural history. We observed many contemporary artists who explored themes of memory and post-colonial identity by working with found photographs, archived documents, and objects that hold deep historical or personal significance. By observing the powerful use of these materials, our students will go on to consider the symbolic and narrative potential of the objects they choose for their own projects. 

This trip was not just an outing; it was an essential component of their preparation for the 10-hour practical exam which they will sit in April. We believe the visual research and critical engagement demonstrated by the students during this visit will give them a strong foundation and we look forward to seeing their ideas develop into their personal responses. 

Students in KS3 English were given the exciting opportunity to enter the ‘I Have a Dream’ Young Writers competition, where they explored their hopes, dreams, and aspirations through poetry. We are incredibly proud to announce that over 60 students will have their work published in the latest I Have a Dream anthology — the highest number of accepted submissions our school has ever achieved.

Each successful student has received a certificate and a commemorative bookmark to recognise their achievement. Even more excitingly, one of these published students could be selected as the winner of the grand cash prize, which will be announced next term.

A huge congratulations to all involved — a fantastic achievement that showcases both creativity and ambition.

In this module, our Year 9 Computing students began exploring the world of Visual Identity and Digital Graphics, moving beyond being mere consumers of media to becoming creators. They are currently learning the fundamental principles of branding and graphic design, including how color theory, typography, and layout can be used to influence a specific target audience.

To prepare for their "Medway Global Film Festival" project, students have started mastering industry-standard software to manipulate assets and are practicing pre-production techniques such as creating mood boards and visualisation diagrams. By investigating how global cinema uses distinct visual styles, they are developing the technical and creative skills needed to translate a professional brief into a vibrant, high-impact advertising campaign.

What the students are currently focusing on:

• Brand Consistency: Understanding how logos and "house styles" create a recognizable identity.

• Asset Creation: Learning the difference between vector and bitmap graphics for large-scale printing (like festival posters).

• Target Audience Analysis: Evaluating what visual "hooks" successfully engage local teenagers.

• Software Proficiency: Developing hands-on skills in tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Canva.

Sports Round-Up – A Fortnight of Achievement and Determination

It has been a busy and exciting fortnight for Leigh Academy Rainham sport, with plenty of successes to celebrate across multiple competitions. Our Year 7 and 8 girls produced an excellent performance in the LAT football tournament, finishing an impressive 4th out of 16 schools across the Trust. A fantastic achievement and a reflection of their teamwork and commitment. The boys’ team faced a challenging competition and finished 10th overall, gaining valuable experience to build on for future fixtures.

Looking ahead, next week brings the Year 9 and 10 girls’ and boys’ football tournaments on Monday and Tuesday. We wish all players the very best of luck as they represent the academy.

This strong start to the sporting year follows further successes in LAT events, including a victory and a third-place finish in badminton, as well as two third-place finishes in handball. These results highlight the growing strength and enthusiasm of sport across the academy.

While the Year 9 and 10 basketball team faced a tough result against The Howard, their dedication, resilience, and effort throughout the fixture were commendable and exemplify our sporting values.

Well done to all students involved – we look forward to more exciting fixtures ahead!

New! KS3 Dance Club - Boys and Girls welcome

Performing Arts Showcase

Strive To Be CIC

 FREE Friday Night Football (Ages 11–16)

Looking for a positive and active option for your child on Friday evenings?

We are running FREE community football sessions at Holcombe Grammar and Brompton Academy venues for young people aged 11–16.

✅ Friday evenings

✅ Holcombe (5.30-7pm) / Brompton (5-6.30pm)

✅ FREE – just turn up and play matches

✅ 3G / Astro pitches – floodlit and all-weather

✅ No kit needed

✅ Any ability welcome

✅ Fully supervised by qualified coaches

Sessions run in a safe, friendly environment and are ideal for young people who love football – whether they play for a team or just for fun.

No booking required. Just turn up and play. 

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.