Punctuality

To maintain our high standards and ensure a successful start to the day, we are resetting our morning arrival procedures, effective immediately. While the Academy day begins at 8:30 am, we expect students through the gate by 8:25 am to ensure they reach their lineup on time. Any student arriving after 8:30 am will be marked late and issued an automatic 30-minute (C1) detention; please note that staff are directed to record these from 8:31 am without exception. Persistent lateness will result in escalated sanctions, including 60-minute (C2) detentions. We remind families that routine traffic is not a valid excuse for lateness, and while we appreciate parents calling ahead for safeguarding, doing so does not automatically exempt a student from a detention. Thank you for your continued support in helping our students build the vital habit of punctuality. 

Unnatural Hair Colours

To maintain a professional and focused learning environment, please ensure all students’ hair remains a natural color. Per the Academy Agreement, vibrant or unnatural dyes (such as bright reds, blues, or purples) are not permitted. We kindly ask that any adjustments be made to ensure full compliance by Monday, 9th March. Thank you for your continued support in upholding these shared standards. 

PE Kit Reminder

In recent weeks, an increasing number of students have not been attending lessons with the correct PE kit. As a result, we feel it is necessary to remind all parents and carers of the academy’s expectations.

Students are required to bring their full LAR PE kit, as detailed on the academy website, for every practical PE lesson. Due to the changeable weather at present, we strongly recommend that students also include a PE jumper or rugby top.

Please note that all items of kit are compulsory. This includes appropriate footwear (trainers and/or boots). Bringing only some of the required kit will be treated the same as having no kit at all and will result in a sanction. This is comparable to attending a classroom lesson with only part of the required equipment.

For minor injuries or if students are feeling slightly unwell, they should still bring their PE kit. Lessons may take place outdoors, where school uniform could get wet or dirty, and students may feel well enough to take part in some capacity. Where participation is not appropriate, students may be asked to take on roles such as coaching, officiating or supporting the lesson.

We do have a small amount of spare kit available to lend; however, this supply is very limited and we do not have the budget to replace items on a regular basis.

In line with our behaviour policy:

• Students who forget their kit will receive a C1 sanction (30-minute detention) and will be expected to borrow spare kit if available.

• Failure to comply will result in a lesson exit and a C2 sanction (60-minute detention).

As our school continues to grow and changing room space is limited, we strongly advise that every item of PE kit is clearly named. Named items will be returned to students. Unnamed items will be placed in lost property or used as spare kit.

Our aim is for all students to enjoy PE and gain the full benefits of this practical subject. This is only possible when they attend lessons fully prepared and in the correct kit.

School Wars

School Wars is a viral trend on TikTok and other social media platforms that appears to promote so-called “school wars” or “Red vs Blue” confrontations between pupils from different schools and is currenlty trending in London and Kent. These posts have encouraged students to meet outside of school to engage in pre-arranged disputes, sometimes with suggestions of using items as weapons, and to film the encounters for social media. The Metropolitan and Kent Police have acknowledged this trend and is monitoring it actively.

You may also have heard that police operations are underway in several London boroughs to prevent incidents linked to this content and to protect young people from harm. Officers are increasing patrols near transport hubs and working with schools to identify and address risks. Police warn that encouraging or participating in harmful activity could result in criminal charges.

In line with advice from Kent Police, we are not sharing or circulating screenshots or videos of any of this social media content. Sharing these posts, even in warnings, can give them further attention and reinforce their visibility online.

We do think it is appropriate to share clear guidance with families. We ask that you speak with your child about this issue. We strongly advise that pupils do not attend or involve themselves in any gatherings or activities linked to this trend. Both the school and Kent Police will take robust action against pupils who are found participating, encouraging others, or promoting this type of content.

Please support your child by:

• Talking with them about what they may see online and the risks involved.

• Reviewing privacy and safety settings on social media apps to reduce exposure to harmful content.

• Reminding them that sharing or forwarding posts that encourage harm or unsafe behaviour is not acceptable.

Within the academy we will continue to monitor concerns through our safeguarding systems and remain in contact with local police. Our senior leadership team will maintain a visible presence in the community as part of our routine safeguarding practice. We will reinforce our behaviour expectations with pupils in assemblies and tutor time. If you have any concerns or become aware of information that may help us keep pupils safe, please contact the academy directly or use the safeguarding reporting system on our website. We take the safety and welfare of pupils seriously, both in the academy and in the wider community. We will act decisively in response to any pupil behaviour that places others at risk.

 International Mother Language Day 

While International Mother Language Day officially took place on February 21st, we have extended the activities across several weeks to truly honor the incredible linguistic diversity within our school community - while considering the Year 11 mocks that have also been taking place. This period has been a vibrant celebration of heritage and identity, starting off with a Cultural Dress Day for staff that brought a beautiful array of global traditions into our hallways. Students also got into the spirit through a languages quiz - both these events took place before the half term and were featured in the previous edition of this Newsletter. 

The highlights have continued into this week with break and lunch time competitions and peer-to-peer learning. A couple of our talented Year 8 students took the lead, visiting Key Stage 3 classes to share their personal knowledge of Ukrainian and Romanian. By teaching their peers key phrases and cultural insights, these students haven't just shared a language; they’ve built bridges of understanding and pride. Watching them pass on their native knowledge to their peers moved the celebration beyond simple "awareness" and into genuine connection. By centering these voices, we’ve wrapped up our celebrations by proving that while English may be our common language at school, our diverse mother tongues are the heartbeat of our community.

We were delighted to receive the exciting delivery of our students’ published poetry this week. Their hard work has truly paid off, and it is fantastic to see their inspiring pieces professionally printed and available for us to read.

Students were thrilled to find their own poems in print and were equally eager to explore the work of their classmates. It has been wonderful to see them celebrating each other’s creativity and talent. If you would like to take a look at this fantastic collection of student writing, a copy is available in the school library for everyone to enjoy. 

On Tuesday, 3rd March, our Year 10 Dance students visited Strood Academy for an exciting workshop with the professional ZooNation Dance Company.

Led by an expert Street dancer, our pupils immersed themselves in a high-energy session focused on Hip Hop skills and professional choreography. Mrs. Rowe was incredibly proud of the group's commitment and effort throughout the day.

Highlights & Next Steps

• Star Performer: Congratulations to Charlie Hammell, who chose to perform at the end of the session for showing "standout energy and expression."

• Coursework Integration: Pupils will now use this experience to review the choreographic process and analyze professional performance skills for their upcoming coursework.

Well done to all involved for representing the school so well!

The GCSE Art "Final Sprint" is officially underway, with the Externally Set Assignment (ESA) now the primary focus. It is vital to remember that 75% of the total marks are awarded for the preparatory work completed during this current period, meaning a high grade is only possible with a complete portfolio. To support students before the final 10-hour exam on April 23rd–24th, the department is offering several extra studio sessions, including Tuesday and Friday "Twilights" (3:10 PM – 6:00 PM) and a Saturday workshop on March 28th. Please review the ESA Learning Checklist with your child to ensure all tasks are completed before the Easter break. 

Kooth are delighted to let you know we are offering two webinar dates for parents, carers and family members who are supporting children through exams this year. Please find more details below and do please share with families in your networks.
How you can support your child to manage exam stress
Join Kooth for a free 45 minute webinar and you’ll hear from one of our community engagement team, alongside a clinician from Kooth.
They will offer expert tips on:

• When to take action

• Share practical ideas to help children manage their anxiety 

• Discuss how Kooth can provide extra support.

The content has been written predominantly for families with secondary and higher aged children sitting GCSEs, A- Levels or Nationals and Highers in Scotland.
Book 9th March, 6:00pm
Book 16th March, 7:00pm  

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.