Dear Leigh Academy Bexley Community
Another busy week has flown by with our Year 11 and 13 students fully engaged in their mock examinations.
We continue to embed our Digital Strategy across the Academy and, as you will see below, our Fortnightly Focus is supporting both students and staff. This week we are delighted to share information about our PE opportunities and how our Year 10 Performing Arts students welcomed visitors from The Old Vic Schools Club on Monday.
As always, if we can support you in any way please contact us via info@labexley.org.uk, where we will make every endeavour to respond within 24 hours.
Have a lovely weekend.
Best wishes,
Mr John Dixon | Principal, Leigh Academy Bexley
The Read & Write Simplify Tool
Thank you to those who attended the Read&Write Parental Workshop. Our Fortnightly Focus on Read&Write until the end of the module is how to use the Simplify Tool. Please continue to support your children using this tool.
The Simplify tool in Read&Write for Google Chrome is useful for reading lengthy texts or complex websites, as it helps to make a text easier to read. All students have access to the Read&Write toolbar while on a webpage; they only need to click the Simplify button to open a new tab with a simplified version of the text. This allows them to see only the essential elements on the page, enhancing readability. The Simplify feature also allows students with special educational needs to change the background colour and font style of the text. Here is a helpful video that shows how Simplify works in practice
PE Extra-curricular
At Leigh Academy Bexley, we are passionate about the positive impact extra-curricular PE and sports have on our students. Participation not only improves physical health but also supports mental well-being, fosters teamwork, and instills values such as discipline and resilience.
We are proud to offer a broad extra-curricular programme, currently including basketball, football, and trampolining, with new sports planned for Modules 3 and 4. Additionally, our newly elected Student Council will have the opportunity to suggest other activities they would like to see included, ensuring a student-centered approach to our offerings.
Our students regularly compete in fixtures at borough and county levels, representing the academy with pride. They also participate in events alongside other LAT academies, including netball and handball competitions. Recently, we hosted the LAT Handball Competition over two days at Leigh Academy Bexley. It was a fantastic event where both our girls’ and boys’ teams performed exceptionally well, while modeling the academy’s values throughout.
Although the LAT Cross-Country event was postponed due to bad weather, it is rescheduled for Module 3, and we look forward to seeing our students take part.
We encourage all students to get involved in extra-curricular PE and sport, explore new interests, and experience the many benefits these activities bring. For more information, please contact the PE department via the info@labexley.org.uk email address.
Mr Powders | Deputy Head of Knole College
Drama Workshop from The Old Vic Schools Club
After taking the Year 10 Performing Arts students to The Old Vic to watch ‘A Christmas Carol’ last week, the Old Vic Schools Club visited Leigh Academy Bexley on Monday 2nd December to run a follow-up workshop on the play. The students practically explored themes from the play such as ‘Christmas’, ‘redemption’ and ‘social injustice’ with two very high energy workshop leaders. The Old Vic Schools facilitators also explored how to manage a ‘quick change’ from the world of the costume department. Students learnt about some of the non-performing roles in theatre which is directly related to part of their BTEC course. As always the workshop was a success and we look forward to the next one in January on Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus’ production.
Helen Forbes Bareham | Coordinator of Learning for Creative Arts
