Dear Leigh Academy Bexley Community
Module 3 has come to a close and as always there is much to celebrate. This week’s articles show the achievements of our top independent learning students along with information about how we incorporated Safer Internet Day and Apprenticeship Week into academy life. Learning also continues outside the classroom with a new club being offered for our SEND students. More information below!
We also wanted to make you aware of some upcoming works in our local community that may affect traffic and buses. Thames Water have written to us and further details are shared in this newsletter.
We have included below some useful information from Kooth on young people’s mental health, however, as always, if we can support you in any way please contact us via info@labexley.org.uk. We will make every endeavour to respond within 24 hours.
Have a good weekend.
Best wishes,
Mr John Dixon | Principal, Leigh Academy Bexley
Top Performers on SPARX
We are pleased to celebrate and recognise our highest-performing students on the SPARX platform.
These students have demonstrated outstanding dedication, effort and consistency in their home independent learning, showcasing their commitment to excellence in Mathematics or Science.
Congratulations to all of them for their hard work and achievement!
Their perseverance serves as an inspiration to their peers, and we encourage all students to continue engaging with SPARX to support their learning and progress.
Mathematics
Murtty N – Year 7
Milan A – Year 7
Penny C – Year 7
Sam O – Year 8
Summer F – Year 9
Keira A – Year 10
Lucia G – Year 10
Dominic S – Year 10
Sydney-Rae P – Year 10
Tia D – Year 10
Science
Barakah H – Yar 7
Summer Y – Year 7
Yoel P – Year 8
Olivia-May G – Year 8
Omotade B – Year 9
Naimoh M – Year 9
Grace St – Year 10
Tia D – Year 10
Isabella C – Year 11
Manjot S – Year 11
Safer Internet Day 11th February 2025
In KS3 Computer Science lessons this week students have been looking at scamming as well as sextortion. Students had the opportunity to create an Advice Page on where to find help and some top tips for themselves as well as friends. There were a lot of in-depth conversations and students were engaged with all the activities.
KS3 PSHE
As the end of our Relationship Sexual Health Education unit in Module 3 falls in the same week as Safer Internet Day, Years 7 to 9 completed a lesson looking at the risks of online grooming, using resources from the BBC.
Safer Internet Day Assembly
All students have participated in a special assembly to mark Safer Internet Day.
Assembly Presentation
Ms Sutherland | Coordinator of Learning Computer Science
Mrs Wilson | Coordinator of Learning English
National Apprenticeship Week
This week in assembly Mrs Arthur-Amponsah, Assistant Principal responsible for Careers Education, captivated our student body by opening their eyes to the potential for pursuing an apprenticeship.
What is an Apprenticeship?
Students were asked what an apprenticeship is, clarifying that an apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experience of a chosen professional or career. Students in lower school found out more about the scheme.
- Available to young people after Year 11 and early on in their career
- Great it someone is looking to upskill in a current job
- Also suitable for anyone looking for a career change
- Key here is they will not be in full time education
What are the benefits?
Students learnt that 20% of their apprenticeship is spent ‘off the job’ in training at College or a training centre. This training is then delivered by subjects experts and will include:
- Practical training – mentoring , shadowing and industry visits
- Teaching theory – could be classroom lessons , lectures or online learning
- Learning support and time to write assignments
There are many benefits to completing an apprenticeship, which include:
- Experience and skills development
- A nationally recognised qualification (with no tuition fees)
- Employee benefits and a wage
- Exposure to industry professionals
What next for Careers Education?
We will be hosting a careers fair for Years 10 – 13, along with a Future Choices workshop led by Oxford University. Additionally, Years 7 and 8 will be engaged in a STEM project. Working as a Development Corporation (EDC), their mission is to capture the changes and adaptations of Leigh Academy Bexley and its surroundings for the Erith Community through planning, designing, and organising the project. The projects will be judged by staff and students, with the winning team receiving Amazon vouchers as a reward.
Ms Arthur-Amponsah | Deputy Head of Richmond College
Kooth
Online Mental Health and Wellbeing Support for young people
Over the coming weeks your child may mention they have been made aware of a service called Kooth. It provides early intervention mental health support to children and young people. Kooth works with schools and professionals across over 90% of the UK.
Kooth is free to access via any internet-connected tablet, computer or smartphone. There are no waiting lists or thresholds to meet and a referral from a medical professional is not needed. Your child can join Kooth anonymously simply by visiting www.kooth.com.
Kooth offers young people a range and choice of support options under one digital roof.
It has services that are accessible 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This includes one to one text based sessions with experienced counsellors and wellbeing practitioners run from midday to 10pm on weekdays, and from 6 -10pm at the weekend. Appointments can be booked in advance or accessed via a drop-in text-based chat. Kooth also provides a fully safeguarded and pre-moderated community with a library of peer and professional created articles. And there are discussion forums too. All content is pre-moderated and age appropriate.
Kooth covers many topics on the website including relationships, LGBTQIIA+, exam stress, anxiety, eating difficulties, self harm, suicidal thoughts, body image, social media, bullying and family worries. All of these subjects affecting young peoples’ mental health are presenting issues that Kooth and other mental health providers see from all age groups. Kooth is commissioned by the NHS and clinically approved for children from the age of 10, and is one of the few UK digital mental health providers to hold a BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) accreditation.
To find out more about Kooth visit https://connect.kooth.com/ or if you would prefer to contact Kooth directly, please email parents@kooth.com.
Extra Curricular Clubs
We are delighted to announce a new club in the Leigh Academy Bexley extra curricular offer. The Lego and Construction club has just begun for SEND pupils on Thursdays after school. This gives pupils the opportunity to sit quietly, plan and build different models. Whilst on the face of it a simple concept, the opportunity to use concrete materials and build substantial structures can be challenging in our social environment. Please contact sendco@labexley.org.uk if you would like any more information.
Planned Road Closures
We have been made aware by Thames Water that the planned road closures relating to the Riverside water pipe installation project will soon begin to directly affect the roads around the academy. Please click here to read the detailed information letter from Thames Water. Please plan for these road closures and related diversions that may delay travel for parents/carers and buses to minimise the disruption to academy operation.
