Dear Leigh Academy Bexley Community
Spring arrived this week and there have been some wonderful learning experiences for our students both inside and outside the classroom. In this newsletter you will find articles about our recent trips and visits along with some individual successes. We are proud of our students and their personal achievements.
Our parental engagement strategy continues and you can read more about it in this edition as well as our regular features.
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.
Best wishes,
Mr John Dixon | Principal, Leigh Academy Bexley
SEND Coffee Morning
Coffee and a Catch up with the SENDco last week was well attended and a great way to share experiences and get to know more about what is on offer through Bexley SEN.
We looked at the following services:
- Moorings
- Teen Life
- Being a parent – Bexley Moorings
Links to all the services discussed are below should you want to take a look or even make a referral for your child or sign up to a service.
- https://www.bexleymoorings.co.uk/
- https://www.bexleynas.co.uk/teen-life-bexley.html
- https://www.bexleymoorings.co.uk/parents-2/
The next coffee morning will be after Easter Break. We look forward to seeing you there.
The SEND Team
The Globe Theatre Trip
On Monday 17th March, Year 8 went on a trip to Shakespeare’s Globe to see an exceptional performance of Macbeth. They represented the school wonderfully and it was a pleasure to see so many faces in awe of both the beautiful theatre and the amazing performance. Thank you to Globe Education for providing us with the tickets.
Parent Workshop
On Monday, 17th March, a successful parent workshop evening was held focusing on subject masterclasses and revision strategies in English, Maths, and Science. The session was expertly led by Sarah Wilson, Jemima Arthur-Amponsah, and Andrea Mochnacova. We had fourteen parents attend, who collectively demonstrated their strong interest and commitment to supporting their child’s education.
Throughout the evening, attendees were actively engaged and had the unique opportunity to participate in exercises typically experienced by their children. This immersive approach allowed parents to step into the role of students, applying their learning to tasks commonly undertaken in the classroom. Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive; all rated their satisfaction with the workshop and the content delivered as an impressive 5 out of 5.
The parents particularly appreciated the interactive elements of the session, which aided their understanding of how they can help their children with their studies. They left the workshop feeling inspired and equipped with effective strategies to support their children’s academic success. A heartfelt thank you goes to Jemima, Sarah, and Andrea for making the evening a memorable experience for all involved.
Oedipus at The Old Vic
BTec Performing Arts students from Years 10 and 11 went to see Oedipus at The Old Vic Theatre with a star studded cast. The performance was a contemporary version of Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus’ starring Rami Malek in his UK theatre debut (Television includes: Mr. Robot — Emmy Award, Critics Choice Award, The Pacific. Film includes: Bohemian Rhapsody — Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, SAG Award, Oppenheimer, Amsterdam, No Time to Die, Papillon, The Master, Short Term 12.). It was co-directed by the choreographer Hofesh Shechter. This was outstanding and they represented the Greek chorus – we were blown away by the unique and highly complex movement.
After the performance we were the only British school selected out of 10 schools to stay behind to complete a Q&A with the actors and dancers. Our students were given a unique opportunity to ask questions about the performance and the industry – absolutely anything really! This was a great privilege and I cannot thank The Old Vic enough.
Jack Petchey Regional Final
On Wednesday 19th March Connor and Sophia represented the Leigh Academy Bexley at the Jack Petchey Speak Out Bexley Regional Final at St Catherine’s School. Alongside 21 other speakers from across the borough Connor and Sophia started the afternoon with a workshop with the Speakers Trust to help with their final preparations for the final. Then to a packed hall in the evening they performed their speeches. Connor spoke about the importance of pursuing your dreams, and how he would like to inspire others to achieve their dreams. Sophia spoke about the difficulties in asking for help but how important it is to always ask. Both speeches were well planned and researched, and their performances on the night were fantastic.
STEM Project
Last week, Year 7 and Year 8 students began their STEM project on Monday and completed it by Friday. The theme focused on changes and adaptations. Students collaborated in teams as part of the EDC (Development Corporation), tasked with documenting the changes and adaptations of Leigh Academy Bexley and its surroundings for the Erith community. They embraced this challenge and developed an innovative final project. Throughout the process, students honed essential STEM skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical reasoning, collaboration, and time management. They came together with pride in their work and effectively articulated the rationale behind their project.
Year 7 and 8 STEM projects were on display, with both students and staff voting for their favorites. We are excited to announce that the winning project, which emphasises the unity of our school, was created by Year 7 students Sarah, Lacey, and Simran.
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
- Ellie-May L – Year 9
- Felix I – Year 7
- Mary Louise A – Year 11
- Praise W – Year 10
- David C – Year 9
- Tamzin R – Year 9
- Muer H -Year 7
- Alessandro G – Year 7
- Serena S – Year 10
- Lily-May C – Year 8
Science
- Barakah H – Year 7
- Teddy D – Year 7
- Summer Y – Year 7
- Henry J – Year 7
- Yoel P – Year 8
- Ruben C – Year 7
- Emily V – Year 7
- Olivia – May G – Year 8
- Grace C – Year 10
- Blessing A – Year 7
- Praise W – Year 7
English
- Donatas K – Year 9
- Sophie D – Year 8
- Prithwin A – Year 7
- Praise W – Year 7
- Isabella L – Year 9
- Arijus G- – Year 9
- Naimoh – Year 9
- Kyra B – Year 9
- Kaiden T – Year 9
- Olivia- May G – Year 8
Assembly
This week’s assembly was led by Ms Pieroulli focusing on digital learning in the modern age. Students were given a clear explanation of what Artificial Intelligence (AI) means and how it is beneficial to supporting humans to thrive. Students were invited to question how the use of AI can also have negative consequences. To end, students were asked to reach a decision and join in the wider debate of whether AI is of more or less benefit to humans. This assembly forms part of the Teaching and Learning Strategy of developing students’ independent learning and thinking skills through assembly and tutor times in collaboration with the Personal Development Programme.
Maths Feast 2025
On 14th March, Leigh Academy Bexley proudly represented the school at the Maths Feast competition. Our students performed exceptionally well, winning the third round, “Broken Calculator,” and securing an impressive 6th place overall out of 15 LAT schools.
This was a fantastic achievement, showcasing our students’ problem-solving skills, teamwork, and mathematical reasoning. A huge well done to all the students who took part – your hard work and dedication truly paid off!
We look forward to seeing even greater success in future competitions. 🎉👏
