Dear Parents/Carers
Academy Behaviour Policy, Expectations and Conduct Cards
Our students have returned to Leigh Academy Bexley for the 2025/26 academic year with a strong and positive start. In just three weeks, they have already demonstrated a commitment to meeting our high standards and have shown excellent learning habits. This letter serves as a reminder of our expectations and outlines any updates made for this academic year.
Conduct Cards
From Monday 22nd September, as introduced in last week’s standards and expectations assembly, all students will now carry a pocket-sized Conduct Card. This card helps students stay mindful of our core behavioural expectations throughout the day. It also enables us to reward students with positive behaviour points when they meet those expectations.
However, when students do not meet these expectations, this will be recorded on the card. If a student receives:
- 3 signatures – an LOPT (loss of personal time) will be issued.
- 12 signatures in one module – they will be placed in Tatton and a parental meeting will be arranged.
Sanctions will be set immediately if a student refuses to present or has lost their conduct card. Examples of conduct that may result in a signature include (but are not limited to):
- Uniform issues (e.g. rolled skirt, untucked shirts, tie off, wearing jewellery)
- Moving unsafely around the site (e.g. running, pushing)
- Inappropriate language or swearing
- Littering
- Eating or drinking outside designated areas
- Consuming banned items (e.g. chewing gum, fizzy drinks)
- Poor manners or impolite behaviour
- Drawing on self or others
- Being in out-of-bounds areas
Uniform Expectations
Students must arrive and leave the Academy in full uniform. The following items are required:
- Leigh Academy Bexley Blazer – worn at all times, including breaks, lesson changeovers, and to/from the Academy
- Trousers – no shorts or tracksuit bottoms worn underneath
- Skirt – knee-length or longer, pleated or tailored pencil skirt only
- White shirt – top button fastened
- Tie – worn to belly button length or longer
- Black dress socks
- (Optional) Black V Neck jumper with the Leigh Academy Bexley logo
- Black shoes
- Plain black bag – large enough to fit Chromebook and A4 size exercise books
- (Optional) Plain black coat
- All headbands/ribbons/bows must be plain black only
Items of clothing that are not permitted:
- Jeans style trousers
- Tight trousers
- Leggings
- Fitted skirts (tight, stretchy, jersey or tube skirts)
- Trainers
- Hoodies, tracksuit tops, denim jackets
Jewellery and Appearance
Permitted:
- One small, plain stud in each lower earlobe
- A wristwatch
Not permitted:
- Additional piercings, nose studs, rings, bracelets (except medical)
- Fake nails/nail polish/eyelashes/tan
Important:
- Apple or other smart watches are also not permitted; this is in line with our policy on mobile phones.
- No metal toothed Afro combs are permitted on the Academy site for health and safety reasons.
- Nose studs must be removed before arriving at the Academy.
- All piercings must be removed to participate in Physical Education lessons.
Students may be withdrawn from mainstream lessons if they refuse to remove excessive items of jewellery. If students do arrive wearing any of these, we will expect them to be removed in the College office before they attend lessons. Where this does not happen, students can expect to be placed in Tatton/Dunham.
Equipment
Students should arrive at Leigh Academy Bexley ready to learn. Tutors and College Leaders will carry out checks each day to ensure students have the correct equipment. Students who regularly arrive without the correct equipment are liable to a Loss of Personal Time (LOPT).
Required items:
- A plain black bag big enough to carry an A4 folder
- Fully charged Chromebook
- Pens (black, blue, green)
- Pencil, ruler, rubber
- Maths set
- PE Kit (on scheduled PE days)
Mobile Phones/Headphones/Electronic Devices
Mobile phones, headphones, and other electronic devices must be switched off and out of sight from arrival until the end of the day. If seen:
- The item will be confiscated.
- A same-day LOPT will be issued.
- Devices must be collected from the College Office at the end of the day.
The Academy has a legal right to confiscate items such as jewellery, mobile phones or any other item which contravenes Academy policy or disrupts the Academy’s routine. (We may also confiscate items outside the policy if it causes a health and safety concern or disrupts the smooth running of the Academy). The Academy does not take responsibility for any loss or damage of electronic devices brought into the academy.
Punctuality
All students must arrive at their designated entrance no later than 8.25am and be in full Academy uniform.
Any student late to the Academy, without a good reason, will receive either a loss of personal time or spend time in the Tatton/Dunham area as outlined below:
- Late arrival from 8.26am – 8.40am: students will attend a 30-minute loss of personal time (LOPT) within their College. Parents will receive a text message regarding lateness.
- Late arrival from 8.41am – 9.15am: students will attend a 60-minute centralised LOPT. Parents will receive a text message regarding lateness.
- Late arrival beyond 9.16am+: students will be sent to the Tatton/Dunham area for the remainder of the day. Parents will be contacted.
All sanctions will be completed on the same day as the lateness to the Academy.
Lesson Punctuality
Students are expected to arrive at their lessons within 5 minutes of their previous lesson. If late, a warning will be issued in the first instance. Subsequent lateness to lessons will result in the following sanctions:
- 2 lates in a day – 30 minute LOPT
- 3 lates in a day – 1 hour LOPT
- 4 lates in a day – Tatton the following day.
Persistent lateness can lead to a referral to the Attendance Advisory Officer and the issuing of a fixed penalty notice. Please take this opportunity to review morning routines and the journey to school with your child.
Attendance
Our attendance policy follows the government guidance around school attendance. As soon as a student’s attendance drops below 90% they are considered to be persistently absent.
If your child does not attend school regularly, the Local Authority can take action against you. This can be through a Fixed Penalty Notice (fine) or a summons to appear at a Magistrates Court.
It is vitally important that you ensure your child has excellent attendance to the Academy throughout the academic year, as missing out on time in the classroom will risk your child falling behind. We know that those students with higher overall absence achieve less well in their examinations. It is also important for your child’s wellbeing and wider development.
If your child is unable to attend due to compliance with clinical/and or public health advice, you must inform the Academy through normal absence procedures immediately and provide evidence of this.
If your child is experiencing anxiety about attending, please contact their College Team in the first instance so we can provide support.
Government guidance is clear: “all students must attend school unless a statutory reason applies.”
We look forward to celebrating outstanding attendance this year.
Safety in the Academy
When on site, students must be accounted for at all times. Truancy or making themselves intentionally unaccounted for will lead to sanctions. During unstructured times such as break and lunch:
- Students must remain in designated areas.
- Unsafe movement or behaviour will not be tolerated.
Toilet safety
Students must not share cubicles. This is a serious safeguarding concern. Any student found doing so may be placed in Tatton/Dunham or suspended.
Safeguarding: The SHARP System
A link to the SHARP System is available on the Academy website homepage. This tool allows students to report concerns anonymously or with their names. Messages are checked daily, including first thing each morning, to ensure any overnight concerns are addressed promptly.
Safeguarding: Smoothwall
Smoothwall continues to monitor students’ Chromebook usage. The software picks up key information that allows us to safeguard our students. It will also alert us to inappropriate use which will result in sanctions outlined in the academy’s behaviour policy. Chromebooks are the property of Leigh Academies Trust and should be used appropriately.
Community Conduct
The high expectations of our students extend beyond the Academy gates. We expect them to represent our academy well. Students must:
- Be respectful of each other and members of the community when travelling to and from the Academy.
- Use appropriate language.
- Avoid excessive noise or antisocial behaviour.
- Use designated road crossings and follow road safety rules.
Please reiterate this at home with your child, ensure you know the journey they take to and from the Academy and remind them to go straight home after school. Our Community Code of Conduct has been delivered to all local shops and establishments.
We are committed to building on the positive work already taking place at Leigh Academy Bexley. Thank you for the support you have shown thus far.
Yours faithfully
P Wilson
Phil Wilson
Head of Petworth College and Designated Safeguarding Lead
