Dear Leigh Academy Bexley Community
We’ve reached the end of the first module of the academic year 2025-2026, and hasn’t it gone quickly? Our new Year 7 and 12 students have settled really well into academy life and are now fully integrated into our learning community. The end of the module is always a great time to reflect on how far we’ve come and to look forward to a well deserved rest for everyone.
Thank you to our Year 11 teachers who are giving up their time to run intervention sessions at the start of the break; this is always a valuable way for students to address any gaps in their knowledge as they prepare for their mock examinations.
This week’s parent bulletin mainly focuses on Performing Arts and SEND, with some really helpful information about the Bexley Local Offer.
As always, if we can support you in any way over the school break, please contact us via info@bexley.latrust.org.uk, where we will make every endeavour to respond within 24 hours.
The academy re-opens for all students at the usual time on Monday 3rd November 2025.
Best wishes,
Mr John Dixon | Principal, Leigh Academy Bexley
Year 11 Technical Theatre Visit to Rose Bruford College
On Tuesday 14th October, our Year 11 Technical Theatre students visited Rose Bruford College to interview specialists in production and design, supporting their learning for the BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts.
We were taken on a tour of the Drama School, which has unbelievable facilities, including two fully equipped professional theatres — the Rose Theatre and the Barn Theatre — as well as a range of rehearsal studios, lighting and sound control rooms, costume and prop workshops, and specialist design suites. The students were amazed by the scale of the resources available and how closely they mirrored real working environments in the theatre industry.
During the visit, learners had the opportunity to interview current students and alumni from Rose Bruford’s renowned technical and design programmes. These included specialists in costume design, lighting design, and set design, who spoke passionately about their training, their creative process, and how collaboration between design departments brings a production to life.
The alumni also shared insights into their professional careers after graduating, discussing how the skills they developed at Rose Bruford helped them to work confidently in theatre, live events, and film production. The current students explained how their courses combine creativity with technical precision, giving them the chance to work on real productions throughout their studies.
This experience gave our learners an invaluable understanding of how design and production work together to support a performance — from concept and rehearsal through to final staging. It also helped them to make clear links to Components 1 and 2 of the BTEC Tech Award, where they investigate professional practice within the performing arts industry.
Overall, the visit to Rose Bruford College was inspiring and informative, offering our students a real insight into the professional world of technical theatre and the exciting opportunities that studying production and design can offer in the future.
Helen Forbes-Bareham | Coordinator of Learning Visual and Performing Arts
Year 10 Students Visit The Old Vic to See Mary Page Marlowe
On Thursday 10 October, our Year 10 Performing Arts students visited The Old Vic to see Mary Page Marlowe, a compelling, time-shifting drama by Tracy Letts.
The production’s headline casting featured Academy Award and BAFTA winner Susan Sarandon (from Everything!), alongside Andrea Riseborough and Alisha Weir (who played the title role in Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical). Seeing multiple actors embody Mary Page at different ages sparked great discussion about identity, memory, and how a life story can be told out of chronological order.
Students were particularly inspired by the fluid transitions, naturalistic acting style, and the way staging, lighting and sound worked together to support the shifting timelines—perfect connections to their BTEC learning on characterisation.
A huge thank you to The Old Vic for an unforgettable performance that brought professional theatre craft to life for our learners. We look forward to their up and coming production of A Christmas Carol.
Helen Forbes-Bareham | Coordinator of Learning Visual and Performing Arts
SEND
Over the coming weeks there will be short articles on Autism with ways to tackle and overcome some areas of difficulty. Some of the ideas suggested may also support students and parents without diagnosis.
Communicating with your child with: Autism Part 1.
Communication between autistic and non-autistic people can be challenging due to differences in how we experience and interpret the world. These misunderstandings are mutual, not simply a result of autistic traits. Many autistic people communicate effectively, just in a different way. Our first post of this segment focuses on using clear and direct language to help bridge the gap.
Mental Health and Anxiety Support for teens
As we break up for the half term both parents and students will not have the regular access to the support that the academy provides. Should you need any advice or support around Mental Health or you are concerned about your child please refer to the following websites or seek advice from your GP.
MYP (Middle Years Programme)
Diving Deep: Unpacking the Approaches to Learning (ATLs) 🧠🌍
Last Year, we introduced the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) curriculum we proudly follow as a candidate school. This week, we’re putting a spotlight on one of the 5 crucial approaches to learning attributes: Self Management Skills.
At Leigh Academy Bexley, we’re committed to nurturing students who embody the IB.
- This week, we are focusing on developing the ATL of what it means to be a Self-Manager.
ATL Social Skills, often called Collaboration Skills, focus on your child learning how to work with others to achieve a shared goal. In the MYP, these skills are not an add-on; they are deliberately integrated into the subject curriculum.
Using self-management skills is important because it helps students:
- Stay organized
- Manage their time wisely
- Set goals and stay motivated
- Stay focused and avoid distractions
- Handle stress and emotions effectively
These are the life skills that support both academic success and personal well-being.
🧠 Why Is It Important?
By developing self-management skills, students become:
- More independent and responsible for their own learning
- Better at handling homework, projects, and deadlines
- More prepared for school, university, and life beyond school
📚 Examples of Self-Management Skills Your Child Might Be Learning:
- Time management: Planning ahead, meeting deadlines, balancing school and other commitments
- Organization: Keeping materials tidy, using planners or apps to track assignments
- Reflection: Thinking about their learning, identifying strengths and areas to improve
- Emotional regulation: Managing stress before a test, staying calm when working in groups
👨👩👧 How Can Parents Help at Home?
- Encourage the use of a planner or calendar
- Help your child create a quiet, organized study space
- Talk regularly about goals and progress
- Support healthy habits: sleep, nutrition, exercise
- Celebrate improvements, not just results
You can help your child practice these “learning how to learn” skills outside of school by finding real-life opportunities for collaboration.
Next time, we’ll delve into another fascinating aspect of the MYP Approaches to Learning Profile.
