Dear Leigh Academy Bexley Community
As the festive season starts to get underway and the final weeks of the module fly by (the Christmas trees are up and decorated, as is the Restaurant) there is a sense of purpose bubbling throughout the academy. It is great to see our students embracing the lead-up to the holidays with enthusiasm, while still maintaining their focus in the classroom and beyond. This time of year always serves as a powerful reminder of the strong, vibrant community we have here, and I want to thank you, our parental body, for your continued support in making our academy a special place for learning and growth.
This week’s newsletter is packed with news, from incredible artistic opportunities and departmental updates to a spotlight on our students’ exemplary work and our continued focus on developing their Learner Profiles. We are thrilled to share details about a fantastic opportunity for our Year 10 students to see a classic Christmas tale, celebrate the creativity shown in a recent masterclass, and shine a light on the generous donation that will undoubtedly spark hours of learning for our SRP students. Please take a moment to read through the various sections to stay informed and perhaps even find an opportunity for your family to get involved.
Learning will continue right up to the final period on the final day of the module, as this is what our wonderful Leigh Academy Bexley students deserve.
As always, if we can support you in any way, please contact us via info@bexley.latrust.org.uk, where we will make every endeavour to respond within 24 hours.
Best wishes,
Mr John Dixon | Principal, Leigh Academy Bexley
YEAR 10 SCHOOL TRIP TO A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT THE OLD VIC
Year 10 went to see A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic, starring Paul Hilton as Ebenezer Scrooge. The moment we walked in, the theatre already felt magical, with hundreds of lanterns hanging above us and the creative staging set in-the-round below us. The actors moved around the space in Victorian costume handing out Christmas clementines and the live music created a warm Christmas atmosphere.
Paul Hilton gave a brilliant performance, showing Scrooge’s journey from miserable and selfish to kind and joyful. The production used movement, hand bells, singing and props integrated into the set. The performance felt fast, exciting and creative – they even had brussels sprouts gliding down on mini parachutes as it snowed! The ensemble worked smoothly together to bring Victorian London to life, especially during the lively Ghost of Christmas Present scenes.
Students enjoyed how the show mixed humour, emotion, and festive storytelling. The whole play left the audience feeling happy and very Christmassy.
Overall, it was a memorable trip and a powerful performance that our extremely well behaved Year 10 loved!
Mrs Forbes-Bareham | Coordinator of Learning For Visual and Performing Arts
Year 10 Drama: A Masterclass in Costume with The Old Vic
Following the amazing theatre trip our Year 10 Drama students experienced with the Old Vic’s highly acclaimed production of A Christmas Carol, we were delighted to welcome two practitioners from the renowned Old Vic Theatre Company to lead an exclusive workshop for our Year 10 Drama students.
Drawing inspiration from the theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol, the session offered students a fantastic hands-on insight into the world of professional costume design. The practitioners guided the group through practical techniques to distress and modify everyday materials, teaching them how to transform simple old shirts into eerie, authentic Victorian ghost costumes.
The students were completely immersed in the creative process, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to get creative and messy while learning industry-standard skills. It was an inspiring experience that brought the technical elements of theatre to life.
Mr Wardzynski | Teacher of Drama
From the English Department
Last week, some of our Year 8 students were exploring how key Literary Theories underpin the texts they study in lessons. They started by exploring the central concept from Judith Butler’s Queer Theory – society’s expectations shape that identity – to a single text. Then, in their Reflect and Improve lesson, they were challenged to apply this idea to other texts they had studied previously about other protected characteristics.
Mrs Wilson | Coordinator of Learning English
We asked, you donated!
Following our recent appeal, the Leigh Academy Bexley community stepped up in a big way with generous LEGO donations. To share their appreciation directly, our SRP students learned how to use the digital graphic design tool Canva and created personalised thank you cards for our first two donors.
SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar)
Our students have made great progress in their spelling and writing in History this module. They are becoming more confident using key historical key concepts and are working hard to spell them correctly. We have also seen big improvements in their sentences and overall writing. Their classwork shows how much effort they are putting in, and we are very proud of them. Well done to all our students for working so hard and trying their best!
Exemplary work
This is an exemplary piece of work because the key quote was thoroughly examined through teacher modelling, culminating in a written analysis by the student.
This is a great example of a revision technique used by the English department during their Year 11 revision lesson.
Here is an exemplary example of a Year 10 crib sheet in History. You can see the student had many opportunities to practice the area the teacher had identified as an area of development.
These brilliant examples of extended writing in History. What is particularly excellent about these examples is the student was able to receive feedback from their teacher which they responded to to help make their answer even better.
This is an example of extended writing in the Business A level class.
MYP (Middle Years Programme)
🧠🌍 Diving Deep: Unpacking the “Communicator” Learner Profile
Last module, 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 essential five Approaches to Learning which is all about being a Communicator!
What Does it Mean to Be a “Communicator”?
In the IB MYP, a Communicator is a student who can:
- Express themselves clearly and confidently in more than one language.
- Listen carefully and respectfully to others.
- Work well with others to share ideas and understand different viewpoints.
- Use diverse ways to communicate, such as speaking, writing, drawing, using technology, or performing.
✅ What This Looks Like in School:
You’ll see your child:
- Giving presentations
- Joining class discussions
- Collaborating on group projects
- Learning to speak or write in a second language (like French or Spanish)
- Being an active listener and respectful teammate
🌍 Why It Matters:
In our global world, being able to share ideas and understand others is a key life skill. Whether it’s solving problems, building relationships, or working in a team, strong communication helps students succeed in school—and beyond!
Next week, we’ll look at our final fascinating aspect of the MYP Approaches To Learning cycle which is based on all about what it means to be a Researcher!
Charlton Athletic – FREE Places: Christmas Spirit Campaign
The Valley, Floyd Road, Charlton, London SE7 8BL www.cafc.co.uk
Dear Parent/Guardian
As part of our Christmas Spirit campaign, Charlton Athletic Football Club, working in partnership with the Royal Boroughs of Greenwich & Bexley, would like to offer every child receiving or eligible for Free School Meals the chance to join us for an upcoming home fixture at The Valley (SE7 8BL) for free.
Tickets will be made available to families for the Charlton Athletic men’s match against Oxford United on Saturday, December 20th (kick-off 3pm) and the women’s match against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, December 21st (kick-off 2pm).
Families can request up to two adult tickets for each junior ticket claimed. There are a limited number of tickets available and tickets will be supplied on a first come, first served basis. Each family must choose one of the two games to attend, not both.
To claim your ticket, we need you to fill in the form via the QR code on the second page. All forms must be filled in correctly and entirely in the right format or the ticket request will not be fulfilled.
The information we need is as follows:
- Game you wish to attend
- Child’s first name
- Child’s surname
- Child’s date of birth
- Name of parent/guardian
- Parent/guardian phone number
- Parent/guardian email address
- Parent/guardian house address
- Number of adult tickets required
This form must be completed by Wednesday, December 10th, 2025.
Tickets will only be available for collection at the stadium on the day of the game.
Best regards, Charlton Athletic and The Royal Boroughs of Greenwich & Bexley
Click here to view Charlton Athletic Christmas Sprint – Free School Meals Form
Community crime-fighting
MET ENGAGE is a new online service introduced to the MET so you can have your local Safer Neighbourhood Team at the tip of your fingers.
It is a way for you to keep up to date with what is going on and tell your Safer Neighbourhood Team what issues you are facing.
All messages sent to your safer Neighbourhood Team via this are all private and confidential therefore allowing you to tell us the issue you are facing without the fear of being seen with police at your door.
Want to find out more? Talk to a member of your Safer Neighbourhood team today or
SIGN UP NOW using this link https://www.metengage.co.uk/
Leigh Academy Bexley is a Candidate School* for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Careers Related Programme (IBCP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Leigh Academy Bexley believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org
