Latest News Update | 05/06/26

“To see your world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, an eternity in an hour” – Lara Croft

This quote is originally from William Blake’s ‘Auguries of Innocence’ and describes how the universe can be mirrored in even the tiniest speck of nature, but also reveals how infinite, repeating patterns shape our world.

Capturing the Earth’s natural shapes  in many ways has been a challenge for students, but one that has been achieved by some of our students this week. Friday 5th June sees the end of the LAT Geography photography competition. Now we wait for the results, but take a look at two of the entries from our students below:

Rocket Launching in Science

This week in their timetabled lessons, Year 7 students dived into the exciting world of rocketry! As part of their MYP Science curriculum, the young scientists were outside launching the rockets they had built throughout the week. They created paper rockets and experimented with different variables, like the number of fins and launch angles, to discover what makes a rocket fly the farthest. Despite the weather, students worked as a team to see their creations come to life and gathered amazing results. Our top launcher soared an impressive 8 metres.  Science is the best!

Mr Addison  |  Deputy Head of Petworth College

Raising Aspirations – Careers Parent Workshop

Monday 8th June: 6.00pm-7.00pm

Franken-word and Power Roots

This week in library lessons, Year 7 students have been learning to decode complex vocabulary by breaking long words down into three structural building blocks: a prefix (the start), a root (the heart), and a suffix (the end). For example, they can now deconstruct a word like autobiography into auto (self), bio (life), and graphy (writing) to easily uncover its hidden meaning. Students were then given the challenge of using dictionaries to find other long words that contain these building blocks. We ended the session with students creating their own long words these “Modern Problems” using the blocks they learnt about:

1. Someone who is a professional at faking sleep to avoid chores.
2. The study of why books change shape when you drop them.
3. The fear of a library that is too small.

We’ve had some amazing words being created. Can you work out what these newly created words mean?

• multipathism
• microbibliphobia
• pseudobibliost
• pseudochronbiblio
• Megamechphobia

Mrs Allen  |  Library Manager

MYP (Middle Years Programme)

Diving Deep: Unpacking “Service as Learning” 🧠🌍

Earlier this 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 crucial components: being Service as Learning.

At Leigh Academy Bexley, we’re committed to nurturing students who embody the IB MYP characteristics. 

• This week, we are focusing on developing Service as Learning ……..

As part of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), our students participate in Service as Action, a core component that bridges classroom learning with real-world impact. Instead of just studying global issues in a textbook, students are encouraged to take practical, hands-on steps to address them. For example, a science lesson on ecosystems might inspire a student-led recycling initiative, while a language class might spark a peer-tutoring project. These activities directly benefit our community while helping students build vital life skills like leadership, teamwork, and effective problem-solving. Through this meaningful service, students develop deep empathy and a strong sense of shared responsibility for the world around them. Ultimately, Service as Learning transforms our students into active, caring global citizens, proving that a true education extends far beyond traditional classroom assessments.

Why is this important?
Taking part in Service as Learning is important in the MYP (Middle Years Programme) because it helps students grow not just academically, but also as thoughtful and responsible individuals. Here are a few key reasons why Service as Learning matters in the MYP:

1. Connects Classrooms to the Real World: It bridges academic subjects with real-world issues, showing students how their schoolwork applies to everyday life.
2. Promotes Principled Action: Rather than just volunteering, students actively research community needs, collaborate on solutions, and reflect on the impact.
3. Builds Essential Life Skills: The hands-on process helps students develop vital, long-term skills like empathy, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
4. Nurtures Civic Responsibility: It encourages students to look beyond themselves, fostering a deep sense of care and personal responsibility for the world around them.
5. Creates Active Global Citizens: It empowers young people to see themselves not just as passive learners, but as compassionate changemakers who can make a real difference.

In short, Service as Learning is a foundation for becoming a principled, open-minded, and balanced learner — all of which are central goals of the IB MYP.

Next week, we’ll delve into another fascinating aspect of the MYP Curriculum.

Mr Hall  |  Deputy Head of Knole College