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Dear Leigh Academy Bexley Community,
As you will see from this week’s articles, it has been an immensely proud and busy week for our academy. This week’s updates showcase the incredible ambition and resilience of our students and staff as we make progress through Module 6. The Year 11 and 13 external examinations are almost coming to an end, and our Year 10 students have commenced their mock examinations. To support our Year 10s during this crucial time, our departments have ensured that Google Classrooms are fully equipped with revision resources for students to access.
Looking ahead, we have two big events to look forward to next week – the Year 11 Leavers’ Assembly on Wednesday and Sports Day on Friday. Further information about these events has been sent to families separately in the usual way.
Also next week is National Thank a Teacher Day. More information can be found here.
Please enjoy this week’s bulletin and 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
Great News: Student Success in the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators!
We are incredibly proud to announce that Praise W in Year 8 has achieved outstanding national success in the prestigious Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators, run by The Queen’s College, Oxford.
Praise has been named a Commended student for exceptional translation work. This is a phenomenal achievement: the UK-wide competition saw over 25,000 students participate this year. To put Praise’s success into perspective, schools are strictly limited to submitting only their top five entries per level, resulting in over 5,400 elite final submissions for the panel to judge.
Competing against top linguists across ten geographical regions in the UK, Praise rose to the top of our region. The judging panel at Queen’s College commented on the extraordinarily high standard of submissions for 2026, noting that selecting the winners from such a competitive national pool was tougher than ever.
Praise’s recognition is a true testament to her dedication, creativity, and linguistic talent. An official certificate is on its way in the post, and her name will be featured on the official Queen’s College prize website later this month.
Please join in offering Praise huge congratulations on this fantastic national prize!
Mrs Nieto | MFL Teacher
Humanities News
“Our philosophy is for students to leave with all doors open. We will support our students along their desired pathway beyond sixth form but encourage them to be ambitious for themselves and regardless of their desired pathway they leave prepared for higher education, vocational training or employment. “ – Leigh Academy Bexley
Now is the time for our Year 13 students to start to explore the next chapter in their lives. A sad farewell from Humanities, they will be missed!
Year 10 Mocks are due to start soon, and we encourage our students to be the best they can be. In order to support their learning and revising, our Humanities departments are ensuring that Google Classrooms are equipped with resources that all students can access during this time.
The Humanities Team
Duke of Edinburgh Award Event at Buckingham Palace
I was delighted to attend a celebration event at Buckingham Palace as a DofE Participant Coordinator, recognising the impact of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award on young people across the country.
Throughout the day, I heard a number of inspiring speeches from volunteers, leaders and young people whose experiences highlighted the lasting value of the DofE. A common theme was that success is not about being the fastest, strongest or most experienced person on an expedition; it is about perseverance, resilience and the willingness to keep going when things become challenging. Hearing stories of personal growth, teamwork and achievement was a powerful reminder of why the programme continues to have such a positive impact on so many young people.
The event was particularly motivating as our own students prepare for their upcoming expeditions. The speakers reinforced the idea that every challenge faced during training and expeditions is an opportunity to develop confidence, independence and problem-solving skills.
This journey begins with our practice camp on the school field, where participants will learn and develop the key skills needed for a successful expedition. Students will take part in practical training including first aid, camp cooking, fire safety, tent pitching, equipment management and navigation. These activities are designed to build confidence and ensure that students are well prepared for the challenges they will face on their expedition.
I returned from Buckingham Palace feeling incredibly proud of our participants and excited to see our current cohort begin this next stage of their DofE journey. The stories shared at the event were a reminder that every expedition starts with small steps, and that the skills, resilience and teamwork developed along the way can have a lasting impact long after the award has been completed.
Mrs S Wilson | Coordinator of Learning English | Duke of Edinburgh Award Coordinator
Careers Workshop for Parents
This Monday, we held our Careers Workshop for parents, where we discussed the careers provision available for students in Key Stage 3 (KS3), Key Stage 4 (KS4), and Key Stage 5 (KS5).
Parents were given an overview of the work we are doing as an academy to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, receive age-appropriate careers education and guidance. Our aim is to help students begin thinking about their future career pathways and make informed decisions about their next steps.
Parents were also introduced to the Gatsby Benchmarks, which we use to measure the quality and effectiveness of our careers provision. We explained how we monitor and evaluate our programme to ensure that every student has access to a broad range of careers, experiences and opportunities.
We use an internal tracking system to record all careers-related activities and trips attended by students. This enables us to identify any missed opportunities and ensure that students are included in future careers events and experiences wherever possible.
Our annual Careers Fair continues to go from strength to strength. Last year, we welcomed 18 organisations, and this year that number increased to 24 organisations, including one represented by a parent from our school community.
We would like to invite all parents and carers to participate in our next Careers Fair, which will take place on 10 March 2027. If you are interested in attending as an employer, professional, or organisation, please email: info@bexley.latrust.org.uk.
Our upcoming Work Experience is also fast approaching. Students in Years 10 and 12 will undertake in-person work experience placements from 29 June to 3 July 2026. Parents of Year 10 students who attended the workshop were provided with information regarding expectations for students, parental responsibilities, and the health and safety requirements associated with work experience placements.
The workshop concluded with a question-and-answer session, during which parents shared valuable feedback and demonstrated their continued support for our careers programme. Their contributions help us ensure that our provision remains inclusive, relevant, and beneficial for all students.
Thank you to all the parents and family members who attended. We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming even more parents to our next Careers Workshop.
Mrs J Arthur-Amponsah | Deputy Head of Holkham College | Careers Lead
Year 10 Students Unleash Creativity at the London Library
On Thursday, 11th June, a group of Year 10 students visited the historic London Library for a unique creative writing workshop designed especially for them.
Exploring the Stacks
The day kicked off with a guided tour of the library, including a visit to the atmospheric reading rooms. Students were granted access to the library’s impressive book stacks, where they were challenged to hunt down the weirdest titles they could find (books on human sacrifice and cheese were among the top picks)! They also had the chance to step back in time by browsing historic newspapers from the Times Archive.
From Poetry to Playwriting
The next part of the day took place in the library’s brand-new education room:
- The Poetry Workshop: Led by Caroline, students were tasked with writing original poems based on specific emotional prompts. The twist? They had to select their vocabulary from a strict, predetermined list of words, forcing them to get truly inventive with their phrasing.
- Scriptwriting & Drama: In the afternoon, the focus shifted to the stage. Students explored the core of all great drama – conflict – by writing short plays centered around a single object that two characters desperately wanted. While some chose traditional items, others got brilliantly bizarre, crafting high-stakes arguments over a bag of rubbish!
Throughout the day, the students created some truly amazing pieces of creative work. The staff at the London Library were incredibly impressed by the group’s excellent behavior and enthusiastic engagement, and they can’t wait to welcome us back next time!
Mrs J Allen | Library Manager
Leigh Academy Bexley Champions Crowned London Bowling Kings!
Following an impressive victory at the Local Bexley Secondary SEND Ten Pin Bowling competition in January, our team faced a long and eager wait for the Panathlon London Secondary Ten Pin Bowling Finals on June 4th. Traveling to Romford, our students competed against the very best winning schools from across East London in an atmosphere charged with excitement.
The performance from our six-man squad was nothing short of exceptional. With scores ranging from 91 to a brilliant team-high of 120 from Alfie, the boys demonstrated incredible skill and focus. Throughout the match, the team racked up an impressive 12 spares and 4 strikes, resulting in a formidable total team score of 613.
The tension was palpable as the final pins fell. Our students spent a nervous wait analysing the opposition’s scores, unsure of the final standings until the official results were announced. While we narrowly missed the highest individual score of the day, our collective strength carried us to glory. We are thrilled to announce that Leigh Academy Bexley was crowned champions of East London! Furthermore, as our total score surpassed those in the simultaneous West London competition, we were officially named the winners of the whole of London!
A massive congratulations to our Panathlon London Champions: Manheer S, Bobby C, Mason S, Alfie TH, Tommy A, and Seth M. We are incredibly proud of your historic achievement!
Mrs S Beswick | Coordinator of Learning PE
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
