Latest News Page Updates – Friday 27 June 2025

Report from Mr Soane, DofE Coordinator at LSA

On Saturday, 21 June 2025, twenty-one Year 10 students from Leigh Stationers’ Academy set off on their Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award assessment expedition across the South Downs. The group began their journey with a challenging hike over the iconic Seven Sisters. With temperatures climbing into the mid-twenties and steep inclines along the route, the first day tested their resilience, but every student showed determination and teamwork, arriving at the finish point by 17:00.

Sunday brought cooler conditions and a fresh start. Spirits remained high as students tackled a steep ascent at the beginning of the day. Their navigation was excellent, with all groups staying on course throughout the seven-hour hike. After a well-earned rest at camp, the evening was spent relaxing, enjoying the scenery, and gathering around a fire pit for s’mores and reflection.

By Monday morning, students were understandably feeling the impact of two days of walking and warm nights under canvas. Motivated by the promise of the air-conditioned journey home, the groups made strong progress through rolling terrain, navigating accurately and reaching the final checkpoint by early afternoon.

All students successfully completed the expedition section of their Silver Award and were praised for their attitude, resilience, and maturity throughout the experience. A huge thank you goes to Ms Fassan, Ms Rackstraw, and Ms Ward, who supported the expedition from start to finish and went above and beyond to ensure students were safe, supported, and encouraged at every stage. 

Leigh Stationers’ Academy will be holding two Parents’ Evenings in July:

• Year 12: Wednesday, 9 July 2025 from 16:00–19:00
• Year 10: Wednesday, 16 July 2025 from 16:00–19:00

These evenings provide an important opportunity for parents and carers to meet with subject teachers, discuss academic progress, and explore next steps for support. Bookings for both events will go live on SchoolCloud at approximately 18:00 on Wednesday, 2 July 2025. For full guidance on how to make an appointment, please visit our website.

Leigh Stationers’ Academy was pleased to welcome over 170 prospective Year 12 students to Woolf College for a highly successful Sixth Form Taster Day. The event provided applicants with an introduction to Sixth Form life, giving them the chance to explore their chosen subjects, meet staff, and experience the culture and expectations that define Woolf College.

Students took part in a range of subject-specific sessions designed to showcase key aspects of the curriculum and help them make informed decisions ahead of enrolment. Presentations from members of the Senior Leadership Team outlined the academic expectations and opportunities available, while a student Q&A panel offered honest reflections on life in Year 12 and what it means to be part of the Woolf community.

Ms Collier, Head of Woolf College, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome so many enthusiastic and thoughtful students to our Taster Day. Choosing where to study after Year 11 is a big decision, and we’re proud to offer a supportive, ambitious, and inclusive environment. We hope the day helped students feel confident about their next steps.”

Students and families who would like to find out more about Woolf Sixth Form, including information about our courses, facilities, and approach to academic and personal development, are encouraged to visit the Woolf Sixth Form website.

During Module 6, Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education at Leigh Stationers’ Academy will focus on key areas of personal development tailored to each year group from Years 7 to 10.

Year 7 and Year 8 students will focus on ‘Life Beyond LSA’ skills, whilst Year 9 PSHE lessons will centre around the MYP Service as Action project — a core component of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. This initiative encourages students to become compassionate individuals who contribute positively to their communities and environment. Year 10 students will continue with preparations for their forthcoming mock examinations.

This week’s PSHE topics include:

• Year 7: Finances & Budgeting
• Year 8: Debt & Expenditure
• Year 9: MYP Service As Action Project
• Year 10: Work Experience Placement Preparation

Parents and carers are encouraged to engage in discussions at home, such as exploring ideas about laws that keep us safe or supporting Year 10 pupils as they prepare for their exams.

Leigh Stationers’ Academy is pleased to share a new set of parent information resources focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), produced by Mr Bull, Head of Learning Technologies at Leigh Academies Trust.

As AI technology continues to evolve, it is important that families feel informed and confident in understanding both the opportunities and challenges it presents. These poster-style information leaflets are designed to help parents better understand how AI is being used across the Trust and how it can support learning at home and in school.

Each week, the academy will share one of these informative posters, covering topics such as What is AI?, Understanding Social AI Companions, What are Deepfakes?, and much more, helping our community to stay informed and engaged with this rapidly changing field.

This week, parents and carers can download the first edition titled Artificial Intelligence at Leigh Academies Trust, which explores why we are using AI in schools and how it supports teaching and learning across the curriculum.

This year’s Thank a Teacher Day brought a wave of gratitude across Leigh Stationers’ Academy, as students in Years 7 to 10 took the time to recognise the staff who make a difference every day. In total, over 2,000 messages of thanks were written and shared with teachers and pastoral staff.

Mr Hill, Assistant Principal, said: “It was moving to see so many personal messages from our students. The kind words meant a great deal to staff and reminded us all just how powerful those day-to-day relationships are. It really was a special moment for our whole school community.”

Leigh Stationers’ Academy is looking forward to celebrating with Year 11 students at their end-of-year Prom, a special evening to mark the end of their GCSE journey and to recognise the hard work and dedication they’ve shown throughout the year.

The event will take place on Thursday, 3 July 2025, at the Applegarth Suite, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Bexleyheath. Doors open at 19:30, with a buffet served from 20:00. The evening will include a welcome soft drink, a live DJ, a dance floor, and the chance to celebrate alongside friends and teachers.

Tickets are priced at £45, and a small number remain available. To book a ticket, please contact Mr Smith, Vice Principal, via email at stephen.smith@stationers.latrust.org.uk. Please note that tickets are non-refundable.

On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, Leigh Stationers’ Academy’s Year 7 netball team competed in the Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) Netball Tournament, held at Mascalls Academy. The team delivered a superb performance throughout the group stages, playing with confidence, skill, and determination.

Their results in the group stage were as follows:

• 3–1 win vs Leigh Academy Blackheath
• 2–1 win vs Rainham
• 3–0 win vs Strood
• 3–1 win vs LAT Tonbridge
• 5–0 win vs Hugh Christie
• 0–0 draw vs Mascalls
• 3–0 win vs Hundred of Hoo

These strong performances placed them in the top two teams and secured a place in the final, where they narrowly lost 1–0 to Wilmington Academy, finishing as runners-up. Mr Judd, Director of PE, commented:  “A huge well done to the entire squad for their fantastic performance and excellent representation of the academy. To reach the final and compete so strongly against other schools across the Trust is a brilliant achievement — the girls should be very proud of themselves.”

Leigh Stationers’ Academy is pleased to invite students and families to this year’s Sports Awards Evening, which will take place on Monday, 7 July 2025, from 18:00 to 19:00 in the Main Hall. All students involved in academy sports teams are warmly invited to attend and celebrate a year of sporting success and commitment.

Students should arrive by 17:30, ready to take their seats before the event begins. Each student may bring up to two guests, with visitor tickets available via ParentPay at a cost of £2.50 per ticket. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, 4 July 2025.

Mr Judd, Director of PE, said: “Our Sports Awards Evening is always one of the highlights of the PE calendar. It’s a brilliant opportunity to come together and celebrate the dedication, progress, and achievements of our young athletes. We can’t wait to share this special evening with them and their families.”

Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 at Leigh Stationers’ Academy will complete their Knowledge Assessments during Week 5 (week commencing Monday, 30 June 2025) and Week 6 (week commencing Monday, 7 July 2025).

Assessment dates have been shared with students via their LSA Year Group Google Classrooms. Some assessments will take place earlier than usual to accommodate an exciting schedule of events later in the module, including Sports Day, Interdisciplinary Unit Drop-Down Days, and the Year 9 Humanutopia workshops.

Students have had access to the Module 6 Knowledge Book content since the start of the module and are aware that assessments will reflect this material.

Uniform Expectations for Years 7-10

Due to the high temperatures forecast for this weekend and the start of next week, students in Years 7-10 are permitted to wear their PE kits to school on Monday, 30 June and Tuesday, 1 July 2025. The academy will continue to monitor the weather closely and will share further updates if additional measures are needed.

Uniform Expectations for Sixth Form

In addition, the academy has introduced temporary adjustments to the Sixth Form dress code for Monday, 30 June, and Tuesday, 1 July 2025. On these two days, Sixth Form students may wear:

• Smart/tailored shorts
• A collared short-sleeved shirt (ties not required)
• Leather shoes (no trainers)
• Academy lanyards (must be worn at all times)

The following items remain not permitted:

• Vest tops or thin straps
• Sportswear or large logos
• Open-toed shoes
• Polo shirts or T-shirts

These measures aim to ensure comfort while maintaining the high standards of presentation expected of all Sixth Form students. Further updates will be shared on Tuesday.