Latest News Updates | Friday, 1 May 2026

The school would like to extend a huge thank you and congratulations to all students who have now completed their Art, Photography and Speaking exams. Students’ creativity, commitment and hard work throughout the process have been clearly evident, and they should be very proud of both their efforts and the resilience they have shown.

For students with upcoming exams, they are encouraged to continue approaching their revision and preparation with the same focus and determination. Every piece of practice and every hour of revision makes a meaningful difference. The school encourages all students to maintain momentum as the exam season continues.

Mr Flower commented: “Students have shown real determination and maturity throughout the practical examination period. The consistency of effort and resilience they have demonstrated is exactly what leads to success, and we are incredibly proud of their commitment.”

A reminder that next week, Year 11 students will sit the Health and Social Care GCSE examination on Tuesday 5th May 2026 at 8:40am in the morning. A warm-up session will take place at 7:30am, as detailed on each student’s personalised warm-up timetable.

The Year 10 and Year 12 mock examinations will begin on Monday 1st June 2026. The school greatly appreciates parental and carer support during this important period and has outlined expectations to help ensure all students have a positive and successful experience.

Students received their exam timetables during tutor time, and a digital version has been emailed to parents and carers. Families are asked to review this carefully with their child to ensure that all subject entries and tiers (e.g., Foundation or Higher) are correct before seating and venues are finalised. Exam access arrangements will not appear on this initial version. The overall timetable for Year 10 and Year 12 is available via the shared links. 

The Importance of Mock Examinations

The results of these examinations are vital, as they help teachers and students identify specific gaps in knowledge. This allows the school to provide targeted and effective support as students progress into Year 11 and Year 13.

The Importance of Active Revision

While students may be tempted to spend long periods highlighting textbooks or re-reading notes, research shows that these passive methods often create an “illusion of competence.” To meet the demands of Year 10 and Year 12, students are encouraged to use active revision strategies.

Active revision, centred on retrieval practice, requires the brain to work harder by recalling information rather than re-reading it. High-impact methods such as timed practice papers, flashcard self-quizzing, and “blurting” (writing down everything remembered on a blank page) strengthen long-term memory and improve recall under exam conditions.

The school thanks families for their continued partnership and support during this important preparation period and wishes all students the very best of luck.

For any queries, parents and carers are encouraged to contact the relevant college:

Angelou College – angelou@stationers.latrust.org.uk

Caxton College – caxton@stationers.latrust.org.uk

Hansard College – hansard@stationers.latrust.org.uk

Our Year 12 Law and Politics students recently visited the UK Supreme Court, swapping the classroom for a real-world insight into the British legal system. During the trip, students observed live appeals from the public gallery, witnessing the questioning of Justices and arguments from leading barristers. They also toured the Middlesex Guildhall, exploring its rich legal history and symbolism. This experience brought their studies to life, helping Law students understand how key legal decisions are made, and giving Politics students a clear view of the separation of powers in action.

Mr A Kalos commented: “Standing in the very room where landmark constitutional decisions are made, gave the students a profound sense of the weight and responsibility of the legal profession.” 

Students represented the school exceptionally well, and the visit has inspired many to consider future careers in law, policy and public service.

At Leigh Stationers’ Academy, we recognise that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is a shared responsibility across the whole community, including parents and carers. To support families, a weekly resource from the Student and Family Support Hub is being highlighted.

Peer relationships are a key part of young people’s development but can also be a source of stress. The Hub provides guidance on helping students navigate friendships, manage conflict safely, and develop positive communication skills.

This resource supports families in:

• Supporting positive communication by helping young people understand healthy debate versus harmful conflict, and encouraging the use of “I” statements
• Managing online and offline conflict, including strategies for de-escalating group chat issues and encouraging healthy breaks from social media
• Identifying bullying versus normal friendship difficulties, including understanding repetition, intent, and power imbalance

Further guidance and practical strategies can be found at: https://leighstationersacademy.org.uk/student-family-support-hub.

On Tuesday, 28 April, 43 Year 12 pupils from the Academy swapped their classrooms for the historic corridors of Threadneedle Street during an enriching visit to the Bank of England. The trip provided a unique opportunity for students studying Business, Economics, and Finance to visit the UK’s central bank in the heart of the professional world of finance, hopefully inspiring them to consider their own future career paths in the heart of the City.

The afternoon began with a visit to the Bank of England Museum, where pupils explored the history of the institution, including the chance to handle a real 13kg gold bar! This was followed by a specialist seminar titled “Introduction to the Bank of England and Monetary Policy,” which demystified the complex mechanisms used to maintain the UK’s financial stability.

Mr. Smith, Vice Principal and Trip Leader, praised the students for their engagement during the sessions: “It was a brilliant experience that provided real-world application to the content being delivered in lessons. Our pupils represented the academy exceptionally well and walked away with a more robust understanding of the Bank of England’s role in our economy, quantitative easing, interest rates, and the factors that impact inflation.”

Year 12 Art students recently visited the Hayward Gallery and Tate Modern, where they experienced contemporary art at the highest level. 

At the Hayward Gallery, students explored Chiharu Shiota’s immersive installations, reflecting on themes of memory, identity and connection. The scale and intricacy of the work made a strong impression.

At Tate Modern, students engaged with Tracey Emin’s deeply personal exhibition, prompting discussion around expression, vulnerability and the use of lived experience in art.

Overall, the visit provided valuable insight into professional artistic practice and supported students in developing their own creative ideas and approaches.

An exciting opportunity has been launched for students to take part in the LAT Geography Photograph Competition 2026, themed “Earthshapes.”

Students are encouraged to explore the natural world and identify interesting physical forms shaped by processes such as erosion, deposition and atmospheric pressure. Examples might include river valleys, cloud formations, coastal landscapes or everyday natural patterns viewed from a new perspective.

Students are invited to act as geography detectives, capturing and submitting photographs that reflect the theme.

Entry forms will be shared with students next week.

Deadline: Friday 5th June 2026

We look forward to seeing students’ creativity and geographical curiosity reflected in their submissions.