News and events
Our latest news and events give you an insight into life at school.
Our latest news and events give you an insight into life at school.
First Day Back | A reminder that the first days back for students are as follows:
Welcome Back Meetings | Virtual | We will be holding two Welcome Back meetings to help you prepare for the new year. The meetings will be held on the following dates and links will be shared closer to the time:
Year 07 Information Evening Summary | A huge thank you to all the families who joined us for our Year 07 Information Evening on Friday, 28 August. It was wonderful to welcome so many of you to Lift Bexleyheath as we prepare for the start of an exciting new chapter.
We are now looking forward to welcoming our new Year 07 students for their first day on Friday, 04 September. Key points from the meeting:
Starting secondary school is an important milestone, and our staff are looking forward to helping our new Year 07 students settle in, build new friendships and become part of the Lift Bexleyheath community.
If you have any questions before the first day, please contact Ms Dello Buono, Assistant Principal (edellobuono@liftbexleyheath.org) or Ms Golding, Year Group Lead (ggolding@liftbexleyheath.org).
Sixth Form & Year 11 Results | There has been a wonderful sense of celebration across Lift Bexleyheath this summer as our students received exceptional Sixth Form and Year 11 results, marking another significant chapter in the continued success of our school.
Results days are about far more than the grades written on a piece of paper. They represent years of hard work, determination and resilience from our students, alongside the commitment of staff and the invaluable support of families.
At Sixth Form, we were incredibly proud to see our Sixth Form students celebrating the outcomes of two years of dedicated study. Students will now progress to an exciting range of next steps, including university, apprenticeships and employment.
One Year 13 student reflected:
“I am so proud of what I have achieved. There were times when A-Levels felt incredibly challenging, but my teachers never stopped believing in me or pushing me to do my best. Getting my results and knowing that I can now move on to my next chapter was an amazing feeling.”
This success was followed by an equally exciting GCSE Results Day, with our Year 11 students achieving the best GCSE outcomes in the history of the school.
For many of our students, these results represent an extraordinary journey. We have watched them grow in confidence and maturity, overcome challenges and develop the habits that have enabled them to achieve so much. We are delighted that many will continue their journey with us in our Sixth Form, while others will progress to colleges, apprenticeships and other exciting destinations.
A Year 11 student said:
“Opening my results was a moment I will never forget. I was nervous, but when I saw my grades I was so happy. I know how much work I put in, especially in Year 11, and I am really grateful to all of the teachers who supported me.”
Behind every result is a team of people who have contributed to that success. Our staff have given an enormous amount to our students: delivering additional lessons, revision sessions and interventions; providing encouragement when things became difficult; celebrating improvements; and maintaining the high expectations that we know our young people deserve.
Some quotes from our staff during results day:
“These outcomes reflect the culture that has been built across the school. Our students increasingly believe that excellence is achievable, and our responsibility as staff is to help them see just how much they are capable of.”
“Seeing the students open their results and realise what they have achieved is why we do this job. We know the hours of work, the revision, the setbacks and the determination behind those grades. We could not be prouder of them.”
We also want to recognise the important contribution made by our families. Success at GCSE, A-Level and Vocational pathways is a partnership. From encouraging revision and supporting attendance to reassuring young people during examination season, families play an essential role.
Thank you for continuing to support our high expectations and for trusting us with the education of your children.
As Principal, I am enormously proud of what our students and staff have achieved. These exceptional outcomes demonstrate what is possible when a community shares high expectations, works together and refuses to place limits on what young people can achieve.
Most importantly, our students leave this summer knowing that their hard work has created opportunities for their futures.
To every student who collected results this summer: congratulations. Enjoy this moment and be proud of what you have accomplished.
And to our staff and families: thank you. These achievements belong to our whole community.
At Lift Bexleyheath, we will continue to Aim High, make Excellence a Habit, and ensure that every young person has the opportunity to achieve, belong and thrive.
Sixth Form Enrolment | Following another exceptional set of A-Level and vocational results, there has never been a more exciting time to join Lift Bexleyheath Sixth Form.
Our Sixth Form is a community built on high expectations, strong relationships and an unwavering belief in what young people can achieve. This summer, we have once again had the privilege of watching our students celebrate the culmination of years of hard work before progressing to exciting next steps, including university, apprenticeships and employment.
For families considering where their child should continue their education after GCSEs, we would be delighted to welcome you to Lift Bexleyheath.
This summer's results have given us much to celebrate across both our academic and vocational provision. They reflect the commitment of our students and the dedication of staff who have supported them throughout their Sixth Form journey.
However, success for us is about more than examination results.
We are equally proud of the destinations our students secure and the young adults they become. Sixth Form should open doors, broaden horizons and help students develop the independence and confidence they will need beyond school.
Our students benefit from a Sixth Form experience that combines excellent teaching with wider opportunities, enrichment, careers education, university and apprenticeship guidance, and personalised support with their next steps.
Our course offers change to meet the labour market demands, this year, we have introduced a Cyber Security qualification.
If your child has recently received their GCSE results and is reconsidering their options for September, it is not too late to speak to us.
We would particularly encourage families to get in touch if they would like to discuss:
Our team will be happy to discuss your child's results, ambitions and possible programme of study.
For further information about joining Lift Bexleyheath Sixth Form, please contact:
Mr Read
Assistant Principal | Sixth Form
Email: dread@liftbexleyheath.org
We would love to hear from both existing Lift Bexleyheath families and students currently attending other schools who are considering their next steps.
Homework Clarification | We hope that all of our students and families are enjoying a restful and enjoyable summer break. The summer holidays provide an important opportunity for young people to relax, spend time with family and friends, and return to school refreshed for the new academic year.
Alongside this important time to rest, we have provided students with summer homework activities to help them maintain some of the knowledge, skills and positive learning habits they have developed throughout the year. The decision to provide summer homework was made following feedback from a number of families who told us that they would welcome activities to help their children continue learning during the longer summer break.
We are also mindful of the well-established concept of “summer learning loss”, where students can experience some regression in their knowledge, skills and confidence during an extended period away from school. For some young people, including some students with neurodiverse needs, maintaining regular routines and opportunities to practise previously learned material can be particularly beneficial.
Summer homework is therefore intended to provide students with an opportunity to keep their minds active, revisit important learning and feel more confident when they return to school in September.
We strongly encourage students to engage with their summer homework wherever possible. This does not mean that every student needs to spend large amounts of their holiday completing schoolwork.
A little can make a difference. Completing some activities, reading regularly, practising key skills or revisiting areas that students have previously found challenging can all help make the transition back into lessons easier in September. Our message to students is simple: have a go and do what you can.
We also want to be completely clear with families that students will not receive a sanction if they have not completed their summer homework. The purpose of these activities is to encourage continued learning, not to create additional pressure for students or families during the summer holidays.
Instead, when students return in September, we want to recognise and celebrate those who have made an effort to engage with their learning over the summer. This includes students who may not have completed every activity but have made a genuine attempt.
We want our students to understand that effort matters. Choosing to read a little more, complete some additional practice or challenge themselves during the holidays demonstrates the positive habits and attitudes towards learning that we want to develop across our school.
We Love Reading | As we move closer to the start of the new academic year, one of the simplest and most effective ways families can help children prepare for their return to school is to encourage them to read for at least 20 minutes every day.
After a long summer break, it can take time for students to adjust again to the concentration and routines required in school. Regular reading is a simple way of helping to rebuild these habits before September.
Reading regularly helps students develop their vocabulary, comprehension, concentration and confidence. Importantly, it also helps them become accustomed to focusing for a sustained period of time, something they will need throughout every school day.
We encourage families to make 20 minutes of reading part of the daily routine between now and the start of term. This could mean:
The most important thing is to find something they enjoy and encourage the habit of reading every day.
For younger students in particular, reading alongside your child can be incredibly valuable. Take turns reading, discuss unfamiliar words, ask what they think might happen next or simply talk about the characters and ideas in the book.
Returning to school after several weeks away can feel demanding. Students suddenly need to concentrate for longer periods, read more complex texts, follow routines and process significant amounts of information throughout the day.
Reintroducing a small amount of focused reading now can help make that transition feel much easier.
Our challenge to every Lift Bexleyheath student is therefore simple: Read for at least 20 minutes every day between now and your return to school.
Twenty minutes is a small part of the day, but developing the habit now can make a significant difference when lessons begin again.
Uniform Expectations | As families begin preparing for the start of the new academic year, we would like to remind everyone of our uniform and appearance expectations so that students can return in September ready for a positive and successful start. The school uniform policy can be found here.
We know that purchasing school uniform represents a significant investment for families. We are therefore sharing this reminder now to help families buy the correct items, avoid unnecessary expense and address any uniform or appearance issues before students return to school.
Our uniform expectations are an important part of the culture at Lift Bexleyheath. They help create a strong sense of belonging, ensure that students are dressed appropriately for learning and reinforce the high standards we have for every member of our community.
When purchasing or replacing uniform for students in Years 07–11, please ensure that items meet our school expectations.
Students should return in full school uniform, including the correct school blazer and appropriate school trousers, culottes or skirt. Skirts must be an appropriate knee length and should not be altered or rolled to make them shorter. A clear, consistent uniform policy is about much more than just what students wear. It plays a vital role in the wellbeing of our young people:
We want to work closely with families to protect our students from the pressures of social media and peer expectations regarding appearance. To ensure a smooth start to the new term, we would like to offer the following reminders:
Our goal is to ensure that every student can walk through our gates feeling focused, equal, and ready to learn, without the distraction of "fast-fashion" pressures. We appreciate your continued support in upholding these standards and helping us create a safe, focused environment for all our children. A reminder that the following clothing is not part of our uniform policy:
Students should also wear appropriate school footwear. Trainers are not part of our school uniform and should not be purchased as a replacement for school shoes. Please see the image which illustrates the shoes that are classified as appropriate for school.
Students must bring a school appropriate backpack each day so that they can carry their Chromebook, books and equipment safely. Handbags and other unsuitable alternatives should not replace a backpack.
Where families are purchasing new branded uniform, please ensure this is purchased through our approved uniform supplier so that you are buying the correct items.
We recognise that some families may still have items of our previously branded uniform that remain in good condition. Students may continue to wear these items, and there is no expectation that families replace usable uniform simply because our branding has changed. This is important to us as we do not want to create unnecessary cost or waste.
Lift Bexleyheath School Return Preparation | As we begin to prepare for the new academic year, we kindly ask all families to complete two simple checks before students return to school. These small actions make a significant difference to ensuring every day starts smoothly and maximises learning time.
Chromebooks are an essential part of learning at Lift Bexleyheath. Students use them to access lesson resources, complete classwork, undertake independent learning and sit assessments. Arriving with a fully charged device means students are ready to learn from the first lesson without disruption.
A charged Chromebook also reduces interruptions to lessons, allowing teachers to focus on teaching and ensuring students can fully participate in every learning activity.
Please also ensure that students have the expected stationary; 2 x black pens, 2 x red pens, pencil, ruler, rubber and calculator.
Having credit available allows students to purchase food and drinks quickly during break and lunchtime. This not only ensures they can enjoy a healthy meal, but also helps the canteen operate efficiently. When accounts need to be checked or alternative arrangements made at the tills, queues become longer, reducing the time available for all students to eat and socialise before returning to lessons.
Keeping ParentPay accounts topped up helps everyone move through the canteen more quickly, ensuring students spend less time waiting in queues and more time enjoying their break.
Thank you for your continued support. By taking a few minutes to prepare now, you will help your child and the wider school community, have a calm, organised and successful start to the new academic year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in September.
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Summer School Booster Success | This week, we were delighted to welcome a group of students from Years 07, 08 and 09 into school for our Summer School programme.
Throughout the week, students took part in sessions focused on English, Mathematics and team building, providing an excellent opportunity to reconnect with learning, build confidence and prepare for the start of the new academic year.
After several weeks away from the classroom, returning to school routines can sometimes feel challenging. Summer School helps to bridge this gap by giving students the opportunity to revisit key knowledge and skills in English and Mathematics, re-establish positive learning habits and become familiar with school routines before everyone returns in September.
Just as importantly, our team-building activities gave students the chance to develop their communication, resilience and teamwork, while reconnecting with friends, staff and the wider school community. For some of our younger students, this additional time in school can make a significant difference in reducing any worries about returning and helping them begin the year feeling confident and ready to succeed.
Students approached the week with fantastic enthusiasm and particularly enjoyed the balance between learning and working together. Some of the feedback included:
We are incredibly proud of the way our students engaged throughout the programme and of the positive attitude they brought each day.
A huge thank you to all of the colleagues who gave their time during the summer break to plan and deliver the programme, and to our families for supporting students to attend. We look forward to welcoming all of our students back very soon and beginning another successful year at Lift Bexleyheath, where we want every young person to achieve, belong and thrive.
Celebrating the successes of our students | At Lift Bexleyheath, we know that our students achieve incredible things both inside and outside of school, and we want to celebrate these successes with our whole community.
Whether your child has achieved something in sport, music, dance, drama, the arts, volunteering, a community group, a competition, a hobby or something completely different, we would love to hear about it.
No achievement is too big or too small. We want our students to feel proud of their accomplishments and to recognise the dedication, resilience and hard work that often sits behind success.
If your child has recently achieved something that you would be happy for us to celebrate, please send a brief description of their achievement, along with any photographs you are happy for us to share, to Ms Luthfa, Principal (rluthfa@liftbexleyheath.org).
Where appropriate, we will share these celebrations with our school community through our newsletters, website, social media or other school communications.
Celebrating our young people is an important part of creating a community where everyone feels valued and where students are inspired by the achievements of those around them.
We look forward to hearing about all the wonderful things our students are accomplishing and celebrating even more of our young people as they achieve, belong and thrive.
Safeguarding | Positive Sleeping Habits | With just one week of the summer holidays remaining, we are really looking forward to welcoming our students back to Lift Bexleyheath for the start of another exciting academic year.
The summer break provides an important opportunity for young people to rest, relax and enjoy a different routine. However, later nights and longer mornings can quickly become the norm! As we approach the return to school, now is a good time to begin gradually reintroducing routines that will make those first few mornings back a little easier.
Small changes over the next week can make a big difference to how students feel when they return. Establishing good sleep and morning routines can support concentration, mood, punctuality and readiness to learn.
We hope everyone enjoys the final week of the summer break, and we cannot wait to welcome our students back refreshed, prepared and ready for another successful year at Lift Bexleyheath.
Reminder of our Mobile Phone Ban | Three years ago, Lift Bexleyheath became the first school in the borough to introduce a complete mobile phone ban during the school day. At the time, this was a bold decision based on a simple principle: when students are in school, their attention should be on learning, relationships and being part of their school community. Since then, the national conversation has moved significantly in the same direction, with schools across the country being encouraged to establish phone-free environments.
We are proud to have been ahead of this important change because we have seen the benefits for our students. Removing mobile phones from the school day reduces distractions in lessons, limits opportunities for inappropriate use of social media, supports positive face-to-face interactions and allows students to focus more fully on their learning. It also gives young people valuable time each day away from the constant notifications, messages and pressures that can come with being permanently connected.
Our expectation therefore remains very simple:
Mobile phones must not be seen, heard or used anywhere in school.
Students may bring a mobile phone to school, but it must be switched off and stored securely out of sight throughout the school day. Where a phone is seen, heard or used on the school premises, it will be confiscated in accordance with our school expectations.
We recognise that mobile phones are an important part of modern life, and our approach is not about suggesting otherwise. Instead, we want school to provide several hours each day where young people can concentrate without digital distraction, talk to one another, build friendships and fully engage with their education.
Lift Bexleyheath
Woolwich Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA6 7DA
