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.
Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the Year 11 Newsletter here.
First Week Back | This week, our staff were thrilled to welcome students back to the academy, and what an incredible start it has been! Attendance on the first day was outstanding, and we are confident that this level of commitment will continue throughout the year. Returning after six weeks away can be a challenge, but our students came back bursting with energy, positivity, and a real eagerness to get back into learning.
To celebrate the beginning of term, we launched “In it, to Win it”, a random prize draw held throughout the day to recognise and reward students who showed up ready to learn and committed to their education. A huge thank you goes to our families for the effort they put into ensuring students were prepared, on time, and ready for school. Your support makes a real difference, and together we are setting the tone for a fantastic year ahead!
Year 06 Transitions Events | Our Year 06 Transitions events for the September 2026 intake start this half term. All information regarding these events can be found here. We are delighted to invite families of children in Year 06 to our Year 06 Open Evening on Wednesday, 17 September. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience life at Lift Bexleyheath Academy, meet our inspiring students and dedicated staff, take a tour of our facilities, taste samples of the delicious food provided by our chef and hear directly from our Principal about our vision and values. To give every family the best experience, we are offering three start times: 16:00, 16:45, and 17:30. Find out more by clicking here.
Free School Meals | Free School Meals (FSM) are a government-funded scheme designed to ensure that children from eligible families receive a nutritious meal at school each day, at no cost to the family. This not only helps to support students’ health and concentration in lessons, but also removes the worry of having to provide money daily for school meals. Importantly, applying for FSM is completely confidential – students who receive them are not identified separately, and all meals are served in the same way as for any other student.
Submitting an application for FSM can also benefit families beyond the immediate support of a daily meal. Schools receive additional funding, known as the Pupil Premium, for every child registered for FSM. This funding is then used to provide extra resources, interventions, and opportunities that directly support students’ learning and well-being. Examples of how some of this funding is used at the school is as follows:
Even if a child prefers to bring a packed lunch, completing the FSM application ensures the school can access this vital funding, which in turn benefits the whole school community. Families are strongly encouraged to check their eligibility and complete an application if they qualify. Please review this document which outlines the criteria and links on how to apply.
Extra-Curricular Clubs | We are excited to launch a wide-ranging programme of extra-curricular activities for all students at Lift Bexleyheath, starting on Monday, 15 September. Next week, students in Years 07–10 will have the opportunity to choose the clubs they would like to join for the Autumn term. These clubs will run both at lunchtimes and after school, with after-school sessions finishing at either 16:00 later for sports activities. Should students have competitions that they are a part of and these finish later than scheduled, families will be informed.
We encourage families to take some time to go through the extra-curricular programme with their child/ward and help them decide which clubs they would like to take part in. Your support in this process will ensure students make the most of the exciting opportunities available to them. Please see the plan for extra-curricular clubs for this half term here.
Safeguarding | WhatsApp Social Media Parent Groups | The school does not recommend the use of WhatsApp groups for parent communication. Many families find WhatsApp groups a helpful way to stay connected, share reminders, and support one another throughout the school year. These groups can be an excellent way to build a sense of community, offering quick updates about homework, trips, or school events, and helping new families feel included and informed. However, while these groups can be very useful, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks. Without clear boundaries, online group chats can sometimes become a space where false information spreads quickly or where unprofessional or unkind comments are made about staff, students, or other families. This can cause unnecessary conflict, misunderstandings, or harm to the wider school community.
If parents decide to set up a WhatsApp group, we recommend agreeing on some simple group rules to ensure it remains a safe, positive, and respectful space. For example:
Chromebook Insurance | We charge £15 a year for Chromebook Insurance. This will be per Chromebook supplied. We will start to request payment for this from Monday, 08 September through ParentPay. This cost goes towards the cost of maintaining the Chromebook and is needed to ensure that we can continue to provide students with this resource which is needed for their education. Should damages occur to the Chromebook and the Chromebook does not have Chromebook insurance, we will request the full cost of the repair or the full cost of a replacement device which will be £210.
Careers Insight Talks | For the past two years, we have successfully delivered a careers programme that introduces our students to a wide variety of roles and sectors. On Fridays, professionals join our students virtually to share insights about their job, the industry they work in, and the educational or training pathways that led them there. These sessions have played a vital role in raising aspirations, broadening horizons, and helping students discover exciting career opportunities they may not have considered before.
As part of this initiative, we are eager to involve parents, carers, and members of our wider community. If you would like to share your own career journey and experiences with our students, please complete the attached form. We welcome speakers from all industries and backgrounds, as every career story offers unique inspiration and guidance.
In addition, we encourage families to use Labour Market Information (LMI) with their child to explore different professions, gain an understanding of the skills required, and see where future opportunities may lie. By working together, we can equip our students with the knowledge, confidence, and ambition they need to make informed choices about their future. For further information, please contact Dr Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@liftbexleyheath.org).
Parent Portal Arbor App | Please ensure you have access to your Parent Portal account, where student timetables, progress report cards, and student information is held. Please contact info@liftbexleyheath.org if you need your Parent Portal login information sent to you again.
School Photograph Day | Our annual school photograph day will be taking place on Friday, 12 September.
Bexley Broadway | We would like to share some important concerns regarding Bexley Broadway. While it is a busy local area, it has also become a place where some students are gathering after school, which can expose them to unnecessary risks and distractions. Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our students, both in and out of school, and we want to work closely with families to ensure they are protected.
Staff will be present on Bexley Broadway each day after school to support and safeguard students. However, we ask all families to make sure their child goes straight home after school wherever possible, rather than spending time on the Broadway. This will help minimise risks and keep students focused on their learning. Please be aware that any student who refuses to go home when asked by staff will receive a sanction in school.
Your partnership is vital in reinforcing this message. Together, we can ensure our young people are safe, avoid negative influences, and remain focused on their education and personal development. Thank you for your continued support in helping us care for and protect our students.
Mobile Phone Concerns | Over the summer holidays, we have become increasingly aware of growing concerns around mobile phone and social media usage among young people across the borough. While mobile phones are extremely useful for families to stay in touch and know where their child is, smartphones in particular come with risks that need to be carefully managed.
One of the biggest concerns is that children can receive unwanted photos and videos via social media or messaging apps. Often, they may not realise that some of these images are illegal, and simply having them on their device could be considered a criminal offence. Beyond the legal implications, such content can also be deeply upsetting and harmful to young people’s well-being.
We strongly encourage families to have open conversations with their children about safe and responsible phone use. Take time to regularly check your child’s phone to ensure they are not receiving or sharing anything inappropriate that could put them at risk. If you come across anything concerning and would like advice, guidance, or support, please contact our safeguarding team at safeguarding@liftbexleyheath.org. Together, we can help keep our young people safe online and support them in using technology responsibly.
Parents' Evening | In response to valuable feedback from families, we will be introducing a Priority Parents’ Evening system designed to offer more meaningful engagement and flexibility for all year groups.
Starting next year, each year group will be assigned a Priority Parents’ Evening, during which families will be invited to attend the academy in person for face-to-face meetings with their child’s teachers. For example, if Year 07 is selected as the first Priority group, Year 07 families will attend on site, while other year groups will still be able to meet with staff virtually on the same evening.
This new model allows us to offer:
We believe this blended approach offers the best of both worlds, maintaining the convenience of virtual meetings while reintroducing the benefits of in-person conversations and direct engagement with students' learning. Moving forward, Parents' Evenings will start at 14:30 and end at 18:30. This offers more appointments for each event. The Parents' Evening will be taking place on the following dates:
Sharp Objects | We would like to remind families that sharpeners, scissors, and compasses are not permitted in school. To ensure the safety of all our students, teachers will provide these items in lessons whenever they are needed. This means that students do not need to bring their own from home.
Our priority is keeping students safe at all times, both in school and on their way to and from the academy. Carrying these items could lead to accidents, so we kindly ask for your support in ensuring they are not brought into school. Thank you for working with us to maintain a safe and secure environment for all.
Lift Bexleyheath
Woolwich Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA6 7DA
