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 | All of our wonderful students are back to school on Monday, 07 September no later than 08:30.
In It, To Win It! | We are celebrating the start of the new school year and our fantastic examination results with a special In It, To Win It! event.
Throughout the day, students will have opportunities to win a range range of of prizes as we welcome everyone back and celebrate the achievements of our school community.
To be in with a chance of winning, students simply need to be in school. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for a positive and exciting start to the year!
Year 11 Newsletter | Please find the Year 11 Weekly Newsletter from the Year 11 Team here.
Sixth Form Newsletter | Please find the Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter from the Sixth Form Team here.
Celebrating World Religions | 03–04 September 2026 | Hinduism | Janmashtami | Janmashtami is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar and celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who is believed to be the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. Lord Krishna is revered for his teachings on compassion, courage, wisdom and doing what is right.
Many Hindus celebrate by visiting temples, singing devotional songs, praying, fasting and reading stories from Krishna's life. Some communities also recreate scenes from Krishna's childhood through music, dance and drama.
At Lift Bexleyheath, Janmashtami provides an opportunity to learn about Hindu beliefs and reflect on values such as kindness, integrity, leadership and making positive choices.
Difficulties Logging onto Chromebooks | To strengthen our digital security, student passwords have recently been reset. As a result, some students may be unable to log in to their school devices or accounts over the weekend.
Please do not worry if your child experiences difficulties. Staff will support affected students to reset their passwords on Monday morning so they can regain access as quickly as possible. We apologise for any temporary inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Year 07 and Year 08 Animal Encounter Experience | Next week, our Year 07 and Year 08 students will take part in an exciting animal encounter experience at the academy. This hands-on opportunity will allow students to learn more about different species, their habitats and their unique characteristics.
Our animal visitors will include:
To help us plan a safe and inclusive experience, Ms Dello Buono, Assistant Principal, has contacted families to request any relevant allergies or health conditions we need to be aware of for this event.
We look forward to providing students with this memorable opportunity to develop their curiosity and learn beyond the classroom.
Safeguarding | Keeping Your Child's Information Up-to-Date | We ask families to let us know promptly if there have been any changes to their home address, email address or telephone numbers. Updated information should be sent to info@liftbexleyheath.org so that we can amend our records.
Accurate contact details are essential for safeguarding. They allow us to contact families quickly in an emergency, share important information and ensure that the appropriate adults can be reached if a child needs support.
Please also notify us using the same email address if your child’s medical needs, medication or health conditions have changed. Having current medical information enables staff to provide the correct care and respond safely and effectively should an issue arise during the school day.
Thank you for helping us keep every child safe and well supported.
Banned Items in School | To help keep our school community safe, students must not bring sharp objects onto the school site. This includes compasses, scissors, sharpeners, metal combs and any other item that could cause injury. Where these items are required for lessons, appropriate equipment will be provided by the academy. Other banned items include; spray bottles and glass bottles.
Fizzy drinks and energy drinks are also not permitted in school.
Any banned item found will be confiscated and safely disposed of. It will not be returned to the student or their family. We ask families to support us by regularly checking their child’s school bag and reminding them of these expectations. A reminder that we continue to complete random searches to ensure our community is safe.
Timetables | Student timetables are now available in their calendars, so please encourage students to check these regularly for any updates. Students will also receive a printed copy of their timetable as they arrive at school on Monday.
From the week commencing Monday, 14 September, there will be some changes to Mathematics classes. During this week, students will also complete some baseline testing. This will help teachers understand what students remember from their previous learning and identify any areas that may need a little extra attention.
It is completely normal for students to forget or become less confident with some skills over the long summer break, particularly when they have not had regular opportunities to practise recall, problem-solving or other forms of learning. This is sometimes referred to as summer regression. The testing will help us understand where this has happened and ensure that teaching is carefully tailored to help students rebuild confidence and strengthen their knowledge.
Our aim is to make the start of the new term as supportive as possible, helping every student get back into positive learning routines and make a confident start to the year.
We would like to reassure families that, in Years 7 to 9, the numbers within class codes do not indicate a student’s academic ability. The only exception is Mathematics, where classes are grouped according to students’ current attainment and learning needs. In other subjects, mixed attainment classes allow students to learn from one another, develop confidence and receive appropriate support and challenge from their teachers. Students’ progress is regularly assessed, and teaching is adapted to ensure that every student continues to make strong progress.
Where additional support is needed in core subjects, students complete Foundational Knowledge & Skills Intervention in their areas of need.
In Years 10 and 11, class numbers in English, Mathematics and Science reflect students’ current attainment. This enables teachers to tailor lessons and examination preparation more closely to students’ needs.
Class groupings are carefully reviewed and are not a fixed judgement of a student’s potential. We maintain high expectations for every student and remain committed to helping them achieve, belong and thrive.
Parents' Evening Dates for This Year | Please find the Parents' Evening dates for this year below:
Year 11Z Band Visit to a Gurdwara in Gravesend | On Thursday, 24 September, Year 11Z Band students will have the opportunity to visit a Gurdwara in Gravesend from 12:00 to 16:00.
The visit is designed to enrich students’ learning beyond the classroom by providing them with the opportunity to develop their cultural capital through first hand experience of Sikh faith, traditions, values and community life. It will also support our commitment to promoting the British Values of mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, encouraging students to appreciate and understand the diverse communities that make up British society.
Further information about the visit, including a consent form, will be shared with families shortly. Please keep an eye out for this information and ensure the consent form is completed and returned within the required timeframe.
Masterclasses | Expanding Learning Beyond the Classroom | Our Morning Masterclasses will return on Wednesday, 23 September. Sessions will take place at 08:00 in the Main Hall and are open to all students.
The masterclasses give students opportunities to explore fascinating topics and ideas beyond the taught curriculum. Each session is designed to develop intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and the confidence to question, discuss and evaluate different perspectives.
Regular attendance can also strengthen students’ academic skills and establish positive study habits, including concentration, independent thinking and a willingness to engage with challenging ideas.
Students who attend the sessions throughout the term will be rewarded for their commitment. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to broaden their knowledge and start the day with purposeful learning.
Reading | On the week commencing; Monday, 14 September, all students will be taking part in baseline assessments in reading.
The primary purpose of these assessments is to pinpoint exactly where individual students may need tailored support, allowing us to connect them with our targeted reading intervention programs early in the academic year.
Strong reading skills are the cornerstone of academic achievement. Research consistently shows a direct link between a student's ability to read at or above age-related expectations and their overall confidence and success across every subject in the curriculum. By establishing a clear picture of each student's current reading level, we can ensure they receive the right blend of challenge and support to thrive in all their classes.
The reading scores determine their prep groups and support decisions made about English classes. Therefore, it would be helpful for students to spend 20 mins a day reading at home to ensure that the reading regression we see take place due to the summer holidays to not negatively affect students. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s learning and literacy journey.
KS3 Foundational Knowledge & Skills Interventions | On the week commencing; Monday 07 September, targeted foundational interventions in Reading and Mathematics (Years 07– 09) and English and Science (Year 09) will begin during normal school hours for students performing significantly below expected levels. Featuring a tailored curriculum designed to address individual learning gaps, these Key Stage 3 programs leverage proven early-intervention strategies to ensure students build essential literacy, numeracy, and scientific skills. Parents of selected students will receive further details directly.
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.
Lift Bexleyheath
Woolwich Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA6 7DA
