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.
End-of-Term Arrangements | Term one ends on Friday, 16 October at 15:10.
Year 11 Weekly 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.
Fixtures for the Week | The following fixtures are taking place this week:
If you have any questions about the fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director for Sports (tsheehan@liftbexleyheath.org).
Parents' Evening Term 01 | Wednesday, 07 October 2026 | This term, families of Year 07 students will have the opportunity to meet with all of their child’s subject teachers face-to-face to discuss their engagement, progress, and attainment over the year. Families of Year 08 to Year 13 families will be able to meet virtually with their child's teachers if they do not teach Year 07. Please note that appointments are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Information on booking appointments can be found on the Parents' Evening page of the school's website. If you have any questions regarding our Parents' Evening’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms Fisher, Data Manager (dfisher@liftbexleyheath.org).
A reminder that on this day, the school day will end at 14:20. There will be no clubs and interventions running this day.
Football Success Starts Again | Goals, teamwork and cup success, our Year 08, 09 and 10 girls’ football teams have kicked off the season in style!
Competing across the English Schools’ Cup and Kent Schools’ Cup this week, all three teams secured victories and booked their places in the next rounds.
Our Year 09 team delivered a standout performance against Hayes, celebrating an impressive 13–3 win. Bella was in outstanding form, scoring an incredible nine goals!
There was also plenty to celebrate for Ada in Year 08, who scored in her match and was named Opposition Player of the Match, a brilliant recognition of her performance from the opposing team.
Behind the scorelines was a tremendous team effort. Our players showed commitment, determination and support for one another, representing Lift Bexleyheath with pride.
Congratulations to all three teams! We cannot wait to follow your cup journeys into the next rounds.
Inclusion Virtual Events | On Inclusion Drop-ins start again this term. Each appointment will last 15 minutes and will provide families with an opportunity to meet with Mr Atunde, Deputy SENDCo. The dates are as follows:
Appointments are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Information on booking appointments can be found on the Parents' Evening page of the Academy's website. If you have any questions regarding our Parents' Evening’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms Fisher, Data Manager: dfisher@bexleyheathacademy.org.
Year 07 Virtual Events | Families can book a 15 minute virtual drop-in appointment with Ms Sandra Byfield, Year 07 Pastoral Manager. These sessions are an opportunity to ask questions, discuss any concerns and find out how we can continue supporting your child’s transition into secondary school. The bookings are open from today. The dates are as follows:
Appointments are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Information on booking appointments can be found on the Parents' Evening page of the Academy's website. If you have any questions regarding our Parents' Evening’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms Fisher, Data Manager: dfisher@bexleyheathacademy.org.
Extra-Curricular Clubs | Drama Club | This week in Drama Club, students put their own imaginative twists on much-loved fairy tales, exploring how a familiar story can change when we see it from a different character’s perspective.
Our focus was placards: words, phrases or short pieces of information displayed to the audience during a performance. These can be held up, carried or revealed at a carefully chosen moment to introduce a character, share a hidden thought, explain an event or reveal an unexpected twist. By giving the audience information beyond the spoken dialogue, placards can challenge assumptions and change how we understand a scene.
Our students certainly made the most of this technique! Their performances introduced us to a wrongly accused wolf who was simply trying to visit his girlfriend, Grandma Riding Hood; a wicked witch who got a taste of her own poison; and a not-so-sweet Cinderella who was far from the character we expected.
Through these activities, students explored how the wording and timing of a placard can create humour, surprise and suspense. They also practised working together, developing characters and making deliberate choices about how to communicate their ideas to an audience.
We were particularly impressed with our newest Drama Club members, who approached the task with confidence and creativity. Placard work is often introduced later in Key Stage 3, so it was fantastic to see them already experimenting with how a simple piece of information can transform a performance.
There was wonderful imagination, teamwork and enthusiasm throughout the session. Well done to everyone involved, we look forward to seeing what unexpected twists you create next!
After-school clubs reminder: There will be no after-school clubs on Wednesday, 07 October because of our face-to-face Year 07 Parents’ Evening. Please make alternative arrangements for your child to travel home at the end of the school day. Thank you for your understanding, and we apologise for any inconvenience.
Year 06 Transitions | Stepping into the shoes of scientists, our visiting Year 06 children were introduced to the fascinating world of light microscopy in the Wacky Science taster session and enjoyed discovering a world far too small to see with the naked eye!
Under the guidance of our Science team, they quickly mastered the essential techniques of microscope operation, from carefully positioning prepared specimen slides on the stage to adjusting the light source and using the coarse and fine focus wheels to bring microscopic details into sharp focus.
The children explored a fascinating variety of slides, including the intricate structures of plant cells and the delicate patterns of insect wings. They also practised switching between different magnification powers, observing how each setting revealed new and exciting details.
Some future students commented:
“I really enjoyed using the microscopes because I have never used one before. It was cool seeing the plant cells and insect wings up close and seeing all the tiny details”
“I liked changing the magnification because we could see different things each time.”
We are excited for the upcoming Art Attack session on Tuesday, 06 October, where children will be introduced to a unique and experimenting medium, using a mixture of ink and shaving cream to create abstract neuro art prints.
On Thursday, 08 October, the Dramatic Drama session will start with some warm-up games and an introduction to key drama skills, then participants will work together to create freeze frames exploring the theme of ‘bullying’.
Visit the Transition page on our website to sign up for these, and other sessions, including some additional Open Morning Tours. These will go live to book on Monday, 05 October at 08:00.
Assembly This Week | Kindness in our Community | This week’s assembly focused on our Culture maxim, “Fun and Fundamentals,” with a thought provoking theme: the impact of our words.
We explored the power our words can have on others through a range of case studies and examples, considering how the things we say can influence people’s feelings, confidence and behaviour. We reflected on how even the smallest comments can sometimes have a lasting impact, and the importance of thinking carefully before we speak. We also explored how we can communicate honestly and confidently while still showing kindness, empathy and respect towards others. Our key message was simple: our words have power, so let’s use them to make a positive difference.
We were incredibly proud of how warmly and thoughtfully the assembly was received. It was wonderful to see our students engaging so positively with the theme, listening carefully and reflecting on how their words can help to build others up.
We Love Reading | Please see our reading strategy of the week for building reading fluency.
To build reading fluency, the most effective strategy is Repeated Reading with Oral Feedback, where a student reads one page of text aloud three to four times while receiving immediate guidance. This process reduces the cognitive (thinking and processing) effort needed to decode individual words, allowing the brain to focus on pace, phrasing, and natural expression (prosody).
Reinforcing this practice through techniques like echo reading (repeating a fluent reader sentence by sentence) or tracking Words Correct Per Minute provides visual proof of progress, directly boosting both student confidence and overall comprehension.
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What's been happening in English this week? | From reporting school news to making thoughtful choices in the classroom, students are developing their confidence as writers and discovering how to engage their readers.
Our Newspaper Club brings together students from Key Stages 3 and 4 to create a school newspaper. Our budding journalists have been busy interviewing, writing articles, gathering news from across the school, and working on the design and editing of their first edition.
The club gives students an opportunity to write for a real audience while developing their creativity, communication and teamwork. They are exploring how to ask interesting questions, organise information clearly and turn ideas into articles that others will want to read.
The first edition will launch after half term, and we look forward to sharing their work with the school community. Keep an eye out for its arrival!
In English lessons, staff have also been exploring approaches from The Writing Revolution to help students write with greater confidence and independence. One focus has been working with sentence fragments, groups of words that do not yet form a complete sentence and considering how to develop ideas into clear, complete sentences.
Alongside this, students have been experimenting with short sentences and carefully chosen fragments for effect in creative writing. These choices can change the pace of a passage, emphasise an important detail or create tension for the reader.
We are already seeing encouraging results: students are becoming more confident in shaping their own sentences, relying less on teacher-provided openings and thinking more carefully about the impact of their words. Whether writing a newspaper article or a creative piece, the aim is to help every student communicate their ideas clearly and develop their own voice.
Safeguarding | Preparing for Assessment Pressures | As assessment periods approach, many young people begin to experience increased pressure to perform academically. Whether preparing for end-of-term assessments, GCSEs or other important examinations, it is important to remember that academic success and emotional wellbeing go hand in hand. As parents and carers, there is an important role to play in helping young people develop positive study habits, stay organised and manage the pressures that assessments can bring.
Effective revision is not about spending endless hours studying but about making learning manageable, consistent and purposeful. Encourage your child to establish a regular revision routine that includes short, focused study sessions with regular breaks. Revisiting information over time, using flashcards, completing practice questions and testing their knowledge are all effective ways to strengthen learning and build confidence. For our students, all of their revision is on their Chromebooks and the weekly homework on the selected platforms is fundamental to supporting students.
It is also important to create a suitable study environment. A quiet, organised space with minimal distractions, including mobile phones and social media, can help young people maintain concentration. Encourage your child to identify the study techniques that work best for them rather than comparing their revision habits with those of their peers.
Create opportunities for open, supportive conversations about how your child is feeling. Reassure them that assessments are an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned, not a measure of their worth or potential. Avoid adding unnecessary pressure through comparisons with siblings or peers, and remind them that asking for help is a positive step.
If you have any concerns about your child’s safety or wellbeing, please contact the school’s safeguarding team without delay: safeguarding@liftbexleyheath.org. In an emergency, or if you believe a child may be at immediate risk, please contact the police directly. Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep our community safe.
Community Engagement | This week, we will be focusing around Mental Health Awareness, with our Mental Health Ambassadors out every day to offer support, encouragement and a listening ear to students.
Throughout the week, students will also receive key messages and practical advice each day on ways they can look after their mental health and wellbeing. We hope the week will help raise awareness, encourage positive conversations and remind everyone that it is okay to ask for support when they need it.
What's been happening in Sports this week? | It has been an exciting week for sport at Lift Bexleyheath, with our football teams celebrating hard-earned victories and Year 11 Sports Studies students developing essential first aid skills.
Our Year 07 football team secured a dramatic 1–0 victory against Bullers Wood, with Jenson scoring the winner in the final moments. At the other end of the pitch, Pranjal and the defensive backline kept an excellent clean sheet. Woody earned Man of the Match for his outstanding defending, clearing everything that came his way and helping the team hold firm.
There was more excitement for our Year 11 football team in their match against Bishop Justus. Goals from Fareed and Charlie gave us a 2–0 lead, before the opposition fought back to make it 2–2 and take the game to a penalty shootout.
With a place in the next round at stake, Cyd, Fareed, Cody, Jake and Riley all converted their penalties. Riley scored the decisive spot kick to seal a 5–3 shootout victory, a fantastic display of composure under pressure.
Away from competitive fixtures, our Year 11 Sports Studies students have been learning how to respond to an unresponsive casualty and practising how to place someone into the recovery position. The practical lesson gave students an opportunity to build their confidence in applying essential first aid skills.
From determined defending to calm decision-making, it has been a week of teamwork, resilience and valuable learning. Well done to everyone involved, and good luck to Year 11 in the next round!
What's been happening in Social Sciences this week? | From exploring human behaviour to investigating health challenges in our local community, our Social Science students have shown enthusiasm and commitment this week.
Attendance at our after-school intervention sessions has been particularly strong in Year 13 Psychology. Psychology examines how people think, feel and behave, encouraging students to evaluate research and consider different explanations for human behaviour. Students have made the most of these additional sessions, contributing thoughtfully to discussions and strengthening their understanding of the subject.
Meanwhile, our Health and Social Care students have taken centre stage, delivering presentations to their classmates as part of their coursework. This subject explores people’s needs, the factors that influence health and wellbeing, and how services can support individuals and communities.
Their presentations focused on public health challenges in Bexley, including tackling addiction and addressing loneliness and social isolation among an ageing population. These topics encouraged students to consider how health is shaped by social circumstances, relationships and access to support, as well as by physical needs.
Presenting to the class also gave students valuable practice in explaining complex issues clearly, building their confidence and communication skills, qualities that are essential in health and social care settings.
Well done to our students for their thoughtful contributions, commitment to learning and growing confidence in tackling issues that matter to our community.
Lift Bexleyheath
Woolwich Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA6 7DA
