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 Weekly Newsletter from the Year 11 Team here.
Fixtures for the Week | The following fixtures are taking place this week:
If you have any question about the fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director for Sports (tsheehan@liftbexleyheath.org).
Reminder of INSET Days | We have INSET days in the following days:
The school will be closed for students on all other year groups.
In it, to win it | We will be running 'In it, to win it' this week. In order to qualify, students must be in school.
Extra-Curricular Clubs | All extra-curricular clubs will be running from next week. A list of all the extra-curricular clubs can be found here.
Breakfast | From Monday, 01 December, students will be able to buy breakfast from the small canteen as they enter the school. Students will also be able to buy cold lunch items which they can eat later on in the day. The canteen will be open from 07:50 until 08:20.
Christmas Showcase | We will be holding a Christmas Showcase for our community on Wednesday, 17 December from 17:00. Students will be sharing their; artwork, musical talents and drama performances that they have been working on this half term. Families can sign up for tickets for this event next weekend.
Term 02 Priority Parents’ Evenings | This term, families will have the opportunity to meet with their child’s teachers to discuss engagement, progress, and attainment. However, as with the last Parents' Evening, this will be a mix of virtual and onsite formats depending on which year group your child is in. To help your understanding of what is available for your child, we have broken this down below:
PE Kits | We kindly ask that you take a moment to check your child’s timetable to ensure they are aware of when their PE lessons take place. Being prepared for PE is an important part of your child’s school routine, and your support at home can make a big difference. We encourage families to help students organise themselves the evening before their PE lesson by packing the correct PE kit. This simple step helps students start their lessons on time, fully prepared, and ready to participate.
Please note that students who arrive without the correct PE kit will be issued a correction. To ensure no one misses out on learning, replacement PE kits will be provided when needed. By taking a few minutes each evening to check and prepare, we can all help students develop responsibility, stay active, and make the most of their PE lessons. Thank you for your support in helping our students be prepared and ready to succeed.
Safeguarding | Talking to Strangers Online | Young people aged 11–18 spend a large part of their social life online, and during the colder months, when days are shorter and children tend to spend more time on their phones, it’s especially important to stay aware of online risks. While apps, games, and social media can be positive spaces, fake profiles are increasingly common. These accounts often seem friendly and interested in the same hobbies, making them difficult to spot and potentially unsafe for young people who are naturally sociable and gaining independence.
However, interacting with strangers online can lead to serious issues such as sharing personal information, emotional pressure, exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, or online grooming. Once images or messages are shared, young people may lose control over them, which can impact their wellbeing and safety. Students can protect themselves by only talking to people they know in real life, using privacy settings, avoiding personal details, and reporting anything that feels uncomfortable to a trusted adult.
Families play a key role in supporting digital independence, particularly during the winter months when online activity increases. Keeping open conversations, understanding the platforms children use, reinforcing safe boundaries, and watching for changes in behaviour all help keep young people safe. Above all, reassurance is vital: if something goes wrong online, children need to know they won’t be blamed and that they can always seek help. Spot checks of phones are also encouraged to reassure you that your child is safe. If you have concerns about your child's phone habits and would like some help and support, contact with our Safeguarding Team (safeguarding@liftbexleyheath.org). We are here to support both students and families. Together, we can help our young people develop confidence, resilience, and a positive sense of self.
Curriculum Updates | Each week, we have done a spotlight on our different curriculums. This week, we focus on Geography. Our goal is to make it easier for families to understand the topics being taught across all grade levels and subjects. You’ll now find a clearer, more organised layout that highlights the key learning goals for each subject area. This update is meant to help families stay informed and feel more connected to the learning that happens each day. We have included an example of how the curriculums are presented now below. The curriculums for all subjects can be found on Curriculum Page of our website.
Sporting Success | A huge well done to our incredible Year 07 football team, who have been nothing short of exceptional this week. They delivered two standout victories, first, a commanding 3–0 win over Harris Falconwood, followed by a thrilling 3–2 battle against Beths that kept supporters on the edge of their seats.
Their teamwork, resilience, and unwavering positivity have shone through every moment. As one coach proudly said, “The boys played with maturity beyond their years, disciplined, creative, and fearless.” Another staff member added, “They showed real heart. Every player gave absolutely everything for the team.”
The whole school is bursting with pride at their achievements. Keep it up, Year 07, this is just the beginning of something special!
Masterclasses | Expanding Minds Beyond the Classroom | This week, Mr Mack-Poole delivered an engaging lecture to our students on the history of migration, exploring how the movement of people has shaped societies across the world. Understanding migration is vital for young, curious learners, as it helps them recognise the diverse influences that form modern communities, the reasons people move, and the challenges and opportunities that migration brings. By learning about these stories and experiences, students gain a deeper appreciation of global history, empathy for others, and a clearer understanding of the interconnected world they live in.
Next week, our students will have an opportunity to learn about the history of maps and how important they are. From the mountains that did not exist, why not all maps face the same way, students are in for a treat.
Careers Insight Talks | Recruitment | We were pleased to welcome Mr Nayim Uddin, a Director of a leading recruitment company, to speak to our students this week. He shared his inspiring career journey, starting with his upbringing in Croydon, studying A-levels, and undertaking an apprenticeship. He also highlighted his experience working with Apprenticeship Connect, an organisation that creates apprenticeship opportunities for young people aged 16–21.
Mr Uddin explained how his time with Apprenticeship Connect opened the door to the recruitment sector, eventually leading him to establish his own company and take on the role of Director, a position he has held for over ten years. He spoke about what he enjoys most in his career, the challenges he faces, and offered valuable insights into salary ranges across the recruitment industry, from entry-level roles to director-level positions.
Parents, we kindly encourage you to continue discussing Labour Market Information (LMI) with your children, particularly in relation to opportunities within the recruitment sector.
If you have any questions about our careers provision, please contact Dr Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@liftbexleyheath.org).
Preparing for the Cold Weather | As the colder weather sets in, it’s important that our students are prepared with the right clothing to stay warm throughout the school day. Students should wear coats for use outside of the building and we encourage tights or layers to keep comfortable during lessons and breaks. The fashion trend of tights with white or branded socks on top are not permitted.
At school, students have options to stay warm indoors during unstructured time. They can spend time in the canteens or attend one of the many indoor clubs. However, many students enjoy spending time outside for some fresh air between lessons, which is excellent for well being but it can be chilly without proper outerwear. Unfortunately, we’ve noticed that some students do not have coats to keep them warm, so we encourage families to ensure their child has suitable clothing for the season.
For PE lessons, while we await the arrival of our branded thermal kit, students are welcome to wear plain navy long-sleeve thermals under their PE uniform. This helps them stay comfortable and active even in the colder months. By layering up and choosing appropriate clothing, students can enjoy fresh air, participate fully, and stay healthy throughout the winter term.
What have students been learning in Personal Development? | Students are learning essential skills to stay healthy, safe, and resilient. In Term 01 the focus was on Health & Well-being, which covered topics like, emotional well-being, stress management, online safety, healthy lifestyles, and awareness of risks such as drugs, alcohol, and gang culture. Older students also explore illnesses affecting young adults, sleep, and preparation for UCAS and future pathways.
This term, emphasises are on Relationships, Respect & Citizenship. Students explore diversity, prejudice, bullying, consent, healthy relationships, sexual health, and the law, including domestic abuse, harassment, and extremism. Lessons build understanding of rights, safety, and respectful behaviour. Sixth Former students focus on communication, financial literacy, and independence.
Alongside core lessons, students develop study and revision skills, and older students gain practical guidance on careers, apprenticeships, and post-18 options. The delivery of our personal development curriculum is age-appropriate and ensures that students progress from foundational skills in KS3 to independence and readiness for further education, apprenticeships, or employment in KS4 and KS5. If you have any questions regarding our Personal Development Curriculum, please contact Ms Shalo, Vice Principal (ishalo@liftbexleyheath.org).
Aspens Canteen Menu | Families have requested to see the school canteen menu. The menu changes each week and is on a three week cycle. Next week, will be Week 02 on the cycle.
Celebrating Neurodiversity | Dyspraxia | This week, we are celebrating dyspraxia, a form of neurodiversity that affects coordination, organisation, and motor skills. While it can make certain tasks more challenging, many people with dyspraxia also display remarkable strengths, including creativity, empathy, determination, and original thinking. A well-known example is actor Daniel Radcliffe, famous for playing Harry Potter, who has spoken openly about how dyspraxia affects his daily life while also shaping his imaginative and resilient approach to his work.
At Lift Bexleyheath, many students and community members with dyspraxia describe it as a “superpower,” helping them think differently, persevere through challenges, and express ideas in unique ways. Individuals with dyspraxia often excel at big-picture thinking, problem-solving, and bringing compassion and originality to everything they do.
Through sharing these experiences, we are reminded that dyspraxia is not a limitation, but a different way of thinking that contributes creativity, insight, and fresh perspectives to our school community. Celebrating neurodiversity helps everyone appreciate the many strengths and talents each individual brings.
What's been happening in Spanish this week? | This week in Spanish, our Year 8 students have been learning how to talk about their TV preferences. They explored new vocabulary and expressions to describe the programmes they enjoy or dislike and used a range of adjectives to justify their opinions. A key focus of the lesson was applying accurate adjectival agreement, helping students use Spanish grammar confidently when expressing themselves.
To make the topic relevant and engaging, students discussed the programmes they already know and linked these to the new language. Through a mix of listening activities, translation tasks, writing exercises, and a paired speaking activity, they had plenty of opportunities to practise and build their confidence.
The lesson concluded with a short formative assessment, allowing students to demonstrate their progress and helping the teacher identify the next steps in their learning journey. The class showed great enthusiasm, and it was wonderful to see their Spanish skills developing so strongly.
Christmas Jumper Day | We’re delighted that Lift Bexleyheath will be taking part in Christmas Jumper Day this year on Thursday, 11 December. On the day, students may come to school wearing a festive Christmas jumper over their shirt but under their blazer, and we’ll be collecting donations at the school gate as students arrive.
Your contributions will support Save the Children’s vital work to help children in the UK and around the world. The funds raised help ensure that children, especially those who are disadvantaged or in crisis, get access to essentials such as food, healthcare and education.
In the UK, some of the donation money helps children from deprived backgrounds get access to much‑needed early‑years support, safe childcare, and community services that help them thrive. For example, in one recent programme children were given the opportunity to attend free play, learning and holiday‑time activities they otherwise would have missed. Internationally, donations also help provide lifesaving aid, including nutrition, medical care, and support for families displaced by war or hardship, so children can grow up healthy, safe and with the chance to learn.
We hope that by coming together as a school community, wearing festive jumpers and giving what we can, we can make a real difference for children who need it most. Please rummage through spare change at home and send in any coins you can. Every contribution helps.
Homework Update | We are delighted to share that homework completion rates at Lift Bexleyheath have improved significantly. This progress would not have been possible without the ongoing support of our parents and carers. Your commitment to helping your children develop good study habits has made a real difference. We have also listened to your feedback and made adjustments where needed, always keeping your child’s success at the heart of every decision.
Homework plays an important role in learning. It helps students revisit what they have learned in class, practise key skills, and build confidence in their subjects. Research consistently shows that students who complete homework regularly make stronger academic progress. For example, a large UK study found that students who spent 02–03 hours each evening on homework were far more likely to achieve strong GCSE results than those who did none. Other studies highlight that meaningful homework helps students develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and long-term memory. Of course, this is not the length of time we are requesting for homework but study habits daily are important.
Importantly, students with neurodiversity often benefit the most from regular homework routines. Structured, predictable tasks help build organisation, strengthen working memory, and reinforce learning through repetition. Homework also gives neurodivergent students the chance to practise skills at their own pace in a quieter environment, helping them grow independence and confidence.
Beyond academic progress, homework supports the development of essential life skills such as organisation, responsibility, and self-discipline for all learners. For many families, it also offers valuable insight into what children are learning in school and creates opportunities to celebrate their effort and progress.
At Lift Bexleyheath, homework is set weekly in English, Mathematics, Science and Spanish. All tasks are uploaded every Friday by 8:00am, and students have until the following Thursday at 10:00pm to complete them. The platforms we use are:
To support any student who needs help or extra time, we run homework corrections in the Small Canteen from 3:20pm–4:20pm on the following days:
Thank you once again for your continued support. Together, we are helping our students build strong habits, achieve their best, and grow in confidence. If you have any questions regarding homework, please contact Mr Uwaechi, Assistant Principal (fuwaechi@liftbexleyheath.org).
Jack Petchey | Year 11 Rewards | On Friday, a group of our Year 11 students enjoyed a rewards trip to Bexleyheath Cinema. This trip was organised to celebrate their achievements and improvements across a range of subjects. Students were carefully selected by their teachers based on the progress and effort they have demonstrated throughout the term. As our Year 11 students are in such a pivotal year, it is especially important to take the time to recognise and celebrate their hard work.
Safeguarding Award | We are incredibly proud to announce that Lift Bexleyheath has been awarded the prestigious ‘Platinum Plus’ accreditation, the highest possible recognition for safeguarding excellence. This honour follows a rigorous two day audit in October 2025, during which external specialists examined every aspect of how we protect, support, and care for our students.
Achieving Platinum Plus places Lift Bexleyheath among the very best schools in the country for safeguarding practice. It reflects the unwavering dedication of our staff, the strength of our systems, and the deep culture of vigilance and compassion that runs through our school. It also celebrates the valued partnerships we maintain with families, local agencies, and community stakeholders, all of whom play a vital role in keeping our young people safe.
We extend our sincere thanks to parents and carers for your ongoing support; this achievement belongs to all of us. Lift Bexleyheath continues to set the highest standard for safeguarding, ensuring that every student feels known, protected, and empowered to thrive.
Assembly This Week | Stress Management During Assessments | This week, our students took part in an important Stress Management During Assessments assembly, led by Ms Dello Buono and Mr Uwaechi. The session was designed to help students understand how assessment periods can affect their wellbeing and to reassure them that feeling pressure is completely normal.
Assemblies like this are delivered to equip students with practical tools and strategies they can use before and during assessments, such as managing time effectively, staying organised, recognising signs of stress, and practising simple calming techniques. These skills not only support academic performance but also help students develop healthy habits they can use throughout their school life and beyond.
By giving students clear guidance and emotional support, we aim to reduce anxiety, promote confidence, and ensure that every learner feels prepared and empowered during assessment seasons. This proactive approach helps create a positive, supportive environment where students can thrive.
Community & Family | A Christmas Wish............. | Our favourite community project is back! This half-term, our school is proud to continue our annual community project by supporting the residents of Parkview Residential Care Home in Bexley. Parkview provides care and support for older adults, offering a welcoming and safe environment where residents can enjoy companionship, activities, and attentive care.
As part of this project, we will be collecting donations from our school community to create present parcels for both the residents and staff at Parkview. These parcels will be carefully prepared by our students and delivered by a selected group to the care home on the last day of term, allowing students to experience the joy of giving and connecting with members of the local community.
Community projects like this are incredibly important. They help our students develop empathy, kindness, and a sense of social responsibility, while also giving them a deeper understanding of the lives and experiences of the elderly. By taking part, students learn the value of supporting others and the impact small acts of generosity can have on people’s lives.
We are looking forward to seeing the school community come together to make this year’s project a success and to bring some joy and festive spirit to the residents and staff at Parkview.
To make sure that we get everything the residents would like, we have items that we will focus on collecting each week. We thank everyone that donates in advance. Donations should be brought to the reception team. The collection windows are below:
Lift Bexleyheath
Woolwich Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA6 7DA
