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.
On Latest News This Week:
Year 11 Weekly Newsletter | Please find the Year 11 Weekly Newsletter from the Year 11 Team here.
Sixth Form Weekly 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 question about the fixtures, please contact Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director for Sports (tsheehan@liftbexleyheath.org).
Extra-Curricular Clubs Next Week | There will only be selected extra-curricular clubs for the next two weeks. For this week, the clubs that will be running are:
Inclusion | Dyslexia | At our school, we recognise that every child’s brain works in a slightly different way and that difference is a strength, not a barrier. We continue to raise awareness of neurodiversity and the many ways it can present itself, helping students to feel understood, valued and supported.
Dyslexia, for example, is often misunderstood as simply “mixing up letters.” In reality, it is a difference in how the brain processes language and has no link to intelligence. While it can make reading, spelling and writing more challenging, it is also associated with strong “big picture” thinking. Many students with dyslexia demonstrate strengths such as visual and creative thinking, strong storytelling skills, empathy, and an ability to recognise patterns and connections others may miss.
Families play an important role in supporting students at home. Practical ways to help include encouraging reading but this can also be supported with alternative formats such as audiobooks where students can read along with the audiobook or reading with your child. Some students will receive paired reading support in school which is easy to replicate at home. Another way is allowing students to talk through ideas before writing them down, and breaking homework into smaller, manageable steps. How homework platforms allow students to complete sections at a time and allow them to return to tasks if they want to take breaks in between. Using visual supports, mind maps or diagrams can help children organise their thinking, while practising spellings in short, regular bursts is often more effective than longer sessions. Most importantly, praising effort rather than speed or accuracy helps to build confidence and resilience.
Supporting neurodivergent learners means recognising that great minds do not all work in the same way. By focusing on strengths, maintaining high expectations and working together between home and school, we create an inclusive environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed and every way of learning is respected.
Attendance | Regular attendance and punctual arrival at school are essential for students to achieve their full potential. Significant lateness in the morning can have a major impact on attendance. Even arriving late to lessons can affect a student’s record by 50% for that day, making it harder to access important learning and start the day positively. Leaving during the day for illness or medical appointments also affects attendance in the same way. Missing part of the school day reduces learning time and can disrupt routines. For example, a student who arrives at 09:30 and then leaves at lunchtime due to a headache would have 0% attendance for that day, as missing large portions of lessons counts heavily against their overall record.
Our expectation for all students is 100% attendance. While we recognise that illness and appointments do occur, strong attendance is one of the most important factors in academic success. Attendance below 96% puts students at increasing risk of falling behind. Attendance of 90% and below is classed as persistent absence and significantly reduces a student’s chances of reaching their potential.
To put this into perspective:
We are committed to working with families to support good attendance and punctuality. If you are experiencing difficulties affecting your child’s attendance, please contact their Pastoral Manager for advice and support:
Thank you for helping your child attend school on time, every day, and make the most of every learning opportunity. If you have any questions regarding attendance, please contact Ms Delver, Vice-Principal (pdelver@liftbexleyheath.org).
Football Excellence | Girls' Team | On Wednesday, 21 January, some of our Year 07 and 08 girls proudly represented Charlton Athletic FC at the Utilita Girls Cup South East Area Finals and what a performance it was! Competing against schools representing nine other football academies across the South East, our team showed determination, teamwork and real quality throughout the tournament.
After a highly competitive day, the girls finished an impressive 3rd place, narrowly missing out on a place in the final and the opportunity to progress to Wembley in the next stage. Reflecting on the day, one member of staff shared, “The girls showed incredible resilience and composure they represented both the school and Charlton Athletic with real pride.” Another added, “Their attitude, effort and teamwork were outstanding from start to finish.”
Well done to all the girls involved, you should be incredibly proud of your achievement. You truly did us proud. All students were celebrated.
Football Excellence Again! | Year 07 Boys' Football | It’s been an incredible week for our Year 07 football teams! Our A team stormed to a 6-0 victory against Bexley Grammar Thursday afternoon, showing excellent skill, teamwork and determination on the pitch. Not to be outdone, our B Team also delivered an outstanding performance earlier in the week, securing an 8-2 win on Tuesday.
Both teams displayed great energy, passing, and goal scoring flair, making our school proud. One of the players reflected, “We’ve been working really hard in training, and it feels amazing to see it pay off in matches like this!” Another added, “Everyone supported each other on the pitch, that’s why we played so well together.”
The students were celebrated during line-up and got a winners treat from the canteen.
Congratulations to all the players involved, brilliant effort, fantastic results, and a true showcase of school spirit!
Year 10 & Year 12 Work Experience | We would like to remind parents and carers of our Year 10 and Year 12 students about the 2026 Work Experience programme, an important opportunity that supports students’ personal development, confidence and future career aspirations. Work experience allows students to gain first-hand insight into the world of work, develop key employability skills and make informed decisions about their next steps. To ensure students are able to take part, it is essential that all key deadlines are met. Without completed consent forms and placement details, students will not be able to participate.
Key Dates:
Students who have already completed work experience have spoken positively about the impact it had on them. One Year 10 student shared, “It helped me understand what a real working day looks like and made me feel more confident speaking to adults.” Another reflected, “I learned how important teamwork and time management are, it definitely helped me mature.” A third student added, “Work experience showed me what I enjoy and what I don’t, which has helped me think more clearly about my future career.”
We strongly encourage families to support students in securing a suitable placement early and meeting the deadlines above, so they can make the most of this valuable opportunity. If you have any questions about Work Experience, please contact Dr Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@liftbexleyheath.org).
Chewing Gum Correction | We have recently seen a noticeable increase in the number of students chewing gum during the school day. While this may seem minor, chewing gum is not permitted in school and causes a number of issues that impact health, learning and our school environment.
From a health perspective, excessive gum chewing can lead to jaw strain, headaches and stomach discomfort, particularly when chewed for long periods of time. It can also become a distraction in lessons, affecting concentration and engagement in learning for both the student and those around them.
Chewing gum also has a significant impact on our school environment. Discarded gum is frequently found stuck to floors, desks and outdoor areas, creating an unpleasant and unhygienic environment. Gum is extremely difficult to remove, often requiring specialist cleaning, which takes time and resources away from maintaining other areas of the school. This damage affects shared spaces and goes against our expectations of respect for the school site.
Students will be reminded of these expectations throughout this week. From Monday, 02 February, if a student is found chewing gum in school, they will be issued with a correction, and the gum will be confiscated and disposed of. We appreciate your support in reinforcing this expectation at home.
By working together, we can ensure our school remains a clean, respectful and focused environment for everyone.
Assembly This Week | National Mental Health Awareness Week | In assemblies, the focus on Excellence is a Habit, one of our six Maxims, linked to National Mental Health Awareness Week. Students learned strategies for managing stress, particularly during exam preparation, and reflected on coping mechanisms to maintain well-being.
Assemblies continued to reinforce Prevent themes, helping students recognise radicalisation and extremism, think critically, and understand how to seek support. Attendance, effort, and positive behaviour were celebrated to reinforce high expectations and shared school values. Safeguarding messages from Ms Upton addressed key issues such as county lines, online risks, and safe social media use.
Safeguarding | TikTok | We have been made aware by Essex Police of concerning activity involving two young adults who may be having contact with children and young people online. The police have advised that these individuals may be deliberately targeting vulnerable young people, including those who are currently on, or have previously been on, CAMHS inpatient wards. There are serious concerns that these individuals may be engaging in harmful and inappropriate online communication, including encouraging self-harm. Of particular concern is a possible connection between these individuals and a social media account that children and young people may be following. One individual is believed to have a significant online presence (approximately 3,000 followers), and it is suspected that maintaining this following may be a motivating factor in their engagement with vulnerable young people.
At this stage, we are aware of possible links involving two patients in Essex: one who is currently an inpatient and another on an adult acute mental health ward. The situation is being actively monitored by Essex Police for any potential criminal activity and by the Local Authority. There is currently no information to suggest that any students within our school community have been directly affected. However, due to the seriousness of the concerns raised and the proximity of the Local Authority involved, we believe it is important to share this information so that families can remain alert and informed.
We strongly encourage parents and carers to monitor their child’s online activity and social media use. Having regular conversations about who they are communicating with online is essential. It is important to remind young people not to engage with or follow accounts that cause concern. As we have advised previously, remind young people not to share personal information with individuals they do not know or trust. Please report any concerning contact, messages, or online activity to the school immediately. Our safeguarding and pastoral teams remain available to support any students or families who may be affected. We will continue to work closely with external agencies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our young people. 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.
Personal Development | This week in Personal Development, students continued to develop their wellbeing, character, and aspirations through structured PD lessons, assemblies, and leadership line-up messages.
In PD lessons, the focus remained on careers education, helping students explore pathways and make informed choices. Younger students explored what a career is, the challenges and rewards of work, and began thinking about decision-making for KS4 options. Older students focused on post-16 and post-18 pathways, setting career goals, and building employability skills. Several year groups consolidated their learning through checkouts and reflective tasks, helping students articulate their ambitions and consider next steps.
Free Breakfast Bagels | The school is offering students free breakfast bagels which are served in the small canteen each morning from 07:50 until 08:25. Should students want to buy other breakfast items, these will also be available. Students have requested to be able to buy sandwiches and baguettes for later on in the day which will also be available soon.
Year 09 Options Update | This is a milestone moment in our academic calendar as our Year 9 students prepare to transition into Key Stage 4. This process marks a significant shift in their educational journey, moving from a broad foundation toward the specialised pathways they will follow over the next two years. The GCSE Options Process is designed to align a student’s academic profile with their future aspirations, ensuring they have the right qualifications to succeed in the next phase of their lives.
We understand that this transition can feel both exciting and a little daunting. Our goal is to ensure every student feels supported, informed, and empowered to make choices that keep as many doors open as possible. Please find the key dates below:
16:30-17:15 | X Band
17:15-18:00 | Y Band
18:00-18:45 | Z Band
If you are not sure what band your child is in, please look at the timetable and look for; X, Y, or Z next to their English, Mathematics and Science subject. We encourage all families to attend both events to fully support students as they make these important decisions for their future. If you have any questions regarding the Year 09 Options process, please contact Mr Kama, Year Group Lead (ekama@liftbexleyheath.org).
Aspens Canteen Menu | Families have requested to see the menu for the food available in the canteen which can be found below. This does not include breakfast items. This week, we will have the Week 01 menu:
Extra-Curricular Clubs | Chess Club | Our Chess Club has been going from strength to strength since the start of the academic year and has quickly become a favourite for students who enjoy a challenge! Running every Wednesday at lunchtime and Thursday after school, the club offers a lively and welcoming space where students can sharpen their skills, learn new strategies and enjoy friendly but focused competition.
Whether students are seasoned players or brand new to the game, everyone is encouraged to get involved. As one member of staff shared, “Chess teaches students how to think ahead, stay patient and learn from mistakes all while having fun.” A student regular added, “It’s competitive but relaxed, and you’re always learning something new every time you play.”
With boards always set and minds always ticking, Chess Club continues to prove that strategy, concentration and enjoyment go hand in hand. If you have any questions about clubs, please contact Ms Dello Buono, Assistant Principal (edellobuono@liftbexleyheath.org).
What's been happening in Social Sciences this week? | This week in Social Sciences, our Key Stage 4 Health students have been fully immersed in independent research as part of their coursework. Students are exploring the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social (PIES) development of individuals, drawing on a wide range of resources, including digital texts, lesson materials, and structured planning tools. This research-based approach is helping students develop essential academic skills such as sourcing information, synthesising findings, and applying knowledge effectively to assessed work.
Our Year 11 Health students have been using a variety of active learning strategies to support their research. Techniques such as split-screen working enable them to compare sources side by side, while recording key ideas, questions, and planning notes on whiteboards encourages clear thinking and effective organisation. This method not only supports recall and refinement of written work but also fosters independence, metacognition, and purposeful engagement with the course content.
Students are now translating their research into structured coursework responses, focusing on drafting and refining their written work. By planning key points and subject-specific terminology on whiteboards before committing ideas to paper, they ensure their writing is accurate, detailed, and aligned with assessment criteria. This process allows students to demonstrate both depth of understanding and effective application of knowledge, preparing them thoroughly for successful completion of their coursework.
What's been happening in Performing Arts this week? | This week, our Year 10 Performing Arts students were treated to an incredible opportunity as part of their course: a trip to the West End to see Disney’s Hercules!
The experience went beyond watching the show, giving students a unique, behind-the-scenes insight into professional theatre. They enjoyed a backstage tour, where they met members of the production team and actors, explored the set, and even walked the stage, seeing first-hand the scale and detail involved in a major West End production.
Back in the classroom, students had a Q&A session with Adam Pritchard, Production Manager for Disney West End Productions. This allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the extensive planning, coordination, and preparation required to bring a show from concept to stage. Students asked thoughtful questions about rehearsal schedules, set design, and the teamwork needed to make a production run smoothly, linking directly to their Performing Arts coursework.
One student reflected, “Seeing Hercules live and then walking on the stage ourselves was amazing, it really brought everything we learn in class to life!” Another added, “The Q&A with Adam gave me so much insight into how much work goes into a show. It’s inspired me to think about a career in theatre.”
This trip provided an unforgettable learning experience, inspiring our students and giving them a real taste of life in professional theatre. It’s an example of how classroom learning and real-world experience can combine to make Performing Arts come alive!
Lift Bexleyheath
Woolwich Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA6 7DA
