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.
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End-of-Term Arrangements | Term three ends on Friday, 13 February, at 15:10.
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 week. For this week, the clubs that will be running are:
Our normal extra-curricular clubs programme will resume from the week commencing, Monday, 09 February.
Year 07 & Year 08 Family Shout Out | We would like to celebrate our Year 07 and Year 08 families this week for their incredible support in helping students complete homework consistently. Thanks to this partnership, our students are developing strong study habits, organisation skills, and time management, all of which are essential for academic success both now and in the future.
Homework is not just an opportunity to practise and consolidate learning from the classroom, it also helps students plan their time effectively, prioritise tasks, and take responsibility for their own learning. These skills are vital as students progress through school and prepare for more independent study in the later years.
We are delighted to share that 97% of Year 07 students and 95% of Year 08 students completed their homework on time this week, an outstanding achievement!
To support all students in developing these habits, we offer Homework Club, which runs during lunch-time and after school. This provides additional guidance and support for those who may need help managing their workload, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. We are incredibly grateful to our families for reinforcing the importance of homework and helping students build the skills they will carry with them throughout their education.
Year 09 Priority Parents' Evening | We will be holding our Parents' Evening for this term on Wednesday, 11 February. On this day, the school will close at 14:10 to allow us to provide more appointments in response to your feedback. Meetings can be booked from 14:30. The onsite meetings will be for Year 09 families only however, families in other year groups can also book appointments with teacher that do not teach Year 09. These meetings will be virtual.
Parents/carers can book appointments using our online booking system. Appointments are reserved 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).
Year 07 Football Success | Our Year 07 A Team continued their outstanding season this week, extending an already impressive run of results with two convincing victories:
These results add to earlier wins this season against Beths, Bexley Grammar and Harris Falconwood, highlighting a consistently strong performance across a demanding fixture list. Reflecting on the team’s success, Mr Sheehan, Faculty Director, said:“What has impressed me most this season is not just the scorelines, but the way the boys represent the school. Their teamwork, discipline and attitude to training have been excellent and it is clear that they are developing both as players and as young people.”
Mr Hills, Team Coach, also praised the group’s commitment and progress:“The boys have worked incredibly hard since the start of the season. They listen, support one another and show real determination on the pitch. The results we are seeing now are a direct reflection of their effort in training and their willingness to learn and improve every week.”
It has been a fantastic season so far for our Year 07 A Team and we are extremely proud of the way the players have approached every fixture with confidence, respect and a strong sense of team spirit.
Swimming Success | We are thrilled to celebrate Samuel’s outstanding achievement in swimming last weekend. Samuel topped his heat and went on to finish 2nd overall in his age group, setting an incredible 12-second personal best in a Long Course event. His performance has earned him a Kent County 200m Butterfly Silver medal in the 14 years age group, a remarkable accomplishment that reflects his dedication and hard work in training.
For those who would like to watch his race, the link below should take you there. Scroll to 28:30 minutes, the race starts with Heat 4, and Samuel is in Lane 0 wearing a red cap.
This is a moment to celebrate not just Samuel’s medal, but his perseverance, skill, and the joy of seeing all his hard work pay off. Well done, Samuel!
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.
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.
UKMT Success | We are proud to offer students the opportunity to take part in the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Challenges, nationally recognised competitions designed to stretch and inspire pupils who enjoy thinking more deeply about Mathematics.
UKMT challenges go beyond routine classroom questions. They encourage students to think creatively, spot patterns, justify their reasoning and persevere when problems feel challenging. Competitions like this are particularly valuable because they help students build confidence in tackling unfamiliar problems, develop strong logical thinking skills and, importantly, experience the enjoyment that comes from solving rich and interesting mathematical puzzles.
Last Wednesday, 200 students in Years 09 and 10 took part in the Intermediate Challenge, reflecting our strong culture of mathematical ambition across the school. We are also very proud of our 2025 outcomes, with students achieving 07 Gold, 27 Silver and 82 Bronze awards across the Junior and Intermediate challenges.
Looking ahead, the Junior Challenge for Years 07 and 08 will take place on 29 April 2026. Students identified as High Prior Attainers are encouraged to participate each year, as the UKMT provides an excellent opportunity to extend their learning and challenge their thinking in a supportive and nationally recognised competition.
We are grateful for the continued support of families in encouraging students to take part and to approach opportunities such as this with confidence and curiosity.
Year 09 Options Update | The journey towards Key Stage 4 has now begun for our Year 09 students and we want to reassure families that the options process has been carefully planned to support well-informed and confident choices.
Over the past week, dedicated time has been built into the school week to ensure that students fully understand every subject on offer. During Prep sessions, students have heard directly from each department about:
This approach allows students to move beyond subject titles and gain a clear and realistic picture of what studying each option would look like in practice.
This week, we also hosted our Year 09 Virtual Options Evening, giving families the opportunity to hear more about the process and the subjects available. We are now looking forward to welcoming all Year 9 students and their parents/carers to our Subject Bazaar on Wednesday, 04 February where families will be able to speak directly with subject teachers, ask questions and explore courses in more detail before final choices are made.
Our aim is to ensure that every student feels informed, supported and confident in selecting subjects that reflect both their strengths and their future aspirations.
Assembly This Week | Holocaust Memorial | This week, our assembly focused on Holocaust Memorial Day, reminding students of the atrocities of World War II and the importance of remembering the millions of lives lost. It also highlighted how the United Kingdom has worked to build a community rooted in tolerance, respect, and equality.
Students explored key British Values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance, and considered how these principles help create a society where everyone feels safe and valued.
The assembly encouraged students to reflect on how they can stand against prejudice and promote inclusion in their daily lives, linking lessons from history to the positive values that guide our community today.
Safeguarding | Buying & Selling Online | The buying and reselling of goods online has become increasingly common among teenagers, often influenced by social media content that presents reselling as an easy way to make money. While young people may view this activity as harmless or entrepreneurial, it can present a number of safeguarding, legal, and financial risks that families and schools should be aware of. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to online scams and fraudulent activity. This may include purchasing goods that never arrive, unknowingly buying counterfeit items, or selling products and subsequently having payments reversed. In many cases, young people are targeted specifically because they may have limited experience of online marketplaces and consumer protections, which can result in financial loss and distress.
There are also important legal considerations. Many online marketplaces and payment platforms require users to be 18 years of age or older. When young people use accounts in another person’s name, they may be in breach of these terms and conditions, which can lead to accounts being suspended and funds being frozen or lost. In addition, reselling certain items, such as event tickets above face value, counterfeit branded goods, or age-restricted products, may be unlawful. Financial pressure can arise when teenagers purchase items with the expectation of reselling them for profit. If goods do not sell, or sell for less than anticipated, young people may be left out of pocket. This can lead to anxiety, secrecy, or an increased willingness to take further risks in an attempt to recover losses.
Online reselling can also present risks to personal safety and privacy. Communication with unknown buyers or sellers may involve sharing personal information, addresses, or arranging in-person meetings. Without appropriate safeguards and adult awareness, these situations can place young people at risk of harm. In some instances, teenagers may be encouraged by others to sell goods on their behalf, without a clear understanding of where the items originate or how the money is being used. This can expose young people to exploitation or involvement in criminal activity without fully appreciating the seriousness of the situation.
It is important that parents, carers, and schools maintain open and informed conversations with young people about online buying, selling, and financial responsibility. Encouraging realistic expectations, awareness of online risks, and reassurance that support is available if something goes wrong can play a key role in keeping young people safe online 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.
Lost Property | We have an ever-growing Lost Property collection, which contains coats, blazers, shoes and much more. If your child has lost an item, please look at the Gallery of Lost Property on this page. If you recognise an item, please encourage your child to go to the library, where Ms Eldridge safely stores any lost items. At the end of each term, items not collected will be used to support other students, given to charity, or destroyed.
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.
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 02 menu:
Careers Insight Talks | Aviation Industry - Pilot | This week’s Careers Insight talk gave students a fascinating overview of the role of a pilot and the many pathways the aviation industry offers. The session explored the wide range of opportunities available within aviation, the different routes into becoming a pilot, and how careers can progress over time, from initial training through to senior roles. Students also learned about the challenges pilots may face, including the high level of responsibility, the need for resilience, and the importance of strong academic foundations alongside ongoing professional development.
In addition, students learned what makes piloting such an exciting and rewarding career. From travelling to new destinations and working with cutting edge technology to being part of a highly skilled global profession, they gained a realistic and inspiring insight into life in the cockpit.
We would encourage parents and carers to continue these conversations at home by exploring Labour Market Information (LMI) together. This could include looking not only at pilot roles but also at the many other professions within the aviation industry, such as air traffic control, aerospace engineering, aircraft maintenance, aviation management, cabin crew, and airport operations.
If you would like to share your career journey with our wonderful students, please contact Dr F Lucas at flucas@liftbexleyheath.org.
What's been happening in Humanities this week? | This week, we focused on Geography and RE lessons to let you know what students have been getting up to.
In Year 07 RE, students have been exploring Sikhism and the Gurdwara, gaining a deeper understanding of the faith’s core values. They focused on charity and sharing, learning how these principles are put into practice through the Langar, the community kitchen where all are welcome to share a meal. Students have reflected on how generosity, equality, and community spirit are central to Sikh life, making real-world connections to these timeless values.
Meanwhile, in Year 08 RE, students have been investigating the role of funerals and music in expressing beliefs about life after death. They considered the question: “What does funeral music reflect about beliefs concerning life after death?” Students listened to a rich variety of music, from traditional hymns like “Abide With Me” and “Amazing Grace” to secular tracks such as “Angels” by Robbie Williams and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. This variety helped them understand how music—whether religious or non-religious can offer comfort, hope, and reflect deeply held beliefs.
Miss Bailie encouraged students to share their thoughts, asking, “Why do you think music is played at funerals?” Meanwhile, Mr Miah carefully supported students during independent tasks, helping them address misconceptions and think critically about how different cultures and beliefs celebrate life and remember those who have passed.
These lessons give students the chance to explore complex ideas, develop empathy, and make meaningful connections between faith, tradition, and everyday life. It’s been a thought-provoking and inspiring term in RE!
In Year 07 Geography, students have been exploring wealth in the UK today. They learned that the UK is classified as a High-Income Country (HIC) and investigated how the nation has historically generated wealth through agriculture (primary sector) and manufacturing (secondary sector). More recently, the service sector has become the biggest contributor to the economy.
Mr Sheehan brought this to life by focusing on Banking and Finance, which generates an impressive £170 billion for the UK economy each year, employs 2 million people, and contributes £30 billion in taxes. Students were fascinated to see how these numbers reflect the scale and importance of the sector, connecting classroom learning to real-world economics.
Meanwhile, Year 08 and Year 09 Geography students have been busy completing their end-of-topic assessments.
Through these lessons, students are developing a strong understanding of how economies grow, change, and interact globally, while applying critical thinking skills to real-world scenarios. The department is incredibly proud of how engaged and thoughtful students have been in tackling these complex topics.
Calm Corridors, Calm Minds and a Great Start to Lessons | At Lift Bexleyheath, we place a strong emphasis on creating calm, safe and orderly corridors so that students can move around the building confidently and feel secure throughout the school day. All of our routines work together to create an environment where students feel safe, supported and ready to focus on their learning.
Each morning, and at the end of break and lunchtime, students line up and re-enter the building with their teacher in a calm and organised way. This sets clear expectations for positive behaviour, reduces congestion at entrances and ensures that lessons begin smoothly and on time.
During lesson changeovers, senior leaders, teaching staff and support staff are positioned on corridors and staircases. Their role is to promote swift and sensible movement, provide guidance where needed and ensure that corridors remain calm, purposeful and well supervised at all times.
Students walk to the left to minimise congestion and for students to get to lessons quickly and safely.
It is particularly important to emphasise that students are not permitted to wear coats inside the building. Alongside this, hats, hoods and any form of face covering are also not allowed. This expectation is a fundamental part of how we keep corridors safe and how we help students feel secure in shared spaces.
Bulky outerwear can restrict movement in busy corridors and on staircases and increases the risk of accidents. More importantly, when students wear large coats, hoods or cover their faces, it becomes harder for staff to clearly see and identify students and to monitor behaviour effectively. The ability for adults to have clear visibility at all times is central to safeguarding.
We are also mindful of how the school environment feels for our young people. The easy motion of students pulling up hoods or covering their faces, combined with bulky outerwear, can feel intimidating for some students. For a number of young people, this can mirror feelings of uncertainty or anxiety that they may experience when encountering similar situations in public spaces or on the street. By keeping faces visible and removing outerwear inside the building, we help create a calmer, more open and reassuring environment for everyone.
To further promote comfort and well-being, bathrooms are allocated by year group. This enables students to share facilities with peers of a similar age, helping them feel more at ease, while also preventing overcrowding and long queues at busy points in the day.
At the end of the school day, staff are again present on corridors and at exits to manage the flow of students leaving the building, ensuring that dismissal is calm, orderly and safe for everyone.
All of these routines work together to create an environment where students feel safe, supported and ready to learn. We are proud of how well our students respond to these expectations and appreciate the continued support of parents and carers in reinforcing the importance of calm, respectful movement around the school.
Question Time at Bexley Civic Centre | On Wednesday, 28th January, our students attended a Question Time-style event at the Bexley Civic Centre, designed to give them a genuine insight into civic leadership and decision-making.
In preparation for the event, students researching topics and prepared their questions in advance, ensuring they were able to engage meaningfully with the panel. The panel included leaders from Education, Health and Social Care, a school governor, and the Director of Children’s Services.
Students asked thoughtful and well-informed questions on topics that directly affect young people, including education, well-being, safeguarding, community support, and future opportunities. Panel members praised the students for their engagement and depth of understanding.
Ms Hajarie, SENDCo, said: "It was fantastic to see our students so confident and prepared. They asked really perceptive questions, demonstrating both curiosity and a genuine understanding of the issues affecting their communities."
The event provided a unique opportunity for students to develop confidence, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of civic responsibility, while also giving local leaders valuable insight into the priorities and concerns of young people in Bexley.
Lift Bexleyheath
Woolwich Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA6 7DA
