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.
Start-of-Term Arrangements | Term three starts on Tuesday, 06 January at 08:30.
A Strong Start to the Term | The start of a new term is a key opportunity to set high standards and positive routines for the weeks ahead. Attending school on the first day of term and arriving on time sends a clear message to students that school matters and expectations are important. When students miss the first day, they often miss vital information, new routines, and learning that sets the tone for the term. This can lead to gaps in understanding, increased anxiety, disrupted friendships, and difficulties settling back into school life. Late or missed starts can also impact staff’s ability to support students effectively from day one. We ask families to support a strong start by ensuring students are present, punctual, and ready to learn on the first day of term. Getting this right helps students feel confident, connected, and prepared for success. Thank you for working with us to set high standards from the very beginning.
Getting Ready to Return to School | The start of a new term is an important moment for setting the tone and expectations that will carry us through the year. Getting it right on the very first day ensures that lessons begin smoothly, valuable learning time is not lost, and every student is focused on achieving their best from the outset. To support this, we ask that all families carefully review and follow our uniform and equipment expectations. The School Uniform Policy can be found here, and it is essential that you take time to read it in full before your child returns.
A reminder of the key requirements:
By arriving fully prepared, students send a clear message to themselves and others: they are ready to learn, to contribute, and to succeed. A strong, consistent start means we can focus every moment on high-quality teaching and learning. Thank you for your support in making sure every child is fully prepared for the first day back.
A reminder of what appropriate school trousers are:
Homework | Homework was issued to all students across our online learning platforms on Friday, 19 December. Students are expected to complete and submit their assignments by Thursday, 08 December, allowing a total of three weeks to work on the tasks. This extended time frame is designed to give students ample opportunity to plan, review, and complete their homework to a high standard.
Interventions & Extra-Curricular Clubs | Interventions & Extra-Curricular Clubs will not be running this week. All clubs and interventions will resume on the week commencing Monday, 12 January 2026. Please see the extra-curricular offer for this term here.
Year 11 Saturday Interventions | To ensure your child is fully supported in reaching their potential following the mock examinations, we are launching our intervention program immediately upon our return to school. These sessions are designed to bridge specific knowledge gaps and build the confidence necessary for success in their upcoming assessments. In addition to in-school support, we are pleased to announce that Saturday Morning will commence on Saturday, 10 January for selected students. These sessions will run from 08:45 until 12:00 each week. Consistent attendance is vital, as these extra hours provide the dedicated focus and small-group environment required to master the more challenging aspects of the curriculum. The Year 11 team will be in contact with parents next week.
Safeguarding | Supporting a Healthy Sleep Routine | After a period of time away from school, it is very common for children and young people’s sleep patterns to change. Later bedtimes, longer lie-ins, and increased screen time can all have an impact on how well students sleep. When school resumes, this change in routine can affect how children feel and function during the school day. A disrupted sleep pattern can make it harder for children to settle back into learning. They may feel more tired, find it difficult to concentrate, and struggle to retain information. Some children may appear more irritable, anxious, or emotionally sensitive, while others may have lower motivation or energy levels throughout the day. Over time, poor sleep can affect well-being, behaviour, and overall engagement in school.
Families play a vital role in helping children re-establish a positive sleep pattern. Over the weekend, we recommend gradually adjusting bedtimes and wake-up times so they are closer to a normal school routine. Bringing bedtime forward by 15–30 minutes each night can help the body adjust more comfortably. Creating a calm and consistent bedtime routine can also support better sleep. This might include quiet activities such as reading, listening to calming music, or having time to talk about the day. Reducing screen time in the hour before bed is particularly important, as the light from phones, tablets, and televisions can interfere with the body’s natural sleep signals.
Encouraging regular wake-up times, even on non-school days, helps children’s internal body clocks reset more quickly. Ensuring children get some fresh air and physical activity during the day can also improve sleep quality at night. Thank you for your continued support in helping children return to school feeling rested and ready to learn. Small changes at home can make a big difference to how children feel, behave, and engage in their learning during the school day. If you have any concerns about your child’s sleep or well-being, please do not hesitate to contact the school for further support on the following email safeguarding@liftbexleyheath.org.
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.
Term Dates 2026/2027 | We have had some questions regarding term dates for 2026/2027. We hope to share these with you next weekend. These will be provisional dates and are likely to change. INSET days will be decided and added at the end of the academic year.
Lift Bexleyheath
Woolwich Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA6 7DA
