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.
Sixth Form Newsletter | Please find the Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter from the Sixth Form Team here.
Key Dates Term 06 Reminders:
Year 06 Transitions | Transition Days | The countdown is on and the excitement is building here at Lift Bexleyheath as we prepare to welcome the wonderful Year 6 students who will be officially joining our school family this September! Our highly anticipated Transition Days are just around the corner on Tuesday, 07 July and Wednesday, 08 July, and we cannot wait to give our rising stars their very first taste of secondary school life. Both days will run from 09:00 to 14:30, packed with fantastic activities designed to banish those nerves and build unstoppable confidence. This is a full access pass to life as a Lift Bexleyheath student, where over two action packed days, your child will get to know their brilliant new teachers, spend quality time bonding with their new year group, navigate the corridors with ease, and explore the campus. They will also get to test out our great playground facilities and experience the buzz of using the school canteen at lunchtime. By the time the final bell rings, our goal is for every single student to walk away feeling comfortable, connected, and genuinely excited to start their new adventure.
The transition to secondary school is a major milestone for the whole family, which is why we are also looking forward to welcoming Year 06 parents and carers to our Transition Evenings on the afternoons of both days. These sessions are an invaluable opportunity for families to step inside the school, meet key members of staff, and get all the vital information needed for this next step. We will be covering everything from school expectations to how we support your child’s academic and personal growth, ensuring you feel fully prepared and informed for the journey ahead. We are counting down the days until we can officially welcome our newest students and their families into the vibrant Lift Bexleyheath community!
Inclusion Virtual Events | Term 06 | Families of SEND students will be provided with the opportunity to meet with Ms Hajarie, SENDCo, on a Tuesday. This is a continuation of the opportunities that were provided during previous terms. These sessions will be 15 minutes and will be virtual. The dates are as follows:
Appointments are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis and will open ten days before the event on a Saturday afternoon at 14:00. 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).
Principal's Drop-ins | The Principal, Rubeka Luthfa, is offering families the opportunity to book a virtual drop-in meeting. The Principal said:
"A huge thank you to the families who dropped by to chat with me this week! We had some fantastic conversations, balancing real problem-solving with exciting new ideas and some incredibly kind feedback about our school. Connecting with you is the best part of my week, and I can't wait to continue these weekly drop-ins for the rest of the term."
These sessions are designed to provide a direct line of communication with the Principal. Families may use this time to discuss any unresolved concerns, ask questions about the school, or simply have a general check-in.
Each appointment will last 20 minutes. To ensure fair access for all families, we kindly ask that bookings are only made if you are able to attend. The dates are as follows:
Once a booking has been made, the Principal will contact you via email to gather further information about the purpose of the meeting. This will allow any necessary preparation to take place in advance and help ensure that the time is used as effectively as possible.
A range of appointment times has been made available to accommodate different schedules and maximise accessibility for all families.
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).
KS3 End-of -Year Assessments | This week marked a major milestone for our Key Stage 3 students as they tackled their first round of End-of-Year assessments. Walking into the examination halls can be a daunting experience, but our Year 07 and Year 08 students stepped up to the challenge with incredible maturity, focus, and confidence.
While the formal exam hall environment can sometimes feel a little scary, our younger students didn’t let that phase them. They handled the quiet desks, the strict timings, and the high expectations like absolute pros. We could not be prouder of the resilience and determination they displayed in every single session.
Stepping into these formal conditions early is a vital part of our students' academic journey. By experiencing the exact same setup and rules as national examinations now, our Year 07 and 08s are building crucial habits for the future.
A massive congratulations to all of our Year 7 and Year 8 students for their outstanding effort this week. You have set a fantastic standard for the rest of the year, enjoy a well-deserved rest this weekend!
For the week commencing, Monday, 15 June, the following assessments are scheduled:
For the week commencing, Monday, 22 June, the following assessments are scheduled:
These are short assessments and are spread out across the next six weeks.
Students that miss assessments will complete them on the next available date.
Year 10 & 12 Mock Examinations | Our Year 10 students have approached their first mock examinations this week with maturity and resilience, and we are incredibly proud of how well they have managed the experience.
Next week’s examination schedule is outlined below, including approximate start and finish times. Please note that these timings do not include any additional time allocated for students with access arrangements, as this will vary depending on individual needs.
The Year 12 timetable can be found on the Sixth Form Newsletter.
Our First Summer Fair | We are absolutely thrilled to announce that this year, we will be hosting our first-ever Summer Fair!
Our school is home to a wonderfully diverse community, and this event will be a grand celebration of the different cultures, traditions, and backgrounds that make us who we are. Our main goal is to bring families, staff, and neighbours together for a day of joy, connection, and shared experiences.
To make this inaugural event an unforgettable success, we need your help! There are two fantastic ways for our families to get involved:
Are you a budding entrepreneur, a talented baker, a craft maker, or a local business owner? We want to showcase the incredible talents within our community! We are offering families the opportunity to rent a stall at the fair to sell their own products or promote their services.
If you don't want to run a stall but still want to be a part of the magic, we would love to have you on board as a volunteer. Whether you can spare an hour to help set up, run a traditional game, or help pack away at the end of the day, your time and energy will make all the difference. Please complete this form here to volunteer.
The Principal said:
"This Summer Fair is all about unity, culture, and community spirit. We want it to be an event created by our community, for our community. We cannot wait to see the amazing stalls, tastes, and talents our families bring to the table!"
Save the date, start thinking about your stall ideas, and keep an eye out for further details regarding the official date and timings in next week’s update!
Term 06 | School Tours | As the national examination season draws to a close, we are absolutely delighted to announce that we will be opening our doors once again for further school tours, giving you a wonderful opportunity to get to know the environment your child attends daily. In this digital day and age, it is unfortunately common for individuals to sit behind a keyboard and misinform community members about school life. While we cannot change that online culture, we can choose to be completely transparent about the vibrant, positive, and enriching daily experiences our students typically have. We are incredibly proud to say that we are the only school in the borough that gives the families of existing students the unique opportunity to visit and see the school in action throughout the academic year.
Families who have previously joined us on these tours have been blown away by the calm and focused atmosphere.
One parent shared, "Seeing the school on a normal working day completely put my mind at ease. The classrooms were calm, the students were engaged, and there was a real warmth in the corridors that you just don't hear about online. I could not believe that nearly 1500 hundred student attend the school because of how calm each classroom. Your standards are very high and it is great to know learning is disruption free."
Another visitor noted, "I loved seeing exactly how my child spends their day. It’s clear the teachers genuinely care, and the focus on learning is incredible. I loved seeing the range in class sizes and hearing the rationale for it, one class of 24 and then in a classroom next door a class of 8 and its all decisions that were made for the kids and what is best for them."
If you are curious about how our school operates on a day-to-day basis and want to see our community thriving firsthand, we warmly invite you to book a tour using the link provided here. The following dates are currently available for booking, and we look forward to welcoming you into our corridors very soon:
What's been happening in Performing Arts? | Last week, our Key Stage 3 students stepped back in time and right into the magic of theatre with an unforgettable trip to the world-famous Shakespeare’s Globe! Nestled in the historic heart of Central London, this iconic open-air venue played host to our students as they took in a spellbinding production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
From the moment they arrived, the energy was electric. Our students were absolutely captivated by the vibrant, larger-than-life set design and the explosive energy of the actors. But this wasn't just a passive trip to the theatre, our students actually became part of the show! Standing in the thick of it all, they took on the role of the traditional "groundlings," joining in with the crowd and actively participating in the performance.
This incredible, immersive experience truly brought Shakespeare’s language off the page and onto the stage in a way they will never forget.
The feedback from the day was buzzing, with students raving about the unique atmosphere of the open-air theatre and how exciting it was to experience the play exactly as audiences did hundreds of years ago.
A massive, heartfelt thank you goes to Mrs McGibbon for organising such an inspiring trip and giving our students the chance to experience the majesty, wonder, and enduring magic of live Shakespeare!
Morocco Updates | Our World Challenge expedition to Morocco is 03 weeks away! Coming up on Friday, we have our World Challenge leader on site to run a training day with the students.
Sixth Form Admissions | Congratulations to all students who applied to join our Sixth Form and received their conditional offers last week. We are delighted to welcome you and look forward to seeing you at our Sixth Form Taster Day on Monday, 06 July. Invitations for the taster day will be sent next week. The day is designed to give prospective students an insight into Sixth Form life, including experiencing lessons in their chosen subjects, meeting the teachers and current students, exploring enrichment opportunities, and learning more about the support available to help students achieve their ambitions at Lift Bexleyheath. It is an excellent opportunity to experience the Sixth Form environment and prepare for the exciting transition into Sixth Form in September 2026.
Students who have not yet submitted an application can still apply via our online application portal here.
If you have any questions about Sixth Form life, courses, or the transition process, please contact Mr Read, Head of Sixth Form, or Mrs Arthur, Pastoral Manager, who will be happy to help.
For any queries relating specifically to admissions or support with completing the application form, please email sixthformadmission@liftbexleyheath.org.
Our KS3 Futures Project | This week, a group of our KS3 students took part in an exciting opportunity as part of the KS3 Futures Programme, a Trust pilot project developed in partnership with the Reach Foundation. The programme aims to address a nationwide challenge: improving engagement, attendance and outcomes for Key Stage 3 students by ensuring that schools better meet their academic, social and developmental needs. On Wednesday, selected students participated in a pupil voice session, providing valuable insight into what matters most to them about school. Through structured discussions and activities, students reflected on their experiences of KS3, sharing their views on learning, relationships, wellbeing, enrichment opportunities and the wider school environment.
The session gave students a meaningful platform to express their thoughts and ideas, helping us to understand what is working well and where further improvements can be made. Their feedback will play an important role in shaping future developments within the programme and ensuring that the student perspective remains at the heart of decision-making.
We would like to thank all the students who took part for their thoughtful contributions and honest reflections. Their willingness to share their experiences will help us continue to create the best possible KS3 experience for all our young people.
Thank a Teacher Day | On Tuesday, 17 June, we will be joining schools across the country in celebrating Thank a Teacher Day, a special occasion dedicated to recognising the incredible impact that teachers and school staff have on children and young people every single day.
It is a chance to pause and say a heartfelt thank you to those who go above and beyond, whether through inspiring lessons, quiet encouragement, or the care and support they show behind the scenes.
We would love for our community to take part by sharing messages of appreciation. If a member of staff has made a difference to you or your child, please consider sending a short note of thanks using the link here.
Your kind words really do matter. They boost morale, celebrate dedication, and remind our staff just how valued they are. Even a few sentences can make someone’s day!
Let's Read at Home over Summer | We know that reading can open doors to imagination, confidence, and lifelong learning, and the summer holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to nurture this habit at home.
As the writer George R.R. Martin reminds us, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only one.” With this in mind, we are encouraging all students to spend time reading over the summer and, where possible, to enjoy this together with you.
To support this, we are delighted to offer each student the opportunity to choose one free book for you to enjoy at home as a family. There is no cost to you, simply select a book that you and your child would like to read together.
While students continue to have access to digital platforms such as Sparx Reader and Bedrock, we recognise the unique value of a physical book, the feel of turning pages, the chance to share a story side by side, and the opportunity to pause, discuss, and reflect together. As Dr. Seuss famously said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Key information:
We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and make reading a shared and enjoyable part of your summer. If you would like to select a book, please use this form here.
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What's been happening in History this week? | This week marks the end of the exam season for our students for Year 11 and Year 13. For Year 11, they completed their Edexcel Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1939) Paper. This amounts to the conclusion of two years’ hard work. I could not be more proud of their dedication: coming in over half term, weekends, and attending online revision sessions the night before all three history exams. Our students came out of the exam beaming and their academic comparisons after the exams genuinely impressed me: “Which optional question did you choose? Did you write about Kinder, Kirche, Kuche? I made sure I spent 35 minutes on the largest question, did you?”
Mr Mack-Poole said: "As a parent of a Year 11 student, an academy council member, and a teacher in this academy, I genuinely look forward to results’ day this year. I would also like to give a special mention to Mr Reavell, Ms Johnson and Ms Bailie for supporting the revision drop down days. A special mention should go to Mr Reavell who helped me in the design of the revision materials for the Year 11 cohort -- we were messaging each other late at night to ensure everything went perfectly. I would also like to thank the Year 11 pastoral team of Mr Rayner, Mr Ephson and Ms Byfield for helping to support our students in what is a challenging time of their lives. Lastly, a huge thank you should go to Ms Shalo and Ms Chapman who worked tirelessly to arrange the smooth running of the exams."
Our wonderful Year 13 cohort also bid farewell to the history faculty last week. Mr Reavell and Mr Mack-Poole have taught some of this cohort from Year 07. They completed their British Empire and Russian Revolution exams with a high degree of confidence. It’s a very special thing for us to see students become adults and move onto the next stage of their lives: whether they study a degree or start an apprenticeship, our ‘A’ level students leave us with a high level of critical thinking skills, ready to be resilient members of society.
KS3 High Attainers | This week, our Year 08 and 09 High Prior Attainers (HPAs) came together to celebrate their achievements and set ambitious goals for the future. A High Prior Attainer is defined as a student who achieved an average scaled score of 110 or above across their Key Stage 2 Mathematics and Reading assessments.
The session highlighted the many opportunities available through the HPA programme, including tailored academic support aimed at securing the highest GCSE grades, access to leadership opportunities, enhanced career pathways, and potential international experiences. It also provided a valuable opportunity for students to reflect on their successes so far and gain a clear understanding of the next steps in their journey towards excellence.
Students engaged thoughtfully with their peers, discussing strategies for maximising their potential and making the most of the opportunities available to them. To support their continued success, each student committed to three key targets:
Inclusion | Goal Setting and Personal Responsibility | Setting goals gives young people direction and helps them understand the steps they need to take to achieve success. For children and young people with SEND, goals are most effective when they are realistic, meaningful, and broken down into manageable steps that feel achievable.
Families can support this process by encouraging young people to reflect on what they would like to develop or improve, while helping them identify small, practical actions they can take. Recognising and celebrating progress along the way is just as important as achieving the final goal, as it helps build motivation and confidence.
Developing independence also involves supporting young people to understand choices, routines, and the impact of their actions. This may include organising equipment, developing homework routines, preparing for the next day, or reflecting on the strategies that help them learn and succeed.
It is important to remember that building independence is a gradual process that requires time, patience, and encouragement. When young people are provided with meaningful opportunities to take ownership within a supportive environment, they develop confidence, resilience, and essential life skills that will support them both now and in the future.
Year 10 & Year 12 Work Experience | Monday ,13 July – Friday, 17 July 2026 | We would like to remind the families of our Year 10 and Year 12 students about the 2026 Work Experience Programme, an important opportunity that supports students’ personal development, builds confidence, and helps shape their future career aspirations.
Work experience enables students to gain first-hand insight into the world of work, develop key employability skills, and make informed decisions about their next steps.
Students who have already completed work experience have spoken very positively about the impact it had on them. Some of their comments are shared below:
If you have any questions about Work Experience, please contact Dr Francis Lucas, Assistant Principal (flucas@liftbexleyheath.org).
Safeguarding | What is child exploitation? | Child exploitation is a form of abuse in which a child or young person is manipulated, coerced, deceived, or forced into activities that benefit another person or group. Exploitation can affect any child regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, background, or family circumstances. In many cases, young people do not recognise that they are being exploited, particularly when the exploitation has developed through a process of grooming and manipulation.
There are several forms of child exploitation. Criminal exploitation occurs when children are pressured or manipulated into engaging in criminal activities such as transporting drugs, carrying weapons, theft, or involvement in fraud. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) involves a child being persuaded, coerced, or forced into sexual activity in exchange for something they need or perceive as valuable, such as attention, affection, gifts, money, status, alcohol, or drugs. Increasingly, exploitation also takes place online, where offenders use social media platforms, gaming environments, messaging applications, and live-streaming services to identify, contact, and manipulate young people.
Exploiters are often highly skilled at building relationships with children and young people. They may initially offer friendship, attention, gifts, support, or a sense of belonging. Over time, these relationships can become controlling and manipulative. A young person may feel indebted to the exploiter or may be threatened, intimidated, or isolated from trusted adults and peers. As a result, many children do not see themselves as victims and may even defend the individual who is exploiting them.
As parents and carers, it is important to be aware of potential warning signs that may indicate a young person is at risk. These signs can include becoming unusually secretive about friendships or online activities, receiving unexplained gifts or money, spending time with significantly older individuals, changes in mood or behaviour, declining school attendance, going missing from home, or suddenly changing friendship groups. While these signs do not automatically mean that exploitation is taking place, they may indicate that a young person requires additional support and monitoring.
Parents can play a vital role in protecting their children by maintaining open, trusting, and non-judgemental communication. Taking an active interest in a young person's online life, understanding who their friends are, and regularly discussing issues such as healthy relationships, consent, personal safety, and online risks can help children feel confident about seeking support if they are worried. Encouraging honest conversations and creating an environment where children feel listened to can be one of the strongest protective factors against exploitation.
If you are concerned that your child may be at risk, it is important to remain calm and avoid reacting with anger or blame. Listen carefully to what your child has to say, reassure them that they are not in trouble, and seek support as soon as possible. If you have any concerns please contact the safeguarding team, and where there is an immediate risk of harm, advice should be sought from children's social care services or the police.
Child exploitation is a serious safeguarding issue that can have a significant impact on a young person's wellbeing, safety, and future opportunities. By staying informed, recognising the signs, and working in partnership with schools and safeguarding professionals, parents and carers can help ensure that children remain safe, supported, and protected from harm.
What's been happening in Mathematics this week? | This week, our Year 11 students completed their final GCSE Mathematics paper, marking the end of a five-year journey of hard work, resilience, and determination.
We are incredibly proud of the effort and commitment our students have shown throughout their studies. As a department, we have had the privilege of supporting them at different stages of their journey, and we would like to thank parents and carers for the vital role they have played along the way.
It has been a long journey, but together we made it. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our students, the support of their families, and the commitment of our staff. It is certainly a moment worth celebrating.
Our Year 13 students have completed the A-Level Mathematics curriculum and have now sat two of their three A level examinations. While Paper 1 was challenging, students responded positively to Paper 2 following targeted support and intervention.
We thank their teachers for their dedication over the past two years and parents and carers for their continued support throughout the journey.
Our Year 09 students explored calculating unknown lengths and angles in right-angled triangles using Pythagoras’ Theorem and Trigonometry. These are key topics within both the Foundation and Higher GCSE Mathematics curricula and are essential to securing success as we strive towards a 90% Grade 4+ achievement rate in Mathematics.
Our Year 08 students focused on data representation, exploring how to draw and interpret pie charts, an important topic within the GCSE Mathematics curriculum.
Year 07 students developed their data analysis skills by exploring the statistical averages of mean, mode, median, and range. These key concepts form an important part of the GCSE Mathematics curriculum and equip students with essential skills for interpreting and working with data. In an increasingly data-driven world, these skills are more valuable than ever.
At Lift Bexleyheath, mathematics extends far beyond the classroom. Through opportunities such as Axiom Maths, Chess Club, and Homework Support, students continue to develop confidence, resilience, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. As a part of developing our students for careers in the mathematical field we seek to put forward our students with opportunities to deepen their understanding. The upcoming summer will see a selective set of students participating in a Math Summer Champ away from school. This selection came from
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