Post-16 Open Evening

Leigh Academy student working on a laptop computer and smiling.

Dear Parents/Carers,

It is with great pleasure that we write to you to invite you to attend our Post-16 Open Evening, which is taking place between 5.00pm and 7.00pm on Wednesday 17th November. Students in Chaucer and Darwin Colleges are invited to attend at 5.00pm and students in Da Vinci and Brunel Colleges are invited to attend at 6.00pm.

You will be able to speak to subject teachers and current students of the 30 different courses on offer for September 2022 and learn about what is involved in each course by reading the subject displays there. You will also be able to discover which types of qualification – A levels, IB Diploma Courses and BTECs – will be the best fit for your child and get them to their preferred next step after the end of Post-16, whether that is employment, an apprenticeship or university. College leaders and the Post-16 Team will also be there to answer any questions you have about Post-16 at The Leigh Academy.

You do not need to book a place at the Open Evening but we do ask you to wear a face mask and arrive in sufficient time to be able to visit all of the subjects in which your child is interested before we end the event at 7.00pm. We are staging the Open Evening in the Lecture Theatre and the Restaurant to avoid overcrowding and have decided not to have a formal presentation for the same reason. Instead, there is a ‘Welcome to Post-16’ video for you to watch at home at your convenience on our academy website, where you can also access a digital copy of the Post-16 prospectus that you will be given at the Open Evening: https://leighacademy.org.uk/welcome-to-post-16/

Your child will need to apply for a place in our Post-16 via their Kent Choices account. They will be given details about this and their personal login by Mr Brewer in a special assembly at 8.30am on Tuesday 16th November. Once your child’s application has been received, one of their college leaders will meet with them to discuss the subjects they have chosen and help them to plan how to ensure they meet the entry requirements for them. After this meeting, a conditional offer letter can be sent out. Students must choose at least three subjects, each from a different block. You can see which subjects are in which blocks on the back page of the Post-16 prospectus.

Mock Examinations

As you are aware, the mock examinations for Year 11 students commenced with English Language Paper 1 this morning. Every Year 11 student was given an updated exam timetable in tutor time today, so they should all be clear about the schedule and venues. The timetables also have the seat number for each exam and it would be helpful if each student arrived knowing these details, so please do check that with them each morning when they have an examination. Please also ensure they are fully equipped each day, particularly when it comes to the science and maths papers.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Post-16 Open Evening and helping you and your child to plan for their next exciting stage of their education with The Leigh Academy.

Yours faithfully,

Julia Collins
Principal

Lee Forcella-Burton
Director of Post-16