Unity: Our LGBTQ+ Community Group
Every year, the academy community comes together to celebrate Pride Week. In tutor times that week, students learn about the origins of the LGBT+ civil rights movement in the black civil rights movement and the Equality Act that protects everyone’s rights to celebrate their difference and be protected from discrimination.
There are a growing number of students in Years 7 to 11 who have attended Unity, the academy’s LGBT+ student group, or engaged with the group via its Google Classroom.
The group is led by Mr Burton and they explore topics generated by the group in lively discussions and activities every week, often making presentations themselves. Their confidence and self-belief has grown hugely as the year has gone by and they proudly identify as members of the LGBT+ community.
Cultural Diversity Society: Our Cultural Diversity Group
Our Cultural Diversity Group is a celebration of ethnic and cultural diversity across a range of countries and continents. Students come together on a Thursday afternoon with Mr Lecky to share their cultural backgrounds and celebrate their similarities and differences. Last year they helped the Seacole College Founders Day by putting on a fashion show. They are currently planning their cultural experience week as a whole academy event to recognise the variety of backgrounds our students come from.
Unifrog, careers and work experience
Unifrog is our one stop shop for destinations and careers. All students within the academy have an account and have training when they first use the programme in an assembly. Activities are put into the tutor time programme and opportunities to discuss careers are also mapped into the curriculum planning. (Careers Guidance)
Work Experience
Students in Year 10 and Year 12 have work experience which they organise via our work experience co-ordinator. There is a comprehensive support programme and review process for the placement.
National & International Co-Curricular Opportunities 2022/23
- UKMT Junior and Intermediate Maths Challenges
- Celebrating Maths World Day
- After school/lunch time puzzle/game sessions
- Potentially bring a speaker for the students – to talk about use of Maths in their careers and their jobs.
- Collaborating with all learning areas to use fractions when giving assessments back so the students can work out their % and their grades themselves.
- World poetry day
- World book day
- Study of international writers
- Romeo and Juliet theatre visit
- Support other learning areas in the delivery of Mathematical Engineering Physics at post 16.
- Y7 visit to the Science Museum in London (To be arranged).
- Post-16 visit to Canterbury Christ Church University for students following science pathways at P16. Enrichment and insight into future science courses, research and career pathways.
- Year 7 History Research Skills trip to Dartford Library and Museum – November
- Year 8 Geography Rivers fieldwork
- Year 9 Geography urban environment survey fieldwork Dartford town
- Year 10 join trip to France – the trenches – in coordination with MFL
- Year 12 DebateMate Nov, a half day experiential learning how to debate.
- Year 12 Global Politics and History students trip to Canterbury Christ Church University for an experiential seminar and research skills and time for their coursework.
- Year 13 Geography Field Trip to Stratford studying Urbanisation
- Year 8 French – Chateau Beaumont in Normandy for five days in July 2023 – 32 students
- Year 9 French – Lille Christmas Market for one night in December 2022 – 66 students
- Year 10 French – Amiens & Arras Cross-curricular trip with History in February 2023 – 36 students
- Year 12 French – French restaurant – 7 students in January 2023
- Year 9 and 10 Spanish – Madrid visit – 30 students – June 2023
- Celebrating STEM week
- RAF coding sessions for PP and Female students in KS3
- Design Ventura National competition
- KS5 visits to industry along with virtual meetings with engineering professionals
- Careers programme with Charlton Athletic (Year 10 and 11). Over 4 weeks students receive a combination of practical sessions and lessons on the various career options in sport. The final session will be at The Valley and will also involve other schools.
- We are also planning a ski trip to either Europe or America, a summer multisport trip in Europe and a Wembley England football trip.
- Inter-college sport events
- The Leigh Academy Sports Day – all students Y7-9
- Sports Council Y7-10 students
- Post-16 Sport subject specific campus day to Canterbury Christ Church
- The Leigh Fest Show where we bring together all year groups, Milestone, The Diversity Club and Unity to perform together through a Music, Dance and Drama variety show.
- Invited Box Clever Theatre Company to perform ‘Jekyll and Hyde’, and run a workshop with all students in years 7 & 8. Another performance has been planned for the Performing Arts students from years 9 – 13 where they will interview the actors, technicians and director as part of their Btec Course.
- We are planning for workshops with Splendid Productions (Berkoff for KS5), and Frantic Assembly (KS4).
- We aimed to take KS4 and KS5 to the theatre next year with proceeds from Leigh Fest.
- The IB Festival of Hope where we bring together all year groups, Milestone, The Diversity Club and Unity to perform together through a Music, Dance and Drama variety show
- Students participate and perform in break/lunch time shows in the winter garden.
- Music theatre trips.
- We are planning for external visitors to perform and showcase workshops for students on Djing, vocal percussion and african drumming.
- November 2022 is virtual Amazon tour for Year 10 Business Studies students
- March 2023 GCSE Booster trip for Year 11 Business Studies students
- BFI trip
- Whitstable trip Year 10/11: Students following GCSE Graphics, Fine Art and Photography courses make a resource trip to Whitstable to work on location [water colour seascape] street photography/ typology/ landscape photography and research and resourcing for Graphic design students and their next infographics piece.
- Gallery Visit National gallery Yr 10 Fine art: Exploring Vanitas paintings and images which represent memento Mori
- Gallery Visit National Gallery Yr 12 /13 photography: To explore the work of artists as inspiration for photographers
- Gallery Visit Tate Gallery Yr 13 Students: Make an in-depth exploration of a current exhibition This year Cezanne, last year Paula Rego
- Gallery visit National Gallery + Tate Modern Yr 12/ 13 Fine art , Graphics and Photography students: To develop a broad understanding of traditional and contemporary practices
- Photoshoot in Dartford Yr 10 photography students: Explore our local environs urban and rural to make an individual photographic portfolio
- Photoshoot in London Yr 12/ 13 photography students: Explore urban/ city and street photography to make an individual photographic portfolio
- Margate trip Yr 12/13 Fine art, Graphics and Photography students: Make a resource trip to Whitstable to work on location [ water colour seascape] street photography: typology : landscape photography and research and resourcing for Graphic design students and their next infographics piece. Making links with Turner and Turner contemporary gallery
- Creative Process lectures Yr 12/13 Fine art, Graphics and Photography students: Take part in the live streaming of lectures from 4 famous practising artists who will discuss their work, ideas and meaning . Students have the opportunity to raise questions and gain a greater understanding of what artists do.
- Amazon Fulfilment Tour – Year 9 – Students explore the world of Amazon operations, from the cutting-edge technology to the people who make Amazon what it is today.
- Bletchley Park Visit – Year 10 Students discover the incredible achievements of Britain’s World War Two Codebreakers, in the place where it happened.
- Safer Internet Day – 7th February 2023
- Anti-Bullying week (Cyberbullying focus) – 14th – 18th November 2022
- NCS Changemaker participation for all Year 12 students
- QE2 Jubilee Garden and Orchard Project – Y13 IBCP Students
- Year 12 full cohort UCAS Exhibition trip at Detling Showground
- Y12 full cohort SUCCEED programme assembly with the University of Kent – 18th November 2022(3 students were successful after application last academic year)
- Attenborough College “What Happens next?” assembly with the University of Kent
- LGBTQ+ Mythbusters (student ambassadors from the university of Kent) workshop with Unity group members
- Campus days with targeted groups with Canterbury Christ Church and University of Greenwich
- Y12 E-mentoring – 4 week mentoring with a subject specific mentor and a taster day on subject specific campus with University of Greenwich (Sport, Business, Health & Social, Engineering) – students to be identified for each sector
- College Activity Days
- External Revision Days for Year 11 and Post-16
- Reward day trips and activities in Module 6
- Charity cricket match involving players, lunch servers and primary school tournament officiating
- Remembrance Day Service
- Chinese New Year
- Eid
- The Leigh Fest
- Visiting Theatre companies for all years
- Fundraising for Bantabami to keep the orphanage operating annually
- NCS Summer Programme annually
- Key Stage 3 and 4 MFL visits to France and Spain
- KS4 Humanities visit to Poland
- Key Stage 4 Sports tours to Antigua (4 times), Lanzarote, Tenerife and La Manga
- Post-16 ICT / cultural visits to New York and San Francisco
- Whole academy skiing trips to North America and Europe
- Post-16 Exchange visits to China
Clubs and Groups
The is a vast array of extra curricular clubs and opportunities for students to enhance their learning and learn new skills to support them in their futures.
So far this academic year we have had the following attendance to extra curricular clubs:
- 1864 attendees to extra-curricular activities
- 55% of the SEN cohort attended sessions
- 52% of the PPG cohort have attended sessions
- 71% of our LAC cohort have attended sessions.
See below for the clubs on offer at The Leigh Academy.
Monday
Maths Challenge Club
Science Club
Trampolining
Boys’ Football Club
Computing Club
Creative Writing Club
Tuesday
Football Team Practice
Girls’ Football Club
Dance Club
Drama Club
Diversity Society
Maths Catch Up Club
Wednesday
No clubs due to staff training
Thursday
Music Club
Friday
Unity Club
Monday
Maths Challenge Club
Science Club
Trampolining
Boys’ Football Club
Creative Writing Club
Tuesday
Football Team Practice
Girls’ Football Club
Music (DJ Practice)
Dance Club
Drama Club
Computing Club
Diversity Society
Maths Catch Up Club
Wednesday
No clubs due to staff training
Thursday
Music Club
Friday
Unity Club
Monday
Maths Challenge Club
Science Club
Trampolining
Boys’ Football Club
Creative Writing Club
Tuesday
Football Team Practice
Girls’ Football Club
Gym Club
Dance Club
Drama Club
Computing Club
Diversity Society
Wednesday
Duke of Edinburgh
Thursday
Music Club
Gym Club
Debate Club
Friday
Unity Club
Marketing/Business Club
Monday
Maths Challenge Club
Science Club
Trampolining
Boys’ Football Club
Gym Club
BTEC Drop In
Tuesday
Football Team Practice
Girls’ Football Club
Gym Club
Dance Club
Drama Club
Computing Club
Diversity Society
Wednesday
Duke of Edinburgh
Thursday
Music Club
Gym Club
Debate Club
Friday
Unity Club
Marketing/Business Club
Engineering, DIT and Health and Social Care can use extra sessions over the next 3 weeks as they have exams in the week of Monday 30th January.
Week 1
Week starting: 16/1/23, 30/1/23, 20/2/23, 6/3/23 and 20/3/23
College
Curie and Mandela
College
Shakespeare and Seacole
Maths Higher
MD2.04
Maths Foundation
MD2.03
Maths Higher or Foundation
MD2.01
History
SE 2.05
Geography
SE 2.01
English
SH 2.01
French
CU2.01
Spanish
CU 2.03
Computer Science
AT1.05
Combined Science
Ground floor Curie – separate sessions for all 3 sciences, split into Higher and Foundation groups
French (Year 12)
CU2.01
The Arts (Drama, Fine Art, Graphics, Photography)
Subject rooms
PE
CU2.04
Media
LE1.11
Business Studies
SH108
Health and Social Care
SE105
DT (all options)
SH 0.04
DIT
AT 1.05
Ethics
SE107
Separate science
MD 0.07, CU 0.04 and CU 0.05
Separate science
MD 0.07, CU 0.04 and CU 0.05
Week 2
Week starting: 23/1/23, 6/2/23, 27/2/23,13/3/23 and 27/3/23
College
Curie and Mandela
College
Shakespeare and Seacole
History
SE 205
Geography
SE 202
Maths Higher
MD2.04
Maths Foundation
MD2.03
Maths Higher or Foundation
MD2.01
French
CU2.01
Spanish
CU 2.03
Computer Science
AT1.05
English
SH 2.01
Combined Science
Ground floor Curie – separate sessions for all 3 sciences, split into Higher and Foundation groups
The Arts (Drama, Fine Art, Graphics, Photography)
Subject rooms
PE
CU2.04
Media
LE1.11
Business Studies
SH108
Health and Social Care
SE105
DT (all options)
SH 0.04
DIT
AT 1.05
Ethics
SE107
Separate science
MD 0.07, CU 0.04 and CU 0.05
Separate science
MD 0.07, CU 0.04 and CU 0.05
events
Fire Safety Talk
RSE
Year 7 students had a fire safety talk from Kent Fire Brigade in which they were taught about arson, the dangers of not checking fire alarms, basic first aid and how to report a fire.
Diwali
RE, FBV
Our annual Diwali celebration saw priests from the local temple in Gravesend come into school to play music in the College Wintergardens.
Year 8 Food Bank
Community & Responsibility
As part of their service learning, Year 8 students raised awareness of the Dartford Food Bank and collected lots of goods which they donated to the organisation in an assembly.
Literacy
Literacy
Our Literacy Programme encourages students to read for pleasure through incentivised literacy points as well as literacy challenges for both KS3 and KS4.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Co-Curricular
Students from The Leigh have the opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme when they reach Year 9.
Ukraine Appeal
Community & Responsibility
Staff and students from The Leigh got together to collect much needed supplies for the victims of war in Ukraine. Resources were taken to a collection point in Folkestone before being taken by lorry to Ukraine.
Queen’s Jubilee
FBV
The Leigh did a celebration day of old school sports day events and a giant tea party to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
MFL Theatre Performance
International Mindedness
As part of our drive to instil international mindedness at The Leigh we invite theatre groups in for performances in French and Spanish to give a wide cultural experience to our students.
Criminal Exploitation Workshops
Criminal Exploitation
Our partnership with ‘Refocus’ has welcomed in Lennox Rogers and his team to work with students that might be more susceptible to gang involvement.
Remembrance
FBV
One of the highlights of the academy year is our moving Remembrance Day service which brings together not only our entire academy community but also representatives of the Royal British Legion, Milestone Academy and Dartford Primary Academy.
NHS Care Packages
Community & Responsibility
During Covid, Year 9 students were challenged to create care package boxes for nurses and doctors at Darent Valley Hospital. They organised 28 boxes to be made up and be delivered to the hospital, one for each ward.
E-Safety Roadshow
E-Safety
The E-Safety Roadshow teaches students about the dangers of sexting, the four Cs of e-safety and how to behave in a sensible manner online.
International School Award
International Mindedness
The Leigh Academy has achieved International School status at an intermediate level. With trips abroad to France, Spain, Poland, Italy, USA and China in recent years, students have a fantastic opportunity to both learn a foreign language but also see it in action. The pen pal scheme with French and Spanish is also a great opportunity for students to practise their skills.
Student Voice
Community & Responsibility
Student Voice is our student council with representatives from each tutor group across all colleges and key stages. A special visitor came to see them and our global politics students when local MP Gareth Johnson came to The Leigh for the afternoon. Students got a chance to ask him their burning questions about politics and things affecting the local area.
Debate Club
Life Skills
Debate Club meets every Thursday and is open to all year groups to learn the art of researching and debate. Topics are suggested and then students are given time to prepare their case for or against the motion.