The Lenham School Newsletter

Term 3 - Winter Edition

'The Magic of Music and Performing Arts'

Dear Parent/Carer,

By now, I think all of you are very aware of my position on Music and Performing Arts! The educational research and evidence is also clear; these subjects play a vital role in school education, offering students valuable opportunities for creativity, self-expression, and personal growth. At the same time, the subjects foster emotional development, improve cognitive abilities, and enhance problem-solving skills. Music and Performing Arts also provide an outlet for stress, offering a healthy way to explore and process emotions. At a stage when so many young people face challenges in the modern world, the arts are more important than ever!

This term has been one of the best yet for these subjects. We started the term with a wonderful Winter Showcase, packed full of drama, dance, singing and music. Out of all the showcases we have done, I think it is the one that best captured the array of talent in our school. Even with the snow falling that night, it was a sell out and the show overran as there were so many talented acts to watch.

And of course, Beauty and the Beast was a special moment for our school community. It was our biggest production yet, with a cast of 89 children! It was also the first time that our school has had a musical fully accompanied by a classical orchestra. We haven’t quite reached the point where we have built our own orchestra (yet…), but because we are part of the VIAT family, children from Invicta Grammar, Valley Park and SST who form the ‘VIAT Orchestra’ over at the Maidstone site, kindly volunteered to come over and play for us.

For me, achieving strong exam results is the minimum required. You need that knowledge to thrive in life, but you also need to develop far wider skills to stand out from the crowd. By getting involved in the arts or sport, you are exposed to moments like this. They will continually help you grow and stay with you forever.

Academia – Opportunity- Belonging

Mr Ferguson - Headteacher

welcome

Welcome to this term’s newsletter. It has been another busy term for the school, especially in the domains of performing arts and sport.

Winter Showcase

The term got off to a fantastic start with our winter showcase on Wednesday 8 January. Students and parents braved the snow for an evening of entertainment – witnessing more students than ever from all year groups taking part either as part of our junior or senior choir, school band programme or one of our many drama and dance groups. The show was a massive success and really showed what TLS is all about.

Sophie (Year 11) and Marco (Year 8) performing in the winter showcase

Beauty and The Beast

Three weeks later, the school presented their production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Nearly 90 students were involved in the production – taking part in three showings – firstly to our neighbouring Lenham Primary School and then two nights to members of the public. It was also the first time that we have had the pleasure of welcoming the VIAT Orchestra (made up of talented musicians across the VIAT Trust, who were conducted by our own Mr. Fullerton). Sophie and Millie in Year 11 have written a short report about the performance.

This term, The Lenham School presented a remarkable, immersive and electrifying performance of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Over two nights and many hours of hard work, practice and dedication, TLS students showed off their singing, acting, and dancing skills, delivering on the classic fairytale in spectacular fashion.

Students at the Lenham School have been working on ‘Beauty and the Beast’ from the beginning of the academic year until the beginning of this New Year. The performance – which was delivered not just to fellow students but also to our local primary school – showed the devotion and hard work that has gone into the production: remembering scripts, learning catchy songs, and rehearsing dynamic dances. Ultimately, the work of the brilliant TLS students made the night ‘exceptional’ and ‘unforgettable’. The children’s dedication echoed professionalism, by arriving at every rehearsal ready to apply their skills and begin 2025 with a masterpiece. However, this couldn’t have been done without the help and support of the drama, dance, music and art departments who not only helped the students to perform this fairytale, but also brought it to life.

We were extremely privileged to speak to one of the many stars of 'Beauty and the Beast’, Phoebe Byford, who embodied her role as Belle.

‘Playing Belle was such a thrilling and incredible experience, and it was amazing to meet new people who share my love for musical theatre. It was stressful playing such a big role, but the whole drama staff was constantly checking in with me to make sure I was confident and comfortable. The best part was meeting such talented people and being free to have fun and be myself. I felt so looked after by the drama team.’

As a long-time drama performer, I - Millie – also performed in the production, which was my last school play with Lenham. This was easily the highlight of my school journey. After the best four years of hard work, commitment and endless passion, I have realised that being in a school production is about so much more than rehearsals and putting on a show. It allowed the cast to find confidence in their extraordinary talent and feel comfortable to be themselves. The cast so quickly becomes a family, and I am so grateful for the support and encouragement from the drama department of 'The Lenham School'.

We can only imagine the next adventure they have to look forward to, but we will be watching, and I hope you will too!

By Sophie & Millie (Year 11)

Leon in Year 10 excelled as Gaston

Nearly 90 students took part in the production

Phoebe and Tae in Year 11 were great leads

Remembering the Holocaust

Every year, TLS ensures that it shows respect for those who died in the Holocaust by hosting a series of assemblies with students. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and to mark the event Lee and Amy (Y13 Head Students) supported Mr. Davies in his assembly by sharing their experience of visiting Auschwitz late last year as part of the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project.

‘As I wandered through the solemn grounds of Auschwitz, I felt as if time had come to a standstill. Each step I took was the same route innocent people took. There was a stillness that was in the air, heavy and thick with the memories of those who had once walked there—men, women, and children who experienced unspeakable atrocities. These grounds, where the cries for help were silenced, and stories echo through the very walls.

In those camps that resembled barracks and were far from humane, a wave of raw emotion surged within me as I imagined the torment faced by countless souls, they were all confined to such woeful misery. It became clear to me that a power sought to install fear, I couldn’t help but feel a tug at my very core knowing that a wrong word or move was met with a punishment from which there was no return—a spectre of injustice so terrible it echoed loudly within every hollow space in that grim setting.

As I stood in front of the gas chambers, the reality of betrayal washed over me, I was met with raw faces of those who were lured into believing their fate would be different. The marks etched into the walls served as silent witnesses, all that remained of the vibrant lives turned to tomb-like sanity in moments of sheer desperation. Yes, hearts were deceived, innocence was aggrieved, and souls were tortured, all while the very shadows of compassion and solidarity faded into a haunting silence that feels intolerably present even today. History can be unsettling and unspeakable even today; the holocaust reminds us how quickly power can result in devastating events under tyranny.’

By Lee (Year 13)

Lee and Amy in Year 13 were great ambassadors for the School

Academia

Year 11s continue to work incredibly hard towards their GCSEs this summer. In January, we launched our GCSEPod Loyalty Card which rewards students for doing their revision. GCSEPod is a really effective way of carrying out revision – with thousands of short podcasts and videos aimed at supporting learners prepare for their exams. Students who complete their loyalty card by carrying out revision tasks will be rewarded with a gift voucher. Two of our most frequent ‘podders’ are Sam and Milana who have accessed nearly 300 pods between them!

Year 11s have been revising hard using GCSEPod

Opportunity

This term has continued to see a variety of trips and extra-curricular events. These include trips for Year 10 Graphic and Art students to Folkestone and Tate Modern, 6th Form students visited Cadbury’s World and the Turner Contemporary Gallery.

We also welcomed back Gianna Pollero (author of the Monster Doughnuts series) to run a workshop with our Year 7 students. The session was really engaging and students demonstrated their fantastic imagination skills.

Year 13 students enjoyed their visit to Cadbury World

Belonging

We also began our mission to achieve the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award by hosting a series of Year 7 workshops ran by the ‘Everyday Racism’ Group (www.everydayracism.co.uk). Students enjoyed taking part in the day learning about the importance of building a more equitable and inclusive society.

Year 7s really enjoyed their session with 'Everyday Racism'

They led on discussions about respecting others

Sporting Success

Sport continues to be an integral part of school life and with strong results from the school in a range of different sports. Below is a report from Mr. Groom following the Year 9 Premiership Match against Wrotham.

Lenham continued their fine form in the Year 9 premiership with a 3-0 win over Wrotham. Lenham were the better side and controlled the game from the very beginning. Louis was on target again with a fine finish from outside the box to put us up 1-0.

The game remained at 1-0, with our defence playing exceptionally well. Into the second half and it was time for the arrival of the birthday boy. With just 15 minutes remaining Freddie made it 2-0 and the early birthday celebrations had begun. Freddie then scored again late on to make the game safe.

Everyone in the team played their part as we push towards the Maidstone Cup Finals.

Below are the match winners and George, who played his last game for the team. George has been an important player for team, and he will be missed.

Year 9s have had so much success on the pitch this season

We thank George (left with team mates Louis and Freddie) for his efforts this season

Kent Teacher of the Year 2025

It is not too late to cast your vote for the Kent Teacher of the Year. If you wish to show your appreciation for either a teaching or non-teaching member of staff, you can vote for them in the Kent Teacher of the Year awards 2025 by using the following link: Kent Teacher of the Year

Your chance to say Thank You

The closing date for nominations is Friday, 28 February.

kent Family hub

Kent Family Hubs offer support to children, young people and their families. They make it easier for you to get the services you need throughout your family journey - from newborns to 19-year-olds, or up to 25-year old's with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). Click on the following link to book: Kent Family Hub Booking

Refer Kent

KCC have launched a new website that lists all the agencies you can refer into for support. These include services that would support with housing, debt, benefits, mental and physical health amongst many more.

Please find more information and a link to it below:

ReferKent is a safe, secure, and local online referral system that aims to mitigate the action of signposting. The system enables referrals to be made securely between advice agencies and their partners across Kent. ReferKent allows referring agencies to report on activity and outcomes. With this system local organisations can help residents through referrals, ensuring that residents are getting the support they need to alleviate their circumstances.

https://kentcountycouncil.refernet.co.uk/Public/index.aspx

How to Find Out More

Please feel free to join our Facebook Page The Lenham School | Maidstone | Facebook to keep up to date with all the exciting things that are happening both in and out of the classroom.

Second Hand Uniform

Details of how to access our second-hand uniform is available on our school website. With the continued rise in household costs, we hope this initiative can make a small difference by helping some of our families to access free uniform https://www.thelenham.viat.org.uk/1850/uniform.

We hope you all have a well-deserved Half Term break and look forward to welcoming you back on Monday, 24 February 2025.

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Dates for the Diary

24 February Start of Term

24-28 February Year 11 PPEs

28 February Progress Sheet 2 Issued for all year groups

5 March Year 9 Key Stage 4 Options Evening

6 March Year 9 visit to UKC

7 March Year 11 Apprenticeship Fair at Mote Park

11 March Year 9 Business Enterprise Day

12-13 March TdIPV/Men Vaccinations (Years 9-11)

12 March Year 11 and 6th Form Trip to Marlowe Theatre

13 March 6th Form Aspire Digital Trip

19 March Year 7 STEM Day

20 March Year 11 School Photo

21 March Year 11 PPE Results Day

26-27 March Year 10 Parent Consultation Evening

1 April Year 10 History Trip to Dover Castle

2 April Year 8 Trip to UKC

3 April Over 60s Event

4 April End of Term 4

The Lenham School Website