Welcome
Lodge Park Academy Newsletter - Week 2, Spring Term
Dear families
It has been a fantastic start to the Spring Term here at Lodge Park Academy, with all students returning with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. The energy around the school has been wonderful, and we are so proud of how quickly everyone has settled back into their routines after the winter break.
On Thursday, 16th January, we held our Year 8 Parents Evening, which proved to be a great success. It was a wonderful opportunity for teachers, students, and parents to come together and discuss progress, set goals for the term, and celebrate the achievements of our Year 8 cohort. We would like to thank all the parents and carers who attended, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with you to support our students' success.
Our recent Spelling Bee competition was a real highlight this week! Students from various year groups showcased their impressive spelling skills, and the event was enjoyed by both participants and spectators alike. It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm for learning, and we congratulate all the students who took part – their hard work and dedication really shone through.
This week, our new Vice Principal, Mrs. Cooper, led assemblies across the school focused on the themes of courage and self-regulation. In her powerful talks, she inspired students to embrace challenges with bravery and to take control of their emotions and actions. Mrs. Cooper’s approach was engaging, and we are excited to see how these important messages will resonate throughout the school community.
In our House assemblies this week, students explored the topic of disability as a protected characteristic. These assemblies are part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a respectful and supportive school culture, where every student is valued and empowered.
On Tuesday, Year 9 students participated in the County Schools Challenge Day, where they were introduced to the important topic of vaping. The day was led by Steve Coles, who provided valuable insights into the health risks associated with vaping and the importance of making informed choices. It was an engaging and educational session that prompted thoughtful discussions and raised awareness about the dangers of vaping
We are looking forward to another exciting week ahead. As always, we encourage all students to continue working hard, supporting each other, and taking part in the many opportunities available at Lodge Park Academy. Here's to a successful Spring Term!
Warm Regards
The Senior Leadership Team
Sarah Cooper - Vice Principal
My name is Sarah Cooper, and I have joined Lodge Park Academy as Vice Principal. My main areas of responsibility will be championing attendance. My role will be to support families in helping their children to attend school and to celebrate excellent attendance. With this in mind the Attendance Team and I will be in touch if we have any concerns regarding a child's attendance at LPA. Our door is always open for a meeting to discuss any of your concerns around your child's attendance, so please do get in contact to arrange a meeting.
In addition to this role I am Subject Lead for Geography. I have led Geography departments in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire for over 7 years either at Academy or Trust level and have experience in supporting students to make outstanding progress within this subject. I am already working with Yr11 Geography students to support them in their Geography exams this summer and look forward to speaking with Year 9 students over the coming months to support them with their options.
I look forward to supporting your child - and all members of our Lodge Park Academy community - in achieving their goals.
Where are we going?
At Lodge Park, we are making incremental steps forward and raising the standards and expectations of all aspects of our school bit by bit.
We make no excuses for a previously acceptable standard no longer being acceptable. Our hopes, aspirations and therefore expectations for our lessons, our outcomes and the student experience will continuously improve for the benefit and good of our students. We want them to have not only a 'happy' school, but one of high performance where they leave with all doors of opportunity open to them because they have the academic and personal skills to thrive and succeed in a rapidly changing Corby.
Next week, Mr Kirby will be sharing with parents through a video presentation the overall plan for school development for the rest of this academic year.
Staff Phone Calls
"One of the central messages that came through from the parent feedback was the journey Lodge Park needs to go on in terms of communication. To that end, there are a number of initiatives, systems and processes that are coming on line this half term to significantly improve this process.
The first is that colleagues now have ring-fenced, protected time to call parents at the end of the school day to pass on praise and congratulations, but also to raise concerns with any learners who may not have made good choices that day.
The idea is that these open lines of communication will ensure home and teaching staff are completely aligned in their understanding of what we need to do here to best support your student, and to build a common understanding of where we're going in our classrooms.
I'm thrilled that 341 calls were made last week by our teaching staff, and I've had some wonderful feedback from parents about how well this has been received.
Our teachers will always prioritise learners that have been removed from lesson that day. I would be really keen to know if you at any time are expecting a call following a C3 lesson removal and one was not received: jkirby@lodgeparkacademy.co.uk
Many thanks all
Mr Kirby - Principal
The Importance of Attendance
At Lodge Park Academy, we firmly believe that consistent school attendance is crucial to the academic success and personal development of our students. Regular attendance not only helps students to stay on track with their studies, but it also plays a vital role in building discipline, responsibility, and social skills. Unfortunately, we are currently seeing some concerning trends in attendance, particularly in our Year 11 cohort, where attendance rates have been noticeably lower than expected.
The Impact of Poor Attendance
For Year 11 students, attendance is more important than ever. With GCSEs just around the corner, every lesson counts. Missing valuable learning time means students risk falling behind in their studies, which can ultimately affect their progress and exam preparation. We understand that sometimes students may feel overwhelmed or fatigued, but we urge both students and parents to recognise the significant role that regular attendance plays in academic success. We strongly encourage all Year 11 students to make attending school a priority during this crucial year.
Arriving on Time
In addition to the importance of regular attendance, arriving at school on time is equally essential. To be considered present for the morning session, students must be on site before 9:30am. Similarly, to be counted as present for the afternoon session, students must remain on site after 12:30pm.
Unfortunately, we have noticed a number of students arriving considerably later than the expected 8:30am line-up time. We ask for your support in ensuring that students are arriving on time each day so they can make the most of their school experience and be fully engaged in their learning.
Supporting Our Students
We know that there are sometimes valid reasons for absence or lateness, and we encourage families to contact the school as soon as possible if there is an issue that needs addressing. We also understand that some students may find it difficult to manage their time effectively or may be facing personal challenges that impact their attendance. If that is the case, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our Pastoral teams are available to provide support and work with families to resolve any issues that may arise.
We cannot stress enough how important it is for students to attend school regularly and punctually. The benefits of being in class far outweigh the occasional absence, and with Year 11 exams fast approaching, every lesson counts. Together, we can ensure that all of our students have the best chance of success this year and beyond.
Thank you for your continued support in reinforcing the significance of attendance at Lodge Park Academy. Let us work together to help our students thrive academically and personally.
Mr McGeown - Vice Principal – Quality of Education
Invitation to Join Our Parental Working Party
At Lodge Park Academy, we believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential to the success and well-being of our students. Communication is a key part of this partnership, and we are committed to ensuring that we are engaging with our families effectively, providing timely updates, and fostering a supportive environment for all our students.
To help us continue improving and refining our communication and home-school links, we are inviting parents and carers to become part of a Parental Working Party. This group will work closely with school leaders to identify areas for improvement and help shape how we communicate with families moving forward.
Why Join the Parental Working Party?
As a member of the working party, you will have the opportunity to share your experiences and ideas, provide valuable feedback, and work collaboratively with the school to make positive changes. Your input will help us better understand the challenges and expectations faced by parents and carers, allowing us to develop more effective communication strategies that benefit everyone.
We believe that parents have a unique perspective, and by involving you in this process, we can ensure that our approaches to communication are clear, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of our community.
What Will the Working Party Involve?
The working party will meet half termly in school, to discuss a variety of topics related to communication, including:
• How we share school updates, announcements, and events
• Improving the clarity of information about students' progress and wellbeing
• Enhancing the use of digital platforms for communication
• Strengthening home-school links to support students’ academic and social development
We are seeking parents and carers who are willing to contribute their time and ideas to these discussions. Your involvement will not only help shape our communication practices but will also allow you to make a direct impact on the school community.
How Can You Get Involved?
If you would like to be part of this exciting opportunity and join the Parental Working Party, please contact the school’s administration team at sbellamy@lodgeparkacademy.co.uk..We are looking forward to having a diverse group of parents with varied perspectives and experiences, as this will help us make the best possible improvements.
We understand that parents and carers have busy lives, and we appreciate any time you are able to offer. The meetings will be designed to be manageable and flexible to accommodate as many parents as possible.
Your Voice Matters
By joining the working party, you will play a key role in helping us create a more effective and supportive home-school communication system. We value your input and are excited to work together to build even stronger connections between the school and our families.
Thank you for your continued support – we look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you to our Parental Working Party.
Mr McGeown - Vice Principal – Quality of Education
Year 11 Revision Information Evening – Thursday 6th February 2025, 6.00 p.m.
We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to a Revision Information Evening we are holding on Thursday 6th February in our Hall from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
The purpose of this evening will be to develop a greater understanding of the benefits revision can provide students, discuss a range of effective revision strategies to make use of, and to help support you in your role from home in supporting your child’s revision. We will also have our Heads of Department in Maths, English and Science there to discuss successful ways to revise in their specific subjects.
This evening will serve to provide both yourself and your child with the information and guidance needed to adequately prepare for examinations, giving them the best possible chance to succeed in the upcoming February/March mock exams and, most importantly, their formal exams this Summer.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you there.
Mr McGeown - Vice Principal
Mr Cronin - Assistant Principal
House Spelling Bee
House Spelling Bee took place at LPA this week as students and staff took to the stage to face a series of tier 3 subject specific vocabulary. Participants represented their house teams in year groups through head to head ‘speed rounds’ where they had to ‘buzz in’ for the attempt to answer each spelling. Within each set of spellings there was a ‘golden’ word worth 5 points, compared to 3 points available from other spellings. Points were accumulated across each round with the house with the highest points total being crowned champions. Congratulations to Red Kite who accumulated 24 competition points and were this years house spelling bee champions. Osprey (15 competition points) finished in 2nd place and Kestrel (13 points) and Goshawk (13 points) finished in joint 3rd position. Well done to everyone who took part in the competition, displaying LPA courage and resilience to get up on stage in front of a full hall and attempt some really challenging words.
House Darts Competition
Darts fever has hit LPA this term with the introduction of our first ever House Darts competition. Due to the popularity of the competition it was extended into this week, allowing students who missed out on the opportunity last week due to running out of time and the amount of students wanting to take part.
So far Goshawk are winning the ‘Highest three dart throw’ and Kestrel are winning the ‘closest to the bull’ competition.
The competition will end on Friday lunchtime.
House ‘Hyrox’ Competition
Do you think you are the fittest in your House or even the school?
Take on the ultimate test of fitness in the brand new House Hyrox Competition after school on Friday 24th January.
Do you have what it takes to complete the 5 stations plus 5 laps of the sports hall after each exercise?
Get involved for the chance of securing house points on offer across each year group.
LPA House New Year Cup – ‘Race Across America’
The House New Year Cup (Race Across America) is well underway. Students and staff have been busy submitting screenshots of their completed exercises to go to their House totals in the Head to Head virtual race from the East coast of USA to the West Coast. Current House totals will be shared next week during House assemblies.
The competition is open to all students, staff and wider families who can contribute to House totals by submitting a distance (km) from either a walk, jog/run, cycle or row to housechampionship@lodgeparkacademy.co.uk. Each participant can enter a maximum of one entry per day - Entries must include your name and House, supported with a screenshot or photo of your exercise (clearly showing completed distance in KM). We will accept screenshots from appropriate fitness apps such as STRAVA and photos of screens from gym equipment such as treadmills, indoor bikes, rowing machines etc.
We aim to complete the challenge of 4,481km collectively as one LPA community, stopping off at various cities/attractions along the way. The House who contributes the furthest distance to the overall total will be crowned champions. This is a 500 House point competition (200 points for 1st place, 150 points for 2nd, 100 points for 3rd and 50 points for 4th place). 50 Bonus points will also be awarded to the highest participating House.
We look forward to receiving lots of entries – The race finishes on Friday 14th February!
Year 8 / 9 Basketball Triumph
Our Year 8 & 9 Boys played their first Basketball games of the season this week against Brooke Weston. The Year 8 boys went out strong with Max scoring some excellent 3 pointers . It was a close game with end to end plays.
Well done to Year 8's winning 11 - 10, and congratulations to Max for getting Player of the Match.
The Year 9 boys came out fighting for their game with them scoring straight away. They worked well as a team with support coming from the sideline.
The boys won comfortably 39 - 14 with player of the match going to Kacper for excellent shooting and game play.
Great start to their season ahead of their next match next week.
SWI UNIFORM SUPPLIER
Year 8 Parent Engagement Evening – Thursday 16th January 2025 3.30pm and 6.30pm
Academy Closes Friday 14th February 2025
Academy reopens Monday 24th February 2025
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Contact Us
Telephone: 01536 203817
Email: lpa-enquiries@lodgeparkacademy.co.uk
Please be aware this mailbox is monitored by a number of individuals, please do not disclose any confidential information.
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