Lodge Park Academy's Newsletter – Summer Term
Dear Families, One can only imagine the range and depth of emotions that greeted the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender on 8th May 1945. The hard-fought peace, following nearly six years of World War II in Europe, was celebrated with widespread joy, street parties and thanksgiving. As our students recognise Victory in Europe (VE) Day this week, we support them to take a moment for deep reflection and remember those lost. Our assemblies this week will focus on Individual Liberty, a privilege made possible by the sacrifice of those who went before us, and the importance of protecting those things which we value in our community. As National Smile Month starts, we remain committed to creating learning experiences that are engaging, informative and positive. This can often be a difficult challenge in the summer months - with the commencement of GCSE and A level examinations - but one that we rise to every day. We encourage our learners to be committed, industrious and ambitious, but ensure that they balance their scholastic endeavours with exercise. The beneficial union between exercise and mental health has been recognised for a millennia and across cultures. We encourage our students to develop both their minds and bodies, linking our House competitions and social awareness through such activities as Tug-of-War and Community litter picking. The positive relationship between a simple process such as walking and improved outcomes has been well-documented. The Greek physician and philosopher Hippocrates believed that,
“walking is man’s best medicine”,
the German academic Friedrich Nietzsche argued that,
“All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking”
and the English historian G.M. Trevelyan claimed,
“I have two doctors, my left leg and my right”.
Part of our mission at Lodge Park Academy is to guide our students in finding that balance between academic and physical development, moving both ‘legs’ in harmony and with purpose. Best Wishes,
Lodge Park Academy Leadership Team
Ofsted visit Lodge Park Academy
We were absolutely thrilled this week to host our first Ofsted inspection under the new framework. The Inspectors saw exactly what we see everyday, that the journey of this school is "exciting", that it's an incredibly "special" place to be and the "the changes are phenomenal"
We are really excited to share with the community our 'grades' and our report when we receive them. It's been an excellent outcome - one that students, parents and staff can all be really, really proud of.
I would like the final word to go to the students - who were absolutely excellent on Tuesday and Wednesday. They showed our visitors how proud they are to be at Lodge Park, how invested they are in it's success and just what incredible young people they are. I was unbelievably proud to be their Principal this week.
Mr Kirby
Why We Do What We Do
House Assemblies bring a sense of belonging for our students, and our four Houses bring together one community at Lodge Park Academy. This last week during our House assemblies we embedded the following so that all students are on the same page of understanding of Why We Do What We Do ..........
This week we have been looking at Connections.
Dr Ginsburg identified the 7 C's of resilience to prepare young people to have the ability to face life's challenges. The are considered the essential building blocks that help us to show resilience in the face of challenges. Building resilience in our lives is at the heart of our wellbeing.
Connection is defined as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued - when they can give and receive without judgement. It is the act of establishing bonds, not just with current friends and family, but also by opening oneself to new relationships. Here at LPA that means being part of your tutor group, being part of your House and being part of our school community and family.
Pride and belonging is fundamental to health and well-being, fostering a sense of safety, authenticity and community. Embracing identity helps overcomes social isolation and builds resilience. Connecting with others is essential for our mental, emotional and social well-being, reducing loneliness and fostering happiness. Having strong connections with friends, family and community - provides support during difficult times and builds confidence. Genuine, positive relationships create a sense of belonging, improve our mental health, and acts as a "safety net" support to navigate life's challenges.
Quotation - Connection is feeling that your ideas matter and knowing your contributions are appreciated. A vibrant, positive force that develops when we feel genuinely seen (recognised for who we are), heard (understood), and valued (appreciated). Genuine relationships are built on vulnerability, mutual respect, and non-judgmental support rather than just presence. Motto - Prioritising the right actions over the safety of avoiding challenges, acting according to our values and stepping out of our comfort zone. Our moral compass points to what is right, but comfort often tempts us towards the "fast or easy" path. Choosing courage means obeying your conscience rather than taking the path of least resistance. By being part of the LPA Family, your school, your House and your tutor group, you are building connections - how can his benefit you indivdually? 1. You can feel at ease and comfortable thus tension disappears, and there can be an effortless flow in conversation or shared silence. 2. You can have a feeling of clicking, often described as an "instant" or "unexplainable" bond or friendship. 3. A feeling of empathy - that other poeple "get" you, enabling positive communication. 4. Shared values and goals. 5, Mutual warmth and respect that makes you feel stronger or more supported.
Lodge Park Achieves Culinary Excellence
During the Easter break, our very own Mrs Porter, took part in the Fun Healthy Chinese Cuisine Teacher Training workshop - Grand Final, sponsored by Lee Kum Kee and held at the Lee Kum Kee (Europe) office! - and she only went and won it. ⭐⭐⭐ Each finalist prepared two dishes: Chicken & Peppers with Black Bean Garlic Sauce and a unique Self-created recipe. Mrs Porter's dish of Four fried stuffed treasures, served with rice and a Thai mango salad, demonstrated her creativity and emphasis on fresh, well-balanced flavours to promote the projects essence of Healthy Chinese Cuisine.
Litter picking in our local community
Some of our Year 7 students have been out in the local community this week taking part in a litter-picking initiative aimed at improving the environment in our local area. This effort is not just about cleaning up our streets and green space - it is about building a stronger, more responsible, and more connected community. Litter has a significant impact on the appearance and health of our neighbourhood. By coming together to address this issue, our students and staff make a visible difference while raising awareness about the importance of caring for their surroundings. Before departing on this initiative we went through our trip rules to ensure we kept safe. This involved our movements together whilst out in the community, wearing their hi-vis jackets, protective gloves and using their litter-picking tool to avoid direct contact with objects and what not to pick up e.g. sharp objects
This week we focused on the Medeina park area where the students discovered a lot of plastic rubbish.
They really enjoyed taking time to clean up this space for everyone to enjoy. We have lots of other students also keep to take part and we are going out again next Thursday.
For our students, this initiative provides a valuable opportunity to develop a sense of responsibility and pride in their local area. By actively participating, they will gain a deeper understanding of environmental issues and the role they can play in making positive change. It also encourages teamwork, leadership, and a sense of ownership over these local spaces. Let’s take pride in our community and work together to keep it clean!
Attendance Update
We would like to share our weekly Attendance milestones with our parents. Whilst sharing the milestones for House Tutor groups, we are proud to share with you the amazing students who have 100% attendance at the Academy, year to date. It is never too late to improve your child's attendance. If you have any questions regarding your child's attendance, please feel free to contact the Attendance Team at the Academy. attendance@lodgeparkacademy.co.uk
Seneca - Term 5
What a start to Term 5 - starting where we left off top of the tree. Thank you to all students who have made the consistent choice of Seneca for their study - Choice not Chance. It is great to see Year 9's starting to flourish and feature in this weeks results - Keep it up Year 9's!
Thank you all very much for supporting your child with their Seneca Independent Learning.
Mr M McGeown - Vice Principal
Music Clubs
Our music clubs have had good attendance this term. There's lots to get involved with. This week in Band Club we all learned 2 different rhythms on the drum kits, String Ensemble now have 2 pieces of repertoire almost complete, Choir has kept some favourites and added in a couple of new pieces, Brass Club are polishing their repertoire and adding a new piece and Guitar Club are working on their ensemble skills, too. Music clubs are free, and you can borrow most instruments while you are there.
We have two new clubs which will be run by Mrs Della Torre starting next week (w/c4th May): Girls Sing! will take place in G10 on Wednesday morning tutor times and Boys Sing! will take place in G10 on Friday mornings. No need to go to line up as we will register you in G10. As the names suggest, these are specifically girls only and boys only choirs. They are both non-auditioned, lots of fun and singing is good for your health! Please encourage your young person to come along.
Mrs Olner - Director of Music
LPA Readers Recommend
The Girl Who Couldn't Lie by Radhika Sanghani
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction I Recommend this book because: It is relatable to young people; awkwardness with people you like, lying to friends and other people. Hiding feelings from people who love you and breaking down when no-one is around. Also doing things to please others and hiding your flaws. What have you learnt from this book? I learnt how hard things can be when we're honest. But lying about everything make us feel lonely and when we choose our words carefully, the truth isn't that bad at all. What is a brief summary of this Book? This story is about a 13 year old named Priya Shah who is forced to be honest because of a bangle. Her best friends Sami and Mei helps her tell the truth in a way that it doesn't hurt the people and things she loves. Who do you think would enjoy this book?
- It is funny and relatable so a lot of people will enjoy it.
- People who like romance books.
- I think people who like reading a book that explore difficulties in friendships and family feuds.
Favourite Quotes: "She has been the only person Priya could talk to ..... but then she died" "Priya shook her head in a panic at the bangle, stuck on her wrist" " ...... choose which truth to choose and how, then you have some control over it" " ....... she hadn't been wearing it when she stood up .... and told the truth to the entire ...... Thank you to Tomi for letting us use your review.
Miss Sherwin - Teacher of English
House Championship 2025/2026
House Rounders
House Competitions got back underway at LPA this week as students went head-to-head in Rounders. The competition took place during lunchtime on Thursday and Friday starting with the Year 7 & 8 round of games which involved over 50 students representing their House teams. The competition was extremely close with the number of rounders scored being the difference. Congratulations to Kestrel who finished 1st place followed by an impressive Red Kite performance to finish in 2nd place. Third place went to Goshawk with Osprey finishing in 4th place overall. On Friday the Year 9 to 11 students produced some excellent teamwork, with a lot of big hitting rounders on show! It was once again the number of Rounders scored across the matches which turned out to be the deciding factor, with Kestrel edging the competition to be crowned champions. Red Kite secured another 2nd place with Goshawk and Osprey settling for third and fourth place respectively.
House Tug of War
Students are preparing to go head-to-head in House Tug of War next week. House teams will require a minimum of 8 students per team, with the event split across three lunchtimes. Year 7 and 8's get the competition underway on Tuesday, followed by year 9's on Thursday and year 10/11's on Friday.
Benefield Primary take on the LPA Cube
It was great to welcome pupils from Benefield Academy to Lodge Park last week in an attempt to ‘beat the Cube’. 14 pupils in year 6 showcased their skills across 8 games in attempt to be crowned the winner of the LPA Cube. The event was designed to provide the children with a taste of what some of the House competitions are like at LPA. They had a great time testing their skills across the event, already demonstrating all of the LPA Values.
Lodge Park Academy Sports Newsletter
Please copy the link into your browser and view this terms Lodge Park Academy Sports Newsletter. https://lodgeparkacademy.co.uk/docs/newsletters/sport_newsletters/Term_4_Sports_Newsltter_2025-2026.pdf
LPA Sports Timetable - Term 5
Music Clubs Timetable - Term 5
Enrichment Timetable - Term 5
The academy would like to increase the attendance at the non-Sports Enrichment clubs and we have been listening to Student voice on the clubs they wish to attend. We have introduced an Enrichment Attendance card. When students attend 6 sessions of any Enrichment club and get their card signed by the Enrichment teachers they will hand this card into Student Reception and it will go into a prize draw taking place at the end of each term. We will also count up cards at the end of the term and House points will be rewards (House in 1st place 25 points, in 2nd place 15 points, in 3rd place 10 points, in 4th place 5 points)
Support & Information for Parents
Managing Exam stress
Exam periods can place significant pressure on young people, affecting their confidence, focus and overall well-being. Our latest #WakeUpWednesday guide explores realistic and supportive strategies to help manage this pressure. It highlights practical approaches, including: • Organising workload and reducing overwhelm • Using active and creative revision techniques • Creating calm, focused study environments • Using technology, including AI, in a thoughtful way The guide also emphasises the importance of maintaining balance, motivation and positive wellbeing during exam preparation.
Career Days offers a series of online work experience and Career Days designed specifically for students aged 13–18. These live, interactive days give students a chance to: • Learn about a specific career from industry professionals • Understand day-to-day life, entry requirements, and pathways • Complete practical work experience tasks • Ask questions in live Q&A sessions • Receive a personalised certificate for UCAS or CV use . We’ve got a range of upcoming Career Days that might suit different interests — all taking place online and accessible from anywhere:
- Architect Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 2nd May 2026
- Engineering Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 9th May 2026
- Business Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 16th May 2026
- Performing Arts Work Experience & Careers Day – Sunday 18th October 2026
. Details, dates & registration: Career Days Why this might benefit students: ✔ Career insight - live expert input and real-world context ✔ Work experience evidence for UCAS & applications ✔ Accessible for students anywhere - no travel required ✔ Suitable across Years 9–13
LPA – Helpful contacts
MASH
Safeguarding concerns 0300 303 1965 Report a concern or request support | Northampton Children's Trust
Childline
Telephone Number: 0800 1111 Childline | Childline
Police (non emergency)
Telephone number: 101
Police (emergency)
Telephone Number: 999
NHS
Telephone number: 111
Young Minds
Mental Health Crisis Support Text: YM to 8528
Online Mental Wellbeing Community
Website: www.kooth.com
Youthworks Mental Health Support
www.youthworksnorthamptonshire.org.uk
Online Health Advice
NGAGE
A free and confidential service providing advice, information, education and structured support to young people in relation to drug and alcohol use https://aquarius.org.uk/our-services/young-peoples-services/northampton-yp/
NDAS
NDAS offer refuge, outreach and groupwork programmes to men and women impacted by domestic abuse. We also support children to recover from the trauma of witnessing the abuse. NDAS offer a 24 hour helpline as well as several drop in services throughout the county. https://www.ndas.co/
Housing Support
Free information and advice to anyone who is homeless or worried about becoming homeless https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/housing-options/housing-advice
SWI UNIFORM SUPPLIER
https://www.lodgeparkacademy.co.uk/docs/term_dates/2025_2026_Academic_Calendar_v1.pdf
Lodge Park Academy Closes - Thursday 2nd April 2026
Lodge Park Academy Re-Opens -Monday 20th April 2026
Bank Holiday - Monday 4th May 2026
Lodge Park Academy Closes - Friday 22nd May 2026
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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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