Dear Families,
It has been a vibrant and purposeful week at Lodge Park Academy, full of opportunity, engagement and growth across our school community. On Monday, we had the pleasure of welcoming Steve West, Interim Director of Secondary Education for the David Ross Education Trust. Mr West was hugely impressed by the significant progress the Academy has made on its school improvement journey, noting the positive and focused atmosphere throughout. During his visit, he met with students, dropped into lessons, and spoke with senior leaders about the ongoing developments this academic year.
Our weekly Assemblies have been a key part of reinforcing our values and academic expectations. Morning House assemblies explored the theme of Ambition, encouraging students to take ownership of their learning and progress. These were expertly led by our Heads of House. In the afternoons, Vice Principal Mrs Milligan delivered Year Group assemblies centered on the idea of 'Ambition', supporting students to think about their dreams and goals for the future.
We were also delighted to welcome Year 7 families to our Parental Engagement Evening on Tuesday. It was wonderful to see so many parents and carers attending to discuss their child’s progress and how they have settled into Academy life. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Meanwhile, our Year 11 students continue to work hard as exam season approaches, undertaking their MFL speaking and listening exams, as well as practical assessments in Drama, Dance and Art. On Friday, our Year 7 and 8 students represented the Academy at the DRET Rugby Spring Cup—we look forward to sharing their results soon!
Finally, the Summer term Raven’s Sports Programme began this week, generating real excitement and enthusiasm among students. With the sun shining and spirits high, it’s been a fantastic start to the term and a testament to the energy and ambition that continues to grow across Lodge Park Academy.
Warm regards,
Lodge Park Academy Leadership Team
Meet the Attendance Team at Lodge Park Academy
The Attendance Team plays a vital role in ensuring accurate and timely tracking of student attendance. The team oversees daily attendance logs, lateness and absence reporting. They collaborate closely with SLT, and other departments to resolve attendance issues and support families in improving school attendance. Fostering a culture of accountability and punctuality across the site.
Ms Baxter, Miss Di-Lorio, Miss Hudgill and Mr MacDonald run the show,!
Kev MacDonald
Newly appointed Attendance Welfare Officer at Lodge Park. I am committed to supporting students and their families to improve school attendance and promote positive outcomes for every young person. Outside of work, I enjoy watching football, cricket, and horse racing, getting out to play a round of golf, and unwinding by baking the occasional banana loaf.
Holly Baxter
I have been part of the Lodge Park Academy family for over 12 years as part of the Attendance team. In my current role, I manage all aspects of attendance administration, ensuring that records are accurate, up-to-date, and compliant. I work closely with staff to track attendance, process absence requests, and coordinate with parents and staff. Outside work I enjoy pottering in the garden, listening to music and spending quality time with friends and family.
Jessica Hudgill
I work as a Student Receptionist at Lodge Park Academy and also support the Attendance team. My role involves being the first point of contact for the students (while they are within the Academy), supporting staff through the day and ensuring smooth daily operations. I enjoy contributing to a positive and welcoming school environment. Outside of work, I love going to the gym, spending quality time with my family and friends, baking sweet treats, and getting involved in creative activities whenever I can.
Yasmin Di-Iorio
I have been working for the Attendance Team since January, with my main role being to monitor students who are absent on a daily basis, and call home to find out why the student is absent, discuss attendance and investigate any support required. I have however worked at Lodge Park since 2023 doing all sorts of different administrative roles as well as working on Student Reception when it first opened at the end of 2024. I have lots of interests and hobbies I do outside of work, e.g. listening to music, going on hikes with friends and doing some Pilates (well, attempt to).
Arriving on Time
Unfortunately, we have noticed a number of students arriving considerably later than the expected 8:30am line-up time. The gates are locked at 8:33am and at this point students must enter through Student Reception.
When the gates are locked students line up outside Student Reception and are greeted by our Attendance Welfare Officer, who signs them in. Students must be on site by 8:38am to avoid a late mark and late detention.
In September we sent the latest Government guidance regarding punctuality and some families have recently received a Late warning letter.
Attendance letters are formally worded as they contain Government guidance, due to this they may at first cause some distress, but we have a duty to be transparent and keep families regularly informed.
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.
Our Attendance Team is always available to talk about your child’s attendance and punctuality and offer support.
Table Talk
At LPA we have six core values: Ambition & Aspiration; Respect & Resilience; Courage and Gratitude. These values are very important to us and central to all we do at LPA. We encourage all staff to use the language of our values in every day interactions with our students. Please take the time to pick one and discuss with your child what that means to them and to you. Perhaps give some examples from your experience of life of demonstrating one of these values and talk about how these values can make us better individuals.
Why We Do What We Do
LPA 6
At LPA we poverty proof our equipment list. Some schools will require you to bring in items such as whiteboards and whiteboard pens, highlighters and coloured pencils etc… At LPA we just list six items: 2 black pens, 1 pencil, a ruler, a rubber and a purple pen.
The importance of the two black pens!
This week we explain the importance of the two black pens.
When students come to sit their GCSE exams they will have to write in black pen.
The exam boards advise that students write in black ink or a black ballpoint pen because the scanners pick this up more effectively. If the colour of the writing or even the handwriting is at all unclear the script is taken out of online marking and marked physically. WE always try and ensure we are giving our students the best possible opportunity to do as well as possible.
The reasons we ask for two black pens is if one runs out the students still have a second one with which to complete their work.
To celebrate Maths Weekly Achievements
Lodge Park Academy Bright Sparx
‘The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.’
Each week, our students at LPA, complete maths questions for their homework on Sparx. Some students answer additional questions, further increasing their mathematical knowledge. The maths team would like to celebrate these students and recognise their dedicated work.
House NOW Music Quiz
Theatre competitions return to LPA next week with the return of the house ‘NOW Music’ quiz. Participants will be showcasing their music quiz as they face questions from a range of NOW albums. Each house team will select one participant from each year group, plus a member of staff. House points will again be accumulated across the different rounds, with the house with the highest points total across the competition crowned champions.
Now Music Quiz will be a ticketed event, taking place in the main hall during lunchtime on Friday 9th May. Students must meet attendance and behaviour expectations across the academy if they wish to attend.
House ‘Portrait Artist’ Competition
We are extremely excited to reveal details of how to enter the house portrait competition. Showcase your artistic and creative skills by submitting a portrait through one of the five themes set this year. Participants have a choice from five themes including; funny or silly portrait, self portrait in the style of another artist, portrait in the style of Julian Opie, LGBTQ+ Silhouette portrait or a portrait of a sports star of your choice.
More information, including examples will be shared in assembly and via student emails. Submissions must be handed to tutors before the deadline on Tuesday 3rd June. Heads of House will collate all submissions from tutors before handing them to the art department.
This competition is open to all students, staff and wider family members.
House Rounders
House Rounders got underway at LPA on Thursday 1st May as Year 7 and Year 8 teams went head to head in the opening round of fixtures. Kestrel continued their fine form to secure victory on the night, to set up an exciting final round on Friday between house teams in year 9 and year 10. Results from both days will be accumulated together to determine the overall winning house. Results will be shared in house assemblies next week.
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/Lodge_Park_Academy_Term_Dates_2024-2025.pdf
May Bank Holiday - Monday 5th May 2025
Lodge Park Academy Closes - Friday 23rd May 2025
Lodge Park Academy reopens - Monday 2nd June 2025
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Contact Us
Telephone: 01536 203817
Email: lpa-enquiries@lodgeparkacademy.co.ukPlease be aware this mailbox is monitored by a number of individuals, please do not disclose any confidential information.
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Visit our website at www.lodgeparkacademy.co.uk
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Credits:
Created with images by Brad Pict - "Meet the team" • N-Universe - "time, alarm clock, against time, in favor of time, arriving early, punctuality, time concept, morning, afternoon, night, time is money, 24 hours, minimalist concept, collage art, photo collage " • Monster Ztudio - "Wooden cube block shape with sign question mark symbol on wood table" • umut hasanoglu - "Wooden signpost with arrows pointing towards help, guidance, support, and advice against a bright blue sky with clouds." • thodonal - "Concept of information" • alice_photo - "Contact us business icon on computer keyboard with the globe"