Term 2 - Christmas Edition
Contents
My First 100 Days - Mr Ferguson
Please Sir, I Want Some More
Political Participation
Pre-Public Examinations
Remembrance
Lessons from Auschwitz
Welcome to the New Sixth Form
Community
The Power of Learning
Trips & Visits
Extra-Curricular
How to Find Out More
Dates for the Diary - Term 3
My First 100 Days
I am writing the opening to our Christmas Newsletter on Saturday 9 December, which has been a special date circled in my calendar for some time. That date marks my 100th day as the Headteacher of The Lenham School, so I thought it fitting to write this then.
A Bright Start
Putting all my thoughts and emotions down into this short piece of writing would be impossible; there is so much I want to say! To put it simply, becoming the Headteacher of The Lenham School has been the best thing I have ever done, and I could not be prouder of the staff and students within our lovely community. I am also incredibly grateful to all of the parents and carers who have supported my vision for our school. Knowing you are all behind me has certainly helped when times have been difficult!
Oliver!
For me, there have been so many highlights this term, but none more so than the production of ‘Oliver!’ last week. I went to both nights and I’m still singing songs the morning after! I found the whole event very professional, rich with talent and incredibly moving. I have always said that exam results are essential, but they are no longer enough. Our school will be one that demands academic excellence, but I want all members of our community getting involved with the arts, sport and the wider curriculum.
A Focus on Learning
But of course, the quality of learning at the school remains my number one priority. Last week, I met all the staff to give my thoughts and direction at the end of the second term, and I would like to share those with you now. When I boiled it all down, I reached two very clear targets for all of us at The Lenham School:
Teach to Fluency
We need to continue to make teaching more interesting, challenging and aspirational. Our goal must be to aim for all children to be working at ‘Fluency’ as quickly as possible, so that they can push on to ‘Mastery’. Sometimes we spend too long at the earlier stages of learning, when I know the children can make more progress. I see it everyday at The Lenham School; if we raise the bar, the children will put in the effort to match it!
What does 'Great' look like?
If we are going to push the children to achieve at the highest levels, we need to show them how. I want to see us go on a journey where we are being far more explicit with our scaffolding and exemplar work, so that learners can access pathways and examples that help them understand what great work looks like and know how to get there.
We have made great progress already this year and I am already looking forward to 2024. I hope you and all your families have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Mr Ferguson - Headteacher
Please Sir, I Want Some More
The highlight of Term 2 has to be the school’s performance of Oliver! Over 60 students across all year groups took part in a two-night performance of the Lionel Bart Musical. This was the culmination of months of hard work, hours of rehearsing and dedication from staff and students alike. A massive thank you to Mrs Bennett, Mrs Feldwick, Mrs Fullerton and Mr Fullerton for making the performance such a stunning success.
Political Participation
This term the focus has been about engaging our students in studying the wider world. This has included learning about and participating in democratic processes. The whole school took part in the Kent Youth County Council elections, the countywide initiative where students aged between 11-18 years are elected to represent young people in Kent (Kent Youth County Council - Kent County Council). This was supported with a visit to the school by local MP and Minister of State for Social Care Helen Whately who spoke to students about her role as the representative for Faversham and Mid Kent before fielding questions. Her feedback about the school and students was extremely positive and she was left impressed with the range of questions she faced.
Pre-Public Examinations
Year 11 students had their first round of Pre-Public Exams (PPEs) at the start of Term 2. This was a very full on 7 days for students as they sat mock exams in a range of subjects. The students should take great pride in the way that they conducted themselves during the exams and how seriously they took them. We look forward to supporting them further as they continue to prepare for their GCSE exams next summer.
Remembrance
In early November, students took part in a range of activities about the importance of Remembrance. This included learning about the ‘Unknown Warrior’ in assembly and being asked to participate in a War Poetry Writing Competition. Year 9 students also had the opportunity to visit the battlefields in Belgium and a range of students took part in local remembrance services. The school hosted its own two-minute silence to allow staff and students to reflect upon the atrocities of war and the impact it continues to have in the world today.
Lessons from Auschwitz
Two Sixth Form students were given the opportunity to visit Auschwitz in Poland as part of the school’s participation with the Holocaust Memorial Trust. They were taken on a guided tour of what was used as concentration camps during the Second World War, and they will be feeding back their experience to the rest of the school early next year.
Welcome to the new Sixth Form
This term TLS launched its new exciting Sixth Form offer including the new Pro Soccer Academy which students can be part of. The school has taken time to consider the courses it offers which are beneficial both to our students needs and the local economy. Students were invited to take part in an open evening where they were able to meet with teachers to find out more about each subject. Those who were interested in being part of the new soccer academy also attended a follow up trial. Use this link to find out more information about what TLS offers for Post 16 students: https://www.thelenham.viat.org.uk/1775/welcome-to-sixth-form-1
Community
The school has played a big part in the local community over the last few weeks. On Friday 17 November, Dance students from a range of year groups toured the local area with flash dance performances to raise money for Children in Need. Some of the cast of Oliver! were also involved in ‘Lenham Lights’ by performing a variety of songs from the show and keeping visitors entertained who had come to see the Christmas Lights being switched on in the village.
The Power of Learning
We have been very impressed by some of the fantastic work that has been completed by our Year 7 History students. They have been tasked with creating models of Motte and Bailey Castles as part of their homework project for this term. We have seen some imaginative concepts such as 3D models, computer generated designs and one version that had been created in Minecraft.
Trips & Visits
Students have had the pleasure of participating in a range of trips this term with the Sixth Form visiting the Pinewood Studios Futures Festival, Year 11 students taking part in a geography fieldtrip to Stratford, Year 10s experiencing a Warner Bros Studio Tour to find out about the making of Harry Potter and Year 7 students getting to go to the Rochester Christmas Market.
Extra-Curricular
It has been another busy but successful term for extra curricular activities. The school continues to go from strength to strength in both boys and girls sporting events with a notable mention to the Year 11 Boys football team topping their division in the Kent League. The school choir remains popular, with students from the junior choir performing a rendition of ‘Silent Night’ to kickstart our Christmas Assemblies. The winners of the Gothic Poetry competition have been announced with Molly in 7L winning the competition and Jasmine (7A) and Ethan (7L) being runners up.
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.
We wish all our students a restful break and look forward to welcoming them back on Tuesday 2 January 2024. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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Dates for the Diary
2 Jan Start of Term 3
3 Jan Duke of Edinburgh Parent Information Evening 5 – 5.30pm
4 Jan Year 8 CCCU Event in school
5 Jan KS5 Drama Trip to NYC (5-9 Jan inclusive)
9 Jan Y7 & Y8 Sports Athletics
10 Jan Year 11 Consultation Eve
11 Jan Year 11 Consultation Eve
15 Jan Year 8 & 9 HPV Immunisations
16 Jan Year 8 & 9 HPV Immunisations
17 Jan Year 9 CCCU Event in school
18 Jan Year 12 CCCU Event in school
24 Jan TLS Music Concert
25 Jan Year 9 Business Enterprise Day
30 Jan KS4 Drama Trip ‘Peter Pan’
1 Feb Year 11 CCCU Event in school
2 Feb Year 10 GCSE Dance Practical Exams
5 Feb Year 10 Art Trip ‘Courtauld’ Gallery London/Year 11 GCSE Music Practical
6 Feb Year 10 Graphics Trip ‘Folkestone’/Year 11 GCSE Dance Practical Exam
7 Feb Year 11 GCSE Drama Rehearsal & Parent Showcase
8 Feb Year 12 Consultation Eve/Careers Fair
9 Feb Last Day of Term 3/Year 11 GCSE Drama Practical Exam