Lodge Park Academy Newsletter – Summer Term 2
Dear Families,
It has been another busy and exciting week here at Lodge Park Academy, filled with opportunities for reflection, celebration, and aspiration. Our week began with inspiring house assemblies led expertly by our Heads of House, exploring the theme of ambition. Students were introduced to a range of exceptional individuals who have achieved greatness from a young age and were encouraged to consider the traits and habits of high-performing people, sparking thoughtful discussion across all year groups.
Afternoon assemblies, delivered by Mr McGeown alongside Mrs Langley and Mrs Jones, focused on our core values of PRIDE and tolerance. Students were challenged to reflect on how tolerance is demonstrated in their own behaviours and attitudes towards others—a valuable message that underpins our inclusive and respectful school community.
Friday brought an important milestone for our Year 10 students with the Careers Fair, offering meaningful engagement with local industry leaders and giving students a glimpse into the world of work. We were delighted to welcome parents to this event too, ensuring that crucial conversations around future pathways could take place in a supportive and informed setting.
Thursday evening was a true celebration of our students’ creativity and confidence, as we hosted LPA’s Got Talent. Expertly compered by Mr Webb and judged by Principal Mr Kirby and Executive Principal Mrs Jones, the evening was filled with incredible performances that showcased the diverse and unique talents of our young people.
In addition to these highlights, a number of students took part in Summer Cup swimming trials, representing the academy with determination and pride.
Finally, the week ends on a high with the Year 11 Prom—This promises to be a stunning event which has been expertly organised with care and flair by Mrs Berry. This year’s event is being held at the Best Western Hotel in Corby, we expect that the evening will be a fitting celebration of our Year 11 students’ journey through Pre-16 education. With music, dancing, and the support of staff and families, it promises to be a memorable way to mark the end of a significant chapter.
As always, thank you for your continued support. We look forward to sharing more moments of success and growth in the weeks to come.
Warm regards,
Lodge Park Academy Leadership Team
Table Talk
At times it is important we engage in self-reflection. In the fast-paced rhythm of modern life, it's easy to get swept up in doing - checking tasks off a list, meeting deadlines, and juggling responsibilities. But in the midst of all this motion, we often forget to pause and simply be. That’s where self-reflection comes in.
What Is Self-Reflection?
Self-reflection is the practice of intentionally looking inward to examine your thoughts, emotions, decisions, and behaviours. It’s about asking yourself not just what you’re doing, but why you’re doing it—and whether it aligns with who you truly are or want to be.
Why It Matters
Taking time to reflect can lead to powerful outcomes:
Clarity: It helps you see patterns, gain perspective, and make sense of your experiences.
Growth: By identifying areas for improvement, you create space for learning and personal development
Resilience: Reflection builds emotional intelligence and equips you to respond rather than react.
Purpose: It reconnects you to your core values and long-term goals.
How to Reflect Effectively
Self-reflection doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few ways to incorporate it into your daily or weekly routine:
Journaling: Spend a few minutes each day writing about your experiences, feelings, or lessons learned. Prompts like “What did I do well today?” or “What could I have done differently?” can be helpful.
Mindful Pauses: Even a quiet walk or five minutes of deep breathing can give your mind the space it needs to think clearly.
Asking Questions: Try reflecting on deeper questions, like: What am I avoiding? What brings me joy lately? Am I living according to my values?
Self-reflection isn’t self-criticism—it’s self-connection. It’s about being honest with yourself in a compassionate way. In that quiet space, you discover your strengths, understand your challenges, and make intentional choices about your future.
So, this week, try helping your children to self-reflect with a conversation stemming from some of the questions above.
Why We Do What We do
The Summer Cup
The Summer Cup is one of the biggest sporting events of the year for us. Students from across all 36 DRET secondary and primary schools gather together for a competitive day of sport. This takes place at Grantham Meres stadium in Grantham. The range of sports that secondary schools experience includes traditional track and field events, boccia, table tennis, tennis and swimming. We have a number of elite athletes that support the event, engaging with our students and offering advice as well as comparing the event. This year, it includes Colin Jackson and Alastair Brownlee. Each school has a student chaperone who spends the day with an elite athlete, both Olympic and Paralympians. The students demonstrate great camaraderie and sportsmanship, cheering for one another and demonstrating pride in their school.
GCSE Results Day - Thursday 21st August
GCSE Results Day will be taking place on Thursday 21st August. The school will be open and available for Year 11 students to collect their results between 9:00-10:30am. Students will need to enter through our main reception, where they will be directed through to the zone to collect their results. Any parents or family members will need to remain outside of school until your child has signed out of reception with their results. Please be aware that students set of GCSE results can only legally be released to them, so any family members will not be allowed to collect them on behalf of the student. We look forward to seeing our Year 11 students there on the day. If you have any questions about GCSE results day, please contact Mr Cronin - jcronin@lodgeparkacademy.co.uk
Year 9 - GCSE Option Choices
Letters will be emailed out to all families next week confirming what 3 GCSE option subjects each Year 9 student has been allocated for Years 10 and 11. If you have any questions about GCSE option choices, please contact Mr Cronin - jcronin@lodgeparkacademy.co.uk
Congratulation to Our Teacher Finalist!
LPA is thrilled to share some exciting news! On behalf of the FUN Healthy Chinese Cuisine team and the Ming-Ai (London) Institute, they would like to congratulate our amazing teacher, Mrs Porter for becoming the second Teacher Finalist in the 2025/26 CPD Teacher Training & Competition Series.
This is a fantastic achievement, and we are so proud! Mrs Porter will take part in the Advanced Workshop & Grand Final next year. The lucky winners of the final event will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime culinary and cultural adventure in Hong Kong and China!
It was a joy to have Mrs Porter and Mrs Hawkins represent the school at the recent training day, and they are excited about the inspiration and ideas they’ll be bringing back to the classroom. Well done!
Year 7 Visit the University of Northampton – Raising Aspirations for the Future
On Tuesday, 17th June 2025, 87 Year 7 students had the opportunity to visit the University of Northampton for a day of exploration, inspiration, and hands-on learning. The goal of the trip was to raise aspirations and give students a first-hand experience of university life.
During the visit, all students took part in a guided campus tour and attended a talk by a current first-generation university student—someone who is the first in their family to go to university. This session was particularly powerful, giving students a relatable insight into the possibilities that higher education can offer.
Students then enjoyed subject taster sessions, including an introduction to parapsychology, where they explored topics such as ghosts, déjà vu, telepathy, and psychic phenomena. Three out of the four groups also took part in a Law taster session, competing in Taskmaster-style challenges designed around legal concepts. Not only did students learn about the legal system in an interactive way—they also outperformed the teachers in the challenges!
The fourth group explored Sports Science, participating in a series of physical tests to measure agility and vertical jump height. It was a fun and energetic session that gave them a glimpse into the science behind athletic performance.
Feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive. Many described the day as “amazing” and expressed how much they valued the experience. Several said they’d love to take part in more opportunities like this in the future.
Mr York - Head of Sixth Form, Lodge Park Academy
Northamptonshire County School Challenge - Year 9
Congratulation go to our Year 9 County Schools Challenge team who have worked hard to prepare to present their idea since being chosen to represent the school back in November with Miss Williams support.
They presented their idea in front of a Dragons Den style panel at the semi-final last week. Huge congratulations from all of us for making it through to the Grand Final, where they will compete against 7 other Northamptonshire schools. This will take place at the Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, next Monday evening. Mr Kirby, Mrs Jones, a number of other staff as well as parents of the students will be there to show our support, and we wish them all the best.
Our Academy team from left to right, Erica B, Isla C, Charlotte C, Rosie L, Nixie M, Evie M and Tilly T
LPA’s Got Talent
The penultimate house competition of the year took place at LPA this week as 12 acts took to the stage to perform in the house Talent Show. Goshawk, Kestrel, Osprey and Red Kite each selected three different acts to represent their houses on the main stage in front of a live audience of over 200 students. Students showcased a variety of different talents throughout the competition, from solo singing to magic tricks to musical instruments and sporting talent.
Once again we were thrilled to have three judges return to score each of the performances – Mr French from the David Ross Education Trust, Mr Kirby (principal) and Mrs Jones (Executive Principal) made up the judging team and had the difficult job of scoring each of the performances. Each judged individually scored performances out of 10 before adding the scores together to create and overall score. The overall scores will be shared and the full results revealed during the House Champions reveal assembly on Thursday 17th July.
Well done to everyone who took part, showcasing amazing confidence, courage and resilience to get up and perform in front of a live audience.
Kestrel House and Osprey House are joining forces during LPA Sports Day this year to raise funds for their local charities. Kestrel for #bemorefab and Osprey for Corby Mind. They will be selling items in the stands to support the atmosphere of the event e.g coloured flags as well as small snacks and drinks. Please can you help support this event by allowing your child to bring any small change with them.
Good Luck Everyone!
Join Our Seneca Learning Community – Support Your Child’s Learning at Home
We are delighted to invite all parents and carers to join the Lodge Park Academy Seneca Learning Community at www.senecalearning.com. This is a powerful tool that allows you to support your child in completing additional learning outside the classroom – helping to reinforce key concepts and prepare for assessments.
If you have not yet accessed your child’s Seneca account, you will have received a new invitation from us to join. We kindly ask for your support in accepting this invitation and becoming part of our growing community.
Why is this important?
With over 450 parents and students already actively engaged, and more than 110,000 hours of student learning recorded across this academic year, Seneca has proven to be an incredibly successful platform – especially in Science, Geography, and History. As we prepare for the 2025/26 academic year, we are aiming to develop this further, building on the momentum and positive outcomes we’ve seen so far.
How can you help?
Please ensure your child can access their Seneca account at senecalearning.com. If they have trouble logging in using their school email address, they can easily reset their password by selecting ‘forgotten password’ on the login page.
By joining our Seneca Learning Community, you will not only receive insights into your child’s progress but also gain the ability to support their independent learning more effectively.
We appreciate your continued support and will keep you updated with further developments as we approach the end of the academic year.
Together, let’s continue to build a culture of independent learning and academic success at Lodge Park Academy.
Thank you in advance for your support
Mr M McGeown - Vice Principal – Quality of Education
To Celebrate Maths Weekly Achievements
Lodge Park Academy Bright Sparx
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.
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
Lodge Park Academy Closes - Tuesday 22nd July 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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