Lodge Park Academy Newsletter - Week One Summer Term
Welcome Back!
Dear Families,
Welcome back to what promises to be a focused, energetic, and successful summer term here at Lodge Park Academy. We hope you all had a restful Easter break and are feeling refreshed for the term ahead.
A Thoughtful Start to the Term
This week, we began with a series of powerful morning assemblies delivered by each of our Heads of House, focusing on the important theme of tolerance and racism – ‘It is not okay.’ These sessions encouraged reflection, discussion, and a shared understanding of the importance of respect and inclusion in our school community. We are proud of the thoughtful and mature way our students engaged with this topic.
Raising Standards: Vision for the Term Ahead
In the afternoons, our Principal, Mr Kirby, led assemblies centered around raising standards and expectations. He shared his vision for the summer term and celebrated the excellent progress made so far this year—particularly in the areas of behaviour, attitude, punctuality, and attendance. Mr Kirby challenged all students to now take their commitment one step further by focusing on improving classroom performance and developing a positive, self-driven approach to learning.
Raven’s Sports Programme Returns
We were also excited to relaunch our Raven’s Sports Programme for the summer term, with a fresh cohort of students participating in Netball, Basketball, and Football. Mrs Morgan Smith met with all athletes this week to outline expectations and set the tone for a term of teamwork, dedication, and sporting excellence.
Milestones for Year 11
It’s a key moment in time for our Year 11 students. On Thursday morning, they gathered for their final Year Group photograph, marking a significant milestone as they head into the final stretch of their secondary education. We are incredibly proud of them as they begin the final preparations for their GCSE and Level 2 qualifications, which begin in early May.
Additionally, our Year 11 Art students completed their final practical examinations on Thursday. The focus and creativity on display were outstanding – well done to everyone involved.
A Calm and Purposeful Start
The atmosphere around school has been calm, focused, and purposeful all week. Students have returned with an excellent attitude towards their studies, and it has been wonderful to see classrooms buzzing with positivity and determination.
We look forward to a term filled with energy, effort, and achievement across all areas of academy life.
Here’s to a fantastic summer term at Lodge Park Academy!
Warm regards,
Lodge Park Academy Leadership Team
Leave of Absence Request
We have seen a recent rise in requests for leave of term time absence, as a result we have sent a Holiday Warning Letter to all families via the My Child at School APP.
A Principal can only authorise a leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. We will take into account the Government guidance when considering what the exceptional circumstances are- all applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. You may be able to take your child out of school in exceptional circumstances, providing an application is made in advance by the parent/carer, this request complies with Government guidance and the leave is deemed to be ‘exceptional’ by the Principal.
If you take a leave of absence without our permission or if your child fails to return by the agreed date if permission was granted, then this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and noted in your child’s record. You might also be issued with a fixed penalty notice for this absence. If your child has not returned within 10 days of the expected date of return then, after consultation with the Local Authority, we may take your child off our school roll.
As examples, the following reasons are not considered to be exceptional circumstances:
- availability of cheap holidays
- periods overlapping with beginning or end of term
- visits to family
- renewing passports
Requests for leave of absence will only be considered if made in writing. Please ensure you use the leave of absence request form to do this which is found on our website.
Mrs Cooper
Vice Principal Attendance
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 Purple Pen!
This week we explain the importance of the purple pen.
We have chosen purple so it stands out in students’ books. The purple pen is used to
- Tick when a student gets something right
- Correct when a student gets something wrong
- Add any good ideas a student hears from others
- Record any new learning the teacher gives the student in relation to an answer
- Note any tips or advice you’re given on completing a task
Students need to be very clear about which answers and knowledge in their books is accurate so we talk about the purple pen helping them to make their books revision ready. When they revise if it is in purple they know they can rely on the information.
Table Talk
With costs rising all the time you may want to talk to your son/daughter about their carbon footprint.
The average human exhales just under 1kg of carbon every day: somewhere between 300 and 350kg a year.
The average fully grown tree absorbs 21kg of carbon per year. That means we need just over 7,000 trees to offset our breathing. Nature can cope with the carbon footprint we create from breathing. Here are some tips you can discuss on how we can help to reduce our carbon footprint at school which can translate to home also.
✓ Ensure lights are off in classrooms/rooms when not in use
✓ Keep doors closed, especially during winter to preserve heat
✓ Put plastic bottles, cardboard or paper in the correct recycling bins
✓ Where possible walk or cycle to school
✓ Put any waste food in the correct bin
As carbon dioxide levels continue to climb, fuelling further temperature increases, the cumulative effects — including increased ocean acidification, rising sea levels, more frequent and intense storms, mass species extinctions, food scarcity and greater economic inequality — will be felt worldwide.
Please take the time to discuss with your children the impact of greenhouse gases and how you could possibly reduce your carbon footprint.
Celebration Assemblies Last Term......
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.
Lodge Park School Celebrates Year 8 Student’s Incredible Victory at Santa Pod Drag Racing Festival
We are thrilled to share the fantastic news of Year 8 student John McLean’s remarkable success at the Festival of Power event, held at Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire over the Easter weekend. John, a student in 8LR, competed for the Oil Cooled Outlaws drag racing team, and his performance was nothing short of extraordinary.
At just 13 years old, John took on a field of adult competitors in one of the UK's most prestigious drag racing events, and not only participated but triumphed. He made his way through the competition with grit, determination, and exceptional skill, winning five rounds and ultimately fending off 18 other seasoned competitors to claim the event victory.
This achievement is truly groundbreaking, as John’s success in such a competitive environment speaks volumes about his talent, focus, and dedication to the sport. Drag racing is a challenging and demanding sport, and to excel at such a young age is a testament to John’s hard work and commitment. The level of skill required to navigate a dragster at top speeds while maintaining precision and control is remarkable, and John’s ability to do so at such an early stage in his career is a huge achievement.
We are all incredibly proud of John’s accomplishments and the way he has represented Lodge Park School on such a grand stage. His achievement not only reflects his individual prowess but also the support and encouragement he receives from his family, teammates, and the wider community. We are confident that this victory will be the first of many, and we look forward to following John’s journey as he continues to rise through the ranks of the sport.
Please join us in congratulating John McLean on his outstanding performance, and we wish him all the best for his future endeavours in the world of drag racing. His success is a shining example of what can be achieved through passion, perseverance, and a determination to excel. Well done, John!
Lodge Park School is incredibly proud of you
House ‘Just Dance’ Results
It was an exciting final day of term at LPA as over 12 acts participated in the eagerly anticipated ‘Just Dance’ House Competition. Performing as an individual or within a group, within House teams, each act performed a just dance song in front of a panel of judges; Mrs Jones (Executive Principal), Mr Kirby (Principal) and Mr French (Guest judge from DRET) who scored each performance. In addition to performing in front of judges, the competition took place in the main Hall in front of 200+ students requiring lots of LPA Courage.
It was an extremely close contest and some deliberation it was Lola in 8PR who scored a perfect 10 from all three judges. Lola displayed all of the LPA values by having to perform her dance again due to technical issue with the sound in the first performance. Despite the minor setback Lola returned to the floor to perform again where she impressed the judges with not just her routine but the character and resilience she displayed.
Last years winner Perez in Kestrel looked to retain his title but finished a close runner up. Well done to every single participant who represented their House team in this event.
LPA Fantasy Premier League
With time running out fast, the end of the premier league season is just weeks away and Lennon still holds onto top spot in the LPA Fantasy Premier League house competition.
The lead at the top is very close though and Tawanda is only 25 points behind in second place. With 5 game weeks left it is far too close to call and there is still plenty of twists and turns ahead.
Well done to everyone who is currently in the top 10 and those above the Gamesmaker at the end of the season will also receive bonus points. Keep your eyes peeled for the next update.
Term 5 House Competitions
We have another exciting term of house competitions lined up at LPA this term with a further six competitions scheduled to take place. Although it is a shorter half term we have Portrait Artist, Bake Off, Rounders, Music Quiz and Bullseye. More information will follow soon outlining details of how to get involved in each competition. Rounders is take place 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
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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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