Lodge Park Academy's Newsletter – Spring Term, Week 5
Dear Families, Long considered a harbinger of bad luck, Friday the 13th has inspired not one but two unwieldy terms—paraskavedekatriaphobia and friggatriskaidekaphobia—that describe fear of this supposedly unlucky day. We shall be tempting the fates further by adding our own little devilish ingredients into the mix. Our main hall will be transformed into eleventh-century Scotland this Friday, as Year 11 experience a live performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth:
"By the pricking of my thumbs, / Something wicked this way comes".
This empowers our students to appreciate how stories can be realised in the real world and old stories given a literal (and literary) new life. Last week we celebrated the National Storytelling initiative, with assemblies exploring the benefits to society and our own individual mental-health in sharing narratives. Throughout history, in myths and legends, on a global or personal level, the power of stories has helped to shape all our lives. As was shared with the student, the weighty body of research is overwhelmingly clear, those people who read – for pleasure – and share stories in social interactions, have a better quality of living than those who will not or are prevented from doing so. Thank you for supporting us in ensuring that our students can share their stories and respectfully listen to those of other members of our community, acquiring a true sense of ‘Pride and Belonging’ within our academy. This theme is echoed in Children's Mental Health Week 2026 (9th-15th February) and their championing of the 'This is My Place' concept; their aim is
“to support the systems around children and young people to help them feel they belong”.
This aspirational statement mirrors our own commitment to continually improve the Lodge Park family, where every single member of our community feel that they have a voice and are accepted. The narrative shared across our assemblies this week is designed to continue this drive for safety and mental well-being across the Lodge Park family, with presentations on resilience, coping strategies and guidance on how to thrive and flourish within our institution. The opportunities for extra-curricular activity remain as rich and varied as ever, with the DRET Girls Football Cup, New Age Kurling as part of our Winter House Games and House Spelling Bee, to name but a few. The whole school will experience a drop-down day on Wednesday 11th February, where each year group will get a bespoke careers-focused sequence of presentations and activities tailored to their respective needs and stage of development. For many students the glimpse of a light at the end of a long (occasionally murky) school-tunnel is not enough and this day allows them an opportunity to become more enlightened about life beyond their studies. It is important that schools prepare their students for a lifetime of learning and employment. These experiences are vital in broadening horizons beyond the limits of next week, next term, next year, and empower students to think next step. Best Wishes,
Lodge Park Academy Leadership Team
Table Talk
Talking With Teens About Ambition—Without Turning It Into a Lecture
Few topics feel as loaded as ambition. Parents worry about motivation, direction, and future stability. Teenagers often hear pressure, expectations, or comparisons—even when none are intended. The result? A conversation that never quite gets off the ground. The good news: Talking about ambition doesn’t have to mean asking, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In fact, the most meaningful conversations often start somewhere else. Start With Curiosity, Not Conclusions: Teenagers are still figuring themselves out. Their interests may shift weekly, and that’s normal. Instead of pushing toward a specific goal, try asking open-ended questions: What kinds of things make you feel proud of yourself? When do you feel most energised or focused? What problems in the world bother you the most? These questions explore motivation and values—often the roots of ambition—without demanding a five year plan. Redefine What “Ambition” Means Many teens associate ambition with stress, competition, or burnout. Help broaden the definition. Ambition can mean: Wanting to improve at something you care about Wanting independence or freedom Wanting to make a difference, big or small. Let your teen know that ambition isn’t just about titles or salaries—it’s about direction, effort, and personal meaning. Share Your Story (Including the Messy Parts): Teens are surprisingly receptive to honesty. If your own path included detours, doubts, or changes, share them. Talking about uncertainty—rather than presenting a perfectly linear success story—helps teens feel less pressure to “have it all figured out.” You might say: “What I wanted at your age changed a lot. What mattered most was learning what fit me—and what didn’t.” Focus on Skills: Not Just outcomes, instead of emphasising achievements, talk about skills that support any aspiration: curiosity, resilience, communication, problem-solving. These are things teens can practice now, regardless of where they eventually land. This shifts the conversation from “Where are you going?” to “What are you learning?” Keep the Door Open: One meaningful conversation beats ten forced ones. Let your teen know you’re always open to talking— whether they’re excited, confused, or discouraged. Even a short, low-pressure check-in can plant a seed. A simple line like, “Whenever you want to talk about what you’re thinking about for the future, I’m here,” goes a long way. Ambition grows best in an environment of trust, curiosity, and support. When teens feel heard rather than judged, they’re more likely to reflect, explore, and eventually take ownership of their own aspirations—and that’s the goal we’re really aiming for.
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 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: What are British Values? British Values are fundamental, shared principles that form the basis of society and identity in the United Kingdom. Typically, British values are understood to encompass the ideals of:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
How do we demonstrate British values during the school day?
- Democracy - Ensuring everyone has a voice that is listened to
- The rule of law - Understanding that rules are important to keep us all safe and knowing right from wrong
- Individual Liberty - Encouraging self-confidence and a sense of responsibility
- Mutual Tolerance and Respect - An inclusive, diverse society where everyone is accepted
Above & Beyond nominations for Term 3
Tutors have been selecting students in their tutor group again this term who have being demonstrating at least 1 of our LPA core values (Ambition, Aspiration, Respect, Resilience, Courage, Gratitude) consistently and are deserved of recognition on our Above & Beyond boards in the House Hub area of the Zone and celebrated during House assemblies next week. Tutors nominate twice each term and then their Heads of House choose a Star of the Term from all students nominated in their House. All students selected go into a Prize draw at the end of the academic year and our Stars of the Term go into an additional special prize draw.
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
Gratitude Tree
Gratitude shapes our character by fostering essential virtues like empathy, kindness, and humility, while boosting our resilience and optimism to handle academic pressures. It shifts our focus from entitlement to appreciation, strengthening our relationships, which in turn enhances our emotional well-being and create a more positive, engaged learning environment. Throughout the year, we use our LPA Gratitude Tree to celebrate special events and members of our school community. Staff and students are invited to share what they are thankful for, helping to bring our core value of gratitude to life. Gratitude is closely linked to kindness, and this collaborative display of gratitude cards encourages reflection and appreciation. Focusing on positive thoughts has been shown to reduce stress and increase happiness. For Term 3, we invited our students to think about their aspirations. Many of our Year 11 students focused on the short-term goal of success in their mock exams, while others are looking ahead to their summer GCSEs. Our KS3 students shared a range of aspirations, from “being happy” and “spending quality time with family and friends” to “improving their skills on a musical instrument” or “joining a new club.” This activity has provided a wonderful opportunity for everyone to reflect on their goals and aim high for the future.
Seneca - Spring Term Week 4
It has been another exceptional week of independent learning from our students with another week where we have broken the 1,000,000 XP bracket. A message to our KS4 students, "What you are doing is truly magnificent!" However, we have some serious competition both locally and within the trust. We have diminished the gap between ourselves and Charnwood but still lie in second place.
Locally we have, for the first time in a while, been beaten into second place by Southfields School for Girls in Kettering who must be embarking on their mock exam series.
Thanks to all for supporting our students to aim high.
Mr McGeown - Vice Principal, Quality of Education
Soil Science Visit - January 2026
On Wednesday 14th January Lodge Park Academy welcomed Dr Dan Evans, Senior Lecturer in Soils Science at Cranfield University, to launch our work as part of the Royal Society funded Geographical Association Northamptonshire Soils Project. During this academic year Lodge Park Academy have been fortunate enough to take part in designing and running lessons linking soils, infiltration fieldwork and flooding along with two other Northamptonshire Secondary Academies. This work will culminate in a showcase at Cranfield University in July. As part of the Launch event all Year 7 students had an interactive talk on the importance of soils to launch their new units of work on natural resources and weather and climate. During the presentation we found out that -
"there are more living organisms in a teaspoon of soil than there are people on Earth!"
Students will go on to learn more about bedrock, soils and how people use, and are affected by them, in the coming term, before getting hands on testing infiltration rates in their weather and climate unit. Sixth form Biology students were also able to spend time discussing green careers and university with Dr Dan. Students asked extremely thought provoking questions and were surprised to learn that they can do degrees in Forensic Soil Science!. This left then just enough time for a selfie with Dr Dan. Finally, our soil scientist accompanied one of Year 7 students, who has already started monitoring infiltration rates around the school, to discuss his investigations and findings. We look forward to sharing the results of our surveys at the end of the term.
Mrs Mayo-Hollaway, Trust Wide Lead for Geography
Each week our students at LPA complete Maths questions for their homework on Sparx. Some students answers additional questions, further increasing their mathematical knowledge. The Maths team would like to celebrate these students and recognise their dedicated work.
We have also included a parent/carer link to 'A Parent's guide to Sparx Maths', which may answer some questions that you might have about how to help your child if they need it. Help is just a click away - https://sparxmaths.com/parents/
Mrs S Irons - Director of Maths
LPA House Championship 2025/2026
The 2026 Winter Olympics kicks off today in Italy which promises to be 2 weeks of exciting action. At LPA our House teams are competing in our very own Winter Games with students already going head-to-head in Basketball and Table Tennis so far. Teams will be competing for House points and gold medals throughout each individual event in a bid to cement top spot in the Winter Games Medal Table. Each gold medal is worth 5 points. Silver medals are worth 3 points and Bronze are worth 2 points.
The House with the highest points total at the end of the games will be crowned LPA Winter Games champions. Next up is New Age Kurling.
House Winter Games – Table Tennis Results - KS4
House Winter Games Table Tennis took place this week with House teams competing for the latest set of medals and points on offer. The Girls kicked off the competition in the opening round of matches that produced a number of closely contested matches, with Kestrel securing the opening Gold Medal. Unfortunately, the KS3 boys competition had to be postponed and will now take place on Friday 13th February at lunchtime. On Friday, the KS4 Boys took to the tables where they produced some very close matches that saw Kestrel secure their second Table Tennis Gold Medal. Red Kite fell just short of the Gold Medal and settled for a well-deserved Silver Medal. Osprey picked up the bronze medal.
House Spelling Bee Returns
Goshawk will be looking to defend their title as House Spelling Bee champions next week as the competition returns to LPA. House teams will go head-to-head in a number of ‘buzz in’ and whiteboard rounds testing both their verbal and written subject specific vocabulary. The competition will take place on the stage in the main hall. House teams require one participant from each year group, plus a member of staff.
House Winter Games – New Age Kurling
Students will have the opportunity to represent their House and try their hand in a new sport next week as House teams battle it out for the latest set of Winter Games medals in New Age Kurling. As seen in the Winter Olympics, New Age Kurling is an adaptation to traditional Curling and can be played indoors. In House teams, students will have a set of Kurling Stones which they will push along the floor with the aim of landing in the target at the other end of the hall. KS3 and KS4 will have individual competitions both taking place on Wednesday lunchtime in the gym. With two more sets of medals up for grabs next week, who will head into February half term top of the Winter Games Medal Table?
LPA Sports Timetable - Term 3
Enrichment Timetable - Term 3
The academy would like to increase the attendance at the non-Sports Enrichment clubs and listen to Student voice on the clubs they wish to attend. Therefore, we will shortly be including some additional clubs and also introducing a Non sports Enrichment attendance card. When students attend 5 sessions of any non-Sports club and get their card signed by the Enrichment teacher they will hand this into Student Reception and they will go into a prize draw taking place at the end of term. We will also count up cards at the end of term and House points will be rewards (House in 1st place 25 points, 2nd place 15 points, 3rd place 10 points, 4th place 5 points)
Support & Information for Parents
Recently rising in popularity among children and young people, Wizz is a social networking app that allows users to chat live with people from around the world. In similar fashion to a dating app, it facilitates conversations with people that users would not ordinary meet – but of course, making connections to individuals online bring its own self-evident potential safety issues. While Wizz makes use of face recognition technology to assesses users’ age and group them by age group – but the software is far from perfect and is no guarantee that some individuals won’t attempt to exploit the app for sinister purposes. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide examines Wizz in detail, identifying pitfalls that parents and carers should be aware of. In the guide you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as catfishing, explicit content and “sextortion”, and examines how trusted adults can take young people to avoid these possible threats.
Community Events & Half Term
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 - Friday 13th February 2026
Lodge Park Academy Re-Opens -Monday 23rd February 2026
Lodge Park Academy Closes - Thursday 2nd April 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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