Lodge Park Academy's Newsletter – Spring Term, Week 3
Welcome to another week in the fair sylvan bower of Corby and the idyllic landscape of Lodge Park Academy. The close of January celebrates the distinctive style and lyricism of Robert Burns and we strive to capture the essence of a similar "melody / that's sweetly played in tune"
An infamous literary miser will be treading the boards of Lodge Park Academy’s hall this week, as our twenty-first century space is transformed into Victorian London for a live production of A Christmas Carol. This type of enrichment opportunity allows our students to engage with a performance of a set GCSE text outside of the classroom and reflects our ambition to offer all of our community a diverse range of cultural experiences. From last week’s new-age curling to the gravity-defying slam-dunking Basketball of this week’s House competition, we are constantly expanding the field of their endeavours. The lessons experienced by Scrooge are ones that we endeavour to share with our Lodge Park family. His late partner Jacob Marley was very clear in his assessment of what is important in our lives:
“Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence, were all my business.”
Our academy’s values reflect a similar spirit of community and mutual respect, with our Assistant Principal and Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mr Elhasbaoui, delivering a series of though-provoking assemblies regarding prejudice last week. We continue with a focus on Holocaust memorial presentations, enhancing our shared appreciation of cultures and histories. Academic performance remains a fundamental part of who and what we are. To further support our GCSE students in Year 11, we are holding a Revision Information Evening on Thursday 29th January. The purpose of this evening will be to develop a greater understanding of the benefits revision can provide students, discuss a range of effective revision strategies to make use of, and to help support parents/guardians in continuing this assistance at home. Thank you for your continued support in helping us to guide our learners into appreciating the real ‘business’ of life.
Lodge Park Academy Leadership Team
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: Think about 3 words that describe what inclusion at Lodge Park Academy means to you. Students are encouraged to think of words that are important to them including words like Belonging, Everyone, Welcome, Support, Diversity, Teamwork, Kindness, Equal, Valued In addition words linked to the school values such as Respect, Resilience, Courage, Gratitude, Aspire and Ambition.
How do you know that you are making progress in lessons? Do now tasks at the start of each lesson will evidence how much key information you can recall from previous lessons. Our PFDI policies will also provide feedback through yellow sheets in your exercise books to support understanding of the progress you are making. Reports are also sent home after each KPI point with the percentage score you received on the assessment (KS3), or a current and predicted grade (KS4). What is the purpose of line-up? The purpose of school line-ups is to provide structure, safety , and calm for a smooth start to the day and transitions between lunch and assembly, helping students move orderly fro one place to another, reducing chaos, improving focus, and making it easier for staff to manage and supervise groups, ultimately setting a positive tone for learning.
Northamptonshire County Schools Challenge
On Tuesday of this week all of our Year 9 students took part in the Northamptonshire County Schools challenge launch day. Last year our year 9 team made it through to the Grand Final at the The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough to present their idea on the theme of Vaping in front of a panel of esteemed judges from Police and Fire. This year the theme is Anti-social behaviour and all of Year 9 has the opportunity to work in teams to work on an idea to raise awareness of this local issue targeted at Primary and Secondary school students in the area. By lunchtime PCSO Steve Coles and his team of visitors from Police and Fire narrowed it down to 6 teams and 3 of these teams were then chosen to present their ideas to the other 3 teams. By the end of the day Steve and his colleagues has the challenging task of choosing the overall winners who will now represent us at the Semi-final at Northamptonshire Police Headquarters in June competing against all secondary schools across the county. Well done to all of Year 9 for their amazing ideas and big congratulations go to Nia Mai, Vanidda, Delia, Sayeda and Maria with their winning idea of a Poem/Rap about Anti-social behaviour aimed at Year 6 Primary School students. Between now and the Semi-finals they will develop their idea further, creating a marketing and business plan supported by Miss Webster and Miss Baker.
Seneca - Spring Term Week 3
It has been another fantastic week of independent learning for our KS4 students with record amounts of study time being engaged with in a number of subjects including Science and History. Students have shown that they remain committed to being the most hard working in the local area and in the top two within the trust.
It was pleasing to see the amount of work being put in by our wonderful Year 11 students. This is a really important and consistent approach as we enter the next round of Mock Exams.
Thanks to all for supporting our students to aim high.
Mr McGeown - Vice Principal, Quality of Education
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
🎶 National Youth Orchestra 'Shimmer Tour' DRET Schools Concert 7/1/26 at Elgar Hall, University of Birmingham
What a great way for the Music Department to start 2026! 56 LPA students from Years 8 to 13 enjoyed an energetic and engaging concert performed by the National Youth Orchestra in the Elgar Hall at the University of Birmingham.
Our own Holly and Zuzanna were asked to be interviewed about the experience, met the solo cellist (an NYO graduate) after the concert, and chatted with him about the music played. Our students were buzzing afterwards, singing songs from Wicked on the bus almost all the way home!
Don't forget you can keep up to date with music activities on Instagram: follow @lpamusic_dret
Mrs E Olner - Teacher of Music
A Choir in Every School
You may have seen on the national news that some schools do not have any form of singing in their school. At Lodge Park this is not the case! Singing happens in lessons and in co-curricular. In fact we have not one, but three singing groups: our main ensemble LPA Choir which is an all ages singing group who meet on Wednesdays after school in the hall, Year 7 & 8 Boys Sing group who meet every Thursday morning tutor time in G10, and Year 7 & 8 Girls Sing group who meet every Friday morning tutor in G10. All our groups are non-audition (just turn up and sing). We are beginning to rehearse pieces for the DRET Secondary Music Festival in March, so it's a great time to come along for the first time. At the SMF we will perform with other schools as one enormous choir, as well as perform our own piece to the other schools and listen to their performances. It will be a great celebration of music! Come along to one of our singing groups, or speak to any of our music teachers if you have any questions.
Mrs E Olner - Teacher of Music
LPA House Championship 2025/2026
'Flags of the World' - Results
Congratulations to Nathaniel (Goshawk) who scored an impressive 50 out of 50 in this years House Flags of the World Quiz, securing 100 points for his House. Nathaniel showcased his excellent flag knowledge to score higher than anyone else who took part across the academy. The competition received over 100 entries from staff and students. There were a number participants who only named one incorrect flag to score 49 out of 50 including Kyle (Year 11, Goshawk) and Michael (Year 8, Goshawk). Osprey secured second place overall with two 49/50 entries from Kacper (Year 10) and Maksym (Year 10) to earn 75 House points. Kestrel had to settle for third place overall with only one participant scoring 49/50 – thanks to Dylan (Year 11). Red Kite finished in fourth place with their highest scoring entry of 46/50 from Gyula (Year 10). House points have been added to the totaliser.
House Winter Games – Basketball
The eagerly anticipated House Winter Games kicks off next week as House teams go head-to-head in the first sport of the competition, Basketball. The House Winter Games is a brand new initiative aimed at driving participation through a variety of team sports and raising awareness around the Winter Olympic Games which start in couple of weeks’ time. The Winter Games will consist of up to 8 competitions across Term 3 and term 4. House teams will be battling it out for points, with the House with the highest points after the final event being crowned champions. This term will see House teams compete in Basketball, Table Tennis and Curling. If you are interested in representing your House team in any of these events please register your interest with your Heads of House.
Switch off Fortnite – Poster Competition (EXTENDED)
This competition has been extended. Switch Off Fortnight is a nationwide campaign that takes place every year to encourage schools to switch off lights and electrical appliances when not in use for two weeks. The goal for schools is to help them save energy and monitor the impact of changing user behaviour on the school’s energy use. Lodge Park Academy will be taking part in the initiative from Monday 2nd February to Friday 13th February. To support in our effort we are asking for students to create a poster to help promote and raise awareness around the campaign. We are looking for poster designs that are visually impactful, presents a clear message, and motivates everyone at LPA to take action. Entries can be submitted through a drawing or done digitally and emailed to housechampionship@lodgeparkacademy.co.uk Please hand in your designs to Student Reception by Wednesday 28th January. House points will be awarded to the winner.
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 for Parents
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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Credits:
Created with images by Frederica Aban - "Who what where how where why question words on multicolored papers background.,Stock photo." • Frank H. - "Learning by doing concept.,Hand turns a dice and changes the word "learning" to "doing", or vice versa." • Nikola - "Collage of numbers one to ten or 1-10, ripped torn advertisement street posters grunge creased crumpled paper texture background placard backdrop surface" • Wirestock Creators - "Below view of the Joseph Chamberlain memorial clock tower in Birmingham University, United Kingdom" • 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"