A Message from the Headteacher
As I sit to write this message, Spring has well and truly sprung, bringing with it the promise of longer days and warmer weather ahead. This edition of our termly newsletter showcases the many activities and achievements of recent weeks. Alongside the inevitable focus this term on mock examinations for those preparing for public exams this summer, students have enjoyed a wide programme of enrichment opportunities. These have included celebrations such as World Book Day and International Women’s Day, theatre trips, and our Futures Fair—which this year welcomed a record number of employers, colleges, universities and organisations keen to support and inspire our students. We have also seen sporting success across a number of teams, and a vibrant range of performing arts opportunities, most notably the Mix Tape celebration of dance. The PTFA Valentine’s Disco added further colour to the term, bringing students together for a memorable and enjoyable evening. Thank you to all parents and carers for your continued support of the school. I hope you enjoy this newsletter and wish you and your families a restful and very happy Easter break.
Visual Arts Trips
In Visual Arts, our GCSE and Sixth Form students have been working on their exam preparation and enjoying a number of trips to different museums and galleries to build and develop their growing independent ideas and work. Please click on the links below to view further detail on the different trips which have taken place this term.
Visual Arts and the Design & Technology Department have been developing a new Scalextric Club which is due to start in the Summer term 2026. This is part of our on going project work with the Design & Technology Association and their work with Scalextric. We have secured funding through LPGS and been able to purchase a track, various cars and spare parts, to enable students to start racing. The club aims to work as a social space for students to meet, race cars, repair cars and track and work towards designing and 3D printing their own cars using our new 3D Bambu printers.
We will be sharing dates and times for the club early in the Summer Term and we encourage all Key Stage 3 students to get involved in this new club.
We are always looking for support with this new club and ask that if any families have any old 1:32 scale Scalextric track, cars or spare parts that they can donate to the club, then please contact Mr Fox Joyce (Head of the Visual Arts Faculty)
LPGS Futures Fair 2026
On Thursday, 29th January, LPGS held their biggest ever Futures Fair with a hall full of over 75 stands of colleges, universities, apprenticeship providers and employers. This year, we were lucky to welcome the Deputy Mayor of Bromley to cut the ribbon to open our event. Every student attended the event, with the students in Years 7 -11 completing a task sheet throughout their session in the hall to additionally support their interactions with the stall holders. Year 12 students spent the whole day off timetable on a "Futures Carousel" where they attended workshops in:
- CV and cover letter writing
- LinkedIn, networking and personal branding
- Apprenticeships (how to be a successful applicant)
Our Year 13 students are dab hands at attending the Futures Fair and spent their time catching up with employers with whom they have complete work experience, speaking to the universities they have applied to and even meeting up with the very companies they met last year at our Futures Fair, some have even successfully secured degree apprenticeships with organisations to commence in September! We were also proud to welcome back an army of LPGS alumni who spoke to the students about their career pathways and apprenticeships. We are always so happy and grateful to see them and they really inspire our students, having been in their exact shoes just a few years ago. The feedback from students and our visitors has been extremely positive... "How are students in Year 12 so clued up on LinkedIn? The posts about your Futures Fair are brilliant and I am tagged in so many... I am trying to reply to them all. Let me know the date of next year's fair so I can get it in the diary!" "Your students were polite, motivated and genuinely curious. It was a pleasure to attend your Futures Fair for the 5th year running... same time next year?" “Have you ever attended an event that completely shifted the way you think about your future? That’s exactly how I felt after attending the LPGS Careers Fair.” “Speaking to professionals in the industry and learning about the different pathways into real estate, development and investment was both inspiring and motivating.” “It was powerful to understand how your CV tells your story and how building relationships and connections early can open doors you did not know existed.” “The session gave me much clearer direction and confidence when considering apprenticeships as a future pathway.” Work is already underway, planning next year's fair!
Music Deparment
Before half term we had our Platform Concert where students got the opportunity to perform whatever they wanted to. We also had an online piano masterclass with concert pianist Richard Meryick in February, during which four pianists from our GCSE Year 10 class performed to him and received valuable feedback. The Langley Music Festival 2026 has successfully celebrated another year of music-making this term with performances every night of the week last week and our Spring Cabaret taking place this week. Our Spring Year 7 Scheme Concert opened the festival on Monday. Ninety students across three form groups performed to their families on violin, mini clarinets (Dood) and plastic trombones (P-Bones) having learnt them from scratch since January. The MAT Orchestra performed four pieces across two nights at the LPSB Gala Concerts on Tuesday and Thursday. Then on Wednesday, five of our top pianists represented the school at the Impact Trust Piano Evening. Their solo performances included repertoire ranging from Liszt to the Mandalorian theme tune! Our GCSE and A level students have shown real dedication in their performance exams this term and are adding the final touches to their composition coursework. It is a real pleasure witnessing the progress they have all made with their musicianship since the start of their courses. Megan S in Year 13 has just received the brilliant news that she achieved a distinction in her Grade 8 trombone exam. Well done to Megan and all the other students that have worked hard for Grade exams this year so far. We always love to know your results so let us know how you get on! Our live band for our whole school musical is ready to start rehearsals straight after Easter on 22nd April and Malta Tour rehearsals will begin after May half term so keep an eye out for further details. Follow us on Instagram for regular updates on all things Music at LPGS: @LPGSMusicDept
A Level Spanish and Visual Arts to Saville
A Level Spanish and Visual Arts students spent four days in beautiful Seville, soaking up the culture, learning about the city’s rich history and, of course, taking stunning photographs. On the first day we explored the city, climbed the Torre del Oro and then mastered how to make paella and gazpacho in a cookery class with an expert chef. We then climbed the Giralda tower to take in the views and then walked around the dramatic cathedral. On the second day, we did a private walking tour in Spanish and learned about the city of Triana and its history, which was particularly interesting as it is the birthplace of flamenco, a topic we study in depth at A Level. Our Spanish students did surveys in Triana to ask the locals questions about topics we study at A Level such as tourism, family life and music. Later, we were blown away by the Alcázar palace, and took hundreds of photographs of the unique architecture. That evening we saw live flamenco, followed by a light show up on the Metropol Parasol building. On the last day we explored the Plaza de España and visited the Popular Arts and Customs of Seville Museum. We were all able to practise our Spanish and a particular highlight of the trip was the incredible food, as we sampled many different types of tapas every day.
Design & Technology and 3D Printing
As part of our developments in re-introducing Design & Technology to LPGS, we were lucky to secure a day workshop with Artist and Designer Paris Lucke. Working with a group of year 8 students Paris developed a workshop built on gaining experience of using iPads and a 3D design programme called Tinkercad as well as designing and printing 3D products using our new Bambu Combo printers.
The workshop was enthusiastically followed by all students involved and has greatly assisted all staff to consider the use of new technologies and especially 3D printing in our growing Design & Technology Department.
International Women’s Day
On Friday 6th March we celebrated International Women’s Day in school. We marked the day by wearing purple accessories and discussed issues of female empowerment in form time that week. Our students really showed their support by entering the Feminist Bake Off and sold their incredible cakes in a bake sale at lunch. Well done to Annabel R and Mia Y who were the overall winners! Through the Bake Off and donations, we raised £363.52 for the King’s Trust Change a Girl’s Life Campaign. Great work, Langley!
Sports at LPGS
Cricket This year, we have been blessed with an array of talent helping our cricket team kick onto the final of the Kent Indoor Super 8’s U13s competition, whilst despatching some private schools and grammar schools along their way. We wish our girls all the best in their final on the last day of term.
Netball The Year 8 netball team led by star player Phoebe G has been magnificent this year, boasting a 100% record in their league. They also represented the team at the Kent Netball Tournament in a similar fashion, winning 4 of their 5 games in the afternoon pool. The Year 10s can also share a similar record having won 100% of their games. When asked for a star player, Ms McGovern replied with ‘they’re all stars’ which seems to sum up this team.
Football The current Year 7s have had a really impressive start to LPGS, narrowly missing out on a final and a trophy. The same team, Darrick Wood has knocked our Year 7s out of the English Schools, Kent Cup Quarter Final, Bromley Cup Semi- Final and the final of the U13s 7 a-side tournament. In that time, the team has shown significant improvements and real determination to bridge the gap from a 4-0 loss in the first game, to a narrow 2-1 loss just before the Easter break. The girls will definitely be seeking revenge next year, led by captain Tillie C and top goalscorer Elsa M. We’re also, of course, immensely proud of our U16s Kent Cup Winners who claim back to back trophies, which has only been done once before in the history of that competition. The team ran out 5-0 winners at the Gallagher Stadium against Maplesden Noakes, led by captain Lissy G who scored a brace, along with Rayne B, and Ava T who scored the first to get the girls on their way. They now face Darrick Wood in the final at Beckenham Town FC on Friday 24th April, 3.45 KO. We’re expecting to see as many students and staff as possible to give our Year 11s a well deserved send off.
Hockey The highlight of our hockey team this year comes from the U14s, who were victorious in their attempt to win the Hockey Festival Competition. Captain Darcey led the girls to victory with a narrow one goal win, whilst footballer turned hockey goalkeeper Maira showed her versatility by selflessly stepping up for the team and displaying a heroic performance. Well done, girls!
Athletics "Representing LPGS and Kent at the English Schools National Cross Country 2026 was a huge achievement and something I’m really proud of. On Friday 13th March, I travelled up to Liverpool with my new Kent teammates so we could get there the night before the race. I made lots of friends on the journey, many of whom—like me—had never competed in this race before. The day of the race came sooner than I expected, and before I knew it, I was standing at the start line at Sefton Park for one of the biggest races in the country. I felt extremely nervous because there were around 350 runners in my race. Three minutes later, the race had started and we had to sprint straight through thick, boggy mud to get a good position. After 2 minutes of running, the pain kicked in, but I kept pushing through the 3.2km course. Eventually, I crossed the finish line in 88th place out of 350, which I’m proud of—especially because I am a younger year and had to race against Year 9s. Overall, it was an enjoyable and unforgettable experience. I’m going to keep training consistently so I can hopefully qualify again next year. I hope to have done LPGS proud." (You certainly have!).
Robotics Club
On Tuesday 25th March our school robotics team had the great opportunity to attend the FTC competition, where we achieved an outstanding result of 8th place out of 15 teams. This was an amazing outcome, and the real story was the journey itself. During the competition, we faced many technical hurdles, including issues with motors, programming and hardware. However, the most notable aspect was the heart that was put into this competition as teams across the South East region came together to share knowledge, tools and support. Our team showed real determination throughout the year, staying late and working hard to improve and refine our robot. Above all this was an amazing experience, as it was a reminder that robotics isn't just about building robots but about building connections and community. Next year we will definitely be, bigger, better, stronger! Go Supernova!
FOOD & NUTRITION
Our GCSE Food and Nutrition students have truly excelled this term, demonstrating remarkable skill, creativity, and perseverance during their recent three-hour practical exam. Each student produced a technically challenging and beautifully presented dish, showcasing the advanced techniques they have developed throughout the course. What makes these achievements particularly impressive is that every component was made entirely from scratch, including fresh bread, handmade pasta, and delicate pastry. These ambitious choices highlight not only their growing confidence in the kitchen but also their commitment to mastering complex culinary skills. The photographs offer just a small glimpse into the exceptional standard of work produced. From intricate flavour combinations to professional level presentation, our students should be incredibly proud of what they have accomplished.
LIBRARY
It’s been a really busy, fun and exciting term in the Library. In February our Y8 team took part in the Bromley FULLY BOOKED QUIZ and had the opportunity to meet the prize-winning author Patrice Lawrence. After six rounds of challenging questions we came a close second, so well done:
Jasmine S 8GA Claudia W 8GA Niamh B 8KC Calleigh I-S 8LE Rosie B 8LF Adelka N 8SG
READING WEEK at the beginning of March saw the official launch of our National Year of Reading celebrations. The message is If You’re Into It: Read Into It: whatever your passion, there’s a book to match it. This theme was highlighted in assemblies, tutor time and library lessons. The Library’s party to mark World Book Day was also great fun, with students solving reading puzzles and thinking about the books that Mean the World to them. Winners of the Library Book Club’s ‘Catchy Slogan’ Competition were:
Rosie B 8LF Milena M 8GA Ava B 9SH
To continue our focus on reading, the whole school READ WELLbeing INTER-HOUSE READING COMPETITION has been launched and reviews on Firefly are flowing in. This competition runs until July, when prizes and the Celebrating Reading Cup will be awarded. March also saw the publication of the Carnegie Medal shortlist and our Y8/Y9 Carnegie Reading Group has just started to read this year’s intriguing stories. In June we will meet with students from other Trust schools to share our views. Finally, many congratulations go to Emily M 11SH who is the first student to complete our 16 by 16 Reading Challenge. This reading promotion asks students to read sixteen challenging novels before the end of Y11. Emily chose books from a wide range of classics and I look forward to other Y11 readers following her example. Mrs Hall Librarian
Credits:
Created with images by Peredniankina - "spring easter decoration with painted eggs and blooming flowers arrangement" • KWY - "a museum with art on the wall" • alexandra_pp - "A dynamic close-up of a miniature orange and blue race car speeding along a curved Scalextric track with vibrant colors and motion blur capturing the thrill of high-speed racing." • stockphoto-graf - "Red black 3D printer printing blue logo symbol on metal diamond plate future technology modern concept" • Mauro Rodrigues - "Vintage tin robot toy" • Johannes - "colorful display of hearthealthy foods a variety of healthy food ingredients including salmon avocado berries seeds and nuts arranged on rustic fabric over wooden surface"