The Lenham School Newsletter

Term 4 - spring Edition

'rights respecting school - bronze award'

Dear Parent/Carer,

I am delighted to end this term by informing you all that our journey to becoming an official ‘Rights Respecting’ school has started well and that we have already achieved the Bronze Award. This process started as the students raised the issue of respect being so fundamental in their everyday beliefs. We are following their voice and looking to put respect at the heart of everything that we do. How do we show understanding and respect for different people? How do we show respect for our environment? Or perhaps, more importantly, how do we show respect for ourselves? However, beyond that, there are so many other benefits to being a school that is openly talking about mutual respect:

1. Promotes Equality and Non-Discrimination: We are ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, ability, or identity, have equal access to education and opportunities. We are actively working to eliminate biases and discrimination, fostering a fair environment where everyone feels valued.

2. Supports Emotional and Social Development: Respecting students' rights promotes a healthy, supportive atmosphere where children feel safe, supported, and empowered to express themselves. This helps in developing positive self-esteem and emotional intelligence, which are essential for students' social and academic success.

3. Encourages Responsibility and Accountability: In our school, students learn not only about their own rights but also about their responsibilities towards others. This encourages a sense of accountability and a deeper understanding of how their actions affect the community.

4. Enhances Learning and Well-Being: When students feel safe, respected, and valued, they are more likely to be engaged in learning. Rights-respecting practices reduce incidents of bullying, discrimination, and exclusion, creating an environment where students can focus on their education and overall well-being.

5. Promotes Human Rights Education: We teach students about their rights under international human rights standards, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This not only empowers students but also fosters global citizenship and an understanding of human dignity.

6. Prepares Students for the Future: By promoting respect for rights, our school will help students develop the skills and values needed to contribute positively to society. They learn the importance of respect, fairness, and justice, which are crucial for creating a peaceful and democratic world.

This is a journey that The Lenham School has been on for a long time, but it is one we are committed to challenging ourselves with further.

I wish you and all your wonderful friends and families all the best for the Easter break!

Mr Ferguson - Headteacher

welcome

Term 4 has flown by! Over the last six weeks, we have hopefully said goodbye to winter and hello to spring. Students have been working hard with lots going on both in and out of school.

Ski Trip

During the February halfterm, twenty-four students from years 9, 10 and 11 visited La Molina in Barcelona, Spain for an unforgettable extracurricular ski trip! Year 11 student Jamie Coleman has written about her fantastic experience on the trip:

Honestly, I didn’t even know putting on ski boots could be such a challenge. As it was my first ever attempt, I spent more time falling than actually skiing, but at least the views were lovely…from face-plant level! Tino, our ski instructor was very patient and funny, and the laughs were nonstop – especially when Mr. Fullerton took a fall at the end of the ski lift. We started by learning how to put our skis on, and then progressively went up to different colours on the slopes. I was really surprised by how warm it was even though we were surrounded by snow.

Whilst on the trip, we also visited a Spanish bar. I almost beat Mr. Talling in a game of pool, and we were down to the eight-ball, but he managed to save face just in time…next time I’m taking the win! After that we had disco night, where the atmosphere was amazing, and a quiz night and a movie night where we watched films such as ‘Big Daddy’ with Adam Sandler. This was a blast, and everyone had an amazing time.

Finally, we popped into Barcelona for some of the best Spanish food I’ve ever had. Despite all the falls, the trip was totally worth it. I’d definitely do it again—hopefully with a bit more skiing and a little less slipping!

Visiting Spain was such a life-changing experience for me. I learned how to do a sport which I’ve always wanted to try, and I was exposed to a completely different culture than what I am used to. All of this taught me about the value of travelling, seeing the world, and also that – in life – if you fall down then you absolutely must get up again!

I would like to say a huge thank you to Mr Talling, Mr Fullerton, and Miss Denchfield for organising the trip and giving us students such a fantastic experience. I would encourage any future pupils to sign up and give it a chance, you won’t be disappointed!

Students really enjoyed their time on the slopes

Key Stage 4 ready

Year 9s have had a busy term. Not only did they attend GCSE Options Evening, they have taken part in the annual Business Enterprise Day. During the day, students worked together in small teams coming up with a feasible business idea which they pitched at the end. In addition, they also visited the University of Kent to find out more about what University is like and what courses they might interested in applying for in the future.

The school is also working towards achieving the Quality in Careers Standard Award which will further support the excellent careers support we offer to our students. You can find out more about what goes on by visiting the school website: https://www.thelenham.viat.org.uk/2776/careers-1

Year 9s enjoying the Business Enterprise Event

Year 9s finding out more about University

Stem Day

Year 7s had the opportunity to participate in a range of STEM activities that were truly inspirational. Mrs Batey our STEM Ambassador organised for students to take part in sessions run by groups such as F1 in Schools and BAE Robotics as well as having the opportunity to turn their hand to stone masonry, forensic criminology and experience the solar system inside an inflatable planetarium.

Year 7s really enjoyed the STEM Day

Stone Masonry was a big hit

Sixth Form

The Sixth Form have had a busy term taking part in the UK’s largest digital careers conference ‘Aspiration Digital’ hosted at the Showcase Cinema in Bluewater. They were able to find out about a variety of career paths in digital media and hear from award winning author and entrepreneur Daniel Priestly and Marketing & Brand Director Grace Andrews. Students have also taken part in a Road Safety Day and Health & Social students visited NRS Healthcare to support their preparation for upcoming exams.

Sixth Form students finding out about careers in digital media

Road Safety is so important

NRS Healthcare were excellent hosts

Culinary Delights

This term students in all year groups have been working hard in Food Technology showing off their culinary skills. This has included Year 10 students who have made Lemon Meringue Pies from scratch and younger students who have been perfecting their piping skills.

Trips

It has been another busy term for students taking part in trips, including Year 11 students who got to see ‘The Shark is Broken’ at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. This play is about the making of the film ‘Jaws’ and they also got to meet the cast. Year 10 History students were able to visit Dover Castle and find out about the long history that the castle has.

Meeting the cast at the Marlowe

Rights

We are delighted to share that we have been awarded the Rights Respecting Bronze award from UNICEF. This has been awarded due to recognition of our exceptional Personal Development Curriculum where students learn about Rights and what this means to people across the world. We were also recognised for the wealth of opportunities we offer to our students, building their cultural capital and skills for life.

The next stage will be to apply for the Silver award. To achieve this, we have set up a student steering group who have become ‘Rights Respecting Ambassadors’ and they will work with the Leadership Team to promote Human Rights and Respect. Our action plan has been formed from a student and staff survey that was completed, and students will be leading on visual displays across the school, assemblies and events to raise awareness around Rights.

We will keep parents updated of our progress through our newsletter and website.

Duke of Edinburgh

To help prepare them for their upcoming expedition, Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver students took part in a First Aid Training Day run by ADTREX training where they were able to pick up some key survival skills.

Students are fully prepared

Sport Update

Sport continues to go from strength to strength and this term has seen several teams reach the Maidstone District Football Finals. Next term we will be getting behind our U14 and U15 Boys, Key Stage 3 Girls and U16 Girls who have all reached the finals which will be played at the Gallagher Stadium in Maidstone.

This term has seen real achievements from our girls. A group of sports students took part in a VIAT organised Football Festival with other schools in the Trust as part of an event to celebrate ‘International Women’s Day’. Girls have also seen a lot of success in football and netball, with the Year 7 Girls Football Team recording their first win of the season by winning 1-0 against Maplesden Noakes as well girls in Years 7-9 performing very well at the Maidstone Netball Tournament. We were also very proud to hear of sporting success from individual students outside of school including Rhea who has been selected to represent London and the South Women’s Rugby Squad and is part of the Elite Rugby Academy, and Iris and Madelyn who both represent Maidstone SFA District U14s and Kent County for girls’ football.

Year 7s recorded their first ever win!

TLS did well in the netball tournament

Sport students from TLS helped run an event with local primary schools as part of 'International Women's Day'

V in the Pub

Students who are part of the school band had the opportunity to perform to a sell-out crowd when they performed at The Wishful Thinker along with students from SST. It was such a positive atmosphere, and students really appreciated parents, friends and staff coming to watch them perform. Keep an eye out for more musical performances next term, including V in the Park on the 28 June.

Students really enjoyed playing in front of a sell-out audience

How to Find Out More

Please feel free to join our Facebook Page The Lenham School | Maidstone | Facebook to keep up to date with all the exciting things that are happening both in and out of the classroom.

Second Hand Uniform

Details of how to access our second-hand uniform is available on our school website. With the continued rise in household costs, we hope this initiative can make a small difference by helping some of our families to access free uniform https://www.thelenham.viat.org.uk/1850/uniform.

We hope you all have a well-deserved Easter break and look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday, 22 April 2025.

.

Dates for the Diary

22 April Start of Term

24 April VIAT Music Concert

29 April VIAT Public Speaking Competition

29 April Key Stage 5 Trip to Wembley

30 April & 1 May Year 10 Geography Trip to Herne Bay

2 May Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition

2 May Dance Trip - JV Ashford 'ALiCE'

5 May Bank Holiday - School Closed

7 May Year 6 Open Evening

13 May Year 8 HPV Vaccinations

14 & 15 May Year 7 Consultation Evenings

23-24 May Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition

23 May Last Day of Term

The Lenham School Website