The Lenham School Newsletter

Term 3 - Winter Edition

“Be here for your friends. Be here for your future. Be here every day.”

Dear Parent/Carer, I am about to embark on a new campaign to help get more children attending school every single day. I need your help. At The Lenham School, we believe that every day in school matters. It isn’t just about those lessons on those days; it is about how all those lessons add up over time to help you build your future. Attendance is not just about following rules; it is about giving your child the best possible chance to succeed, feel confident, and build the future they deserve. When children attend school every day, they do not just learn more—they feel more secure, safer and more connected. Lessons build on each other, and missing even a small amount of time can make learning harder. Gaps appear, confidence can drop, and catching up can feel stressful. Being in school regularly helps your child keep up, understand their work, and feel proud of what they achieve. Just as important are friendships and wellbeing. School is where young people learn to work with others, solve problems, and feel part of a community. When attendance is irregular, children can feel left out or disconnected, which can affect their happiness as well as their progress. We know that mornings can be busy and that children sometimes feel tired, worried, or reluctant to come in. Encouragement, routines, and clear expectations from home make a huge difference. Showing that school is important sends a powerful message that education matters. If you ever think there is anything I can do to help as a school, please do get in touch. I would love to talk through any ideas over a coffee! At The Lenham School, we are here to support you and your child. By working together and making attendance a priority, we can help every student achieve their potential, grow in confidence, and open doors for their future. Mr Ferguson - Headteacher

welcome

As we move toward spring and welcome brighter mornings and evenings, it’s a perfect time to reflect on what has been an incredibly busy and successful term at TLS.

Footloose

Our annual school production of Footloose was a standout highlight. To say our productions are becoming more ambitious each year would be an understatement. Across three sold-out nights, a cast of 76 students delivered outstanding performances in acting, singing, and dance. Months of preparation and rehearsal truly paid off. A huge thank you goes to everyone involved — both on stage and behind the scenes — for raising the bar once again.

V in the pub

TLS students also showcased their talents at the annual “V in the Pub” event at The Wishful Thinker, performing live in front of friends, families, and members of the local community. The confidence and ability on display made it a memorable evening and a real celebration of student talent.

Students loved performing on the stage

TLS has so much talent

gearing for success

Our Year 11 students continue to work extremely hard as they prepare for their GCSE examinations. This term has included the relaunch of after-school revision sessions, where attendance can contribute to discounts on Prom tickets. Students have also taken part in additional Maths Days delivered by PetXi and our ongoing PD intervention sessions in English, Maths, and Science. These programmes are designed to strengthen knowledge, skills, and exam readiness. Independent study at home remains one of the strongest predictors of GCSE success. We have continued to promote the use of proven revision platforms such as GCSEPod and Sparx, and a dedicated Year 11 Revision area on Teams provides access to past papers and key resources. Parents can also support revision by listening to the TLS Revision Podcast. Following the next round of PPE mock examinations, we are pleased to welcome revision specialist William Wadsworth on 18th March. He will deliver student workshops during the day and host an after-school session for students and parents, alongside PPE results collection and leadership progress meetings. Year 11 parents are encouraged to respond to the recent communication to reserve a place.

Year 11 students have so many opportunities to succeed

'big day out'

Attendance remains a key priority. With so many opportunities available at TLS, every school day matters. Research consistently shows that strong attendance supports wellbeing, academic achievement, and long-term success. We continue to work closely with families to maintain our attendance target above 95%. This term we also launched our “Big Day Out” initiative, where strong attendance and participation in a weekly quiz can earn families a special day out at a Kent venue.

stem activity day

Our growing Sixth Form took part in a STEM enrichment event, engaging in hands-on scientific investigations that promoted teamwork, curiosity, and awareness of science careers. Despite wet weather, students enthusiastically gathered to launch rockets — a fitting symbol of their ambition and energy.

6th Form really engaged with the day

Rocket Launching

Students worked so well together

business and enterprise day

Year 9 students participated in a Business and Enterprise Day, working alongside local business leaders to develop and pitch new ideas. Visitors praised students for their engagement, professionalism, and teamwork — they were a real credit to the school.

Students really engaged in the day

Our visitors commented on how well our students conducted themselves

'Everyday Racism'

In line with our commitment to inclusion and understanding, Year 7 students attended workshops led by the Everyday Racism group. These sessions encouraged thoughtful discussion about the origins of racism and the importance of empathy, awareness, and respect.

The workshops were really powerful

Author Visit

We were also delighted to welcome published author Kathryn Evans, who delivered inspiring workshops to Years 7 and 9. She shared how writing transformed her life and discussed the challenges of a social-media-driven world. Students asked insightful and reflective questions throughout the day.

Kathryn Evans shared her experience as an author

student recognition

We are proud of all our students and would like to give special recognition to two in particular. Oscar in Year 10 continues to achieve impressive results in competitive running and is progressing through national rankings. Maia in Year 11 is the 2024 European Junior Champion in hovercraft racing and is now preparing for the World Championships. We look forward to following both of their continued success.

Oscar in Year 10

Maia in Year 11

Sporting Success

Sport has remained busy and successful this term. Highlights include Year 7’s 4–0 win over St Augustine’s and Year 8’s comeback victory against Cornwallis. Students have also represented TLS in netball tournaments, and our developing rugby programme continues to grow. Our partnership with Pro-Soccer Academy also continues to provide excellent opportunities for Sixth Form students.

Our Year 8 Team

Year 7s continue to shine

vacancies

If you are interested in joining our team, teaching or non teaching, please see our vacancies page., please see the vacancies section for further details.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We wish all students and families a restful and enjoyable break and look forward to welcoming everyone back next term.

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.

Dates for the Diary - Term 4

23 February - Start of Term 4

23-27 February - Year 11 PPE Exams

25 February - Romania Trip Parents Meeting

2-3 March - Year 11 Hospitality & Catering Exam

4 March - Year 9 Options Evening

5 March - Year 11 Group Photo

5 March - Year 10 Cambridge Trip

9-10 March - Year 11 Hospitality & Catering Exam

11 March - Y8/9/10 Immunisations

12 March - Year 10 History Trip to The Tower of London

13 March - Dance Trip Sinden Theatre

17 March - V in the Pub

18 March - Year 11 Revision Day/Parents Information Evening

20 March - Dance Trip 'Move it'

23 March - Year 7 STEM Day

25-26 March - Year 10 Consultation Evening

26-27 March - DofE Gold Practice Expedition

30 March - KS5 Film Trip 'Wes Anderson'

31 March-2 April - Year 11 Dance Practical Exam

2 April - Final Day of Term 4

We hope you all have a well-deserved half term break and look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 23 February.

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The Lenham School Website