Dear Parents and Carers,
It does not feel like long ago that I wrote to you to welcome everyone back to the new academic year at LAB. It has been an exciting and extremely busy return for all members of the community and we wanted to take this opportunity to share some highlights and updates with you all.
Students
Students across years 8 and 9 have been working hard to be positive role models to our year 7 students, by supporting them to find their way around LAB and getting to know them at break time.They have also been excellent tour guides at our open events and many visitors have commented on how well they have represented the Academy. Teaching and support staff have reported both ‘new’ 8C and 8F groups have made a really positive start to the year, so well done to them. A huge well done also to 9F for gaining a huge 1394 merits in module 1.
We continue to be impressed by our year 10 and 11 students, who have shown a committed and a mature approach to their GCSEs. It has been wonderful to see how positively students across both year groups have engaged with the challenge and dedicated themselves to their studies. Year 12 students continue to be wonderful role models and support our younger students through their CAS or Service Learning work, as part of their IB programme.
It is an undeniably important time for year 11s and we would like to thank parents and carers for their ongoing support and attendance at key events, including the Y11 consultation event, as well as ensuring their child is engaging with interventions. Please discuss with your child the GCSE revision sites for each subject. This will provide parents and students with a range of information and study techniques as we approach our 100 day countdown to the first GCSE exam.
Celebrations
Across the Academy, we have continued our Black History month celebrations with a wide range of tutor time, and whole school activities, such as our poetry and art competitions. A particular moment of pride for the Airy staff team has been seeing our wonderful Airy Y11 students delivering college assembly each week, sharing and celebrating Black History and culture. Today, on our last day of the module, we celebrate ‘LAB culture day! ’It has been great to see so many in cultural dress and/or wearing red so as to support Black History month celebrations and to raise awareness for the charity Red Card to Racism.
This week we have also celebrated our year 7’s who have demonstrated our LAB values with our ‘Airy Year 7 Pizza Party’. 8 students from each 7C and 7F were invited for achieving the most merits in the first module. We continued our Airy tradition of celebrating all of our students who have been nominated or who have won Student of the fortnight with our module Airy celebration breakfast. Please look out for details and photos of all of these activities in the Christmas Newsletter.
Attendance
Attendance across Airy college at the start of Module 1 continues to be higher than national averages, at 94.9%, We continue to aspire for all of our students to have over 95% attendance at the end of this academic year.
A special mention to the following tutor groups that already regularly have over 95% attendance:
- 7F = 97%
- 8F= 95%
- 9C = 97%
- 10F = 96%
- 11C = 95%
Uniform
We are pleased to communicate that the vast majority of our students arrive at the Academy looking smart and ready to learn in their full uniform every day,
However, as the weather changes and temperatures decrease, we felt it useful to remind you about our expectations relating to uniform:
- Our navy blue blazer with academy crest;
- Steel grey classic trouser or pleated skirt;
- White button up shirt;
- Leigh Academy Blackheath college or founders tie;
- Plain navy or grey socks;
- Black leather shoes with plain laces (coloured laces are not permitted).
Students are not permitted to wear make up, jewellery (including hooped earrings) or trainers. A reminder that, on those days when they are timetabled to have PE, students should come to school wearing their PE kit. On days where your child does not have PE, your child is expected to wear the following as per the guidance available on our website.
Mobile Phones and Digital Safety
As you are aware, mobile phones are not permitted to be used on site. If seen, they will be removed, and parents or carers will be called to collect. Should a child need to contact home during the day due to an emergency, they should speak to one of the SSMs (Student Service Managers).
Following our previous letter, we continue to stress the importance of students using social media appropriately. Social media platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram have had a big impact on the way in which we communicate and express thoughts and opinions. Students can sometimes find these platforms difficult to navigate and unfortunately, we have been made aware of some unkindness on year group Whatsapp and Snapchat groups, by some students. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of families monitoring their child’s social media use. Whilst we are not directly responsible for your child’s interactions on social media, we are of course invested in their wellbeing. We would ask, therefore, that all parents/ carers continue to monitor their child’s use of social media and discourage any involvement in whatsapp groups. We would also remind parents and carers that, There is a reason why Snapchat, Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram have an age restriction of 13. As of 2018, the minimum age of use for WhatsApp in the UK is 16 years old.
For more information on how to monitor your child’s use of social media, please visit: www.nationalonlinesafety.com/hub. Please contact your child’s tutor if you have any concerns.
Finally, we would like to wish our Airy students and their families a safe and restful half term. We are looking forward to welcoming you back on Monday 6th November for the start of Module 2.
Yours faithfully,
Ms C Lindars | Vice Principal – Airy College & Ms A Philips | Assistant Principal – Airy College