Leigh Academy

Rainham Roundup

MODULE 2

DREAM
BELIEVE
ACHIEVE

Winter Edition!

December 2022

INSIDE

Principal's Piece ● LAR Events ● Learning at LAR ● LEIGH Learners ● College Community Corner ● Appreciation Avenue ● Wellbeing

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To Leigh Academy Rainham Roundup!

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We are delighted to welcome you to the 'Leigh Academy Rainham Roundup'! This is our unique magazine that is published each module to celebrate all that we achieve in our highly inclusive setting, where tradition and innovation combine to create leaders of tomorrow.

At Leigh Academy Rainham we promote an ethos of uncompromising high aspirations and expectations for every young person in terms of both their academic success and personal growth as caring, respectful global citizens who act with purpose and integrity.  Within this magazine we share with you the wonderful ways in which we work towards our values of Dream, Believe, Achieve.

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Enjoy!

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INSIDE

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CONTENTS


04. MYP Curriculum


06. Kingsley College
Geography
History
Spanish
Technology
Physical Education

10. Angelou College
Art
Performing Arts
English

12. Turing College
Science
ICT
Mathematics

14. Theme of the fortnights

15. Learning at LAR
Co-Curriculum Sports Activities

18. Co-Curricular Activities

22. LEIGH Readers

23. Student Leadership

24. College Community Corner

30. Wellbeing at LAR

32. The Last Word

Learning

at

LAR

OUR MYP CURRICULUM

The Middle Years Programme or MYP will be something your children will have spoken to you about at home and forms part of the academy's philosophical core. The MYP is part of the International Baccalaureate, it is focused on international mindedness and helping to create global citizens who will go out into the world and make a contribution. These contributions can be small or large, local or national, even international and are focused on service as an action. We will be talking to our Year 8’s in the coming Modules about careers and how learning to support others forms a vital part of adulthood. Year 7 are just beginning their MYP journey and staff were delighted to be able to showcase our curriculum with so many parents at our “Meet the Tutor” event. It was fantastic to talk with so many parents about the curriculum, where we are going next with our MYP journey and how they could support us moving forward with creating the incredibly important home and school partnership. 

Learning

at

As an MYP candidate school we will be having our first visit from our MYP consultant in January and this represents the next step in becoming an accredited MYP school. During this two day visit the consultant Mr Suarez will meet with parents, students, governors, staff and members of the Trust to see how the academy is delivering the middle years programme through our own unique curriculum. After this we will get a similar formal visit from members of the IB who will go through a very similar but more formal process of accreditation, ensuring that Leigh Academy Rainham offers a truly unique educational experience. 

The Middle Years Programme or MYP will be something your children will have spoken to you about at home and forms part of the academy's philosophical core. The MYP is part of the International Baccalaureate, it is focused on international mindedness and helping to create global citizens who will go out into the world and make a contribution. These contributions can be small or large, local or national, even international and are focused on service as an action. We will be talking to our Year 8’s in the coming Modules about careers and how learning to support others forms a vital part of adulthood. Year 7 are just beginning their MYP journey and staff were delighted to be able to showcase our curriculum with so many parents at our “Meet the Tutor” event. It was fantastic to talk with so many parents about the curriculum, where we are going next with our MYP journey and how they could support us moving forward with creating the incredibly important home and school partnership. 

Learning at

LAR

KINGSLEY COLLEGE

Geography

In Year 7 Geography we have adopted and designed a new curriculum which incorporates further fieldwork and investigation opportunities. In Module 1 students examined the local area of Rainham and how it has been impacted by migration, urbanisation and industrialisation. In addition, Year 7 students have been studying core knowledge about weather and climate which will benefit them in Year 8 and 9 when studying atmospheric hazards. Furthermore this unit has provided another opportunity for students to undertake their own geographical research about microclimates around our school. When we return in January Year 7 students will be further developing their knowledge of physical and human Geography by learning about dynamic and extreme environments such as: cold and hot deserts and how humans and animals have adapted to living there. Year 8 students have spent the entire term developing their understanding of how physical processes such as: tectonic hazards and deforestation have affected natural environments. Students have explored a variety of economically developed countries ranging from Iceland, The Congo, Brazil and Malaysia and the way in which they approach and deal with the causes, impacts and management of these processes. Next module, Year 8 students will be further examining the human Geography of Brazil and the causes and impacts of urbanisation in Rio De Janeiro and what humans can be doing to make urban living more sustainable. 

In Spanish, with the arrival of Mr Sandland, we have adapted our MFL curriculum using evidence-based research methods that provide a more authentic learning experience, as if students were immersed in Spain learning the language alongside natives. The department has spent time looking at first and second language acquisition and ensuring that our methods are heavily based on cognitive science and memory. This new approach has allowed students to feel highly successful in creating accurate pieces of extended writing, just weeks into starting the course. For example students in year 7 have spent the first two modules focussing on phonics and spontaneous language. This has allowed students to feel confident in asking a range of questions and speaking articulately. Year 8 have spent the first two modules becoming verb masters and have been immersed in a range of topics focussing on a range of tenses and people. Below are some examples of milestones completed for this module from our new approach. 

Technology

In Spanish, with the arrival of Mr Sandland, we have adapted our MFL curriculum using evidence-based research methods that provide a more authentic learning experience, as if students were immersed in Spain learning the language alongside natives. The department has spent time looking at first and second language acquisition and ensuring that our methods are heavily based on cognitive science and memory. This new approach has allowed students to feel highly successful in creating accurate pieces of extended writing, just weeks into starting the course. For example students in year 7 have spent the first two modules focussing on phonics and spontaneous language. This has allowed students to feel confident in asking a range of questions and speaking articulately. Year 8 have spent the first two modules becoming verb masters and have been immersed in a range of topics focussing on a range of tenses and people. Below are some examples of milestones completed for this module from our new approach. 

In year 7 Textiles, we have been making WWF themed embroidered tote bags with felt animals designed by the students. The year 7 students have experienced using the sewing machines for the first time, and have gained lots of new sewing skills! In Year 8 Textiles, we have been making a small zipped bag (pencil case or toiletry bag). The students have enjoyed challenging themselves to learn new machining skills such as inserting zips.

Spanish

Learning at

LAR

KINGSLEY COLLEGE

History

In Year 8, students have been learning about the French Revolution since October, in particular, France’s efforts to remove absolute power, and then its gradual return to it. Our students have enjoyed thinking objectively and empathetically about the Third Estate’s situation in 1799, and have even written a postcard explaining what France is going through at the end of the 18th Century (many have even included French phrases throughout!). Our Year 8 students are currently - or have been - preparing for their upcoming milestone assessments. Year 7 have learnt all about the battle for the English crown in 1066. They have learnt who England wanted for their King and then the battles that led to William the Conqueror being crowned on Christmas day in 1066. They then explored all the methods used by William to keep control of England. They have studied how the feudal system controlled the population as well as how the Domesday Book allowed William to work out the value of the newly conquered England!  Many year 7 students will be making a 3D model of a Motte and Bailey castle as a homework project and we eagerly await seeing all their finished projects.