Growing Together: Celebrating Alkerden’s First Term
What an incredible first term it has been at Alkerden Church of England Academy!
It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come since those first exciting days of September. It all began with our very first week at Alkerden Church of England Academy - a milestone moment for our pioneering learners and staff alike!
From the very start, our learners have aimed high, been kind, and gotten involved, embracing the Alkerden Heart with enthusiasm and pride. During day one’s Scavenger Hunt, they worked brilliantly in teams to explore and familiarise themselves with our new temporary home. The week was filled with collaboration, communication, and community, as everyone settled into routines and enjoyed their very first lessons with the Alkerden teaching team.
A Journey of Learning and Discovery
Our learners have been diving into an exciting range of new subjects, including Spanish and Design & Technology, where imagination and innovation are thriving. Each lesson is filled with questions, ideas, and a genuine eagerness to learn. Alongside academic study, our learners have also embarked on a journey of Mindful Learning - taking time to reflect, explore, and grow.
Through this reflective approach, and during our regular times of worship, we have seen a deepening understanding of community and belonging. These moments are helping to build the foundations of a supportive and vibrant school culture; one that truly embodies The Alkerden Heart.
Celebrating Together: Harvest Festival and Worship
One of the highlights of the term was our Harvest Festival Worship, a beautiful celebration of gratitude and generosity. Families and learners came together to donate to the Swanscombe Food Bank, helping to support those in need within our local community. We are so thankful for the incredible kindness shown - our growing Alkerden family continues to shine with compassion.
We also celebrated our first Eucharist service, led by Reverend Charlie and Reverend Bart. It was a deeply moving occasion where learners read with confidence, listened with thoughtfulness, and participated respectfully in Holy Communion.
And on Wear Yellow Day, learners came together in bright unity to raise awareness and show support for mental health - another reflection of our caring community.
Building Independence and Confidence
This term also marks the exciting launch of Independent Learning, empowering our learners to take greater ownership of their education. By developing skills in reflection, organisation, and self-awareness, they are learning to grow as confident, self-motivated individuals; ready to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
Creativity in Action: Naming Our Dining Hall
A special thank you to everyone who took part in the ‘Name Our Dining Hall’ competition. We were amazed by the creativity and thoughtfulness in every entry - it was truly The Alkerden Heart in action!
Congratulations to Taylan, whose winning suggestion, “The Ark,” perfectly captures the spirit of our community. Taylan explained:
“I got the idea from the story of Noah’s Ark. Noah built the Ark to provide protection and safety for his family and the animals during the flood. Our dining hall will provide a safe space for our learners to eat together as a community. Also, like the animals on the Ark, each learner is unique, but together we form one community.”
... and we could not have said it better ourselves.
Team Spirit and Sporting Success
Our first football trials were a huge success, and we’re thrilled to announce that we now have two boys’ teams and one girls’ team, with plans to add more as enthusiasm grows. We are also looking forward to introducing a SEND team, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to take part in and enjoy sport at Alkerden.
Standing Firm in Power and Pride
Throughout Black History Month, learners explored the theme “Standing Firm in Power and Pride.” They reflected on the achievements of Black pioneers and activists whose courage and creativity have shaped our world. These discussions have inspired learners to think deeply about how their own voices and actions can make a positive difference in society.
Meet Eddie: Our Dog Mentor!
We are thrilled to welcome Eddie the Dalmatian, our brand-new Dog Mentor, to the Alkerden family! Eddie will begin working with learners from Term 2 alongside Mrs Loft and Miss Shaw. Dog mentoring supports wellbeing, confidence, and empathy—helping learners to build emotional resilience and develop strong, caring relationships. Eddie already has many fans, and we can’t wait to see the wonderful impact he’ll have.
Voices of Our Learners
As we look back on this exciting first term, we’re proud to share some reflections from our amazing Year 7 learners:
“My advice to Year 6 learners thinking about secondary school is to be organised.”
“My favourite thing about our school is how nice and warming the teachers are—when you ask them something, they are not mean or judge you.”
“One thing I would improve is nothing, this school is perfect!”
“Everyone is accepted for who they are.”
“I enjoy all subjects and can’t choose one!”
“Be strong, be kind, and be yourself.”
“My favourite thing about this school is the personality and humour of the learners and teachers!”
“My favourite subject is Spanish because I get to learn another language—¡Adiós!”
Looking Ahead
It has been a truly special start for Alkerden CE Academy! A term filled with firsts, friendship, and faith. We are immensely proud of our learners and everything they have achieved so far. As we look ahead to the next term, we’re excited to see how they continue to shine, grow, and flourish as part of our Alkerden family.
Together, we are building something wonderful. 🌟