Dear Parents/Carers,
I am writing to you, to share our exciting update. The Directors of Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) met in December 2023, and decided unanimously that now is an appropriate time to rename the academies across the Trust. This programme is being phased in from September 2024. The decision has followed extensive discussions with local board governors, academy leadership teams, as well as our Founding Sponsor, Sir Geoffrey Leigh, and livery company partners.
Consequently, from 1st September 2024, The Leigh Academy will change its name to Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy. This reflects the status of our academy as the founding academy of Leigh Academies Trust. We are the flagship academy and our new name ensures that our excellent reputation is maintained both in the local area and across the LAT academies in Kent and the South East. Academies themselves will not be expected to make any financial contributions towards these changes.
All associated branding will be updated to reflect this change, which will include student uniform. To minimise any cost to parents, all existing uniform items currently in circulation can continue to be worn until they are phased out. We are currently working in consultation with our uniform providers on the new design of our uniform and any new items of uniform purchased for next academic year will reflect this change of name.
How do we protect individual identity and avoid being clones?
As you will see Leigh Academies Trust have proposed a naming convention that mixes a common framework with identity naming that incorporates existing wording. Four of our existing academies already follow this convention: Blackheath; Rainham; Bexley; Tonbridge. Each academy will still develop their own values and ethos as well as adopting the values and vision of the Trust so that the two complement each other. The name changes will enhance our position as a very confident and successful group of schools keen to use its wider capacity for the benefit of current and future partners. At Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy we will ensure that our community is aware of our origins as the leading academy of LAT as well as continue to grow and share our ethos of ‘Opening Minds to Success’ for all young people in our care.
What is the benefit of renaming the academies?
Clearer brand identity will reinforce the fact we are all one community across the Trust. This can be used to attract staff and students to be part of the Leigh network. We have seen that staff recruitment is influenced by a clear LAT link and that retention is better in LAT too. We have observed first-hand in recent times the keenness of potential leaders to join us because of the Trust identity. We have used the LAT name to build instant recognition and positive change in Greenwich, Bexley, Medway and Tonbridge and others will in future gain a similar boost from this explicit recognition.
Next week in assemblies and tutor time sessions, we will be learning more about Sir Geoffrey Leigh and his role in education; as well as reflecting on our College figure heads and their positive impact in their fields. We continue to encourage our students to aspire to develop the IB profiles and characteristics that our figureheads embody.
If you have any questions about this change, please contact us at info@sirgeoffreyleighacademy.org.uk.
Yours faithfully,
Julia Collins
Principal
The Leigh Academy
