View St Matthew Academy News - July 2026 Edition flipbook.
St Matthew Academy | Summer 2026 SMA NEWS Integrity, Courage, Service What’s inside this edition? Prom Chaplaincy Dance Performance Follow us on social media: Secondary Instagram: @stmatthewacademyse3 Primary Instagram: @smaprimary Facebook: St Matthew Academy Blackheath Parent Partnership Survey Please take a moment to complete the linked survey to share your experiences at St Matthew Academy Holiday Activities and Food Programme
Headteacher’sHeadteacher’s WelcomeWelcome Dear Parents, Carers, and Friends of St Matthew Academy, As we conclude another phenomenal academic year, I want to celebrate the incredible growth, achievements, and community spirit that define St Matthew Academy. Our family continues to thrive, and we look forward to welcoming a fantastic new intake of Reception and Year 7 pupils this September 2026. At the heart of SMA is our commitment to daily, high-quality learning. Our pupils have shown a genuine thirst for knowledge this year, thriving under our high expectations and a rigorous curriculum. Beyond the Classroom: Our enrichment programmes have provided unforgettable experiences to build character and nurture talent Primary Adventures: Hands-on educational trips to the farm, aquarium, and museums, alongside exciting overnight stays. Corporate Insights: Industry mentoring with KPMG, plus high-profile visits to Google and the London Stock Exchange. Creativity & Resilience: Over 100 pupils undertook the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and our MFL students shone on stage in a brilliant foreign-language play. Unforgettable Journeys: From a high-energy sports trip to Madrid to an exhilarating team-building sailing voyage around the Solent. A Banner Year for Sports: Our athletes showcased incredible teamwork, grit, and talent at every tier of competition: Football: Our Year 7 boys displayed amazing determination to reach several major finals. Rugby: Both our boys and girls squads dominated the field, winning their local tournaments. Netball: Our formidable squads proudly represented the academy at a competitive national level. Athletics: Our tracking and field teams enjoyed sweeping success across local and London-wide events. Thank you to our parents and carers for your unwavering partnership, and a massive thank you to our unbelievable staff for their relentless hard work and dedication daily. September 2026 Return Dates Wednesday 2nd September: Year 6, Year 7, and Year 11 pupils return. Thursday 3rd September: All remaining year groups return. God Bless, Mr James Potter
PrayerPrayer Lord of all time and seasons, we praise and thank You for the gift of this past school year. It has been a time filled with Your grace and blessings, where we have strived to Let our Light Shine in all that we do. We thank You for the moments we chose Integrity and for the times we showed Courage to overcome challenges and learn new lessons. Thank You for the opportunities to offer Service to one another, forming deep friendships and lifting up our community. As we begin these summer months, we ask for Your loving protection over all students, teachers, and families. Grant us the rest and refreshment our minds and bodies need. Even while we are apart, keep the flame of our faith alive, so that we may continue to be a beacon of Your love to the world. Guide us safely back together in the autumn, renewed in spirit and ready to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Year 11 Prom: Saying Goodbye in Style! The Class of 2026 officially closed their St Matthew Academy chapter, and what an unforgettable send-off it was! Our Year 11 pupils and staff dressed to the nines and had a wonderful time celebrating years of hard work, milestones, and lifelong friendships at the Prom. From the dance floor to the photo booth, the energy, joy, and style were absolutely unmatched. It was the perfect finale for a truly phenomenal year group. We are immensely proud of the young adults you have become, and we wish you the absolute best as you step into your bright futures. Thank you for the memories, Class of 2026. Title Page Safeguarding Secondary
Title Page Safeguarding
MasterChefs in the Making: Year 10 Catering Mock Exams Congratulations to our Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students, who recently completed the demanding practical element of their Unit 2 mock exams! Faced with the pressure of a professional kitchen environment, the students were tasked with planning, preparing, and cooking two distinct dishes tailored to the needs of specific target customers. Title Page Safeguarding Secondary The catering rooms were filled with focus and incredible aromas as the students showcased their technical culinary skills, time management, and presentation flair. The result was a stunning array of beautiful, delicious, and restaurant-quality food that tasted just as good as it looked.
National Champions Again! SMA Brings Home the Debate Mate Cup 2026 History has repeated itself! St Matthew Academy has officially brought home the National Novice Cup once again, cementing our legacy as a powerhouse of public speaking. After winning the cup in 2024 and finishing as proud runners-up in 2025, our brilliant debaters climbed right back to the top spot for 2026. The Road to the Grand Final This year’s phenomenal novice team made up entirely of Year 7 and Year 8 students who only began learning to debate in September faced an enormous challenge. They competed against 283 schools from major cities across the entire country. Through sheer talent, preparation, and sharp wit, SMA fought their way through the ranks to become one of only seven teams in the UK to qualify for the prestigious Grand Final. Victory in Westminster After three intense, nerve-wracking rounds of rigorous debate against the absolute best young minds in the country, the SMA team showcased spectacular critical thinking and teamwork to debate their way to ultimate victory! This is a truly monumental achievement for such young speakers, proving that their hard work since the start of the academic year has completely paid off. A massive congratulations to our national champions -you have made the entire St Matthew Academy community incredibly proud! Title Page Safeguarding Secondary
Setting Sail: SMA Conquers the Solent with Ocean Youth Trust South Our students recently took to the open water with the Ocean Youth Trust South, embarking on a thrilling, high-energy 64- mile sailing voyage around the Solent. Despite facing a week of challenging Force 8 gale winds, the crew showed incredible grit and teamwork. Highlights from the Ship’s Log: Mastering the Rigging: The team learned essential sea survival skills, practiced clipping onto the bowsprit, and took turns steering the vessel under spectacular sunsets. Earning Qualifications: During heavy weather, the crew hit the books, learning navigation, knot-tying, and weather theory to earn their RYA Start Yachting qualifications. Night Navigation: Putting their new skills to the test, the students took complete charge of the pilotage and navigation during a challenging night passage back to Southampton. Stormy Storm Activities: When the winds became too strong to sail, the crew kept spirits high with an onboard “Bake Off,” a fierce game of capture the flag in full waterproof gear, and a search of the pontoons where they spotted real seahorses! After a massive deep-clean of the vessel, our sailors returned home exhausted but proud. A huge well done to the crew for stepping out of their comfort zones and representing SMA so brilliantly on the open ocean!
Spanish Theatre Comes to SMA: Un ensayo desastroso SMA was delighted to welcome the acclaimed Spanish theatre company ONATTI for a fantastic performance of Un ensayo desastroso (A Disastrous Rehearsal). All Year 9 students studying Spanish, together with our Key Stage 3 Spanish native speakers, were invited to enjoy this lively and interactive production. The play was a humorous remake of some of the most iconic scenes from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, bringing the classic story to life through high-energy comedy and audience participation. Preparation Meets Success In the weeks leading up to the performance, pupils had been introduced to the key vocabulary and language from the play during their Spanish lessons. By utilizing sentence builders and a targeted range of activities, our students were able to follow the story confidently and get the absolute most out of the experience. Outstanding Student Participation Our SMA pupils were absolutely outstanding throughout the performance, demonstrating exemplary behaviour, respect, and enthusiasm. They eagerly embraced every opportunity to participate on stage, and their brilliant contributions helped turn the tragic tale into a truly hilarious rehearsal. The performance was not only highly entertaining but also provided a valuable, real-world opportunity for students to expand their Spanish vocabulary and build major confidence in listening to authentic spoken Spanish in a fun and memorable way. A huge thank you to the ONATTI theatre company for delivering such an energetic and inspiring performance, and a massive congratulations to all of our students for representing SMA so brilliantly!
National Maths Success: SMA Students Shine in the Junior Kangaroo! The Junior Kangaroo Competition is the highly competitive next stage of the Junior Maths Challenge. Only the very best mathematicians in the country qualify to take part in this prestigious round, making it an incredible achievement just to participate. We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our students rose to the challenge and secured outstanding results: • 1 Gold Kangaroo Award • 1 Silver Award • 2 Bronze Awards This is an exceptional display of mathematical talent, problem- solving, and determination. A massive congratulations to our brilliant mathematicians for showcasing their skills on a national stage, you have made the entire St Matthew Academy community incredibly proud!
Performing Arts Celebration It has been another exciting and successful year for Dance at St Matthew Academy, with students showcasing their creativity, commitment, and talent through a range of inspiring workshops and performance opportunities. Our dancers continue to make the Performing Arts a vibrant, thriving part of our school life. High-Energy Mastery with Trinity Laban Our Key Stage 3 dancers brought incredible energy, enthusiasm, and focus to a high-energy Street Dance workshop led by a professional dance artist from Trinity Laban. Students fully embraced the opportunity to develop new skills, explore different commercial dance styles, and work directly alongside an industry professional—demonstrating excellent teamwork and creativity throughout the afternoon. Shining at the Step Around Town Showcase Students involved in our Step into Dance programme have continued to flourish under the guidance of the wonderful Zoe Elliot. Their hard work and dedication culminated in a fantastic performance at the Step Around Town Showcase hosted at Townley Grammar School. The squad wowed audiences with a captivating contemporary dance piece that served as a true testament to their resilience, commitment, and growing confidence as performers. Primary Phase: All Aboard the St Matthew’s Express! Our younger dancers also had much to celebrate. Children from Year 5 worked incredibly hard during their dance curriculum lessons to choreograph and perform an original piece, All Aboard the St Matthew’s Express, at the Primary Arts Showcase. Inspired by W. H. Auden’s famous poem Night Mail, the routine celebrated the golden age of the steam train through imaginative choreography, expressive movement, and engaging storytelling. The pupils delivered a wonderful performance that completely delighted the audience. Thank You to Our Partners We are incredibly proud of all our dancers, whose passion, determination, and willingness to embrace new challenges are deeply inspiring. Well done to everyone involved, and a huge thank you to our partners at Trinity Laban and Step into Dance for their continued support in enriching our students’ experiences! Dance at St Matthew Academy
Primary Holiday Clubs at St Matthew Academy St Matthew Academy is proud to partner with local organisations to host fantastic Holiday Clubs for our community. Our goal is to provide children from the local area with a fun, active, and safe environment during the school breaks. If you need childcare or want your children to stay active and engaged, please see the details below to register your interest or sign up. Featured Club: For Kids Co. Location: Operated right here from the SMA Primary School Hall What to Expect: A vibrant, high-energy schedule of activities designed to keep children moving, learning, and making new friends. How to Book Spaces fill up quickly! For more information, to view the full activity schedule, or to secure your child’s place, please click the link below: Click Here to Book with For Kids Co. Title Page Safeguarding Phone number: 020 8318 2997 Mobile number: 07578 348 844 / 07456 684 034 Email: info@forkidsco.com
Acts of Charity: Acts of Service: Care Home Visits Acts of Charity: Advent Service: SMA Ethos Chaplaincy As we reach the end of another wonderful term, we reflect on the spiritual growth and community spirit that has shone so brightly across all year groups. It has truly been a blessed few months filled with reflection, action, and celebration. Living Out Our Faith This term, our students have truly lived out the values of Catholic Social Teaching. From charity ventures to volunteering initiatives, our young people have been the hands and feet of Christ, making a tangible difference through dedicated acts of service in our local community. Our spiritual journey was further enriched by inspiring retreat days, which offered students much-needed space to pause, reflect, and deepen their personal faith. We also took great joy in strengthening our bonds with the wider Church through fantastic collaborative events with other Catholic schools in the SBCAT, reminding us that we are all part of one vibrant, global family. Reverence, Grace, and New Chapters We continue to make the Holy Eucharist an integral part of school life. It has been beautiful to see the children attending Catholic Mass regularly at St Saviour’s Church in Lewisham, growing together in reverence and grace. Most recently, we gathered for two deeply moving highlights of our school year: our special Year 6 and Year 11 Leavers’ Masses. These celebrations were a beautiful way to thank God for the time these students have spent with us, and to pray for His guidance as they embark on their next chapters.
Catholic Life
Safeguarding What Parents & Educators Need to Know about.. (Click logos) Title Page
Safeguarding What Parents & Educators Need to Know about.. (Click logos)Always tell an adult where you’re going Stay in safe, well-lit places Keep your phone charged and memorise at least one phone number I f you feel unsafe, go somewhere busy or ask for help Trust your instincts, if something feels wrong get help straight away Online Safety Keep personal details private Only chat or play with people you know in real life Think before you post or share - it’s hard to remove If something makes you feel upset, worried, or uncomfortable, STOP and tell a trusted adult Not everyone online is who they seem Being Safe Outside Travelling on Public Transport Plan your journey before you go Stay alert and keep the volume on headphones low Keep your belongings close Sit near other people if you can If you feel unsafe, tell the driver or a trusted adult STAYING SAFE DURING THE HOLIDAYS SAFEGUARDING Integrity, Courage, Service Title Page
St Matthew Academy, St Joseph Vale, Blackheath, London, SE3 0XX T: 020 8853 6250 W: www.stmatthewacademy.co.uk E: info@stmatthewacademy.co.uk Follow us on Instagram: @stmatthewacademyse3@stmatthewacademyse3 @smaprimary@smaprimary Debate Mate Year 11 Leaver, DofE Moon Rocks Visit SMA Big Lent Walk Duke of Edinbrugh Hosting Radio Year 10 Football Voyage A.I Workshop Girls Netball