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Posted 23rd October 2026
We have had another incredible, action-packed half term here at TLA!
Over the summer holidays, our class of 2026 Year 11s received their GCSE and BTEC results. There were so many wonderful success stories, and our students have now gone on to colleges, 6th forms or Post 16 apprenticeships. We are so proud of each and every one of them!
This half term, we welcomed back our pop-up swimming pool, and worked again with Swim Ed to provide intensive swimming lessons every day. Year 4 made fabulous progress – growing in confidence and loving their lessons. They have been very successful, and we are very proud. Not only did our school use the pool, but we also worked with Meadowfield Primary to ensure that their Year 4 children benefited from the opportunity.
In the first week back in September, we held our annual ‘Excellence Week’. This included a Careers Fair for students to have the opportunity to speak to local businesses and find out more about what they offer, and which careers they may wish to pursue in the future. We are so grateful to all of the incredible businesses, educational institutions and apprenticeship providers who joined us.
Our Year 10 and Year 11 students were also given the opportunity of some formal interview practice from external volunteers, including members of our Local Governing Board, senior colleagues from across our Trust, and other community representatives. Whilst this is always a very daunting experience, it is one that our students embrace and gain so much from.
Creative Club is back this term, and they have been busy making wriggly caterpillars and autumn pictures! The children used scissors and coloured their caterpillars in, then made them move by blowing through straws. For their autumn pictures, they collected leaves from outside then used their imagination to create some lovely artwork! Well done Creative Club!
Earlier in October, 35 of our Year 8 students took part in the first round of the Ahead Partnership Net Company Smart Cities Challenge. Students worked collaboratively to develop creative ideas to help shape the cities of the future. The winning group will progress to the next round, working alongside a mentor from Net Company to refine their ideas and represent TLA at the Leeds Regional Final. Well done to all our students who took part!
On Friday 9th October our primary staff and students wore yellow to mark Mental Health Awareness Day. They also used the opportunity to raise money and awareness for the Young Minds charity.
Our primary phase also celebrated Harvest Festival this half term and donated an incredible amount of tinned and nonperishable goods to the Leeds South & East Food Bank. Thank you to all our families who donated to these great causes.
Very early in the morning on Monday 12th October, around 40 students and 6 staff set off to Barcelona for an exciting 4 days of immersing themselves in Spanish culture! They took a trip on a cable car to Montjuic Castle, had an immersive tour of Camp Nou, the home of Barcelona FC, explored La Rambla and the Gothic Quarter as well as visiting the Sagrada Familia and famous Gaudi buildings.
They enjoyed ice creams by the beach and a scavenger hunt, ending the visit with a quiz night to test what they had learnt on the trip! So many incredible memories created to last a lifetime.
This half term our Primary Phase have been celebrating creativity! They have had the opportunity to create some fantastic pieces of artwork to brighten up the communal corridor and gallery at the Red Kite Trust offices! The students showcased their incredible creativity, with every piece reflecting the unique personalities and individuality that make our school community so special.
They have also taken part in the National Gallery’s Take One Picture competition this term, exploring the artwork 'A Muse (Calliope?)' by Cosimo Tura. Each class created its own artistic response, producing a fantastic collection of unique, imaginative and creative pieces inspired by the original painting. It was wonderful to see our pupils interpret the artwork in their own individual ways and showcase their artistic talents! Well done to everyone in Primary for their enthusiasm, creativity and hard work and a huge well done to all students who took part!
Reception had a super fun visit from the Story Bus this half term! They enjoyed singing, playing musical instruments, bubbles, exploring the story bus and looking at books!
Attendance remains our number one priority, as we know that when your child is in school over 90% of the time, their outcomes in assessments are strong, and most importantly their confidence and enjoyment in all the exciting learning and extra-curricular opportunities grows. At TLA we say that 'everyday counts', and this is really true for next half term, as we enjoy the run up to Christmas with preparation for assessments and exciting festive activities in both Primary and Secondary.
Primary Attendance
Primary Attendance has been consistently strong and is 94% (1% up on the same point last year). We have seen some excellent improvements in individual attendance, particularly in Year 6. Keep working with us to allow your child to experience everything school has to offer, and please watch out for more exciting opportunities in Autumn 2...let’s keep up the excellent work together.
Secondary Attendance
In Secondary, students are attempting to have no more than 3 days of absence between 5th October and 20th December to qualify for the rewards trips in February, alongside our usual high expectations of behaviour, conduct and attitudes to learning.
We once again urge you to remember the NHS guidance around sending your child to school even if they are ‘not feeling 100%’ - please remember that we will, of course, support your child through the day and contact you should they become too unwell to stay. We look forward to seeing your child every day next half term, so that they #AttendEveryDayAtTLA!
Please remember that we have a staff development day on Friday 27th November where school is closed to all students, and that school will close at 12:30pm on Friday 18th December 2026 for the Christmas break.
We will look forward to welcoming all children back to school on Monday 2nd November 2026 and in the meantime, we hope that you all have a wonderful, well deserved half term break.
