Dear Families,
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in good health. I’ve been wishing good luck to people a lot this week. From football fans feeling the end of season nerves ahead of big games (that will be me tomorrow) to colleagues in other schools undertaking their first set of exams for 3 years, candidates applying for positions in our school and, more than all of those, our Year 11s and 13s taking their final exams. I’ll return to this theme later.
Duke of Edinburgh
The Y9 & 10 Bronze Assessed Expedition takes place this weekend. We hope the weather is kind to them and that all the learning from the practice expedition pays off.
The plan for the Year 11 Silver Expedition is now confirmed. Students should see Miss Lancaster or Mrs Burrows to pick up an Itinerary next week.
For Year 8 students, there is still time to register your interest with us. We will be hosting a Year 8 DofE Information Evening next term so families can meet the team – more information on dates and timings to follow.
Transition
Our transition process is well underway now with visits to our feeder primary schools taking place each day. Our student representatives have been great ambassadors for the school and have helped to answer questions from excited Year 6 students and calm some of the nerves experienced by others. There will be more information to follow about the parent events and the transition days.
Careers Update
This week the job of the week is a ‘Genetic Counsellor’ and you can watch the video here.
A number of Year 8 students took part in some exciting workshops lead by Learn By Design along with an HS2 ambassador. The activities included students designing a railway station of the future, applying their understanding of STEM career roles and developing their teamwork, creativity and communication skills. Thank you to Ms. Bate for organising this event.
Our Year 11 students continue to meet with one of our Careers advisers Kat Garland or Jessica Townsend from Luminate Careers and they are really keen to support any student who is still unsure about their plan for September. If your child would like some support, please encourage them to ask their tutor, Mrs. Hrncic or Mr. Kilgour to arrange them an appointment. Please also see Luminate’s latest newsletter (see attached) packed full of useful ideas and links to support students considering their next steps. Luminate also have an excellent website with a wealth of useful information. Please have a look at the link: https://luminatecareersandcoaching.co.uk/
Some of our Year 12 students involved in the Derby Scholars programme had a visit to Corpus Christi College Oxford this week. The Derby Scholars is a partnership between Derby University and Corpus Christi College Oxford to support our city’s sixth formers in their next steps, with support from the link colleges for Derbyshire, St. Edmund Hall Oxford and Murray Edwards College Cambridge. We look forward to seeing more students making aspirational applications to Oxbridge along with other leading universities this year.
We are also excited to let you know that we have been engaging with a number of businesses to support our Year 12 virtual work experience programme (4th – 8th July). We have already secured support from Cooper Parry; DHL; JCB; Alstom; Derby County Community Trust; HSBC and Novus and are actively seeking more partners. If any parents have contacts in a business that might like to get involved, please contact Andrew Kilgour our Careers Leader at: a.kilgour@derbymoor.derby.sch.uk
Consultation on Policies
Each summer we review our school policies with our governing body to check that they are still up to date and meeting the needs of our community. You can find them here and they are open for consultation at present. If you have any feedback on them that you would like to share, please email info@derbymoor.derby.sch.uk
Big Bang Competition
Three year 9 girls have worked together to produce a website designed to help those who suffer with speech impediments overcome their affliction utilising evidence-based research. Their dedication and commitment to their cause lead to them being selected into final interviews for two separate awards in which they have performed admirably. From here they will take part in a showcase at this year’s Big Bang Fair in Birmingham where they will share their design with all in attendance. We are so proud of them and wish them luck at the Fair as they have personified the values of the academy throughout the process.
Final Thoughts
On the theme of luck, I’ll be wearing my lucky socks at Wembley tomorrow and I will continue wishing anyone who is taking an exam, preparing for an interview and undertaking a significant event in their lives the very best of luck. In reality though, it’s not so much about luck. For our students in particular it is about preparation and dedication. If we left it to chance then maybe luck would have a greater influence but that is not the case. Our students are well prepared, they have done the hard work, they have embraced the intervention sessions after school and in the holidays and have grabbed the opportunities they have been presented with both hands. This has been reflected in the overwhelming positivity we have seen following the examinations this week. It’s not down to chance that they feel they have done well. It’s down to the hard work that has gone before it. To quote a footballing great – “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice” – Pele. I’ll still have my fingers crossed for success tomorrow!
Best wishes for the weekend,
Scott Doyle
Principal
