Dear Families
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in the best of health. Our students and staff have now begun their summer break and will take some time to recharge and reconnect with friends and family. Term time can be intense, so, whilst we know that most of our community will miss the routine and rhythm of the school week, the relaxation, and slower pace throughout August will serve everyone well in preparation for the new school year in September. That is the focus of most of this update below.
GCSE and A-Level Results Day
Our students in the examination years have had a slightly earlier start to summer than the rest of us but I’m sure their attention will shortly move towards the examination results days. A-level results day will take place on Thursday 17 August 2023 with GCSE results day taking place on Thursday 24 August 2023. The letters attached outline detail and the timings for each day. There will be a variety of staff available on the day to celebrate what we hope will be a fantastic set of outcomes, but also to offer support and guidance around results and next steps.
Uniform Update
PE Kit – We recently sent out a letter confirming uniform requirements for the next academic year. Please see below for clarity our PE Kit:
For all years, the PE kit for girls and boys will be:
Compulsory:
- Collared black polo shirt with house colour panel and school logo (indoor lessons). A plain black t-shirt (without branded logos) can be worn as an alternative
- Black long sleeve shirt with house colour panel and school logo (outdoor lessons). A plain black long sleeve t-shirt (without branded logos) can be worn as an alternative
- Plain black football socks
- Training shoes with non-marking soles (Canvas trainers/pumps are not allowed)
- Plain black tracksuit bottoms
Optional:
- Plain black track suit with school logo
- Plain black shorts
- Plain black football socks
- Shin pads
- Football boots (no blades or metal studs for use on artificial football pitch).
Please note that students will be asked to remove all footwear and socks for lessons in the Dance Studio/Gymnasium.
Students should continue to bring PE kit with them, even if they are injured/unable to participate in PE, as they will still be involved in the lesson taking on different roles (coach/official/scorer etc.).
Students are required to provide their own hair ties/bobbles to tie up long hair during lessons.
Ties – Unfortunately, due to an increase in cost from our supplier, students will now be able to purchase ties from school for £5.50.
Computing Update
During the summer break, our young people generally have more free time to spend with friends and family. For many of them, some of this time will be spent using the internet to keep in touch with school friends, catch up with the latest apps and online trends, and play their favourite games. As always, we would recommend you spend some time with them talking about ways to use technology and keeping safe online. Our team have recently been looking at BBC Own It: a website for teenagers which includes real-life stories, advice from experts, fun quizzes, and videos with presenters, celebs, and star vloggers. You can take a look here.
Duke of Edinburgh
Our DofE team have asked if we can encourage students to upload evidence and assessors reports so that students can finish the level they are on. This is particularly important if they are a Year 9 Bronze wishing to start Silver in Year 10.
The Year 8 students who have signed up to DofE will have their first meeting on Thursday 14th September in HO1 at 3:05pm until 4:05pm. Your ParentPay accounts will soon have DofE added to it and you have until 1st September to pay the £26 for the DofE Welcome Pack.
For those students wishing to take on the Silver Level or complete it, sessions start on Thursday 21st September in HO2.
Family Hubs Summer Launch
We have had a message from Derby’s Family Hub to share and raise awareness of their Summer Launch events will take place across the city. The first is on the 24 July in Mackworth Morley. There is a packed programme of free fun family activities, light refreshments available with no need to book, families can just turn up! All Derby city families, children and young people are welcome to enjoy the activities over the summer holidays. For more information you can visit their Facebook page, watch their film or visit their directory of services.
Transition for New Year 7
With most of our feeder schools now closed for the summer, the time in Primary School has come to an end for Year 6 students and they will begin to prepare for life at Derby Moor. They are ready. For many the last few weeks of primary will have show that they have outgrown Primary and they are ready for the challenges and the independence that awaits them at secondary. I’m sure they are looking forward to it, however, it is quite normal for them to become nervous in the final few days or even weeks before the end of the holidays. Do not worry about this, once they get started in their form and make new friends, they will settle in quickly. Our pastoral teams will, of course, be on hand in September to help with any issue that arise.
Farewell from Mrs Ezis
We said farewell and thanks to Mrs Ezis today after 34 years at Derby Moor and 44 years at the chalk face. She said “I’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to you all, parents, former students, colleagues and current students, for your tremendous support over the years, working together to get the best out of everyone. I have some wonderful memories of Derby Moor – significant successes with Teen Tech, Step into the NHS, Get Set for Community Action, NCS and Cross Country especially. None of this would have happened without the contributions of others.”
Mrs Ezis will continue next year coordinating some of our wider curriculum provision and ensuring that additionality that helps to shape our youngsters into well rounded adults moves from strength to strength.
Arrangements for the start of term
School will re-open for students in September, but our start dates will be staggered to allow time for our new students to settle in to the routines and find their feet. As such, Years 7, 11 and 6th form will begin on Wednesday 6th at 8.40, whilst Years 8, 9 and 10 will begin on Thursday 7th at 8.40. All students should use the same entrances as they have done this week with new Year 7 entering through the Car Park entrance as they did during transition.
Sports Day
After postponing Sports Day on Monday due to a deluge of rain at lunch, our PE team were determined to give it one last attempt. The strength of feeling about this from our students was considerable so we gave it one last attempt on the final morning of the year. There was a lovely carnival atmosphere, even though conditions were slightly damp at the time and the temperatures were certainly not typical for late July. The event began with our usual procession of competitors followed by some highly competitive 100 metre sprints. Unfortunately, the rain did not hold back and the conditions forced us to cut the events short and move students indoors. The final standing after the shortened programme were 1st Place to Honour, 2nd Place to Spirit, 3rd Place to Solidarity, 4th Place to Dedication and 5th Place to Participation.
Final Notes
That is everything for this year. Its been quite a year on reflection. As a school community we have experienced both highs and lows with real cause for celebration but also some significant challenges along the way. Life is not straightforward, nor is it fair and our students, staff, families and wider members of our community pulling together have genuinely helped us to support each other through tough times and celebrate success together.
We look forward to seeing students back in the building in August for results days and I would like to highlight in the interim some of the individual successes our students have had reaching national finals this year and scooping some highly coveted awards. As a school we have secured the Platinum Careers Mark, The World Class Schools Mark and, just this week, have been recognised as a Centre of Excellence for Inclusion. We know that less than a 100 Secondary Schools across the country have each of these awards, we don’t know of any school that hold all three which puts us in a unique position and is recognition of the breadth and quality of work that takes place at the academy day in day out. Once again, that is down to our students, staff, families and wider community. Together We Succeed.
Wishing you a wonderful and relaxing summer break,
Scott Doyle
Principal
