Dear Families,
I hope this update finds you and your family in the best of health and with your children looking forward to a relaxing summer break. This will be my final update of the academic year 2020-21 and what a year it has been. I think these weekly updates have documented the challenges, the highs and the lows of the last 12 months so I won’t aim to chronicle that today. Instead I thought I’d draw your attention to a couple of items before signing off for a little time away from school:
Newsletter
You will find this terms newsletter on the website here. There are details of all things Derby Moor from the summer term including drop down days, transition, sports day and so on.
Staff farewells
We have said goodbye to a number of staff today who will be moving on to new challenges this summer. Details of the changes can be found in the newsletter alongside information about our new colleagues who will join us in September.
Results days
A quick reminder that results days are August 10th for Sixth Form and August 12th for Year 11 this year. Students should now have received a letter detailing how they can collect their results and how the days will be organised. We will be on site to celebrate with students and to support them in making choices about the next stage of their education.
We produced a parents’ guide to Teacher assessed grades earlier in the year that gives all the information you need about how the grades were determined this year and how the appeals process works. You can find an online version of the guide here.
Back to school
It may seem very early to be saying that but you can find arrangements for the return to school in the letter sent to families earlier this term. It is a staggered start to the year to allow time for C19 testing prior to students first day on site. Please do read the letter carefully and contact school reception if you have any queries. Uniform guidance can be found here. It is worth taking a copy of this with you when purchasing uniform for the next academic year and noting that the guidance includes expectations around hair, make up and jewellery, in addition to clothing. There have been no changes made to our uniform and the same expectations will remain in place for the new year.
Final thoughts
What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare (Leisure by William Henry Davies).
In schools we rarely have time to stop, take breath and reflect. Covid has perhaps forced us to do that more often this year as the challenges we have faced at times have required us as a school and as individuals to think differently, re-evaluate and plan again. I think we have all changed our thinking around what is important to us through the pandemic and have prioritised these things over the last 12 months. For me, it’s about people and in school it’s about our community. The community at Derby Moor is truly unique and something special. It is the strength of this community that has carried us through the last academic year and safely shepherded us all to this summer break. The community has been divided however, by distancing measures and the limitations on visitors into school. This is something we are conscious of and is a key part of our development plans for next year in re-uniting our community with a number of new ventures. Our families, students and staff working in collaboration are the key to providing the best and most enriching opportunities for our young people, look out for how you can be involved in projects in the next academic year. Together We Succeed.
Very best wishes to our whole community, I do hope you find some time for leisure, to pause for a moment and enjoy some quality time with those closest to you.
Scott Doyle
Principal
