Dear Families,
I hope this update finds you and your family in the best of health. I write to you on the eve of the coronation of King Charles III after a typically eventful week at the academy. There are updates on this below and a reminder that school will remain closed on Monday 8th due to the coronation but we will reopen to all students as normal on Tuesday 9th May.
Year 12 Parents Evening
Year 12 Parents Evening is taking place on Wednesday 17th May 2023. Families will receive an email from the 6th Form team about making appointments on SchoolCloud. If you are having any difficulty with this, please contact the team for assistance.
Year 11 Update
Exam Season and Revision Sessions: The Summer exam season is now upon us with a number of students having already taken some of their exams this week. The bigger exams begin w/c 15th May, and will continue from there and throughout June. There are a number of revision sessions running that students have been informed about. Once the whole cohort exams begin we will collapse some of the students normal timetabled lessons to provide an intensive revision session with subject specialists the day before a key examination. This may mean that their usual school end times will be different as their after-school intervention sessions will be replaced by the revision sessions. The Year 11 team will endeavour to send you the schedule of sessions next week so you can plan and discuss them with your child.
Padlocks: As mentioned least week, we are asking Year 11 students to loan a padlock from us for a locker so they can safely store their belongings prior to going into the exam room. Padlocks are available now on ParentPay and each student is asked to purchase one. The cost of a padlock is £5 and this amount will be refunded on return of the padlock. Students that have already bought a padlock are able to collect them from the finance office from now until 12th May. On completion of all of their exams, students will be asked return them to the finance office for a full refund via ParentPay. Students whose families are in receipt of Free School Meals will be provided with a free padlock and will be instructed to collect one from the finance office. On completion of their exams, they will be required to return them to the finance office.
Letter to Parents of Year 11 and 13 from Ofqual
Ofqual have written an open letter to parents of students taking examinations this summer to detail the steps they have taken this year in preparation for the exam season. You can read the letter here.
Speech for Employability
In English, Years 7, 8 and 9 have begun a speaking and listening based unit of work called ‘Speech for Employability’, which is focused on developing vital communication skills and the 4Rs, with the aim of equipping them to be effective communicators in the workplace. The students will be delivering an employability talk, writing their own CVs, taking part in an interview, and preparing a business pitch during the rest of this half term.
Year 9 Trip to Oxford University
On Thursday, Mrs Hiscock took eight Year 9 students to Oxford University as part of the Derby Scholar’s Programme. The visit began at Corpus Christi College, a beautiful old building where students were given a general introduction to Oxford University, the college and the tutorial system. They then spilt into groups and we went to Queen’s College where we were based for the rest of the morning. Queen’s is a stunning building that dates back to 1341. The students were impressed by the gardens (which undergraduates cannot walk on!), the architecture and the chapel. After a tour of the College they enjoyed lunch in the College Dining Hall. After this, students had the opportunity to speak with current students at Queen’s College about life at Oxford and getting into Oxford University. The key message was that anyone can aspire to study at Oxford if that is their dream, no matter what your background and to just go for it. The afternoon was spent at the Department of Materials Science where students had a taster session and learnt how to make slime – at the same time learning the importance of polymers amongst other things. They came away with a much clearer idea of what Material Science is and how it affects our daily lives. It was then back to Corpus Christi for a summing up session and the long coach ride back to Derby. As always, students were great ambassadors for the school and asked and answered lots of questions. They were impressed by the traditions and beauty of Oxford University and it was good for them to see a contrasting campus to that of Derby University, showing that all universities are different and that they need to find the one that suits them – the students are now looking forward to making their university choice in a few years’ time.
Beyond the Baseline Scheme
A number of Year 8 students have continued their progress with the Beyond the Baseline program this week hosting a visit from LTA ambassador Yasmin Clarke, who is a former GB Junior Tennis Number 1. Yasmin is our mentor for the program and the purpose of the first visit was to help students continue to develop their tennis skills and also introduce them to a number of different activities and games that they can use in the future. Yasmin ran an exciting session and helped students understand how the tennis skills are linked to students personal, social and mental development.
Derby Moor Award
Students in Years 7 and 8 are continuing to work towards the completion of their Derby Moor Award and we ask you to encourage them to complete their Assignments over the weekend and for the rest of this term. They should have their Derby Moor Award Passports with them at home and at school, so assignments can easily be signed off and then shown to their Tutors for recording. This week we have presented a number of badges and certificates to students and there are many more who only need 2 or 3 more assignments completing to reach the next level. Special congratulations to SB and PK in Year 7 who have already gained all 3 awards in one year. If you have any queries about the Awards, please contact Mrs Ezis.
Girls Active Trip to Nottingham Trent University
Over the last two years, Youth Sport Trust have supported our female students at Derby Moor through delivering a Girls Active Programme. In particular, they have worked to raise levels of girl’s participation through developing female student ambassadors. On the 28th April, we took 30 students to Nottingham Trent University with the aim of increasing opportunities, participation and experience in sporting activities. Our Year 10 students led four basketball skills sessions to Year 8 students from Derby Moor, Bemrose school, CODA and Djanogly School in Nottingham.
Leading these sessions developed their ability to become resilient, confident, improve their self-esteem and to gain vital employability skills. Likewise, our Year 8 students who attended also developed confidence and self-esteem. The afternoon events were full of opportunities for the girls to complete activities they have not experienced before such as Kinball and Drumba. Well done to all those that took part.
Duke of Edinburgh
A huge congratulations to the Silver DofE Group, who undertook their 3 day Assessed Expedition on the last weekend. The group started from the Longshaw Estate area of the Peak District, walking along the moorland of Froggatt and Curbar Edge to Robin Hood on day 1. Day 2 was then a walk to Barn Farm campsite in Birchover, just south of the Chatsworth Estate. Finishing with a walk on day 3 to Bakewell. All students passed with flying colours and were a credit to themselves and the school.
The Bronze DofE group were also out at the same time on their Practice Expedition, and had a very successful expedition – good luck with the Assessed Expedition next weekend.
We have all been impressed with the resilience, resourcefulness and sheer determination of both groups to do well.
Class Charts
A reminder that we are continuing to use Class Charts as our main form of communicating how your child is getting along day to day. Our families tell us that it is most effective when it forms part of the conversations you have with your child at the end of each school day, asking them how their day has been and why they have been awarded positive points. If you are having any difficulty logging on or using the software, please contact your child’s Year Team for assistance.
Computing Update
This half terms theme is using IT outdoors. The National Trust app offers outdoor activities to enjoy across the UK’s parks, countryside, and coasts, with activities like climbing and family bike rides, The National Trust also has a top 50 things to do before you’re 15 – this includes fun activities like crawling through mud to look for animal clues, building a den, or rolling down a hill!
Home to School Travel Assistance
Derby City Council are able to offer travel assistance for students in the form of free bus passes and in some cases spaces in a taxi or minibus. You can see the eligibility criteria and application process online here. New applications for home to school travel assistance must be submitted by 31st May each year, for the start of the new academic year.
Vacancies
Due to the continued growth of the academy, we have a number of vacancies advertised at present. If you are interested in joining our staff team at Derby Moor, please see our TES page.
Careers Update
This week’s job of the week is a ‘Barista‘.
DHL trip to Aberdovey: On Monday, a number of Year 10 students will set off to the Outward Bound Centre at Aberdovey in Wales for a week of adventure activities. This has been funded by our partners at the DHL Foundation with students having to successfully complete a rigorous selection process in order to take part. I look forward to bringing you an update on their adventures next week.
National Citizen Service: This week, our Year 11 students were visited by representatives from the National Citizen Service. NCS, a government-backed programme, for all teens aged 15-17, typically running in the school holidays. The NCS programme exists to:
- engage, unite and empower young people
- cultivate stronger, more integrated communities
- build essential skills for work and life
- engage young people in their communities; and
- create more understanding about their responsibilities as a citizen.
NCS helps young people meet new people, have their voice heard, boost their CV or UCAS statement and have a lot of fun. After NCS, there are opportunities to access apprenticeships, work placements, training, volunteering projects and workshops. A separate letter had been sent home explaining more about the programme, the cost, as well as how to join it. If you have any further questions about it please follow the guidance on the letter provided.
Wishing you a wonderful bank holiday weekend,
Scott Doyle
Principal
