Dear Families
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in the best of health. It’s been another hot, and action-packed week at the academy with a variety of activities and visitors including City Sports and Inclusion Quality Mark Centre of Excellence reaccreditation visit. We welcomed the staff due to start with us in September for an induction day and enjoyed a staff barbecue as part of the welcome event.
Hefei No.8 Chinese School, Visit to Derby Moor
This week marks a particularly exciting time, as we prepare to welcome our sister school, Hefei No.8, from China for a four-day visit. The visit is part of our ongoing commitment to international collaboration with our Chinese partners, and we are delighted to be hosting such a valued partner in global education.
During their stay, the visiting students will be immersed in a broad range of experiences that showcase life at Derby Moor. They will take part in a series of taster sessions, giving them an insight into the subjects and teaching styles that make our school unique. From the sciences to the arts, we hope these sessions inspire curiosity and a sense of shared learning between our students and theirs.
In addition to time in the classroom, the group will also attend scheduled lessons alongside their Derby Moor counterparts, allowing for further opportunities to build friendships and exchange ideas. A highlight of the week will be a trip to the historic Chatsworth House, providing our guests with a chance to explore one of the Derbyshire’s most iconic country estates. To round out the visit, our guests will also have the opportunity to take part in our much-anticipated Sports Day.
We look forward to a week of learning, sharing, and celebration as we strengthen the bond between Derby Moor and Hefei No.8. A huge thank you to all staff and students involved in organising and participating in what promises to be a rewarding and memorable visit.
Geography Update
Last week, Year 12 Geography students travelled to the Holderness Coast, where they investigated coastal management along this part of the coastline for their A-level Non-Examined Assessment (NEA). Students started off visiting Selwicks Bay, north of the chalk headland at Flamborough Head. The extensive wave-cut platform, wave-cut notches, caves and stacks were all observed and provided the students with real-life examples of coastal erosional features previously only read about. The processes that created these features were discussed helping to understand more fully this section of the A-Level specification. Stack Adam was additionally visited, to illustrate discordant coastlines. The afternoon was spent at South Sands, Bridlington where the process of sand dune succession was investigated involving the collection of primary data using a variety of quantitative techniques. The second day students headed to Hornsea where a cost benefit analysis at each beach helped students to analyse and appreciate the rapid rate of coastal erosion along this section of the UK coastline. Mappleton and Great Cowden were our final destinations on this day to experience sediment starvation. The final day we visited Spurn point, an excellent example of a coastal spit.
Lost Property
Over the course of this year, we have accumulated a large amount of lost property including coats, bags, and shoes. To return these items to their rightful owners, items will be displayed until the end of term outside the Reprographics room. Smaller items such as keys, rings, watches, and glasses are held in Reception.
If your child has misplaced something, please remind them to check whether it has been left in lost property. To reduce the amount of property your child misplaces, we kindly ask parents and students to ensure all items, especially coats and bags, are marked with the student’s full name.
Alton Towers
Information regarding the Alton Towers trip on Monday 21st July, along with student expectations, have been sent out via class charts. Please do check for this if your child is due to travel.
National Grid STEM days
Last week, our school was transformed into a hub of innovation, energy, and hands-on discovery as students took part in two unforgettable STEM experiences that truly brought science, engineering, and technology to life.
On Thursday 10th July, 50 of our Year 9 students participated in the National Grid STEM Day, where they became engineers for the day—tasked with designing and building functional wind turbines using motors and everyday materials. As the workshop progressed, the room buzzed with enthusiasm and determination. Students threw themselves into the challenge, bouncing ideas off one another, problem-solving in real time, and refining their designs through teamwork and trial-and-error. It was amazing to see their curiosity ignite as they connected the dots between classroom theory and real-world engineering—and even more powerful to witness the confidence and pride they felt as their turbines spun to life.
Then, on Friday 11th July, it was Year 8’s turn to take the spotlight during the high-octane STEM KARTS Workshop. In just one hour, students explored key STEM concepts like force, friction, motion, and energy transfer—before jumping into the driver’s seat of real electric go-karts! The moment they got behind the wheel, their excitement was palpable. Laughter, focus, and pure joy filled the Sports Hall as they experienced physics in action. This workshop didn’t just teach them about STEM—it immersed them in it, sparking questions, ideas, and wide-eyed wonder that many were still talking about well after the session ended.
Across both days, it was clear: these weren’t just workshops—they were moments of discovery, inspiration, and possibility. We’re incredibly proud of how our students embraced the challenges, supported each other, and showed genuine excitement for the world of STEM. A huge thank you to all staff involved who made these exceptional opportunities possible.
PTFA – uniform donation
Just a reminder that the PTFA would welcome donations of clean Uniform. If you wish to donate, then please can the Uniform be clean and put into a carrier bag and placed in the Blue uniform container at Main Reception.
Holiday Activities & Food (HAF)
Students who receive benefits-related free school meals are entitled to free holiday activities over the summer holidays. Holiday clubs are available across Derby where your child can make new friends and take part in a wide range of activities including sport, dance, drama, arts and crafts, as well as enjoying a meal each day. If your child is eligible, you will receive an email from HolidayActivities.com. Just follow the instructions in this email to book. Bookings for summer clubs will open at the end of June. Further details can be found on their website here.
Business Language event – Champions
12 language students (6 Spanish and 6 French) accompanied Mr Perks to take part in a Business Language Event at Littleover Community School on Friday 4th July. They competed against 14 other teams and were required to design, advertise and promote a holiday hotel in a French/Spanish speaking country. They needed to use their language skills to buy the resources and then speak as much French and Spanish as possible to market their hotel. They were an absolute credit to the school and really threw themselves into all of the activities. The day culminated in the French team winning the whole competition, winning a £10 Amazon voucher each. Well done to all taking part.
Sports Update
Sports day 2025: Our annual Whole School Sports Day will take place on Thursday 17th July 2025. This is a key event in our school calendar and a fantastic opportunity for students to represent their Houses, demonstrate teamwork, with a view of the whole school community participating during the day. This letter contains all of the details to ensure this is a fantastic event.
City Sports: This week, 52 of our students represented Derby Moor at the annual City Sports Athletics competition at Moorways, and their performance was exceptional in every way. Throughout the day, our athletes demonstrated determination, resilience, and teamwork, consistently supporting each other across all events.
We achieved five podium finishes with two 1st places from AS in Year 7 and NT in Y10. in a range of years and events, showcasing the depth of talent and dedication within our school community. Whether competing in track or field, each student embodied the Derby Moor values, with many achieving personal bests and all displaying excellent sportsmanship towards their peers and competitors from other schools.
It was particularly pleasing to see students cheering each other on, staying engaged throughout the long day, and wearing their Derby Moor kit with pride. Their conduct, attitude, and representation of the school were exemplary throughout.
Festival of Sport: Young people in Derby are invited to the upcoming Derby Promise event – The Festival of Sport. For its second year, the festival will be taking place during the summer holidays from 4th to 8th August at Derby Arena. This free event for students aged up to 14, includes a wide range of sports and activities, with a free lunch provided each day. Children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities are being encouraged to take part More information can be found on the Derby Promise website and the flyer found here.
Careers Update
This week’s job of the week is a fashion buyer
Year 12 Preparation for work: On Thursday and Friday, Year 12 students took part in their Preparation for Work careers workshop with professionals from the Civil Service, JCB, Stepnell, Cooper Parry, Derby City Council, and Weightmans. Working in teams, students developed and presented innovative ideas for products, leisure centres, and transport solutions. Thank you to all the students and visiting employers for making the day a success.
Derby Moor Dispatch: The Dispatch is emailed to the students’ school email address, so it is important that they check this regularly. You can also view the Dispatch via the Careers page of the Derby Moor website. Please take a look at the website as there is a wealth of useful information including a specific page for parents.
Luminate Careers: Our independent and impartial Careers Advisers from Luminate Careers have an excellent website with a wealth of useful information Please have a look at these links designed for parents/carers about careers conversation starters and Post 16 Options.
Final notes
We have had visitors to the Academy again this week, but it is always a joy to welcome reviewers from the Inclusion Quality Mark to talk all things inclusion. Our assessor visited to see how we have progressed towards our targets for this year and to view our provision for herself. We were proud to show her our new building and the wonderful work that is done there so we are eager to read and share the report with you once it is published. The visit was a really positive experience for all involved and I’m confident the report will capture the scope and value of the additional services we provide to make all of our young people feel included and able to thrive.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Scott Doyle
Principal
