Dear Families
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in the very best of health. At this stage of the year we begin to settle into the rhythm of school life. Our Year 7s and Year 12s have found their feet, can navigate around the academy and are beginning to get to grips with the demands of their studies. Whilst, Year 11 and 13 have the first round of mock examinations around the corner, providing a sharp focus for them to make the most of every minute. Our rewards trips in humanities have allowed students to take part in learning off site at a range of different locations and we look forward to welcoming a number of visitors to the school next week to engage with our students on a variety of projects.
Year 12 Open Evening
Our Year 12 Open Evening takes place on Wednesday 16th October, 5.30-7.00. There will be a chance for Year 11 students to visit our academy, speak with current students and staff and learn about our Academy. There are a wide range of courses available in our Sixth Form alongside a strong employability and enrichment offer. Our event is open to current Derby Moor students and those form other schools with no prior booking necessary.
Year 6 Open Evening
Our Year 6 Open Evening took place last week and we were overwhelmed with the number of families that came to visit us. It was a pleasure to connect with members of our community and, as ever, our staff and students did a wonderful job showcasing what our academy is all about. For parents of Year 6, applications are now open and must be completed via the Derby City Portal.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair began this week and will continue to run throughout next week. Students will be able to buy reading books and other small items, for cash. The Fair is located in the Learning Hub and can be accessed at lunchtimes. Students should see Ms Jones in the Library for more information.
Teen Tech awards
Students in Year 8 will be taking part in the Teen Tech Awards workshop next week. To help with this, any card and other recycling that could be used to create their models would be helpful. Students should store this at home and bring them in on Friday 18th ready for the activity.
Canteen Costs
Over the past few years, we have worked hard to absorb the rising costs of energy and food, ensuring that our students continue to receive high-quality meals during the school day without undue price rises. Unfortunately, due to further increases in these costs, we find it necessary to adjust our prices slightly. This change will take effect from November 4th, 2024. The fine details will be shared in a letter shortly. I understand that any increase in costs can be challenging, and wanted to assure you that this decision was not made lightly. This will be the first price adjustment in over four years, and it is essential for us to maintain the current level of service.
Visiting Author and Poet
Poetic Rapper, Rob Bradely will be visiting the academy next week to deliver workshops about reading, writing and poetry. Rob has performed across the globe and collaborated with various international artists and songwriters. We look forward to seeing him perform in school and engaging our community with his unique take on literacy.
Spencer Superstars
You may be aware that students across the Spencer Trust schools are eligible to apply for a grant from our charitable foundation known as the Spencer Superstars. The aim of the foundation is to support children and young people, attending Spencer Academies, to pursue their passions and follow their dreams. The Foundation provides financial gifts directly to children and young people, to support opportunities in one of the following disciplines:
- The Arts
- Sports
- Science & Technology
- Entrepreneurship
- Conservation
- Wellbeing & Healthy Lifestyles
- Community Projects.
It may be that a student is passionate about portraiture, fashion or music. They may be a promising athlete, or have an idea to create a new App to help learning. Perhaps the young person has a blueprint for an ethical start up business for protecting the environment, or for making a contribution to healthy living and volunteering. Whichever discipline a child is passionate about, it is our desire to support their passion by gifting the funds raised to our children and young people to help them fulfil their aspiration. If you think your child may be a potential Spencer Superstar, please contact their Year Team to explore eligibility and how to apply.
NGRT Tests
You may be aware from conversations with your child that we are currently conducting the NGRT tests across our academy. The New Group Reading Test (NGRT) is a valuable tool that helps us understand your child’s reading abilities in detail. These assessments provide insights into their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and overall literacy skills. By identifying strengths and areas for improvement, we can tailor our teaching strategies to better support your child’s learning journey. Students cannot prepare for these tests, but it is important that they try their best on them. Year 8 have already worked through the tests this week, with Year 9 starting next week. The schedule is below:
Year 9 – Monday 21st – Friday 25th October – IT Lessons
Year 10 – Monday 14th – Thursday 17th October – Maths Lessons
Year 7 – Monday 11th – Friday 15th November – IT Lessons
Careers update
This week’s job of the week is a ‘Outdoor Pursuits Manager’
JCB Mock assessment centre: Next Friday Year 11 students will take part in a mock assessment workshop delivered by JCB as part of our plan to ensure that all of our students are application and interview ready. Assessment Centres are increasingly common as a method of selecting applicants for apprenticeships and wider employment so its an ideal way to ensure that our students are application ready.
Derby Moor Dispatch: The Derby Moor Dispatch goes out weekly to all students in Year 11, 12 and 13. The Dispatch contains a wide range of opportunities for work experience, summer schools, careers related webinars and so on. Please do have a look at the latest edition. The Dispatch is emailed to the students’ school email address, so it is important that they check this regularly on a Monday. 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. All Year 11 students will be receiving a helpful booklet produced by Luminate Careers about Post 16 Options shortly.
Final thoughts
It has been a busy few weeks at the academy with our open evening professional learning day. In the background we’ve watched from afar as our Inclusion Building nears completion. I had my first look inside this week, accompanying a photographer from a national magazine, and it really does look like a very high-quality build which will add a new dimension to the work we do to meet the needs of our diverse community. We are hoping to host an opening ceremony in the next half term and move our provisions from their current locations and into our state-of-the-art accommodation in November.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Scott Doyle
Principal