Dear Families
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in the very best of health. We’ve enjoyed a really positive start to the academic year this week. After two days of staff training, it was great to welcome students back through the doors on Monday and Tuesday, allowing them to breathe life into the academy. I have the privilege of meeting all students in assembly over the course of the two days and share with them some updates from the summer and key messages for the year ahead. In this instance we shared information about groundworks and classroom changes, but in terms of key messages, there is little change in terms of how things will be working this year. What we do works. Hene there are no major system changes to report with the exception of Arbor – our new information management system. There will be some upcoming communications about accessing this over the next half term. Classcharts remains our main medium for reporting information and messages to families, it is therefore vital that you have your own log in and check this regularly to open up conversations with your child.
Year 6 Open Evening – 2nd Oct 2025, 5pm – 7.30pm
Families of Year 6 students are warmly invited to join us at our Open Evening to see what makes our academy a unique place to work and to learn. There will be presentations taking place in the Main Hall at 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm, which will provide you with very useful and important information about the transition to secondary school, our values, and our ways of working. During the evening, you will also be given the opportunity to meet members of staff and our student leadership team, who will be leading tours of the school, starting in the foyer at 5.15 pm, 5.30 pm, 5.45 pm, 6.00 pm and 6.15 pm.
For families of current students, please look out for permission slips if your child has volunteered to help out as a student ambassador on the evening.
Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh Award will commence for Year 9 students later this month, students who signed up at the end of Year 8 will receive a parental email inviting them to an information evening on Monday 22nd September for further information about this exciting programme. If your child is in Year 9 would like to sign up, please email slancaster@derbymoorspencer.org.uk
Students who attended their Bronze expedition last year can still work on their sections to fully complete their Bronze award. Miss Lancaster is awaiting verification from DofE for those students who have submitted their award in full, they will receive their certificates after this time.
Silver Award for Year 10 and Gold Award for 6th Form will commence on Thursday 8th October.
Free School Meals
If your child has just started at Derby Moor and has been in receipt of free school meals at primary school, please note this does not automatically transfer to us. Families need to contact Derby City Council, Free School Meals department, to let them know your child has started at Derby Moor and to transfer eligibility to us.
You can contact the council using the online form, phone or email:
- Phone: 01332 640444
- Email: freeschoolmeals@derby.gov.uk
Key Stage 3 Update – Miss Gooderham
Miss Gooderham would like to say how proud she is of every single student in Year 7 and 8. What a start to the new year! You have all upheld our high expectations and really started the year positively. We have lots to look forward to this year, and she can’t wait to watch you progress through the year. Well done KS3.
Year 7 – Mr Helan
It has been great to welcome our new Year 7 students into the Derby Moor Academy community. Their conduct around school, uniform and attendance has been outstanding and we are very proud of the way they have started this year and their time at school. Thank you for your ongoing support.
We have spent a lot of time during tutor sessions last week looking at ‘What is a Derby Moor student?’ and how we can make the most of the opportunities that are presented to us at school. The students have taken this and ran with it. They are a credit to themselves and you at home. Many staff have commented to me how well the Year 7s have settled in and started to find their feet. It will take a couple of weeks for them fully adapt to the school site – it’s a big place!
Next week as a year group we are focussing on having direct attention in our lessons. This could be on the staff member, a student’s peers when answering questions in lesson or on their work when given a task to complete. In Year 7, staff will use the phrase “hands free, eyes on me in 3,2,1” when requiring the students to listen to them. This is supported by academic research to improve the learning of students. It would be great if you could speak to your child about the importance of having full attention in their lesson to support their learning at the start of their journey here with us. Please see the letter sent to parents here. Thank you for all your support and we look forward to working with you over the coming years.
Year 8 Update – Mr Meakin
It has been great to welcome back Year 8 following the summer break. Last week we were focussing on getting back into the swing of things at Derby Moor with regards to routines and expectations. As with Year 7, we are focussing on having direct attention in our lessons with staff using the phrase “hands free, eyes on me in 3,2,1” when requiring the students to listen to them. “Routines are a powerful tool for learning because they support the direction of attention. Attention is defined by cognitive scientists as the mechanisms by which the brain selects, amplifies and deepens the processing of information. Consequentially, it is a precious and limited resource that is essential for learning” (Dehaene, 2021).
Year 9 Update – Miss Williams
We have welcomed year 9 students back to Derby Moor Academy with a huge smile and eagerness to begin learning. At the beginning of the week students have spent additional time with their form tutors, who have prepared them to understand and recall our school systems and expectations. On Tuesday, students met with Mr Doyle who shared the school values, school changes and teaching and learning systems. Miss Williams then introduced year 9 aims for each student, which are to continue to develop conduct and character, to continue to engage in employability activities and to develop academic knowledge and skills. We have a large range of opportunities for students to be able to achieve this, and we look forward to seeing their progress.
In the latter part of the first week back, students have begun to meet their subject teachers and have responded extremely well. There will be some key dates and events throughout the school year, however, please ensure you are aware that year 9 parents evening and subject choices discussion into year 10’s GCSEs will take place on Wednesday 11th March.
Year 10 Update – Mrs Daire
Year 10 have made a really positive start to the school year, and we are pleased with the way they have approached the step up into their GCSE studies. This is a crucial time in their education, as the habits and attitudes they build now will have a lasting impact on their success over the next two years. We are confident that, with continued focus and determination, they can achieve their full potential. The first set of progress data for Year 10 will be sent home to parents on 24th November, which will give an early indication of how students are settling into their GCSE courses.
Year 11 Update – Miss Hill
Year 11 have made a strong start this week, beginning with extended Tutor Time in their new subject specific Tutor groups. During these sessions, students explored expectations around conduct and morning revision, as well as focusing on developing effective revision skills to support them throughout the year ahead. They also took part in an Assembly where they revisited their Year 10 mock results; this gave them the opportunity to reflect on their achievements so far and to consider the steps they need to take in order to achieve the progress they wish to make. Students were encouraged to think about how they want to feel when they open their final results in August 2026, and the positive steps they can take now to reach their goals.
Looking ahead, there are a number of opportunities across this half term and beyond to support Year 11 students and families as they prepare for their next steps:
Next Step Assemblies – Over the coming weeks, Year 11 will receive a series of assemblies during Tutor Time, delivered by both school staff and external providers. These will explore the range of Post-16 pathways available, including sessions from Derby College, Burton College, Huws Gray (apprenticeships), and Mrs Hrncic (school sixth forms).
1:1 Careers Meetings – Starting Thursday 18th September, Luminate Careers will begin delivering individual guidance sessions with students on a weekly basis. Students should keep an eye out for memos informing them of their appointment times. This will be a fantastic opportunity for students to consider their personal pathways and future steps.
Raising Achievement Evening – Parents and guardians are invited to attend this important evening on Wednesday 8th October 2026. The event will provide vital information to support both you and your child with revision, mock exams, and preparation for the final exams. Further details and timings will be shared via email shortly, but please do save this as a date to remember in your calendar.
- Mock Assessment Centre & Interviews – As part of their preparation for the world of work, Year 11 students will be taking part in a Mock Assessment Centre on Tuesday 14th October 2025 and Mock Interviews on Thursday 23rd October. More details will follow in due course, but this will be a fantastic opportunity to further develop their skills.
We will also continue to share information regarding upcoming Open Days and Events as these opportunities arise, both through Tutor Time and in these weekly updates. This week we would like to make you aware of the following:
Derbyshire Police next careers event is being held at Ripley HQ, DE5 3RS on the 4th of October. There are 3 timeslots to choose from: 09:30am, 10:45am & 11:45am. The event is aimed at 16+ year olds (or Yr11 onwards) and hopes to highlight the various career pathways within the police including volunteer, staff and officer roles. If your child would like to apply, they must register via this link: External Events – Shared HR Service Centre
PE & Expressive Arts
We are excited to announce that a variety of extra-curricular PE activities are now available for all DMSA students! Each session will last 1 hour and is completely free of charge. The timetable can be accessed here. We encourage every student to take part and attend as many clubs as possible. These sessions are a great way to stay active, develop new skills, and have fun with friends.
Scholastic Book Fair
This autumn, from 7th-14th October, students can purchase an exciting range of texts from the fair. There is also a writing competition that will take place from the 1st-10th October. The theme is spooky stories, and the winner will get to pick a book from the fair. The fair will take place during break and lunch in the learning hub, and all purchases must be made with cash. If students have any questions, they can speak to the librarian, Miss Jones.
Kenya Trip
Over the summer Miss Lancaster accompanied 10 students from Years 10-13 to Nakuru, Kenya. Students were volunteering in a primary school – Nakuru Grace Academy. Over the course of the week students taught creative writing, Spanish and PE lessons. At the end of the week our students gave donations to the school including stationery, clothing, toys and books. It was amazing to see how grateful the children were. Our students also went on safari, spotting rhino and lions. Our students were excellent ambassadors of Derby Moor with their conduct throughout the whole incredible experience.
Final notes
We have a relatively quiet couple of weeks ahead in terms of whole school events over the next fortnight. The Open Evening takes place on the 2nd of October, and school will be closed to students on the 3rd of October for our first INSET day of the year.
Please do log on to your Class Charts parent account this week and, if possible, each evening to discuss the day’s events with your child. Putting value on this regularly, helps with motivation and strengthens the partnership between our school staff, you and your child. This can only be a good thing and helps up to fulfil our motto, Together We Succeed. If you are having any difficulty in accessing or setting up Class Charts, please contact your child’s Year Team.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Scott Doyle
Principal