Dear Families,
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in good health. As we enter the final week of Half Term 5, I wonder where the time has gone. Perhaps this is because the half term in particular is punctuated with bank holidays and there are multiple foci in schools during a short series of weeks – we have the exams, intervention sessions and all of the preparations for the end of the year but also because of recruitment – all schools have until the end of May to appoint their teams for next year so there is always a flurry of activity as we interview new colleagues looking to join our team. Your child may been selected to take part in interview lessons or student panels over the last few weeks as we put candidates through their paces. We are always happy to utilise our students in these kinds of processes and the feedback they receive from visitors is always strong – candidates this week have spoken about how proud the students are of the school and how much they value the sense of community we have. This is always nice to hear. Alongside this we are making preparations for the Year 10 exams, sports day, leavers events, options and planning the timetable for next year. There is rarely a dull moment.
Year 11 update
The half-term break marks the midpoint of the summer examination period, and we want to take this opportunity to commend Year 11 for their impressive determination and focus so far. While we have every confidence that they will continue to conduct themselves admirably during the final exams, it has been especially encouraging to see the positivity, commitment, and thorough preparation they’ve demonstrated to date.
This break offers a pause from the regular school routine but remains a crucial time for revision. Additional revision sessions for Year 11 will run from Tuesday to Friday next week. Personalised intervention timetables have been sent home this week, outlining all the sessions students have been invited to and we have also created an overview of the sessions which can be found here.
Beyond attending these focused sessions, students should continue to follow their individual revision plans, setting aside dedicated time each day to ensure they’re fully prepared for the remaining exams. Balancing this with moments of rest and quality time with family and friends will help them stay refreshed and motivated for the final 2–3 weeks of the examination period.
As shared in earlier communications, Graduation is scheduled for Friday, 27th June 2025. Students have been working diligently on collecting their Passport for Graduation points, and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of our Year 11 cohort as they prepare to transition to their post-16 pathways.
Year 10 Update
Year 10 Students will begin their Mock Examination Series following the Half Term Break on Tuesday 3rd June. All students will receive an exam timetable prior to breaking up for the Half Term holiday which will include their exams and seat numbers from 3rd June until 19th June. They then will receive another timetable after the half term break with the remainder of their exams starting from the 23rd of June.
The students will also have an exams assembly on Monday 2nd June during form time to ensure they understand the rules and regulations of the JCQ.
Should you have any queries in relation to your student’s progress or Mock Exam Timetable, please do not hesitate to contact the school and speak with Miss A Hill (Year 10 Progress Leader).
Year 7 Update
Police workshops: Some of our Year 7 students were involved in a series of workshops ran by our local Police Officers last week. We also welcomed the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts who surprised us with a visit to see the session in action. Over the past two weeks students have looked at a range of topics such as knife crime, cyber bullying and hate crime so they are able to understand how to spot signs of these issues in order to avoid them in the future.
The police also spent time within the academy during lunch speaking to students across all year groups, building on already strong links between our academy and the local policing team. We would like to thank both the local police and Nicolle for spending the time with our students over the last two weeks and we look forward to working together again in the future.
Food Technology update
Unfortunately, due to a fault with our extraction units, all food practical lessons will be postponed until later in the term. Your child’s Food Technology teacher will let them know when cooking will once again commence. Whilst we apologise for any inconvenience, please be assured we are working hard to resolve the matter but note that the unit requires specialist technicians and parts that are not currently available.
Sports update
Extra-Curricular Activities: Our summer sports clubs are up and running with great numbers attending this week. The extra curricular timetable can be found here. All clubs run from 3.05. until 4.05pm so please unsure your child knows how they are getting home afterwards as reception is only available until 4.15pm for queries.
Careers Update
This week’s job of the week is a Secretary.
Unifrog Ambassador Training: A number of students in Years 8, 9 & 10 received training on the Unifrog platform this week. Unifrog is an online platform that helps support students in exploring and applying for their next steps after school. It’s a one-stop shop for finding courses, apprenticeships, and universities, offering comprehensive resources for students and teachers alike. This includes CV and personal statement drafting tools and a vast database of UK and international opportunities. We will be rolling this out to all of the students from Year 7 upwards over the course of the term. We also hope to share Unifrog with families in due course. To find out more, visit: https://www.unifrog.org/
Apprenticeship Guide: If your child is considering looking at apprenticeships, the following link will take you to a useful guide for both parents and students.
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
In addition to the information above, we also have students completing their Duke of Edinburgh expedition this weekend, selected Year 10s are heading to Aberdovey in Wales for an outward bound trip and we have been appointing our new student leadership team. I hope to update you on these developments next week.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Scott Doyle
Principal