Dear Families,
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in the very best of health. This week may have been a 4 day week but it’s been a busy start to the new term with exam season almost upon us, a number of students now having sat speaking exams or taken part in practical assessments and preparation for public exams now in full swing. There are key dates for coursework coming up too as we enter the final stages for Years 11 and 13. We welcomed the families of Year 10 to the academy for parents evening on Wednesday, hosted guests from JCB to facilitate a Year 8 Workshop and celebrated the achievements of our students with the Recognising Success Assemblies, followed by the cake-break and pizza lunch with the Principal rewards.
Digital Safety
You may have watched or heard about the Netflix show ‘Adolescence’ which has sparked many families into taking an interest in online safety and talking to young people about the digital pressures they face. To help with these conversation, we are sharing a link to a helpful resource page. It’s packed with practical advice, conversation starters, and useful insights to help parents navigate the various challenges the series brings to light. These range from setting boundaries around screen time to processing upsetting online content. The resources are designed to empower parents to effectively support and nurture their child’s digital wellbeing. Simply click on this link. If you have any concerns about your child’s online safety, please contact your child’s year manager.
Library Update
On Friday 2nd May we will be celebrating Harry Potter Day in the FLC. Ms Jones will be hosting a range of activities, including a Horcrux Scavenger Hunt, ‘Yer A Writer Harry’ creative writing competition and a raffle. All prizes will be Harry Potter themed, including LEGO, illustrated editions and Funko pops. Students can visit the library at break and lunch to take part in these activities. Raffle tickets will be available at 50p each, so remember to bring in some money if you would like to take part.
JCB Workshop visit – Year 8
On the 24th April, we invited JCB to work with our year 8 students. Eight Apprentices from JCB delivered a workshop in which, students had to work in groups of 10 to build a new machine for JCB. Students had to design their new machine using materials such as cardboard, coloured pens, wooden rod, tape, lollipop sticks, and scissors. They had a strict budget in which they would have to buy these items so planning was key. Their design also had to look like a JCB machine. Students worked hard to develop their soft skills and apply the Derby Moor Academy 4R’s (Resilience, Respect, Resourceful and Responsibility) throughout the experience.
At the end of the session all groups were judged by the JCB apprentices. Students also worked well to incorporate some of the JCB values such as taking pride in their work and having a can-do attitude. There were two winning groups; one designed an aeroplane that collected carbon dioxide emissions and the other group who designed a new JCB digger. Well done to all students who took part.
Year 10 Mock Interviews
Year 10 students will be taking part in Mock Interviews on Tuesday 29th April and Thursday 1st May. Around 30 delegates from local companies will interview our Year 10 students. Students should make sure they finalise their CV’s in preparation. This is the second year we have offered mock interviews for students in Year 10 and it follows our journey of developing their 4Rs employability skills and putting them into practice throughout their educational journey. The students will be asked a series of what are called ‘competency based’ questions such as ‘Can you give me an example of where you have demonstrated good leadership skills?’ This is encouraging students to give real examples either from their curriculum experience or from things they do outside of the lessons such as taking part in D of E or helping organise family commitments at home. The aim is to ensure that Derby Moor students are better prepared when being interviewed for college, apprenticeships, sixth form and part time jobs in the future and that they can speak about their employability skills with confidence. Feedback from the previous students was that the experience was overwhelmingly positive and they felt so much more confident after the interview.
China Exchange Trip: A Memorable Journey of Cultural Connection and Learning
We are delighted to share that 30 students from Derby Moor Academy have recently returned from a truly successful and enriching exchange trip to Hefei, China. This unforgettable experience was part of our ongoing sister school partnership with Hefei No. 8 School—a relationship that continues to grow stronger with each visit.
During their stay, our students had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Chinese school life by attending lessons at three different schools in Hefei. They participated in cultural shows, observed traditional performances, and even took the stage themselves—sharing their talents and offering a glimpse into life at Derby Moor. The way they represented our school was nothing short of outstanding, and they were true ambassadors throughout the visit.
Beyond the classroom, the group explored many aspects of Chinese culture. From strolling through traditional Chinese villages to visiting Hefei’s Expo Park, the students gained first-hand insights into the rich heritage and history of the region. The trip concluded with an exciting visit to Shanghai, where the students were in awe of the incredible skyline, urban energy, and modern architecture that define one of the world’s most dynamic cities.
This exchange was not only an academic and cultural triumph, but also a deeply meaningful experience for everyone involved. Our students’ enthusiasm, maturity, and respect throughout the trip strengthened our partnership with Hefei No. 8 School and laid the foundation for future exchanges.
Looking ahead, our students are already preparing to share what they’ve learned with the wider Derby Moor community. They will be leading assemblies and creating displays that highlight their journey and celebrate the cultural exchange. We are also excited to be hosting a return visit from Hefei No. 8 School in July 2025, and preparations are already underway to ensure their stay is as memorable and inspiring as ours.
We couldn’t be prouder of our students and we are grateful for the support of families and staff in making this trip such a success. A special mention goes to our parents who brought out the banners and flags to give the students a welcome home that they deserved after such an exhausting journey. Here’s to many more global adventures and meaningful connections in the future.
PE & Expressive Arts
We have a number of PE and Expressive Arts extra-curricular clubs being added to the program this week including Cricket Club for all years on Tuesdays after school and Choreography club on Tuesday lunchtime. Drama Club takes place on Mondays after school. You can find the latest Extra-Curricular timetable here.
Careers Update
This week’s job of the week is a mortgage advisor.
Apprenticeship Guide: If your child is considering looking at apprenticeships, the following link has 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
It’s been great to reconnect with all of our students in main school this week via the Recognising Success assemblies. It was also a chance to refresh the employability focus behind the B and C systems and the rewards system that links with Classcharts. As a reminder to families, Classcharts is our main medium for communicating with you about how your child is getting on. It is vital that you have a log in, check regularly and, ideally, use it as a conversation starter each evening with your child to put value on what they are doing in school. If they have come home with a gold or silver star this week, please congratulate them on their attitude to learning.
It looks like we have a period of warmer weather approaching for next week. As always, we recommend students come equipped with a reusable water bottle, sun cream and a sun hat for outdoors. Break and lunch are predominantly spent outside so students need to be equipped for this. Our uniform expectations remain in place as usual. Students can leave jumpers or sweaters at home if they choose but the blazer is a compulsory item along with the shirt, tie and lanyard.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Scott Doyle
Principal
