Dear Families,
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in the very best of health. Half Term 4 has drawn to a close today following another eventful week at the academy. We have celebrated Eid with our families and hosted our Eid fayre during lunchtime with the usual excitement around the samosa shack. On Tuesday our students participated in another Drop Down Day, with several Year Groups out on trips and activities, including Twycross Zoo, Derby University and the local churches in Littleover. As always, our students represented our school in their usual exemplary manner and enjoyed the different experiences. We collectively look forward now to the Easter break. Whilst this offers an opportunity for staff and students to recharge and ready themselves for the Summer Term, there is also a packed intervention program taking place to give our students the best possible preparation ahead of the exam season.
Library News
On Wednesday our Librarian Miss Jones had the opportunity to visit Longfield Spencer Academy in Melton Mowbray. She met with 4 librarians from Spencer Academies Trust to witness the inspiring and wonderful work that has taken place at Longfield to make the library so magical and accessible. Miss Jones said she really appreciated the opportunity to attend the event and thanked the other librarians for their kindness and advice.
Year 11 Update
As noted in earlier updates, we are holding Easter revision sessions for Year 11 students. Our staff have worked hard to create a tailored, high-quality program for the students. Each student has received a personalised timetable, which has been sent to your email and handed to them in person. Please encourage your Year 11 child to attend, as their participation will earn them reward points towards their Passport to Graduation. Every action they take from here on in will make a difference, positive steps yield positive results. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Hrncic.
Year 10 Update
Year 10 Parents’ Evening will take place on Wednesday, 23rd April 2025. Appointments will continue to be booked via School Cloud, but the event itself will take place in person. In addition to Parents’ Evening, a mini careers fair will also be hosted that night, this will feature a range of employers, colleges and post-16 educational providers. We look forward to seeing you there!
Drop Down Day
We hosted a number of visitors to site on Tuesday this week alongside a range of external trips. Year 9 Historians were immersed in the Elizabethan era, with a display of Medieval and Tudor Music, a Knight explaining his armour, a workshop on Tudor life and perhaps the highlight, the chance to watch and hold Birds of Prey. In the afternoon they were treated to a re-enactment of Elizabeth 1, where the queen herself, in full costume, spoke about her life and answered their questions. Meanwhile the Geographers completed fieldwork on an interesting trip to Twycross Zoo.
Half of Year 8 discovered how to play inclusive sports such as Goalball and Boccia, improved their Cycling skills as well as learning how to keep social media positive and providing evidence for their Derby Moor Award. The rest of the Year Group had inspirational literacy workshops with stimulus from Rob, a local Author.
Year 7 were warned of the danger of County Lines, learned about Protected Characteristics and began providing evidence for their Derby Moor Award. Some explored Mental Health issues and practised Team Building, whilst others visited 2 local places of worship.
Year 10 had the chance to visit Derby University to explore the potential for university life and learn valuable Employability Skills from JCB. Meanwhile, Year 11 planned for independent living, considered the risks of sexual exploitation and domestic violence and learned about safe relationships and well-being strategies.
Year 12 considered rights and responsibilities in the Workplace, how to build better relationships with the Police, what affects our Mental Health, how we decide how to vote and how to ensure positive relationships. Year 13 took advantage of targeted Intervention in their A Level and BTEC courses.
These days give students invaluable opportunities to learn essential messages from experts with first-hand experience. A huge thank you to everyone who helped to make the day so successful.
China Update
If you’ve kept an eye on our twitter, you will see that we have heard from Mr. Hall who is out in China leading the trip to Hefei. Students and staff are enjoying a wonderful time. They have been met with the most incredible hospitality from the families, they have experienced a visit to Shanghai and Hefei, tasted local cuisine, enjoyed entertainment and have taken part in a number of lessons in three different schools. Mr. Hall tells us that the students have been excellent ambassadors for Derby Moor. Further updates will be shared when they return, but we wish them well for the remainder of the trip and their long journey home.
Lockdown drill
We will be practising our lockdown drill during the first week after the Easter break. We do this periodically so that students and staff can react automatically in the event of a real lockdown. I realise that this can be a distressing event for some of our community, hence, the advance notice. If you feel your child will struggle with the event, please contact the Year Team in advance of the drill on Friday 25th April.
Careers Update
This week’s job of the week is a mortgage advisor.
Year 10 Employability workshop and mock interviews: Year 10 students took part in an ‘Employability workshop’ organised by JCB on Tuesday as part of Enrichment Day. The workshop guided the students through an application process and inspired them to draft their first CV. Students should be working on their CVs in preparation for their first mock interview on April 29th and May 1st.
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 feels like spring has certainly sprung as we enter the Easter break. Students have been enjoying the warmer, more settled weather this week, the daffodils are out in force and our youngsters have been enjoying the extra space offered by the fields at break and lunchtime. I hope all of our community find time to recharge their batteries over the break, spend some quality time with family and friends and prepare for the summer term ahead. For those of you celebrating Easter, we hope you enjoy a blessed weekend filled with faith and hope. We will mark this with sweet treats upon entry as students return on Tuesday April 22nd.
I know many of our students will be in school, making full use of the intervention sessions on offer, we look forward to seeing them there and I will say thank you to our dedicated staff team for planning and delivering these sessions in their holiday time. It is a real team effort. Together We Succeed.
Wishing you a wonderful Easter break
Scott Doyle
Principal