Dear Families,
Happy New Year. I hope the first update of 2026 finds you and those closest to you in the best of health. We have enjoyed reconnecting as a community this week with a staff training day on Monday then welcoming back our student body on Tuesday. Albeit against a backdrop of very cold, wintery weather.
Snow and communications
Thank you for your support over the last 24 hours. Deciding how to respond to weather warnings and forecasts in schools is never an easy decision to make with so many factors at play. My intention in a situation like this is to be as clear as possible and make a decision as early as we feasibly can so arrangements can be made. Today, we knew that our site could be made safe. Our site team and I were up very early to ensure this was the case. We assessed local pathways and received information from our staff across the region about local conditions and it looked like we would be good to open, but that delaying our start was pragmatic to allow students and staff more time to make it to work. Unfortunately, we had a further complication with a significant leak and then an electrical issue with the canteen which meant we were unable to run a full service. Hence the decision to partially close. I apologise for the late notice of this, but, having the extra time in the morning meant that families were able to adjust and the message, on the most part, was received. For students in school, lessons ran as normal. Those in examination groups, and those sitting exams today, received the care and input they deserve. Hopefully this is the last bout of snowy weather for this year. If it is not, we will again try our best to remain open and communicate with clarity and in good time.
On the note of communications, it has come to light that a message was circulating that school was closed. This was fake and had been shared over messaging services. With this in mind, it is vital that Classcharts is checked in these instances. It is our main mode of communication and is highly reliable. All notifications of this nature will be shared on your Classcharts account in future. Please ensure you are able to access this and, if in doubt, check by calling school.
Student Librarian Opportunities
The school library is currently seeking to recruit four new student librarians this half-term. This is an excellent opportunity for students to develop valuable skills and contribute to the school community. Interested students are encouraged to apply by collecting an application form from the library which must be completed and returned by 16th January.
Lost Property
If your child has misplaced an item, please encourage them to check the Lost Property area. Items such as coats, bags, and shoes are currently displayed outside the Reprographics room in Honour. Students may request permission from their tutors to check Lost Property during break or lunchtime.
To help reduce the volume of misplaced items, we kindly ask parents and students to ensure all belongings—especially coats and bags—are clearly labeled with the student’s full name. This will assist in returning items promptly.
Sixth Form Applications
A reminder that sixth form applications will close on Monday 12th January at 4:00pm. We are delighted to have again received a large number of applications, which reflects that our sixth form continues to be an extremely popular choice in the city.
We will be conducting internal interviews for sixth form from 26th January to the 6th February. Students will be emailed their interview slot once arrangements have been finalised.
In the meantime, if your child has not yet applied for sixth form, please support them with their application. The application can be completed online via the following link here or via the website on our sixth form page.
Design and Technology KS3 Rotations:
At the start of the term, Year 7 and 8 rotated to their new Technology subject, either Textiles, Product Design or Food Technology. If your child has rotated to Food Technology, please ensure they log on to ClassCharts on a weekly basis where a list of ingredients required for their particular food practical lessons will be uploaded. Students are also handed a printed ingredients list a week in advance of their practical lesson. Students are required to provide their own ingredients as well as a suitable container to bring their dish home in. If your child is in receipt of Free School Meals, ingredients will be provided by the school, but students must bring a suitable container with them as these will not be provided. Food Technology teaches your child a range of invaluable skills, and whilst we are keen for all students to learn to cook, unfortunately if your child does not bring their ingredients to their practical lesson, they will not be allowed to take part in the food practical and suitable theory work will be provided for them instead. If your child has allergies or intolerances, please inform their class teacher.
Key Stage 3 Update
Our students have returned extremely well and have locked straight back into learning. High expectations have been our focus during the first week, with staff reminding students of what they need to do to make the most of their education.
One of our biggest areas of focus has been attendance. Regular attendance in secondary school is strongly associated with improved academic outcomes. Department for Education data show that pupils with attendance rates of 95% or above are almost twice as likely to achieve a Grade 5 or higher in both English and Mathematics GCSEs compared with pupils attending below 90%. Conversely, persistently absent students (those missing 10% or more of sessions) demonstrate significantly lower attainment, highlighting attendance as a key predictor of educational success. Whilst we recognise that students are not yet at the GCSE stage, these years are crucial in building the foundational knowledge that will support future success in your child’s education.
Furthermore, we will be recapping our work on the Zones of Regulation. Research shows that adolescents’ ability to regulate their emotions is linked to improved engagement, persistence, and social functioning in educational settings (Sharabi et al., 2025).
We are really looking forward to an exciting half term and hope that the students are too.
GCSE Art – Year 10
We are delighted to have your son / daughter on our Art and Design GCSE. With this in mind, we are keen to ensure that each student is prepared for the course with the correct equipment and materials they will need.
To compliment and extend coursework, students will be expected to complete art tasks at home using specific materials. To aid this, the Art department has devised an optional art pack specifically suited to the GCSE course which contains all the basic equipment required to work in school and at home. These packs are priced at a competitive rate to ensure best value. The department will not make any profit should you wish to purchase the art pack from us. You can, however, choose to purchase the materials at a local arts and crafts store. Students have been provided with a detailed list of the materials. If you choose to purchase an art pack, please make payment via ParentPay by Friday 30th January 2026. If you would like any more information, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Calvert via email.
Y10 Hospitality and Catering
This term we are continuing to provide ingredients for a small fee to all Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students. As the recipes taught require the use of more complex skills and a wider range of ingredients, this method will be much more cost effective to families and also ensures that all students are organised and engaged to learn the skills required for their GCSE course. More detailed information is available on ParentPay, where the payment can be made. A letter has been handed to your child in regard to this. You still have the option to purchase the ingredients yourself, if you prefer. The deadline to make payment for this half term’s recipes (up until February half term) is Friday 16th January. If your child is Pupil Premium or Free School Meals, ingredients will be provided by the school.
Year 11 Hospitality and Catering
Year 11 students have begun the preparatory work for their Unit 2 coursework, which is worth 60% of their overall GCSE. Their live practical exams are scheduled for Wednesday 21st January and Thursday 22nd January. We would like to thank you in advance for providing your child with their ingredients for their upcoming practical exam.
As all coursework needs to be completed in school under supervised conditions, here are some ways you can support your child at home:
Encourage Practical Cooking and Experimentation: Allow your child to practice cooking at home. Encourage them to experiment with different recipes, techniques, and cuisines. Offer to cook together or let them take the lead in preparing meals for the family. To achieve higher grades, everything needs to be cooked from scratch.
Visit Food-Related Places: Explore food-related places such as markets, restaurants, bakeries, and farms. These visits can provide practical exposure and insight into different aspects of the hospitality and catering industry.
Encourage Time Management and Organisation: Hospitality and catering often involve strict time management and organisation. Encourage your child to plan and organise their cooking activities, helping them develop crucial skills needed for their coursework.
Encourage a Positive Attitude: Foster a positive attitude towards learning and practicing hospitality and catering skills. Encourage resilience and persistence, as mastering these skills often involves trial and error.
Check Class Charts: All ingredients for practical lessons as well as theoretical homework and coursework is uploaded to ClassCharts. Please keep an eye on this and encourage your child to complete the work.
Product Design – Year 11
The Art and Technology department are hosting a late-night intervention session for selected Product Design students on Wednesday 21st January 2026 from 2.45 PM to 6:00 PM.
This intervention will provide students with a valuable opportunity to complete and improve elements of their coursework over a sustained time period and receive one-on-one support from staff. We believe that this focused time will greatly benefit their progress and completion of written based and practical work.
We encourage all invited students to take advantage of this opportunity, as it is designed to help them enhance their progress with their coursework. Please ensure that your child is prepared for the session and has prepared any relevant materials they may need to work on. We will provide a light tea for students. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this intervention, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.
Year 11 Update
Year 11 have made a great start to the new term. On Tuesday, students took part in an extended form time, during which they attended a post-mock review assembly. This assembly was designed to help students reflect on their mock exam performance and to motivate them to make the most of the remaining time before their next set of mock examinations, which take place in six school weeks.
We have received confirmation from Rolls-Royce that applications for their Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeships are now open. This may be of interest to students considering apprenticeship pathways. Further information can be found using this link.
We would also like to remind you of the after-school intervention schedule, which continues to support students in their preparation for exams:
- Monday: English (Y Half), Maths (X Half)
- Tuesday: English (X Half), Maths (Y Half)
- Thursday: Science
- Friday: Option Subjects
Finally, we would like to share information from Compass Changing Lives, an early intervention and prevention service that supports children and young people’s wellbeing and mental health. We recognise that GCSE exams can be a stressful time for both students and parents. Compass Changing Lives will be hosting a series of webinars led by mental health practitioners, offering practical strategies to help parents support young people in managing stress and anxiety during the exam period.
Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please use the links below to register for one of the sessions:
- Thursday 15th January, 10:00–11:00am: https://bit.ly/491Gaga
- Friday 16th January, 1:30–2:30pm: https://bit.ly/4pNNfIF
- Tuesday 20th January, 4:30–5:30pm: https://bit.ly/48MK0LB
Unifrog – Parents and Carers Session
Our colleagues at Unifrog are offering a session for parents and guardians of students with SEND, detailing how to make the most of using Unifrog to support a child with SEND. This is available online on Monday 19th January 2026 at 5.30pm and can be accessed via the link here.
Sports Update
PE Lessons During Cold Weather: As the weather turns colder, please ensure that your children are appropriately equipped for outdoor PE lessons. Students are encouraged to wear additional layers, including black undergarments, hats, and gloves, if desired, to stay warm and comfortable during outdoor activities.
PE Department – Upcoming Fixtures & Events
The PE Department has a busy and exciting few weeks ahead to start the new year, with a range of competitive opportunities for students across different sports.
Indoor Sports Hall Athletics – 20th January
Students will be competing in a variety of track and field events in an indoor setting, showcasing speed, strength and teamwork.
U13 & U15 Indoor Cricket Fixtures – 22nd and 27th January
Our cricket teams will be in action across two fixture dates, continuing to develop their skills and competitive experience.
Girls’ Football – 21st and 28th January, and 4th February
The girls’ football team will represent the school in a series of SSH matches. We wish all players the best of luck.
Year 8 Basketball – 28th January
Our Year 8 basketball team will take part in another competitive tournament, focusing on teamwork, game awareness and resilience.
We are proud of all students representing the school and thank staff and parents for their continued support.
Careers update
This week is a “Technical Author”
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.
Final Thoughts
It’s been a chilly, wintery start to the term but the warmth and energy that we see whenever our community are reunited has made for a really positive, albeit shorter week. We expect temperatures to rise over the weekend and look forward to welcoming all students back on Monday.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Scott Doyle
Principal