Dear Families,
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in the best of health. It’s been a busy but eventful week at the academy this week. We’ve had our planned fire drill for this term and a lockdown drill, along with Year 12 Parents Evening and a trip to Loughborough University for the whole of Year 12.
Youth Mayor Elections Results
Derby Moor pupils have been taking part this week in the Derby Youth Mayor election process for 2026. A ballot box and voting slips were collected from Derby City Council and pupils have been watching the four finalists campaign videos, during form tutor time. Pupils have then been selecting their preferred candidate based on the strengths and merits of their pitches. Engaging in this process not only reinforces democratic values amongst our school community but also reminds our pupils of the value of volunteering and serving others for the benefit of all young people across the city of Derby. Derby Moor wishes all the finalists the best of luck in this year’s elections.
Sixth Form Interviews
Sixth Form Interviews for our internal candidates have begun this week. Students have been informed of their appointment times and should come prepared to discuss their Post 16 choices, current mock performance and have an idea of how they will make their time in sixth form a success. External candidates will be interviewed later in the term.
Step into the NHS Competition – (year 7-9)
This week we have launched the ‘Step into the NHS’ competition to Key Stage 3. This national competition is aimed at those students interested in pursuing a career in medicine or healthcare or those with a flair for marketing and advertising. It is designed to introduce students to the diverse world of over 350 NHS careers, looking to inspire students to fulfil their potential regardless of current interest or skills by letting them showcase one of the wide range of opportunities available within healthcare. There are exciting prizes to be won and lots to learn about the NHS. To enter, students are being asked to create a job advertisement promoting one NHS role of their choice; entries can be from individuals or teams of up to four students. The competition is open now and closes on 27th April. Further information is available from Mr Kershaw who is also offering a drop-in workshop to help with entries, every Tuesday after school. Further information can also be found at on their website and youtube channel.
Key Stage 3 Update
As we move through this term, we want to thank families of KS3 children for their continued support. Your encouragement at home plays an important role in helping our students develop both academically and personally.
This week, our focus with Year 7 and Year 8 has been on developing resilience—supporting students to respond positively to challenges, manage their emotions, and build confidence in themselves. These skills are vital, not just for school, but for life beyond the classroom.
As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing, all students in Years 7 and 8 have now been introduced to Kooth.com. Kooth is a free, safe, and anonymous online platform where young people can access mental health support whenever they need it. Delivered in partnership with the NHS, Kooth is available to anyone aged 10–18. We encourage you to explore Kooth with your child and discuss how they can use it if they ever feel they need someone to talk to or want support with their wellbeing. As always, our pastoral teams are here to support students throughout the school day, but Kooth provides an additional, trusted layer of support outside school hours. We look forward to continuing our work together to help our Year 7 and Year 8 students grow in confidence, resilience, and emotional wellbeing throughout the rest of the year.
Year 11 Update
This week, a number of our Year 11 students took part in an English Walking Talking Mock. The session was led by the Spencer Academies Trust Director of English, who is also an experienced examiner. The focus of the session was to build students’ confidence and equip them with effective exam strategies to support their success. This intervention proved highly beneficial for all students involved, and we look forward to offering further sessions of this kind over the coming weeks.
We were also pleased to welcome colleagues from Derby College Group and Luminate Careers into school on Thursday. They worked with a small group of Year 11 students, supporting them with researching post-16 courses and completing college applications. All Year 11 students receive careers advice through the form tutor program, alongside 1:1 guidance sessions with Luminate Careers. However, if you feel your child would benefit from additional support or is finding the application process challenging, please do not hesitate to contact Miss A Hill, Year 11 Progress Leader, who will be happy to help.
Year 12 Update
On Wednesday, Year 12 students visited Loughborough University to explore pathways into higher education. During the visit, students participated in a campus tour led by current undergraduates and engaged in a range of academic workshops, including analytical chemistry, enzyme activity, the purpose of language, aerodynamics, and measuring the speed of sound. It was a pleasure to see students engaging so enthusiastically with the opportunities on offer, and the university staff commented positively on the high level of engagement demonstrated throughout the campus tour. Well done to all involved.
That evening, our Year 12 Parents’ Evening provided a valuable opportunity for productive discussions about student progress and post 18 pathways. Families received feedback on mini-mock outcomes, alongside clear guidance on how students can strengthen their independent study habits to support continued progress.
For those unable to attend, reports have been emailed home. We encourage families to review these together and to identify practical actions that will help students move forward. Please do not hesitate to contact the Sixth Form team should you require any further support.
Student Leadership Update
Student Voice: This week, Student Voice have been actively involved in shaping our school environment. We held discussions and debates regarding the naming of classrooms; the form reps have made proposals to take back to SLT for further consultation.
National Storytelling Week: We have also been preparing to support National Storytelling Week, which will include activities to inspire creativity, help with the creative writing competition, and encourage everyone to check out the newly published school zine.
We look forward to seeing the school community get involved and share their stories.
English Update
The DMSA Zine club are excited to publish their first issue entitled “New Beginnings”, paper copies can be found in the library and any English classroom and it will be shared digitally in line with “National Story telling week” in form times.
The zine has been entirely made by the students – they have written, drawn, painted, edited, and published this issue. Students have had an opportunity to use their voice creatively and share the writing that matters to them. Inside you will see a wealth of creativity from spooky stories, to delicate poetry. Students have been guided through the steps of publishing and creating with Ms. Wright as a guide. They have presented in meetings, collaborated and led on this project from start to end. New Beginnings: Issue #1 DMSA E-zine
Year 12 English Language and Literature students went into Year 11 classes last week to share their experiences of studying English at A Level. Not only was this a wonderful opportunity for our Year 12 students to present to a group and practice their oracy skills, but the Year 11s benefited from hearing first hand what Sixth Form study was like and ascertain for themselves if A Level English was the right course for them. With the upcoming Sixth Form interviews, the Year 11 students were greatly appreciative of this opportunity to hear from current sixth formers and help inspire their next foot forward.
GCSE English Literature exam texts
We are pleased to inform families that all KS4 students now have online access to their GCSE English Literature set texts. Students in Years 10 and 11 can access these texts through Sparx Reader, an online reading platform. Students should log in using their existing Sparx Maths login details. Through Sparx Reader, students will be able to read key GCSE English Literature texts, including Macbeth and A Christmas Carol, to support their learning and exam preparation both in school and at home
Attitude to Learning
Over the last two weeks, we have been delighted to celebrate the achievements of over 300 students who received the highest Attitude to Learning grades, representing a record number across the school. This reflects the consistent effort, focus and positive learning behaviours students demonstrate in lessons each day.
To recognise this success, students celebrated through cake breaks with the Vice Principals and pizza lunch with myself, providing a well-deserved opportunity to acknowledge their efforts.
We would like to thank parents and carers for their continued engagement and support, which plays a vital role in reinforcing high expectations and positive routines at home.
Sport & PE Update
Under 14 Girls Football: This week saw the two Under 14 girls teams play in their final tournament. The girls played really well against some tough teams which included some academy players, but they showed great resilience and were able to apply all they had learned in training into the competitive situation. Huge congratulations to two players, CRW & MK who received particular mention from the referee and were awarded players of the game.
Year 8 Boys Basketball Tournament: This week, eight Derby Moor Year 8 Boys represented the school in a round robin basketball tournament held at Allestree Woodlands School. Two of the players were making their debuts. For these fixtures, they played extended twenty-minute matches and coped very well against some strong opposition. The boys grew in confidence and the standard of play improved from start to finish. With the emphasis on participation, development and enjoyment, all seemed to relish pitching their skills and abilities against others, and the team spirit and sportsmanship really did Derby Moor proud.
U13 Indoor Cricket Vs Ashbourne: Our U13 boys entered their first-ever indoor cricket tournament, part of a national competition run by the ECB and Derbyshire County Cricket Club, facing a very strong and impressive Ashbourne side. Ashbourne displayed excellent quality throughout their innings, setting a challenging total of 106 runs in 8 overs.
Unfortunately, Derby Moor fell short of the total making a respectable 66 runs in reply against a fierce Ashbourne bowling attack
Our students displayed excellent sportsmanship and professionalism throughout the match, representing DMSA with pride. For many pupils, this was their first experience of the fast-paced indoor format and secondary competitive cricket, making the performance, attitude, and learning experience even more commendable.
Sports Hall Athletics: We would like to recognise the Year 7 and 8 students who represented Derby Moor in the Sports Hall Athletics competitions over the past week. There were a number of standout performances across both events, particularly from the Year 7 boys. AO and CN secured first place in the 8-lap Paarlauf race (a continuous relay style running workout for teams of two or more) with SP and CN also winning the vertical jump event. The students were all excellent and gave their best throughout.
Derby Promise Roots event
Roots is an afternoon of creative career workshops designed to inspire young people aged 14–18 by showcasing the wide range of creative career opportunities available across Derby. The event will feature hands-on career workshops, conversations with industry professionals, and practical insight into creative pathways and next steps.
The event will take place on 19 February 2026, from 3:00pm to 6:00pm, at Electric Daisy, Derby. The event is open to all ages, with dedicated advice and guidance available for families throughout the session. Please keep an eye on the Local Offer and Electric Daisy’s social media channels for further updates and announcements. Further details and booking information can be found on this link.
Careers Update
This week’s Job of the Week is a “Watchmaker”
Apprenticeships with EON: We have been asked to share the links for Level 3 and Level 6 apprenticeships available through EON, the Level 6 application is due to close soon so do have a look if it is of interest to you. Information is available here. For more details on the Level 3 apprenticeship, follow this link.
JCB Open Day: JCB will be hosting an Open Day at its Global Learning Centre, Rochester on Saturday 14 February 10am – 3pm, offering students and families the chance to explore exciting career pathways. Visitors can speak to current apprentices and graduates, gain behind-the-scenes insight into JCB’s world-famous engineering, and learn more about apprenticeship and graduate opportunities. JCB invests around £8 million each year in its Early Careers Programme and has supported over 1,800 young people since 2008. Registration is now open for anyone interested in engineering, business or skilled trades such as welding. You can find out more information about the event and book tickets here.
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
Another busy week at the academy and a busy week in the news too. You will have heard a lot about social media and smart phones this week on a variety of media platforms. As a school, our position remains the same – students do not use phones throughout the school day, they are not seen or heard from the moment they walk onto site until they leave. This has been the case for many years. We have been exploring options to make the site entirely phone free from September and, when we arrive at a potential solution, we will look to consult on proposals. I am very conscious that many of our young people walk a distance to school and having a means of tracking them or communicating is important to families. I’m also acutely aware of the damage that harmful online content and unchecked phone use outside of school can do to children. It is a balance and one we have managed in our own way for a number of years. I’m intrigued to see how things pan out in Westminster regarding a social media ban and the potential impact of this.
On an unrelated note, our Sixth Form interviews begun this week as outlined above. I must say, the bar has been set high, as I interviewed three exceptional young people, all demonstrating a broad range of experiences, confidence in articulating their goals and academic ability that would see them at home in some of the very best Universities and companies. I’m sure they will be a great asset to our Sixth Form, and I look forward to meeting more prospective students next week.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Scott Doyle
Principal