Dear Families
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in good health. The external exams have now drawn to a close, and we marked the occasion in the way only a school can — with our annual shirt signing event, samosas, sunshine and a very well-received ice cream van. It was a lovely few hours, and a fitting way to bring the formal exam period to a close for our Year 11 students. Alongside this, Year 10 and Year 9 have been completing their own end of year assessments, and our PE team have been busy preparing for National School Sports Week. Separately, you will have seen the email sent earlier today regarding the high temperatures forecast for next week and the uniform adjustments we are putting in place from Monday — please do take a moment to read that if you haven’t already, as it explains exactly what students should wear and how we are keeping them safe and comfortable while the warm weather lasts. For now, here is everything from the week just gone.
Year 12 Update
Our Year 12 students have recently taken part in a range of university enrichment visits. On Wednesday, students visited Keele University to attend lectures exploring different areas of Law and its application in society, including the impact of hate speech and viewing society through a criminological lens. On Thursday, our A Level Chemistry students visited the Science Centre at Staffordshire University, where they synthesised aspirin and used analytical techniques to confirm its identity. With many university open days taking place over the coming months, we strongly encourage families to attend these together to help students explore higher education pathways. Where possible, visits should be arranged at weekends, although students may request up to two school days to attend open days during term time.
On Monday 29th June we have our induction day for the new year 12 cohort. We are excited to welcome them into the Sixth Form community. Students need to ensure they RSVP so we can put together their timetable for the day.
Year 11 Update
It has been a busy and memorable week for our Year 11 students as the GCSE examination period drew to a close. On Monday morning, following the completion of their final full cohort exam, we suspended the usual timetable to hold our annual shirt-signing event.
Students enjoyed a few hours out on the field, exchanging farewells and signing each other’s shirts—many of which featured some truly creative, pre-prepared designs. This is always a joyful occasion, filled with laughter and celebration, though it also carries a touch of sadness as it signals the end of their time with us in the main school. To mark the event, and help everyone cool off on a warm day, we arranged for a surprise visit from an ice cream van—much to the delight of both students and staff.
We now look forward to the upcoming Year 11 Graduation Day on 26th June and Sixth Form Induction Day on 29th June for those planning to continue their journey with us.
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all parents and carers for their unwavering support throughout this lengthy and demanding exam period. Your encouragement has made a real difference.
Year 9 Update
Year 9 Lucid Exact Assessments: During w/c 29th June, Year 9 students will be completing a Lucid Exact screening assessment in their computing lessons. The purpose of this assessment is to determine if students may benefit from completing a formal assessment to determine if they qualify for any potential Exam Access Arrangements to support them as they transition into their GCSE years. The assessment is comprised of five subtests which assess students’ reading comprehension, speed and accuracy, spelling, typing, and handwriting speeds, and it will take them approximately 45 minutes to complete. Students have already been informed of this assessment and what is expected from them in an assembly prior to May half term. It would be great if you could emphasise the importance of this assessment to your child to ensure they complete it to the best of their ability. It is important that your child takes their time when completing the assessment and avoids rushing any of the subtests. Once scores have been generated following testing, students may be required to complete a formal assessment in half term 1 of the next academic year. Students who qualify for any extra support will be given the opportunity to trial these entitlements in any in-class assessments and mock exams they complete in year 10.
Key Stage 3 Update
Year 7 Future Skills Questionnaire: During this half term, Year 7 students will complete the Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) during their IT lessons, within the school day. Students do not need to revise or prepare for this in any way.
The Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) is a set of questions designed specifically for young people in schools and colleges. It aims to support students in thinking about:
- Their skills and strengths
- Their interests
- What they may like to do in the future
The FSQ is a key part of our school’s careers programme. We will use the outcomes to:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of our careers provision
- Plan future careers activities
- Identifyany students who may benefit from additional support
Further information will be shared with families in due course.
Inspiration Day (Year 7 & Year 8): Year 7 and Year 8 students will also take part in an upcoming Inspiration Day. This event will focus on developing key employability skills, including teamwork, communication and problem-solving. Students will have the opportunity to take part in a range of engaging and interactive activities designed to build confidence and encourage collaboration.
Student Leadership Team Update
This week has been another positive one for the Student Leadership Team as we continue to work together to support our school community and ensure that student voices are heard.
National Thank a Teacher Day – 17th June: To celebrate National Thank a Teacher Day, the Student Leadership Team designed special thank-you cards for students to write personal messages of appreciation to a teacher who has made a positive difference to them. The completed cards have now been collected and will be distributed to teachers next week.
We hope this small gesture will let our staff know how much their hard work, dedication and support are valued. It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to live out our school motto, “Together We Succeed,” by recognising the positive impact we have on one another.
Student Voice in Action: Following feedback from students through our Student Voice meetings, concerns were raised that canteen food prices were not always clearly visible around the school. We are pleased to share that this has now been addressed. Daily menu prices are displayed on the digital screens across the school, and new enlarged price posters have been placed in and around the dining hall.
We hope this swift response demonstrates our commitment to listening to students and acting on their feedback. Thank you to everyone who continues to share ideas that help make our school an even better place for all.
PEEA Update
Matilda Jr – Show Week: The wait is nearly over… Matilda Jr takes to the stage on Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th June!
Our cast and crew have been working incredibly hard behind the scenes and we can’t wait to share the production with you. Expect big performances, brilliant music and plenty of magic. Tickets are available now on Arbor Pay. Last chance to book – tickets are selling fast!
We look forward to welcoming families and the wider community for what promises to be a fantastic two nights of theatre at Derby Moor Spencer Academy.
NGRT Reading Assessments – Information for Families
Over the coming weeks, all students in Years 7–10 will be completing a New Group Reading Test (NGRT).
The NGRT is a nationally recognised assessment that helps us understand each student’s reading ability. Reading is fundamental to success across all subjects, and the assessment provides valuable information about how well students can understand and interpret written texts.
The results help us to:
- Identify students who may benefit from additional reading support or intervention.
- Ensure students are accessing the curriculum at an appropriate level.
- Better understand individual reading strengths and areas for development.
- Measure progress over time and evaluate the impact of our reading strategy.
The assessment is not an exam and students do not need to revise. However, it is important that every student tries their best so that we gain an accurate picture of their current reading ability.
We would be grateful if you could speak with your child before their assessment and encourage them to take it seriously, work carefully, and give their best effort. The information gathered will help us provide the most appropriate support and challenge for every student at Derby Moor.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us develop confident and successful readers.
China Exchange Trip Update
Thank you to all the parents and carers who attended our China Exchange Information Evening on Tuesday 16th June. It was a fantastic opportunity to share more details about our exciting exchange programme and celebrate our continued partnership with Hefei No. 8 High School.
The exchange offers students a unique opportunity to experience a different culture, build lasting friendships and develop valuable global perspectives while representing our school abroad.
Students who are interested in applying are encouraged to read the information available on the school website and discuss the opportunity with their families before submitting an application.
Please remember that the closing date for applications is Friday 26th June. We look forward to receiving applications and wish all prospective applicants the very best of luck.
Summer Holiday Activities
Students who receive benefits-related free school meals are entitled to free holiday activities over the summer holidays. Holiday clubs are available across Derby where your child can make new friends and take part in a wide range of activities including sport, dance, drama, arts and crafts, as well as enjoying a meal each day. If your child is eligible, you will receive an email from HolidayActivities.com. Just follow the instructions in this email to book. Bookings for summer activities will open on the evening of Tuesday 23rd June. Further details can be found at: www.derby.gov.uk/derbyHAF
Careers Update
This week’s job of the week is an Investment banker.
Apprenticeships: If your child is considering looking at apprenticeships, the following link will take you to a useful guide for both parents and students. You can also take a look at Choices magazine completely free of charge – you can find this month’s edition here. A further resource is Amazing Apprenticeships which covers all things apprenticeship and technical education.
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 Thoughts
That is everything for this week. Next week brings some of the most significant dates in our calendar: our school show Matilda Jr takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, we say farewell to our Year 13 students at their leavers’ event on Thursday, and welcome families in for Year 11 Graduation on Friday. Both will, I suspect, be every bit as emotional as they sound — five years and seven years of memories, respectively, brought to a close in the space of two days. The week after, we open our doors to our newest students for their transition days, a reminder that even as one chapter ends, another is already beginning.
With warmer weather forecast for the days ahead, my thanks in advance for your support with the uniform adjustments — and I hope you all manage to stay cool.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Scott Doyle
Principal
