Dear Families
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in good health. It has been another hot week at the Academy, and one filled with new faces from every direction. On Wednesday we welcomed the staff who will be joining us in September for their induction day, marked with a barbecue in the sunshine that felt more like the beginning of something than the end of a term. Alongside this, our new Year 7 cohort spent three days with us for their transition — meeting form tutors, sampling lessons, and beginning to picture themselves as Derby Moor students in September. Watching the two groups pass each other in the corridors — new staff and new students, both slightly nervous, both about to become part of our community — was one of those quietly hopeful moments that this stage of the year tends to produce. Elsewhere, our Year 12s have been out on work experience placements across the city, Year 10 have taken part in Preparation for Work Days at the University of Derby, and our Duke of Edinburgh candidates have been out in the Peak District. There is a lot to share below.
PEEA Update
Sports day 2026: Our annual Whole School Sports Day will take place on Thursday 16th July 2026. This is a key event in our school calendar and a fantastic opportunity for students to represent their Houses and demonstrate teamwork, with a view of the whole school community participating during the day.
Students should come to school wearing their full Derby Moor PE kit, including suitable trainers. The day is designed so that every student has the opportunity to take part, whether competing in traditional athletics events, representing their tutor group in team challenges or enjoying some inflatable activities.
The forecast is currently looking promising, but we ask that students come prepared for the weather by bringing a water bottle, appropriate clothing and sunscreen if needed. Checking the forecast the night before is advisable as showers are not unheard of at this time of year.
Further information will be shared with parents and carers, and students will have the opportunity to sign up for events. We are looking forward to another fantastic day that celebrates participation, teamwork, resilience and school spirit.
National School Sports Week: We are delighted to celebrate the success of this year’s National School Sports Week. Despite the exceptionally hot weather throughout the week, our students demonstrated outstanding enthusiasm, resilience, and commitment by getting involved in a wide range of sporting and physical activities.
While some activities had to be adapted to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff, participation remained incredibly high. Students embraced the opportunities on offer, competing, collaborating, and challenging themselves throughout the week. It was fantastic to see so many young people enjoying being active, supporting one another and demonstrating our school values both on and off the field.
The week highlighted the positive impact that sport and physical activity can have on physical health, mental wellbeing, and teamwork. We are extremely proud of the effort, energy and attitude shown by all who took part.
We will Rock You: After a fantastic round of auditions, we have selected a cast of 50 students who will now begin rehearsals for what promises to be an incredible production. The standard at auditions was exceptionally high, and students should be incredibly proud for putting themselves forward. Congratulations to everyone involved.
Post 16 Update
This week, our Year 12 students have been completing work experience placements with a wide range of employers, including Rolls-Royce, Balfour Beatty, hospitals, primary schools, solicitors, chemical companies and a variety of local businesses. It has been fantastic to visit students in their placements seeing them develop their confidence, professionalism and enthusiasm. Well done for embracing this valuable opportunity!
On Monday, all Year 12 students will take part in our UCAS Launch Day. Students will receive expert guidance on university applications, post-18 pathways, including apprenticeships, employment and higher education. Attendance is essential, as this is a key part of preparing for life beyond Sixth Form. Please note that any student who is absent on the day will be required to attend a series of afterschool catch-up sessions. We also encourage families to explore university open days over the coming months to support students in making informed decisions about their future.
Year 10 Update
Year 10 Preparation for Work Days: This week, our Year 10 students took part in two highly successful Preparation for Work Days, delivered in partnership with the University of Derby and a range of external partners.
Across the two days, students experienced a split programme. Half of the year group attended the University of Derby, taking part in subject-specific workshops in areas including Business, Education, Nursing, Policing, Forensic Science and Sport, giving them a valuable insight into higher education and future career pathways. Students returned inspired by the hands-on activities and the opportunity to experience university life first-hand.
Meanwhile, the remaining students stayed in school, where they participated in a programme of employability and innovation activities. Highlights included AI workshops delivered in partnership with Microsoft, alongside collaborative projects designed to develop teamwork, problem-solving and presentation skills while encouraging students to think creatively about the future of education and technology.
The two groups then swapped over on the second day, ensuring every Year 10 student benefited from both experiences.
The event was a fantastic success and would not have been possible without the support of colleagues across the school, our external partners and the University of Derby. We are incredibly grateful for everyone’s commitment in providing such a memorable and enriching experience for our students as they begin preparing for their post-16 pathways.
Key Stage 3 Update
Celebrating Success – Inspiration Day & Enterprise Challenge: A huge well done to all of our Year 7 students who took part in our recent Inspiration Day and Enterprise Challenge. The day was a fantastic opportunity for students to work with employers and industry professionals, developing key employability skills such as teamwork, communication, creativity, and problem-solving.
Students showed excellent enthusiasm throughout the day and fully embraced the challenges they were set. Working in teams, they collaborated to design and create some truly impressive aircraft concepts, demonstrating innovation, resilience and the ability to communicate their ideas effectively. It was fantastic to see students supporting one another, sharing responsibilities and presenting their designs with confidence. Huge congratulations to the winning team – Galactic, from 7DRU.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all staff, employers and external partners who supported the day. Events like this would not be possible without the commitment and dedication of everyone involved. The feedback from employers was overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting on the maturity, engagement and excellent behaviour of our students throughout the event.
Most importantly, Inspiration Day provided students with valuable insight into the world of work and encouraged them to think ambitiously about their future aspirations. Our Year 7 students were a real credit to our community, and we are incredibly proud of the way they represented themselves and the school.
Our Year 8 students enjoyed a valuable and engaging Employability Day, designed to help them develop important life skills and prepare for their futures. During the morning, students explored a range of employability skills, investigated potential future careers, and took part in sessions focused on understanding and managing their emotions to support their personal wellbeing and resilience. Students also attended an informative assembly delivered by Littleover Police, which focused on the importance of equality, respect, and making positive choices within our community. In the afternoon, students worked together in a variety of team-building activities before finishing the day with an enjoyable interform rounders competition, which encouraged teamwork, communication, and friendly competition.
Looking Ahead: As we approach the final weeks of the academic year, students should continue to demonstrate our school values through excellent behaviour, attendance and engagement with their learning. We have a number of exciting activities planned and look forward to ending the year on a positive note.
English Update
The latest edition of the “publishing” extra curricular club is now available. This term’s focus on Belonging has allowed the students to showcase what makes their school special – shedding light on Ms Turgoose (our Director of Inclusion), the recent production of Matilda and an array of creative interpretations. Particular highlight is a Year 12 student’s article on language of belonging. We are immensely proud of the work submitted in this issue, and hope you find time to enjoy it too. A massive well done to the Year 9 publishing team for all of their work in making this issue come to life. You can view it here.
Our next issue will be called “Take Aim” and will focus on having goals, careers and learning journeys. If anyone would like to get involved, make sure they speak with Ms Wright or submit it in the Zine submission box (in SO21) by 16th October. Our next issue will be released by the end of November.
Duke of Edinburgh
All students for Bronze and Silver successfully completed their Assessed Duke of Edinburgh Award. 16 students across Year 9 and Year 10 ventured into the Peak District and put to the test all their map reading and teamwork skills. They all did really well and Miss Lancaster is very proud of all their achievements.
Lost Property
Over the course of this year, we have accumulated a large amount of lost property including coats, bags, and shoes. To return these items to their rightful owners, items will be displayed until the end of term outside the Reprographics room. Smaller items such as keys, rings, watches, and glasses are held in Reception.
If your child has misplaced something, please remind them to check whether it has been left in lost property. To reduce the amount of property your child misplaces, we kindly ask families to ensure all items, especially coats and bags, are marked with the student’s full name.
Alton Towers
Information regarding the Alton Towers trip on Monday 20th July, along with student expectations, have been sent out via ClassCharts. Please do check for this if your child is due to travel.
PTFA – uniform donation
Just a reminder that the PTFA would welcome donations of clean uniform. If you wish to donate, then please can the uniform be clean and put into a carrier bag and placed in the blue uniform container at Main Reception.
Holiday Activities & Food (HAF)
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 opened on Tuesday 23rd June. Further details can be found at: www.derby.gov.uk/derbyHAF
Careers Update
This week’s job of the week is a “Planetary Scientist”
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
There is a curious quality to the last three or four weeks of a school year. Some things end — exam cycles, Year 11, Year 13, and some things begin, often on the very same afternoon. This week has been full of those beginnings. The staff who joined us for induction on Wednesday already feel like colleagues rather than new arrivals. The Year 7 students who spent three days with us in transition will, in a few weeks, be sitting in their new tutor groups, in classrooms they have not yet learned to find. And a cast of fifty of our students will begin rehearsals for We Will Rock You — a production I am, if I am honest, already looking forward to.
For now, we have a few weeks left of the current year, and no shortage of activity in them. Sports Day on Thursday 16th, the Alton Towers trip the Monday after, our Inclusion Quality Mark assessor visiting next week. Thank you, as ever, for the support that makes all of this possible.
Looking further ahead, school is closed for INSET days on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September. Our new Year 7, Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 students return on Friday 4th September, with Years 8, 9 and 10 back on Monday 7th September. Further details will follow in the last week of this term.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Scott Doyle
Principal