Dear Families
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in good health. We’ve had a week of somewhat unsettled weather recently with some wet and windy conditions disrupting travel and our usual routines around break and lunch. Our students, true to form, have adapted and made the best of the situation.
Flu Vaccinations
The flu vaccinations have been arranged for Tuesday 16th December and will take place in school for those students whose families have given consent. The permissions form will be reopened until 9th December for anyone who has not yet managed to complete it.
Year 12 Update
On Tuesday, Year 12 students attended the National School College Leavers Festival at the NEC to explore their post-18 options. Students met representatives from universities, apprenticeship providers, and employers from across the country. Highlights included discussions with Rolls-Royce and AstraZeneca about degree apprenticeships, insights into careers within the NHS, and exploring higher education pathways. Our students were a credit to the Academy, engaging thoughtfully with exhibitors and approaching conversations with maturity and enthusiasm. We are looking forward to continuing to explore options after Sixth Form in our upcoming careers events including a visit to Loughborough University and our local opportunities networking event in the new year.
Year 11 Update
As we come to the end of our first round of Year 11 Mock’s, our teaching members of staff will now be marking and feeding back on their exams in each subject. Whilst students may have the exam feedback, they will be receiving their mock exam scores as part of Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 3rd December.
Please look out for an email in your inbox at the start of next week setting out the details of Parents evening on Wednesday 3rd December and how you can make your appointments to speak with your child’s subject specific teachers.
Next Friday, Friday 21st November, we have staff from Derby and Burton College coming into school to support some of our Year 11 students with their applications for Post 16. If you have any queries in relation to this, please do not hesitate to reach out to Miss Hill.
Year 10 Update
Year 10 are now well into their first round of BTEC assessments, and students are beginning to complete pieces that will count towards their final grades. We have already seen some excellent work across the cohort. Our Dance students have delivered their first performances with real professionalism and confidence, and a number of Drama students have also completed their initial practical assessments to a very high standard. It has been fantastic to see students engaging so positively with these important milestones.
We would also like to congratulate 10BIS, who won this week’s Champions League competition. This is an incredible achievement and a reflection of the teamwork, resilience, and consistent effort shown by the form group.
In lessons, conduct across Year 10 continues to be strong. Students are focused, respectful, and making good progress in their subjects. As a year group, our next area of development is ensuring that this positive conduct continues outside of the classroom. We are encouraging students to model excellent punctuality to lessons, movement around the building, and maintain high standards of uniform throughout the day. With continued support from home, we are confident Year 10 will keep moving in a very positive direction.
Key stage 3 update
As part of our ongoing work in Key Stage 3, we are continuing to support students in developing their emotional regulation and emotional literacy through our Zones of Regulation programme. This helps students recognise how they are feeling, understand which “zone” they are in, and use simple strategies to help them stay calm, focused and ready to learn. We have already introduced the framework in tutor time, and over the next two weeks students will spend more time practising how to use it confidently—both in school and when talking to staff or family at home.
Building these skills has a really positive impact on students’ learning and wellbeing. Research shows that when young people can understand and manage their emotions, they are more likely to maintain focus, build positive relationships and engage more successfully in lessons (Durlak et al., 2011). Thank you for your continued support by having conversations with your children about this, as we all help them to grow both academically and personally.
Settling in evening: We are looking forward to our settling evening on the 26th of November, which is an opportunity for you to meet with your child’s form tutor to discuss how they have started this academic year. Appointments can be made on schoolcloud on a first come first served basis. Please reach out to the Year Team if you need support in accessing this.
Student Leadership Team Update
Anti-Bullying Week: This week has been an important one in our school calendar as we marked Anti-Bullying Week. As a Student Leadership Team, we have been proud to help lead this initiative. We delivered assemblies across the school focusing on kindness, respect and the importance of standing up for one another. We also introduced an anonymous concerns box, giving students a safe and confidential way to share any worries. To celebrate diversity and individuality, we rounded off the week with Odd Socks Day, which was a fantastic success.
We would like to thank all students and staff who took part and supported the activities. Your positivity and willingness to make a difference continue to help us build a supportive and inclusive community here at Derby Moor Spencer Academy.
Awards Evening: Looking ahead, we are now busy preparing for our Awards Evening 2024–25, where we will celebrate the academic and pastoral achievements of our students throughout the last academic year. This is always a highlight of the school calendar, and we look forward to recognising the hard work, dedication and resilience shown across the academy.
Deputy Youth Mayor
Derby Moor Sixth Form Student and Elected Deputy Youth Mayor MR in Year 12, spoke on the stage during Derby City’s Memorial and Remembrance Service on Sunday 9th November. MR acted professionally and with dignity whilst speaking on stage and laying a wreath during the service. This is one of a number of very important roles she has performed as Derby City’s Deputy Youth Mayor. We are so proud of her contributions and the work she has been involved in so far.
Sports Update
The under 14s girls football was represented by 2 teams this year in a tournament at John Port. The numbers attending our girls football club has doubled this year and we have a great group of girls playing football and enjoying the game whilst building on technical skills.
Both teams competed really well, with many moments of teamwork and determination. As the teams develop and get to know each other better, they are becoming stronger and more organised as a group.
Careers update
This week’s job of the week is a “Carer”
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. All Year 11 students will be receiving a helpful booklet produced by Luminate Careers about Post 16 Options shortly.
Final notes
With wintery weather taking hold this week, I’ll take this opportunity to remind families that our Christmas lunch will take place on Weds 17th December and should be pre-ordered via ParentPay by 5th December. The temperatures are due to fall to single figures next week with the potential for some wet weather too. With that in mind, it is important that our children come equipped for the conditions with warm coats for the journey to and from school and at breaks.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Scott Doyle
Principal