This week saw an incredible Year 6 production of Cinderella and Rockerfella, with amazing singing and acting. Creative expression, community and fun were evident in the performances, supporting the development of the skills of confidence, creativity, communication, empathy, cooperation, leadership and negotiation. Well done to all involved!
We had a very successful L6 parents evening last night, where parents, students and teachers had the opportunity to discuss university choices and apprenticeship options along with academic progress. This is the stage in their school career when students begin to really focus on plans for the future. It has been wonderful to be able to welcome parents once again to attend our Senior School Sports Day today. It was great to see all the students excited and enthusiastic, both when competing and when supporting their Houses.
Our celebration assemblies are a wonderful opportunity for us to share so many fantastic achievements and successes in a wide range of academic and co-curricular endeavours. This week I was delighted to be able to present certificates for Maths challenge, LAMDA, Gold Industrial Cadet Awards, U15 Rounders City Champions and Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
At Derby High School, we love music - playing it, listening to it, composing it, thinking about it and most of all sharing it. We had a wonderful musical evening last night. Watching the performers was to see genuine excitement and real joy in what they were doing. It reinforces the importance of music, as a means to be creative, but also as a very effective way to express emotion. The standard of performance was incredible ranging from our Year 1 and 2 choir to a variety of ensembles and orchestras. My thanks to Mrs Cooke who leads our music provision with enthusiasm and care, bringing the very best out of our pupils.
On Friday 10th June we held our annual Primary Sports Day. Our EYFS and Infants were in the morning and our junior year groups were in the afternoon. It was a sunny morning to match the rays of sunshine our children gave off as they enthusiastically took part in their Sports Day!
A particular highlight for me this week has been today’s Infant and Junior sports day. It was great to see all the pupils excited and enthusiastic, both when competing and when supporting their Houses. The main idea of our sports day is to encourage children to have fun, to get active and to work together in various fun, physical activities and challenges. I am sure those parents who were able to come along thoroughly enjoyed all the events, especially after 2 years of not being able to join us. I would like to thank Miss Stirland, the PE department, the class teachers and our Year 9 helpers for their hard work ensuring that the day was so successful.
As we enter the final half term of this year, the warmth and sense of community around our school sets the perfect tone for our students to develop and thrive. As well as a range of insightful and challenging lessons, an average day for a member of our Senior School can involve sports, drama, creative arts or one of the many clubs and societies on offer. I am delighted with the amount of co-curricular activities our students continue to be involved in, whilst at the same time showing effort and excitement in the classroom.
The penultimate half term of the academic year is one in which our students and staff are very much reviewing all that they have done during this academic year. Consolidation and revision are important aspects of education supporting continual progress. Exam season is very much under way here at Derby High. Our Year 7, 8 and 9 have completed their end of year exams, year 10 are half way through and Year 12 start immediately after half term. Year 11 and 13 are proceeding well with their public examinations.
