Half term reflections With the half term break now upon us it is worth reflecting on what we have achieved so far this term. A year ago life in school was very different with many restrictions in place. A year (and another lockdown) later and we can state that something nearer to normality is in place at Darrick Wood. Teachers are teaching a full curriculum and are less restricted in how they teach, although we remain mindful of the rising…
This week The PSFA had its AGM on Monday. This was well attended and all committee positions were filled along with several officer positions. Dr Airey thanked all those involved for their time and commitment over the past year. Despite not being able to hold any in-person events at the School due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the lockdowns, parents/carers of the School still managed to raise enough funds to pass £5,600 to the School. New picnic tables and chairs…
This week Attendance at extra-curricular clubs continues to be very high and we have launched a range of new clubs and societies led largely by our Sixth Form students. These include Debate Club, Art Club, Eco Group, Book Club, LGBTQ+ Society, Science Society, Mental Wellbeing Society, and many more are planned. Please encourage your child to get involved with at least one extra-curricular club or society. We are in the process of producing a timetable of what is on for…
This week We held assemblies for Years 7 to 9 this week. These focused on the School’s Thought for the Week of Forgiveness. The lyrics from the film Frozen served as a reminder of how important it is in life to sometimes just “Let it Go” and not dwell too heavily on the past. School photographs for Years 7, 9 and 12 ran very smoothly on Thursday. We hope to be able to share these photos with parents/carers soon. Also…
This week Life at school continues to feel a little nearer the ‘normal’ we remember pre-2020. We have held assemblies for students in Years 7 to 11. Years 7, 12 and 13 have had team building days, which seem to have gone very well. Assemblies have focussed not just on the start of a new academic year, expectations and values but also on one of our big priorities of the year – the environment. The aim will be to reduce…
Last week of term This week has given us a taste of a more normal life at school and therefore hope for the future. We hope Year 7 enjoyed their trip to Leeds Castle. They certainly seemed to have had a great time. We were also able to present awards to those with the most positive house points and some Head Teacher’s Awards. Live music (without singing) was played in the Hall for the first time since March 2020. Whilst…
Last week It was fabulous to welcome next year’s Year 7 into school for a short while last week as part of their induction. We have also planned an amazing week of summer school for them during the holidays which the vast majority have signed up for. Parents/carers of the current Year 7 will have received information about a trip to Leeds Castle in the last week of term. We have arranged this as we are very aware that this…
The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson has published an open letter to parents encouraging continued regular testing. If your child is coming to the end of a pack of LFD tests, they should ask their Form Tutor for a new supply. As you are probably aware, cases are rising currently and it is therefore important that as many as possible students and staff at Darrick Wood conduct LFD tests twice weekly, reporting all results (positive, negative and void)…
This week It was a shorter than usual week for students, due to the Professional Development Day on Monday, but no less busy. On the PD Day, all students were invited to continue with their creative work related to the Festival of School and College Arts. Nine education organisations came together to plan this national festival which aimed to celebrate the vital role of the arts in schools and colleges, and the fantastic work done by children and young people….
This week This week’s (virtual) assembly provided students with the opportunity to reflect on and appreciate difference in others. This built further on the past two assemblies all of which have at their heart the importance of equality and diversity in school, in our community and of course further afield. This week saw the launch of the Art Department’s Instagram site (DWS-Art) which will be used to showcase the amazing work of our students. We encourage you to check this…