This week With just two weeks left to the end of term we can start to reflect on the autumn term and consider all that we have accomplished. Cases of COVID-19 in school and in the community continue to increase, but we do not want to let this be the overriding memory of this term. Despite the difficulties and current COVID cases, attendance at Darrick Wood has been above the national average. We have been able to deliver a full…
This week Year 11 have begun their mock exams/internal assessments. We have been really impressed by how they have conducted themselves going into the Hall and other exam venues. This is a difficult time for them and they have another week of assessments to come. We encourage them to continue preparing well for each one. Whatever the result, what we do know is that by preparing well through rigorous revision, thinking hard during an assessment, learning is enhanced and they…
I am pleased to announce that the new edition of our in-school science magazine has now been published, and printed copies will be available from the Sixth Form Centre Foyer next week. The theme for the magazine this month is water. Thank you to our Sixth Form students for producing such an insightful and interesting edition. We include here a sample article from the November Monthly Molecule. Blue-Green Algae and DogsBlue-green alga is not actually algae, it’s the term used…
This week Monday saw our first Odd Socks Day and the launch of this year’s anti-bullying week. Quite a few students, especially lower down the School, along with staff wore odd socks to promote the idea that everyone is unique. Our anti-bullying assemblies were very thought provoking and encouraged everyone to use kind words so that this starts a domino effect with more and more kind words used around us. Music at the start of assemblies this term has been…
This week It was great to welcome back all of our students and staff after the half-term break. This week’s assemblies had a theme of Good and Evil, exploring how situations or people can rarely be defined as either one of these exclusively, with life being rather a mix of the better and worse things and the balance between them. Many examples were given including the 1980s film, “The Dark Crystal”- perhaps some parents will recall this. A more recent…
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…