Inspiring Students to Lead Enriching Lives
Life at The Derby is about so much more than lessons. We aim to create a school experience that is inspiring, memorable, and allows us all to make a difference.
Our students have access to a wide range of enrichment activities — from sport, music, and drama to international projects, leadership roles, and community involvement. These opportunities allow students to broaden their horizons, develop new skills, and discover hidden talents.
Partnerships with local organisations, universities, international partners and charities add an extra dimension to school life, offering experiences that students will carry with them long after they leave. At The Derby, no two days are ever the same — every day brings something new and exciting.
At the heart of this is The Derby Diploma — our unique programme that celebrates achievement beyond the classroom. Every student takes part in enrichment each week, working towards awards in three key areas:
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Physical Activities – developing health, confidence and teamwork
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Skills Development – learning new skills and interests through a wide range of creative, practical and personal development activities
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Community & Volunteering – making a difference locally and globally
Leadership and service are key strands of the Diploma. Through our SUSTAIN student leadership hub and Community Ambassador roles, students plan events, support peers, volunteer, and contribute to our wider community.
Students earn Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Diploma awards by participating in activities across all three areas. From lunchtime clubs and enrichment weeks to themed curriculum events and community projects - every experience counts.
Through the Derby Diploma, our students develop the confidence, character and curiosity to succeed, both at school and beyond.
The Derby Diploma
A Year of Enrichment
This video celebrates a year of The Derby Diploma in action — showcasing the incredible range of clubs, trips, events and experiences that make life at The Derby so inspiring.
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The Derby Diploma Autumn 2025 Timeable
Enrichment activities are an integral part of our school day. We believe that enrichment can extend the range of educational experiences for our students, broadening their horizons and helping them discover hidden talents by trying new things.
The Derby Diploma allows us to credit students for activities, clubs, and experiences they participate in.
We have divided The Diploma into three categories: Sports and Wellbeing, Talent and Interests and Skills Development.
All students must participate in The Derby Diploma. For students to achieve a Bronze Award, we expect them to participate in at least one weekly enrichment activity. Over a year, students must have attended enrichment activities from the three diploma categories.
In addition to an extensive programme of opt-in enrichment activities at lunchtimes, before and after school, there are compulsory strands within our RESILIENCE Curriculum.
Themed Curriculum Events
Year 11 exploring the Jurassic Coastline
The first strand of our compulsory enrichment programme is delivered through themed curriculum events that occur throughout the year. Engaging, educational school trips and activities on and off-site are linked to each faculty’s RESILIENCE Curriculum.
For example, the whole of Year 7 goes to watch a pantomime at Bury College before studying Pantomime in their Drama lessons.
Year 8 students participate in the Interform Winter Sports Event.
Year 9 History students experience life through a re-enactment of life as a World War One soldier in their Drama lessons.
Year 10 Music students visit the Halle to listen to their set works.
Year 11 Geography students visit the Jurassic Coastline for an intensive revision residential.
Personal Development Plan and R-Time curriculum.
The second strand of compulsory enrichment links to the students’ Personal Development Plan and R-Time curriculum.
For example, Year 7 students participate in a workshop led by a specialist road safety officer.
Year 8 students take part in ‘Be Safe Day’, where they watch a piece of theatre in education performed by Bury College students before joining in a carousel of activities run by local community services such as the police and wellbeing teams.
Year 9 will learn how to administer first aid to earn credits towards the skills section of their Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Year 10 have the opportunity to attend taster days at the local colleges.
Year 11 participate in ‘Preparing for Success’, a bespoke Revision Programme as agreed with their Form Tutor and Head of Year.
Year 8 meet our Community Police Officer on ‘Be Safe Day’
Enrichment Week
The third strand is Enrichment Week, which takes place during the summer term. This week provides an opportunity for deep immersion in a two or three-day enrichment activity on or off-site.
Whole year groups come together to participate in an activity with an entrepreneurial or work-related learning challenge linked to the year group offer.
Year 7 – A Sense of Belonging
The Spirit of a Place
Students research the history of Bury and visit local cultural venues before creating an exhibition to showcase their work.
8H 2022-23 won ‘Best Project Management and Teamwork on the Rollercoaster Challenge.
Year 8 – A Sense of Excitement
The Rollercoaster Challenge.
Students study the design of rollercoasters first-hand at Alton Towers before returning to school to compete in teams to design and build a rollercoaster. Students are supported throughout the experience by Engineering Mentors from Siemens.
Year 9 DofE students on their Guided Tour from The Derby to Nuttall Park.
Year 9 – Sense of Responsibility
Students work towards completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award. Students participate in a skills training day followed by a two-day expedition.
Year 10 – SENSE OF OWNERSHIP: Ready to Succeed
Before students embark on their work experience, GM Hub delivers an interview skills workshop, and students participate in formal interviews with professionals from one of our partner organisations. In 2022, professionals from Aldermore, Deloitte and Metrolink conducted the interviews.
Year 9 Science Leaders leading a practical Science lesson as part of a collaborative R-Time unit designed by students and delivered through Drama and Science lessons.
Student Leadership
SUSTAIN is our student leadership headquarters and home to the student newspaper, radio and podcast station. This student-led space also enables students to plan and deliver a wide range of workshops for their peers. Student leaders and participants both earn Diploma credits for attending activities in SUSTAIN.
Student leaders at all levels receive Diploma credits for successfully delivering leadership activities or completing their duties. Leadership roles include Student Council Form Representatives, Year 8 Buddies, Year 9 Subject Leaders, Year 10 Mentors and Year 10/11 Prefects.
Community Ambassadors
All members of our school community are actively encouraged to take more responsibility for looking after our community. There are many ways that students can demonstrate their commitment to our community, from promoting participation in an enrichment activity outside of school hours to volunteering for a community group. Community Ambassadors, who meet all the criteria for the Gold Award, will receive the Platinum Diploma Award.
Educational Partnership
We continuously engage with our local community to develop bespoke enrichment activities for our students.
Over the next twelve months, students will work with Newtons of Bury to design a new community space.
We will collaborate with Bury Cancer Centre to create a series of events throughout the year to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
Arts students will continue to visit Bury Art Gallery to participate in arts workshops.
The Met Theatre will continue to provide an inspiring venue to host project days and performance events.
The East Lancashire Railway are keen to support our work. Last year this included a welcome journey home for Year 9 after their guided expedition to Nuttall Park and a fun day trip for our new Year 7s on their Summer School.
Our many partnerships with organisations such as The North West Comino Consortium allow us to offer life-changing experiences. NWCC is an educational Community of Practice comprising primary and secondary schools, employers, cultural providers, and social justice charities. External partnerships are brokered and supported by the NWCC team, who work closely with us to shape and implement projects which respond to initiatives driven either internally from school or externally in response to events and opportunities.
Faculty Enrichment Events
Within the school, faculties organise festivals, competitions, and events. Participants receive Diploma credits.
For example, The Festival of Technologies week. During this week, professional guests are invited in to talk to students about their work in Technology, Engineering, IT or Hospitality.
The Arts Faculty host numerous enrichment events throughout the year. Half-termly theatre visits, whole-year group trips, workshops with professionals, concerts, and live performances at venues such as Home Theatre, The Met and The Institute of Engineering. The highlight of the year is our annual school production.
Participating in Sporting events and representing the school or form group also allows students to earn Diploma credits.
Competitions
Students can earn additional Diploma credits by entering internal and external competitions such as The Mayor’s Christmas Card Competition.
The GMP Community Art Project,
Student leaders also challenge their peers to enter competitions. Ben and Jaden won the Cystic Fibrosis Animation Competition created by our charity group ETHOS.
Bonita won a placement at McCanns after her team won the Pizza Express World Cup brief at summer school.
Year 8 and Year 9 students won the ITV brief when they pitched their ideas for a new ITV reality series.
Our Year 9 Changemakers Team won the BBC Regenerators competition for designing SUSTAIN, a solar-powered student leadership hub. Students pitched their ideas to a panel of experts at The Museum of Science and Industry and Manchester University.
