The Derby Round-Up

9th March – 20th March 2026

Message from the Headteacher

Hello all,

With the glorious sunny weather today, it seems that spring has finally arrived. Let's hope it is here to stay!

I wanted to share three events with you that took place at The Derby last week.

Firstly, we had a visit from the NW1 Maths Hub who observed a number of Year 10 Maths lessons. The Hub is made up of Maths experts, teachers and those who work for the NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics) and they were full of praise for our mastery approach to the teaching of Maths.

On Friday morning we hosted a huge event to key stakeholders in our community and Greater Manchester - politicians, local leaders and those representing various cricket organisations came to hear our proposal to bid for a Cricket pavilion and potentially a Sports Village here at The Derby. Everyone in the gathering endorsed our plans and we will now work hard to make our vision become a reality.

Later that day we hosted the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson at The Derby. She met a number of students to hear their views around mobile phones. They talked about the Yondr pouches and the positive impact they have had on the school environment and their wellbeing since we removed the distraction of mobile phones from our school building. As you would expect they spoke confidently and with conviction and I felt really proud of them. I managed to have a quiet word with the Education Secretary about the need for a substantial injection of money to be spent on our school building - she listened and asked that I put my request in writing to her - a letter is on its way to Westminster!

Finally, as we await the date for the end of Ramadan - Thursday or Friday - I want to end my message by wishing all our families celebrating Eid a wonderful time with their families and friends.

Ms C H Hubert, Headteacher

Listen to this week’s Headteacher Update

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What’s Been Happening

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Celebrating British Science Week

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Our school fully embraced the excitement of British Science Week with a wide range of inspiring activities designed to promote the wonders of science.

Mr Akinbola led a series of engaging assemblies, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm across all year groups. Students also had the opportunity to take part in a variety of STEM activities at lunchtime and after school, encouraging hands-on exploration and problem-solving.

A whole-school competition invited students to showcase their creativity and scientific thinking, while our staff also played a key role beyond the classroom by leading training sessions for colleagues from partner schools.

We were also proud to launch our Great Science Share for Schools campaign, further strengthening our commitment to science and innovation. In addition, students benefited from both live and virtual visits from science specialists and alumni who have gone on to work in scientific fields, helping to bring real-world context and inspiration to their learning.

It has been a fantastic week celebrating discovery, curiosity, and the limitless possibilities that science offers.

Poet-in-Residence Inspires Year 9 Creativity

This term, our Year 9 students have been fortunate to work alongside our inspiring Poet-in-Residence, Shauna, taking part in a series of engaging workshops. Through these sessions, students have explored a wide range of poetic techniques, from spoken word and performance poetry to imagery and personal storytelling.

Each workshop has encouraged students to experiment with language. They have explored how poetry can be used to express identity, emotion and perspective, while also building confidence in sharing their ideas with others. The students have supported one another, taken creative risks and discovered new ways of communicating through writing.

A particular highlight of the project will be the opportunity for students to bring their work to life through performance. Over the coming weeks, they will refine and rehearse their pieces in preparation for a special live showcase at Home in Manchester. This exciting event will give students the chance to perform their original poetry in a professional setting, celebrating their creativity and hard work.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and imagination shown by our Year 9 cohort and we look forward to seeing their performances on stage.

Classroom to Commons: Students Experience Parliament in Action

Following our From School Life to Public Life workshop, where students explored the Nolan Principles, those who most impressed their peers with presentations on a chosen principle were given the incredible opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament.

During the visit, students interviewed MPs, including James Frith and had the privilege of watching Yvette Cooper speak in the House of Commons contributing to a debate on the current situation in the Middle East.

Hearing first-hand perspectives and witnessing democracy in action brought students’ learning to life in a powerful way. They asked thoughtful and challenging questions, representing The Derby with confidence, maturity, and curiosity throughout.

Experiences like this are invaluable in helping young people understand how their voices can shape the future. It was a memorable day that will stay with them for years to come.

Ready for the Challenge: DofE Training in Action

Students have been busy preparing for their upcoming Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition through a series of practical and engaging training sessions.

Led by our DofE team, students took part in a carousel of activities designed to build the skills and confidence needed for a successful expedition. These included compass use, map reading, pitching tents and cooking on a camping stove - essential skills for outdoor adventure.

The excitement is certainly building as students get closer to their expedition. They will be walking to Ashworth Valley, where they will camp overnight before making their return journey to school the following day.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and teamwork shown so far and we look forward to seeing students put their skills into practice on what promises to be a memorable experience.

Bikeability Success for Year 7 Students

Following our Staying Safe Stop ouR Clock Day, where all Year 7 students took part in a Bikeability Staying Safe on the Roads workshop, students were given the opportunity to further develop their skills by enrolling in their Level 2 and Level 3 Bikeability awards.
Four groups took on this challenge and you may have spotted them out and about in the local community this week.

Throughout the programme, students developed essential cycling skills, including road positioning, hazard awareness and safe decision-making in real traffic environments. Their confidence and independence grew significantly as they navigated a range of real-life situations.

We were extremely proud of the maturity and responsibility shown by all participants, who represented the school exceptionally well.

Special thanks to Miss Leng for arranging the experience and to Rob, founder of The Bicycle Society and his team for their expert tuition. This experience will play a vital role in helping our students stay safe, active and confident when travelling on our roads.

Congratulations to everyone involved.

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We had a great turnout at our pi competition final at lunch time

Congratulations to our winner Jessica- reciting nearly 150 digits of π and to all our finalists who were exemplary in their representation of the school, they should be very proud!@derbyhighbury #enrichment #piday pic.twitter.com/KjcITE6sOQ
— The Derby High School Maths (@DerbyHighMaths) March 18, 2026

We are just blown away by the incredible memories of these students who can recite so many digits of pi with such ease!

They embody all our 7 R’s but especially resilience as they tell us it was extremely tough to learn- and we believe them!@derbyhighbury #Resilience #PiDay pic.twitter.com/Zl9lMRD7AC
— The Derby High School Maths (@DerbyHighMaths) March 20, 2026

Our Food Prep & Nutrition Leaders baked up a treat for special guests Secretary of State for Education & Minister for Women & Equalities The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP & Parliamentary Secretary & Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State James Frith MP @bphillipsonMP @JamesFrith pic.twitter.com/rnq9D5kC9w
— The Derby High, Bury (@derbyhighbury) March 14, 2026

Congratulations to 8D today’s Rugby Inter-form Winners! pic.twitter.com/vesJoxNp27
— The Derby High, Bury (@derbyhighbury) March 17, 2026

@DerbyHighSci

More STEM fun this week! Students checked conductivity and went on to see if Potatoes could conduct electricity! British Science Week may be complete, but the fun never stops! pic.twitter.com/NM8lM9TaRs
— Science - The Derby High School Bury (@DerbyHighSci) March 17, 2026

Following British Science Week, our students had many questions in our theme of 'What's your question?'. So, with the help of our STEM Club members, we have put together some questions and answers which will be shared on X over the coming weeks! Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/VkUbr5tfMV
— Science - The Derby High School Bury (@DerbyHighSci) March 24, 2026

Alumni Highlights

Congratulations to alumna Alina

Alina, currently studies A Levels in Business, Computer Science and Mathematics at @Xaverian College. She has secured an offer to study a Degree in Computer Science and Philosophy at the University of Oxford this September.

Coming Soon

We have a Quiz/Bingo/Karaoke night booked at Campito for 27th March. Tickets are £10 (only 40 available)

Get your tickets here

Join us for “A Celebration of Culture – Bollywood Night”
Enjoy an evening of music, dance, and colour as our school community comes together to celebrate the richness of international culture.

Your participation supports The Derby High School’s mission to offer a supportive, enriching environment for every student. Purchase tickets, sign up to help, or confirm attendance here so we can plan a fun, family‑friendly night for all.

Get your tickets here

General Reminder

Homework Club

Please remind your child that homework club is available to all students Monday to Friday in A15 after school where they can complete work in a quiet environment with staff on hand to support them, and computers for online quizzes and research.

Can we please ask for your support in ensuring that your child brings their Yondr pouch daily as part of their essential equipment. Pouches should remain closed to protect the locking mechanism.

Year 9 students should be talking to parents about their Duke of Edinburgh Award. Students must bring their logbooks every Monday to complete a form tutor check as part of the data morning.

Information for parents of SEND students

Changes in How Children and Young People are Reviewed and Assessed for Autism and ADHD in Greater Manchester

The attached information is from NHS Greater Manchester, and it outlines the upcoming changes to the way Autism and ADHD assessments for children and young people are reviewed across the region.

ADHD and Autism Assessments for children and young people | Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership

Homework and Independent Learning

Helping your child to understand how we learn:

Retrieval practice is the strategy of recalling facts, concepts, or events from memory in order to enhance learning. The act of retrieving something from your memory actually strengthens the connections holding it there, making it more likely that you’ll be able to recall it in the future. Below are some of the strategies that we have spoken to your children about:

Homework Club

Please remind your child that homework club is available to all students Monday to Friday where they can complete work in a quiet environment with staff on hand to support them, and computers for online quizzes and research.

The Derby High School