The Darrick Wood Way
Parent Bulletin
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it”
– Maya Angelou –
Message from the Head Teacher
Welcome to this first Parent Bulletin of this half term. I hope you enjoy catching up on the latest news from across the School. I had an update on the School Production earlier today and heard about how hard the students from all years have been working on this. I am really looking forward to seeing the fruits of their labours next week. I hope many of you have been able to get tickets for at least one of the three shows.
Thank you to parents/carers who have put themselves forward for the important role of Parent/Governor. Please see the separate email about the elections which are taking place.
Thank you to those of you who responded to our uniform consultation. Whilst there were diverse opinions expressed, 96% agreed with the principle that it is important that students wear a smart uniform. We have also been liaising with the Student Leadership Council and, as you would expect, they have represented the views of students very well. In a nutshell, parents who responded to the consultation were divided between those who agreed with the proposal and those who felt we should look for further ways to reduce the cost, perhaps by changing the colours. Opinion was divided as to whether white or yellow go best with brown! We have a very longstanding distinctive look at DWS and therefore we will look carefully at the suggestions from parents and those from students before sharing any changes to the proposal. If these differ greatly from what has already been proposed, we will consult a second time. It is important we listen to your views and those of our students.
It was great to welcome Orpington MP, Gareth Bacon, to the School this morning to speak to A level Politics students. They asked some challenging questions to him and no doubt also learned a lot about life as a member of parliament.
Before I finish, a reminder that an email was sent earlier today with the latest PSFA bulletin attached which includes information about the Year 7 Christmas Party. It also promotes the Christmas Tree sale.
I wish you and your families an enjoyable weekend.
Attendance Focus
93.7%
Particular congratulations go to Year 11 whose attendance is now 1.5% above the national average. Engagement with learning and school activities has a significant impact on academic outcomes, as well as building resilience, commitment and social skills needed for the future. Well done Year 11!
Reading Recommendations
Click below for details
Upcoming Events
18th – 20th November – School Production
27th November – Year 13 Parents’ Evening
10th December – Year 12 Parents’ Evening
Useful Links
Updates and Reminders
School Production – We Will Rock You
Tickets for this year’s exciting school production, We Will Rock You, are on sale now! Don’t miss out – come and support our talented students in what promises to be a spectacular show!
Highlights of the Fortnight
Students and staff supported Breast Cancer Awareness by wearing items of pink for the day. In total this raised £645 for the charity. Thank you to everyone who was involved.
Year 7 Choir of the Year
Thursday, 16th October saw all of Year 7 come together for a celebration of song for our special 50th Anniversary Choir of the Year competition celebrating music from the 70’s. Year 7 start their musical journey at Darrick Wood School studying the elements of music, through voices and singing; a key focus of the DfE’s music model curriculum. Each Form prepared a song to sing for the competition and all of Year 7 spent a day working on singing skills as community. As well as class songs all students delivered an uplifting performance Don’t Stop me Now by Queen, accompanied by our house band. Many thanks to all parents, staff and judges who supported the event.
The Results
- Choir of the Year – High School Music – 7HSM – singing Blame it in the Boogie
- Runners up – Attendance Bandits – 7LSL – singing We are Family
- Most Spirited – SSV Harmonies 7SSV – singing Don’t Stop
- Most Spirited Runner up – Sing to Win 7IRF – singing Super Trouper
Well done to all students who took part in the evening competition – you were amazing!
If you wish to be part of more Music events, please come along to one of our many extra-curricular clubs. Our next Music event is the Christmas Concert on 18th December. ,
Year 7: Talk about Transition Oracy Champions
Sixty students from Year 7 took part in oracy (speaking and listening) workshops before the half-term break. Talk About Transition uses oracy-based activities and strategies to help students develop greater self-confidence and resilience. Delivered as a half-day workshop and packed full of engaging activities to promote students’ confidence, self‑esteem and help build relationships with their new peers, Talk About Transition supports students in a successful transition from primary to secondary school. It was great fun and students enjoyed themselves and, in some cases, surprised themselves by being able to give a short talk in front of others! Well done to our four oracy champions who were given their certificates in assembly this week.
Sixth Form Volunteer with Year 7 Readers
This week nine Year 12 volunteers have completed basic reading training and are pairing up with Year 7 readers to encourage reading for pleasure and improving reading skills. As reading mentors, they will be positive reading role models sharing their personal enjoyment of books and providing encouragement and support. From previous Sixth Form volunteer reading programmes, we know older students are brilliant at making reading seem more accessible and fun for younger students. In turn, these volunteer hours count towards the Year 12 students’ Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) hours, demonstrating their commitment to service and the community. Each half term the Sixth Form volunteers will change to a set of new Year 7 studentss. We are aiming for fifty Year 7s to enjoy this opportunity over the academic year. ,
Stephen Spender Poetry Translation Competition 2025
The annual Stephen Spender Poetry Translation competition was held earlier this calendar year. One of our Creative Writing Club members, Year 9 Thea, once again attained Commended Status for her translation of a Romanian poem into English. Congratulations Thea! Any bilingual students who would like to enter the competition in Spring 2026 should speak with Ms Vos in En6.
Jack Petchey
Congratulations to Charlie, Wesley and Vincent for winning our first round of Jack Petchey Awards for this year. This is such a huge accomplishment for them and well deserved for students who go above and beyond for our school community.
Award Ceremony
Recently several of our winners from last year attended the Jack Petchey Award Ceremony held at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley. It was a wonderful evening of celebration and Darrick Wood even got a special mention form the Major! Congratulations again to all our winners and Mrs Honeysett who received our Leader Award. Thank you to all the parents who came to support this event and we cannot wait for next year.
Curriculum Showcase
Year 12 Students Explore the Wonders of the Human Heart
This week, our Year 12 Biology students took part in an exciting and hands-on heart dissection. The lesson was designed to deepen their understanding of the structure and function of one of the body’s most vital organs. Under the guidance of their teacher, students carefully examined the chambers, valves, and major blood vessels of the heart. This practical experience allowed them to see first-hand how the heart pumps blood and maintains circulation, something they have been studying in class. Students were able to identify key features such as the left and right atria, ventricles, and coronary arteries, linking their observations to the theory covered in lessons. Many commented on how seeing the real anatomy made the topic come alive and reinforced their learning. The dissection also sparked thoughtful discussions about the importance of cardiovascular health and the incredible efficiency of the human body. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to develop practical skills, teamwork, and scientific curiosity. Well done to all our budding biologists for approaching the task with enthusiasm and professionalism!
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
This week at Darrick Wood School, we have marked Armistice Day (11th November) with a series of Remembrance assemblies led by Mr Guest. Students experienced a moving live performance of the Last Post by our Music Department Brass Band, followed by a whole-school silence at 11am on 11th November, which was impeccably observed across the School. Thank you to all students and staff for showing such respect during this important moment of reflection. Looking ahead, we would like to draw attention to several significant national and international events that promote awareness, kindness, and inclusion:
- 13th November – World Kindness Day
A day to encourage acts of kindness and foster a culture of empathy and respect within our community. - 13th –19th November – Transgender Awareness Week
An opportunity to learn about and support transgender people, raising awareness of the challenges they face and promoting equality. - 14th November – World Diabetes Day
A global campaign to increase understanding of diabetes and its impact on millions of lives. - 14th November–20th December – Disability History Month
A time to celebrate the achievements of disabled people and reflect on the ongoing work needed to ensure accessibility and inclusion. - 16th November – International Day for Tolerance
A reminder of the importance of respecting and appreciating diversity in all its forms.
How you can support:
- Discuss these themes at home and encourage open conversations.
- Share positive examples of inclusion and kindness with your children.
- Explore recommended resources together (books, videos, websites).
- Encourage participation in school activities linked to these events.
Together, we can help our pupils grow into thoughtful, respectful, and inclusive members of society.
Sports and PE News
Trampoline Competition Success!
Congratulations to our talented students who represented the School so brilliantly at the recent trampoline competition. Everyone showed fantastic skill, effort and team spirit throughout the event and their hard work paid off with some amazing results.
Individual Results
- Year 8 – 2nd Place: Darcey
- Year 9 – 1st Place: Alice
- Year 10 – 3rd Place: Clara
Team Results
- Year 11 and Over Team – 4th Place: Leah, Annabelle and Rosalind
- Year 9 Team – 3rd Place: Alice, Maisie and Khloe
- Year 8 Team – 2nd Place: Max, Darcey and Abi
A huge well done to all our competitors for their dedication, teamwork and enthusiasm. Special congratulations to our Year 7s, who took part in their very first competition – a fantastic effort and a great start to their trampoline journey!
You’ve all made the School very proud!
Netball
Over the last half term Year 11 students have been playing in the A league netball tournament.
They won against Eden Park 20-2, with Yvie player of the match.
They lost to Newstead Wood 18-14, but this was a really close game.
In October Year 11 stepped up a gear and played in the Kent Netball. They struggled with some really difficult teams in the morning but really worked well to win many games in the afternoon. It was so lovely to see the girls still playing together after five years.
Safety & Awareness
Wellbeing
At Darrick Wood School, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students is one of our top priorities. To strengthen this commitment, we are delighted to offer all parents free access to The Wellbeing Hub – a trusted resource created by experts in child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing.
To help you navigate the platform, you can watch a guided video tour of The Wellbeing Hub HERE.
How to register:
You have been sent an email containing our registration link.
If you have any questions about access, please contact the team at info@teentips.co.uk.
Student Leadership
Main Assembly
This week in Main assembly we had 4 of our brass students playing The Last Post from the back of the hall. This was very moving and an amazing way to start off our assembly on Remembrance. We thank the students involved and Mr Rees for playing and organising the piece.
Main Assembly
Last week in assembly we had Lily and Rebecca performing ‘Under Pressure’ from our upcoming School Production of ‘We will Rock You.’ It was exciting to see this snippet from the show and we cant wait to see more and the full show.
