The Darrick Wood Way
Parent Bulletin
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself”
– John Dewey –
Message from the Head Teacher
I write this the morning after having attended our Spring Concert where parents, families, friends, staff, governors and other guests thoroughly enjoyed the excellent performances by our talented and dedicated musicians. If you ever needed evidence of how our Music Department has gone from strength to strength, this was it. Musicians from all year groups performed a varied and thoroughly entertaining programme which will live in our memories for a very long time. We are already looking forward to the Summer Concert, but in the meantime we would like to congratulate all our students (and the staff choir!) for preparing us well for the Easter break.
This week in assemblies I have been delighted to present Gold and Platinum Achievement Awards to students in Years 7-11. The Sixth Form will have their Achievement Assembly after the holiday. We also presented Subject Awards and the prestigious Head Teacher’s Awards and two Jack Petchey Awards. Congratulations to all who received awards and also those who will be presented with Bronze and Silver Awards in Form Time.
Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing eight talented students in Year 12 for the role of Head Prefect. They had already been through a short listing process involving a letter of application, a speech to their year group and voting from the year group and staff. They faced questions from a panel which also included a Deputy Head Teacher, an Assistant Head Teacher, the Head of Sixth Form and Year 12 Achievement Coordinator. They all impressed this imposing panel with their responses to questions including those on leadership and how they hope to support the School over the year ahead. After much deliberation, the panel concluded that all were very suitable Senior Prefects and that Niamh Christie and Toby Witherspoon will be Head Prefects. Ryan Beaton, Joel Broadie, Elena McNulty Peres, Shubhan Ganapathy Namera Kishore, Poppy Savine and Abigaile Walters will be Deputy Head Prefects. Congratulations to them all. They have now been in post for just a week, but are already having a positive impact around the School. We are planning for them to be presented with their Senior Prefect badges and to speak to students in a future assembly. Well done to all of them – they truly demonstrate the School’s values and want to make a difference to the School and its students. Thank you to our outgoing Year 13 Senior Prefects. They will be missed, but now need to focus on their public examinations (and their Leavers’ Ball!)
This was also the week where, after many years of consideration about its status as a single academy trust, Darrick Wood School joined Impact Multi Academy Trust. Whilst day-to-day operations are not noticeably different, some of our staff, especially those in middle and senior leadership roles are already benefiting from the enhanced collaborative opportunities available through the Trust and its other schools. This will, in time, stretch to other staff and, through the school development work that will be undertaken, have a positive effect on the outcomes of our students.
I wrote separately to parents/carers on Thursday about our lockdown drill. Feedback from staff has been very positive about the way our students participated in this. We will use feedback from them and from students to review and improve the procedure further, but I am pleased that we now have an announcement system across the School that supports us in keeping our school community as safe as possible in the hopefully unlikely situation where a full lockdown is required. Further drills will be planned as it is important all in the School remain clear about how to respond when the lockdown alert is given.
I’d like to end this message with a further request to parents to revisit our Home School Partnership Agreement which sets out the responsibilities for school, parents and students. Please check students are well equipped for the summer term, have all the correct uniform and understand that our School Rules need to be followed at all times. School Rule 1 is: Sensible behaviour with consideration for others at all times, including to and from school. A small minority sometimes let us all down with their behaviour in school but also on the way home where they believe that school rules no longer apply. They are very much incorrect about this!
I wish all students and their families and our staff an enjoyable, restful break and look forward to a successful summer term. For all those returning to public examinations soon after we return, I hope they are able to strike the right balance between study and revision, ensuring they are well rested for a challenging time ahead. Their hard work will pay off on results days in August.
Attendance Focus
93.84%
Highest Attendance
Congratulations to the 38 students who have made a fantastic effort to be in school and increased their attendance by more than 10 percentage points this term. This will have a positive impact on their academic outcomes and experience of school life.
Reading Recommendations
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Previous Bulletins
Upcoming Events
22/04/25 – Summer term starts
23/04/2025 – Year 8 Parents’ Evening
05/05/25 – Bank Holiday – School closed
08/05/2025 – Public Exams start
Useful Links
Highlights of the fortnight
The English Department is delighted to announce the results of the Poetry By Heart 2025 Darrick Wood Competition – congratulations to:
Year 7
Annelie and Evie– Year 7 Poetry Champions (winners) and entry into the National competition, Isabelle and Olivia – Runners Up and Leonie and Max – Honourable Mentions
Year 8
Olivia B – Year 8 Poetry Champion (winner) and entry into the National competition, Nea – Runner Up and Piper and Ariana – Honourable Mention and special entry into the National competition
Year 9
Ryan H and Poppy Z – Year 9 Poetry Co-Champions and entry into the National competition, Evie May and Toby I – Runners Up.
Year 10
Alexander R and Emma M – Year 10 Poetry Co-Champions and entry into the National competition.
Certificates and prizes will be distributed in an assembly after Easter. Any students invited to participate in the National Competition will be notified in the summer term and will require parental permission to attend the event at The Globe Theatre.
A huge thanks also to our cross-curricular judges for their time and expertise: Mrs Berry, Mr Tuck, Mx Frieacre, Miss Cowburn, Mrs Millar, and Mrs Bothick. Another huge thanks to our school’s film and photography expert, Mr Utton, who also guided students on their performance using his technical expertise.
Congratulations once again to all students who participated in Poetry By Heart.
KS3 Art Club
A resounding round of applause for our talented KS3 Art Club! They’ve masterfully brought to life their own crow sculptures, each a testament to their dedication and the captivating inspiration of Joe Lawrence’s Black Corvids. This was not an easy task and all students demonstrated fantastic resilience, problem solving, creativity and skill. Well done! The crows are now on display in our entrance foyer near to Reception.
DWS Audio
DWS Audio is delighted to announce that our recent audio drama serial ‘Enquiry Agents’ was included in the World Showcase at this year’s UK International Audio Drama Festival. Held in Canterbury last week our drama is now available to listen to online over the next month at Radio Drama Festival Listeners are encouraged to vote for their favourite play in the Audience Award category. We’ll certainly be voting for ourselves!
In addition, Part 4 of ‘Enquiry Agents’ was broadcast on BBC Radio Kent this week on Leo Ulph’s Upload show (which broadcasts every Thursday evening). The show will be repeated this Sunday afternoon on 96.7 and 104.2 FM, on BBC Sounds and here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0805r6w
Our amazing cast includes Casey J, Isabel W, Lilly , Alex K and Anthony A, with music provided by Guillermo M.
Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge
The Bromley Schools Regional Final for the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge was held last week at Langley Park School for Girls. Tyra, Year 10, represented Darrick Wood School and gave a beautiful speech about human connection and history, linked to the idea that our ancestors, ourselves and our descendants will see the same stars in the night sky. She gave the speech with great poise and confidence. Congratulations to Tyra for being an excellent ambassador for the school and demonstrating the power of public speaking.
Year 7 ‘My Portable Paradise’ Project
As Year 7 parents know, the English Department has asked students to create their own 3-D ‘portable paradise’ in connection with one of our Identity Poems by Roger Robinson: Poetry By Heart | A Portable Paradise. Students were asked to think about what makes a ‘paradise’ for them, then create a drawing, painting, model, diorama, or another way to make their paradise tangible. The best entries will be displayed on Open Evening in October 2025.
A selection of just some of the incredible work from our Year 7s:
This half term the KS3 Art Club have been collaborating in making an Easter wreath for Dr Airey to display in Main Reception. It has been an absolute joy seeing Year 7-9 students working together to make the Easter wreath comprising of tissue paper flowers, wire structured chicks covered with masking tape and tissue paper and then drawing it altogether with the 9 Darrick Wood Life Learning Skills, which are:
Thinker, Reflective, Open-minded, Resilience, Initiative, Knowledgeable, Risk-taker, Communicator and Inquirer.
The Art Department would like to congratulate everyone involved. The next KS3 Art Club will run from Thursday, 24th April and students can sign up for it by sending Mrs Jackson an e-mail or seeing her in person, but please be quick as there are limited spaces.
Curriculum Showcase
As part of the Year 13 Children’s Play, Learning, and Development course, students are required to demonstrate their knowledge of first aid. To support this, a representative from Daisy First Aid visited the School to conduct a two-hour interactive first aid session. During the session, students learned how to respond to a range of child-related emergencies, including choking and cardiac arrest. They were taught how to administer CPR to both babies and children and how to place them in the recovery position. The students had the opportunity to practice on baby- and child-sized resuscitation dummies and test their skills in saving a choking child using a choking vest. All students thoroughly enjoyed the session and now feel confident in handling various child-related first aid situations.
Year 12 Health and Social Care students researched the physical effects of aging, exploring a variety of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, degeneration of the sensory organs, and dementia. They were provided with specific criteria to guide their research and tasked with creating a poster to present their findings. The quality of the work was exceptional, and the posters were showcased at our open evening for prospective students.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Darrick Wood School, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all members of our community. As part of our ongoing work on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), we would like to raise awareness of two significant events in the EDI calendar this week:
International Trans Day of Visibility – 31st March 2025
This day is dedicated to celebrating the achievements and contributions of transgender and non-binary people while also raising awareness of the challenges they continue to face. It is an opportunity to promote understanding, allyship, and inclusivity within our school community.
World Autism Acceptance Week – 31st March – 6th April 2025
This week encourages a shift from mere awareness to true acceptance and understanding of autism. It highlights the strengths, talents, and experiences of autistic individuals while also advocating for better support and inclusion in all areas of life. In school, we continue to focus on creating an environment where neurodivergent students feel valued, supported, and able to thrive. On the 2nd April 2025, it is also World Autism Awareness Day.
We encourage parents, carers, and students to take this opportunity to learn more, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate diversity.
Sports and PE News
The Year 7 athletics team were successful in qualifying for the Year 7 LYG finals on Tuesday 18th March. The Year 7 girls Alana, Elise, Xanthe, Romany, Sophie, Jess, Ashley and Beth performed well and finished 8th out of the 12 teams. Well done to the girls and we look forward to seeing them progress into the summer season.
Darrick Wood School PGL Netball Tour 2025: A Weekend of Achievement, Adventure, and Team Spirit
This year, we had the incredible privilege of taking 60 girls from Years 7, 8, 9, and 10 on an exciting PGL Netball Tour in Swindon. It was a weekend full of competition, teamwork, and unforgettable memories that we’ll cherish… until next year!
The girls were absolutely fantastic throughout the entire trip, not only demonstrating excellent skill and determination on the netball court but also showing impeccable behaviour and sportsmanship throughout the weekend. Whether they were in the middle of a thrilling match or taking part in outdoor adventure activities, the energy and enthusiasm were contagious!
We have come to the end of the winter extra-curricular programme and with that the end of another busy and successful Football season.
Overall we have played 115 games since September. Huge credit to all the boys and girls that have represented the School with passion and pride. Without your commitment to morning training and after school games we would not be able to facilitate such a successful season. We do still have three Bromley Cup finals to look forward to after Easter and we wish those teams well. Details for the finals will be emailed to relevant parents.
Below is an overview of how many games each team played and their most significant achievements:
U12 boys
Really positive start to their Footballing journey at Darrick Wood School, but a difficult season on paper….. the Year 7 boys played 11 games, won 1 and drew 2. But we believe if these boys stay together, they will achieve great things in the years to come.
U12 Girls
Fantastic start to their Darrick Wood footballing journeys. A lot of the girls in this team played up for the U13 girls at some point this season too and have therefore played a lot of football. U12 girls have played 6, won 4 and drawn 2. This is one of our teams in the Bromley Cup Final scheduled for Friday, 9th May.
U13 Boys
After a positive Year 7 these boys had a tough season. They finished 4th (out of 5) in their Bromley League and have some work to do next year to try and move forwards. We look forward to working with them and helping them reach their potential. Played 9, won 2, drawn 2.
U13 Girls
This team played the most Football out of our teams and this was down to their incredible cup runs. The U13 girls reached the Semi-Final of the Kent Cup narrowly losing to Bullers Wood School. They also reached the last 32 in the National Cup losing on penalties to Bexleyheath Academy. This is the second team we have in the Bromley Cup Final due to be played on Bromley FC’s main pitch on Thursday, 8th May. We look forward to seeing if they can win some silverware this season. U13 girls have played 15 and won 12!
U14 Boys
U14 boys have had a positive season. They were in the C league in Bromley Schools and have won this league! This means they will be promoted to the B league this coming September. As is normal with our boys teams, they are getting better each year and we expect even greater things from them moving forwards. U14 boys have played 14 and won 7, drawn 1.
U14 Girls
U14 girls are most likely our most talented Football team with the most potential. However, a few difficult and unlucky games left them exiting cups earlier than we expected. Next year we hope this will be corrected and we can see them push further into cups. U14 girls played 6 and won 3.
U15 Boys
U15 boys have gone from strength to strength. They worked very hard at training and are easily our most committed team in the School. They have won their Bromley B league this year so will be our only team in the A League next year! U15 boys played 10, won 6 and drawn 1.
U16 Girls
U16 girls had a shock exit early in the Kent Cup to Bennett Memorial on penalties – a game we should have won and could have meant a different season. These girls have been very hard working and committed students over the years and we wish them well in their exams. I’m hoping its not the last time we see them in Darrick Wood colours with the idea of U18 girls football becoming a possible reality next year should there be enough interest! Played 5, won 2.
U16 Boys
U16 boys had an incredible result a fortnight ago. Holding a very strong Bishop Justus to 0-0 in the Bromley Cup semi-final and then winning on Penalties after Zak Howard saved their last spot kick. This is our 3rd team in the Bromley Cup Final and we wish them the very best. The game is on Bromley FC’s main pitch on Friday, 2nd May. Played 3 won 2.
1Xi Boys
A very up and down season for our 1st team finishing mid table in North Kent Division 1. Some weeks we looked like world beaters and then others we struggled to motivate ourselves. We beat top of the league at home and then lost to lower opposition the week after. They have been great students and footballers to us over the years and we wish them well in their exams and beyond. Played 14 won 7
2Xi Boys
Again another up and down year. The team can change week in week out, but Mr Rees has thoroughly enjoyed their company and they were a credit to the School. Competing in North Kent Division 2 and finishing mid table. Played 10 won 3.
Many thanks to all students and parents for their continued support of school football. We look forward to next season and another chance to push forwards and become even more successful in county football.
Wellbeing
The MET Police Central Youth Team, are currently running a project, offering FREE and online, parent/ carer engagement webinars in partnership with YGAM Org. The sessions will give advice to parents/ carers, on preventing gaming and gambling harms among young people.
Ygam are a national charity with a mission to prevent children and young people from experiencing gaming and gambling harms through awareness raising education and research. In partnership with the Metropolitan Police, Ygam is offering free online awareness sessions for parents across Greater London to help increase understanding of the risks associated with gaming and gambling.
Following research with organisations, parents and children, an awareness session has been designed to provide parents and carers with information around gaming, gambling and the blurred lines between the two.
For details on the topics covered and how to register, please see click here
In the meantime, feel free to visit Ygam’s Parents Hub which is designed to provide parents with the knowledge and resources to safeguard their families.
The session for the South London boroughs (Lambeth, Southwark, Croydon, Bromley, Sutton, Lewisham, Greenwich & Bexley) will take place on Tuesday 6th May, 7pm – 8.15pm.
Student Leadership
Main Assemblies
Last week, school assembly featured Kelsey, Harry and James telling us all about their time on the Drama Paris Tour over February Half Term. With an array of pictures and stories they gave us insight into how much fun their had and what they had learnt.
This week in Main Assembly we had the Achievement Awards presented to students. Each assembly was concluded with two Head Teacher’s Awards for each year group. This term’s Head Teacher’s Award went to Daniel and Beth in Year 7, Ewan and Hailey in Year 8, Lilian and Charlie in Year 9, Alex and Elizabeth in Year 10, Teddy and Ruby in Year 11. Congratulations to all of these for gaining this award, which is always given to those who go over and above expectations and make a difference to the life of the School. Head Teacher’s Awards for Years 12 and 13 will be presented after Easter.
Work Related Learning
UCAS Discovery Event, Excel London – Tuesday, 25th March
On Tuesday, 25th March, all Year 12 students had the exciting opportunity to attend the UCAS Discovery Event at Excel London. This event was an invaluable experience for students exploring their post-18 options, offering them a chance to engage with a wide variety of universities and apprenticeship providers. It allowed students to gain insight into different career paths, university courses, and the application process, helping them to make informed decisions about their future. The event was not only educational but also inspiring, as students could ask questions, attend workshops, and discover what opportunities lie ahead in their academic and professional journey, taking them a step closer to their aspirations.