The Darrick Wood Way
Parent Bulletin

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”

– Nelson Mandela –

Message from the Head Teacher

Welcome to our second Parent Bulletin of the spring term. One of the best features of our school, regularly reported on in these bulletins, is the student led presentation or performance at the start of our Main Assemblies. We are truly impressed by all students who have volunteered to do this so far. No doubt some will find the experience daunting at first, standing on the stage in front staff and over 500 students. However, the act of doing so will provide them with skills and experiences that will have a positive effect throughout their lives, building communication skills and confidence in particular, but also skills such as organisation and planning which are very sought after in the work place. We have had musical items, poetry, presentations from members of clubs and societies to name but a few. We will continue to encourage more students to take on this challenge at some point during their time with us. We know it will make such a difference to them and we love seeing them develop and grow as a result.

Tomorrow morning (Saturday, 1st February) from 9.30am the PSFA are hosting a pre-loved uniform sale here at the School in the Dining Hall. Thank you to all parents and staff who help with these popular events where you can pick up a bargain but also support fund raising for the School. 

Finally, thank you to parents/carers of Year 8 students who came to our Information Evening on Thursday, 30th January. We hope you found the evening helpful. Please let us know if you have any questions we can still help with.

Attendance Focus

94.1%

Form Attendance

Congratulations to 7XB, 7XW, 7YM and 9YH for being the most punctual form groups to both school and lessons last week.

 

Reading Recommendations

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Previous Bulletins

Upcoming Events

Saturday, 1st February – 9.30am – PSFA pre-loved uniform sale – Dining Hall

Thursday, 6th February – Year 7 Parents’ Evening (Online)

The Creative Writing Club has re-started on Tuesdays in En6 from 1.30pm. All students with an interest in writing are welcome. Mentored by Year 12 Shubhan and hosted by Ms Vos.

Useful Links

Extra Curricular Sport

DWS Audio

Please remember to sign up for Bikeability if you are a parent of Year 7 or Year 8 –  Click here for more information.

Highlights of the fortnight

Wizard Theatre Company

Last week students in Year 9 were treated to a performance from Wizard Theatre Company who performed the text ‘I love you mum, I promise I won’t die.’ This is a play written for the Daniel Spargo Mabbs Foundation about a boy from Croydon who took MDMA on a night out with friends and sadly passed away. The play explores how it happened and the reactions of the people who cared about him. It was very hard hitting and impactful. The year group then took part in a Q and A workshop around drug education in which they learnt more facts on this topic. This will also be continued in their PSHE lessons. If you would like further information on the DSM Foundation, please go their website.

First Aid Training CPD

Last week staff members were invited to a First Aid training CPD with members of the Red Cross.  Lots of staff took this opportunity to learn about first responses to burns, bleeds, asthma attacks and unresponsive students.  They learnt how to react in the first instance for all of these things and even took part in some role play situations!

Curriculum Showcase

Year 10 have been learning how to separate mixtures through a variety of practical lessons and demonstrations before following this up by summarising the techniques they need to know. These techniques appear throughout the specification and on both papers at GCSE.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year began on Wednesday this week and this celebrates the beginning of the Year of the Wood Snake. We would like to wish everyone celebrating this festival great luck and prosperity during the Year of the Snake.

What does the Snake represent?

The Snake in Chinese astrology is particularly known for its association with intelligence, intuition, and critical thinking, with people born in that year thought to possess a natural elegance and charm. The Year of the Snake symbolises wisdom, intuition, and transformation. Combining the snake and “wood” elements means 2025 will be a year of propensity and mystery. The Year of the Snake occurs every 12 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle. Other Snake years include 1953, 1965, 1989, 2001 and 2013.

Sports and PE News

U13 girls lead the way in major competitions this year. This week they play Bexleyheath Academy away on Wednesday, 29th in the last 16 of the national cup. If they win they will be in the quarter finals which is the furthest the school have reached for nearly 20 years. On Saturday 1st February they play Bullers Wood school at home in the Semi Final of the Kent Cup. A win here would mean reaching the first Kent Cup final in nearly ten years! Good luck to them.

In other results:

U12, 13, 14 and 15 boys are out of the Bromley Cups. The U16 boys beat Bullers Wood 3-0 to reach the semi-finals! The girls are yet to play their first round Bromley Cup games all coming up in the next two weeks.

Safety & Awareness

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Wellbeing

Shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

To start a conversation, text the word ‘Shout’ to 85258.

This is available to anyone that needs help and support with their mental health

Bromley Y also offer a range of webinars here including webinars specifically for young people:

 Stress and Worry Management for Young People 

These webinars cover all aspects of emotional wellbeing difficulties with a different focus each month on the difficulties young people may be facing at that time in their academic lives.  For example, focusing on preparation for exams and exam stress at certain times of the year or adapting to change when starting at a new school and making new friends in the early Autumn term. 

 Healthy Study Habits 

This webinar aims to help young people to understand academic stress better and help them to create healthy study habits which makes this stress easier to manage. This webinar will also offer options for the ‘next steps’ should they want further support. Parents/Carers are welcome to join the webinar too. 

Student Leadership

Main Assemblies

During last week’s main assembly we were given a presentation by Ryan and Poppy in Year 9 who both took part in the Shakespeare competition last July.  They described what they had contributed and why and let students know how they could be involved towards the end of this year. Ryan made a model of the Globe Theatre and came 1st and Poppy made a model of a Tudor house and was our runner up.

This week in Main Assembly we had Kelsey, Leilah, Toby, Georgina, Olivia and Evie-May talking to us about the National Theatre Connections project they are part of. They discussed what was involved, how their rehearsals had been going and how and where to get tickets for their performance on the 11th February at 6.00pm in the Drama Theatre. We thank them for their time and effort in this presentation and wish them luck for their performance.  I big thank you to Mrs Berry and Miss Cowburn for all their hard work on this.

Work Related Learning

National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week is taking place from Monday, 10th – Friday, 14th February. The week is dedicated to employers and apprenticeship training providers collaborating to showcase apprenticeship pathways and current opportunities. Year 11 and Year 13 students who are considering apprenticeships as a potential may find that there is a significant increase in apprenticeship advertisements on the websites that we recommend for researching opportunities.

Websites include Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK and Find Apprenticeships | RateMyApprenticeship

You may find our Apprenticeships page on our school website useful when supporting your child with securing an apprenticeship.

External Apprenticeship Information Events

Aside from various information and links that students will be receiving by email in the run-up to National Apprenticeship Week, many organisations are hosting events to provide students and parents/carers with information.

ASK Apprenticeships are hosting a range of webinars to support students and parents/carers with searching for apprenticeships:

Exploring the Range of Apprenticeships Webinar on Monday, 10th February at 3.30pm. You can register here for a place:  Exploring the range of apprenticeships – Amazing Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship Spotlight Webinar on Wednesday, 12th February at 5.00pm. You can book a place here: Apprenticeship Spotlight Tickets, Wed 12 Feb 2025 at 17:00 | Eventbrite

Using Find An Apprenticeship to Search and Apply webinar on Thursday, 27th February at 3.30pm. You can register here for a place: Using Find An Apprenticeship to search and apply – Amazing Apprenticeships.

Join the WES Apprentice Showcase on 10th – 16th February and discover everything you need to know about Engineering Apprenticeships! Apprentice Showcase – Women’s Engineering Society

Apprenticeships with EY for apprenticeships within Business and Finance on Tuesday, 4th February from 6.30pm – 7.30pm. Sign up here:  Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Morgan Stanley Apprenticeship Opportunities relevant for Year 11 students and above: Morgan Stanley | Multiverse

Laing O’Rourke are hosting an in-person Apprenticeship Workshop at their Dartford Office on Wednesday, 12th February from 5.30pm – 7.30pm. You must register here for further information:  National Apprenticeship Week – Workshops | Placements/Internships | Laing O’Rourke Hub | Gradcracker – Careers for STEM Students

National Audit Office – Accountancy Apprenticeships Webinar on Tuesday, 25th February from 6.30pm – 7.15pm. Sign up here: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Unifrog Virtual Apprenticeship Fair – Wednesday, 12th February (Flyer attached!)

Unifrog are hosting an online Apprenticeship Fair on Wednesday, 12th February from 4.00pm – 6.30pm where you can find out more about apprenticeship pathways with over forty employers including the NHS, BBC, Tesco, EY and many more. 

Higher and Degree Vacancy Listing

Amazing Apprenticeships have released the January 2025 edition of the Higher and Degree apprenticeship vacancies.

This information has been shared with our Sixth Form students so that they can explore 2,400 Higher and Degree listings and discover vacancy details from over 80 employers, including vacancy locations, salary information, direct application links
The Higher & Degree Listing is a bi-annual publication, with the next release planned for October 2025.

Higher-and-Degree-Vacancy-Listing-January-2025.pdf

NHS Supported Internship

The NHS Supported Internship is for young adults aged 17-25 years with a learning disability and/or autism. Applicants are required to have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, and should want to gain the skills and experience needed to find employment in the NHS or healthcare. For more information please email david.king@lsec.ac.uk to book a place at their information event, where you will learn more about the programme and the application process.

National Careers Service Website

The National Careers Service Website has had a revamp. The website is an excellent resource to support students in exploring careers and taking a skills assessment to better understand how their skills can transfer into skills needed in various career pathways and industries.

Parents and carers can also register for a Unifrog account to enable you to research careers, attend webinars delivered by employers and universities to learn more about their opportunities, and compare pathways so you can support your child in making an informed decision about their next steps. The sign up code you need is: DRKWparents and you can sign up here: www.unifrog.org/code. You can also sign up to Unifrog’s parent/carer newsletter when you first sign in to get expert advice and guidance on supporting your child with their next steps.

 

Trips and Visits Round-up: September - November 2024