News

M1 and M2 Shakespeare Workshop

Over the last few weeks, students in M1 and M2 have been studying William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and have worked hard to produce an amazing piece of artwork which went on display at Colonel Frank Seely school earlier this week, for other schools to enjoy.

Students worked with Nonsuch Theatre in Nottingham and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to learn how to safely carry out stage combat and acted out key scenes from the play.  Some of the children’s work also appeared on Notts TV.

If you wish to view it, (and see if your child can spot their work), please visit https://nottstv.com/programme/ey-up-notts-monday-26th-march/ (32 minutes and 20 seconds into the clip).

NB click on the pictures to see a larger view.

Panthers put on a performance

Students were given the opportunity to watch the Nottingham Panthers train at the Motorpoint Arena on Wednesday morning. After watching the experts, it was then time for them to get on the ice and have a go. With the help of some of the Panthers, students managed to learn new skills and survive relatively unscathed!

The morning was a great success and enjoyed by all who took part. Behaviour, attitude and effort were exemplary and we look forward to more skating sessions and experiences in the near future. Many thanks to the Panthers, staff at the arena and parents for supporting the school with this opportunity.

Zoolab visits Derrymount!

In January we had some very unusual visitors in school. Our pupils and staff (or to be more accurate  some of the staff!) were very pleased to meet them.

Our visitors included a very friendly rat, a  corn snake and a gecko, a scary looking scorpion and a cockroach which was almost as big  as some pupil’s hands.

The pupils were finding out about Predators and Prey as part of their Science and Animal Care lessons and the visit certainly helped bring their learning to life.

We enjoyed the visit so much that Zoo Lab are coming back again next year. We can’t wait to see what they might bring with them next time.

Preparing for Adulthood event, Saturday 23rd March 2019

Preparing for Adulthood Family Information Event

Saturday 23 rd March 2019 10:00-14:00

Harvey Hadden Stadium, Wigman Rd, Nottingham NG8 4PB

(Refreshments will be provided throughout the day)

This event is an opportunity for young people and their families to meet with services and  organisations who are available to support with the move into adulthood with particular focus on Education, Employment & Training pathways for Post 16. The event is being supported by a range of services and organisations. There will also be the opportunity to get involved and take part in both sporting and art workshops on the day.

If you are interested in attending this event please email them by no later than Friday 1st March

Services at the event:

Futures Career Advice & Apprenticeships
Information regarding Supported Employment
Skills For Employment
NCC Transitions Team
Specialist Colleges
Mainstream Colleges
Adult Overnight Short Breaks Services
Independent Travel Training
Information, Advice & Guidance Services
Sports, Leisure & Community Opportunities
Community Short Break Providers
Nottinghamshire Participation Hub

Email your Name, D.O.B, and people who will be accompanying you to ICDS.EOTAS@nottscc.gov.uk

Derrymount Industry Day, 2018

What a success!

It may have been the first time we’d organised and hosted a careers / industry event as such, but boy was it successful!

The aim of the event was to provide a friendly and non-threatening SEN-specific experience during which the students attending could:

  • Find out about local colleges and the courses they offer
  • Learn what apprenticeships are and what opportunities might be available for them locally
  • Learn more about different ‘career pathways’ there might be in the public sector
  • Meet with local companies, such as Sainsbury’s, to find out about work experience and volunteering opportunities
  • Learn from parents/others connected with DMS about their jobs and professions e.g. midwifery, nursing
  • Mix and interact with other young people from other Nottinghamshire SEN schools

Not only did the Derrymount students enjoy the event, we were delighted to have groups visit from three other SEN schools.

The feedback we got from everyone (exhibitors and attendees) was very positive – it was just the right kind of event (and environment) for students to receive expert career guidance and advice as part of their broader ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ work that takes place in school.

Thank you to everyone who contributed towards the success of the event – especially the students that came round with scrummy school-baked buns 🙂

Now, enjoy some photos taken on the day!

Big Sleep Out Postponed

Due to staffing issues, the Big Sleep Out for Framework (due to take place on 20th Nov) has been postponed. Hopefully, we will reschedule it to take place in December.

Just another day in Adventure School

The power of the outdoors

One cannot under estimate the power of the outdoors.

Picture this: a sunny Autumnal day, a bunch of students who prefer being outdoors doing practical things to being indoors sat still, a school therapy dog who also prefers being outdoors, staff who again also prefer being outside, and an outdoor space that is an exciting and stimulating natural learning space. Add to the mix an opportunity for students to get ‘hands on’ to further develop this learning space to make it even better (as part of their DofE work), plus the opportunity to show responsibility, trust and the chance to demonstrate their abilities to work with others to prepare for, light and manage a small fire; and you have the perfect educational scenario:

 

  • students intrinsically motivated to work collaboratively
  • a stimulating learning space
  • enthusiastic learning facilitators
  • and … well, a therapy dog that quite simply just needs a trim.

You could call it the ‘perfect storm’ for a successful timetabled option where students who need outdoor time get their fix and soak in the therapeutic benefits as much as the vitamin D they get from being outdoors.

Maybe not bums on seats (in the traditional sense), but certainly smiles on faces 🙂

DMS Industry Day

Derrymount’s Industry Day is being held on Wednesday 28th November between 1.30 – 4.30.

We will have a host of visiting colleges, professionals and experts on hand to give up-to-date information and advice. It’s the ideal time for parents, carers and students to find out about the options available at Post 16 and beyond.

Please come along for some or all of this event.

For more information please ring the school on 0115 9675020.

Harvest Festival at St Mary’s Church Arnold

On 10th October Derrymount School went along to St Mary’s Church in Arnold to celebrate our Harvest Festival.

We collected an amazing amount of food which will be taken to the local food bank. The fresh fruit and vegetables will go to Emmanuel House and a refugee centre in Nottingham.

Some of our pupils performed on guitars as part of the service and others had brought their paintings of vegetables, salt dough, Harvest Sheaves, and Harvest poems to decorate the church.

Parents and carers also came along, and some came back to school for coffee and biscuits afterwards.

Margaret, the Vicar was really impressed with Derrymount and said we had given more than 20 big bags of food! A big thank you to everyone who helped and contributed something towards those who are in need.

We will be visiting Margaret again at St Mary’s in December for our Christingle.

Well done everyone!
Cathy Clay

DofE at Gets Up-and-running at Derrymount

DMS Duke of Edinburgh programme

Andrew and I are really pleased that that a number of students have persevered in a determined way towards achieving the DofE Bronze Award – which is no mean feat! Actually, at the time of writing, our first practice expedition is only a few days away and the first batch of DMS participants students will hopefully graduate in time before they leave.

Our second group will take their practice in July and final expedition in September, with a view of graduating before the end of this year’s DofE season.

We’re really proud of all of the students that have taken part this year and really hope to take more students through their Bronze and a group of 2nd year AS/DofE students through the Silver Award during our next academic year.

With the above in mind, we must say a massive THANK YOU to Jackie Bull at DofE Central for helping us secure some important funds to help us get our DofE (and Adventure School) programme up and running. Not only have we been able to purchase the kit we need to run the DofE programme, we have also been able to develop our Adventure School into a key part of DMS; DofE and AS provide valuable opportunities for our young people to get outside, get active and see and reach the potential that is within them (which is sometimes buried and needs uncovering).

Below are a few images of the students organising our kit, and wrestling with one of our expedition shelters when 8 of them were trying to get inside 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again to everyone involved with this term’s Adventure School, particularly Go Outdoors and DofE Central for helping with kit.

The DofE future at DMS is up, but shhhhh… not too much rejoicing – it might upset the neighbour.