DET Dispatch

Dear Colleague,

As we reach the end of another busy term, I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your dedication and hard work. Across our schools, your commitment to our learners, whether in the classroom, behind the scenes, or in leadership, makes a real difference every day.

Below, you’ll find a selection of events and achievements from across the Trust—each one a reflection of the passion, teamwork, and effort that you bring to your roles. These successes wouldn’t be possible without the collective contributions of so many of you.

As we head into the Easter break, I hope you find time to rest, recharge, and enjoy precious moments with your families and loved ones. You have certainly earned it!

Wishing you all a peaceful and enjoyable holiday.

With best wishes,

Josephine Valentine, CEO
Danes Educational Trust

Making the difference together

Croxley Danes School

Croxley Danes were delighted to welcome the BBC’s The One Show to school last month as presenter Angellica Bell and the camera crew visited to learn more about our students’ participation in Hertfordshire University’s pioneering BootStRaP project. The project is a Europe-wide study which aims to explore the potential impact of internet use on young people’s wellbeing. Headteacher Andy Harris emphasised the importance of online safety and mental health, praising the project’s potential to inform strategies for supporting young people’s digital wellbeing across Europe.

Roselands Primary School

On Sunday, 23 March 2025, Roselands Primary School took part in the special 30th anniversary of the Hertfordshire Schools’ Gala at the Royal Albert Hall. This year’s theme, For the Record, celebrated music across generations, exploring how we connect through sound. The event featured performances from Hertfordshire Music Service, a massed choir of primary and secondary singers, the Hertfordshire County Youth Choir, and incredible orchestral ensembles. Led in part by the 2025 Gala Youth Focus Group, the evening highlighted youth voice and creativity. Congratulations to our talented students for being part of this unforgettable musical celebration.

Lanchester Primary School

At Lanchester Primary School students proudly showcased their learning at a series of incredible Parent Expos! Families were invited to explore interactive stalls run by the children themselves, giving them the chance to see first-hand the creativity, knowledge, and hard work behind each project. From engaging experiments to artistic displays, students confidently presented their learning, sparking conversations and curiosity. The expos have been a fantastic way to celebrate achievement and strengthen the home-school connection. A huge well done to all our young presenters for making these events such a success.

Chancellor's School

The Welwyn Youth Drama Festival is a prestigious regional Drama festival that takes place every Spring Welwyn Garden City. It showcases and celebrates the theatrical talent of young people in schools and youth theatres across Hertfordshire. Earlier this month, a cast and crew of 15 KS3 students from Chancellor's School, participated in the festival performing 'Living with Lady Macbeth' by Rob John. As well as receiving fantastic feedback from the festival audiences and adjudicator, Chancellor's won three awards: 1st place Junior Cup, The Adjudicators Award and a personal acting award for student - Nieve M. It was a wonderfully enriching experience for all the students involved and the professionalism they demonstrated throughout the rehearsal process and during show week was exemplary. The school and Drama department, are proud to see the superb acting talent of their students being recognised. A huge congratulations to everyone involved.

St Clement Danes School

St Clement Danes are proud to announce that their school has been awarded the Gold Equalities Award by EqualiTeach, a national organisation dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in education.

This prestigious award recognises their commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful school environment, ensuring that all students feel valued and supported regardless of their background. It also awards the significant amount of work staff have completed to enrich the curriculum so that it is accessible, students see themselves reflected in their learning, and that it equips students to live in a diverse and global society.

Onslow St Audrey's School

On Tuesday, 11 March, OSA welcomed Year 6 pupils and their parents for a special Friendship Event. The evening provided a fantastic opportunity for students to meet future classmates, take part in engaging subject taster sessions, and start forming new friendships.

Parents gained valuable insights into the transition from KS2 to KS3, toured the school, and attended informative workshops. The event helped families feel more confident and excited about the journey ahead.

A huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard to organise this event.