December 2024
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Dear Colleagues,
As we bid farewell to the autumn term, it brings me great joy to celebrate some of the uplifting moments across our trust in this DET Dispatch.
Witnessing the jubilation of De Havilland Primary School pupils celebrating their 'Good' Ofsted inspection in their 'This is me' video was truly heartwarming, the pupils' joy underscored the collective effort that goes into creating a nurturing and thriving educational environment. Congratulations are also in order for ESA Productions, whose exceptional film 'Voices of Hope' secured a well-deserved I Will Tell International Film Festival Award. Additionally, a special congratulations to OSA Headteacher, Julie Jones, for her election to Hertfordshire's Schools Forum—a testament to her commitment and leadership.
To our devoted teaching and support staff, I extend my deepest gratitude for your unwavering hard work and passion. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and I wish each and every one of you a well-deserved and joyous Christmas.
May the holiday season bring warmth, rest, and I look forward to working with you in 2024.
With best wishes
Josephine Valentine
Josephine Valentine, CEO
Danes Educational Trust
Making the difference together
Learner Voice Council
On 14 November, DET Secondary Learner Voice Councils took part in our fourth LVC induction day. We were delighted to welcome exceptional practitioners Helen Cox, Nicola Spencer and Juliette Chaplin who delivered thought provoking workshops on character education, oracy and research skills. An added thanks to the impressive Onslow St Audrey’s 6th formers who delivered a remarkable teamwork session.
It was a pleasure to work with our learners throughout the day: they showed pride in their schools, an enthusiastic desire to make meaningful change and a maturity beyond their years.
The LVC programme is designed to give our learners the opportunity to take part in meaningful decision making at all levels of our Trust. Our learners have been hard at work planning the implementation of their learning focus. You will see them around school conducting their research; please do welcome them into your classrooms.
The LVC would not run successfully without our dedicated team of in-school facilitators Alii Hewitt, Emma Smart, Henry Arkill, Jamie-Lee Louw, Liz Black, Liz Shipp, Miles Conway, Mitchell Sanderson, Rebecca Edmonds and Sabeen Kazmi. Please do get in touch with them if you would like to get involved.
ESA productions
Congratulations to ESA Productions, who are now an award winning production company! Their film ‘Voices of Hope’ was announced as WINNER in the ‘Best Feature Documentary’ category at the I Will Tell International Film Festival Awards Ceremony on Saturday 18 November.
In addition, the film received a special recognition - ‘Hidden Gem Award.
The film tells the remarkable story of the London Community Gospel Choir, which was founded in 1983 against a backdrop of London race riots and has gone on to become one of the most successful unity choirs in the world.
Hertfordshire Schools Forum
Congratulations to OSA Headteacher Julie Jones, who has been elected to Hertfordshire's Schools Forum as an Academy Representative. Schools Forum is a board that reviews and decides how the money within Hertfordshire County Council's Education budget is spent.
Julie says "It is fascinating to be part of this group of Headteachers and educational representatives who look to balance the priorities of key groups and services to deliver the best possible educational provision for Hertfordshire children within the budget available."
Train to Teach Podcast
We have launched a podacst. "Train to Teach" delves into the real, raw, and often hilarious experiences of those on the path to becoming educators. Join hosts Chris, and Louisa, as they embark on a captivating exploration of the highs, lows, and unexpected twists in the world of teacher training.
Whether you're a seasoned educator reminiscing about your own training days or someone considering the noble pursuit of teaching, this podcast is your backstage pass to the unscripted reality of shaping young minds.
Get ready to hear the untold stories, the heartfelt anecdotes, and the moments that make teaching a truly unique and transformative career. Join us every episode as we sit down with inspiring guests who lay bare the challenges, triumphs, and quirks of the teaching profession.
So, grab your notebooks, sharpen your pencils, and tune in to "Train to Teach." Because when it comes to training to be a teacher, the stories are as diverse as the students they impact.
You can listen to the pilot on Spotify or Amazon Music, new episodes will be available every two weeks.
De Havilland Primary celebrates
De Havilland Primary School of Hatfield is thrilled to announce the successful outcome of its recent Ofsted inspection, which took place on the 19 and 20 of September. The school has been rated as 'Good' in every category, marking a significant improvement from its previous 'Inadequate' rating in June 2019. This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment of their staff to their pupils’ education.
The inspection by His Majesty's Inspectors not only recognises the school's excellence but also highlights several heartwarming aspects. According to the report, "This is a happy school. Pupils appreciate the rich learning experiences they get here. They are proud to belong to the ‘De Hav’ community." This acknowledgment underscores the positive atmosphere that they have cultivated within their school and the pride that their pupils take in being part of their wonderful community.
The school have celebrated by creating a video, ‘This is me’
Read the full story in the Welwyn Hatfield Times
Send my friend
Our fantastic Send My Friend Campaign Champions, Emma and Jess visited the Houses of Parliament recently to champion for Send My Friend, a non-profit organisation that calls on world leaders to prioritise education and ensure children globally get the chance to go to school.
At the Houses of Parliament, Emma and Jess met Melinda Bohannon, the Director General, Humanitarian and Development to discuss global educational issues. They then took part in a speed meeting with MPs which provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the organisation’s work and goals and persuade MPs to take action in their fight for educational equality and to push the agenda at COP23. The girls were passionate and informed, impressing the MPs with their knowledge on global affairs.
Congratulations Emma and Jess on doing such an impressive job representing Croxley Danes and Send My Friend in your roles as Campaign Champions and fighting for such an important cause.
Enthuse training
Jupiter is extremely proud to announce that our Science Lead, Clare Gaze has been accredited as an "Associate PDL" for STEM Learning and can deliver CPD on their behalf. Claire will be leading the hub schools Science training for Enthuse Science going forward. If you would to know more about the CPD programme please contact Claire directly on cgaze@jupiter.herts.sch.uk
SCD Commemoration Day
Commemoration Day on 24 November marked the celebration of the school's founding with a splendid service at St Clement Danes Church, Holborn.
The impressive architecture of the church provided the backdrop for what was a truly uplifting experience; it was a joy to be immersed in the music provided by the First Orchestra conducted expertly by Mr Butterfield performing Year 12 student, Phillip Deeley’s, debut performance of his composition, Dies Irae. You could not help but be moved, emotionally and spiritually, by the musicality and joy of the Year 7 Choir, Adult Choir, Chamber Choir and Orchestra, alongside the captivating solo performance of Faure’s Pie Jesu by Year 13 student Aine Cronnelly.
Thank you to all the staff involved, in particular Mr Butterfield, Miss Smart, Mrs Pullen, Mrs Maryubashi and Miss Ryan, for making the day truly special.
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