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Old Dane talks about aid at Dunkirk Migrant Camp - donations needed!

Old Dane Dan Chadder visited school today to talk to students in assembly about his ongoing work with the charity Help Refugees. Dan informed the students that 27th January is Holocaust Memorial Day, which was designated as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Dan spoke about the enforced emigration of Jews at the beginning of the Second World War, and stated that United Nations statistics reveal that in 2017 there are 65 million people worldwide who have been displaced from their home country as a result of fleeing war and persecution. A third of these refugees are under the age of 18.

Dan spoke of his experiences during the last four months in refugee camps at Calais, and now at Dunkirk, where 1400 refugees are currently living in shelters. He spoke of how there are few facilities for the diverse nationalities who are staying there, but described how friendships are formed during discussions as a result of classes and talks which are held at the camp for the refugees.

Dan informed the students that most of the refugees do not possess a pair of decent shoes, and that donations of warm clothing are urgently needed. Parents at school will receive a communication with full details of how their families can help with providing refugees with warm clothing. Daily collections of items in labelled bags will be made in the Sixth Form Foyer before morning registration all next week, and donations of good quality, clean items will be greatly appreciated.

Dan returns to the camp at Dunkirk shortly, and the school extend their thanks to him for sharing his experiences at the camps with our students. We wish him well on his return to Dunkirk, and look forward to welcoming him back in the future to hear how his valuable work is progressing.

http://www.helprefugees.org.uk/

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30th January

Teachers commended for transforming Design & Technology education

We were delighted to read that our Design and Technology teachers, Miss Yalley and Mr Hadley were featured in the Design and Technology publication.  The article discusses the transformation of the Design & Technology (D&T) department at St. Clement Danes School over the past five years. It discusses how Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley took ownership of the subject, implementing a new subject ethos based on trust, excellence, respect, and safety to foster student responsibility and independence. Key Initiatives & Changes Revamping Projects & Curriculum Introduced more challenging design projects at earlier years (Years 8 & 9). Shifted focus to design skills, problem-solving, and justifying choices over just practical outcomes. Prioritized quality over quantity in student projects. Notable projects: Year 7: Robot concepts Year 8: Articulated lamps Year 9: Branded dispensers & modular speakers Encouraging Inclusion & Diversity Created a girls-only club to boost female participation in GCSE Product Design. Sixth-form girls mentor younger students, building confidence and community. Design Ventura Competition Integrated mock coursework with the Design Ventura competition. Encouraged teamwork and prototyping to improve engagement. Use of AI & Technology Introduced cloud-based tools to make learning more accessible. Leveraged AI for idea development and communication. Professional Development & Industry Links Participating in the Teachers in Residence program to gain industry insights. Adopted industry models like the Double Diamond Design Process and Scrum-based project sprints to enhance student learning. Established workshops with industry professionals to inspire students, especially girls, to pursue design careers. Key Takeaways for Educators Adapt curriculum to student needs and school culture. Pilot new initiatives as clubs first to gauge student interest. Encourage student feedback to refine teaching methods. Be open to change and continuously evolve teaching strategies. The article ultimately encourages educators to embrace creativity, experimentation, and student collaboration in D&T education. We are very proud of our teachers for their continued hard work and dedication for each of their subject areas. Congratulations to Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley for their inspiring article and the incredible work they’ve done to transform Design & Technology at St. Clement Danes! Their dedication to fostering creativity, inclusion, and industry connections is truly commendable, and their impact on students will undoubtedly be long-lasting.