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Duke of Edinburgh students train for Gold Expedition in Peak District

Over the Easter break, Year 12 students spent four days making their way across the Peak District in Derbyshire to complete the practice expedition for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award.

The 24 students had to carry all provisions in their backpacks, including tents, cooking equipment and most importantly, lots of high-energy food to ensure that they could meet the requirement for 8 hours of activity per day. The staff, on the other hand, had the luxury of a takeaway curry!

One of the criteria for the Gold award is the need to journey through ‘wild country’ and the slopes of Kinder Scout proved to be suitably challenging. At 2087 feet above sea level, it is the highest peak in the Peak District and once conquered, offered the groups stunning views across the surrounding moorland.

The weather was kind and there were a few cases of sunburn by the time it came to getting the (very quiet) coach home.

For their qualifying expedition in July, the students will be tackling the Brecon Beacons – we wish them the best of luck.

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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.