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World War Fighter Pilot speaks at Remembrance Day Service

On Friday 8th November we welcomed a number of Old Danes, Trustees and Governors to the school to join us for our annual Remembrance Services.   The school was privileged to have Second World War fighter pilot Jimmy James as guest speaker, who relayed his incredible war time experiences as a pilot and prisoner of war. The prayers and the Ode of Remembrance were read by Reverend Ludgrove, preceding a minute silence at 11am.  At the end of the services, the Last Post was expertly played by Year 13 student Hugo Watson - a moving musical tribute to remember those who died in service.

After the senior service, guests and staff watched as the Head Girl and Boy laid wreaths in the central courtyard before enjoying refreshments and perusing the displays put on in the library by our archivist, Mrs Hirst. Old Dane and guest Mr Tony Davies praised the school for a memorable service saying, ‘The speakers, choir, bugler and the young audience were all exemplary, and I was delighted to see the photos and artefacts preserved for posterity displayed following the service. The morning was very special and it was very moving to see that the school has done so much to retain such close links with its past.’

As ever, it was a moving and memorable day; we would like to thank all our guests for coming and congratulate all those involved in organising the memorable and moving Remembrance Services on Friday and at the school assemblies today.

Please see gallery below for more photos from our Remembrance Day Service.

 

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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.