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Musical feast served up at the Summer Concert

Last night saw our Summer Concert, with various ensembles raising the roof of the Barbirolli Hall once again. Kicking off proceedings, the First Orchestra played Habenara and Toreador’s song from Carmen which set the tone for an evening of high-quality performances in a range of styles. The Jazz Band, Gospel Choir, Junior Choir and both orchestras were on top form, interspersed with excellent performances from smaller ensembles and soloists and excerpts from the recent Lower School production of 'Annie'. Outside the hall, a natural sculpture was on display, designed and created by Year 8 and 9 Art Master Class students.

The first half of the concert concluded with a tribute to David Bowie: a performance of 'Life on Mars' by the Rock Band, ably assisted on lead vocals by a special guest. Mr Turner bore an uncanny resemblance to the late star in his blue nylon suit, face paint and orange wig. And yes, there is photographic evidence which can be found below.

Special mention must also go to Gaetan Buisson, Year 8, who stepped in to replace the Boys’ Choir who were unable to perform because of illness, and wowed the audience with his version of the famous guitar solo, Parisienne Walkways by Gary Moore. At the end of the evening, Miss Stevens broke the exciting news that on July 8th 2017, the school will be performing the Verdi Requiem at the Watford Colosseum, perhaps the largest musical project ever embarked upon in the school’s history. Many thanks, as ever, to the performers and staff who put on another superb evening’s entertainment.

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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.