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Celebrating Excellence: Speech Day Junior and Senior Prize Giving 2023

Speech Day took place on the 15th September 2023 where we celebrated the remarkable achievements of our students. It was a day filled with inspiration, recognition and encouragement for our students in the presence of our distinguished guest speakers Old Dane, Mr Tony Smith CBE and the Chair of Governors, Dr Jacqueline Murray.

We recognised the achievements of our junior and senior students who have consistently demonstrated dedication and perseverance in their academic pursuits to outstanding contributions in extracurricular activities.

Dr Murray's welcoming words of encouragement and guidance set the tone for a day filled with inspiration. Mr Smith gave a powerful address, speaking to the students about his humble beginnings to then achieving remarkable success as the former Director General of the UK Border Force and global expert in border security and leadership, inciting hope and motivation for our students as they embark on their own journeys.

The Vote of Thanks was delivered eloquently by Head Girl, Lucy Douglas and Head Boy, Sam James.

For years our school has upheld the tradition of excellence in education. Speech Day serves as a symbol of our unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds and fostering an environment where talent and hard work are acknowledged and celebrated. It was a wonderful day had by all and a huge thank you to all the staff who helped in making it such a special and commemorative occasion.

 

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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.