Edition No.7 – March 2018 just follow the arrows and you will always come back

to reception and my office. The new lockers that were fitted over the summer are now very well used and ensure that pupils do not have to carry all items Issue: and coats around with them during the day. If any other pupil would like a locker, please collect a letter from reception.

One Year anniversary

Another very busy term in what led up to our one- year anniversary in our new building in February. We have continued to reinforce our academy vision of Aspire, Endeavour and Succeed and have extended the opportunities within the academy to Year 2 pupils, Year 5 Gifted and Talented scientists as well as all local Primary and Junior schools with our second annual joint concert. In addition, we successfully completed our first full employer curriculum challenge when our Year 8 pupils took part in the Denby Pottery Challenge. We have also started our planning for next academic year with the continued growth of our Sixth Form, GCSE options and the appointment of new staff ready for our increased pupil numbers. This newsletter will give you a flavour of some of the activities that have taken place this term. I continue to be very grateful to the staff across the academy who give their time to make David Nieper Academy such a vibrant and exciting place to be. Carillion update

As we returned to school after the February half term As you are all aware Carillion PLC went into we celebrated our first anniversary in our new compulsory liquidation in January 2018. While this building. What an amazing year! The building now has not affected our academy building, sports hall or feels much more “lived in” and our classrooms and the operation of our school it has meant that all corridors are now filled with notice boards and remaining work on our grounds redevelopment and displays. The new IT equipment that we purchased the completion of our playing fields and car park has including the Promethean interactive televisions in come to a temporary halt. The site has been made each classroom, the lap tops and faculty tablets are safe and secure and all machinery and work materials all now in full operation supporting our teaching and have been removed. 24-hour security remains on the learning every day. The one-way system remains in building site and will continue to do so. The place and ensures that no student can ever get lost –

David Nieper Academy, Grange Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JA David Nieper Academy T: (01773) 832331 E: [email protected] www: davidnieper.academy Department for Education and the Education and only in the morning and afternoon. We continue to Skills Funding Agency are working to find a new main encourage all of our pupils to walk to the academy contractor who will take over the works and and if car travel is essential to be dropped off at a complete our grounds. We are very hopeful that we distance and walk the remaining way. will have news shortly on who the new contractor Sixth Form will be and that we can agree a new schedule of work and a date for final completion. We are very grateful We are delighted with the uptake for our Level 3 that we are in our new building and are very much Sixth Form provision for September 2018. Along with looking forward to all work being completed so that our Level 2 BTEC Business course we will now be we can have full use of our grounds. I will of course offering a Level 3 BTEC Business Diploma and Level 3 share this information with you as soon as possible BTEC Health and Social Care Diploma, both courses via our academy website www.davidnieperacademy equivalent to two A levels. Alongside the Level 3 BTEC Snow! courses pupils will be able to take an additional course of IFS Level 3 Finance qualification, A Level As we were hit by the “Beast from the East” and the English Literature or A Level Sociology. We will be snow came down we were forced to close the running a taster day in early July to allow all pupils academy early on Wednesday 7th March. We then who have applied for the Sixth Form to take part in had to take the decision to close on the Thursday and course taster sessions to confirm their initial choices, Friday as the snow continued to fall on top of the to meet with other students planning on joining the remaining ice which made the site unsafe. In the Sixth Form from David Nieper Academy and other event of an academy closure we will always put up- schools and to meet with their Sixth Form teachers. to-date notices on our academy website www.davidnieperacademy and our twitter feed We are very pleased to have appointed Miss Brandwood as our new Health & Social Care teacher. @nieperacademy. We will also contact parents via text message to the first priority contact that we hold Miss Brandwood joins us a teacher but also as a and also through announcements on PeakFM. The qualified nurse so will be able to provide a very strong vocational and applied aspect to the course addition of Show My Homework (see later section in this newsletter) will also allow us to set specific work delivery. for all pupils in all classes. We are very hopeful that the worst of the weather is now behind us and that we can avoid any further school closures.

Bus Park

It was with regret that in consultation with local schools we have had to stop using the bus park as a temporary drop off point and revert its use to that of a bus park only. The bus park was becoming an An essential component of our Sixth form provision is unsafe place due to the large volume of traffic from a the weekly employer engagement. All pupils will take number of local schools. We had requested yellow part in weekly employer visits, talks and/ or work hatchings to be included in the bus park to ensure experience. Mr Dixon, our Sixth Form Business that the buses could safely park and reverse. Studies teacher, is currently developing a range of Unfortunately, some visitors had started to ignore employer links for both Sixth form courses. If you are these markings. Despite asking for pupils not to cross able to offer any contacts or support for this the bus park we had a near miss with a car and a child provision please contact Mr Dixon on and therefore in order to ensure the safety of the [email protected] pupils and the well-being of staff we have returned to the previous position of this area being a bus park

David Nieper Academy, Grange Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JA

T: (01773) 832331 E: [email protected] www: davidnieper.academy

Pupil numbers for September 2018

Our pupil numbers continue to grow. We are delighted to have welcomed an additional 30 pupils to David Nieper Academy since September into years 7 to 10. Please do contact reception if you would like to come and have a tour of the academy and meet staff to discuss joining the academy. The best way to access Show My Homework is via the We are equally delighted to be looking forward to free app, you will then be sent push notifications to welcoming a record number of Year 7’s in September let you know what homework is due. This is available 2018. We currently only have a small number of year for free for both apple and android devices. You will 7 places left and we would encourage early also be notified of overdue homework and application if you are thinking of a Year 7 place to announcements/events. avoid any disappointment. Applications for Year 7 places are via the Derbyshire admissions process please see www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education Such a dramatic rise in school applications in such a short space of time is testimony to the many changes now in place at the David Nieper Academy and the exceptional hard work of each and every member of staff. If any students do not have access to an internet enabled computer, laptop, or smartphone the school Dr. Kathryn Hobbs has a homework club which runs every lunchtime and

Show My Homework after school, 3.35-4.35pm, Monday to Friday where students can access Show My Homework. By now both students and parents are using our new Homework will continue to be recorded in planners online homework system Show My Homework. This initially whilst we roll out Show My Homework. All is an online tool to help you keep track of your child’s worksheets will also be uploaded to Show My homework. Show My Homework will allow you to see Homework. the details of the tasks your child has been set, all their deadlines and their submission status and If you would like further information or to provide grades. We have decided to bring in this system to feedback on this new programme, please contact Mr improve the way we communicate with parents and Endacott, Assistant Headteacher by email give you greater visibility into the homework we set. [email protected]

To view all homework set without logging in, please ‘Tough Love’ visit the David Nieper Academy website. The link for Show My Homework is in scrolling text at the top of On Monday 5th March all students had the the home page. Please note you will need to use the opportunity to watch a unique performance of filter options at the top of the page to select your ‘Tough Love’. ‘Tough Love’ is an innovative 30 minute child’s year group. long Applied Theatre play that raises awareness around coercive control and domestic abuse in teenage intimate relationships. The play was followed by a 30 minute plenary session exploring the issues raised.

‘Tough Love’ is an adaptation of AlterEgo’s hugely GCSE Mathematics covers topics from Number, acclaimed ‘Behind Closed Doors’ project which was Algebra, Geometry and Data Handling. originally developed in association with The City OF London Police as part of their front line officer While studying Maths you are expected to: training. Use mathematical skills and knowledge to solve The production told the story of 15 year old Becka problems Use logic and reasoning to solve problems and her relationship with her violent and controlling

17 year old boyfriend Danny. It told the story of how Break down problems into small steps in order they met, how they fell in love, how the control and to solve them Use the maths that you learn to solve problems abuse started and how Becka eventually managed to that might happen in happen in real life get help. Learn how to use a calculator to solve problems All students now have: quickly and effectively. . A raised awareness of what coercive control is Students need a ruler, protractor, compasses, . A raised awareness of what domestic abuse is scientific calculator and suitable pens and . A raised awareness of what makes a healthy pencils for their studies in Maths. relationship . A raised awareness of what makes an unhealthy relationship . Clear signposted to appropriate help and support

Maths

Numbers are necessary for almost every job you can think of. Whether you’re a broker, a CEO, a doctor, a small business owner, or a construction worker, maths is certain to be part of the equation at some point.

Animators, for instance, use linear algebra to predict how an object will rotate, move, and shift sizes. Wilfred Dawes & Mortimer Wilson

Fashion designers need to understand proportions; We have been delighted to meet Stephen Beet, a calculate area, perimeter, and diameter; and former student of Mortimer Wilson, who with the estimate the amount of fabric needed and its cost. support of ‘Alfreton Past and Present’ group, the Town Architects use maths to determine the amount of Council and Alfreton Heritage Society, wished to space needed for building features, to make scale explore the possibilities of the academy reflecting the drawings, and to analyse and calculate structural work of Wilfred Dawes the first Headmaster of the problems in order to engineer a safe, stable building. school and Mortimer Wilson for whom the school was named after for many years. The Trustees of David So whatever your child’s dream career may be, help Nieper Academy are working with Mr Beet and the build a strong foundation in Maths by practicing other interested parties to look for ways to commemorate both men and their contribution to the maths activities every day school. Year 7 and 8 students are working on mastering the As part of the commemorations we are looking at foundations of maths to give them an excellent base creating a Wilfred Dawes memorial garden at the top knowledge. GCSE maths builds upon this. In Years 9 of our site and to name the sports hall the Mortimer and 10 students study the various topics for their Wilson sports hall. We are looking to create a new GCSE and in Year 11 we work to maximise their annual award ‘The Spirit of David Nieper Academy grade. and Wilfred Dawes’ trophy for the pupil who shows a high level of community spirit and embodies the life

David Nieper Academy, Grange Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JA

T: (01773) 832331 E: [email protected] www: davidnieper.academy

time ambitions of Wilfred Dawes of ‘progress’ and On Tuesday 27th February Mrs Speed and Mrs Turner ‘equal opportunity’. We are delighted that Peter took some Year 9 and Year 10 dance students to the Dawes, son of Wilfred Dawes, has been informed of Theatre Royal in Nottingham to watch the Rambert our plans and he has generously offered to purchase Dance Company perform some of their dance pieces. the trophy for this award. Peter who now lives in The current GCSE specification has Ramberts A Linha Denmark, has also provided copies of his recent book Curva as part of its dance anthology so an “A symphony of Scenic Beauty. Avanaarsua: opportunity to watch the live performance was an Greenland’s Farthest North’” for both the academy incredible experience. The students found the library and the Geography department. We are very experience of the live production to be far superior to much looking forward to showing Peter and his sister that of the video experience we are used to in class. Jill around the academy on their next visit to the area. An excellent evening was had by all who attended.

Cross country

On 3rd February Lucas Brailsford in Year 9 represented Amber Valley in the District Cross Country Championships held this year at Tupton Hall School. The event had to be rescheduled due to Defibrillator – Mr Fleet the course being waterlogged, so even on I have been a qualified first-aider since 1999. I the day it was quite undertook the training after watching how another boggy underfoot. Lucas first-aider responded to a person choking in a ran a good steady race and finished in 19th position, restaurant. When I asked her why she didn’t out of 67 runners. Excellent result! Well done Lucas. immediately intervene, she replied “I was watching and if I’d needed to, I would have helped.” The Commonwealth Games person who was choking completely recovered and I was left wanting to be able to help others, where Niamh Emerson a former necessary, in a medical emergency. student of the school travelled out to the Gold Coast in Australia ready to represent England in the upcoming Commonwealth games. Niamh from Shirland is currently studying at Loughborough University.

Niamh will be competing in the Heptathlon event which When I renewed my first aid qualification at the end consists of 100m Hurdles, 200m, long jump, javelin, of the summer 2017, I had to be able to effectively shot put, high jump and finishes with the 800m. Whilst use an automatic defibrillator. I was shocked to learn at school Niamh represented the school in many different sports including netball, football and that if you have a cardiac arrest and no one is there athletics as well as being one of the senior leaders in to help you, it will certainly result in your death: you Year 11. We wish her all the best in Australia. have a 0% chance of survival. If you have a cardiac Dance Trip to Nottingham arrest and someone can give effective CPR, then your

likelihood of surviving goes up to 5%. BUT, if an AED Year 5 Science Day by Amy Morris & Lucy Boulding (defibrillator) is available, your survival chances go up Year 10 to about 80%. On Tuesday 13th February, Year 5 gifted and talented This convinced me that we need an AED at our school students from Woodbridge Junior School, Leys Junior and I knew that our wonderful staff and pupils would School, Christ the King Primary school, Shirland Junior be able to raise the £1,250 needed to buy it – and School, Fritchley Primary School and Stonebroom they did! The fundraising motto was Defib@DNA 0- Junior School were invited to the academy to spend 5-80 and so the idea was launched. the day carrying out science experiments with Mrs Bentley. A Halloween disco was held, there were cake sales and many people just gave one-off donations. So, it’s We were invited to assist Mrs Bentley in leading the here now and I hope we will never have to use it. But experiments (which included the huddling penguins if we do, here are a few guidelines. investigation) and ensuring the children both understood and enjoyed the tasks, by communicating  An AED is attached to the patient and it with them throughout the day and asking them their effectively takes over the medical care until thoughts and opinions on the academy- particularly the emergency services arrive. its science department.  It can ask the first aider to keep administering CPR (this mechanically tries to work the heart Mrs Bentley led a Bunsen burner experiment at the by pressing the chest). end of the day, to demonstrate proper safety  If the AED determines that the heart is precautions taken when these are in use. The fibrillating, it will tell the first aider that it is children seemed to favour learning how to use a going to administer a shock. Bunsen burner and being allowed to light one.  This will be done safely and there are lots of warnings to stand back. It will not happen unless it is absolutely necessary and it can’t be administered by accident.  There are enough trained people available to use the defibrillator, but it can also be used by an untrained person.

So, many thanks to all you kind David Nieper Academy people who gave so generously. We now have a life-saving piece of equipment on the wall of the main reception, ready for use at any time, with at least nine people in the academy fully trained to use it.

Of course, I dearly hope we will never have to!

Fashion Show

A fashion show was held at the Alfreton Town Supports Club on Friday 9th March, which was arranged by Anna Lord who is the mother of one of our Year 8 students, Katie Chambers. The proceeds from the evening were kindly donated to our funding raising in support of the defibrillator. A huge thank you to Anna and the other organisers of the evening.

David Nieper Academy, Grange Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JA

T: (01773) 832331 E: [email protected] www: davidnieper.academy

Visitors Ian McMillan, Poet – Ms Barnes

Lord & Lady Vinson Many thanks to Ian McMillan, renowned poet, who visited on Monday 22 January to provide a poetry On Monday 29 January we were delighted to welcome workshop for a group of our Year 7 students. They Lord & Lady Vinson to the Academy for a brief visit to worked with the inspiring Ian McMillan to create view our new building. They were impressed with our facilities and the opportunities available to our their own poems and had a wonderful time! students, particularly our employer links.

Bowmer & Kirkland

We welcomed to the academy Mrs Laura O’Sullivan, HR Manager, from Bowmer & Kirkland Ltd, one of our employer partners. Laura had a tour of the academy and met with the Maths and Science faculties to discuss ideas for our Enterprise week in July. Year 9 students will have the opportunity to take part in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) project and we are looking forward to developing our links and relationship with Bowmer & Kirkland. What our students thought……..

Alfreton Leisure Centre “‘I thought that was a great experience for all young people.” Ruby-Rose Hinett We also welcomed Mr Peter Sharkey, Leisure Centre “I thought that it was really good that we got to make Manager and Mrs Karen Morden, Health & Fitness a fun creative poem.” Hubert Kowalicki Development Manager, from Alfreton Leisure Centre who are part of the Places For People Leisure group. “I really enjoyed it and I thought all the different We have had a number of discussions regarding links poems we came up with was brilliant. Also it really that we can make between the academy and the entertained me. It inspired me to write poems.” Kyle leisure centre as we seek to encourage all pupils to Eyre engage in a range of sporting and physical activities. We are looking forward to developing our joint ideas “I thought that the poetry workshop was very funny which will include Reward trips and has already and entertaining. I’m so glad Ian came to our school. I involved staff meeting with our Sixth Form Business really enjoyed it.” Beau Davies students to discuss the many careers available in the “I thought that Ian was really funny and entertaining. leisure industry. The poetry workshop was so good and inspiring. It Derbyshire Police Armed Response Unit (ARU) inspired me to write and create poems myself. I love the way Ian made up poems about anything he saw. I Officers from the ARU visited the academy in January hope I see him again soon.” Callum Shaw to deliver assemblies to our students, explaining what the job involves and how they are committed to “I really enjoyed Ian and the poetry workshop; he providing a high-quality policing service to local was funny and inspired me to write not just poems communities, working in partnership with other but stories as well. I enjoyed how he just makes up agencies to tackle crime and disorder in the county. stories from the top of his head. This was really fun The presentation was really interesting and our and I hope to do it again.” Holly Humphreys visitors were impressed by the good behaviour of our “I think Ian McMillan was amazing. He taught us how students. to write a poem and also made us laugh. My

favourite poem we learnt/made up was about the now produce a real version of their plate ready for lecture. I thought it was really good that he could display in the Academy. look at anything and just write about it.” Evie Jones Both teachers at the Academy and members of staff at “The poetry workshop was GREAT! Something I’d Denby Pottery have been extremely impressed with love to do again.” Ryan Woolley-Sutcliffe Year 8’s enthusiasm, professionalism and team work during the event. Bring on next year! Denby Pottery Challenge – Mr C Ruddy, Head of Humanities

At David Nieper Academy, one of our strategic goals is to ensure that students fulfil their potential not only through academic rigour, but also through developing key lifelong skills and an understanding of how school learning is applied in real life. To support us with this endeavour, we have forged strong links with a number of local employer partners, including Denby Pottery. From March 12th to March 14th, Year 8 students took part in our inaugural Denby Pottery Employer Challenge.

The Year 8s were tasked with designing, marketing and pitching a small pottery set inspired by the local history of Hardwick Hall. Students had to work in teams, with an appointed project manager, to consider all aspects of the design process, the costing, pricing and marketing strategy, in addition to writing a Year 11 Mock Results Day persuasive ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch.

On Friday 2nd February we held a mock results day in The first challenge day was spent at Denby Pottery, the Hall for our Year 11 students, who had sat their where students were given a tour of the factory and Mock exams in early January. This was an opportunity had enjoyed a series of talks from experts at the for students to find out what they can expect on their company. They heard about local geology associated GCSE results day in the summer and to, of course, with obtaining Derbyshire clay, as well as the science encourage further revision. behind how Denby products are glazed to the highest of standards. They also discussed the intricacies of the All teachers have gone through the mock papers with design process and finance considerations. the pupils. All pupils are aware of where they achieved marks and where they lost marks – all Day two was spent back at school, developing their valuable information to support with future revision own pottery set designs, creating a marketing and preparation for the second mocks in April and strategy, brushing up on presentation skills and learning how to write a persuasive sales pitch. On the the final GCSE examinations in the summer. third and final day of the challenge, students had to Prior to receiving the mocks results all Year 11 pupils display their work on a stall, where judges from Denby were treated to a thought provoking and entertaining Pottery spent lots of time discussing the final assembly by Mrs Wilcockson, Head of English. Mrs outcomes with students. This led to a shortlisting of Wilcockson’s theme was that everything is possible the three best designs who were able to pitch in front with the right attitude and focus. She encouraged of the judges. Congratulations to group 8, who won pupils to think what next steps they needed to take the hotly contested competition! Denby Pottery will to ensure that in the summer they were able to

David Nieper Academy, Grange Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JA

T: (01773) 832331 E: [email protected] www: davidnieper.academy

achieve the grades they need to move on successfully Year 9 & Year 10 – Anatomy Art – Miss Hallam to the next stage of their education. Year 9 and Year 10 students have embraced their new Anti-bullying Upskill training Anatomy Art projects with gusto. We have been lucky enough to be able to produce some primary source Our Anti-bullying Ambassadors attended the Upskill drawing work after Owen Taylor Ltd, one of our training day on 24th January at the Springwell employer partners, kindly donated some organ Community College, Chesterfield. This was part of the specimens for us to study. Although it was a tough Diana Award Anti-bulling Ambassador programme. task, students braved the unusual objects and have GCSE Options Evening gone on to produce some fantastic chalk and pen drawing work. On Tuesday 6th March, Year 8 students and parents visited the Academy for our Options Evening. It was particularly pleasing to see a great turnout for the evening which was split between a talk about the options process in the Hall followed by our ‘Options Market Place’ in the Dining Hall, where students and parents had the opportunity to talk to staff about suitability for courses and to find out more information. This year we are offering BTEC Tech Award in Health and Social Care for the first time which seems to be a popular subject choice already.

On Friday 9th March, students then had the opportunity to pick four possible option subjects and try a taster lesson in each one, before making their final option choices.

Many thanks to all of the staff who planned and led the taster sessions. The feedback from pupils was very positive and the sessions helped pupils to confirm their choices.

“I think that due to all of the help that the teachers provided, picking my options was easier than expected. Each teacher had so much to say that helped me.” Ellie Byard-Bennett

“The taster sessions gave me a clear understanding on different subjects at GCSE.’” Joseph Evans

"I thought the taster days were brilliant because the things I weren't sure about turned out to be great!" Brandon Checkley

"I thought the sessions were really fun as it gave us the opportunity to see what the GCSEs were like - especially subjects we'd not yet studied before like Film and Health & Social Care!" Amy Schofield

primary and infant schools to join us for Enterprise Easter Revision Sessions Day. Students were asked to create their own 'Top Trumps' card and designed a figure from dough to Although the Academy is closed to students in Years join alongside. Year 2 worked in small groups to 7 to Year 10 over the coming Easter holiday, we will create their own 'Maniac Monster' and had the be open on a number of days for Year 11 students to opportunity to choose their monster’s strengths and come in and complete sessions with staff in almost all weaknesses! Teacher were then asked to choose a subject areas. Staff give up time freely to support representative from each school to play a game of Year 11 students in the run up to their GCSE exams Monster Top Trumps. which start in May. If students wish to attend any of the sessions over Easter, please complete the Year 2 had some fantastic ideas and it was a brilliant permission form and return to school or bring on the opportunity for them to experience a secondary day of the session. If sessions run all day students will school setting. We had some lovely feedback from need to bring a packed lunch with them. staff, students and parents. We look forward to welcoming students again in the near future! Date Subject Mon 26th March BTEC Sport Mr Brankin – 9am-3pm

Tue 27th March ICT and Computing Mr Endacott – 9am-3pm Sociology Dr Hobbs – 9am-12pm

Wed 28th March Art Miss Hallam – 9am-3pm

Thu 29th March Resistant Materials Mrs Thorpe – 9am-3pm Attachment Awareness

Tues 3rd April Maths We are pleased to announce that in June 2018 we Mr Hindmarsh will be awarded with our ‘Attachment Aware’ status. Higher 9am-12pm This means that we have staff in school equipped Foundation 12pm-3pm with the specialist skills and understanding around Textiles attachment and trauma. Mrs Thorpe – 9am-3pm Mrs Merchant and Mrs West have been part of the Wed 4th April Humanities year-long attachment aware programme and as part Mr Ruddy – 9am-3pm of this valuable training opportunity have implemented their own action research programme Thu 5th April English around attachment awareness. On Tuesday 5th March Mrs Wilcockson – 9am-3pm we welcomed 40 members of staff from schools around Derbyshire to host an Attachment Aware th Fri 6 April Dance - Mrs Turner 10am-12pm training and planning day. We are also welcoming Drama - Mrs Turner – 1pm-3pm Brian Roberts to the academy on May 3rd to train all staff around ‘emotion coaching’ and de-escalation.

Year 2 Enterprise Day – Mrs Turner 100% Attendance Challenge week

th On Tuesday 6 February we had the pleasure of The Academy took part in a 100% attendance welcoming over 250 Year 2 students from local challenge week before half term and the vast

David Nieper Academy, Grange Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JA

T: (01773) 832331 E: [email protected] www: davidnieper.academy

majority of students managed to achieve 100% ‘You’ve got a friend in me’. A highlight was the attendance for the full week! Well done to all performance of ‘Happy’ by Alfreton Park Community students who met the challenge. Students were Special School which made everyone smile and feel rewarded with a VIP break time that consisted of very happy. Both evenings were a fabulous music, socialising with friends, doughnuts and juice! opportunity to share the talent in Alfreton and the Tutor groups who also achieved the 100% challenge local area and to allow the schools to work together. were rewarded with a non-school uniform day and an All of the children who took part were fantastic and a early VIP lunch! Well done to 8DNA, AWE and 11SCL great evening was had by all. Many thanks to the for winning the tutor prize! staff and students who made this wonderful event possible. Joint Concert

Shirland Primary School performing at the concert Our joint concert this year took place on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th March. We split the event over Schools Direct two nights due to the high demand for tickets last We have continued to recruit for our Schools Direct year. Over 220 children took part and we were teacher training places, showing round a number of delighted to welcome many parents and friends to interested applicants and providing information and the Academy. The local schools who joined us were teacher shadowing experiences. We have recruited Leys Junior, Woodbridge Junior, Alfreton Park an additional trainee for History to join our English Community Special School, Shirland Primary and trainee and have other subject traineeships available. Christ the King Catholic Primary School. If you would like any information please see our Pupils arrived at the academy at 3pm for a joint website or contact reception. rehearsal of the combined choir pieces. The Charity bike ride – John O’ Groats to Land’s End - Kian individual schools then had the opportunity to Pearson Year 8 rehearse their individual items on the main stage with full lights and sound, a new experience for Kian has continued with his training regime in many. Staff and students from David Nieper Academy preparation for his amazing endeavour to cycle from then provided taster activities to introduce pupils to John O’ Groats to Land’s End over the summer to some of our many activities including French, Drama, raise money for Dementia UK. He has attracted a trampolining and a treasure hunt to find their way range of support on Twitter including from Olly Murs around the building. and Jack Shepherd who plays David Platt on Coronation Street. Kian and his parents also arrived At 5pm parents and friends started to arrive and we at school at 6.30am one Monday morning in order to were treated to amazing display of local talent and meet with Radio Derby and to be part of their live hard work. morning broadcasts. Kian handled the interview very Performances included Dance, Choir, Poetry, Drums professionally and is well on his way to achieving his and Brass. All of the children involved took to the £10,000 funding raising aspiration. We are very proud stage at the end of the evenings as a combined choir of his work, commitment and preparation. An to sing ‘The Bare Necessities’, ‘I’m Gonna Sing’ and

example of ‘Aspire, Endeavour and Succeed’ in action.

Design and Technology

It's been another busy term in Design and

Technology. Year 11 are working hard to finalise their coursework projects across all of the specialisms, with projects ranging from storage units, docking stations, lights and clocks, to cushions, dresses, bags and photo frames. This is the last year of the Technology 'Specialisms' before we embark upon the new GCSE next summer. We are really proud of what All of the projects and products will be assessed and the students have achieved so far, and the great moderated by the exam board, through postal or effort they have sustained through the course. As we visiting moderation. The finished products already approach the final few weeks before submission, showcase the great talent of our students and we we'd like to encourage students to make the most of can't wait to see what these final few weeks will the last few opportunities to put the finishing touches bring. to their projects in the various after school and Easter sessions provided. Every little helps! Please see the dates and deadlines below:

Coursework Deadlines  GCSE Product Design Coursework Deadline - Thursday 22nd March  GCSE Resistant Materials Coursework Deadline - Friday 20th April  GCSE Textiles Coursework Deadline - Friday

20th April

 GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition

Coursework Deadline - Friday 23rd March

 OCR Engineering Design Coursework Deadline - Friday 20th April  OCR ICT Coursework Deadline - Friday 20th The new Design and Technology GCSE offers our April students a wider range of opportunities under one qualification. It is modern and relevant and includes Extra Sessions the well-established practices as well as  After school: Mon - Friday 3.35pm - 5.30pm contemporary technologies, materials and processes.  Wednesday 28th March - Art With a greater emphasis on understanding and  Thursday 29th March - Resistant Materials applying the iterative design process, students will continue to imagine, create, design and test  Tuesday 3rd April - Textiles prototypes that solve real problems of the modern age. The course is rigorous and challenging and our Art Coursework and Exam current Year 9 students have already worked with a  GCSE Art Deadline - Friday 20th April 2018 variety of materials and software to develop their th th  GCSE Art Exam - 24 /25 April 2018 (10hrs) knowledge and skills through practical and theory tasks. The 'Sustainable and Recycled Fashion

Challenge' has started to take shape in their teams. Students have provided their own materials (mainly

from the recycling bin!) to design and create an extravagant outfit, with each team working together,

David Nieper Academy, Grange Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JA

T: (01773) 832331 E: [email protected] www: davidnieper.academy

towards a design they have evaluated and developed between them. Problem solving on the job has become second nature. 1 week to go!

KS3

Year 7 and 8 students are exposed to a wide range of projects and material areas. Their enthusiasm for designing and making is one of the reasons we love the possibilities that Design and Technology provides. The development of their skills in different subjects is met with eagerness and a thirst for knowledge about the next step, the next project, the next opportunity. From the basics of wood work skills and the enjoyment of cooking to the skills of tie dying,

electronics and CAD embroidery, everyone is keen to contribute, learn and take on board a new experience. Year 10 students will soon embark upon their independent coursework projects, and as the year The Year 8 recent GCSE taster lessons gave students a draws to a close, they should have established and key insight into the course and a chance to get hands researched a brief to get them excited about on with some product disassembly. There are designing and making products as they begin Year 11. definitely potential future designers and engineers Another year group full of opportunity, already among them! showing signs of curiosity and innovation. We look forward to sharing and celebrating everyone’s achievements this year at our annual Art and Technology Exhibition on Thursday April 26th, 5- 7pm.

David Nieper Academy, Grange Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JA

T: (01773) 832331 E: [email protected] www: davidnieper.academy

Staff Update

Hellos… Goodbyes… Mr Endacott Assistant Headteacher, Ms Banner Curriculum & Data Finance & Operations Manager Mr Endacott joined us on 1 January, as Assistant Ms Banner has taken a Headteacher, Curriculum & position as Finance Officer for Data. He will lead on a Multi-Academy Trust in curriculum, data, assessment, Rotherham. We wish her the reporting, timetabling and very best of luck in her new Options amongst other things. Mr Endacott has job. We will be welcoming our settled into the team very quickly and has had a very new Business Manager very shortly and will do full introductions in our next Newsletter. busy first term.

Mr Brimble

Cover Supervisor

Mr Brimble joined us at the end of February as Cover Supervisor. He has already made a very good impact with the classes he has worked with.

Rev. Julian Penfold Academy Chaplain

Rev. Julian Penfold has been working with the academy since our opening, leading our carol services and meeting and working with pupils and staff. We re delighted to have formalised this relationship. Rev. Penfold will be visiting the academy each week to provide additional support to pupils and staff alongside our pastoral team.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

9 - 16 April Year 11 Mock Exams 10 April Year 10 Revision Evening, 5.30pm 26 April Technology & Art Exhibition, 5-7pm 14 May – 22 June Year 11 GCSE Examinations 6 & 13 June Year 5 Enterprise Days 11 - 15 June Year 7-10 Assessment Week 18 June Year 4&5 Open evening 20 - 23 June Cultural trip to Paris 25 June Year 11 Leavers Prom 26 & 27 June Year 6 Transition Days 2 July Year 6 Meet the Tutor evening 9 - 13 July Enterprise Week

2018/2019 ACADEMIC YEAR

 3 September 2018 to 26 October 2018  5 November 2018 to 21 December 2018

 7 January 2019 to 15 February 2019 T: 01773 832331  25 February 2019 to 12 April 2019 E: [email protected]  29 April 2019 to 24 May 2019 W: davidnieper.academy  3 June 2019 to 22 July 2019

INSET DATES Aspire – Endeavour – Succeed  Monday 3 September 2018  Tuesday 4 September 2018  Monday 7 January 2019  Monday 25 February 2019

 Monday 22 July 2019

David Nieper Academy, Grange Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JA

T: (01773) 832331 E: [email protected] www: davidnieper.academy