Commemoration 2016

Today, the whole school community came together to commemorate St Clement Danes' foundation, 154 years ago, in two events. In London, the main service took place at St Clement Danes Church in The Strand, with the orchestra and massed choirs, including the whole of Year 7, providing the music. With hold ups on the A40 causing a delayed start - Dr Valentine stepping foot off the first coach just as the church bells pealed for 11 o'clock - the Processional Cross was eventually carried up the aisle by Head Boy, Josh Walton to begin proceedings. The Acolyte torches were this year carried by Sasha Burrell and Casper Dancy. The service was led by the Reverend David Osborn and David Cansdale, QPM DL gave the address, whilst the congregation heard readings by Dr Valentine and Head Girl, Nina Turnbull. This year, the music had a distinctly Verdi-esque flavour as SCD gears up for next summer's Verdi Spectacular: the performance of his Requiem at the Watford Colosseum on July 8th. Both orchestra and choir sounded superb with a programme which definitely whetted the appetite for the concert. Guests included Old Danes, governors, trustees and former staff as well as colleagues from St Clement Danes Primary School, Drury Lane. One Old Dane revealed that he had been attending Commem for 38 years, truly living out the school's motto, Loyauté m'oblige. Back at school, Years 8, 9 and 10 held their own celebration, with notable student successes forming the theme. As ever, the students, whether performing or simply attending both events, were a credit to the school. Thanks are due to all the staff who work so hard every year to make this such a special day in the school's calendar.

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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.

30th January

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