On 15th October, pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury welcomed the Fire Service into school for a series of one-hour “Be Fire Wise” assemblies.

Alongside exploring the science behind fires, pupils learnt to recognise common fire dangers, identify key safety practices and understand how fires can be prevented. They also explored what to do if a fire occurs, including how to respond safely and seek help.

The sessions encouraged pupils to consider how their choices can help protect themselves and others, reinforcing the importance of awareness and responsible behaviour.

A big thank you to the Fire Service for sharing their expertise and helping our pupils become more fire aware!

Throughout October, Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School is celebrating Black History Month through themed assemblies, form time sessions and a special themed menu, reflecting this year’s theme, “Honouring Our Communities.”

The theme encourages us to recognise the contributions of Black people whose everyday actions help communities thrive: volunteers giving their time, teachers shaping futures, and nurses and carers providing dignity and compassion. Their contributions may not always make the headlines, but their impact is felt every day.

Through our assemblies and themed form time sessions, pupils are exploring how Black communities have shaped Britain’s history and continue to enrich society today. A particular focus is “Windrush and British Communities”, recognising the Windrush generation and their descendants’ contributions to public services, culture and community life. Pupils are reflecting on the experiences of those who came to Britain, the challenges they faced and the lasting communities they helped to build.

These activities also encourage pupils to look closer to home, recognising the people who support and inspire them and considering how they can make a positive contribution themselves.

Our catering team is supporting the celebrations with a Black History Month themed menu, creating an opportunity to celebrate cultural heritage and the role food plays in bringing communities together.

At DEC, “Honouring Our Communities” means making everyday contributions visible, celebrating Black history and culture, and helping every pupil understand the value of belonging, respect and service to others.

On Wednesday 14th October, our Year 7 pupils welcomed Loudmouth Education & Training to DEC for Screen Time, an interactive performance and workshop exploring how to stay safe, think critically and behave respectfully online.

Through drama and discussion, pupils explored why information online cannot always be trusted. They learnt about the difference between misinformation, which is false information shared by mistake, and disinformation, which is deliberately misleading, and considered the importance of checking information before believing or sharing it.

The session also explored how personal information can be collected, shared and used online. Pupils considered how to recognise harmful online behaviour, where to seek support and why the same expectations of kindness and respect apply both online and face to face.

Part of our PSHE programme, Screen Time provided a valuable opportunity for pupils to develop the knowledge and confidence to make informed choices in the digital world.

As a parent, you can find out more information HERE 

Thank you to Loudmouth for bringing these important messages to life!

This week at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury, our Theme of the Week has focused on Mental Health and Wellbeing, with activities encouraging pupils to talk openly, look after themselves and know where to turn for support.

Breaktime drop-in sessions with Ms Finnegan, Mrs Palmer and Ms Larden, members of our wellbeing team, have provided opportunities for pupils to chat, ask questions and access support in a welcoming environment.

Our Year 7 and Year 8 pupils also attended assemblies delivered by the MHST (Mental Health Support Team), focusing on mental health and wellbeing and highlighting the importance of seeking help when needed.

Through House assemblies and form time activities, we recognised World Mental Health Day on 10th October 2026 and its theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.” This encouraged pupils to consider the importance of listening to people’s experiences, valuing their voices and using greater understanding to make a positive difference.

Thank you to our wellbeing team and MHST for helping reinforce an important message: asking for help is a positive step, and support is available at DEC.

On 12^th October 2026, Year 7 and Year 8 pupils welcomed MHST (Mental Health Support Team) Birmingham for special assemblies marking World Mental Health Day.

The assemblies provided a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of mental health, encourage conversations about wellbeing and reinforce the importance of asking for support. The message was clear: looking after our mental health matters, and nobody should feel they have to manage their worries alone.

At Dame Elizabeth Cadbury, we want every pupil to feel supported and know that their voice matters. These assemblies encouraged kindness, understanding and care for ourselves and others.

Thank you to MHST Birmingham for supporting our pupils and helping us keep mental wellbeing at the heart of our school community.

Find out more: Mental Health Support Team | Forward Thinking Birmingham

Year 9 and 10 pupils at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury took part in a powerful performance and workshop of Faultlines, delivered by Saltmine as part of our PSHE programme.

Through the stories of people who have experienced domestic abuse, the production explored healthy and unhealthy relationships, helping pupils recognise how behaviours such as manipulation, gaslighting and coercive control can develop.

The accompanying workshop provided an opportunity to reflect on the messages, ask questions and consider how to recognise warning signs in relationships. Central to the session were the importance of respect, knowing where to seek support and understanding that abuse is never the fault of the person experiencing it.

The experience reinforced our STRIVE values, particularly Respectful to all, Integrity in all we do and Everyone is equal, encouraging pupils to consider how we can help build a community where everyone feels safe, valued and supported.

Thank you to Saltmine for bringing this important learning to life and supporting our pupils to make informed choices about relationships.

Every Tuesday, DEC pupils have the opportunity to take to the court at our basketball club, run by Birmingham Rockets Basketball and led by one of their basketball stars, Ronald Blain!

Having Ronald lead the sessions gives pupils an exciting opportunity to learn from an experienced player, develop their basketball skills and build confidence on the court.

The weekly club encourages pupils to stay active, practise teamwork and communication, and support one another—putting our STRIVE value of “Together we learn” into action.

A big thank you to Ronald and Birmingham Rockets for bringing this fantastic opportunity to DEC!

A huge well done to our Year 9 basketball team, who put in a fantastic performance in their recent home fixture at DEC against Barr Beacon.

The team played brilliantly from start to finish, showing excellent teamwork, determination and skill to secure a convincing 24–4 victory.

Subhan had an outstanding game, scoring an impressive 18 points and making a fantastic contribution to the team’s success.

The team was made up of Subhan, Rennzo, Kiefer, Adam, Jonah, Tommy, Kayden, Kziah, Alfie and Joshua, all of whom played their part in a brilliant team performance.

A special thank you to Mr G Jones, who officiated the game so that the team could play while staff attended the Year 7 Settling-In Evening. Your support was greatly appreciated!

The team’s next fixture will be at home against Turves on 5th November, where we look forward to seeing them continue their fantastic progress.

Well done, Year 9 – what a brilliant result!

Our Year 8 girls travelled to Barr Beacon this evening for a closely contested netball match, showing an outstanding attitude throughout.

The team led until the final quarter, narrowly losing 10–8. Every player contributed to an excellent team performance, demonstrating determination, teamwork and a positive approach right to the final whistle.

Congratulations to Hattie, who was selected by Barr Beacon as Player of the Match. A special mention also goes to Avie for showing real leadership qualities and supporting her teammates.

The journey home was full of singing and smiles—a lovely reflection of the friendships and positive school experiences that opportunities like these create.

Well done to Veronica, Bianca, Rebecca, Avie, Annalee, Alexa, Hattie, Chloe, Ashleigh and Lacey. You represented DEC brilliantly and brought our STRIVE values of Together we learn and Valuable Contributions to life!

A huge congratulations to our Year 9 netball team, who secured a fantastic 4–0 victory against Barr Beacon!
Ruby was once again voted Player of the Match, showing excellent intensity and producing another standout performance. The whole team played brilliantly, with Paula making some fantastic blocks as goalkeeper to keep Barr Beacon off the scoreboard.
Our Year 7 team also demonstrated determination and sportsmanship. Although they lost their match, they came back strongly in the second half, drawing both of the final two quarters. Their improvement and perseverance were a real credit to the team and to DEC.
Our Year 9 players were Amora, Ruby, Samoya, Deniece, Aila, Paula, Leah and Aaliyah.
We look forward to the Year 9 team’s next fixture, at home against Wednesfield on 22 October. Please come along and cheer them on if you are available!
Well done to all our players for representing DEC so positively and putting our STRIVE values into action through teamwork, respect and determination! 👏