We have officially launched our 2026 Prefect Programme, giving pupils the opportunity to take on an important leadership role within Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School.

During the launch assembly, Year 10 pupils were challenged to consider whether they have what it takes to become a Prefect: Are you a role model and a leader? Can you listen to others? Are you patient with younger pupils? Most importantly, do you embody our DEC STRIVE values?

Our Prefects play an important part in school life. Working alongside Heads of House and the Senior Leadership Team, they give their own time to make a positive contribution to our school community. 

From supporting Year 6 Open Evening and Transition to helping with assemblies, fundraising and whole-school events, becoming a Prefect provides pupils with opportunities to develop leadership, responsibility and confidence while acting as ambassadors for DEC.

In return, Prefects will gain valuable experience for future college and university applications, receive safeguarding training and take part in team-building opportunities.

Being a Prefect comes with high expectations. Successful pupils will be expected to demonstrate exemplary behaviour, excellent attendance and punctuality, correct uniform and a consistently positive attitude.

We are looking forward to receiving applications and seeing our next group of pupil leaders step forward to STRIVE for Excellence, support others and make a valuable contribution to life at DEC.

The countdown is on! Year 11 Prom 2027 has officially launched, giving our pupils something very special to look forward to at the end of their final year at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School.

In June 2027, Year 11 will come together for an unforgettable evening celebrating their time at DEC. From getting dressed up and arriving in style to music, dancing, photographs and celebrating with friends and staff, Prom will be a fantastic way to mark the end of an important chapter.

Prom is also about celebrating everything our pupils will achieve along the way. Throughout Year 11, pupils will continue to STRIVE for Excellence through excellent attendance and punctuality, positive behaviour, commitment to their learning and making valuable contributions to our school community.

There is lots to achieve before June – but also lots to look forward to! We can't wait to celebrate with the Class of 2027 and make Prom 2027 a night to remember!

On Thursday 17 September, we were delighted to welcome prospective pupils and their families to Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School for our 2026 Open Evening.

Families explored our classrooms and facilities, met staff and pupils, took part in activities and discovered more about our curriculum, extracurricular opportunities, trips and pastoral support.

A real highlight were our fantastic pupil helpers and tour guides, who represented DEC with confidence and pride. Parents and carers praised how friendly, informative and welcoming our pupils were, with special mentions for Tanya, Summer, Ellie, Axel, Jacob and Isabelle. 

One parent told us:

“Our guide was very friendly and happily answered questions about a school that she was very proud to be part of.”

Another commented:

“Every pupil or staff member we engaged with was very friendly, informative and honest. It really gave us a good vibe regarding what DEC can offer our daughter.”

Families also highlighted the enthusiasm of our staff, the positive relationships between staff and pupils, and the opportunity to experience different areas of school life.

A huge thank you to our staff and pupils for making the evening such a success and to every family who joined us.

We were incredibly proud to showcase our school community and what it means to STRIVE for Excellence at DEC.

Today, we were delighted to welcome Year 7 pupils, parents, carers and grandparents into Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School for our Macmillan Coffee Morning.

The event provided a wonderful opportunity for families to spend time together, meet other members of our school community and enjoy a selection of delicious cakes and refreshments—all while supporting the important work of Macmillan Cancer Support.

We were also pleased to welcome representatives from Early Help, who were available to meet families, offer advice and share information about the support available within the local community.

It was lovely to see so many of our newest pupils proudly sharing the occasion with their families. The morning reflected our STRIVE values, particularly Together We Learn and Valuable Contributions, as our community came together to make a positive difference.

Thank you to everyone who attended, made a donation or helped to organise the event. Your generosity and support made the morning a real success and demonstrated the strong sense of belonging at DEC.

We are delighted that the first cohort of pupils has begun our new six-week entrepreneurial workshop programme, delivered in partnership with F2D-ITC.

The programme provides pupils with an exciting opportunity to develop their confidence, motivation, communication, creativity and leadership skills. During the workshops, pupils will work together to design their own hoodies or tracksuits while learning more about enterprise, entrepreneurship and the skills needed for future education and employment.

The first session gave pupils the opportunity to meet the F2D-ITC team, explore their individual strengths and begin sharing ideas for their designs. It was fantastic to see them engaging positively, thinking creatively and encouraging one another.

The programme supports our commitment to providing pupils with meaningful personal-development opportunities beyond the classroom. It also reflects our STRIVE values, particularly being Self-motivated to achieve, making Valuable Contributions and recognising that Together we learn.

We look forward to following the progress of our first cohort and celebrating their achievements at the end of the programme.

We were delighted to welcome parents and carers to our first SEND Coffee Morning of the academic year at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School with Ms O'Connor.

The morning provided a relaxed and welcoming opportunity for families to meet members of our SEND team, connect with other parents and carers, and learn more about the support available for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

Parents and carers were able to ask questions, share their experiences and discuss the ways in which school and home can work together to support pupils’ learning, wellbeing and personal development. The valuable feedback and suggestions shared will help us continue to strengthen our SEND provision and ensure that the voices of families remain central to our work.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed so positively to the morning. Building strong relationships with families is an important part of ensuring that every pupil feels understood, supported and able to succeed.

We look forward to welcoming even more parents and carers to our next SEND Coffee Morning.

The Year 7 basketball team got their Matrix Trust Sports Championship campaign off to a fantastic start with an impressive 15–2 victory over Turves Green Boys’ School.

Playing in their first-ever Matrix Trust Sports Championship, the team showed great determination, teamwork and enthusiasm from the very beginning. They quickly settled into the game and began to build pressure, creating chances and defending strongly. The team’s excellent passing and movement helped them take control of the match, while their determined defence made it difficult for Turves Green to find opportunities to score. As the final whistle approached, the Year 7 team had secured a convincing 15–2 win, giving them the perfect start to their championship journey. It was a brilliant team performance and a fantastic achievement for the players in their first Matrix Trust Sports Championship. The team can be extremely proud of their effort, sportsmanship and teamwork.

Well done to the Year 7 basketball team — what a way to start the competition!

On Monday 14th September 2026, our Year 7 pupils took part in an engaging and thought-provoking visit from Loudmouth Education & Training as part of our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programme.

Pupils watched Loudmouth’s ‘A Step Too Far’ programme, which uses live drama and interactive discussion to explore some of the challenges young people may face as they navigate friendships, relationships and the online world.

Through realistic scenarios, pupils explored different forms of bullying, including cyberbullying, sexist and sexual bullying, homophobic bullying and harmful online behaviours. The session also encouraged pupils to think carefully about respect, resilience, healthy relationships and the important role that bystanders can play in challenging bullying and seeking help.

A particularly important part of the programme focused on helping pupils recognise when behaviour has crossed a line and understanding that abuse and bullying can affect anyone. Pupils considered stereotypes, including those surrounding male victims of relationship abuse, and discussed why sexual harassment, discrimination and abusive behaviour are never acceptable.

The workshop also helped pupils develop practical strategies for staying safe online, recognising potentially harmful behaviours, reporting concerns and knowing where to turn for support.

The session forms part of our wider statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum and our commitment to ensuring that pupils develop the knowledge, confidence and skills they need to stay safe and build positive relationships.

At Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School, we want every pupil to feel that they belong, are respected and have a voice. Opportunities such as this help bring our STRIVE values to life, particularly Respectful to All, Everyone is Equal and Valuable Contributions, by empowering our pupils to look out for themselves and one another.

A fantastic and valuable learning experience for our Year 7 pupils as they continue their journey at DEC.

Year 8 pupils recently took part in an engaging and thought-provoking ‘Safe & Sound’ programme delivered by Loudmouth Education & Training as part of our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programme.

Through live drama and an interactive workshop, pupils explored the story of a young couple and considered how relationships can change over time. The performance encouraged pupils to spot the difference between healthy and unhealthy behaviours and think carefully about what respect, trust and consent look like in a relationship.

Throughout the session, pupils explored important issues including healthy boundaries, privacy and consent, power and control, coercive behaviour and relationship abuse. They also considered the pressures and risks associated with sharing intimate images and, importantly, where they can turn for help if they are worried about themselves or somebody else.

The session gave pupils a safe and age-appropriate opportunity to discuss some challenging but important issues, ask questions and develop their understanding of what a positive and respectful relationship should look like.

‘Safe & Sound’ forms part of our wider Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum and supports our commitment to equipping pupils with the knowledge and confidence they need to keep themselves and others safe.

At Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School, Personal Development is about preparing pupils for life beyond the classroom. Experiences such as this help our young people to recognise when something is not right, make informed choices and know how to access trusted support when they need it.

Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School is delighted to celebrate another positive set of GCSE results, with pupils’ hard work and commitment securing a range of excellent destinations for their next steps in 16–19 education and training.

We would like to congratulate all of our pupils for their hard work and determination throughout their GCSE studies. We also extend our sincere thanks to their families for their continued support and to our teaching and support staff for their dedication and commitment to our pupils.

Some individual success: 

Samson who achieved 8 grade 9s and 2 grade 8s

Mateo who achieved 2 grade 9s,

6 grade 8s and 2 grade 7s

Rosie who achieved 1 grade 9, 7 grade 8s and 1 grade 7

We wish all of our pupils every success as they move on to the next stage of their education.