We need your help! Join us in making a real difference by supporting the Chocolate 5K in aid of Birmingham Hospice. Every donation we provide, big or small, helps the hospice move forward in their mission to provide everyone with expert end of life care.
Thank you for all your continued support, Mr Scarth and all the sixth form Team.
Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/decscharity
We are delighted that 12 of our amazing pupils have been chosen to take part in The Scholars Programme. The Scholars Programme aims to give children an experience of university learning to help them make an informed decision about their future. Throughout The Scholars Programme our pupils will take part in small group university-style tutorials delivered by a PhD tutor, teaching a topic based on their current research. The topic for this years cohort is stem cells and our pupils are already hooked!
The programme is structured around seven tutorials, and pupils also attend a Graduation Event at a partner university to speak with current undergraduates and learn about university life. Pupil's work towards completing a challenging final assignment which is marked and moderated using university grades.
Although university may not be for everyone, these pupils have been identified as having the potential to make a successful application to one of the UK’s most selective universities in the future. Well done year 10!
Recently, a group of our dedicated pupils had the wonderful opportunity to visit Birmingham Children’s Hospital, to learn about the vital work being done there and explore ways they could support the hospital through fundraising efforts.
The visit provided a unique insight into the challenges faced by the hospital and the children it serves. Our pupils were given a tour of the facility, where they learned about the various departments and the specialised care provided to young patients. They also had the chance to meet some of the medical professionals and staff who work tirelessly to create a comforting and supportive environment for children and their families.
During the visit, the students engaged in a discussion about what the latest fundraising project was for, i.e. a newer, more welcoming entrance to the hospital. They were also encouraged to think creatively about how to raise awareness and encourage others in the community to get involved.
Our pupils, and other across our Matrix Academy Trust, are truly inspired by the stories they heard and are now eager to take action. Their enthusiasm and dedication to helping others reflect the DEC STRIVE values we instill in our school community. With their passion and commitment, we are confident they will make a positive impact on the lives of the children at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Stay tuned for more updates as our students begin their fundraising journey and continue to make a difference in the lives of others! WATCH THIS SPACE!
This week, our Year 7 students embarked on an exciting trip to a Attwell Farm, where they had the opportunity to experience life on a working farm firsthand. It was a day filled with learning, laughter, and plenty of hands-on experiences.
The day began with a guided tour of the farm, where students had the chance to meet various animals, including cows, sheep, chickens, and even some playful goats. They learned about the daily routines of farm life, from milking cows to collecting eggs and feeding the animals. Many students were surprised by how much effort it takes to keep a farm running smoothly!
One of the highlights of the day was watching a sheep give birth to twins!
The Year 7 farm trip was an unforgettable experience that gave our students a deeper understanding of agriculture, sustainability, and the importance of working together. We look forward to more trips like this in the future and hope that our students continue to develop a love and respect for nature.
A huge thank you to the farm staff for their warm welcome and expert guidance throughout the day!
To continue to promote and reward outstanding attendance, we will offer an attendance incentive during April. If pupils attend school, every day, arriving on time between 1st-10th April, they will receive an Easter treat on Thursday 10th April. They will also be entered into a raffle where, on Thursday 10th April, the names of two lucky pupils from each year group will be drawn and the winners will receive an Easter surprise. There will also be the chance for one lucky pupil/family to win the grand prize of an Easter hamper!
The theme for the 2025 Turing visits was ‘not just tourists’. We wanted to encourage our pupils to not just visit a place, but experience the cultures within it immersing themselves in daily life through food, religion and cultural activities.
Our first Turing visit for 2024-2025 was for Year 12 pupils travelling to Morocco. We spent a week in Marrakesh and the surrounding areas learning about life in this country.
Food plays an important part in any culture. During our visit, we attended a cooking class where we learned about traditional Moroccan dishes, what the Common ingredients in Morocco are and how these are prepared in line with religious rules. We enjoyed trying the dishes, with Chicken Pastilla (a sugary pastry filled with chicken) and Beef Tagine being particular favourites. Some pupils experienced their first McDonalds ever as Moroccan McDonalds serves Halal meat which is not common in the UK.
We tried our hand at using Arabic to communicate with locals. We also attended a calligraphy class where we learnt about the types of Arabic script, the traditional inks and pens before having a go at writing our names in Arabic. The biggest challenge was remembering to write right to left!
We travelled to Marrakesh during the holy month of Ramadan, and so we were able to experience the regular call to prayer. Many of our tour guides and hosts were able to talk about the importance of Ramadan to Muslims and we were able to respect our tour guides by not eating and drinking in front of them and allowing them to break fast in the evening. A number of pupils were able to enter the Koutubia Mosque in Marrakesh to pray and were blown away by the sheer scale and size of the mosques with hundreds of Muslims praying together.
Marrakesh is very different to the cities and towns that we live in, it is much busier and noisier! We were able to experience the souks and markets seeing differences in the ways that goods are sold - we didn't see one supermarket ! Many of us tried our hand at bartering for souvenirs and sunglasses, with the Wednesfield pupils in particular discovering new haggling talents. We found it tricky as it involved a lot of confidence but we did manage to get some real bargains!
Thankfully we were able to escape the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh for the calm of the Jardin Marjorelle, a peaceful garden once owned by Yves Saint Laurent , a great space to regather our thoughts before heading back out into the city.
Over our last 2 days, we ventured out of Marrakesh to experience rural Morocco. We headed into the Atlas Mountains where we hiked up the Imlil valley to see the highest peak in Morocco, Mount Toubkal. Whilst on our hike it started to snow – which was totally unexpected. We all had to show a lot of reliance climbing the steep hill but were greeted with amazing views. We were able to discuss the similarities and differences between life in the UK and life in Morocco with our guides. We were surprised on the way up the mountain to get stuck in a traffic jam of sheep! On the way down we found a common language with some local boys playing a quick game of football.
Our final night was spent in the desert. A complete contrast to life in the mountains, we enjoyed an off road adventure to get to our campsite where we were able to relax in the comfort of luxury tents. We were treated to Moroccan music on the Oud and drums before we tried some of the moves! We especially enjoyed the traditional hats with tassels to spin around our heads.
By immersing ourselves in Moroccan life, we learnt lots about this remarkable part of the world as well as gaining a greater understanding about our own cultures and practices. We didn't just visit Morocco - we lived Morocco!
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a world wide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, organisations, and others around the world with the opportunity to recognise the many skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.
Celebrating Neurodiversity Week in our school is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and promote inclusivity for students with various neurological conditions, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. At Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School we have assemblies all week, delivered by Mr Jevons, our SENCO, who will provide opportunities for students to reflect on how they can embrace differences and celebrate what makes people unique.
By engaging students, staff, and the wider community, we aim to create an educational environment that values diversity and fosters understanding and respect for all, which is one of our STRIVE values.
As part of our exciting activities for Science and Engineering Week, 55 of our talented year 8 students took part in a STEM workshop where they designed, built and presented a model wind turbine. During the day, students demonstrated the core values and qualities of a good engineer: creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and communication skills. They also applied the design cycle used by engineers: design, build, test, improve. To complicate things further, pupils had to adhere to a budget and minimise the cost of their build but without losing efficiency. We are so proud of year 8!
On Friday 7th March, GCSE and A-Level students from the ADT department went on a trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. From seeing replicas of world-famous sculptures in the Cast Courts, West-End theatre costumes and an array of paintings, drawings and garments, students were introduced to a plethora of artefacts from across the world of decorative art and design. The magnificent building itself with it’s glowing glass centrepiece and abundance of elaborate arches, plays home to more than 5000 years of human creativity – a fantastic opportunity to see a wide range of cultures, time periods and movements in one place!
A huge thank you to Miss Cartwright, Mrs Pugh and Mrs Ellis for supporting myself in taking students to London, and to Mrs McHugh and Mrs McNeill for helping to organise a memorable day for us all.On Friday 7th March, GCSE and A-Level students from the ADT department went on a trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. From seeing replicas of world-famous sculptures in the Cast Courts, West-End theatre costumes and an array of paintings, drawings and garments, students were introduced to a plethora of artefacts from across the world of decorative art and design. The magnificent building itself with it’s glowing glass centrepiece and abundance of elaborate arches, plays home to more than 5000 years of human creativity – a fantastic opportunity to see a wide range of cultures, time periods and movements in one place!
A huge thank you to Miss Cartwright, Mrs Pugh and Mrs Ellis for supporting myself in taking students to London, and to Mrs McHugh and Mrs McNeill for helping to organise a memorable day for us all.
In January, Miss Hart and her dance partner took part in the Birmingham Qualifier to be part of Team England. As a result, they both successfully qualified and will be representing Team England in the Global Dance Open Finals, held in Birmingham between 16th-20th July. Miss Hart and her dance partner will be competing against the best dancers from countries all over the world in the following sections; Senior Jazz Duet/Trio, Senior Lyrical Duet/Trio and Senior Contemporary Duet/Trio. Good luck Miss Hart - we are rooting for you!
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