w/c Monday 26 January 2026 – Week A

We have raised £4,957 so far with your support. Help us go further.

As we prepare to celebrate 50 years of Denefield in September 2026, we are inviting our community to help us build a lasting legacy for our students.

Government funding covers the essentials, but it does not provide the extras that enhance students’ experience of school. To mark this milestone, we have launched the Denefield 50 Appeal, with a goal of raising £50,000 to improve student spaces, sports facilities and enrichment opportunities. The School Council will help to prioritise how the funds are used.

Thanks to the generous support of our parents/carers, we have already raised £4,957. This is a fantastic start, and with continued support we can go even further.

Examples of possible improvements include additional outdoor seating and covered social areas, updates to sports facilities, and further investment in extra-curricular clubs.

Every contribution matters. Regular monthly donations of £5, £20 or £100 help us plan ahead, and one-off donations are equally valued. Together, these contributions will support both our current students and those who will join Denefield in the future.

To support the Denefield 50 Appeal, please click the button below.

Denefield 50

Thank you for your continued support and for helping us make Success for Life a reality for every student.

Denefield Events

Travel and Tourism Year 13 visit to Basildon Park 

On Tuesday, 13 January the Year 13 Travel and Tourism class visited Basildon through a generous invite from the National Trust Education officer, Hamish Patterson.

The group spoke with the volunteers about the importance of visitor attractions and the roles that could be pursued in the Travel and Tourism industry. One volunteer spoke of the importance of the effort it takes to introduce any event from arranging the health and safety to the financial implications. The group were also allowed to explore the park and see the potential that the attraction could hold in terms of introducing a new attraction or service to improve visitor numbers. 

The visit provided valuable primary research to support an upcoming assignment, and the first-hand experience gave students a clear direction and motivation as they begin putting their coursework together.

A Christmas Carol performance 

This week, the Box Clever Theatre Company delighted our Year 10 and 11 students with a vibrant adaptation of A Christmas Carol, supporting their GCSE English Literature studies.

The performance truly brought the text to life, blending thoughtful modernisation with close attention to the original language. Live music — including some impressive saxophone playing — and plenty of audience participation (even a crowd Macarena!) made the experience both educational and hugely entertaining.  

Students especially enjoyed following Scrooge’s journey through his past, present and future, as laughter, warmth and goodwill gradually melt the ice around his heart.

A huge thank you to Box Clever Theatre Company for this amazing performance.

Denefield Upcoming Events

Headteacher's Open House

From September 2026, the school is proposing to move to a horizontal pastoral system, where students are placed in tutor groups within their own year group (for example, all Year 7 students together), while retaining our House system for identity, pride and competition.

We are inviting parents/carers to complete a short, three-question survey to share their views on the proposed move to a horizontal pastoral system. The survey will take only two minutes and the last date to complete is Friday 30 January.

Your feedback will help shape how this model is introduced and what elements of our current system we retain.

Parents/Carers Survey

Following this, parents/carers are also warmly invited to attend the Headteacher’s Open House on Monday 2 February at 5.00pm, where the proposal will be discussed in more detail by Mr Towill and Mr Simpson, and questions can be raised directly.

You may choose to complete the survey, attend the Open House, or do both. Completing the survey in advance will help inform the discussion on the evening.

Thank you for taking the time to support this important piece of school development.

Click the button below to sign up.

Sign Up

Save the date

Save the date for our upcoming Virtual Parents' Evenings. More information on how to register for the evening will be shared soon. 

The Wellbeing Hub

Watch the webinar here: Login - The Wellbeing Hub