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Denefield Spelling Bee

This term, our Spelling Bee competition has been a highlight across the school, bringing energy and friendly competition to every year group.

It all started in tutor groups, where students went head to head in a series of spelling challenges. Each tutor group selected their strongest spellers, who then went on to compete against other students from their house during assemblies. The rounds were exciting and closely fought, with students showing great focus and confidence under pressure.  

One student from each house progressed to the grand final, where they competed in front of their peers in a tense and exciting final round. All finalists performed exceptionally well, demonstrating impressive spelling ability and composure.

Congratulations to our finalists:

• Sulham – Alfie C (overall winner)
• Kentwood – Bilal H
• Langley – Syed A
• Norcot – Edward P

A special well done to Alfie C, who was crowned the overall winner. Fittingly, the winning word was achievement; a perfect reflection of the effort and success shown throughout the competition.

This term, our Debating Club stars competed in their very first debating event, entering the Newbury Agricultural Society's Schools Debating Competition against teams from several local schools.

Despite it being their first experience of competitive debating, the team showed great confidence, composure and preparation. They delivered a standout performance in the earlier rounds, winning their match against Park House School. Congratulations to Beth L., Phoebe C., Samuel M., Markos S., Rusne P., Harry P. and Chase A. for representing Denefield so well.

Although we did not take home the overall title, this was a hugely promising start for a team competing for the very first time. The students demonstrated excellent communication, teamwork and the ability to think clearly under pressure, skills that will serve them well both inside and outside the classroom.

Following the competition, Mrs McHugh brought the team together at their next club session to celebrate their achievement, share feedback on their performance and look ahead to future events. With this experience under their belts, we are excited to see what this talented group will achieve next.

Our Debating Club meets every Monday during lunchtime and is run by Mrs McHugh. All students are welcome to come along and give it a try.

Sixth Form visit to Go Perform

This term, our Year 12 and 13 students visited Go Perform, a specialist sports performance gym. The trip gave students the chance to experience first-hand the concepts they have been learning about in their exam specification.

During the visit, students took part in a number of practical tests, including hypoxic training, gas analysis and the use of an anti-gravity machine. They also had the opportunity to learn about the different career roles within the sports industry and the qualifications needed to pursue them.

It was a valuable experience that brought classroom learning to life and gave students a real insight into the world of sports science and performance. A big thank you to the PE department for organising such a worthwhile trip.

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Modern Foreign Languages Year 9 and Year 10 trip to Calais

This term, our Year 9 and Year 10 French students travelled to Calais for an exciting three-day trip organised by the MFL department. The trip gave students the chance to experience French language and culture first-hand, putting their classroom learning into practice in a real-world setting.

Over the course of the trip, students visited a range of places including a local goat cheese farm, where they learned about the cheese-making process entirely in French. They also explored the Nausicaa Sea Life Centre, visited the World War Two museum Musee Memoire in Calais, and enjoyed a town trail through Boulogne-Sur-Mer. Students had the opportunity to browse Boulogne Market and Cite Europe, practising their language skills while picking up local items.

There was plenty of time for fun too, with beach activities at Wissant and evening entertainment at the accommodation. The trip also included a visit to a working snail farm, giving students a unique insight into local French agriculture.

It was a fantastic experience that brought the French language to life beyond the classroom. A big thank you to Mr Adango, Miss Paxford and Mrs Jackson for accompanying the students and making the trip such a memorable one.

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Combined Cadet Force visit

Our CCF students recently took part in a Skills at Arms session, where they developed their understanding of safe handling and drill techniques using training equipment in a controlled environment. During the session, students focused on key skills such as positioning, coordination and attention to detail, while following clear safety procedures at all times. It was great to see their level of concentration, discipline and teamwork throughout.

Sessions like these play an important role in building confidence, responsibility and self-discipline as part of the CCF programme.

Year 8 German Play

This term, we welcomed Onatti Productions to Denefield to perform a German language play for our Year 8 MFL students. The play, called Das Gruselhaus, told the story of two best friends who get caught in a thunderstorm during a hike and take shelter in a creepy, abandoned house deep in the woods.

What starts as a simple wait for the storm to pass quickly takes a turn, as strange noises fill the rooms, furniture begins to move and an uneasy feeling takes over. Left on their own, they try to figure out whether the house really is haunted.

The actors also brought students into the action, interacting with them throughout the performance and inviting them to take part in scenes. This made the show feel spontaneous, fun and highly engaging, with plenty of laughs and surprises along the way.

It was a fantastic opportunity for students to hear German spoken in an entertaining and memorable way, helping to bring the language to life outside the classroom. A big thank you to Onatti Productions for a brilliant show and to the MFL department for organising the visit.

Success for Life - Drugs Education

As part of our Success for Life programme, which covers all aspects of personal, social and health education, Denefield has a drugs education strategy to ensure every student has the opportunity to learn and understand the risks, the law and the facts about harmful drugs and substances.

This term, we welcomed back Luna, a trained detection dog from RFA Security, accompanied by her handler Steve, for another site search across the school. We are pleased to report that, once again, no illegal substances or traces of substances were detected, and we can confirm to parents, carers, students and staff that our site was found to be drug-free.

The purpose of these visits is twofold. Firstly, to ensure that students are learning in a safe and drug-free environment. Secondly, it sends a clear message to all students and members of the local community that illegal substances will not be tolerated in any form at Denefield.

We are not complacent, and we will continue to carry out site searches in the future. It is also a good time to remind students and parents that vaping and vaping paraphernalia, while currently legal, are not allowed on the school site, in the same way that cigarettes and other smoking paraphernalia are banned. Pouches, also known as snus, in all forms are also not permitted on the school site.

Kids College

We are thrilled to have completed another fantastic term of Kids College, where Year 5 and 6 students from local primary schools explored exciting courses in science, technology, and the arts. The courses provided an excellent opportunity for students to make new friends and get a taste of life at Denefield.

A big thank you to all the students, parents/carers, and staff for their support. We hope the experience has helped students feel more confident and excited about transitioning to secondary school.

We look forward to welcoming many of you back next year for more fun!

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