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Posted on: 22/06/2023Danes Educational Trust host first student Public Speaking Competition
On Thursday 15 June, the first ever Danes Educational Trust Public Speaking Competition took place at Croxley Danes School. Teams from Chancellor’s, Croxley Danes, Elstree Screen Arts Academy, Onslow St Audrey’s and St Clement Danes presented topics chosen by the team members themselves. Students competed across two age categories - Junior (years 7-9) and Senior (years 10-12), with 20 competitors in the Junior division and nine in the Senior, including reserves and speech writers who also attended in support of their fellow team members.
For many competitors, this event was their first experience of public speaking and the sense of achievement each and every individual felt from standing up and being heard radiated through the room. All students displayed great courage and confidence in their speeches and in representing their schools. The evening was a new opportunity for students and teachers to engage with people they otherwise wouldn’t have met.
The judging panel was composed of Anne Pickard, Fiona Shore and David Tobin; three individuals from a wide variety of career backgrounds, ranging from the BBC, to local councils, yet all starting their careers as secondary school teachers. Fiona Shore told the event organisers that she “found it inspiring to see the various teams trying so hard and supporting each other”. Anna Pickard similarly commented on the “very warm atmosphere… the students enjoyed the whole experience.” Nicola Spencer, Oracy Lead for Danes Educational Trust stated that “even though it was a competition there was a sense that everyone had gained something from it.”
In the junior category, the St Clement Danes team - Kristina McDougall, Nayna Pandya and Katherine Willis - placed first with their speech “Should we separate the art from the artist?”. The Chancellor’s team were the runners up for this category - Annabel Edwards, Emma Brazil and Reuben Smith - with their speech “should schools embrace AI as a valuable tool?”. The senior winners were the Croxley Danes team of Fin Casselton, Yousuf Sayed and Liam Bishop-Gregs, whose speech posed the question “Should we cancel ‘Cancel Culture’?”. All teams demonstrated a refined understanding of their topics, displaying gripping dialogues on increasingly relevant subject matters, and we would like to congratulate everybody who participated.
Elke Acornley
Year 12, St Clement Danes School
Posted on: 30/03/2023Danes Educational Trust ranks top in Hertfordshire for all key measures in DfE report
At the beginning of March 2023 the DfE published Multi Academy Trust (MAT) performance data for the first time in three years.
Key Stage 4 performance data for Danes Educational Trust, which includes four eligible secondary schools: Chancellor’s School in Potter’s Bar, Croxley Danes School in Rickmansworth, Onslow St Audrey’s School in Hatfield, and St Clement Danes School in Chorleywood, has ensured Danes Educational Trust is ranked top in Hertfordshire for all key measures. Established in 2016 and now comprising 9 schools, the Trust is also ranked 2nd in the East of England for Attainment 8, Grade 5 and above in English and Maths and EBacc Average Point Score (APS) and 4th in the East of England for Progress 8. Nationally, for Attainment 8, Grade 5 and above in English and Maths and EBacc APS, Danes Educational Trust students are ranked in the top 10 of 193 MATs who are included in these measures and 14th nationally for Progress 8.
Progress 8, a measure of students' progress from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4, shows on average that students who are part of Danes Educational Trust out-perform similar learners nationally by almost half a grade. The proportion of students in the Trust achieving the EBacc is also above the National Average, with 64% passing both English and Maths with a Strong Pass of Grade 5 and above as opposed to a Hertfordshire Average of 57% and a National Average of 50%.
Rachel Brindley, Director of Education for secondary provision at Danes Educational Trust, said: ‘While this data should be used cautiously in light of COVID’s uneven impact and the changes that were made to exams and grading, it does bear testament to the consistently collaborative, focused, thoughtful and unwavering efforts colleagues went to to ensure our students were safe, cared for and on track for a future beyond the pandemic. After a period of so much upheaval and disruption - none of which our children should have borne - we are delighted they have achieved so much. They, their families and their broader communities should be very proud.’.
Individually, Danes Educational Trust schools have also performed well. In 2022 Croxley Danes School received its first set of GCSE results with 60% achieving a Strong Pass in English and Maths, as did students at Chancellor’s School. St Clement Danes School scored in the top 10% in the country across all subjects. Onslow St Audrey’s School saw an improvement on all pre-pandemic measures over time and is well on its way - under the new and energetic leadership of Julie Jones - to becoming the school of choice for the Hatfield community.
You can read the full details for trusts across the UK here:
https://www.find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk/
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