This term, our students showcased their talents and teamwork across a range of sports. From football to netball, they played with determination and spirit, winning many matches and making Denefield proud. Well done to all the teams!

Football

Congratulations to our U13 Girls Football team for finishing second overall in a one-off friendly football tournament. They won four out of five matches. We are so proud of you girls!

 

Rugby

This term, our U12 Rugby team participated in a Tag Rugby tournament and came third out of seven schools. Well done!

 

Netball

U15 Girls Netball

We are incredibly proud to announce that Denefield U15 Girls Netball team has been crowned champions after an outstanding unbeaten run in Reading Schools Netball League. They faced Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School in the final on Tuesday 11 February. The team showcased exceptional skill, teamwork, and determination throughout the league.

Congratulations to Millie, Lilly-Mai, Lily, Emily, Sky, Sadie, Sophie, Lilly, and Charlotte for this fantastic achievement. You have made us all very proud, well done girls!

Here is a look at their match performance and the points they earned:

 

U16 Girls Netball

Our U16 Girls Netball team put in a strong effort, winning one match with a lead of 14 points and giving tough competition to the opposing teams in their other games. Great job, team! 

HisDoory Interhouse Competition

This term, our interhouse competition HisDoory, was a fantastic showcase of creativity and historical knowledge. Each tutor group was given a specific time period to research, and to transform their classroom doors into a visual representation of that era. It was wonderful to see so many amazing and beautifully decorated classrooms across the school, the effort shown by all the students was truly impressive.

The winning tutor groups are as follows:

K-BIE – Ancient Egypt

S-EDE – Romans

N-CWR – Anglo-Saxons

S-GPE – Vikings

K-LMY – Medieval

K-RYA – Tudor

L-MSH – Industrial Period

L-LHY – World War I

S-SWE – World War II

Each tutor group was awarded points based on its accurate representation of the historical era, design and the overall impact. We are pleased to inform you that Kentwood House won this competition with 28 points, with Sulham House following in second place with 26 points, Langley House with 21 points in third place and last but not the least, Norcot House secured fourth place with 18 points.

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Year 10 Tate Britain visit

Our Year 10 Art students had a fantastic opportunity to visit Tate Britain in London, immersing themselves in the world of British art and culture.

During the visit, students explored the extensive gallery and viewed remarkable artworks ranging from historical to contemporary masterpieces.

The visit gave students a unique chance to connect with art in an exciting and engaging way outside the classroom. A big thank you to the Art Department for organising this memorable trip!

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Berkshire Book Award visit

Our Book Club recently attended the Berkshire Book Award Shortlist Event, celebrating 20 years of this unique, student-driven award. For these awards, young readers nominate and vote for their favourite books, making it a true reflection of what they enjoy reading.

The event, hosted by Reading Blue Coat School, brought together schools from across Berkshire. Our students were thrilled to meet David Barker, author of the sci-fi adventure series London Falling, and were excited to have their books signed.

A huge thank you to Mrs B Fogarty, our Library and Resource Manager, for arranging this visit for the students.

 

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Year 11 Bristol visit

This term our Year 11 Geography students visited Bristol, for their GCSE Geography fieldwork, a key part of their course. During the trip, students explored the urban geography of Bristol, walking from Temple Meads to Cabot Circus, a bustling covered shopping centre. 

They also had the opportunity to explore Bristol's rich history and culture at the M Shed museum. The trip helped the students understand the deep connection between Geography and History.

We hope this hands-on experience inspired them to explore Geography with even more enthusiasm as they approach their GCSEs!

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Year 10 GCSE Science Live visit

Our Year 10 students had an exciting opportunity to attend GCSE Live in Oxford, a dynamic event designed to bring Science to life. The students got a chance to hear from scientists from different fields such as space exploration, medicine, and environmental science. They listened to:

• Professor Jim Al-Khalili on time travel and the Science behind Interstellar. 

• Professor Dave Cliff on AI and the future of computing. 

• Dr Eleonora D'Elia on materials Science and the inspiration the biological world provides for creating products and materials. 

• Dr Kate Lancaster on Nuclear Science, and can you build a star on earth? 

This unique experience helped them deepen their understanding of key scientific concepts learnt in the classroom. 

Headteacher's Open House

It was fantastic to welcome so many parents/carers to 2025’s first Headteacher's Open House. Everyone participated in meaningful discussions about how we can continue to support our students. Mr E Towill, Headteacher, took the time to listen, answer questions, and address key concerns, on topics ranging from academic progress to mental health support.  Ms D Netton led The Wellbeing Hub workshop, offering practical advice to parents/carers on managing anxiety and accessing the right resources.

Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the conversation, your feedback plays an essential role in helping us grow as a school community.

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Sixth Form Enrichment - Taylor Binney

Our Sixth Form students were inspired by a visit from Taylor Binney, a fitness trainer and an entrepreneur, who shared her journey of personal growth and career success.

Over the past seven years, Taylor has built a thriving fitness app with her partner Liam, worked with leading international brands, and supported clients on their health and fitness transformations.

During her talk, Taylor shared her story of discovering her career, overcoming challenges, and ultimately running her own successful business. She also gave valuable advice to our students on pursuing their dream careers, believing in oneself, and embracing life’s changes.

Thank you, Taylor, for visiting and motivating our Sixth Form students!

 

 

Success for Life – 2Engage 

For their Success for Life course, our Year 9 students watched the powerful performance 'Risking it All' by 2Engage. 2Engage is a performing arts company, dedicated to delivering impactful educational performances. 'Risking it All' focussed on important social issues, such as exploitation, unhealthy relationships, drug abuse, and online safety.

After the performance, the students had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the key themes with their peers as well as the actors. They identified the risks, and learnt how to avoid them.

We would like to thank 2Engage for this powerful performance, and for helping our students better understand how to stay safe.

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Year 8 German Play

Our Year 8 students had a great time watching the hilarious German play ‘Auf dem Campingplatz’. The play was performed entirely in German by native speakers, and the story followed two friends on a camping trip, facing unexpected challenges and hilariously exaggerated situations.

The play was a great way for students to reinforce their language skills in a fun, interactive setting, as they engaged with the actors and used their German speaking skills throughout the performance.

We hope this experience inspires them to continue exploring the German language and culture with the same enthusiasm.

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While future destinations are always on the agenda at Denefield, National Apprenticeships Week, from 10 February to 14 February, was an opportunity to highlight the many opportunities this path offers. 

In the last two weeks, students in Years 11 to 13, considering an apprenticeship, have attended apprenticeship workshops, learning how to research and apply for roles they are interested in.  Students in Years 7 to 11 had an Apprenticeship session during tutor time this week, which was aimed at improving their understanding of this option. 

In addition, we had a visit from Oscar at Pathway CTM to speak to students during tutor time. Pathway CTM is an apprenticeship training and mentoring company which works with employers like AWE, Deutsche Bank, KPMG, Mace, British Airways, BAE Systems and many more.  

The apprenticeship application window is now open.  If you would like information about vacancies that are sent to our Careers Lead, forwarded directly to you, please sign up to the mailing list here: Apprenticeship expression of interest

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Futures Bulletin

Denefield Futures Fair

The work we have done in the last few weeks will prepare us for our Futures Fair which will take place on Thursday 27 February, where all students will have the chance to visit the fair and speak to a variety of universities, colleges, training providers and employers.

We have an exciting opportunity for employers to connect with our enthusiastic students, who are ready to explore their career paths. We are looking for representatives from all sectors, including but not limited to:

• IT and Technology
• Healthcare
• Hospitality and Catering
• Hair and Beauty
• Rail and Transport
• Real Estate
• Banking
• Engineering and Manufacturing
• Creative Arts
• Environment and Sustainability

Please contact Mrs J Jackson via careers@denefield.org.uk to become part of our Futures Fair.

Supporting Wellbeing at Denefield

We are pleased to remind you about The Wellbeing Hub, a valuable resource designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of our entire school community. This online platform provides expert guidance, resources, and practical strategies for parents/carers and students.

With mental health being more important than ever, The Wellbeing Hub equips parents/carers with valuable insights to help children navigate challenges and thrive. Each week, new content is available, including helpful articles, videos, and advice tailored to support emotional wellbeing.

We encourage parents/carers to explore The Wellbeing Hub and take full advantage of its resources. Please look out for our updates in the weekly bulletins for key highlights. Together, we can create a positive and supportive environment for our children.

This week on The Wellbeing Hub

If you are a first time user, then please sign up here: Parents - Teentips Wellbeing Hub

If you are already registered, click the button below to log in.

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Train to Teach at Denefield

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Save the date

The Great Sixth Form Bake Off

TellMi

All Denefield students have access to TellMi, an online support platform for their emotional wellbeing. It's safe, secure and available 24/7. Download the app here: 

• TellMi Google Play
• TellMi Apple Store

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Berkshire Music Trust

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