I am writing this edition of Headlines on Tuesday 27th January - a day which marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp and is now internationally known as Holocaust Memorial Day. On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered, and the millions more murdered under Nazi persecution.  We also learn about and reflect upon where other such persecution occurred such as in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust encourages remembrance in a world scarred by prejudice and systematic, targeted persecution. 

The Holocaust threatened the fabric of civilisation, and discrimination and persecution must still be resisted every day. Our world often feels fragile and vulnerable and we cannot be complacent. Wherever it takes place, including in the UK, and in our community, prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by us all. Those messages have been shared throughout recent weeks in our assembly programme, our SMSC form time programme, and the new SCD form time programme. Pupils and staff in the school have created displays and opportunities for the Holocaust to be discussed and reflected on. I am grateful to Miss Fitzpatrick, our subject leader for History, who has designed an artwork project for KS3 pupils on the 2026 Holocaust themes of bridging the generations and light in the darkness. The work the pupils have produced is beautiful, harrowing, deeply thoughtful and also hopeful that the lessons from the Holocaust are indeed bridging the generations.  

Earlier this month, we were deeply saddened to learn as a school community that Luke Payne, a pupil with us until 2024, was seriously injured in a road traffic collision and tragically died as a result of his injuries. Luke and his twin sister, Lillie, were close friends with many of our current Year 13 pupils and are well-known to families in the wider community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lillie, her family and their friends. We extend our deepest sympathies to all the pupils, staff and parents who knew and worked with Luke.

Both St Andrew’s and Christchurch in Chorleywood kindly offered their services to the wider community. I am grateful to Reverend David Hall who supported a gathering of pupils past and present, friends and some of Luke’s extended  family  to attend a candle lit vigil for Luke at Christchurch.  

While it is difficult to move to other matters during such a sad time, the life of the school continues, and we wish to acknowledge the recent efforts of our community.

Following our Charities Week before the Christmas break, I can now share that the total amount raised was £15,553. This is a staggering sum which highlights the commitment of the pupils in supporting valuable causes and the generosity of our parents. The money raised will be split equally between the three chosen charities: Endometriosis UK, Spread a Smile, and Herts Young Homeless. Thank you to everyone involved in Charities Week and all the work behind the scenes which ensured its huge success. It is a collective effort, and the impact for these charities and those they serve will be tangible.

It has been an incredibly busy month for both staff and pupils. With mock examinations over, we have been delighted to see many of our Year 13 pupils receiving offers from their preferred universities, it is an exciting time for them all.

The first few weeks of the Spring term have also brought a wave of sporting success. You can read more about our pupils' achievements in the newsletters below. These are great achievements and the result of the commitment of both the pupils and the PE staff.

Looking ahead, there are many exciting events planned for the remainder of this half term. Rehearsals are well underway for the whole school production of Alice in Wonderland. Performances run from 3rd - 6th March and promise a joyful evening of theatre showcasing the wonderful talent our school has to offer. Please note that tickets for the production will be released in the coming week. 

Before that, this year’s Gym and Dance Show will take place on 10th and 11th February. Featuring a range of solo and group performances, it promises to be a fantastic showcase of our pupils' abilities. Tickets for the Gym and Dance Show are available now on ParentPay. 

Yesterday we welcomed the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, the representative in Hertfordshire of His Majesty, to the school to present the Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards to our pupils. We also welcomed back to the school Mr Matthew Leveridge, Head Boy in 2017/18, to speak about his Duke of Edinburgh experience and how his experience of the award continues to impact on his life and career.  

The following week, on the 4th February, pupils and staff at SCD will be involved in the first stage of the very exciting Chief Executive Officer recruitment process for Danes Educational Trust. 

Separately, I will be writing to all our families regarding the Department for Education's recent “strengthened” guidance that all schools should be phone-free environments throughout the entire school day, including lessons, time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime.

Finally, I wanted to express our sincere thanks for the 449 responses we received for the recent family engagement survey. I look forward to sharing the results of the survey with you in the coming weeks and I hope to see many of you at the forthcoming events in school.