Don Valley Academy

The Year 10 Parents Evening tonight has unfortunately been cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions forecast for this evening. It will be rescheduled for a later date and parents will be informed in due course.

We expect school to be open as usual on Monday. Any changes will be texted to parents, placed on our website and announced on TRAX FM.

We have been informed that any cancellations or alterations to the school bus service will also be announced on TRAX FM.

Students will need to wear their coats, warm layers underneath and suitable footwear for snow (boots, wellies, trainers etc).

N. D’Rozario

Tickets for our production of Peter Pan are now on sale – available from Student Reception.

Tuesday 28th & Wednesday 29th February 2012. 

7:00pm in Lower School Hall.

Adults – £3.50      Concessions - £2.00    Family Ticket - £9.00 (2 Adults & 2 Concessions)

On the 5th December 2011, Lower School Hall was packed to the rafters with proud parents, friends and supporters, all there to witness the debut performance from  the Don Valley Dance Company.

It was clear to see that they were not to be disappointed as the students performed with confidence and professionalism! They had all worked extremely hard attending after school rehearsals to prepare for the evening. For those students who were new to dance this year and those tackling unfamiliar styles; it has been truly inspirational to watch their confidence grow and technique flourish.

The showcase was a huge achievement for all the BTEC dancers and formed part of their ‘Performing Dance Unit’ assessment. It has set a precedent and I look forward to preparing for their  second showcase in the spring.

 Congratulations to all dancers on a thoroughly enjoyable show!

Miss Newton
Curriculum Leader of Dance

Christmas was a truly magical time for Don Valley Sixth Form. A successful Christmas appeal was ran by members of the sixth formers, managing to fill four big bags to the brim with toys that were donated to children in South Yorkshire. The Christmas assembly celebrated the successes so far in the year. It was also evident what amazing talent we have in the sixth form, when several of our students  took to the stage to perform  during the assembly, as well as Jessie J popping in to wish the sixth form a Merry Christmas!

Additionally the premiering of ‘Proper Crimbo’ went down a treat in the Sixth Form leaving assembly where members of staff got into the Christmas spirit. The video was successfully directed and edited by future Spielberg’s in our sixth form.  We would like to thank anybody who donated a toy to the Christmas appeal and anybody who joined in the fun at such a special time.

Mrs Keighley-Beddow
Temporary Year 12 Learning Manager

Year 8 History students recently visited Leeds Armouries to support their class work on the English Civil War and Warfare Through Time.

Students had the opportunity to try on authentic armour and uniforms from different periods of time. They also handled artifacts, examined weapons and were even put through their paces in pike drill!

A good day was had by all!  

Best School Award
Winner: Don Valley Academy & Performing Arts College

Don Valley Academy and Performing Arts College had cause for celebration in 2011 as year 11 pupils received phenomenal examination results. We are the joint most improved school in Doncaster and our five A* – C results have doubled over the last three years.

The school prides itself on being very creative and on finding new ways to challenge and develop its students as young people both in and out of the classroom.

We have fantastic extra curricular activity opportunities which are led by staff willing to go the extra mile whether it be at lunchtime, after school, evenings or weekends which has resulted in many pupils excelling with their talents especially in the Performing Arts and Sport.

Community Impact or Involvement Award
Winner: Mrs Hopson

Our school librarian Mrs Hopson is absolutely passionate about promoting the enjoyment of books and reading among young people, and enthusiasm goes way beyond her ‘day job’.

 In 2004, she came up with the idea of the Doncaster Children’s Book Award (DBA), a scheme that would promote reading and libraries, encourage social interaction among children from all areas of Doncaster and, importantly, give them a voice about what they like to read.

In the first year of the awards, children from 15 schools took part. Through the hard work of the award’s organising committee the event has grown massively and now has 70 primary and secondary schools involved, although all Doncaster children can access the scheme via public libraries and the DBA website even if their school is not involved. The thousands of votes that the children send in are evidence of how much they enjoy the award scheme.

 Within school, her work helped Don Valley Academy win the National Literacy  Trust ‘Reading Connects’ School of the Year in 2009/10 and she has been named a ‘Reading Ambassador’. The school is currently featured as a best practice case study for promoting reading for pleasure in the resource section of the OFSTED website.

 To conclude, Mrs Hopson has worked really hard to create a positive and large community of young readers within Doncaster. As reading and literacy is crucial to the educational success of Doncaster’s youth, she is without doubt a worthy winner.

Don Valley Academy and Performing Arts College are proud to present
their Festival of Christmas

Lower School Hall - Wednesday 14th December at 7:00pm.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Available from the Performing Arts Office.
Parents can also purchase tickets from Reception.

£3.00 for Adults and £1.50 for Concessions.

The disruption created by the planned industrial action and the need to have regard for health and safety of pupils, has caused the school to decide whether or not to remain open.

After careful consideration and in the best interest of the pupils, we have decided to close due to the numbers of teaching and support staff in school who are affiliated to the unions which have voted for Industrial Action.

Students will be expected to return to school on Thursday 1st December 2011. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.