A pupil won a citywide public speaking competition with a speech criticising the media’s portrayal of women.
Fourteen-year-old Dinah Milton, a student at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby, expressed a clear interest on the subject of the male gaze after studying women’s rights in Personal Development and Religious Studies.
The male gaze refers to the way women are depicted in visual media and literature, and the way they are often objectified rather than viewed for their personality.
Dinah won Derby Schools Speaking Competition, which is open to secondary schools across the city. Her speech was inspired by a video on social media.
She said: “It was a subject that I really enjoyed, and I really wanted to hear more about it, I just didn’t know enough.”
The teenager is a high achiever, handing credit to her family for encouraging her to be the best that she can be.
“I wasn’t sure whether to do it or not, I knew it would be an experience. In the end I just went for it. When they said my name, I looked over to my mum and she was so happy! I didn’t even know what to say, I was so shocked.”
Dinah is a talented young speaker and has potential plans to go into international relations.
Head of Year 11, Daniel Thornhill, said: “The calibre of this year’s entrants was superb. The variety of topics and the maturity of the delivery clearly displayed that here at Saint Benedict CVA the students are switched on to the world around them and wish to shape the future in a positive way. It also shows the excellent work of the English Department as the speeches were superbly crafted.
“I was lucky enough to hear all of the speeches and as such I laughed, cried, felt guilt, was embarrassed and inspired. Above all, it was a humbling experience – and I did not envy the judges’ job! Dinah was such a worthy winner, excellent, creative and confident – all in her PE kit too! A clear sign of her adaptability and poise.”
St Elizabeth’s Catholic Voluntary Academy has been graded Good overall by Ofsted with personal development rated Outstanding.
Inspectors said that the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management and early years provision at the school, in Belper, were all Good.
The report said that personal development was Outstanding – one of the few schools in the area to achieve this.
“The school’s personal development offer is exceptional. Pupils are very well prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are proud of their inclusive school. They celebrate that ‘everyone belongs here’. Pupils speak with respect about different faiths and cultures,” inspectors said.
The school was described as “harmonious” and “caring” with a “nurturing, family feel.”
“There is a strong culture of mutual respect and kindness across the school. As a result, relationships between staff and pupils are warm. Pupils are happy and feel safe,” inspectors said.
Numerous areas were highlighted for praise including the “ambitious” curriculum, pupils’ character development, relationships between staff and pupils and the support pupils show for each other.
Inspectors said: “The school is ambitious for all pupils to achieve their potential across all areas of the curriculum. Pupils aspire to these expectations. They enjoy school. They show a mature attitude towards their learning and commitment to their studies. Pupils achieve well.”
Children in Reception Year follow well established routines and complete activities which develop their independence.
“Staff support pupils with their early language and communication. Staff introduce children to new words and encourage children to use them,” inspectors said.
Children start learning to read immediately in the Reception Year and a strong reading culture was highlighted in the report. The published outcomes for phonics and Key Stage 2 reading are high.
Pupils were said to enjoy their mathematics lessons and could talk about their learning with confidence.
During unstructured times, pupils were said to support each other.
Inspectors said: “They play together happily. Older pupils show care for their younger peers. Pupils commented, ‘Everyone is really nice to each other here. We get rewarded for making correct choices.’”
Pupils’ character development was described as a “clear strength of the school.”
“Pupils are particularly proud of their leadership roles and the impact they have on their school and the wider community,” the report said.
Pupils with Special Educational Needs are supported well, according to the report, and arrangements for safeguarding in the school were found to be effective.
Inspectors said that staff are proud to work at the school and that there is a strong team feeling.
Amanda Clemens, Headteacher, said: “I am incredibly proud to share that St Elizabeth’s Catholic Voluntary Academy has been graded Good overall by Ofsted, with Outstanding recognition for our personal development provision. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils, and the unwavering support of our families.
“The inspectors highlighted our inclusive, nurturing environment and the strong relationships that underpin everything we do. I am especially delighted that our commitment to developing confident, respectful, and compassionate young people has been recognised as exceptional.
“Thank you to everyone who contributes to making our school such a special place. Together, we will continue to grow and thrive.”
A 14-year-old student at Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy has won a national poster competition run by supermarket giant, Aldi.
Alice Chen created the poster for the competition launched as part of Aldi’s Get Set To Eat Fresh initiative, run in partnership with Team GB and ParalympicsGB, which is designed to inspire students aged five to 14-years-old to cook and eat healthy, fresh food.
The teenager’s design used the slogan ‘Take What You Want, Eat What You Take’. She won both a £250 gift card and the opportunity to have her poster displayed in the Aldi Head Office.
Alice said: “My family were very proud, and I was shocked. I didn’t expect to win.”
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi, said: “This competition has been a great way to get children thinking about how we can all play a part in cutting down our food waste. It has been encouraging to see so many young people take an interest in sustainability and express their ideas in such a creative way.
“We had lots of fantastic entries but the winning poster by Alice does a wonderful job of showing how small, everyday actions can make a big difference to the planet.”
A Teaching Assistant is saying goodbye to St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Matlock after 23 years of service.
Nicola Ellis began her career in education at the age of 17, when she started in the nursery at Lilybank Convent School in Matlock, where she worked for 18 years.
Now, 41 years later, Mrs Ellis is finally bidding a fond farewell to the St Joseph’s community where she has made many friends and happy memories.
She said: “I’ve always enjoyed working with everybody and always felt very supported by the governors, who have always supported the school. All of our Headteachers over the years have been wonderful and very supportive.
“The ethos of the school has always remained, so I think that is what has held me here for so long. We are like a family and every day the children are told that they are loved.”
Mrs Ellis shared a few of the many memories of her time in the classroom, conveying the joy she has found at St Joseph’s.
She said: “One of the things I love is listening to the children singing. And as a TA you can talk to the children and the children talk to you. I love the positive play; I’m running a creative club at the moment and I’m loving that. It’s a very special school and a very special place to work.
“A little girl I used to teach, she’s getting married in August. She was 4 at the time when I taught her, but now I’ve been invited to her wedding!”
Further activities she recounted included trips to the seaside, residentials which included various teambuilding activities and visiting the neighbouring convent, Presentation Sisters, with the children.
“We took one child to the seaside in Year 4 and it was her holiday, going to the seaside for the day. She’d never paddled or been on a beach. She was ecstatic.”
Mrs Ellis also spoke about some difficult times whilst working at St Joseph’s.
“Covid was very tricky, and we had a difficult time. But at the end of the day, if you listen to the children and talk to them in a nice way, I think you can break the barriers. It’s just about building trust with them.”
Stacey Carr, Headteacher, said “Nicola Ellis has been a treasured part of St Joseph’s for the past 23 years, and her retirement marks the end of an era. She is one of the most caring and generous people you could ever hope to meet, and her warmth, kindness, and unwavering support have touched the lives of so many.
“Nicola is deeply loved by children, parents, and staff alike – a true pillar of our school community. We will miss her more than words can say and thank her wholeheartedly for everything she has done. The impact she’s had on generations of families at St Joseph’s will never be forgotten.”
