Welcome back and welcome to DHSB Year 7 and Year 12

I hope that you all enjoyed some time together as a family over the summer. It has been a real joy seeing all of our students and staff over the last couple of days; everyone has returned in good spirits and it has been lovely to hear the chatter and laughter filling the school site. For our new students arriving in Year 7 and in Year 12 it has been great to welcome them into our school community as they embark on their journey with us.

Year 7

A huge welcome to our new Year 7 students and their families who begin their exciting new chapter at DHSB!

It was wonderful to meet the students on Wednesday and see them making friends and familiarising themselves with the school grounds. Starting secondary school is a big step and students were filled with a mix of excitement and nerves when they joined us on Wednesday. However, the Year 7 Tutors and Head's of Year were on hand to welcome the new intake of students.

Year 12

We have been delighted to welcome several home students as well as students from other schools to join us in the Sixth form.

We have loved spending time with our new year 12 students who have already shown us how friendly, open to opportunities and ready to learn they are . Year 12 have embraced induction with great energy. Just as our current year 13 students have impressed everyone with their leadership and unique characters, we very much look forward to seeing year 12 shine in the next year. Year 13 have already supported these guys so well as they start out and it's fabulous to have the Sixth form filled with so much youthful enthusiasm and vibrancy!

I am so grateful to our tutors for guiding students extensively in the last three days and to all 'Support colleagues' who have worked so hard to make KS5 transition run as smoothly as it has been. 

Below are pictures of our new year 12s in their creative pose for their tutor groups.

Mrs Davidson, Assistant Head - Post 16

New Staff

We are delighted to welcome the following new staff to DHSB this year:

Paul Broadwater - Teacher of English, Kayleigh Glastonbury - Teacher of English, Sarah Franklin - Teacher of Food Technology, Kitty Taylor - Teacher of Geography, Casper Barton - Teacher of Maths, Ollie Roberts - Teacher of Maths, Brooke Wheeler - Teacher of Maths, Nuala McDermott - Teacher of MFL, Katya Padlyevs’ka - Teacher of Music, Ollie Veale - Teacher of Science, Tom Harris - Learning Manager and Archie Hill - Learning Manager.

And, we also welcomed five student teachers:

Marcus Dolbear, Oliver Durneen, Leo Thomas, Emma Cayliss and Alex Luscombe

DHSB Buses

We now have six buses transporting students to DHSB from surrounding areas. There have been a few teething problems and routes and timetables are being monitored. Please look out for future communications from Ridetandem for any route and timetable changes.

Creative and Performing Arts News and Opportunities 

A big well done to the following students who have achieved amazing results in their music exams with IMS music lessons in school:

James Trenam Nash – Guitar Grade 3 – Merit

Max Roberts – Drums Grade 2 – Pass

Reuben Keeling – Guitar Grade 3 – Merit

Drew Anderson – Drums Grade 1 – Merit

Ben Hanvey – Guitar Grade 3 – Merit

Leo Bryan – Drums Grade 4 – Distinction 

Music Lessons

We have sent out a link for music lessons in school - if you missed this it is here https://forms.gle/7SdcScF1LpyowjcA6 

Little Shop of Horrors!!

Our school Musical has gained great accolades in the last few years, students here producing consistent West End quality performances in demanding roles. Auditions for this year will be more competitive than ever with our rising stars in the lower years and our amazing A level Drama students all vying for stardom!! Open auditions for ensemble roles will be MONDAY 15th September at lunchtime in the theatre. Audition call for principle roles of Audrey, Seymour, Dentist, Ronettes and Mushnik will open to DHSB, DHSG, PHSG, ND on Monday 15th September 4-5pm. Show production will be on 11th - 13th FEB 2026 tickets available from the start of December. 

Extra Curricular 

Clubs start first week back - please click this link to view the timetable of clubs, they are all free and students can bring lunch to lunch clubs.

Music Reminder

There is a store room for music instruments in Jervis, where students can leave instruments during the day. We know how heavy those bags are so feel free to use the storage room for additional musical instruments. 

Mrs Luing-Holmes

PTFA News and Updates

Welcome back everyone and hello to our new parents and carers! Our first meeting of the year is on Wednesday 17 September at 6.30pm in the Conference Room (directly behind the Visitor Reception).

Inevitably we lose valued members of the PTFA as their children leave school and we are in urgent need of some more. Please come along if you can - we'd love to meet you.

Refreshments will be provided (please email if you have special dietary requirements). 

Mrs Beverley Kinsella, PTFA Liaison