Category: Principal’s Blog

16th April 21

Welcome back to the start of the new summer term – a term traditionally when courses culminate in the taking of public exams, summer sports, art exhibitions, music concerts and the sun is supposed to shine – and unfortunately, it isn’t. It’s good to be back at school and to get back into the swing…

26th March 21

A year ago this week, the Prime Minister made a televised address from Downing Street and gave the British people a very simple instruction – ‘stay at home’. It would be easy for a nation now used to lockdown and comfortable with Covid nomenclature such as quarantine, lateral flow, and social distancing to forget just…

19th March 21

‘Creating Unique Learning Opportunities’ is our vision at DLD and this week gives us a perfect example of what can be achieved when students are prepared to “go for it”. On Wednesday, we received the BTEC exams results for our students who sat their exams in January during the national lockdown. Students have shown great…

12th March 21

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” This week started with the large-scale operation of getting all students and staff tested for Covid-19, ahead of a full return to school. The testing itself doesn’t take too long for the participant, with a quick swab of the throat and nose all…

5th March 21

This week has been full of preparations for the return to face-to-face lessons next Monday 8th March. Staff have been busy in the building, making the final adjustments for the return of the community ensuring signage, sanitising products and equipment is all up to the highest standards. There have been online meetings and training with…

26th February 21

Welcome back to the start of the second half of the spring term. I hope you enjoyed the half-term holiday and had some time to recharge your batteries after what has been a busy start to 2021. It’s been great to see the students, albeit online, and I have been impressed at how they have…

12th February 21

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” These powerful words by the great Nelson Mandela set the idea that you can alter society for the better with an education. He campaigned to change the lives of not one generation, but many generations. And this week we welcomed Chris…

5th February 21

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind” At a time when the world is experiencing uncertainty and change, there can be few things as constant as kindness. One of our core values (along with Tolerance and Respect), Kindness is key to pastoral care within the DLD community. Whether students are here in…

29th January 21

Exams, or lack of them, are at the forefront of our minds at present. We all look forward to getting some definite answers from the DfE (Department for Education) and Ofqual to know what form of assessment will replace the traditional summer exams. After the Milestone tests last week and as our International Foundation Programme…

22nd January 21

Hello to all members of the DLD Community, students and parents, wherever you may be. This has been an important week of events around the world with the celebration of Martin Luther King Day on Monday and the inauguration of a new President in the USA on Wednesday. Meanwhile we continue to stay safe and…