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Posted on: 21/08/2026Congratulations to all our students receiving their Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 exam results this summer.
We want to congratulate all students across Danes Educational Trust receiving their Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 exam results this summer. These achievements reflect the genuine grit and effort our young people have put into their studies, backed by the dedication of staff, parents, and families each step of the way. Whether hitting a personal best or working through tough obstacles, every student should feel proud of what they’ve accomplished. This cohort of GCSE students spent the end of their primary and beginning of their secondary years facing unprecedented disruption, making their adaptability and final results all the more inspiring. Equally, our Key Stage 5 students have shown fantastic focus and determination to achieve the results they need to take their next big steps. Across all our schools, we’ve seen some excellent individual accomplishments and outcomes that show what being part of a trust is all about. Whether moving into sixth form or further education, or taking their next steps into university, apprenticeships, and employment, we wish every student the very best for their next chapter and look forward to seeing all that they go on to achieve.
Posted on: 10/06/2026Strengthening our professional culture: Primary Director Sarah King featured in Schools Week
We are delighted to announce that Sarah King, our Primary Director, has recently authored a compelling piece for Schools Week, the UK’s leading education news publication.
In her article, "Why education needs a shared, definitive vocabulary," Sarah explores a strategic challenge that is central to school improvement: the need for a common, precise language across the education sector.
At the heart of Sarah’s argument is the belief that professional clarity is the foundation of excellence. Drawing a comparison between high-stakes industries like aviation and the classroom, Sarah argues that just as pilots rely on standardised procedures to ensure safety, teachers require a shared "meta-language" to ensure consistency and effective practice.
Within our Trust, we are committed to providing the highest quality education for all our pupils. Sarah’s work highlights that when we move beyond ambiguous terminology, such as varying interpretations of "adaptive practice" or "curriculum delivery", we reduce professional anxiety and allow our teachers to focus their expertise where it matters most: the classroom.
Having our leaders contribute to national discourse is a testament to the talent and strategic thinking within our central team. Sarah’s call for a "shared, definitive vocabulary" aligns perfectly with our Trust’s mission to collaborate effectively and drive improvement across all our schools.
We congratulate Sarah on this thought-provoking publication and are proud to have her leadership guiding our primary provision.
Read Schools Week Article >>
Posted on: 12/10/2026Major capital works upgrades drive green transformation across our schools
We are pleased to announce substantial progress in our multi-school infrastructure overhaul, delivering energy-efficient capital works designed to significantly reduce energy costs and lower carbon emissions across our estate. These initiatives align directly with our overarching Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, embedding environmental sustainability and climate adaptation directly into our school infrastructure.
Throughout the 2025–2026 academic year, we have prioritised comprehensive upgrades to LED lighting across all our schools. Every site now features either full or partial LED lighting, with complete retrofit solutions scheduled across remaining areas by the end of the current academic year.
Because LED technology consumes between 75% and 90% less energy and lasts 25 to 50 times longer than traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs, this initiative delivers immediate reductions in both ongoing operational spend and environmental impact.
Building upon the success of the lighting upgrades, we are rapidly expanding our rollout of photovoltaic (solar panel) systems, allowing our schools to convert sunlight directly into electricity on-site.
Proven Impact at St Clement Danes School: Following a solar panel installation completed in August 2025, the system generated 80.5 MWh of clean energy this year (92.7 MWh total since launching). This output has delivered approximately £22,000 in electricity cost savings and prevented 17,900 kg of $\text{CO}_2$ emissions—an environmental impact comparable to planting over 1,000 mature trees or driving a standard petrol vehicle for more than 44,000 miles.
Upcoming Infrastructure Milestones: Our next photovoltaic installation is scheduled for completion at Croxley Danes School during October and November 2026. The project is projected to deliver an annual savings of £13,762 and prevent 13.2 tonnes of CO2 annually.
Tackling climate adaptation and heating modernisation
Following exceptional summer heatwaves, we continue to examine structural solutions to manage building ventilation and mitigate overheating across our sites. While acknowledging there are no simple fixes for maintaining regulated indoor temperatures during extreme weather events, we remain committed to developing solutions that improve building climate resilience.
Additional key infrastructure projects currently underway across our schools include:
Elstree Screen Arts: Phase 2 of the lighting refurbishment at Elstree Screen Arts Academy is officially complete. The upgrade replaces legacy lighting with energy-efficient LED technology, improving visual environments for students and staff while cutting overall power consumption.
Trust-Wide EV infrastructure: Supported by a successfully secured government grant, work is underway to install electric vehicle (EV) charging points across all our school sites. Installations and testing are taking place on a site-by-site basis over the coming months to enable staff travel choices that support broader sustainability goals.
Decarbonising heating systems: St Clement Danes School has officially initiated the replacement of its legacy oil boilers. A specialist consultancy firm has been appointed to lead the project, working alongside school management to design and implement high-efficiency, low-carbon heating alternatives.
We look forward to sharing further updates as our climate action initiatives progress across all our school sites.
Posted on: 25/06/2026DET Public Speaking Competition 2026
The third DET public speaking competition, open to all secondary schools in the Trust, was hosted by Onslow St Audrey’s on Wednesday 17 June.
Teams from St Clement Danes, Croxley Danes and The John Warner School, travelled to join teams from Onslow St Audrey’s for a highly enjoyable and competitive evening of public speaking as well as a generous tea provided by OSA.
Huge thanks goes to our three visiting judges who gave up their time and praised the pupils for the exceptionally high standard of speaking. Previous judges Ameeta Sabharwal and Rachel Gauke were joined by former St Clement Danes colleague Shand George.
In the Junior competition, Amelia C, Sachin V and Anushka M (SCD) were chosen by the judges for the overall junior prize, debating the topic ‘AI will never take over’. They were praised for their confidence, team work and engagement with the audience. Sachin also won the individual award for best overall junior proposer for his confident well-paced delivery. Jonathan W (OSA) won the individual award for best opposer for his passionate and knowledgeable argument on the ethics of war. Millie F (CDS) won the award for best junior chairperson for her sensitive and good-humoured role chairing the debate ‘Are females better than males?’
In the senior competition, Onslow St Audrey’s team took away the Senior prize for their brilliant discussion of the topic ‘Digital ID: The Uk’s Panacea or Poison?’ which challenged the audience to think deeply about both sides of the argument. Tanvi P impressed everyone with her confident control of the debate and took the prize for best overall senior chairperson, despite being the youngest person in the whole competition - a Year 7 competing in a team with Year 10s. The prize for best senior opposer went to Natalia G (TJWS) arguing against the proposal that paper books are better than ebooks - a difficult argument which she presented with authority and conviction. The final prize, for best senior proposer, went to Malik K (OSA) for one of the most memorable speeches of the night on the topic ‘Is Freedom of Speech Dying?’ - superb content and delivery of an exceptionally high standard.
Congratulations to all of the participants and thanks to Claire Weetman for hosting, as well as all of the teachers involved in preparing their teams. In adjudicator Ameeta’s words:
“The standard of the competition was exceptionally high, and I believe it provided invaluable experience for all participants. It was a delight to listen to their well-prepared and thoroughly researched speeches, and it was evident that a great deal of effort, thought, and commitment had gone into their presentations. The competition created a wonderful platform for participants to develop and showcase their communication skills, and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the experience”
The competition will return next year to be hosted at Croxley Danes in the summer term.
Posted on: 24/04/2026Croxley Danes School ranks in top 20% nationally following rigorous new Ofsted inspection
Croxley Danes School, a member of Danes Educational Trust, is celebrating a landmark achievement following its first full inspection under Ofsted’s new, more rigorous, evaluation framework. The report, following the inspection on 24 February 2026, places the school within the top 20% of schools nationally.
The updated Ofsted framework has moved away from reductive one-word judgements, opting instead for a nuanced assessment of school performance led by His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs). Under these heightened standards, Croxley Danes has secured high marks across all categories, reflecting a deep-rooted culture of excellence.
The inspection evaluated the school against the new grading system, where "Strong" represents performance at an upper-Good or Outstanding level when compared with the old framework. Croxley Danes achieved the following:
Strong Standards: Awarded in Attendance and Behaviour, Inclusion, and Leadership and Governance, indicating that the school is performing significantly above expectations in these areas. These are considered the hardest areas to achieve a Strong grading in, and so to obtain a Strong in all 3 really sets the school apart from others.
Expected Standards: Given in Achievement, Curriculum and Teaching, Personal Development, and Post-16 Provision.
Safeguarding: Formally graded as "Met," with inspectors praising an "open culture" where the safety of students is a shared responsibility.
The report highlighted the positive environment fostered at the school, with inspectors noting "The school fosters a highly inclusive environment where all pupils feel welcomed and valued... Behaviour across the school is extremely positive [and] pupils enjoy positive relationships with staff and each other."
Andy Harris, Headteacher of Croxley Danes School, commented: "I am immensely proud of our pupils for the polite, considerate, and respectful way they conduct themselves every day. This report is a testament to the hard work of our staff and the invaluable support of our parents. Being ranked in the top 20% of schools nationally is a significant milestone, particularly for a newer school, and it validates our commitment to an evidence-informed culture of excellence."
While celebrating this success, the school remains committed to further development. Future initiatives will focus on increasing consistency in student feedback and further refining the personal development programme to ensure all students are fully equipped for the challenges of the wider world.
Posted on: 20/04/2026National Recognition for four of our schools in Spring 2026 TEP Census
We are thrilled to announce that four schools within our Trust have been awarded prestigious TEP Engagement Badges following the Spring 2026 national census. These accolades celebrate schools that demonstrate outstanding performance in pupil and employee engagement, placing them among the very best in the country.
To put this achievement into perspective, these badges are only awarded to schools scoring in the top percentiles of a vast national dataset encompassing over 500 schools, 30,000 staff members, and more than 300,000 pupils.
While we celebrate all four schools, we would like to give a special mention to Croxley Danes School and Elstree Screen Arts Academy. Both schools have secured badges for the second time this academic year, having also been recognised in the Autumn 2025 census. Maintaining such high standards across consecutive censuses is a significant feat and serves as a powerful indicator of a sustained, positive culture for both learners and staff.
The specific areas of excellence recognised this term highlight the diverse strengths across our Trust:
Croxley Danes School (Secondary)
Top 5% Nationally: Employee Leadership
Top 10% Nationally: Employee Inclusion and Employee Satisfaction
Awarded in both Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026.
Elstree Screen Arts Academy (Secondary)
Top 5% Nationally: Pupil Inclusion, Pupil Enjoyment, and Pupil Recommendation
Awarded in both Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026.
Onslow St Audreys School (Secondary)
Top 10% Nationally: Employee Leadership
St Clement Danes School (Secondary)
Top 10% Nationally: Pupil Recommendation and Employee Line Management
These results are a testament to the hard work, dedication and vibrant community spirit within our schools. Whether it is ensuring our pupils feel included and inspired, or fostering a leadership environment where our staff can thrive.
Congratulations to the pupils, teachers and leadership teams at Croxley Danes, ESA, Onslow St Audreys and St Clement Danes for this remarkable national recognition!
Posted on: 10/03/2026Future engineers: Pupils explore STEM horizons at UCL
On Thursday 26 February, Year 12 Physics pupils from across the Trust descended upon University College London (UCL) for the inaugural Trust physics and engineering day. The event marked a significant milestone for the Trust, providing pupils with an immersive, first hand look at world-class academics and the diverse career pathways within the STEM sector.
Designed to bridge the gap between A-Level theory and real-world application, the day saw pupils trading their standard classrooms for UCL’s cutting edge laboratories and lecture theatres. The initiative aimed not only to showcase university life but also to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of modern engineering.
The heart of the visit lay in a series of specialist workshops led by prominent academics. Pupils engaged with various fields, including:
Electrical and Electronic Engineering: In a standout session, pupils programmed mini-processors to calculate and execute the launch of model catapults, blending coding logic with physical mechanics.
Medical Physics: Pupils explored the future of healthcare, getting up close with advanced brain imaging technology and discussing how physics is used to save lives.
Chemical Engineering: Seminars provided insight into sustainable energy and the molecular design of the future.
Beyond the technical skills, the day was structured to spark curiosity about life after Sixth Form. By meeting with leading specialists, pupils were able to ask probing questions about university admissions, research opportunities, and the global demand for skilled engineers.
The event concluded with a tour of the historic UCL campus, leaving pupils with a clear vision of the opportunities awaiting them in the world of higher education. Following the success of this first event, we look forward to making the physics and engineering day a staple of its academic calendar.
Posted on: 9/02/2026The benefits of being a local governor in Danes Educational Trust
Serving as a local governor on one of our School Boards is a rewarding way to contribute to children’s life chances while developing valuable professional skills. Our local governors help ensure our Danes Educational Trust’s vision, ethos and strategy are lived out in each school’s context. Through regular monitoring of safeguarding, SEND, underserved pupils and stakeholder engagement, you become the Trust board’s “eyes and ears” at school level, strengthening accountability and continuous improvement. You will build expertise in strategic thinking and data-informed challenge by reviewing pupil progress, attendance and curriculum information against targets, and by visiting the school to understand how policies work in practice. Working with school leaders on priorities and risks develops your ability to ask insightful questions, weigh evidence and make proportionate, transparent decisions. Panel work (for exclusions, complaints or staffing matters) offers concentrated experience in fair process, impartiality and decision-writing, skills that translate into any professional setting. You’ll collaborate closely with fellow governors and the governance professional, enhancing teamwork, communication and confidence in chairing. Our local governors play a pivotal role in stakeholder engagement: listening to our parents, pupils and staff and feeding insights to trustees helps align strategy with community needs and improves trust. The role is also flexible and supported, induction, ongoing development and clear schemes of delegation mean you focus on what matters, not day-to-day operations. Reasonable out of pocket expenses can be reclaimed, ensuring volunteering is accessible. You will be supported by - the chair and governors on the School Board - an experienced team of governance professionals - our Director of Operations who is also a consultant for the National Governance Association. - our board of trustees who value the local governance across the Trust Most importantly, your contribution helps keep pupils safe, ambitious and well supported. If you can commit to preparing for meetings, attending visits and asking constructive questions, you’ll make a tangible difference and gain skills that endure.
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