4 February 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am sure that all parents and carers would fully expect school staff to work hard and demonstrate commitment. They are prerequisites of working in education and wanting the best for young people. As a matter of course, I am always suspicious of those who feel compelled to tell others how hard they work, as that is true of all jobs. However, I feel it is important to share with you the commitment of school staff this week. We have had significant staff absence as a consequence of positive Covid-19 tests, and it is currently very hard to book additional supply staff. That absence could, theoretically, impact upon our potential ability to feed students, teach effectively and to respond to queries in a large and busy school. It could also have meant, in line with national guidance from the Department for Education, that we prioritise the learning of some year groups over others, with some year groups working from home. However, staff have rallied around, volunteered to cover for absent colleagues to teach and support classes, to cover duties and to maintain high standards across the school. Support staff have worked later than expected and have made sure that the school continues to operate effectively. I am very proud of the collective effort involved in doing so and, as a parent or carer reading this, I hope that it has seemed like business as usual. From talking to parents and carers this week it is clear that a wide range of businesses and public services are encountering the same issues. I will offer a more detailed update next week.
We are hopeful that things will start to settle down as we near half-term and I would like to thank you for your ongoing support.
Mr O’Sullivan
Year 11 GCSE Students
Students were given their Statements of Entry and Provisional Timetables for the summer exams yesterday. These are to be taken home checked and signed by parents/carers and returned to their form tutors by Monday 7th February.
Ms Gilham
Examinations Officer
Senior Maths Challenge
In November eight of our students excelled in the Senior Maths Challenge and earned a place in the Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo, which took place in early December. We are delighted to report that five of our students; Tom Anderson, Joseph Bennett, Harris Ellis, Raymond Geng and Aaron McKenzie, earned Merit Certificates in the Senior Kangaroo, meaning that they scored in the top 25% of all entrants nationally. Congratulations to all five on their achievement!
Mr Patterson
Maths Department
Careers and Guidance Department Notices
Please click here to view this week’s Careers and Enrichment Notices
Mr Kennedy
Subject Leader, Guidance
Drama Extra Curricular Clubs
Due the GCSE Drama examination there will be no extra-curricular drama in the week beginning 7th Feb, as the Year 11 students will be rehearsing, preparing and using the drama studio. This includes all lunchtime and after school sessions. All students have been informed and the extra-curricular sessions will resume as normal week beginning 14th of February.
Ms Ayrey
Subject Leader, Drama
Good News from Music
Firstly, congratulations to the following students who have been selected to be members of two national musical ensembles. Over the course of the year, both pupils will be involved in several residential courses and will have the opportunity to perform in prestigious national concerts.
Leo Bruce (Year 8) – Bassoonist in the National Children’s Orchestra.
John Phillips (Year11) – Tenor in the National Youth Training Choir.
Secondly, having been named Durham Secondary School Choir of the Year just before Christmas, this week Senior Choir filmed their entry for the North East Secondary School Choir of the Year competition. The virtual final will take place later this month when Senior Choir will represent County Durham against choirs from the other North East Music Hubs.
Spring Concerts
Rehearsals are going well for the 2022 Spring Concerts, and we intend to run these concerts over two evenings as we did at Christmas. Therefore, on Thursday 7th April concerts at 6.30 and 7.30pm will feature performances from Junior Choir, Junior Orchestra, Big Band and Wind Band, and concerts at 6.30 and 7.30pm on Friday 8th April will feature Senior Choir, Chamber Choir and Senior Orchestra. These concerts are titled 'Music about Music' and will showcase everything from Purcell to ABBA!
Mr Holmes
Subject Leader, Music
PE News
Can I start by thanking so many parents for supporting the re-starting of our school trips which we launched two weeks ago? As I write this with a few hours to go to the deadline for the Malaga trip, we have had nearly 140 applications, with nearly 100 from Year 8. We are working to try and take as many children as possible but unfortunately there will be some disappointed children for which we apologise. We plan to do the draw early next week. The ski-trip has also been amazingly well supported with over 130 applications - and still a week to go.
On Tuesday our U19 girls' basketball team were playing Northampton School for Girls in the English Schools national quarter final. This was an excellent game. We made a nervous start and missed some early shots, but improved as the game went on and never gave up. However, they proved too strong for us as they won 72 - 36.
Basketball continued on Wednesday as we hosted the Year 7 area tournament. We entered a girls' and boys' team. Our girls started with an excellent 6 point victory over Hermitage. Our boys then comfortably beat Durham Federation 26 - 0. Both teams then continued their unbeaten run to reach the final where they faced each other. After an excellent final the boys proved too strong winning 16 - 2. A great achievement to have both our teams reach the final.
Also on Wednesday, our U13 girls’ cricket team were at the Louisa Centre competing in the area cricket tournament. We played some outstanding cricket to win our group and reach the final. This included a comfortable victory over Yarm B team. We faced Yarm A team in the final but also proved too strong for them as we secured the title with another straight-forward victory. They now go on to the county finals in March.
Finally on Wednesday, our Year 8 football team hosted High Tunstall in the county cup quarter-final. We started well and took control as we went on to reach the county semi-final with a 3 - 1 win thanks to goals from Ethan Hill, Aston Smith and Ben Hopkins.
Earlier today our boys’ cross-country teams were at Emmanuel College competing in the Tyneside Championships. There are three races - Junior, Inter and senior. It was an excellent day as we won all three competitions:
Juniors - 1st - with Tom Briggs finishing in 3rd place.
Inters - 1st - with Sam Mason finishing in 4th place
Seniors - 1st with Josh Wraith in 4th place
Incredibly the last time we didn't win all three trophies at this event was 2016!
Good luck tonight to our U14 boys basketball team who travel to Dame Allan's for the Tyneside Schools final and also our Year 8 rugby team who are back at Emanuel College for a friendly fixture.
Also good luck to cross-country runners tomorrow who are competing in the Northern Inter-counties' championships at Stewart Park, Middlesbrough hoping to qualify for the English Schools national finals.
Finally congratulations to Madeleine Liddell from Year 10 who is part of the 15 girls' team for Houghton Rugby Club. Last Sunday the team won the regional final and are now in the National Cup Quarter Finals against Liverpool St Helens in March - good luck to them.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader, PE