9 September 2022
Dear Parents & Carers,
This week’s excellent return to school has, understandably, been overshadowed by news of Elizabeth II’s sad death. A key part of our role is to ensure that students gain an understanding of important national events. We discussed the Queen’s death with form classes this morning and suggested reputable and fact checked news sources that they might want to access to find out more. We thought it important to offer context for students as people have a wide range of views about the monarchy and that is exactly as it should be. We live in a democracy that values free speech. Free speech, however, should always be tempered with sensitivity, politeness, and respect for others. Any death is a personal tragedy and a moment of private grief for the family affected and should be treated as such. In addition, our school ethos references the importance of public service, and it is beyond doubt that, from her coronation on 2nd June 1953 onwards, Elizabeth II was a dedicated public servant. You do not need to be a supporter of the monarchy to recognise that commitment and life of service.
The death of a monarch leads to a very formal national mourning process, and we will share any information that affects our community as soon as we have more information. There is usually a 10-day period for accession, lying in state and a final funeral and it is highly likely that schools will be given national guidance on how they might or should respond. When we have more information, we will share it.
I had been planning on sharing some other sad news this week. On Monday we were informed that George Eales, a former Subject Leader for Music, and longstanding staff member had died. George had previously taught at Landsdowne Comprehensive School in Coxhoe and came to Durham Johnston when that school closed. John Dunford was Headteacher when George joined the school. He got in touch this week and noted that George, ‘…was a lovely, gentle, kind man, who gave a lot to Durham Johnston. He often said to me how grateful he had been to have come to DJ at that time and how it had been the highlight of his teaching career.’ The school clearly meant a lot to him and, upon retirement in 2001, he shared his wish for the school choir to sing at his funeral. We hope that it is possible for that to now happen. Thank you also to the former students who contacted the school to offer fond memories of David Armstrong, who played professional football for Middlesbrough and Southampton in the 1970s and 80s and was selected to play for England three times. We weren’t aware that he was a former student of the school, and it is clear from the emails that we have received how well liked and talented he was. Paul Adair contacted the school to share that David, ‘...was a real gentleman, an England International and a fine player. I was in the year below him and remember his talent was obvious. No one could get close to him on the football pitch.' We know that members of his family still live in the Durham area and would like to offer our condolences.
Public service can take place at a national or very local level. Regardless of scale, it is right and proper that such service is recognised and commemorated.
I will share a more detailed update about the new term on Friday 16th September.
Mr O’Sullivan
Headteacher