3 February 2023
Dear Parents & Carers,
I would like to thank all students, parents, and carers for their support in a week of national industrial action that also affected the school. I will write in a little more depth about that next week and will reiterate my sincere hope that teaching trade unions and the Government can agree upon a way forward without the necessity for any further action.
Whilst industrial action has undoubtedly changed the nature of the week, our students have continued to achieve great success and to demonstrate their kindness and willingness to help others. You can read about wonderful achievements in Robotics and Boxing as part of this week’s update. I would also like to share the impressive action of two of our Year 9 students, who managed to provide medical assistance for a homeless man in Durham Market place recently. When they realised that he was seriously unwell they called the emergency services, followed instructions and ensured that a defibrillator was in place. They stayed with the man until the police and paramedics arrived. As a follow up the police contacted them and gave them the opportunity to complete defibrillator and resuscitation technique training and thanked them. Well done to Ruby and Mizelli and thank you to Mr Wilson, Ruby’s proud grandfather, for letting the school know. Both students will receive Headteacher’s badges next week for public service and kindness to others. Their quick thinking was recognised by attending paramedics and the police, and is a story worth sharing.
Have a good weekend.
Mr O’Sullivan
What is my child learning?
In the Learning section of our website you can find guidance on what every student at the school is studying. As well as an overview of our curriculum and principles behind it, you can find an overview of each subject area. You can also find a guide to the content being covered in every subject and how you can support your child for each half term here: Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | Year 12 | Year 13
Important information for students taking exams in Summer 2023
The contingency day is in the event of national or significant local disruption to exams in the United Kingdom, being part of the awarding bodies’ standard contingency planning for exams.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, further resilience was needed within the exam timetables. A single contingency day was not felt to be sufficient if a national event or incident had a significant effect on the exam timetable. For example, summer exams could be affected by extremely high temperatures.
For the June 2023 exams, the awarding bodies have therefore introduced two additional half-day contingency sessions. These are on Thursday 8 June 2023 and Thursday 15 June 2023. The standard contingency day remains at the end of the timetable being scheduled on Wednesday 28 June 2023.
Schools and colleges should ensure candidates and parents are aware of the contingency arrangements on these three days. They should consider the contingency day of Wednesday 28 June 2023 when making their plans for the summer. Candidates must remain available until Wednesday 28 June 2023 should examinations need to be rescheduled.
Ms Gilham
Exams Officer
Holocaust Memorial Day, 27th January
On Holocaust Memorial Day, we reflect as a school, and as a community, on the experiences faced by all those affected by the Nazi's genocide committed against the Jews of Europe. Durham County Council organised a very well attended event at the Gala Theatre, Durham, and 52 Durham Johnston students from Year 9 were in attendance. The theme for this year's events was 'Normal People', and how the Holocaust was committed against normal people by normal people whilst many normal people stood by and failed to challenge it. They heard an incredibly powerful and moving lecture by Dr Marek Szablewski, describing the experience of his father who was a Polish resistance fighter during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, during which the Nazis razed the Warsaw ghetto to the ground. I am sure that the powerful tale of how a young man's life was completely turned upside down will stay with the students for a long time. The students who attended behaved impeccably throughout, and were a genuine credit to the school
There was also an extremely moving rendition of the theme from Schindler's List, performed beautifully by Hayden Gilliland in Year 11, alongside performances by students from other local schools. We were delighted to receive the following letter from Councillor Alan Shield, Cabinet Member for Equality and Inclusion from Durham County Council in response:
I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to yourselves and Hayden, for your involvement in the Holocaust Memorial event held on Friday 27th January 2023 at the Gala Theatre, Durham. The event was truly impressive, with touching performances from the young people. The performance by Hayden was particularly poignant and emotive. I would also like to thank and recognise the work involved in putting together the video recording, it was a moving way to finish the event.
All the young people who attended the event were exemplary and a true credit to the school.
With thanks to Dr Scull and Ms Kinghorn for their help and support, and to Mr Holmes, and Mr Hartley from the Durham Music Service, for organising our artistic contribution.
Mr Doyle
Subject Leader for History
Vex Robotics Competition
Year 11 Vex robotics competed in the Northeast Vex Robotics final at Nissan on Tuesday. They qualified in first place (7 wins, 1 defeat) and got through to the knockout stages. They chose an alliance with Marden High school (who they won the competition with last year to reach national final) and won their knockout matches to reach the final. But were ultimately pipped by the Tanfield and Consett Alliance, who were very good competitors with excellent quality robots.
Fantastic building, piloting and coding skills, as well as a tremendous amount of teamwork and resilience, were shown thought by the team. Also, some great friendships have been developed from students from other schools.
Daniel, one of the team members, had this to say about the experience:
We worked together well and overcame various problems throughout the day. Each Team Member played a momentous role in the teams final position . Overall, the team should be proud of their dedication on the day and in the months leading up to the competition.
Mr Corkin
Technology Department
Sixth Form Notices
Please click the link below to read the weekly digest of news and information for Sixth Form Students.
Careers and Guidance Department Notices
Please click here to view this week’s Careers Notices.
Mr Kennedy
Subject Leader, Guidance
KS3 Drama Production
The KS3 Drama Production “Fears” takes place on Thursday 9th of February.
6-6.45 p.m. Year 7 and 8 plays
7-7.45 p.m. Year 9 play
Year 7 and 8 students must be in school by 5.30 pm and they can leave in the interval, unless they want to stay and watch the Year 9 production.
Year 9 students must return to school at 6.30 pm.
Tickets are £1 concession and £2 adults, payable on the door.
Ms Ayrey
Subject Leader for Drama
PE News
I would like to start this week with some outstanding news from last Sunday. Our U19 girls' netball team were at Gateshead Stadium competing in the regional finals, hoping to finish in the top 2 schools to qualify for the national finals. We started with a 20 - 4 victory against Prudhoe before another straightforward 20 - 5 win over Yarm. A six-goal victory against Newcastle School for Girls set us up for an amazing game against Durham High.
We were 1 goal ahead with only 1 minute to play but conceded 2 late goals to lose 12 - 13. This meant we had to win our game against RGS to qualify. This was another tense game which again went to the last few seconds. This time things went in our favour as we won 12 - 11 to reach the national finals - the only state school from the north-east to achieve this. They now travel to Oundle School, Peterborough on Saturday 11th March for the national finals.
On Monday our Year 7 boys futsal team were competing in the regional finals. Incredibly all their games were decided by 1 goal - unfortunately we ended up on the wrong side finishing in third place.
It was a busy Tuesday with basketball, football, and futsal.
We hosted the Year 8 Area basketball tournament. We entered both our boys' and girls' teams. Our boys remained unbeaten winning all their games easily to become Area champions. Our girls’ only defeat came in the final game against our boys as they finished runners-up.
Our VIth form football team travelled to Darlington to play Carmel School. We secured an excellent 5 - 3 victory with goals from George Wells, Louis Brown, Owen Davison and two from Harry Alderson. Player of the match was Josh Hanson.
Finally on Tuesday, our Year 11 futsal team were also in Darlington competing in the regional futsal finals. It was a similar story to the Year 7 team as we played well, but unfortunately lost close games to finish 3rd.
Futsal continued last night as it was the turn of our Year 9 team to take part in the regional final. This was much better news as we dominated the opposition in all our games including a 9 - 2 win against Easington to become regional champions. Alex Wright was player of the tournament.
Good luck tonight to our Year 9 rugby team and VIth form boys’ and girls' basketball teams who are all playing friendly matches at Emmanuel College.
Also, good luck tomorrow to several of our cross-country runners who are in Sunderland representing County Durham at the Northern regional Schools championships.
The final piece of success this week is in boxing. Year 11 student John Dixon is an outstanding boxer, and last weekend he became Tyne & Wear Champion in his weight category. He has now qualified for the finals weekend in Coventry.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader for PE