10 February 2023
Dear Parents & Carers,
I have been waiting hopefully this week for an update on any talks or negotiations taking place between the Government and teaching unions. You can’t work in a school without being an optimist and my sincere hope is that some form of successful negotiation will take place before the next industrial action, scheduled for 28th February 2023. However, as I write this (on Thursday evening) there have been no meaningful talks and we only have one week left before half-term. In simple terms, that means all parents and carers need a sense of our plans early next week, so that they can plan ahead accordingly for the return to school on 27th February.
It is clear from some conversation with parents, that there is a desire to know more about some of the wider issues related to education, funding, pay awards and recruitment and I thought it sensible to offer an overview.
Teachers were awarded a 5% pay increase in December 2022 and additional funding was announced for schools for the 2023-24 financial year. However, the funding for that pay rise is not from additional money but has to be taken from existing school budgets. Those budgets were set in April 2022 and the Treasury didn’t share any information with schools relating to pay until July 2022 (just prior to the end of term) and then again in December 2022. In simple terms, that means schools are having to fund a pay award from already very stretched budgets. The Government have consistently referenced that welcome pay rise, but if schools hadn’t planned for 5% - inflation and cost of living issues were not as pronounced last March/April when budgets were actually being set – then pay rises have to be funded by spending less on other areas of school provision.
That will look different for each individual school and it is always right that institutions think very carefully about the best use of public money in an ongoing economic crisis. It is clearly the case that all schools are now having to think about the areas where savings can be made, whilst also managing significant increases in costs related to necessary classroom resources, food supplies, energy bills and the difficulties linked to accessing support services for children and young people. Most schools are having to consider removing provision (subject areas and teachers being the most relevant areas for ‘savings’ in secondary schools) as many other more obvious money-saving decisions were taken long ago. This isn’t a new funding issue, but a longstanding one affecting school provision from the period of austerity onwards.
Schools will inevitably be able to offer less in the future unless there is some new thinking around the importance of education for a successful society, and the costs associated with that.
There is also a worrying and deepening recruitment crisis in education that is already biting and will lead to long term issues for the curriculum that schools will be able to offer in the future.
Recruitment issues are starkly exemplified by the following graphic, outlining both the reduced nature of the Government’s targets for recruitment in Maths and the actual percentage of teachers joining the profession. Those figures should also be understood in the context of lower recruitment numbers coinciding with a population increase for those under 20 from 2012.
In January, the Prime Minister referenced a desire for all students to continue studying maths until the age of 18. That clearly won’t be possible based upon current recruitment issues.
The political identity of the Government is genuinely an irrelevance to me in terms of my role as a Headteacher. As an optimist, I hope and believe that all those in power want, and should seek, to improve the lives of children. One way to do that involves funding education appropriately. I am only ever concerned about the impact of policy on children, their families and all those that work in school. Reform of the system is long overdue. Children can’t vote and most adults, understandably, engage with education in a personal way (Is my child happy and well taught, in a well-resourced environment?) rather than seeing it as a national system of provision that can and should allow society to function more effectively. Obviously, it can’t do that independently, it also requires action from those in power and, most importantly, for education to be seen as valuable in the family home too. Without that, it will always be hard for students to succeed – but everyone reading this will want their child to be inquisitive, well-educated and successful.
We had a visiting teacher in school last week, who is spending time in England to see how our system works. He was overwhelmed by our facilities and the opportunities available, commenting that children in his country would have to pay a substantial amount independently for the education available in the UK. He had observed two children who were unwilling to work hard and asked, in surprise, ‘Don’t they know how lucky they are?’ As a society we are facing a wide range of issues, but we still have a great number of significant advantages and resources that could be part of a very effective, modernised system.
If the political will isn’t available to offer a stronger earlier foundation for students, then perhaps we need more creative thinking and structural change. That characterises how schools respond to difficulties, but if there is no sense of urgency at the highest level, then perhaps it’s time to remove education from ministerial oversight and to come up with a coherent national plan for education that reflects the available money and resource more accurately and offers a model more appropriate for the 2020s.
When (and if) the money runs out, it is time to start thinking. I hope that outlines some of the background linked to industrial action, and I’m still optimistic that negotiations will start soon.
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
Year 8 Cyberfirst Girls Competition Winners 2023
Congratulations to Maissa, Kelly, Masha and Dunya for winning the North East Cyberfirst Girls Competition 2023!
It was a thrilling day involving talks from University staff, as well as some of the leading cyber-security experts from the National Cyber Security Centre. The girls were in heavy competition with 9 other schools from the area trying to solve a list of complex cyber-related problems and puzzles. They have done brilliantly to bring home the trophy, and for finishing first, the girls have won a laptop, as well as a goody bag of various tech!
The competition focuses on solving puzzles and problems online in order to gain points. The groups with the highest points will then qualify for the final to face a series of more challenging puzzles. Here is what one of our previous 2022 finalists had to say about the final day:
"I really enjoyed the day because the puzzles were challenging but fun! Free refreshments and lunch were provided, and we had around four hours to work on the puzzles. There were five categories of puzzles, and in each section there was beginner, intermediate and expert. We managed to solve an expert question by scanning multiple QR codes around the room and using them to form a message. We then followed what the message told us to do, which was to put a certain code into hash. We then input the answer into the computer and earned 100 points!"
For those in Year 7 currently, if you are interested in taking take part next year there will be a chance to register your interest at the start of Year 8.
Mr O’Connor
Lead Teacher for Computing
Sixth Form Talk – Civil Service Careers (including Fast-track Scheme)
On Tuesday lunchtime this week we welcomed Seb Career (Head Student 2015-2016) back to talk to Year 12 & 13 students about his progress since leaving us, and his current role as a Senior Leader Scheme Assistant Manager (HR Fast Streamer) with the Civil Service. The talk was the perfect level of concise and precise, with encouraging and motivational detail and tips.
We have a range of visits at lunchtimes, afterschool and during assemblies, and it is encouraging when students give up their free time to invest in gathering information to support their ambitions and future choices.
You can find more detail about careers in the civil service at this link.
Edmund Smith in Year 13, who took part in this session, wrote the following:
It was great to hear from two individuals on the Civil Service fast-track scheme within the Cabinet Office (one of whom was an old Johnstonian) and to hear about their own personal roles and schedules as well as some of the other professions involved in the Civil Service. The talk broke down some of the stereotypes associated with these roles and showed that subjects such as History or Politics were not the only desirable skills for applicants and a huge range of skills are highly valued along with the range of post-18 apprenticeship schemes which are offered in addition to graduate schemes.
However, the talk outlined just how broad a range of graduate schemes the Civil Service offers in all departments and sectors showing that there's something for everyone. This links to the fact that the Civil Service was described as a diverse and flexible organisation running summer events for disadvantaged groups and encouraging a movement of jobs outside of London to make the Service more representative and how great it would be to see greater participation in the fast-track scheme by students from the North East.
Mrs Lennon
Head of Sixth Form
Sixth Form Historical Association Talk
Fourteen Sixth Form Historians attended a talk hosted by the Historical Association on Thursday afternoon. The pupils heard from John Dobai, a Hungarian survivor of the Holocaust. John Dobai was born in 1934 after Hitler and the Nazis had seized authoritarian control of Germany, therefore, despite his parents' and grandparents' Jewish heritage, he was raised a Catholic, and attended a Catholic school in Budapest for his own protection. Pupils heard how in 1941 John's father was called up to fight but then sent home a few weeks later, as people of Jewish origin were not permitted to serve. Six months after returning home his father was sent to a forced labour camp. John spoke about his experience in 1944 as Hungary was occupied by Nazi Germany. Under a new pro-Nazi Hungarian government, John and his family had to wear the Star of David. Soon after, during the school holidays, John met a friend and told him how excited he was about the start of the new term. His friend replied that John would not be allowed to go back to school as he was a Jew. In June 1944, John and his mother were ordered to move into a so-called yellow-star house along with around 15 other families. Our pupils learnt that yellow-star houses were buildings which had been designated as compulsory places of Jewish residence and were marked by a Star of David. This forcible relocation of Jews within the city was a prelude to their intended deportation. The deportation of Hungarian Jews, including John’s aunts and cousins, to Auschwitz-Birkenau had begun in May 1944. John’s father managed to get hold of passes, which said the holders were protected by the Swedish government, for the family. This protected John from deportation.
Our sixth formers then participated in a question-and-answer session with John, asking pertinent questions about the appropriate portrayal of the Holocaust in the media and about the impact of the Nazi occupation on John's faith. The pupils were a credit to the school and expressed gratitude for having the opportunity to hear from a survivor.
Mr Patterson
History 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
Drama Notices
Congratulations to the KS3 script writers, performers and back stage crew for last night's performance!
Please click the link below for information about when the extra-curricular sessions are on for the following weeks, up to the start of the external examinations. Some sadly can’t take place due to exams.
Drama Extra-Curricular Activities February-May 2023
Ms Ayrey
Subject Leader for Drama
PE News
Last Saturday, several of our cross-country runners were at Silksworth competing in the Northern Schools inter-county championships. They all produced excellent performances, but the highlight of the day was an outstanding win for Charlotte Dillon in the Inter girls' race. She won by over 200M. Charlotte, along with Grace Carter, Will Jardine and Ben Beale, all qualified to run in the English Schools national finals which take place on Saturday 18th March in Nottingham.
On Monday, our U19 girls' basketball team took on Northampton School for Girls in the national quarterfinal of the English Schools Cup. This was an outstanding game of high-quality basketball. Despite only trailing by single figures just before half-time, Northampton opened up a decisive lead in the second half, eventually winning 71 - 42. A great achievement to reach the last 8 schools in the country, and lose to the favourites to be national champions.
Straight after that, it was the turn of our Year 11 boys who were in Tyneside Cup action. The started with a comfortable 36 - 12 victory over Ponteland. However, our final game was much closer as we trailed Parkview with less than 1 minute to play. A late basketball saw us secure a 1-point victory and reach the final, where we face Dame Allan's after half term.
On Wednesday our VIth form football team travelled to Whitburn for a league fixture. We dominated possession but were unable to find a goal eventually losing 1- 0.
Last night, all of our rugby teams were at home playing St John's in friendly matches. This was an excellent evening of rugby, with over 60 boys from Durham Johnston taking part. We dominated all three matches winning them easily. The highlight was another outstanding performance by our Year 7 team who are showing great promise.
Thank you to our young match officials who did an amazing job. They were Ruari Lang, Billy Hutchinson, Calvin Cushley and Dillon Veide.
Finally, click here to read the most recent football match reports from our Sixth Form Football Ambassador.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader for PE