19 April 2024
Dear Parents and Carers,
This week we have welcomed all year groups back to school for the summer term. This represents a very busy time for our students and staff, with the period between April and July featuring public examinations, leaving dates and a wide range of important next steps for different year groups. Additionally, we have updated our extra-curricular timetable to show the opportunities available to students outside the classroom - you can see that here.
I will provide a detailed overview of the term in next week’s update, along with an update on some wonderful achievements by different members of our school community.
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 11 Study Support
A reminder that as we progress towards Year 11 summer examinations, there are a number of drop-in sessions available for students to attend, where staff are available for revision and subject-specific support.
Daisy Chain Coffee Morning – Event reminder
On Monday 22nd April the Learning Support department will be holding a coffee morning between 9.30-11.30, when the Daisy Chain project will be joining us to share information about the work they do. Daisy Chain support young people, families and siblings across the North East who may have a diagnosis of autism, be neurodivergent or are simply seeking support within these areas. If you would like any information about this, please contact Helen Davies, SENCO.
Geography News - Year 12 Seaton Carew Coasts Fieldwork Visit
On Tuesday 19th March our Year 12 Geographers completed data collection on the sand dunes at Seaton Carew to investigate to what extent they match the traditional sand dune model. The students were a credit to the school, where their behaviour and conduct was exemplary, whilst they carried out their methods to a very high standard. Below is a photograph showing the students at the end of collecting their fieldwork before they went back to the town centre for fish and chips. 
Mr Ray
Subject Leader for Geography
Music Notice
Applications are now open for Samling Academy 2024/25. The Samling Academy offers young singers from schools in North East England a unique chance to develop their classical singing and performance skills under the guidance of leading opera singers, vocal coaches, accompanists, actors and movement specialists.
Every year, 30 Samling Academy Singers receive six intensive days of workshops and masterclasses in October, additional coaching during the year and the opportunity to take part in a staged production in the summer. Following Samling Institute’s principle of ‘learning through doing’, they’ll develop skills in vocal technique, acting, movement, interpretation of text and singing in foreign languages. They'll also meet young professional singers and pianists and learn first-hand about their journeys to the opera and concert stage.
Samling Academy activities are designed to run alongside individual tuition, choirs and other musical activities adding an extra level to what your singers are already learning, all in the company of other young people from the North East who share their passion for singing. There are no tuition fees for the programme.
For more information, please follow this link: Samling Academy Auditions 2024
Mr Holmes
Subject Leader for Music
PE News
It has been excellent to see so many children turning up to the first week of our summer sports clubs - despite the challenging weather. This included an incredible 40 boys for Year 7 cricket trials in pouring rain!
As well as the summer sports starting we are also reaching the climax of the football, rugby and basketball seasons.
On Tuesday, our Year 9 football team hosted Sedgefield in a League and Cup treble. A convincing second half performance saw us take control of the game as we won 4-1 with Joe Shields POM. That now means the team reach two Cup semi-finals and still have a chance of the League title.
Also on Tuesday, our Y9 basketball team faced Cardinal Hornets in a friendly. They are a local club team. Despite missing several players due to the football match, we battled well but eventually lost as we tired in the second half. Reuben Varley was POM.
Our U18 rugby team also had a fixture on Tuesday as they travelled to Parkview. This was a high-quality game which was level with only 5 minutes to go. However, we conceded a late try to lose a close game.
On Wednesday, our U18 rugby team were at Yarm for the County Sevens tournament. As always, the standard was very high and we competed with the best schools in the county, losing only one game to finish runners-up.
Yesterday our Year 7 basketball team took on Conyers School in the first round of the Junior NBA play-offs. We started slowly but soon took control of the game, eventually going on to win 49-6 with George Eddy POM.
Also yesterday, our Year 10 rugby team had an excellent end of season day out. They travelled to Harrogate to play Harrogate Grammar School in a friendly. They then spent the second half of the day paintballing. They all had a great time and were a credit to the school.
Unfortunately, the first cricket game of the season which was due to be played today has been postponed due to the recent wet weather.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader for PE