6 June 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
Out and about around the school this week, I had chance conversation with our Year 8 Leader and it was so lovely to hear about their successes I thought I would share one here. Mr Digby had set the year group a challenge to get through last half term with 0 behaviour points – no forgotten equipment or pe kit, no missed homeworks, no off-task chatting, no silly antics. A fantastic 152 students in the year group managed this, with the vast majority of those remaining only receiving one behaviour point. This is a brilliant effort from the students, and those who completed the challenge were rewarded with access to a raffle to win the highly sought after “Golden Queue Buster Tickets”. These golden tickets didn’t gain you access to a scrumdiddlyumptious chocolate factory, but they did allow winning students and a friend to skip the dinner queue for a whole week – some might say an even better prize! Overall, it has been a fantastic year for our Year 8 students and we are really looking forward to seeing them continue to grow and develop as the transition to Year 9.
This week has also seen many high-profile exams take place in school such as GCSE Maths and GCSE English. These are subjects that often dominate the national educational discussions albeit for a valid reason. They are core subjects that are essential for success in everyday life, further study and access to post 16 options and many career paths. Developing strong skills in English means students can communicate clearly, think critically, and engage with and understand the world around them. Maths builds logical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and numerical confidence – skills needed in everything from managing finances to pursuing science and technology careers.
In tandem with these exams, we also welcomed the GCSE Art moderator into school to review students' portfolios and the pieces they created as part of their two day exam. This resulted in a beautiful display showcasing the work of our incredibly talented students and I spent time yesterday afternoon after the moderator had been perusing the temporary gallery and reflecting on how important it is that our students have access not only to high quality teaching in the core but also access to a well-rounded education that includes so much more. We are incredibly lucky in this school to be able to continue to offer such a diverse curriculum where the arts are valued equally to other curriculum areas. These subjects are just as important and play an essential role in developing creativity, communication, empathy, imagination and innovation. Research also indicates that studying the arts in secondary school can boost confidence and improve mental wellbeing, and universities and employers increasingly value the unique perspectives and soft skills that arts education nurtures. As you know from one of our core values - diverse opportunities; a rounded education that ‘opens doors’ regardless of location or specialism – this is something to which we are firmly committed as a school.
Have a lovely weekend, and let’s hope the sunshine continues!
Mrs McFadden
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 Assessment Calendars, and 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
Safeguarding
We are always keen to support students and families with safeguarding issues. For the next four weeks, we are trialling sharing factsheets about a safeguarding issue that affects our young people. We are also sending this message through the Class Charts app. This week's safeguarding theme is on loot boxes and skins found in some video games.
Please click here to read the factsheet.
Mr Bowman
Associate Assistant Headteacher
Reading Room Wishlist
Our final library wish list for the year features non-fiction titles. Thank you to everyone who has already bought and donated books - our shelves are filling up and we are looking forward to opening our library to more students in September!
Please click here to visit the wishlist.
House System News
Charitable Donations
Our amazing students have raised money throughout the year from various events and non-uniform days. We also hold student voice meetings throughout the year so that our young people can share their views and ideas, a focus for this is local charities they would like to support.
All of the suggested charities were collated based on the feedback received and students could vote for their choices. The top three were decided and as a result we have made a donation of £300 to each of the following charities: Stray Aid (based in Coxhoe), Changing Lives (based in Chester-Le-Street) and Young Minds. The work they do is so worthwhile and we wanted to say thank you for everything they do for our local community and beyond. We are very proud to offer our support, without the donations and support of our student body and their families this would not be possible - so huge thanks to you.
Year 7 & 8 Colour Run
Letters went out today to invite our Year 7 & Year 8 students to take part in our annual Colour Run. This is an excellent opportunity for students to have fun with their friends and raise money for a great cause, all in memory of a much-loved colleagues who was taken too soon. The money raised will go towards patient care at South Tyneside hospital - our aim is to donate £1000!
Waiver forms can be returned to IT1 next week during registration along with their £5 donation. This includes a large bag of powered paint and of course the obstacle course and slip n' slide!
Miss Forbes
Senior Teacher, the House System
PE News
On Tuesday a very long football season concluded as our Year 10 boys team took on St Johns in the Ben Potts Cup final. They finished the season in style, winning a hard-fought game 4-2 with goals from Zack S, Temi A and Ethan M. POM was Zack S with a commanding performance in midfield. That completes a cup double for them.
On Wednesday, our Year 7 boys’ cricket team travelled to Rockcliffe Hall CC to face Hurworth School in the County Cup quarter final. We batted first and scored an impressive 127 runs with Thom B top scoring on 57. We kept taking wickets and some good fielding restricted them to 107 as we secured a 20-run win.
On Thursday, our U13B and U15B boys’ tennis teams were also in Darlington taking on Polam Hall School at Blackwell Tennis club. Our U13 team dominated the match, winning 5-1. It was the opposite for our U15s as they came up against a strong team losing 5-1.
Good luck today to our Junior and Inter boys’ athletics teams who are at Middlesbrough Sports Village competing in the North East regional round of the English Schools Track & Field Cup. If either of them win, they will qualify for the national finals which take place in Essex in July.
Also good luck to our Year 9 & 10 rounders teams who are competing in the district tournament which we are hosting.
Finally, a reminder to all those who have represented the school this year to purchase tickets for our annual Sports presentation evening on the 9th July at Ramside Hall. Tickets can be purchased via Parentpay.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader for PE
A reminder of our weekly sports bulletin:
Sports Bulletin