19 September 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been lovely this week to welcome parents and carers into school as we hosted our Year 12 and Year 8 Parent Information Evenings; it was wonderful to see so many of you in attendance. At both presentations, we spoke about ways to support your child to get the most out of their time here. Year 8 parents and carers also had the opportunity to meet their child’s Form Tutor prior to the formal presentation; an opportunity that will be open to all year groups over the course of the year. We believe that strong partnerships between parents, students, and the school are key to providing the best possible education for our young people and we want to work together with you to ensure your child has a positive and enriching experience during their time here. We appreciate your involvement and support at home, as this plays a crucial role in your child's success and can have a profound impact on their academic achievement and personal development.
Ahead of the Year 6 Open Evening on Monday, this week we have taken some student voice from our new Year 7 students, and I thought it would be nice to share a highlight with you as my student interaction of the week. When asked to write “What is the best thing about joining our school?” a student replied “I think it’s really just the amount of opportunities Durham Johnston has showed us. It really opens doors for us into the future there are so many clubs to join, opportunities to take, and the teachers are amazing!!” I promise that a Year 7 child wrote this (not me!). The rest of her comments were equally eloquent and therefore it is my intention to seek Sophia out next week and ask her to write the Friday Bulletin - she will probably do a better job than me!
Have a lovely weekend.
Mrs McFadden
SEND Clinics
We will be holding SEND online clinics every month for parents to meet with a member of the learning support team to discuss any area of their child's learning or development. The aim of the clinic to identify the most appropriate support which may be signposting to external support. The first clinic will be held online 3rd October between 1-3pm. If you would like to make an appointment to talk with a member of school staff, please contact learningsupport@durhamjohntson.org.uk to arrange this.
Scholastic Book Fair
Durham Johnston is excited to host our annual Scholastic Book Fair. As we start the academic year, come along to the 'Back to School Book Fair' and get reading! The fair will be open from Wednesday 24th - Tuesday 30th September.
The book fair will run on the following days in the Reading Room:
- Wednesday 24th September 2.45-3.15pm
- Thursday 25th September 1st lunch, 2nd lunch, 2.45-3.15pm
- Friday 26th September 1st lunch, 2nd lunch, 2.45-3.15pm
- Monday 29th September 1st lunch, 2nd lunch
- Tuesday 30th 1st lunch, 2nd lunch, 2.45- 3.15pm
We will be using a cashless system for payments. Parents/carers/students must use the QR code above and select Durham Johnston Comprehensive School. This can be found on your English TEAMS page, Friday Bulletin, or shared with home via Class Charts to upload an online payment. Upload credit to spend at the fair on books/stationery of your choice. Most books cost between £4.99-£9.99 with a few brand-new releases priced at £14.99!
World Challenge
In July this year two teams of students took part in the World Challenge expedition to India. The students spent three and a half weeks travelling around Northern India. After touching down in Delhi and getting themselves organised they headed north to Rishikesh, a place of spiritual significance within Hinduism. The area also holds deep spiritual significance as the "Yoga Capital of the World." Students were able to attend a religious ceremony on the banks of the Ganges and begin to immerse themselves in local culture. After Rishikesh the teams headed further north into the Himalayas. Both teams completed several days trekking at altitude including treks through the valley of the flowers. Next on the route was Agra and a visit to the iconic Taj Majal and Red Fort. Onwards to Ranthambore for a safari in search of the elusive tigers of Ranthambore and then onto the pink city of Jaipur. The team then spent a week living with a charity whose focus is improving healthcare provision in remote rural areas. Finally, it was back to Delhi and the flight home. Adventures across roads, rail, sleeper trains, safari jeeps and tuk tuks, seeing iconic sights and meeting a wide range of people left the students with memories never to forget.
I am so lucky to have been able to travel to India with World Challenge. This experience is one that I will never forget, and I will forever have amazing memories from it. Some of my favourite activities included trekking in the Himalayas, visiting historical sites and participating in the community project. Although the trek was one of the hardest parts of the trip, the views we experienced over the four days were extraordinary. I particularly enjoyed our day in Jaipur, when we visited many historical sites and tried on traditional Indian clothing (saris). I loved how visiting India allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone by trying new foods, navigating busy markets and adapting to very different surroundings. I am so glad I participated in this once in a lifetime opportunity, and I had so much fun!
Adele, Year 13
After spending three weeks in India with World Challenge, I found it was honestly one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever taken. Out of everywhere we went, Jaipur was definitely my favourite. The city was so full of life, and wandering through the busy markets was such a good experience. The new foods I got to try along with all the new people we met made it unforgettable. The trek through the Himalayas was definitely tough, and there were definitely moments where I felt completely exhausted, but after accomplishing it felt so worth it. Looking back, that challenge is one of the parts I’m most proud of. Overall, the trip gave me a mix of adventure, culture, and new experiences that I’ll never forget.
Lucy, Year 13
The next World Challenge expedition will be launched in assembly to current year 11 and 12 on Wednesday 24th September with details on the bulletin to follow. The expedition will take place in July 2027 - destination to be announced in the assembly.
Mrs Hardwick
World Challenge Coordinator
PE News
Clubs and trials continue to be so well attended. We had a record turn-out on Monday night as over 200 students turned up for various activities. This included 90 children at badminton club!
The boys football league season started on Tuesday as our Year 7, 9 & 10 teams travelled to Sedgefield. The Year 7 game was end to end, but unfortunately we just couldn't take some late chances as we lost 4-3. Ben S was POM for a solid display and goal of the game. It was better news for our Year 9s as they dominated the game, securing a comfortable 4 - 0 win thanks to goals from Alfie B-L, Levi G and joint POMs Max H and Toby R. Our Year 10 team also had a great start to the season winning 5-1. This included 2 goals from POM Angelos K.
On Wednesday our VIth form football team started their English Schools campaign with a trip to Barnard Castle. We proved too strong for them securing am impressive 8-0 victory. Ray F was POM. We now face Dame Allan's in round 2.
Yesterday our U13 boys’ tennis team were in Newcastle taking on RGS in the National Schools Cup. As County Champions we were representing Durham in the national knockout stages. Unfortunately, this proved to be a tough draw; despite never giving up they proved too strong for us eventually winning 6-0.
Also yesterday, our U14 girls’ football team were at Houghton Kepier in the English Schools Cup. This was an excellent game which was 0-0 at half-time. Unfortunately, we struggled playing into the wind in the second half-time eventually losing 5-0. Joint POMs were Scarlett G and Iris F.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader for PE
A reminder of our weekly sports bulletin:
Sports Bulletin
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