New School Year Updates

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we begin a new school year, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you in advance for your support and to share some of the key themes that will guide our work with students over the coming months.

At Durham Johnston, everything we do is rooted in our core values of academic excellence, acquiring knowledge, social justice, public service and diverse opportunities. These values underpin our ambition for every young person in our community. We want all students to achieve their own personal excellence, develop a genuine love of learning, contribute positively to others and leave school with a wide range of experiences, opportunities and memories that help shape the people they become.

This year, two key themes will be at the heart of our work: Dare to be Wise and Dare to Belong.

"Dare to be Wise" reflects our commitment to high-quality teaching, intellectual curiosity and the belief that every student can achieve great things. It is about developing confidence, resilience and a love of learning, whilst encouraging students to think deeply, ask questions and embrace challenge.

"Dare to Belong" reflects our determination to ensure that every student feels welcomed, valued, safe and supported within our school community. We know that before students can fully access the curriculum, they must feel that they belong. Strong relationships, positive routines and a culture of kindness and inclusion are vital foundations for success.

I am delighted to say that the year has begun in precisely this spirit. The atmosphere around the school this week has been exceptional. Students have returned looking smart, focused and ambitious. New Year 7 and Year 12 students have settled quickly into school life and it has been wonderful to see young people smiling, greeting one another positively, embracing opportunities and approaching their learning with genuine enthusiasm.

Around the building there has been a real sense of optimism and energy. Students have been courteous, engaged and eager to learn. They have demonstrated exactly the kind of positive attitudes and behaviours that allow a school community to flourish, and they have made a fantastic start to the year.

Alongside this excellent start in classrooms, we are also celebrating the tremendous success of our first annual school production. Last night saw the opening performance of Les Misérables, which runs through to Saturday evening, and the response from those who attended has been overwhelmingly positive.

One member of staff shared:

"I had the privilege of watching Les Mis last night from the back whilst supervising the cast and it was one of the best things I've done. To interact with pupils I didn't even know could sing, and watch them glow as they came off stage after particularly exposed solos was fab. A truly spine tingling moment was watching two students conduct the cast backstage for Do You Hear the People Sing!”

A parent wrote:

"I wanted to write to say congratulations on such an amazing production of Les Miserables. We came along to opening night and thoroughly enjoyed it. The performances, costumes, set and lighting were all so professional and having the orchestra play the score live really elevated the show. Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this to our school. Vive la France!"

And one governor commented:

"I was blown away by the performance last night. Not only was the singing fabulous, the acting was amazing too, it gave me goose bumps!”

The production is a wonderful reminder of what makes our school community so special. It embodies not only talent and hard work but also courage, teamwork, commitment and belonging. It showcases the diverse opportunities available to our students and demonstrates the extraordinary things young people can accomplish when they are supported to develop their interests and passions.

As we move through the year, we remain committed to ensuring that every student experiences both challenge and support, develops confidence in their abilities and feels that they are a valued member of our community. Working together with parents and carers is central to achieving this, and I thank you in advance for the support you continue to provide.

The atmosphere around the building this week has been one of engagement and excitement and our students have got off to a really great start; they have been a credit to themselves and you, their parents and carers.

Thank you for your support and welcome to the new school year.

Mrs McFadden
Headteacher

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We will publish the first full Friday Bulletin of the year next week; however, we’d like to draw your attention to a number of important documents and updates on the website: