Friday Bulletin

Dear Parents and Carers,

In my first bulletin of this year, I wrote about the two key themes that sit at the heart of our community at Durham Johnston: “Dare to be Wise” and “Dare to Belong”. These phrases capture the essence of our five core values. In “Daring to be Wise”, we embody Academic Excellence and Acquiring Knowledge; through “Daring to Belong”, we exemplify Social Justice, Public Service, and Diverse Opportunities. When woven together, these values form a truly symbiotic relationship – one that shapes young people who will, in the words of one of my predecessors, Mr Storey in 1947, “courageously seek for wisdom, and the world will be a better place because of their presence in it.”

Throughout Durham Johnston’s history, our core values have remained constant. The language we use to describe them may have changed, but the sentiment has never wavered. As we celebrate 125 years since the school was founded, it felt timely to spend this week exploring what these values mean to our students in 2026. As ever, your wonderful children did not disappoint, and I thought it would be lovely to share some of their insights with you, their parents and carers.

What does Academic Excellence mean to you?

“Academic Excellence is being the best at getting better. It is something that all students can achieve.” – Penny, Year 7 

“To me Academic Excellence means not being the best in your class or form, but trying your hardest and being your best version.” – Darcy, Year 7 

“Academic excellence is you reaching your potential. For someone it might be grade 9s; for some people it might be grade 4s. As long as you know you’ve done your best then there is nothing more you can do.” – Ben, Year 10 

“Getting better at something every day. If I can improve every day that will lead to success.” – Hannah, Year 8 

“Academic excellence means trying your hardest in lessons and making the learning environment as peaceful and nice as it possibly can be for your peers and teachers.” – Ava, Year 9 

“For me it means improving my confidence. When you revise you get it right with confidence.” – Mia, Year 10 

“I think academic excellence is finding a way to persevere through problems.” – Jack, Year 9 

“Academic excellence is trying your best and not quitting.” – Harry, Year 10 

“Academic excellence to me means not grades but being strong and passionate for the subjects you learn, trying hard and success in the subjects you love. Academic learning isn’t scores; it’s the values and knowledge you take away from the lesson.” – Ella, Year 10 

“Learning and getting good GCSE results so I can get a good job.” – Henry, Year 11 

“Learning from mistakes and making sure to never give up on difficult subjects.” – Abi, Year 10

“Doing everything to the best of your ability.” – Ruby, Year 8 

“A belief in progress for all.” – many Year 10 students 

What struck me most in their responses was how naturally our students spoke about excellence as something lived day‑to‑day – in perseverance, kindness, confidence and steady improvement. They do not define it as being top of the class or chasing perfect grades, instead, they talk about trying hard, getting better, supporting others and contributing positively to the classroom. Year 7, in particular, have clearly absorbed Mr Blake’s motto of “being the best at getting better,” and it was lovely to see that idea echoed again and again in their reflections. Older students spoke about confidence, resilience and learning from their mistakes. Together, their comments show that our students understand and buy into the fact that Academic Excellence at Durham Johnston is a personal journey, not a competition and is something every child can achieve.

What does Acquiring Knowledge mean to you?

“Acquiring Knowledge means not being the smartest, but learning as much as possible in your time at Durham Johnston.” – Darcy, Year 7 

“Acquiring knowledge is learning from your mistakes.” – Sophie, Year 9 

“Acquiring knowledge means learning things to be a well‑rounded educated person.” – Adam, Year 11 

“Acquiring knowledge means taking every opportunity to try something new and learn something new.” – Isla, Year 8 

“Acquiring knowledge is learning and having fun in lessons.” – Sam, Year 10

“Acquiring knowledge means learning new things every day. They can be interesting or not, but just one thing is enough.” – Jack, Year 8 

When students wrote about Acquiring Knowledge, the theme was curiosity – trying new things, learning from mistakes, and becoming well‑rounded people. They wrote about enjoying lessons, taking opportunities, and picking up something new each day, even if it is small. There is a real sense that knowledge is not just about facts or grades, but about growing as a person.

And my favourite response: 

“The reason I think academic excellence and acquiring knowledge is important is because you can’t be perfect, but you can try and aim for your best – and that is your perfect.” – Claudia, Year 7

Claudia’s reflection captures our core values beautifully: you don’t have to be perfect, but aiming for your best becomes your version of perfect. What an impressively thoughtful perspective for someone so early in their Durham Johnston journey!

One of the great privileges of leading Durham Johnston is hearing young people articulate our values in their own words and I was deeply heartened by how closely their comments mirrored the reflections of our very first headteacher. In 1908, Mr Whalley wrote that “high scores and successes are important because they show evidence of industry and progress, but we do not forget other important features… vital to the formation of character and personality.” It is remarkable that, 125 years later, our students are saying almost exactly the same thing. When they talk about Academic Excellence, they speak about getting better, persevering, being kind in the classroom, learning from mistakes, and doing everything to the best of their ability. They describe excellence not as a race for the highest grade, but as a commitment to growth, confidence, and character — precisely the qualities Mr Whalley believed mattered most.

When they talk about Acquiring Knowledge, they speak with the same sense of curiosity and purpose that has shaped generations of Johnstonians. They talk about becoming well‑rounded people, taking opportunities, enjoying learning, and discovering something new each day. Claudia’s reflection – that you cannot be perfect, but you can aim for your best and let that be your perfect – captures the spirit of Durham Johnston as clearly as any historical quote.

Listening to them this week reminded me that our values have never been static words on a page. They have been lived, interpreted, and carried forward by thousands of students over more than a century. The language may have evolved, but the heart of Durham Johnston – the belief in scholarship, character, kindness, and opportunity – remains unchanged. Our students today speak with the same clarity, honesty, and ambition as those who walked these corridors in 1901, and that continuity is one of the greatest strengths of our school.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs McFadden

---