23 October 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
There is something rather satisfying about finishing a chapter of a good book.
You close the page knowing the story is not over, but there is a natural pause; a chance to reflect on what has happened so far, gather your thoughts and prepare for what comes next. October half term often feels a little like that. The longest half term of the year has a habit of containing a term's worth of activity all by itself – open evenings, mock exams, UCAS applications, school trips, new subjects, new teachers, new routines – and by the end of it, students and staff alike are ready for a brief pause before the next chapter begins.
Over the past eight weeks, our school has been as busy as ever. Classrooms, sports halls, rehearsal spaces and corridors have been full of activity from sun-up to sun-down. It can be easy, particularly for young people, to focus only on the things still to come: the next assessment, the next fixture, the next performance, the next challenge. Half term provides an opportunity to stop and recognise just how much has already been achieved.
Our Year 7 students, many of whom arrived in September looking a little overwhelmed by the size of the site and the pace of secondary school life, now stride around school with the confidence of students who seem convinced they have been here for years. Last night many of them got to experience the “Spooktacular”, our annual Year 7 Halloween event organised by the house team and staffed by many fabulous Sixth Form volunteers. Every year, I am reminded how fortunate we are to have such positive role models for our younger students. It was a brilliant night of games, dancing, and fancy dress, although I'm never quite sure who has more fun at this event – the 11-year-olds or the 17-year-olds!
One of my favourite moments this half term came not during a lesson or a formal event, but whilst walking through school at lunchtime. I overheard a Year 10 student patiently helping a Year 7 student who was trying, and failing, to work out where they needed to be after lunch.
"Honestly," the older student said, "I spent most of Year 7 lost. You'll be fine."
It was a simple interaction that lasted less than a minute, but it perfectly captured something important about our school community. Schools are built not only on academic success but also on thousands of small acts of kindness, patience and support that happen every day, often unnoticed.
As we move into the half-term break, I would encourage all of our students to make time for the things that are easy to neglect during a busy school term. Whether that is spending time with family and friends, getting outdoors, pursuing a hobby, playing sport, listening to music or simply catching up on sleep, the ability to rest is every bit as important as the ability to work hard.
With Halloween and Bonfire Night approaching, I would also like to remind families to take extra care during the darker evenings. Please encourage young people to stay aware of road safety, particularly when walking or cycling, and to enjoy any fireworks celebrations responsibly and safely.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the school, and I hope all members of our school community have the opportunity to enjoy a restful, happy and well-deserved break.
Mrs McFadden
Dates for your diary
A reminder of some upcoming events in school:
Friday 23rd October
School closes for half term
Monday 2nd November
School opens.
Year 13 Mock Exams begin
Monday 9th November
Year 7 and Year 9 Parental Information Presentations
Meet form tutors: 4.30pm; Presentations 5.00pm
Please note: presentation slides will be shared after the event; if parents have students in both years, it is possible to meet the tutor in one year group and attend the presentation of the other if you wish.
Flu Vaccination Catch-Up Session – Wednesday 2 December
A Flu Vaccination catch-up session will take place in school on Wednesday 2nd December.
Parents/carers of students who missed the previous vaccination session will receive an email from Intrahealth or the NHS giving them another opportunity to provide consent for the catch-up session.
If you would prefer your child to receive their flu vaccination sooner, you can contact IntraHealth directly on 03333 583 397, option 3.
Unsere Klassenfahrt nach Deutschland (Our Study Visit to Germany)
On the evening of the 4th of October, 40 Year 9 students started their journey to St Michaelturm. When we arrived in Dover and boarded the ferry, students were able to enjoy a beautiful sunrise while watching the White Cliffs move further and further away. After leaving the ferry, the coach travelled through France and Belgium before finally arriving at our lovely hostel. Students made the most of the warm late-summer weather, playing cricket and basketball outside. A patient group even allowed Miss Embleton and Mr Wilbraham to join in their football match; however, for unknown reasons, they were substituted quickly and spent the remainder of the evening trying to catch their breath after their four minutes on the pitch.
Tuesday was an unforgettable day in Düsseldorf. The weather allowed the group to take in the sights along the river before arriving at the Rheinturm. The lift took us 168 metres up to the viewing platform, where students enjoyed the breathtaking views, bought souvenirs and sampled some ice cream. Brave and curious students leaned over the glass edge to enjoy the panoramic views; however, Mr Horn maintained that he could take everything in 'perfectly fine' while standing as close to the centre wall as possible. The afternoon offered time to explore the shopping streets and food market. Delicacies such as flower-shaped ice cream, chocolate-covered strawberries and Currywurst were enjoyed by all. Then it was back on the bus to enjoy dinner at the hostel, followed by a campfire to celebrate one of the group's birthdays. Students taught Miss Embleton how to roast marshmallows and make s'mores, a memory she will keep forever!
Wednesday brought us to Köln. We visited the Chocolate Museum, where there were plenty of opportunities to try Lindt chocolate freshly made in the factory. Mrs Lennon described it as heaven! The museum offered lots of cross-curricular links with geography, history and food technology. After pulling ourselves away from the chocolate fountain, we wandered into the city centre and took in the immense stature of the cathedral. Brave students and a very brave Mrs Lennon climbed the 533 steps to the observation platform and enjoyed the sights from 97 metres above the city. That evening, our lesson focused on preparing for the interviews students would undertake the following day, followed by a challenging quiz delivered by Mr Horn and Mr Wilbraham. Did anyone know Mr Wilbraham likes history? We certainly do now!
Our final full day in Germany was spent in Xanten and Kempen. We visited the Xanten Archaeological Park, where students enjoyed seeing the harbour temple and amphitheatre. After immersing themselves in history, they took part in a very important German cultural experience: Kaffee und Kuchen! A variety of delicious fresh cakes, hot chocolates and, of course, chips were enjoyed. Mr Horn was on cake duty and took great pride in driving the cake trolley. In the afternoon, we found ourselves in Kempen, a beautiful historic town where, despite a sudden and heavy downpour, students confidently interviewed residents and visitors in German. Their hard work and courage paid off, as they all enjoyed some ice cream before our journey back to the youth hostel. That evening, students were praised for their hard work, exemplary behaviour, positive attitudes and excellent manners throughout the visit. Our final-night disco saw some incredible dance moves from the students; the staff could certainly learn a thing or two!
We travelled back to Durham on Friday. Were we tired? Yes. Did the amazing week make the long journey back to Durham by road and sea worthwhile? The jury is still out on that one. However, the discussions on the journey home and throughout the following week showed that students developed many skills during our visit and created memories that will last a lifetime.
Miss Embleton
Languages Department
Geography Department Photography Competition
Do you like to capture the world around you? This is the perfect competition for you!
This year’s theme is ‘Hidden Geography.’
Your task is to photograph geographical features or processes that people pass every day but rarely notice.
The competition is open to all year groups and there will be prizes for each key stage. For more details see Mrs Scott in Gg2.
The deadline for entries is Friday 6th November
Mrs Scott
Geography Department
PE News
Last Friday our Year 7 boys’ basketball team played their first match for the school - a friendly at Dame Allan's. We started slowly but improved as the game went on and were only 2 points behind before the final quarter. We lost 23-17 in the end, but it was a great learning experience for future competitions. POM was Will B.
On Tuesday, our Year 9 boys’ basketball team travelled to High Tunstall for English Schools matches. We struggled in the first game, losing by 15 points to a strong team from Hermitage. However, it was better news in our second match as we fought back to win a very tense game against the hosts by 1 point, thanks to a late basket from POM Isaac T. Our next game in this competition is away at Jesmond Park after half term.
On Wednesday, our Year 7 boys’ football team were also in Hartlepool as they faced Manor School in the County Cup. We played some great football in a game of many chances and 8 goals. We reached the next round with a 5-3 win thanks to a hattrick from Dylan Y and 2 goals from Harrison R. Joint POMs were Dylan and Matty S. Also on Wednesday, our U15 rugby team were at Consett RFC for an emerging schools tournament. It was a good evening of rugby as we improved with every game including an excellent draw with Woodham in our final match.
Yesterday, our U13 girls’ football team were at Whitburn School in the County Cup. We struggled to cope with the windy conditions and were 2-0 behind half time. We battled hard in the second half trying to get back into the game but couldn't find a goal eventually losing 2-0. Well done to all, but special mention to Eliza who got out of her sick bed to play.
Our Year 9 boys’ football team were also in County Cup action yesterday as they hosted a very strong St Joseph's side. We scored early through a neat Fraser C finish and had chances to extend our lead before they responded with 2 goals before half time. A poor start to the second half saw us go 5-1 down. We never gave up but the final score was 7-1. POM was Rory H.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader for PE
A reminder of our weekly sports bulletin: