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Schools continue to face attendance challenges in Summer term

Schools continue to face attendance challenges in Summer term (1st July, 2022)

Attendance figures released this week show slight increases in school absences in June, according to the DfE’s latest attendance data released earlier this week.

Join your colleagues at Beech Hill school for bespoke Experience Days

Join your colleagues at Beech Hill school for bespoke Experience Days (24th June, 2022)

Beech Hill Primary School, in West Denton, is hosting a course of ‘Experience Days’ to help teachers with professional development for those who would like to improve or develop their planning and teaching practices.

Monkton Infants scoops pioneering mental health award

Monkton Infants scoops pioneering mental health award (24th June, 2022)

Monkton Infants School, in South Shields, was recently awarded the Bronze Mental Health Award by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools.

Hotspur Primary trials School Streets Initiative

Hotspur Primary trials School Streets Initiative (24th June, 2022)

Schools in the region have been taking part in the School Streets Initiative wherein Local Authorities work together with educators to restrict roads surrounding schools in order to tackle traffic, air pollution, road danger and poor health.

Cost of living crisis impacts on NE schools

Cost of living crisis impacts on NE schools (24th June, 2022)

The impact of the cost of living crisis is being felt all over the North East by families, schools and teachers. Schools report struggling to recruit and retain staff due to the financial stress felt across the country as inflation and costs soar.

Hartlepool students reach for the STARS

Hartlepool students reach for the STARS (17th June, 2022)

Brougham Primary School, in Hartlepool, recognised the achievements of a student this week, by naming a star after her. The CEO of Ad Astra Trust, Andy Brown, dropped into the school to give the student a certificate announcing the naming of star ‘Imogen’ to celebrate and reward her accomplishments.

Seaton Valley Federation Football fly to Valencia

Seaton Valley Federation Football fly to Valencia (17th June, 2022)

Teachers and students from Astley Community High School, Whytrig Middle School and Seaton Sluice Middle School took a trip to Valencia, after 3 years of delays due to the pandemic.

North East Schools take part in Healthy Eating Week

North East Schools take part in Healthy Eating Week (17th June, 2022)

Over the last five days, schools in the region took part in the British Nutrition Foundation’s Healthy Eating Week (HEW). Meanwhile, the government released their Food Strategy White Paper on Monday, with little mention of any immediate intention to change their Free School Meals (FSM) plan despite last week’s worrying data.

Schools fight post-pandemic attendance challenges and wait to see impact on exam results

Schools fight post-pandemic attendance challenges and wait to see impact on exam results (17th June, 2022)

This year saw the first ‘normal’ GCSE exam period since 2019. Schools are concerned about post-pandemic school attendance. In particular, as tests are marked and pupils eagerly await results, the region is waiting to see how Year 11 attendance may impact exam results.

Young minds, Big maths

Young minds, Big maths (10th June, 2022)

Houghton Community Nursery School has collaborated with Durham University to produce a research-based project focused around mathematics. 

NE Educators honoured by the Queen

NE Educators honoured by the Queen (10th June, 2022)

Fresh from half term, schools continue to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee whilst educators from the region have been honoured as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Hillary Clinton visits South Shields school

Hillary Clinton visits South Shields school (10th June, 2022)

On 3 June, Former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the region to attend David Miliband’s South Shields Annual Lecture at Harton Academy. The lecture was chaired by Sir Ken Gibson, Executive Head Teacher.