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.
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 School, in South Shields, was recently awarded the Bronze Mental Health Award by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Houghton Community Nursery School has collaborated with Durham University to produce a research-based project focused around mathematics.
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.
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.