I am deeply honoured and so happy to receive an OBE in the New Year’s Honours. This recognition is not something I ever expected, and I accept it on behalf of the many dedicated colleagues I have worked alongside throughout my years in education. I am particularly thankful for the opportunity to lead the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust since its inception, and I am so grateful to the trustees, leaders, governors and staff who made this possible. It was a brave leap of

Festive joy was signed, sealed and delivered, when caring students at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy decided to spread some seasonal cheer in the community. The Student Council members spearheaded ‘Operation Christmas Drop’, where students from Years 7 to 11 at the school wrote Christmas cards which they then delivered to residents in the area. The initiative was part of the ‘Mission 90’ personal development challenge, which covers ‘Faith’, ‘Quest’, and ‘Learning’, with tas

The spirit of Christmas shone through, when St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School held its annual Advent Carol Service at St Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle, bringing the term to an inspirational close. More than 100 students from Years 7 to 13 came together for the packed celebration on Wednesday 17 December, for which there was standing room only. “The service was a beautiful expression of faith and tradition, filled with music, prayer, and reflection, as we prepare for the comi

Christmas joy spread across the generations, when the choir from St Columba’s Catholic Primary in Wallsend brought some festive cheer to a neighbouring care home. The 24 pupils from Years 3 to 6 at the school spent the morning at Eothen Homes, where they entertained residents with their renditions of a series of popular, festive favourites, from traditional carols to classic Christmas songs. Carols performed by the children included ‘The Angel Gabriel’, ‘Away in a Manger’, an

Entertainment ranged from singers and dancers to gymnasts and musicians when children at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary showcased their talents in a special end-of-term performance on Thursday 18 December. Pupils of all ages took part in the Christmas Talent Show, which was returning by popular demand after an absence of several years – and they were even joined by some members of staff. “Anyone could enter,” explained Headteacher Barbara Brown. “The event was for children and

During the Advent period, pupils and families from St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Wallsend, and St Bede’s Catholic Primary School, Bedlington, took part in a shared fundraising and learning project connected to the community of Muhoroni, Kenya. The project followed a visit to Muhoroni by Executive Headteacher Laura Fallon and Miss Clark from St Bernadette’s, which focused on listening, learning and gaining a deeper understanding of daily life within the local conte

The spirit of Christmas shone through when pupils from St John Vianney Catholic Primary led a candle-lit carol service at St John Vianney Church on Wednesday 17 December. Around 120 Year 5 and 6 children from our school took part in the celebratory event, which featured readings, as well as performances from soloists, duets, and other ensembles, along with the school choir. “The children were singing carols, punctuated by readings which told the Christmas story through Script

There was double the festive fun, when St Alban’s Catholic Primary combined its annual Christmas Fayre with a whole-school Christmas Jumper Day celebration. “All pupils from Nursery through to Year 6 were invited to take part by wearing a festive jumper,” said Headteacher Ciara Yeoman, who organised both events at the school in Walker. “All staff were warmly encouraged to join in, and help create a fun, festive atmosphere across the school.” Besides sporting seasonal knitwear

Christmas cheer spread across the generations, when children from St Lawrence’s Catholic Primary in Walker joined residents at a neighbouring care home for a festive singalong. The Key Stage 2 pupils visited Lawson House on Monday 15 January, accompanied by Head of School Charlotte Robson, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) Helen O’Hara. “The 17 children in the choir performed a variety of Christmas carols and songs to the residents,” said Mrs

Christmas came early for pupils at St Mark’s Catholic Primary in Westerhope, when they swapped their uniforms for festive knitwear, as well as enjoying a range of seasonal activities and a special lunch. More than 200 children at the school took part in Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 12 December, while staff members also joined in the fun. “All pupils from Nursery through to Year 6 were invited to take part, making it a whole-school celebration,” said Deputy Headteacher Melan

There’s a warm welcome for all at St Alban’s in Walker, which has been inviting members of the community to join staff and children for Mass. St Alban’s Catholic Primary has been hosting the services every other Tuesday, after heating problems left neighbouring parishioners literally out in the cold. “Due to ongoing issues with the church heating, and limited funds to repair it, the local parish has been unable to hold Mass in the church building,” explained Headteacher Ciara

As December got underway, children from St Columba’s Catholic Primary were helping to spread some festive cheer – while also raising money for a good cause. The school choir lifted spirits at the Wallsend Forum Shopping Centre on Friday 4 December, performing a range of seasonal songs and carols to entertain the shoppers, while collecting more than £175 for Marie Curie. It was the second time that the school had held the event in aid of the end-of-life charity. “We did this l

Weeks of practice paid off when children from ten different primary schools came together for the first time as one united choir to sing in Newcastle Cathedral. Formed as part of the National Schools Singing Programme (NSSP), the new Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle Children's Choir brought together 60 Year 3 and 4 pupils from primaries across the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, who sang at a Jubilate Deo event on Friday 5 December. The participating schools included O

Stiff upper lips were swapped for hairy ones when sixth formers at St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School in Newcastle raised awareness for men’s health. More than 100 Year 12 and 13 students, along with several members of staff, took part in this year’s Movember Campaign, shaving on 1 November before growing moustaches until the end of the month. “Year 12 Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE) has a strong emphasis on mental health, with Unit Two ‘How Can I Keep

Hope was the focus when students from a BBCET school took part in a spiritual retreat at Ampleforth Abbey. Fifteen Year 11 students from St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School spent three days at Ampleforth, where they reflected on the theme ‘Journey of Hope’ with the help and guidance of Father Bede. “The aim of the retreat was to give pupils an opportunity to step away from the pressure of exam preparation, and to reflect on what hope looks like in their lives – where it comes

St Charles’ Catholic Primary School in Gosforth is celebrating a remarkable achievement after being named the Northeast’s Primary School of the Year for a second successive time by the prestigious Sunday Times Parent Power Guide. St Charles’ ranked among the highest-achieving schools in the 33rd edition of the guide, which was released on Friday 5 December, and is widely regarded as the most authoritative survey of the country’s top schools. The school also reached 20th place

Cryptic clues and puzzling pictures were the order of the day, when students at a BBCET school were tasked with creating a Christmas card for the Government Communications Headquarters, GCHQ. All age groups at Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newcastle were invited to take part in the GCHQ Christmas Card Competition, which was overseen by Head of Computer Science Dale Stapleton, along with Computer Science Teachers Hannah Lunn and Sophie Coldwell. “They had to design a cr

It was ‘crunch time’ – but all in a good cause – when children at St Mark’s Catholic Primary took part in a special charity event. Pupils from Nursery to Year 6 were involved in the Giant Domino Cereal Box Challenge, which was spearheaded by the school’s ‘Mini Vinnies’ charity fundraising team, with the boxes of cereal later donated to the West End Foodbank. “We have 20 Mini Vinnies in Years 5 and 6,” explained Deputy Headteacher Melanie Henderson. “The Mini Vinnies wrote

Byker was placed very firmly on the map, when budding artists from a BBCET school in the area took part in a particularly imaginative charity event. Ninety children from St Lawrence’s Catholic Primary put their creative skills to the test, when they joined a professional artist for ‘The Big Draw’ at the Lighthouse Project. Run by the charity of the same name, the event champions drawing and creativity as a way to bring people together, with a flagship festival taking place th

Lovers of musical theatre were in for a treat, when Hollywood came to Bedlington for a BBCET school’s colourful performance of a classic Broadway show. The talented students at Benet Biscop Catholic Academy staged their own production of Rock of Ages, which tells the story of star-crossed lovers against the backdrop of a bar on Sunset Strip, all set to iconic eighties rock songs from bands such as Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, Poison, and Europe. Seventy students from Years 7 to