Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the former school building meaning that the school is currently housed in temporary accommodation on site. The new building will be constructed on a similar footprint to the original school building following demolition. The current temporary facilities will remain in place and in use throughout the construction period. The new school building will meet modern environmental standards through minimising energy demand and using l

There was art with heart, when pupils from English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary in Fenham enjoyed a series of workshops designed to help them explore their emotions through creativity. The school linked with Shipley Art Gallery for the Cultural Match Programme initiative, which has seen children from Reception through to Year 6 enjoy a range of age-appropriate, art-based activities over the past months. “All of the children in school have taken part in workshops with the Shipley

Geographical theory was brought dramatically to life, when students from St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School in Newcastle enjoyed the adventure of a lifetime in Iceland. Thirty of the school’s Year 9 and 10 geography students spent five days exploring the diverse natural features of the dramatic Icelandic landscape, which ranged from the icy to volcanic. “As part of their Geography studies, the boys investigated natural hazards, exploring why people choose to live in geologica

From caving to canoeing, intrepid children from St Aidan’s Catholic Primary in Wallsend tested their mettle when they took part in a four-day adventure at High Borrans. The Year 5 and 6 pupils rose to the challenges of a range of outdoor activities, which included caving, ghyll scrambling, canoeing, coastal scrambling and traversing, rope courses, orienteering, and hill walking. “We did various activities that challenged everyone, linking with our main objectives of resilienc

There were close encounters of the slimy, scaly, and hairy kind, when pupils at St Lawrence’s Catholic Primary in Byker got acquainted with some interesting guests. The Early Years Nursery and Reception children at the school enjoyed a visit from Zoo Lab, where an interactive workshop introduced them to a range of diverse creatures, including a snake, a giant snail, a cockroach, a tarantula, and a gecko. “The Winter Animals Workshop covered how different animals survive the w

‘Centenarians’ gathered in the playground, when pupils at St Bede’s Catholic Primary in Denton Burn celebrated their first 100 days of school. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children arrived dressed as their future selves to mark the milestone on 11 February, while activities took place throughout the day based around the theme ‘We are 100’. “The morning began with a well-attended parent workshop led by Speech and Language Therapist Ellen Fleetwood, promoting the imp

There was ‘snow time’ like the present, when students at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy in Northumberland swapped school for the Swiss Alps. Seventy-six intrepid students from Years 10 to 13 enjoyed a week-long ski trip to Davos, where they honed their skills on the slopes, as well as relaxing off-piste with competitions, activities, and even an outdoor swimming pool. “The trip currently happens every two years, meaning all students at St Benet Biscop have the opportunity t

It was a colourful occasion when children at St Aidan’s Catholic Primary in Ashington came together to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi – as well as raising more than £1,400 for charity. Pupils across all year groups at the school took part in the event, which included a range of classroom-based activities, and culminated in a fun-packed fundraising finale. “Holi is known as the Festival of Colours and is celebrated by Hindus around the world,” explained Headteacher Julie

World Book Day became World Book Week, when St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy in Northumberland held a five-day Festival of Reading. Students from Year 7 to Sixth Form took part in the literary celebration, which included a range of themed activities, competitions, costumes, and a special visitor – as well as every opportunity to open a book. “This year, World Book Day was bigger than ever,” said Louise Banfield, who is Assistant Headteacher at the school. “With so much planne

There was an interesting twist, when St Robert’s Catholic First School put their own spin on this year’s World Book Day celebrations. While some pupils arrived dressed as their favourite fictional characters on Thursday 5 March, others took a more descriptive approach and chose to come as adjectives. “Children were invited to come to school dressed either as a character from a book or as an adjective, depending on their preference,” said Jen Sykes, who is Deputy Headteacher a

World Book Day was brought vividly to life this year, when children at St Alban’s Catholic Primary in Walker were joined by a special guest – although, thankfully, no crocodiles were present. Pupils of all ages at the school were put through their creative paces by County Durham-based author-illustrator Liz Million, whose popular children’s books include There’s a Crocodile in the House. “All classes had dedicated time to meet the author,” said Headteacher Ciara Yeoman. “Sess

Reading was on the menu, when children at St Catherine’s Catholic Primary in Newcastle kicked off this year’s World Book Day with ‘Breakfast and a Book’. Pupils of all ages shared their favourite stories with friends and family members over breakfast at the school on Thursday 5 March. The annual celebration of reading then continued with a host of themed activities and competitions, which were led by the staff with the support of the school’s Year 6 ‘Reading Ambassadors’. “St

Friendship and community were the themes when St Aidan’s Catholic Primary in Ashington celebrated this year’s World Book Day on Thursday 5 March. Children across all year groups at the school took part in a range of book-based activities inspired by Joseph Coelho’s The Tower. “The story explores themes of imagination, friendship, community, and seeing the world from different perspectives,” explained Headteacher Julie Teer. “Through this book, children learned about empathy,

Fantasy was the theme when Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newcastle celebrated this year’s World Book Day on Thursday 5 March. Staff and students alike drew inspiration from the magical worlds of books including The Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, and the Harry Potter series, dressing as their favourite characters for the annual event. “The theme was ‘fantasy genre’,” explained English Teacher Lucy Floyd, who helped organise the celebrations. “Staff dressed up f

World Book Day became ‘Wild Book Day’, when children at St Lawrences’ Catholic Primary in Byker gave the annual celebration of reading a novel twist. Pupils from Nursery to Year 6 took part in the international event, with activities all themed around a particular story. “This year, the whole school was reading Wild Book Day by Karl Newson and James Brown,” explained Head of School Charlotte Robson. “In it, books come to life when children aren’t looking at them, and they get

Inclusivity and belonging were on the agenda when Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) from across Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland came together at a Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust conference. Delegates from our member schools attended ‘Inclusion and Belonging: Every Child, Every Chance’, which took place at the Grand Hotel in Gosforth Park on Friday 13 February. “We had a selection of speakers, including Gareth Morewood, an interesting and th

There was an extra dimension to their film studies, when sixth formers at a Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newcastle took part in a special music masterclass. The nine Year 13 students had been studying the classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller Vertigo, when their teacher, Jessie-May Perry, discovered that another member of staff had valuable expertise to share about the composer of the film score, Bernard Hermann. “I left the DVD of Vertigo in the Auditorium after we watch

There were some unfamiliar ‘senior citizens’ in class, when St John Vianney Catholic Primary in Denton held a special celebration to mark the first 100 days of the academic year. Pupils of all ages took part in the 100 Days of School event, which featured a range of imaginative activities and costumes around the theme – including children dressed as they imagined they might look as centenarians. “The day involved a wide range of fun, creative, and educational activities, all

The race was on, when four Year 8 students from St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School made it through to the regional final of a prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) competition. Team ‘Lightspeed’ were tasked with designing, creating, and racing their own model ‘Formula One’ car, as part of the international STEM Racing challenge. “The competition is based around several elements – project management, manufacturing and engineering the miniature F1 car,

Vital lessons from the past were remembered and shared, when children from St Catherine’s Catholic Primary in Newcastle organised and led their own Holocaust Memorial Day service. The Year 6 class were involved in every aspect of the planning and delivery of the special assembly, which was attended by all Key Stage 2 pupils at the school, as well as parents and carers. “All Year 6 pupils took part in leading the assembly, which focused on remembrance, respect, and the importa