Crucial Reform Required in SEND funding

Colleagues from specialist settings from across England gathered for a day of discussion, debate and networking this week.  The National Network of Special Schools for School Business Professionals (NNoSS) held its Annual Conference in Birmingham on Thursday.  Powered by Schools North East, NNoSS provides a national community and powerful voice for School Business Professionals working …

The North East provides ideal location for enriching curriculum

Walbottle Primary School successfully secured funding from the Community Foundation to help their school take trips to support and enrich their curriculum. The funding aimed to embed cultural capital through outdoor education, physical activity and sport. The North East is rich in resources for students, with galleries, zoos and museums ready to inspire generations.  Community …

Local students showcase their artwork in Kings Cross to celebrate Earth Day

Year 3 Students from Esh Winning Primary School, County Durham, have proudly displayed their artwork in the capital. The drawings, made in a workshop at The Great North Museum: Hancock were created as part of the project ‘The Wild Escape’ in celebration of Earth Day. The Wild Escape The Wild Escape is a project uniting …

Jamie Carragher helps Newcastle School for Boys pupil surpass fundraising target

Jack Lewis, a pupil of Newcastle School for Boys, has succeeded in his fundraising efforts with the help of footballer Jamie Carragher. Bags of Hope Jack, 10, was born with a rare condition, Exomphalos Major, where his bowel, intestines and liver were outside of his body. This is a condition that only affects two in …

Sunderland Primary embeds cultural capital through outdoor education

Hudson Road Primary School, in Sunderland, took part in a project funded by the Community Foundation which aimed to embed cultural capital through outdoor education, physical activity and sport. The school used their allocated funding to send their year 5 and 6 students to Robinwood Outdoor Activity Centre and Derwent Hill. Community Foundation The project …

Special Easter visitor for Durham primary school

Children at a County Durham primary school were overjoyed to meet – and feed – a lamb in school. In the run up to Easter, St Godric’s Catholic Primary School, in County Durham, were overjoyed to meet a special furry guest.  The school is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust. Special Easter Visitor St …

Secretary of State says that removing Ofsted grades would risk lowering standards

Education ministers took departmental questions in the House of Commons this week. Shadow Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson MP, said that it was time for Ofsted to turn a corner. She quoted former chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, who has said that the Secretary of State must respond to the ‘groundswell of opinion building up’ that …

North East schools get stuck in to the Great British Spring Clean

Well done to schools in the North East for getting involved in the Great British Spring Clean. Schools from West End Schools’ Trust (WEST) took to the streets to take pride in their community. The Great British Spring Clean From 17 March until 2 April, schools, families, community groups and businesses got involved with the …