Dear Parents, Carers and Families,

Like the vast majority of schools, organisations, families and people, this week we’ve been engaged in acts of remembrance. A ceremony was held here in school on Tuesday 11th November. As in previous years, our students who are part of the cadets, guides or scouts attended school in their uniforms on this day in a visible sign of their commitment to service. These students joined our student council members and student presidents to attend a short service here onsite, listening to The Last Post and reflecting on what sacrifice and service mean. After the service, Sylvie and Georgia, our student presidents, also laid a wreath at the local war memorial in Framwellgate Moor.

 

All students in the school watched the assembly linked below on Tuesday morning as part of the collective act of remembrance. We share it here for everyone to also watch at home if they wish. The video features readings from a range of young people in the school, reciting letters and a poem from WWI. I would like to thank Maisie, Olivia, Grace, Leo, Jacob, George, Lucy, Alfie, Daniel, Lilli, Paige, Sophie, Arjan, Niamh, Ava, Jessica, Paul and Joanne for lending their voices to the past. Can I also thank Mr Rosher and Mr Earl for their work within school, working with these students and helping to make the assembly possible.

Many thanks for your continued support of the school; I hope you all have a good weekend.

Michael Wright

Headteacher

Please find this week's key messages below. 

Parent and Carer Survey

Many thanks to those people who’ve already completed this. The survey is still open, closing a week today.

Parent and Carer Survey November 2025 - Framwellgate School Durham

Rebuild Update

Work continues onsite. On Monday 17th November, temporary traffic lights are due to be installed on Old Pit Lane on the side of the main driveway closer to the Arnison Centre. This is to help with the construction of the temporary entrance to the work site. Many thanks in advance for your understanding.

Friday 28th November

A reminder that school is closed on this day.

Christmas Lunch

We will be serving Christmas Lunch on Tuesday 16th December. More details to follow!

End of Term

This term ends on Friday 19th December. School will finish for all students at 12.45pm that day, and we will arrange for buses and taxis to be here earlier as a consequence.

Drinking in Lessons

A reminder that students should only be drinking water during lesson time. Staff will confiscate other drinks. There is sufficient opportunity during the school day for students to drink alternatives if they wish. Some of our students with diabetes manage this in part by drinking fruit juice during the day, so this specific rule doesn’t apply to them.

On a related note, in terms of what young people do and don’t drink, currently the government is consulting on a new law that would make it illegal to sell high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. Many major retailers already voluntarily do this. We confiscate these drinks in school, and I would urge all parents to consider whether their child needs to consume drinks such as this and the impact they have on their health.

Christmas Appeals:

As we approach the festive season, we’re launching two special appeals to support families and children in our school community – and we’d love your help.

Christmas Present Appeal This year, we’re doing things a little differently. Instead of giving every child the same gift, we’re asking for donations so we can buy a chosen present for each child – something they truly want. Any size donation is welcome, and every penny goes towards making a child’s Christmas extra special. Donate here: [Christmas Present Appeal 2025 - JustGiving]

Christmas Food Appeal We’re also raising money to support families who may be struggling with food shopping over Christmas. Your donation will help us provide food vouchers so that every family can enjoy a warm, nourishing meal this festive season. Donate here: justgiving.com/campaign/christmasfoodvouchers2025

If you’d prefer to buy a gift directly, I can anonymously share a student’s wish with you, and the gift can be brought into school. We also welcome donations of selection boxes or other festive treats, which can be given alongside the student’s gift.

Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness.

Miss O’Neill, Assistant Headteacher

Raising Achievement Sessions (RAS)

RAS started on Monday 13th October and will run through to the November mock series. These are targeted sessions designed to intervene where students struggle with key concepts and/or have knowledge gaps. If students have been selected by their teachers to attend a session, it will appear on their Class Charts timetable, and you will be able to see if they have attended or not. Students may be selected to attend up to 3/4 sessions a week, and the majority of the sessions take place at lunchtime, after your child has had a break and time to eat. Some sessions occur after school. Your support in getting your child to these sessions is crucial and much appreciated; last year there was a correlation between attendance at RAS and GCSE success.

There are two more blocks of RAS, one in January in the build-up to the February mock series and one in April in the run-up to the GCSE exam period. If your child doesn't have a session appear on their timetable for this block, they will likely be selected for one of the subsequent RAS blocks.

Students had an assembly on Friday 10th October informing them of this information and the process.

Miss Lutynski, Assistant Headteacher

What is my child learning?

A reminder that you can find curriculum details about what your child is studying here on our website: Curriculum Overview | Framwellgate School Durham

How to help support your child at home?

Students can use the link below to access resources that will help them study independently at home, such as:

  • Knowledge organisers
  • Revision checklists
  • Past exam papers
  • ‘How to Revise’ instructional videos

Students have been shown how to access this SharePoint site and a 'how to' sheet has been sent to you via ClassCharts. As parents and carers, you won’t be able to access this, but the link will work for all students. Students learning how to use this excellent resource early in their time here will be very beneficial to them later as they approach their GCSE studies. All GCSE students should be making regular use of it as a matter of course.

Resource Hub