Dear Parents, Carers and Families,
Below, you’ll find specific details about Book Week here in school, which starts on Monday. Earlier this week, the artist and musician Stormzy spoke about reading being a superpower, saying that both music and books were about people finding their voices and establishing which stories speak to them. I’d extend this sentiment beyond just these two art forms, but both books and music have always played an important role in my own life and still do, as I look forward to listening to some Jason Isbell and reading a classic 80s thriller this weekend. Many of you will have your own genres, both music and books, that you turn to repeatedly, and one of the pleasures I take in working in a school is watching young people make the same sort of discoveries we have all made when younger, and their enthusiasm when they discover something themselves that you know they’ll love.
I enjoy seeing a group of students pass me each morning as I stand on gate duty with badges and logos that show their love of 90s grunge icons Nirvana, although I do sometimes wonder if they couldn’t find a more contemporary group; I suppose the themes of alienation and angst they sang about are evergreen teenage topics. Likewise, a Year 11 student showed me the philosophy text they were reading recently, a very weighty tome. Some people would see this potentially as a little pretentious, but it didn’t come across that way; this young man being far cleverer than I was at that age and more than capable of engaging with John Stewart Mill. I, also in my late teens, would deliberately read difficult texts to challenge myself, alongside a steady diet of Terry Pratchett, maybe to improve myself, but maybe in all honesty to try and show the world I was the sort of person who read “difficult books.”
These things link well with the main purpose of schools, to allow students to achieve and thrive. We know that students who read are much more likely to achieve well academically and indeed in the past year we’ve invested heavily in a programme of support for those young people who join us who find reading hard and most days I walk past small groups of students having additional phonics interventions or some getting even more specialised one-to-one support so they’re not locked out of school life and their access to whatever future they want isn’t limited. However, school isn’t just about achievement, it’s about helping students thrive. As parents, many of you will have sung to your children when they were very young or sat reading with them. These moments might have been about helping their development, but they were also about letting them know they were nurtured and cared for, the things they need to thrive. Continuing to nurture these interests and passions as they get older is part of this. My son may not want me to sing about going to the animal fair anymore, or indulge our shared love of the Wimpy Kid series, but he thrives in part because of his love of music in particular and the work we and his various schools did to help him read when he, like me and many other people, found that tough.
Many thanks as always to you all for your continued support of the school; I hope you all have a good weekend, maybe with a good book.
Michael Wright
Headteacher
Please find this week's key messages below.
FRAM BOOK WEEK!
Next week is our annual Book Week. This is a chance for us to celebrate and champion reading in our school and encourage everyone that reading can be for them.
We are looking forward to some favourite activities and events – there will be a ‘Banned Books’ hunt, a Writing Competition based on our theme – A World Without Books – and opportunities to take and share books from the library (including A Blind Date with a Book on Tuesday and a FREE bookshop on the Thursday). Students can win points by being ‘Caught Reading’ over the week, and everyone will join in with Drop Everything and Read on the Friday. There are prizes to be won and there are more details on posters around school and on Class Charts.
We are also really excited to be hosting four fantastic authors over the week, who will be working with Years 7-10. There is still (just about) time to pre-buy one of their books to be signed on the day – there are more details on Class Charts. The ParentPay links will close the day before the author visit so that the authors can bring the correct number of books with them, so be quick!
Time to get reading!
Mr Earl and Mrs Morgan
PE Trainers
Just a reminder for students to bring a different pair of trainers for PE, rather than wearing the pair of trainers that they may be wearing as part of their usual school uniform. A different pair of trainers is needed in case they get wet or dirty in PE, especially at this time of year, meaning students can change back into their school pair and don't suffer from wet feet for the rest of the day. It also helps to keep school corridors and classrooms clean, as students do not then drag mud through the school after their PE lesson. Thank you in advance for your support.
Mr Sands, Curriculum Leader for PE, Sport and Health
Safer Internet Day - Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI
This week in school we are celebrating Safer Internet Day 2026, the largest global online safety campaign. This year's theme, ‘Smart Tech, Safe Choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI’, focuses on teaching children and young people the skills to use AI technology safely and responsibly, and highlights available support.
From voice assistants, to chatbots, to algorithms, AI technology is playing an increasingly large role in all our lives. It is important that we find time to discuss these tools and the impact they can have on our own and our families’ online experiences, including:
· the news and content we see,
· the way we work, including using AI for homework or studies,
· and the risk of misuse of AI, for example to create realistic scams or non-consensual nude images.
We encourage you to join us in celebrating by continuing the conversation about AI technology at home. Here are some helpful resources:
· You can complete the UK Safer Internet Centre’s interactive quizzes with your child.
· Read the UK Safer Internet Centre’s top tips for parents and carers here.
· You can share top tips for children and young people with your child.
You may also like to use one of these prompts to start a conversation with your child:
· What’s your favourite thing to do online?
· Have you ever used an AI tool? How did it make you feel?
· What do you like about AI technology?
· Do you have any worries about AI technology?
· What advice would you give to your friends about using AI?
· Who would you talk to if you saw something worrying online?
· What more can I do to help you feel safe online?
A key part of protecting children and young people from online harms is through preventative education and this theme will be a focus for our students in next week's Personal Development lessons. By talking about this in school and at home, we can all work towards keeping children safe when they are online. Celebrating Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity for you to re-emphasise the online safety messages we deliver throughout the year.
If you have any concerns or questions about keeping your child safe online, please do get in touch with your child’s Year Team.
Mrs Osborne, Director of Safeguarding
Year 11 Summer Study Leave
All Year 11 students will be expected to attend school and all timetabled lessons until Friday 22nd May. A leavers’ assembly will be held for students on this final day. Further details and information will follow from the year team. A quick-tips and grade booster timetable that will support students while completing exams in school will follow.
Year 11 Leavers’ Prom
The prom will take place on Monday 29th June at Ramside Hall. Invitations will be sent at a later date. Students are required to have 2000 positive achievement points to receive their invitation. Students’ behaviour and attendance will also be taken into account by the year team and SLT. Any further queries about the prom will be addressed by the year team.
Summer 2026 Exams – Contingency Day
All students taking GCSE, AS, or A‑Level examinations in summer 2026 must be available up to and including Wednesday 24th June 2026.
This date is known as the contingency day. It is set nationally by the exam boards and the Department for Education as a safeguard.
The contingency day is only used if there is a major disruption that prevents an examination from taking place as scheduled. This could include events such as:
- severe weather
- widespread transport disruption
- a national emergency
If such a disruption occurs, affected examinations may be rescheduled to this contingency date.
Students should therefore avoid making travel or other commitments that would prevent them from being available on this date.
Mrs Mersh-Roberts, Deputy Headteacher
Raising Achievement Sessions (RAS)
RAS started on Monday 12th January and will run through until February half term, in preparation for the March mock series beginning on Monday 2nd March. 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. 90% of students attended RAS sessions last term, with 54% of students attending extra sessions of their own accord. Your support in getting your child to these sessions and maintaining these high attendance figures is paramount and much appreciated, thank you; last year there was a correlation between attendance of RAS and GCSE success.
There will be one final RAS block in April, including an Easter holiday study programme in the run up to the GCSE exam period. If your child doesn't have a session appear on their timetable for this block, it is likely they will be selected for one in the final RAS block. Students have had an assembly reminding 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.
For information about different A-Level and GCSE exam boards and programmes of study, please follow this link: Exams | Framwellgate School Durham