Dear parents, carers and families,
I arrived back in school today after visiting a local primary school to be greeted by a Year 7 student who proudly told me she had voted for me "loads" of times to have a pie thrown in my face. Last week, on the evening of the school closure, a Year 8 student emailed me directly to ask whether school would be open the following day. When I replied that it would be, they informed me that they had been looking forward to a three-day weekend but would nevertheless see me on Friday. To complete the hat-trick of student interactions, a Year 11 student walking past me on Monday informed me that I looked more tired than usual and, therefore, might be even grumpier than normal. I didn't share with him that I'd spent much of the previous night awake, pondering the prospect of the Ofsted phone call that the school is expected to receive within the next six months, nor did I agree with his assessment that I am particularly grumpy. Instead, I simply thanked him for his feedback. In general, I am pleased that, in a school of this size, students, or at least some of them, feel comfortable approaching and talking to me. I frequently speak about the importance of relationships, and I believe it is important that I practise what I preach. On Thursday night here in school it was great to welcome so many of the parents of our Year 11 students for the first face to face parents evening of the year and hear people talking in person with such passion about what our current students can and will achieve both in their upcoming mock exams but more importantly when they make key choices about their next steps.
Whether students are wishing for an unexpected day off, commenting on my appearance or volunteering me for charitable humiliation, these interactions remind me daily of the character, confidence and sense of humour of the young people we are privileged to work with.
This week's update from me is shorter than usual to give space to two different but important messages, one about key aspects of the personal development programme here in school and another about the support Family Hubs can provide here in Durham. I would really urge people to engage with both these key messages.
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.
Personal Development in school
As we move through October, we have been proud to mark Black History Month across the school. This important annual event provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements, contributions and experiences of Black individuals throughout history and in contemporary society, while encouraging meaningful discussion about equality, diversity and inclusion.
Students have been exploring a range of themes through their lessons. In Religious Education, English and PSHE, they have been engaging with inspiring stories, influential figures and important social issues, helping to broaden understanding and promote respect for all members of our community. These lessons have prompted thoughtful conversations and demonstrated our commitment to ensuring that every student feels seen, valued and represented.
Alongside our educational activities, we have also been supporting Show Racism the Red Card through a series of fundraising events. Our student presidents have taken the lead in organising a sponsored 'Pie in the Face' challenge, which has generated considerable excitement amongst students and staff alike. Students have been voting for the member of staff they would most like to see covered in pastry, with donations helping to support the charity's vital work in tackling racism and promoting inclusion.
To further show their support, our Sixth Form students have been wearing red today, creating a visible demonstration of solidarity with the campaign and helping to raise awareness of the importance of standing together against discrimination in all its forms.
We would like to thank our students, staff and families for supporting these initiatives. It has been wonderful to see such enthusiasm, engagement and community spirit as we continue to promote the values of respect, kindness and equality that are at the heart of our school.
Mrs King, Head of Sixth Form & PSHE Lead
Family Hubs
Family hubs are local authority‑led centres in England that bring together health, education, parenting, and welfare services into a single “one‑stop shop” for families with children aged 0–19 (or up to 25 with SEND). They provide integrated support such as infant feeding help, parenting classes, mental health services, and early years development programmes. Durham has several Family Hubs, you can find out more here: Find out what's on at your nearest Best Start Family Hub - Durham County Council.
There are a number of excellent services available, but those we would particularly signpost are listed below.
Safer Choices - For young people of secondary school age to understand risky behaviours, peer pressure, consequences and how to make safer choices.
Staying Cool Teen - For teenagers, looking at anger management and ways to deal with their feelings.
Durham SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) drop-in.
Teen Zone - For young people of secondary school age who are struggling with confidence and self-esteem.
Educational Psychology drop-in - Talk to the Educational Psychology team about any concerns you may have about your child such as learning, communication and language, social and emotional-wellbeing, practical skills or being independent.
In general Family Hubs offer a great service – we'd urge all parents to be aware of them and consider what support, if any, they may wish to access.
Miss O’Neill, Assistant Headteacher
Student Success
Congratulations to Honey-Rose Hallas in Year 7 who recently competed in the UKA Dance - Premier Festival 2026 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. She was the Classical Sequence 3rd place trophy winner, a semi-finalist for both Ballroom and Latin and winner of the Modern Sequence in her age group in this national competition. Congratulations Honey-Rose and we look forward to seeing you on Strictly in a few years' time!
In School Assessments
An overview of when students will be assessed in Term 1 can be found at
Assessment | Framwellgate School Durham
Further to this KS3 End of Year Assessments will take place on the following dates:
Year 7 - Week Beginning 24th May
Year 8 - Week Beginning 7th June
Year 9- Week Beginning 14th June
Key Stage 4 Mock Examinations
Year 10 - Mock Exams Weeks Beginning 12th April and 19th April
Year 11- Mock Exams 1 Week Beginning 16th November and 23rd November
Year 11- Mock Exams 2 Week Beginning 22nd Feb and 1st March
Key Stage 5 Assessments/ Mock Examinations
Year 12 and 13 Week 1 - Week Beginning 2nd November and 9th November
Year 12 - Assessment Week 2 -Week Beginning 1st February and 8th February
Year 12 Mocks - Weeks Beginning 21st June and 28th June
Year 13 Mocks - Week Beginning 1st February and 8th February
Summer 2027 Exams – Contingency Day
All students taking GCSE, AS, or A Level examinations in summer 2027 must be available up to and including Wednesday 23rd June 2027.
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:
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severe weather
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widespread transport disruption
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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.
Key Dates
Year 7 Progress Evening Tuesday 27th April 2027
Year 8 Progress Evening Tuesday 18th May 2027
Year 9 Progress Evening Tuesday 19th January 2027
Year 10 Progress Evening Thursday 18th March 2027
Sixth Form Progress Evening Thursday 10th December 2026 and Tuesday 9th March 2027
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:
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Knowledge organisers
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Revision checklists
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Past exam papers
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‘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. Learning how to use this excellent resource early in their time here will be very beneficial to students 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