Image of Recognising Persuasive Techniques in Christmas Adverts
18 December 2025

Recognising Persuasive Techniques in Christmas Adverts

To further embed previous learning about persuasive language techniques in English, all students across KS3 watched a selection of current Christmas adverts made by leading grocery stores in the UK. They correctly identified the techniques and strategies used to persuade us to use the grocery…

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Image of Christmas baking
17 December 2025

Christmas baking

Well done to our Key Stage 3 Food Technology students for some very tasty festive baking this week.

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Image of Philosophy for Children (P4C)
17 December 2025

Philosophy for Children (P4C)

Year 8 have been attempting to answer some philosophical questions in Religious Education. Developing transferable skills such as critical thinking, reasoning and communication.

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Image of Charity leaflets
15 December 2025

Charity leaflets

As part of our study of Charles Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’, we have been exploring the idea of charity and what that means, particularly around Christmas time. The year 8s have produced some splendid charity leaflets using their best persuasive skills. Well done year 8, Mrs Hinkley is very proud of…

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Image of Interhouse Blooket Competitions
12 December 2025

Interhouse Blooket Competitions

This week we had two inter house competitions held in the ICT room, where students from KS3 and KS4 competed against each other on the website Blooket. It's always been a favourite for language learning (currently used for KS3 German homework) but there so many more quizzes on every topic you can…

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Image of Carol Singing at The Day Centre, Alston
10 December 2025

Carol Singing at The Day Centre, Alston

Today our choir performed Christmas carols and songs at the local Day Centre. They put a smile on everyone’s faces and even received some chocolate treats as a thank you. Well done singers and thank you to the Day Centre for having us.

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Image of Anderson Shelters
9 December 2025

Anderson Shelters

We've been waiting for this with bated breath.

And it was worth the wait, and outstanding piece of work from my year 9 history group.

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Image of Assembly by our Anne Frank Ambassadors
5 December 2025

Assembly by our Anne Frank Ambassadors

Human Rights day takes place on 10th December each year. To mark this event, our two Year 8 Anne Frank Trust Ambassadors delivered an informative and interactive presentation in assembly. They spoke about Anne Frank's life, her legacy, and gave definitions of the different forms of discrimination…

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Image of Oliver Twist Tour of Alston
4 December 2025

Oliver Twist Tour of Alston

Year 8 went on a special walking tour of Alston to look at some of the locations used during the filming of the TV adaptation of Oliver Twist. Here are some of the Year 8's stood outside the location of Mr Sowerberry the Undertaker's shop, where Oliver was taken on as a child apprentice after…

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Image of Inter House Chess Competition
4 December 2025

Inter House Chess Competition

Today we had our first of two Inter House Chess Competitions. The tension was palpable! Well done to all participants, particularly those from Blue and Yellow house who added 20 points to their House total. 

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Image of Year 7&8 Rugby
3 December 2025

Year 7&8 Rugby

Some brilliant effort in Tag Rugby yesterday with Year 7 and Year 8. They worked on passing and running skills. In places it was a bit muddy! 

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Image of Year 7 German
2 December 2025

Year 7 German

This week in German Year 7 are looking at 'Months and Dates'. We spent today's lesson looking at Months of the Year in German. They had great discussions about what happens in each month, and drew illustrations to represent each month, then labelled in German.

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