Dear Parents, Carers and Families,
In previous updates this year I’ve written about both the power of music and the power of reading and the impact they can have on young people’s lives. Inspired by the success of the Year 11 boys in winning the county futsal competition it felt right that this week we reflect as a school on the power of sport – you can find out a little more about their success here: County Futsal Cup Winners! | Framwellgate School Durham The faces of the Year 11 boys as they celebrated with their trophy demonstrates vividly the way that sporting success can create a sense of euphoria in people that isn’t easily captured in other areas of life. This weekend many people in the North East will find their own personal sense of well-being wrapped up in events in London (although my Sunderland supporting granddad would be keen to argue Durham is a red and white city...) and sporting triumphs are one of the areas where the country is most likely to come together to celebrate.
As well as bringing people together, sport for our students also helps them develop as adults. In the photo of this Year 11 student, we see a face of determination.
His training before the match speaks to his resilience and ability to focus on the long term, in turn suggesting dedication. Football is a team sport where the individual learns that the best outcomes are achieved by collective endeavour and being part of something bigger than yourself. These are all qualities I’d like to see in our students. However, there will be many of you with a negative view of sport, and particularly competitive sports, with its creation of winners but also inevitably losers. While I think it’s also important for students to learn how to lose and yet still move on it would be wrong of me to suggest that many people don’t have painful memories of being made to feel uncomfortable or inferior due to their defeat in what was really an inconsequential game. This shouldn’t mean we forget about the power of sports altogether, especially in terms of fitness. The physical benefits are obvious but increasingly we are all aware of the mental health benefits of regular activity and while I can accept not everyone wants to take part in team sports, I don’t accept that people don’t want good health.
As I was writing this update an email came through from one of our Year 10 students asking for help in raising funds to support them in the playing rugby league at international level. I’m happy to include below the message from Lewis and wish him well in the future. He’s an example of excellence and the embodiment of the qualities I’ve written about above, as are so many of our students. Not all can be fortunate to be selected to play for their country, but all deserve the opportunity to develop these skills and the mindset that allows them to know success and achieve that endorphin high that exercise brings. Again, by happy coincidence this week's departmental spotlight is on PE and you should be able to see the range of extra-curricular activities on offer from the department. Please encourage your child to talk to their PE teacher if they’d like to find out more; some of our most successful students are our busiest students and those that take part in sport either with us or with other clubs always benefit from it on many levels.
Many thanks for your continued support of the school; I hope you all have a good weekend.
Michael Wright
Headteacher
Training Update
Departments this week built on the work we had done as a whole school to think about how best to support students on the autistic spectrum.
Lewis’s Story
My name is Lewis, and I’m incredibly proud and excited to share that I’ve been selected to represent Scotland in the U16 rugby league team for the upcoming season! This is a dream come true for me, and I’m determined to give it my all on the pitch. However, I need your help to make this opportunity a reality.
Rugby league is a sport I’m deeply passionate about. It’s taught me discipline, teamwork, and resilience, and being able to represent my country is an honour I’ve worked incredibly hard for. Unfortunately, rugby league in Scotland receives very little funding, and as a result, players and their families are often left to cover the costs of travel, accommodation, and kit. This is where I’m reaching out for your support.
I promise to give 100% on the pitch, to make my country proud, and to carry your support with me every step of the way. Your generosity will not only help me but also inspire other young athletes to pursue their dreams, even when the odds seem stacked against them.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for considering supporting me. If you’re able to donate, please click the link below. And if you can’t contribute financially, sharing this fundraiser with your friends and family would mean the world to me.
Thank you for being part of my journey!
First World War Battlefields Tour 2025
Last week the school took a group of students to visit the battlefields of WWI. You can read about this and see some images from the trip by visiting this news item on our website: First World War Battlefields Tour 2025 | Framwellgate School Durham
Departmental Spotlight - PE
Last week we spent time in the PE, Sport and Health & Social Care Department where we had the pleasure of seeing our students engage with the varied sports and learning opportunities. We saw a Year 7 fitness lesson where some of our Year 10 OCR sports students were being pushed out of their comfort zone and delivering small group activities for the Year 7's. This was part of their OCR unit where they have to plan, risk assess, deliver and evaluate their own PE teaching! I think it helped them to realise that although their teachers may make it look easy, it really isn’t! They were really brave and the Year 7 students were a great 'audience'.
We also saw Year 12 sport students evaluating their performance in their recent 'job interviews' that they participated in as part of their coursework and from speaking to the students it became clear just how much they are pushed out of their comfort zone and how helpful the development of these skills and this resilience will be for their futures. We were delighted to hear the positivity and enthusiasm from our students about the variety of sports they experience with many of the Year 7 & 8 students reporting that climbing is their favourite because they love trying something new. Across the week we have seen fitness, climbing, football, handball and a range of theory lessons which range from Year 10 learning about synovial joints to Year 12 health students evaluating the reliability and validity of sources of evidence for their treatment plans.
There are so many opportunities within this department, whether that be choosing to take one of the many courses on offer at KS5 (A-level PE, BTEC Sport, AAQ H&S), involvement in the Sports Leadership course or whether it be involving yourself in the extensive extra-curricular offer. What will you try?
