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Dear Parents, Carers and Families,
A different style of update this week with two videos and one important standalone message.
Mobile Phones
As you may be aware, the government has increased the strength of its guidance around the use of mobile phones in school, with a clear expectation that all schools must become completely mobile phone free. The current guidance says schools are expected to implement a policy where students do not have any access to their mobile phones throughout the school day and while on the school site, but it doesn’t state what this looks like.
As a school, we’ve looked at various solutions to this, with the added complexity of our new build. Many of the potential options have a cost implication, and we’ve been keen not to adopt something that might require significant expense now, which we can’t then implement in our new buildings without investing even more public money.
However, currently Parliament is looking at whether a policy of “never seen, never heard”, where phones should just be out of sight at all times, will be strong enough, and if, in fact, schools will have to physically collect phones or invest in lockable pouches, so that young people can’t access their devices at all during the day.
Regardless of the specifics of any policy change, I would urge you to consider the fact that after May half-term, no student will be allowed to access their mobile phone at any time as soon as they are on the school site. This is not a significant change to our current position, where phones are away from bell to bell, but we will be taking a much firmer position with students from the moment they arrive at school until they leave our school site, and consequently with any student not able to follow these rules.
I’ll be writing to all parents and carers with specific details, as well as talking to students directly about this, in the week beginning 11th May. Changes will be fully implemented for the first day back after half-term, Monday 1st June. I would urge all parents to recognise that after May half-term, any child caught using a mobile phone on the school site is likely to face very serious sanctions. As a basic measure, I’d ask all parents to consider whether their child has a school bag into which any phone can be placed during the day, as phones in pockets are often a temptation, and phones in trouser or blazer pockets will not be regarded as sufficient.
Rebuild
Those of you who live locally to the school may have seen that the builders have begun to install the steel frame, so that the actual new school building is starting to take shape. Some of our Year 7 students joined me in a steel signing ceremony earlier this week, as we move ever closer to our moving date of September 2027.
Our Media Club filmed and created another short video using their drone. The footage was taken in February, so it is already outdated as it doesn’t show any of the steel framework, but it does give more insight into the work that has been completed. Many thanks to the students in the Media Club for all their hard work.
Values and Ethos
We’re sharing our new promotional video here for the first time, where staff, students, and parents talk through what this school means to them. Many thanks to those people who helped us with the filming. You can see it here.
Many thanks as always to you all 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.
Alumni 150
Having asked people to sign up to our new alumni organisation, you can see the first update here: Alumni 150 | Framwellgate School Durham
Library Fundraising Partnership with The Assembly Rooms and Collected Bookshop
Tickets are selling quickly, but there are still some available to see Be More Chill at The Sir Tom Allen Assembly Rooms in Durham NEXT WEEK – Thursday 7th (7.30pm), Friday 8th (7.30pm) and Saturday 9th May (2.30pm and 7.30pm).
In this season of heightened stress, take a couple of hours out to see what happens when a high school student implants himself with a computer chip to ‘be more chill’… A comedy musical that addresses identity and self.
Enjoy a night (or afternoon matinee) out knowing you’ll be helping raise money for us to update our school library while investing in your own self-care – what could be more chill?
Mrs Morgan, LRC and Library Officer
NSPCC's Voice of Online Youth
Applications are now open to all young people aged 12-15, to take part in the NSPCC's Voice of Online Youth project. The NSPCC are looking for young people to join this group to share their views with decision makers, influence policies and help tackle online safety issues. No previous experience is necessary, but this looks like an exciting opportunity for young people to have their say and be heard.
Right now, not enough is being done to amplify the views of young people and make big changes to the online world. Over the past two years, the Voice of Online Youth has been tackling that, and more young people are needed to keep the conversation going. The NSPCC wants to learn even more about the experiences of young people online and the problems they face when looking for help, and to work with young people to champion change.
We will be promoting this in school and have encouraged our students to speak with parents and carers in the first instance if they are interested in becoming involved.
For more information and to find out more, please see here voice-of-online-youth-factsheets_young-people.pdf
Exam Stress
April is Stress Awareness Month and as we move towards exam season, stress for students becomes more prevalent. If you’re worried about how your child is coping with the stress and worries of upcoming exams and revision, please see the links below which you may find helpful.
Exam Time & Exam Stress | Parents Guide To Support | YoungMinds
Help your child beat exam stress - NHS
Mentally Healthy Schools’ Anna Freud also shares some practical advice and resources for young people with their mental health and wellbeing through independent self-care. The link below may help students create their own self-care plan my-self-care-plan-secondary.pdf and support them emotionally and socially.
Mrs Osborne, Director of Safeguarding
Year 6 Parents
If you have a child starting with us in Year 7 in September, a reminder to visit this section of our website: Transition | Framwellgate School Durham
Upcoming Assessment Dates
KS3 Assessment Week will take place during lesson time, in the week beginning Monday 1st June.
Year 10 Option Subjects' Assessments will take place in lesson time between Monday 20th April and Friday 8th May.
An assessment timetable can be found here: Exams | Framwellgate School Durham
Summer GCSE/A level/BTEC Examinations
Students will receive their personal timetable over the next two weeks. A general overview of the examinations can be found here: Exams | Framwellgate School Durham
Progress Evening
Year 8 - Thursday 7th May
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
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