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Dear Parents, Carers and Families,
On Thursday evening, we had the privilege of coming together as a school community to celebrate the achievements of our students at our annual Rewards Evening, held this year at the Gala theatre. It was a great occasion, filled with pride, inspiration, and a strong sense of what makes Framwellgate School Durham such a special place. The awards presented recognised excellence across many areas of school life. Academic achievement, sporting success, creative accomplishment, leadership, and contribution to the wider community were all deservedly celebrated. For the students receiving awards, it was an opportunity to be recognised for their hard work and commitment, and for their families to be part of that success. Afterwards, I found myself thinking not only about the achievements that were recognised on stage, but also about the many successes that can go unseen. Schools rightly celebrate the results of their students, what our young people achieve in the classroom, as this is one of the key points of school. Results matter, attendance matters, achievement matters. Yet behind all the certificates and each success story lies something less visible but equally important.
I could write about the naturally shy and introverted student who has quietly improved their confidence and now contributes to lessons, when previously they would sit in dread of being asked to answer a question. I could write about the young person who has overcome personal challenges outside of school to make sure they attend consistently and engage positively each day, giving me a smile in return to my hello in the morning at the school gate. I could write about the students who show kindness to others without expecting recognition, who support friends when they are struggling, who represent the school with integrity, and who do the right thing even when nobody is watching. These students can sometimes fly under the radar, and they are not always reflected in data, examination grades, or government school performance benchmarks, but these skills and this character are often the foundations upon which future success is built.
I should also acknowledge the dedication of our staff, whose work can fall into the same category. The extra conversation with a student who needs encouragement, the careful planning of a lesson, the support offered to families, and the countless acts of care and commitment that happen every day across the school. Like so many aspects of our students' work, these are not things that appear in performance tables, but they make an enormous difference to the lives of our young people and our community.
One of the greatest privileges of being headteacher here is seeing these moments unfold every day. I see students helping one another, showing resilience when things are difficult, and demonstrating the values that we want to develop in every young person who passes through our school.
As we move towards the end of another successful year, I would encourage all members of our community to take a moment to recognise these moments that we can all see all around us, whether they belong to a student, a member of staff, a parent or carer, or a friend. They may not always receive a formal award, but they deserve to be celebrated just as much.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Rewards Evening such a memorable occasion, and congratulations once again to all of our award winners.
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.
Parent and Carer Survey June 2026
Many thanks to everyone who has already taken the time to complete our second Parent and Carer Survey of the year which opened last week. The survey is open until Friday 26th June and you can complete it by clicking on this link: Parent and Carer Survey June 2026 - Framwellgate School Durham
Alumni 150
Please find the link here to our latest Alumni 150 Update: Alumni 150 | Framwellgate School Durham
Staff CPD Day
A reminder that the school is closed to students on Friday 3rd July for a staff training day.
Last Day of Term
School ends for the summer on Friday 17th July. School will finish for all students at 12.45pm that day, and we have arranged for buses and taxis to be here earlier as a consequence.
Sixth Form
We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to all our Year 13 students on completing their A Level examinations. This significant milestone marks the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and resilience. Throughout what has been an undoubtedly demanding period, they have shown remarkable commitment, maturity, and determination to succeed. Their hard work – both in and beyond the classroom – has been truly commendable, and they should feel immensely proud of everything they have achieved.
As they prepare to move on to their next exciting steps, whether at university, in apprenticeships, or in the world of work, they will be greatly missed by us and the wider staff. They have made a lasting contribution to the life of the school, and we are incredibly proud of the young adults they have become. We wish them every success as they await their results and look ahead to the future.
The Sixth Form team
Fidgets
Some students find that fidgets are useful tools to help them concentrate. Fidgeting provides sensory input (tactile, kinesthetic) that stimulates the brain, bringing it to an optimal level of alertness. For individuals with ADHD, this sensory input helps maintain the brain from seeking more stimulating activities, improving focus. For those with anxiety, repetitive movements act as a self-soothing mechanism, reducing stress.
Only students who have permission from the SEN team or their Head of Year are permitted to use fidgets in lessons and this will be noted on their support plan.
A good fidget is subtle and non-visual. Fidgets that require minimal visual attention (like a stress ball or textured worry stone) are better for focus than those with game-like components (like spinners) that can become distractions themselves. We do not allow putty or slime, nor any liquid or gel-filled fidgets as these cause a great deal of mess if they burst.
We have three rules for using fidgets in school:
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They must be silent.
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They must be discreet – used in one hand, under the table, whilst focusing on the teacher, board or their work.
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They must not cause a distraction to themselves or others.
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If a fidget is being used correctly, the teacher will not even be aware that the student has it in their hand. If a student uses a fidget inappropriately or brings in one which is not silent, they will be asked to put it away in their bag and not bring it to school again. If they do not have the permission of their Head of Year to use a fidget, teachers will also ask them to put it away.
Thank you for your support in encouraging your child to keep any non-approved fidgets at home.
Mrs Forrest, SENCo
End of Year Art Exhibition Invitation
You are warmly invited to our End of Year Art Show, celebrating the fantastic work of our Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 students.
The exhibition will take place on Friday 10th July from 4.30pm until 6.30pm.
This is a wonderful opportunity to see the creativity, skill, and dedication our students have shown throughout the year. As well as examination groups, work from students who have taken part in Art during Enrichment Week will also be showcased.
Everyone is very welcome to attend, and we hope you can join us in supporting and celebrating our students’ achievements.
Mr Carney, Curriculum Leader: Art & Design
World Cup & Family Pressures
With the World Cup having started, we know that this can be an exciting time for many families and young people. However, we also recognise that large sporting events can sometimes bring added pressures at home, and for some, this may increase the risk of emotions running high, family tensions and non-school attendance for students.
We want to remind you that support is available. If you or someone you know is experiencing any difficulties at this time, you are not alone, and help is there when you need it, confidentially and also anonymously. Our school is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of all our families, and we are here to listen and support if needed.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can also access support through the following national services:
County Durham Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services – 03000 266666 or cddars.adult@waythrough.org.uk
Stop Domestic Abuse – 03300 533630 or advice@stopdomesticabuse.uk
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) or www.nationaldahelp line.org.uk.
To report concerns anonymously, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
First Contact Social Services 03000 267979
If you are in immediate danger, please call 999, or 101 for non-emergencies.
We care about the safety and wellbeing of every family in our community. Please reach out if you need support.
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
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. 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.