Students at Dr Thomlinson C of E Middle School have been busy crafting a woodland of their own, through an inspiring community art and environmental project involving hundreds of handmade felt mushrooms.

This creative initiative is part of a wider effort to support the Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s campaign to purchase and restore the Rothbury Estate, including the Simonside Hills area, all near Dr Thomlinson’s site.

Connecting Creativity, Learning and Nature

As part of their Forest School lessons, every student in the school has made two mushrooms each, resulting in a spectacular collection of around 400 felt creations. Led by Jane Austin-Walker, Teaching Assistant and Forest School Leader, the project used a mix of felt and locally sourced wool, encouraging children to explore both craft and sustainability.

During half term, on Tuesday 28th October, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, the felt mushrooms will form a stunning woodland scene on stage at the Jubilee Hall in Rothbury. The event will bring together the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, community groups, and local residents to celebrate the landscape and raise further awareness for this important cause.

The Northumberland Wildlife Trust project to restore the Rothbury area is a £30 million project that has already raised £10 million. The aim is to protect and rewild the area, encouraging biodiversity and replacing non-native pines with native species to create a more resilient, wildlife-friendly environment.

Back at school, a mini display in the entrance hall showcases some of the mushrooms sprouting from logs, creating a delightful Harvest Festival feature. The students received an assembly showing the importance of involving the community and the ecological benefits of the project. In addition, students are shown photographs taken of their work, installed amongst nature at Simonside, providing a powerful symbol of teamwork and creativity.

Jane Austin-Walker, Teaching Assistant and Forest School Leader, said:

“The pupils loved it, they had a great time making their mushrooms. It was a creative thing to do and a collaborative project. What I particularly like is that everyone is working together and all doing our little bit, making something amazing together that we wouldn’t be able to do individually.”

Learning for a Sustainable Future

Through this project, pupils have been learning not just about art, but about ecology, sustainability, and community responsibility. They’ve explored how local actions, from reducing sheep numbers to protect plant diversity, to reintroducing native trees after storms, contribute to a healthier landscape.

This ethos of hands-on learning and environmental mindfulness reflects the Cheviot Learning Trust’s commitment to nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a sense of stewardship among its pupils.

After the Jubilee Hall exhibition, children will be able to take their mushrooms home as a memento, a reminder that small actions, when combined, can create something extraordinary.

It’s great to see students learning about the impact and importance of celebrating what makes the Rothbury community special.

Dear Parents/Carers,

Please be aware of the ways we support children and parents with issues related to the use of social media.  As laid out in our behaviour policy we:

We are delighted to bring the BAE, RAF & Royal Navy Schools Roadshow event on Monday, 15th September.  Our Year 7 & Year 8 children will be taking part in a  at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School. This theatre-in-education programme is designed to inspire students about STEM subjects and careers.

It should prove to be an exciting afternoon.

Student Photographs

A photographer from Tempest Photography will be in school on Thursday 18 September to take individual photographs of the students in all year groups. 

Sibling photographs for pupils in school will take place at breaktime and photos with younger siblings can be taken between 8.20 am and 8.50 am.

Details of packages available to purchase will follow in due course.  Please note, there is no obligation to purchase.

If you would prefer your child NOT to have their photograph taken please notify the school office by emailing [email protected] no later than Tuesday 16 September.

All pupils should attend school in full uniform.

The bus driver of Longframlington/Longhorsley bus has informed our school of his concerns about how Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School pupils exit the bus at the designated stops in Longframlington and Longhorsley

The driver has commented that he has witnessed a number of children running across the road and not paying attention to oncoming traffic.  Please can you talk to your child and remind them on how to safely cross a road.  Please also remind them of the dangers of crossing in front of a bus and how they must always cross at a point on the road where they can see the oncoming traffic clearly.

Road Safety is an important part of the education we provide at Dr Thomlinson Middle School and we will be reinforcing these key road safety messages over the next few weeks.  Child safety is of paramount importance to us. Please help us keep your child safe by reminding your child of the importance of road safety.  You may wish to spend some time with your child using the enclosed resources.

Every year the charity Greenpower organises the Goblin Kit Car race for children aged 9-11. The competition is run in various places up and down the county with the North East races being held in  Gateshead Stadium.  The event took place on May 19th, 2025. This is the third year our school has been involved in this event with previous 1st and 2nd place finishes.

The children race in a kit car which they actually build themselves.  It takes a group of 12 children roughly 6 hours for the initial build where they build the frame, add the motor and add the circuit for the battery power source.  Pupils then had to choose a theme for the car based around sustainability, this year the team chose the theme of plastic pollution.  They named the car “The Plastic Pros” and decorated the car in recycled plastic. Pupils were asked to bring in bottle caps that we strung together and attached to the car.

On the day pupils got to take part in a slalom and drag race, where they had 6 attempts each to gain the fastest time they could.  They were involved in a head to head race where one of our team members had the opportunity to race against 3 other cars.  While we did not bring any trophies home, Ms Rutherford – the lead teacher from our school – was incredibly proud of the attitude and sportsmanship that all members of the Plastic Pros demonstrated on the day.

There are some pictures of the event below