Dr Thomlinson Middle School celebrated 30 years of Show Racism the Red Card when this anti racism charity visited our school on 29th June 2026. The charity ran workshops for each year group aimed at giving our pupils a better understanding of what racism is and how it impacts on individuals and society. The activities looked to increase awareness of our responsibility to challenge racism and how we can do this together. The lessons also promoted an awareness of critical thinking and its usefulness in challenging stereotypes and recognising media bias.
Our pupils really enjoyed a day that promoted important values that chime with our school values and our Christian Vision – “For the Good of All”.
Building Developments
As we approach the last two weeks of our academic year, planned building works around the school are now in progress to further improve and develop our learning environment.
We are improving our school heating system with contractors on our school roof installing a number of solar panels whilst workmen are in school installing new heaters.
We expect the work to be finished by September where we will have a heating system that, whilst being warmer than our previous system, will also be environmentally friendly. Aided by our newly installed solar panels, we estimate that our cleaner system -with no reliance on fossil fuels – will save an estimated 1600 tonnes reducing our energy consumption by 73000 kilowatt-hours.
20 x Y5 children in PGL Newby Wiske, Yorkshire for 3 days of activities.
Children have had an action packed timetable from the crack of dawn to the sun setting including, kayaking, climbing, abseiling, archery zip, line and many more.
The weather has been kind and they have all had a great few days growing in confidence, resilience and independence.
On Wednesday, March 11th four teams from Dr Thomlinson took part in the annual Litquiz event. The Litquiz or “Senior Reading Champion Quiz” organised by the Literacy Trust is designed to encourage the love of books and reading and our teams just did that with our Year 8 team finishing in 5th place from a 23 strong team field. Our Year 7 teams finished in a very respectable 10th position and are already looking forward to next year’s competition in order to improve their score.
Our Year 6 teams did equally well and participation in this event at such a young age will stand them in very good stead for future competitions when they compete as Year 7 and Year 8 pupils. well and after correlating their scores, would have come 11th. A brilliant morning with lots of fun was had by all with our Year 8 team finishing only two points off a podium finish. Dr Thomlinson has got real pedigree in this competition as our school won this event in 2024. With such keen readers in Year 7 and in Key Stage Two the future looks really bright for all of our fantastic readers.
For several years Dr Thomlinson has linked up with a school in Zambia. Through the Zambezi Trust Dr Ts has raised money for and formed a friendship with Linda College, a school in rural Zambia that educates pupils from the age of 5 to 18.
As well as sending letters to the pupils, once a year we set up a video call between the two schools – in February 2026 some of year 6 pupils spoke with children from Zambia to get a better idea of how conditions differ between our two schools.
The pupils asked a series of questions and found that in Linda Community College there can be as many as 75 pupils in one class compared to our high 20s. Living in rural Northumberland some of our pupils’ journeys can be quite lengthy however many children in Zambia walk over 2 hours to and from school. And where our journey can be hampered by potholes and animals on our roads, children in Zambia must navigate lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles and elephants.
We look forward to receiving more pen letters from our friends in Africa and gaining a greater understanding of where they live.
On February 27th pupils in Aidan House celebrated the life of St Aelfflaed in a church service at All Saints Church, Rothbury.
st Aelfflaed (pronounced “A-Fled”) was born in 654 AD and spent most of her life as a nun. Raised under the guidance of Hilda, Aelfflaed lived in Whitby becoming skilled in surgery. She eventually became Abbess of Whitby in 680 AD.
Aefflaed was a friend of St Cuthbert. It is said that Cuthbert gave Aelfflaed a belt that saved her life.
Aelfflaed was renowned for being a bridge between people and a peacemaker – skills that are always much needed in our world.
Aelfflaed died in 714 AD and was buried in Whitby Abbey. Her feast day is on February 8th.
Dr Thomlinson’s is pairing its House Saints – Aidan; Bede and Cuthbert with female Northern Saints. This was a decision taken after a request from pupil voice. Bede House celebrated the life of St Hilda on November 28th,
Dr Thomlinson pupils are being supported in how they treat others by taking part in the forty acts during Lent
February 18th sees the beginning of Lent and some people think about what they can give up. Whilst such abstinence (a word that means when you give something up) is admirable, there is another way of looking at this period. Instead of giving something up, why not think about doing something “extra”? The idea of reverence is the proper response to the mystery of life and what better way to show deep respect than really looking to care for each other deeply?.
All Form Classes have been given a list of suggestions that would show both a deep respect and which would show a thankful attitude to others in our school community. The list is called the “40 Acts” as each of suggestions of how we can help each other represent one of the 40 days of Lent.
Santa Dash – Friday, 12th December, 2025
On Friday 12th December, 2025 all the pupils at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School will take part in a festive Santa Dash. Joining pupils from surrounding first schools, pupils will be encouraged to do a lap of the entire school field to promote winter fitness. We ask children to come in their PE kit. Children are invited to also wear a Christmas Jumper as well as festive headwear. Please note that the jumper and/or headwear is not statutory – there is no need to make a particular purchase for this occasion.
Dr Thomlinson Christmas Church Service – Tuesday 16th December, 2025
Parents/Carers are invited to join us for our Christmas Church Service at All Saints Church, Rothbury. This will begin at 1:45pm. Children will be dismissed from school at the end of the day at 3:30pm. If parents/carers are attending the service and wish to take their children home at the end of the service then please click HERE to complete the google form before the cut off point of 9am on Tuesday 16 December. These children will be dismissed by Mr Pickup and Mr Murtagh at the end of the service.
Dr Thomlinson Christmas Dinner Day – Wednesday 17th December, 2025
Children will take part in our Christmas Dinner Day with the school serving a Christmas lunch to those pupils who have pre-ordered the meal (please see letter to parents/carers 17th November, 2025). Please note that children who are not taking part are asked to bring a packed lunch. On Christmas Dinner Day all children are allowed to come to school in a Christmas jumper. We ask children who do so make a suggested voluntary contribution of £1 – the money raised going to the Cash for Kids charity. This will be a second opportunity for children to wear a Christmas jumper -the first being 12th December, 2025 – and this is a result of a request by pupil voice.
Dr Thomlinson’s Got Talent – Thursday, 18th December 6:30pm start.
We have over twenty different acts step forward to take part in Dr Thomlinson’s Got Talent following our audition on Thursday December 4th. Our annual Dr Thomlinson Got Talent Final is being held on 18th December at the school and starting at 6:30pm. Parents/Carers and extended family are very welcome and we are looking forward to a great evening. Refreshments will be served. Please note that those children taking part in the competition are asked to arrive at 6pm and go into the dining hall upon arrival.
Christmas term finishes on Friday, December 19th at 3:30pm. Our school reopens on Tuesday, 6th January, 2026.
St Hilda of Whitby (or Hild) was born in 614 AD.
She was the founder and first abbess of Whitby Monastery. Hilda was a very important figure in Anglo-Saxon England during which the country converted to Christianity. Hilda was Abbess of several convents and she was recognised for wisdom and advice that was valued by many Kings. She is considered as one of the Patron Saints of learning and culture.
St Hilda died in 680 AD and was buried in Whitby. Her remains were later moved to Gloucester Abbey as it was feared they would be removed by Viking raiders.
Dr Thomlinson’s is pairing its House Saints – Aidan; Bede and Cuthbert with female Northern Saints. This was a decision taken after a request from pupil voice. Aidan House will celebrate the life of St Aelfflaed on February 8th.
House Service commemorating the Venerable Bede and St Hilda
Dear Parent / Carer,
Please be aware that tomorrow (Friday 28 November) members of Bede & Hilda House are commemorating the lives of their saints with a church service at All Saints Church, Rothbury. The service will last for thirty minutes. Children will be escorted to and from school by school staff.
The service has been written by our House Captains. They have asked children in Bede/Hilda house to come in either green or purple – colours synonymous with the two Northumberland Saints.
Thank you,
Mr Murtagh – Headteacher
