School admissions information for parents of children going into Yr 5 (Middle), Yr 7 (Secondary), Yr 9 (High).

Timetable for middle, high and secondary schools

 

Sunday 12 September 2021	Online Admissions Portal for middle, high and secondary schools will be open on the 12th of September 2021. Please follow the link below. https://schadm.northumberland.gov.uk/CitizenPortal_LIVE/en (You need to register as a new user if you haven’t used the Portal before.  If you’ve forgotten your password, click on forgotten password link) – (for late applications see below) leaflet on how to apply  and portal user guidance to help you with your application
Sunday 31 October 2021	Closing date for all applications to be received by the Local Authority
Tuesday 1 March 2022	National Offer Day – Parents notified online of the outcome of their applications for school places
Tuesday 15 March 2022	Deadline for parents to refuse the school place.
Tuesday 22 March 2022	Any places that become available are allocated in criteria order (on time applicants)
Sunday 17 April 2022	All remaining places allocated on a first come first serve basis
Saturday 31 December 2022	No waiting lists held by the Local Authority after this date.

Bring and Buy Y5 Macmillan Charity Coffee Afternoon with Form Tutors – Friday 24  September 2021

We would like to invite you to a charity coffee afternoon for families of Year 5 pupils on Friday 24 September 2.00 p.m – 3.00 p.m.  Form Tutors will be present giving you the opportunity to discuss how your child has settled into Dr Thomlinson Middle School, whilst enjoying refreshments and raising much needed funds for an extremely worthy cause. 

There is no need to book in, just turn up at 2.00pm.  Why not bring a friend or a family member – the more the merrier!

Donations of cake, biscuits, scones will be greatly appreciated and needed for the event.  Ideally if these could be sent into school with your child first thing in the morning of the event, it would help us be organised for 2.00pm. 

Your Y5 child will be allowed to leave school with you at 3.00pm. 

Children of parents who are unable to attend will also have the opportunity to buy a cake so please send them in with a cash donation if you would like them to take part. 

If you would like more information on the Macmillan Coffee Morning fundraising event, or fancy trying a new recipe, please visit www.macmillan.org.uk  where you can find lots of information and recipes. 

We hope you will be able to join us and we look forward to an enjoyable get together. 

 

 

The Great Big Green Week

Sept 18th – Sept 24th

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

On Friday 10th September I wrote to you about “drawing a picture of your favourite tree” – an activity organised by the Rothbury Green Committee (see below for further details).  This activity is part of the “Great Big Green Week”.

The Great Big Green Week begins on Saturday 18th September  and the Rothbury Green Committee are hosting an event on that day which I hope will be of interest to both you and your children

On Saturday 18th the Jubilee Hall and the United Reformed Church in Rothbury, and also outside areas have activities for children in all of these spaces – e.g. they can plant and keep a little tree, make a fairy from recycled materials, create a soundscape using a variety of musical instruments.

In both venues there will be lots to see and do, including Werca’s Folk singing in the Jubilee Hall at 12.00pm and outside at various times. There will be Indian Vegan Street food to buy, cakes and coffee/tea/squash, Canny Sour Bread produce, all sorts of things to buy and do and see.

Litter Pick

On Sunday 19th the group also have organised a litter pick at 12.00pm (after the Church Services, which will be about Climate and Nature). Children welcome with parents/carers. Meet at the Haugh Car Park, Rothbury..

It would be great if you were able to attend.

Draw a picture of your favourite tree

The Rothbury Green Committee would like to get the local children involved by asking them to draw/paint/create ‘A Tree they Know’ on a postcard.  These will then be displayed around the shops of Rothbury and in the Jubilee Hall.

Each child has been given a card 14 cm by 10 cm to draw their favourite tree.  Children are able to do this at home if they wish.

Form tutors will collect the cards and hand them to reception.

The cards will be collected on Friday 17th September

 

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

Welcome back.

I hope you and your families had an opportunity to have a break this Summer.  It has been lovely to welcome back our students this year.  On Tuesday, September 7th we welcomed our new Year 5 children and on Wednesday we welcomed back our Year 6; Year 7 and Year 8 children.

I especially enjoyed the opportunity to meet all of our Year 5 pupils and, thanks to a very interesting conversation, I am fully up to speed on how to look after African land snails…

 

It was great to see everyone very well turned out in their school uniform.  Please help us to return lost clothing to its rightful owner by putting your child’s name in all their belongings.

 

Draw a picture of your favourite tree

The Rothbury Green Committee would like to get the local children involved by asking them to draw/paint/create ‘A Tree they Know’ on a postcard.  These will then be displayed around the shops of Rothbury and in the Jubilee Hall.

Each child has been given a card 14 cm by 10 cm to draw their favourite tree.  Children are able to do this at home if they wish.

Form tutors will collect the cards and hand them to reception.

The cards will be collected on Friday 17th September

 

Thomlinson Outstanding Pupil Award Wk beginning Sept 6th

This week given to those children who have best shown our core value of Reverence:

5T – Max

5H – Madeleine

6O – Daisy

6M – Joe

7L – Millie

7I- Millie & Kate

8N – Daisy

8S – Ryan

 

P&Q Award for excellent behaviour – Ethan in Year 6

 

Well done to all of our award winners.

 

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

15th July 2020

 

Dear Parent/Carer

 

Details of September 2021 Opening of Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School 

 

I hope this letter finds you well.  There is no doubt that this academic year has been a very difficult and challenging one and one that ended in an unsatisfactory way as parts of many children’s final weeks of the Summer term have been spent in self isolation.  However, I would like to thank you all for your ongoing support as well as thanking your children for their infinite goodwill and enthusiasm.  I was reminded of what a fantastic group of children we have at our school by the great commitment and zeal all children gave to our sports day – it was a great event and one which I very much enjoyed.  I hope that next year you are all able to join us in person to celebrate such an event as well as many others at our school.

 

We are already looking forward to September, 2021 and seeing our pupils once again.  We are committed to deliver face-to-face, high quality education for all our pupils and we will be greatly helped in this regard by the Government’s School’s Covid 19 Operational guidance .

 

Start of the Year 2021 / 2022    –  school day 8.50am  – 3.30pm

 

To ensure we have a controlled and well managed start to the school term with all students coming into the school, we are implementing a staggered start to the term.

 

We are very conscious that our new Year 5 will not have had a physical transition this year and we would like them to have the best possible start to Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School so they feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Therefore, only Year 5 students will start back to school on Tuesday 7th September. All other Year groups will then start on Wednesday 8th September. 

• TUESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER – Year 5 only

• WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER – All other Year groups

 

As we move onto the next phase of the Government’s roadmap, our school in September 2021 will look significantly different to what school was like in July 2021, therefore, we will spend some time discussing the different expectations and routines with the students on their first day back in school.

 

Your child’s attendance at school is very important, therefore, the expectation continues to be that School attendance is mandatory for all pupils of compulsory school age.

 

On Tuesday 7th September

New Year 5 children should enter school by the main entrance where they will be met by our Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher

 

School opens to all students: Wednesday 8th September

Upon arriving at Dr Thomlinson Middle School on the morning of Wednesday 8th September each Year group are asked to go to these areas:

Y5 – access point, Year 5 door in front yard – line up in form classes along each wall

Yr 6 & 7- access point, door near the tennis court – line up in year groups along wall and fence

Yr 8 – access point, main entrance – line up along dining hall windows

 

Yr 6, 7 & 8 will assemble outside allocated access points and as soon as they start arriving at school they will be put into Form Classes by the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher and they will be collected by their Form Tutors.  Yr 6; Yr 7 & Yr 8 Form Classes will be with Form Tutors until Lunchtime on their first day

 

Personal hygiene measures

We will continue to ensure that all students have the opportunity to ensure the highest standards of hand and respiratory hygiene throughout the school day. There are hand sanitising stations across all entrances and exits in the school, on every corridor and in every classroom.  Tissues and bins with lids to dispose of any used tissues are also in every classroom. Students will be reminded to clean hands during every lesson, and on entering and leaving a room, they will be required to adopt/continue the “Catch it, bin it, kill it” approach to coughing or sneezing. Children should carry tissues at all times. 

 

KS3 Lateral Flow testing

Year 7 and Year 8 will be offered two lateral flow tests prior to their return – this will be communicated in an email to parents shortly.  

 

Equipment / Uniform

It is essential that all children come to school properly equipped.  I enclose a list of essential equipment.  

 

Required equipment

• Named pencil case

• Filled Water Bottle

• A pack of tissues
• Reading book
• Black handwriting pen

• Pencil
• Ruler 
• Sharpener
• Rubber
• Preferable but optional: green/blue pens, glue stick, coloured pencils, scientific calculator (KS3 only), protractor, compass & pocket dictionary 

Phones – We do ask students who have mobile phones with them that they are switched off, and stored in their bag when they are on the school grounds. Any student found with their phone switched on regardless if it is on silent or vibrate, will have this confiscated. Upon confiscation, the phone will be stored in a secure place until it is collected by the student at the end of the day. 

 

Cloakrooms will be used by students to leave their bags and coats.  Children will need to bring their PE kit with them on the days they have PE.  PE lessons will begin on Thursday 9th September 2021, by which time your child will have their timetable.

 

Uniform

We look forward to seeing all our children attending school in full school uniform which is listed below. When purchasing, please make sure your garments meet the requirements below and note that there are no black garments listed.  On days that they have Physical Education they will get changed into their PE kit in our school changing rooms.

Our school uniform is:

• Navy V-necked sweatshirt with embroidered school badge

• Pale blue polo shirt with or without embroidered school badge

• Charcoal grey tailored trousers (traditional formal school trousers  are required, no tight fitting fashion trousers, leggings or jeans are permitted.) OR

• Navy tailored trousers (traditional formal school trousers are required, no tight fitting fashion trousers, leggings or jeans are permitted.) OR

• Navy skirt (traditional and formal in style and of appropriate length).  Pupils wearing Navy skirts are expected to wear white ankle or knee length socks or navy tights (dark knee length socks are not allowed)

• Black formal, flat footwear (no trainers including Vans or similar fabric shoes). 

PE kit: 

• School blue/pale blue t-shirt

• School navy shorts or skort

• Knee length navy sports socks

• Trainers

• Soccer boots

• Shin pads

• Gum Shield

Optional winter PE kit: school hoodie and school tracksuit bottoms. 

An apron is required for DT/Food Technology lessons

ALL ITEMS OF CLOTHING AND ALL BELONGINGS SHOULD BE NAMED AS WE WILL BE UNABLE TO REUNITE ITEMS WITH OWNERS IF THEY ARE NOT. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT HAND WRITTEN NAMES FADE VERY QUICKLY WITH WASHING.  

 

The embroidered logo sweatshirt and PE kit are available from Emblematic.co.uk  online or from their new Morpeth store behind the Electric Wizard.  All other items can be sourced from most supermarkets and clothing stores. 

 

We ask that students who walk or get a lift to school do not arrive before 8:45am, whereupon they should go straight to their allocated access points.

We understand that students use school transport and may arrive at school before their start time or finish before their bus typically arrives. Upon arrival these students are also expected to make their way to their allocated access point and wait until it is time to enter the school. At the end of the school day, students will be lining up in the front yard until called for their bus – this will be outdoors, and so please ensure your child has a coat in case of inclement weather.

 

Please ensure your child is familiar with their access point to school on their first day back:

 

School lunch: 

Mrs Muir and her team offer a well balanced, healthy school lunch for £2.35. The menu is available on the school website and runs on a 3 week cycle with summer and winter set choices.  All dietary requirements are catered for – please let us know in advance of these. Additional items are available to buy such as toast at morning break. School account cards should be continually held with a positive balance and a maximum daily limit can be added to this at your request. 

 

E-safety

 

We would like to continue to support positive e-safety approaches at home during the Summer holiday. Please refer to this link for up to date advice and guidance.

 

I look forward to seeing all the students in September ready and eager to enjoy school once again.

 

Best regards,

 

Liam Murtagh

 

Headteacher

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

We have had a good week at Dr Thomlinson Middle School.  The total number of positive cases of Covid so far is still just over 5% of our school population.  This figure has not changed since my last communication with parents.

Please remember that in the event of a child testing positive for Covid 19 we ask parents to email the school – [email protected]. Our emails are checked out of hours and we will continue to respond very quickly to information we receive.

You are reminded that anyone with symptoms (even if they recently had a negative LFD test result), should still self-isolate immediately according to government guidelines.  Those with symptoms are also expected to order a test online or visit a test site to take a lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to check if they have the virus.

Sports Day – Monday, July 12, 2021

We are running our annual school sports day on Monday, July 12th.  Unfortunately we are unable to invite parents/carers to this event.  All children are asked to come to school in their PE Kit.  This year the event will also be without music, commentary or compere – this year he is required to start the track events instead.  Obviously without the support of spectators, our students will be at a disadvantage as they compete but we are sure they will all do their best.  Let’s hope we can return to a normal Sports Day in 2022.

Year 8s

All Year 8s received an ice cream today – a small token to show our appreciation for their four years of excellent work.  There are further events planned for Year 8 next week.

I hope you have a good weekend.

Thanks for your ongoing support.

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

Parents, please note that due to current COVID restrictions we will not be holding a whole school Sports Day this year.