Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope this finds you well. We have had another very productive week at Dr Thomlinson Middle School.
Well done Year 6
Well done Year 6 for all their hard work during this week of Key Stage Two tests. We have all been so impressed with their energy and enthusiasm throughout the week. It made me feel very proud.
Green Power North East Goblin Car Race
On Monday, May 20th 12 Year 6 pupils are taking part in the Green Power North East Goblin Car Race at Gateshead Stadium. Working with our DT teacher – Miss Rutherford – they have constructed their car using the theme of endangered animals as their inspiration. We wish the team, and their snow leopard car, the very best of luck.
KS2 Parent Evenings
Thank you to all the Year 5 parents & carers who came to our Year 5 parent evening on Tuesday, May 14th. We look forward to welcoming parents & carers of Year 6 parents on Tuesday May 21st.
TOP Award – Week beginning May 13th
The theme for this week’s award was Koinonia
5T – Jasmine
5H – Finley
6O – the whole of 6O for their hard work during SATS week
6M – the whole of 6M for their hard work during SATS week
7I – Charlotte
7L – Laila
8N – Mary-Anne
8S – Xanthe
P&Q Winner – Annabel
Well done to all these award winners!
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Liam Murtagh – Headteacher, Dr Thomlinson Middle School
Dear Parent/Carer,
I hope this email finds you well. We have had a very productive week at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School.
Netball Success
Well done to our Year 7 & Year 8 netball teams who achieved duel success in their respective tournaments this week. Our Year 7 team triumphed after wins against Ponteland A (4-0); Ponteland B (2-1); Chantry A (3-0); Chantry B (2-0) and a draw against Newminster (1-1). Our Year 8 team achieved their victory laurels after beating Ponteland A (1-0); Newminster (2-0) and drawing against Ponteland B (2-2). Mr Atkinson, who coached both teams, said, “Both teams played some excellent netball. All were a credit to the school.”
Well done to our Year 8 Rugby League team
On May 3rd our Year 8 Rugby League represented our school with distinction at a school Rugby League tournament. Playing schools from Hexham; Ovingham; Ponteland and Bolden, our team won two matches and lost three. The eyewitness report I received of the games reliably informed me that Lewis was our stand out player. On one occasion, during the tournament, he scored a try whilst being tackled simultaneously by six players. Well done everybody for their great efforts.
Reminder – Children’s Cancer Run, Sunday 19th May 2024
We are all looking forward to the Children’s Cancer Run at Newcastle Racecourse on Sunday 19th May. Our start time has now been confirmed as 10.05am.
If you haven’t already registered, please do join us if you can, or come along and support those taking part – it really is a great event and day out, and all for a good cause!
If you are able, please complete an online entry form to join our team:
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Log on to https://childrenscancernorth.
org.uk/event/childrens-cancer- run-2024/ -
Select ‘Sign up here’
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Select your registration preference (as an Adult, Child, or Family)
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Under ‘Create or Join a team’ select ‘Find’ and type in our school name. Click ‘Join’ next to the school name.
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Complete the remainder of the registration form for you and/or your family.
The cheapest and easiest option (£9) is to enter a child in the 1 Mile Mini Run, as this also includes a free adult entry (normally £16). All participants receive a medal and Greggs snack pack on the day, and all children receive a Children’s Cancer Run t-shirt. Alternatively, both children and adults can enter the 3 or 5 mile routes (although children aged 11 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult on both of these).
Online registrations are open until midnight on the 15th May, and you can even register on the day.
KS2 Parent Evenings
We are all looking forward to our Key Stage Two Parent Evenings over the next two weeks. Tuesday May 14th sees our Year 5 parent evening and Tuesday May 21st sees our Year 6 parent evening.
TOP Award – Week beginning May 6th
The theme for this week’s award was Friendship
5T – George
5H – Sophia
6O – Louie
6M – Imogen
7I – River
7L – Abbi
8N – Leo
8S – Gabriel
Well done to Poppy who won this week’s P&Q award.
Communication about Family Help Workers
Please find enclosed a leaflet about Family help Workers – “When your child needs extra support, we want to find the best way forward for them and you as soon as possible.”
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Liam Murtagh – Headteacher
In March 2024, our school underwent the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS).
The inspection makes judgments on the quality of religious education, collective worship, and pupil’s spiritual, moral, social, and cultural (SMSC) education in Church of England and Methodist schools.
We have received our report and are delighted to hear about our strengths and show that our efforts to live up to our Christian values are recognised.
The report was overall very positive with some areas of development, which we plan to work on to ensure that they are continuously uplifting and promoting Christian values throughout the school.
School Strengths
The report noted how evident Christian values are at the core of the leaders’ actions and decisions, as well as the curriculum being well-focused on the Christian vision.
In addition, collective worship was seen as “the heartbeat of the school,” with many opportunities for both students and teachers to develop spiritually. The religious education (RE) curriculum was also granted as relevant, well-planned, and as an avenue that gives the pupils a chance to communicate their voice.
The report highlights the impact that the school’s Christian vision has on the flourishing of its whole school community. The report noted that this was especially prevalent through the caring culture within the school and the inclusivity of all students, including those with special educational needs.
We were happy to see that the inspection was also able to acknowledge our use of the forest school and the beautiful rural area of our school to help pupils “appreciate the wonder of God’s creation.”
Overall, the school is very pleased with the final report and will continue its commitment to ensuring that the standards of the school are upheld!
Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope this email finds you well. It has been a wonderfully busy week at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School.
Well done to our Mock Trial Team
A huge well done to our Mock Trial team who took part in the area heat of the competition on Saturday 16th March, 2024. The Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition helps young people understand how the law touches every aspect of their lives, gaining an insight into how the legal justice system works. Schools are given access to resources, including a specially written criminal case, to help teams prepare legal arguments. After preparation, our school team took part in a head-to-head trial with another school to prosecute and defend a case – on this occasion it was a case involving an assault on a taxi driver.
All 17 pupils who took part did very well, special mentions going to Dillan and Emily who took the part of witnesses in the case and Samantha who played the part of a lawyer in a very convincing way.
Dr Thomlinson Sport Success
Well done to the Dr Thomlinson Boccia and Ten Pin Bowling Teams who enjoyed medal winning success in their respective competitions. Boccia is a precision ball sport, similar to bocce, and related to bowls and pétanque. The name “boccia” is derived from the Latin word for “boss” – bottia. Dr Thomlinson entered two teams with Edward; Tyler; Daniel and Beth winning two of the five group games.
Our other team, comprising of Ethan, Leo and TJ, won four of their five group games and then the resulting semi final and final – making them Regional Boccia Champions. Very well done to all involved.
Dr Thomlinson Literary Success
Well done to our triumphant Lit Quiz team who won the regional round of the International Litquiz competition. Competing against 24 other teams; Dr Thomlinson finished in first place – three points in front of Yarm School.
This tremendous success is the first time we have won the competition which, as a result of our victory, takes our team of Xanthe; Gabriel; Cecily and Jonah, into the national Lit Quiz final in London in June.
Our other team composed of Annabel; Charlotte; Gabrielle and Leon finished in an impressive 14th place which augurs well for their chances in next year’s competition.
The winners of the national Lit Quiz final round head to Australia to participate in the International final. We wish this team the very best of luck in their future exploits!
Wednesday 27th March, Easter Church Service
Parents/Carers are very welcome to join the school for our Easter Church Service on Wednesday 27th March at 1:45pm at All Saints Church, Rothbury for our school Easter Service.
I hope you have a restful weekend.
Take care,
Liam Murtagh – Headteacher
Dear Parents/Carers,
Our Year 7 Courageous Advocates are leading activities to both raise awareness and raise funds to mark World Cancer Day. Please read an email from them below.
Thank you,
Mr Murtagh – Headteacher, Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School
“Our #Think Pink group are organising a sponsored 5km run/walk around our school grounds this week, and we would like your help.
If children would wish to take part we ask that your child bring a spare pair of trainers as our school fields are quite wet at the moment and we would like to keep our school clean for our pupils.
We are very proud of our pupils who have so far participated. Children are taking part in our sponsored run/walk every lunchtime. Yesterday on Monday, 12th February, our school ran a total of 103 laps! We are very proud. Imagine what it would be like at the end of the week if everyone took part!
You may sponsor your child or anyone else in our school community and the money will go to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the organisation that organises World Cancer Day. Participants can run as many laps as they want but 2 is the minimum. We are extremely grateful for whoever takes part in the goal and hope by the end, we will have raised a lot of money. There is a sponsor form attached to this email.
Our goal is to run 5km by the end of the school week. We are doing this because it is proven physical exercise is one way to encourage good health. You can find more information about cancer by using this link.
Thank you very much for all your support. We raised almost £440 from our bake sale on Friday, 9th February. We are very proud of the children who ran today, and we hope they will continue to run throughout the week.
Yours truly,
The Think Pink group”
Dear Parent/Carer,
I hope this email finds you well. We have had a very productive fortnight at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School.
Anti Bullying Presentation – 22nd January
Thank you to the 8 parents who attended the Trust Anti Bullying session by Clennell Education on the evening of January 22nd. A similar event was held in the same week at Stobhillgate First School, Morpeth to which 21 parents attended. The sessions followed Trust Parent E Safety events held, again at Dr Thomlinson’s and Stobhillgate First School In September 2023 to which over 100 parents attended.
Yr7 & Yr 8 Cinema Trip to see One Life
Yr 7 & Yr 8 pupils went to the Cramlington Vue Cinema on January 26th. One Life is a a 2023 British biographical drama film based on the true story of British humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton as he looks back on his past efforts to help groups of Jewish children in German-occupied Czechoslovakia to hide and flee in 1938–39, just before the beginning of World War II. Watching the film was part of our school’s commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day that takes place annually on January 27th.
Ski Trip – 20th January – 27th January
Thank you to all our staff who helped run our very successful 2024 Ski Trip. The school has received some lovely feedback from parents/carers of those who attended the trip.
Yr 8 visit to Newcastle Central Mosque February 5th
On Monday February 5th Yr 8 visited Newcastle Central Mosque. The visit will supplement the unit on Islam the children are currently studying in Religious Education. Thank you to Brother Khadim for all his help to make our visit such an interesting one.
Key Stage Two trip to see Shrek – the Musical on February 7th
Yr 5 & 6 pupils really enjoyed their trip to see Shrek the Musical at Sunderland. The coaches carrying our children didn’t arrive back at school until after 7pm – thank you very much to all our staff for giving up a lot of their evening to enable this successful trip to take place.
World Cancer Day – February 9th
On Friday, February 9th our “Think Pink” group of Year 7 Courageous Advocates began a week of events marking World Cancer Day.
World Cancer Day (Sunday, February 4th) is an annual event to raise awareness of the disease of cancer. The day looks to increase understanding of cancer as well as looking to change behaviours and attitudes. The day is an international event run by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
On February 9th children were invited to::
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to come to school in blue and orange (children doing so are invited to make a suggested donation of £1);
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Take part and contribute to a bake sale at lunchtime.
Even I, the Headteacher, went deep into my wardrobe to find an orange and blue outfit – although my daughter remarked I was better dressed for the golf course than a school!
Thank you to all those who took part. Already we have raised £437.95 and we still have our sponsored walk/run challenge to take place…
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Between Monday February 12th to Friday February 16th children & staff are challenged to take the World Cancer Day Challenge – running or walking a total of 5km during that week’s lunchtimes to raise money for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) . If children are taking part in this then please could they bring a change of footwear (the field will be muddy).A sponsor form can be found here.
Further information on the International event can be found here.
Dr Thomlinson Parent Questionnaire
Please could you spend a few moments of your time to complete this survey.
Thank you.
Aidan House Service 16th February
On 16th February at 10am at All Saints Church, Rothbury members of Aidan House will celebrate the life of their Saint. Parents/Carers are very welcome to attend. The service will last for approx 30 minutes. On Friday members of Aidan House are allowed to come to school in blue (the colour of their House)
TOP Award Winners
Week beginning 29th January – core value: Creation
5T Will
5H Evie
6O Stan
6M David
7I El
7L Teddy
8N Mary Anne
8S Jessica
Week beginning 5th February – core value: Creation
5T Lilly
5H William
6O Morgan
6M Iona
7I Emme
7L Josh
8N Emily
8S Miles
Well done to all of these award winners.
I hope you have a restful weekend.
Take care,
Liam Murtagh – Headteacher
