Durham High School
End of Week Newsletter
Issue 26 – 6 April 2025
Dear Parents
For such a short half term, it has certainly been jam-packed with wonderful learning opportunities and celebrations of the remarkable achievements of our girls.
This week was no exception, as we enjoyed the long-awaited Matilda Junior musical, brilliantly performed by our Year 7 and 8 pupils. Once again, we were fortunate to have two casts, allowing the tremendous talent within these year groups to truly shine. In the lead-up to each performance, we witnessed first-hand the dedication, hard work, and countless hours behind the scenes that made this production such a compelling display of perseverance.
But above all, one quality shone through: confidence. The personal barriers that many of our young performers overcame to step onto that stage cannot be overstated. The results were nothing short of inspiring. They rose to the occasion with great gusto, entertaining us all over four sold-out evenings.
Just like Matilda, each of our girls possesses her own unique spark the ability to challenge, to inspire, and to make a difference in the world. Our performers and backstage crew reminded us of the enduring power of courage, intelligence and kindness. A heartfelt well done to everyone involved I am incredibly proud of you all!
A special thank you goes to Mrs Lonsdale for her creativity and direction, to Mrs Lawrence-Wills and Mrs Crinson for their musical leadership, to Mr Bell, our Performing Arts Technician, and to Mrs Tipple for her invaluable support with hair, costumes and refreshments. I do hope you enjoyed the performances as much as we did.
On Friday afternoon, the whole school gathered for our much-anticipated Annual House Singing Competition. Mrs Hopper, Mrs Middleton and I faced the very difficult task of judging what was an exuberant and uplifting event. It was a close call, with lots of fun had by all. I particularly love seeing our younger girls looking up in awe at the Senior girls especially the House Captains leading the performances. Well done to everyone for another fabulous showcase of our Durham High spirit!
As we drew the Spring Term to a close, we held final assemblies in Pre-Prep, Prep, and the Senior Department. We took time for spiritual reflection, marking the significance of Holy Week as we prepare for Easter. Through readings, prayer and music, we reflected on the themes of sacrifice, hope and renewal reminding us of the importance of compassion and courage as we look towards the joy of Easter.
The second half of the assembly gave us the opportunity, as a school community, to celebrate a term filled with hard work, creativity, service and success. It is always a privilege to present so many certificates and medals recognising both academic and extra-curricular achievements.
As we approach the Easter break, I am delighted to share news of several exciting trips taking place over the holiday. I would like to wish all the girls involved a truly fantastic experience. My sincere thanks go to the dedicated members of staff making these opportunities possible – your time, energy and care are deeply appreciated.
Spanish Trip to Murcia
Our thanks go to Madame Colon for leading the trip, and to Mrs Docherty and Miss Shoulder for accompanying the girls. We hope you enjoy a wealth of cultural experiences and make memories to last a lifetime.
China Exchange Visit
A special thank you to Mrs Almond who is accompanying Yasmeen and Isla, both in Lower Sixth, on a cultural exchange to China. We are honoured to have received sponsorship from the Hebei Province Association for UNESCO, which has made this trip possible. The girls will be visiting schools in Qinhuangdao and Tangshan, sharing insights into life in the UK and discovering the richness of Chinese education and culture. They are part of a North East delegation which includes students from St Joseph’s Catholic Academy, Ponteland High School, John Spence Community School and The Duchess’s Community High School in Alnwick. We look forward to reciprocating the visit in July, when a group of Chinese students will travel to Durham and experience life at Durham High School. We are very much looking forward to welcoming them.
Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Practice Expeditions
Thank you to Mrs Gardner, our DofE Unit Manager, for training and leading the girls through their practice expeditions, and to Dr Alvey for his support with the Gold cohort. We hope for glorious weather – it would certainly be a welcome change!
Many of you will recall that during the Summer holidays last year, I wrote to inform you of the heartbreaking news that Poppy Eagle, former Deputy Head Girl, tragically passed away. Poppy’s sisters – Faith, Heidi and Florrie, continue to attend Durham High School. We will be holding a memorial in June for Poppy’s friends and family here at school.
In her memory, we are organising two whole school charity events in aid of Poppy’s Light Foundation, the charity set up by her family. On 20 June, our annual Colour Run will be a sponsored event to raise funds for the Foundation. In addition, all proceeds from Durham High Live on 28 June will be donated to the charity. We are thrilled to share that the Foundation will be donating a Colour Run t-shirt for every participant. We look forward to these events with great anticipation and will provide further details next half term.
Co-education Updates
Parent Forums
The Management Board and Leadership Team extend heartfelt thanks to all parents who submitted questions or attended the forums on Thursday and Friday last week. Your thoughtful contributions and engagement are greatly appreciated. A summary document addressing all submitted questions will be circulated after the Easter holiday.
Pupil Voice
Since the announcement regarding co-education, we have prioritised opportunities for pupil voice. Girls in Pre-Prep and Prep took part in class discussions, while those in the Senior Department completed an anonymous online questionnaire, followed by reflective form-time sessions. School Council Representatives brought their collated feedback to a dedicated co-education meeting, where they raised thoughtful and insightful questions. As always, your daughters impressed us with their engagement, maturity and articulacy They were a credit to you all.
Staff Forums
Seven staff forums were held this week, allowing colleagues to share questions, reflections and suggestions on how best to support both our current girls and the pupils who may join us in the future. The conversations have been constructive, insightful and forward-looking. My thanks to all staff who contributed so meaningfully.
Family Visits
This week, we were delighted to welcome prospective families to Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep. It was a joy to showcase our wonderful facilities, and the girls thoroughly enjoyed hosting our visitors. Throughout our Open Week, it has been affirming to hear from families of boys – many of whom are siblings of current pupils –that the values and strengths we hold dear are equally valued by them. One young visitor was reluctant to leave, eager to test out the catering and rather taken with his dinosaur apron!
Mrs Michelle Hill Headmistress
For those in our Durham High community who celebrate Easter, may I wish you a blessed, peaceful and joyful Easter. I hope our whole community can enjoy precious moments with family and friends, and of course, plenty of chocolate.
I look forward to welcoming everyone back on 28 April, refreshed and ready for an exciting new term ahead.
Best wishes
End of term Pre-Prep and Prep Sponsored Walk for Dementia UK and Water Aid!
On the last day of term, the whole of PrePrep and Prep went on their annual Sponsored Walk. It was a beautiful, sunny morning and spirits were high as the girls left school. We were joined by younger siblings, parents and grandparents and there was a real community feel as everyone navigated the woodland paths including splodging through some muddy patches. Everyone had a wonderful time and returned to school pink-cheeked and ready for a rest (before House Singing that afternoon). Many thanks to those of you who have generously donated sponsorship money. This year, money will be donated to two charities chosen by the girls through School Council: Dementia UK and Water Aid. Please could any additional money be sent into school after the Easter holidays.
Year 7 Biologists making Terrariums
Year 7 pupils had a fantastic time in Biology creating their very own terrariums. This hands-on activity gave them a deeper understanding of ecosystems and plant growth. Each girl carefully built their terrarium, observing the role of water, light and air in sustaining life.
The girls were absolutely thrilled with the outcome, proudly displaying their vibrant, miniature ecosystems. It was a wonderful mix of science and creativity, and the results were truly impressive!
Pre-Prep and Prep Pupils of the week
This week’s Pupils of the Week in Pre-Prep and Prep were:
Nursery: Phoebe for brilliant interaction and very good humour.
Reception: Molly-Rose for excellent independent work especially in her writing.
Y1&2: Molly for super pride and focus during independent tasks.
Y3&4: Wren for excellent effort in English. She has worked especially hard on her spelling and handwriting.
Y5: Arada for fantastic work in Maths. She always participates very well in lessons and presents her work clearly.
Y6: Caia for consistently working very hard in lessons and for persevering when things are tricky.
Annabelle was this week’s Lingotot’s Star of the Week. Seren M has achieved the most House Points in her class, five times and was presented with a certificate in recognition of this.
Mrs Hopper also presented Cameron with swimming and water safety certificates and Wren with a drama certificate.
Well done, everyone!
Year 9 Durham University Science Festival
On Tuesday Year 9 attended the Durham University Science Festival, where they took part in a range of exciting and interactive sessions designed to bring science and technology to life. From exploring how our senses can be tricked in Teasing Our Senses to uncovering the mysteries of the atmosphere in Seeing Invisible Air and even designing their own galaxies in Galaxy Makers, it was a day filled with discovery and hands-on learning.
The festival provided a fantastic opportunity for girls to engage with real-world science, deepening their understanding of key scientific concepts while also showcasing the many possibilities within STEM fields. A huge thank you to Durham University for hosting such an inspiring and thought-provoking event! The girls thoroughly enjoyed their day as well as our science teachers who couldn’t help but have a go at some of the interactive tasks on offer.
Prep-Sports Updates
Tag Rugby Debut
Congratulations to our Year 6 girls who participated in a Tag Rugby Festival on Tuesday at Dame Allan's Schools. It was their first time playing Tag Rugby, but after their first game, you wouldn't have known that. They worked tirelessly, learned quickly, and embraced every game. We are incredibly proud of how well they performed, and it was clear they had an absolutely great time while giving their best effort. Well done on a fantastic Tag Rugby debut!
A huge well done to the U11 and U10 Netball Teams, who played against St. Margaret’s C of E School last Friday.
Pre-Prep and Prep Karate Gradings
Well done to all the girls who completed their karate gradings on Wednesday. It was a fantastic showcase of all their hard work and an impressive display of skill. Every girl performed with focus, demonstrating their growth as martial artists. It’s clear that their dedication and commitment have paid off, and everyone is so proud of what they’ve achieved.
Aspirational Career Talk – Founder of Gig Lab and Finance Director at Ghostwriter Consultancy & Events
We were delighted to welcome Victoria Smith to school this week, for a careers talk that was both inspiring and very well attended. Victoria is the founder of Gig Lab, and Finance Director at Ghostwriter Consultancy & Events, and was recently named one of Innovate UK’s ‘Women in Innovation Award’ winners. She has secured a £75,000 grant along with expert business coaching to help scale her innovative venture, which she believes has the potential to revolutionise the live events industry.
Victoria’s journey into the world of live events began at just 16, when she worked as a Box Office Assistant at Sunderland Empire. Since then, she has built an impressive career working with major industry players such as Live Nation, MAMA, and Academy Music Group. In 2019, she became part of the leadership at Ghostwriter, a company formed by a team of live music and event specialists passionate about supporting independent venues and events. Victoria’s story of dedication, strategic thinking and creativity offered girls a fascinating insight into the behind-the-scenes world of live events and the many exciting career opportunities within it.
Girls Shine in Second Round of Bebras Challenge!
This week, several of our talented girls participated in the second round of the Bebras Coding Challenge, building on their strong performance in the Bebras Computational Thinking Competition last October. In the first round, all the girls who received a Distinction Certificate, placing them in the top 25%, advanced to this exciting next stage.
What makes the Bebras challenge so unique is that it caters to participants with a range of coding skills. The girls competed at different levels, depending on their experience and ability, challenging themselves to
solve complex problems and apply their computational thinking in new ways.
We are incredibly proud of how they have embraced this opportunity to push their limits and grow their problem-solving skills. The dedication and enthusiasm they have shown continue to inspire everyone around them.
The results for this round will be released in April, and we can't wait to see how our participants perform! Congratulations to all the girls who took part – you are shaping the future of tech, one challenge at a time! Keep up the amazing work!
Going Above and Beyond – Freya’s Fantastic War of the Roses Work!
As part of their history topic on the War of the Roses, Year 7 were set a guided reading task for homework. Pupils were asked to read about the conflict and summarise the key points from each paragraph.
Freya, however, went the extra mile creating a beautifully presented display to showcase her learning. Her work was not only insightful but also wonderfully creative, turning a homework task into something truly special.
Exceptional effort, Freya well done!
Pupil Successes- Senior Department
Trampolining and Tumbling wins
for Katie
Congratulations to Katie in 8D. We are celebrating her recent successes of winning both her tumbling and trampolining categories at last weekend's competition at Durham City Gymnastics.
Les Misérables (School Edition) success for Rana
The week before taking one of the lead roles in Matilda Junior at Durham High, Rana performed in the chorus of Les Misérables (School Edition), with her Drama School, CAO Musical Theatre Company. Congratulations on your success, Rana!
Whole School House Singing hits the right notes!
The end of the Easter term saw the return of one of the most anticipated events in our school calendar House Singing and what a show it was!
Over the past few weeks, tutor groups split into their house teams each Thursday to rehearse with their House Captains in preparation for the big performance. Each House gathered in their designated venue, learning a pop anthem from the Year 2010, to represent their house spirit and vocal talent. Staff joined their houses for rehearsals, offering support, encouragement, and the occasional backing vocal and dance move. A huge thank you to everyone who helped out
House Captains showed fantastic leadership, not only guiding the senior girls through rehearsals but also working with the junior girls to prepare a truly collaborative final performance. Congratulations to everyone who took part whether you were singing, supporting, or leading we couldn’t be prouder of the enthusiasm and spirit on display.
Parents and Friends Annual School Ball
Join us on 3 May for our Hollywood Glamour Ball! It’s the perfect opportunity to get together with friends and celebrate as a school community. Don’t miss out tickets are now available! Scan the QR code to get your tickets today. We can’t wait to see you there!
The competition was close, but Booth took the crown this year!
Key Dates up to May Half Term
Please check the events calendar on our website for further dates.
Date
4 April
5 April-11 April
Monday 7 April-
Event Time (if relevant)
School Closes for Easter Holiday Normal end of the day
Trip to China
Wednesday 9 April Silver D of E Practice Expedition
Monday 7 April –Friday 11 April
Wednesday 9 April –Friday 11 April
Monday 28 April
Monday 28 April
Spanish Trip departs
Gold D of E Practice Expedition
School reopens Normal end of the day
GCSE Art exams
Tuesday 29 April Y7 Future Business Magnets – Freshers event 9.00am-12.00am
Tuesday 29 April
GCSE Art exams
Wednesday 30 April GCSE French Speaking Exams.
Wednesday 30 April A Level Art exams
Thursday 1 May Junior Maths Challenge
Thursday 1 May A Level Art exams
Friday 2 May
GCSE Spanish Speaking Exams.
Friday 2 May A Level Art exams
Friday 2 May Grandparents‘ Day Year 7 9.00am – 11.30am
Saturday 3 May Parents & Friends Annual School Ball. Ramside Hall Hotel. 7.00pm – 12.30am
Saturday 3 May –
Sunday 4 May
Monday 5 May
Bronze D of E Practice Weekend
Bank Holiday Monday
Tuesday 6 May Year 11 Study Leave
Tuesday 6 May Music for a May Evening 7.00pm – 9.30pm
Wednesday 7 May –
Friday 9 May Y6 Ford Castle Residential
Wednesday 9 May Parents and Friends Meeting 4.15pm – 17.45pm
Thursday 8 May GCSE exams begin
Thursday 8 May A Level French Speaking Exam
Thursday 8 May Year 10 Universities Evening 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Monday 12 May- Friday 16 May Revision Week in Senior Dept
Tuesday 13 May
Friday 16 May
Nursery Stay and Play Event 13.30pm – 3.30pm
Upper Sixth Study Leave
Friday 16 May Year 10 Exams begin
Saturday 17 May Pre-Prep and Prep Open Morning 9.30pm – 12.30pm
Monday 19 – 23 May
Friday 23 May
Senior Department Exam Week
Grandparents Day Pre-Prep and Prep 13.30pm – 15.30pm
Friday 23 May Term Ends Normal time