15 May 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we reach the end of a very busy week in school, it has been lovely to take a break from exams and interventions and talk with some of our Year 10 students today about the work experience placements they are embarking on next week.
This year’s cohort have shown an exceptional level of engagement, independence and resourcefulness in securing a fantastic range of opportunities. 94% of Year 10 students have arranged a placement which is significantly above the national average of 49%. We are really proud of them as it is reflective of not only their ambition, but also the strong culture of responsibility and independence that we work hard to instil in them.
When speaking with Mr Briggs, their year leader, I was struck most by how he described the thoughtful and organised way students have approached the entire process. They have shown maturity by proactively contacting employers , completing the documentation, and demonstrating skills that will serve them well long after they leave us. As a school, we place real value on helping students develop the habits and qualities that will support them throughout their lives and it has been a genuine pleasure to see them embody values we emphasise daily: respect for others, care in their communication, and a willingness to push themselves out of their comfort zone. Work experience is more than simply observing a workplace. It is a chance for students to reflect on their strengths, understand the value of service and collaboration and is an opportunity to contribute positively to the communities they join.
Work experience is a week that definitely fits with our core value of Diverse Opportunities and the range of placements and opportunities secured this year has been particularly impressive. Our students have arranged to spend time in engineering and manufacturing companies, veterinary practices, primary schools, hospitality settings, creative studios, animal sanctuaries, landscaping businesses...the list goes on and on. We hope they have a fantastic week, and their experiences give them not only an opportunity to gain insight into the world of work but will also help them to see the importance of resilience and adaptability, and potentially give them a sense of the pathways or careers available to them in the future.
Have a lovely weekend.
Mrs McFadden
Maths Challenges Round-up
We have had an outstanding year of achievement in Maths Challenges at Durham Johnston – and there are still more to come!
UKMT individual competitions
Below is a table showing participation and achievement:
|
Maths Challenge |
Participants |
Bronze |
Silver |
Gold |
Qualifications |
|
Junior |
143 |
42 |
30 |
26 |
21 |
|
Intermediate |
112 |
27 |
25 |
16 |
14 |
|
Senior |
62 |
16 |
22 |
12 |
12 |
|
Olympiad for Girls |
4 |
1 distinction & 1 merit |
|||
|
Competition for Girls |
8 |
4 distinctions & 4 merits |
|||
These numbers are exciting to share, but they are only part of the story. Whilst we’re delighted to recognise those who received certificates and further opportunities, we also want to celebrate the enthusiasm and commitment shown by all participants. Every student who entered contributed to the positive, collaborative maths culture we value so highly.
There were numerous stand-out performances amongst these figures (quite frankly, many more than I can include):
In the Maths Competition for Girls, Aya A was awarded Best in Year 12 and Vivian H, Best in Year 13, and Masha Z-P (Year 11) was awarded Best in School.
Tina H (Year 13), for the Maths Olympiad for Girls, was awarded Best in School and a Certificate of Distinction, and Judy L (Year 12) was awarded Best in Year 12 and a Certificate of Merit.
In the Senior Maths Challenge, Elijah C was awarded Best in Year 13 and qualified for the British Maths Olympiad Round 1; Will C was awarded Best in Year 12; Julie A (Year 9) was awarded Best in Year 10 and below; she also won Best in Year 9 for the Intermediate Maths Challenge and qualified for the Cayley. Henry G (Year 11) was awarded Best in School for the Senior Challenge and qualified for the British Maths Olympiad Round 1, where he achieved a Certificate of Merit. For the Intermediate Maths Challenge, he was awarded Best in School and qualified for the Maclaurin, where he achieved a distinction and a silver medal. For the Maclaurin, he was 1st place in the North East region. Henry has been invited to join the UKMT Olympiad Mentoring scheme.
Other results from the Intermediate Maths challenge include Leon T who was awarded Best in Year 10 and qualified for the Hamilton, and Dunya Z-P (Year 11) who achieved a Gold and qualified for the Pink Kangaroo, where she also achieved Gold. Dunya has been invited to UKMT National Mathematics Summer School.
In the Junior Maths Challenge, Chengzong S was awarded Best in Year 7, and Raphy V (Year 8) was awarded Best in School.
4 students in Year 7 and 8 with particularly high scores have been invited to be part of the Maths Coaching Pilot, and a further 7 students in Year 7 with very high scores have been invited to join tutorials at the Parallel Academy.
Newcastle University Maths Challenge
Newcastle University run a Maths Challenge every year for students to test their mathematical skills over the Easter holidays. This year was no different, and our students submitted many outstanding entries. Seven students were awarded for their efforts and attended a presentation evening held in the Mathematics department of Newcastle University, where they listened to an entertaining talk on Mathematics and received their awards. They were presented the awards by Dr Graeme Sarson, Deputy Head of School for Mathematics.
Senior Prize: Julie A (Year 9)
Senior Certificate: Dhruv R (Year 10), Krishna L (Year 9), Salaar S (Year 9), Teminijesu A (Year 9)
Junior Prize: Jessica S (Year 8)
Junior Certificate: Sophie H (Year 8), Marco B (Year 7)
Online Simulated Maths Challenge
Twice a year, Maths students across the globe compete in an Online Simulated Maths Challenge. Students do the challenge at home, and it is invigilated online. Their level of competition is based on their year group. In November, we had 13 students take part, and 6 were awarded:
OSMC Champion: Chengzong S (Year 7)
OSMC Elitist: Arisha S (Year 11), Julie A (Year 9), Yu C N (Year 9), Krishna L (Year 9), Chung Y (Year 8)
The next challenge is due to take place 23rd -24th May, and we already have an astonishing 43 students signed up!
A final big thank you to all the staff who have supported these events. In particular, to the fantastic Maths department, who engage and encourage our students to be the mathematicians of the future; to Mrs Flanagan, Mrs Newland, Mrs Kelly, Ms Kellett and Mr Hindmarch who do a seamless job of behind-the-scenes admin to ensure events run smoothly; and to the wider teaching staff for supporting the events and offering encouragement to the students.
Next up… the Online Simulated Maths Challenge on 23rd-24th May!
Miss Whittock
KS4 Maths Co-ordinator
Year 10 GCSE Food & Nutrition Educational Visit to The Cellar Door
This is the fourth year in a row we have organised this trip and it is one of the highlights of our year for staff and students. All 50 of us walked into Durham to eat lunch together at The Cellar Door. This experience is designed to enhance students’ understanding of food presentation, styling, and the principles of nutrition.
During the visit, students:
Explore innovative ingredients and culinary techniques.
Gain insight into dish development and flavour profiling through direct engagement with a professional chef.
Develop a deeper appreciation for the artistry and precision involved in high-end food preparation.
It was a fantastic experience!
Miss Greenfield
Food and Textiles Department
Year 8 Future Business Magnates - Beamish Showcase
Yesterday we set off for Beamish for our penultimate challenge - The Beamish Showcase. A day spent interacting with the general public, judges, secret shoppers and the Business Durham Team. A day which definitely pushed the team out of their comfort zone and a day which enabled them to develop new skills, particularly with pitching and customer engagement!
The Year 8 students took it in their stride. I was bursting with pride watching them interact with the public, judges and other schools. The compliments we received were so lovely, and it was a joy to see the way they took the time to engage with some of our more elderly visitors. They showed care, patience and real awareness. They had a clear understanding of their product and service and were able to answer questions with confidence and clarity. Their conduct throughout the day was exemplary and their idea was a huge hit! We had lots of requests to buy the items and attend the tours (sadly we can't sell at Beamish - but watch this space for their launch).
No matter the result it has been a pleasure to watch the team grown in confidence, develop their team and acquire skills which will equip them for their future endeavours! Well done Year 8, a credit as always!
Miss Forbes
Subject Lead for Business & Computing
PE News
Last Friday our Year 10 boys’ football team hosted Ferryhill in a League Cup semi-final. We controlled the game throughout going on to reach the final with a straightforward 5-0 win. Joint POMs were Lewis G and Chialuka N.
On Monday our Year 9 boys’ cricket team were due to play Yarm School but unfortunately the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
On Tuesday, our Junior & Inter athletics teams were at the Riverside Stadium for the Area Championships. It was an excellent day of high-quality athletics. Our athletes produced some outstanding performances as we won 23 individual events. In the team results, Junior boys finished first, Junior girls second, Inter boys and Inter girls were both first, meaning that Durham Johnston was the overall school winner.
On Wednesday our Year 9 boys’ football team were at Meadowfield Sports Centre for the Tyneside Cup final. We faced a strong St Cuthbert's team and went 3-0 down in the second half. We then fought back to 3-2 and despite pushing hard for an equaliser we couldn't find a goal as we finished runners-up. POM was Sam G.
Weather again caused the postponement of tennis matches against Yarm yesterday - they will be re-arranged after half-term.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader for PE
A reminder of our weekly sports bulletin: