http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php Copyright 2008, webman webman en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.8 http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080316-162902

by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

TALENTED students took to the stage to perform their own version of the hit American film High School Musical.

Pupils at Nunthorpe School have wowed audiences with their song and dance routines, as they followed in the footsteps of their favourite stars from the Disney film.

Around 40 youngsters have been involved in this year’s production, which has proved to be one of the most popular the school has ever done.

Head of drama Graham Skidmore said: “High School Musical is very popular with the kids, so I sold my soul and agreed to let them do it.



“When we held the auditions there were 150 students who wanted to be involved, which is a lot more than we would usually get to auditions.

“We haven’t done a musical for the past few years, so it proved to be very popular.

“They all seem to have enjoyed themselves and they have done themselves proud.”

Josh Learwood has impressed in the lead role of Troy, while Alice Maenami and Rachel Mitchinson have shared the role of his love interest Gabriella.






]]> http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080316-162902 webman Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:29:02 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080314-101402

by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

THE opening of two new sixth form centres will offer new opportunities for students in Redcar and Cleveland. Education reporter JOANNA DESIRA discovered more about the Sixth Form Experience.

IN September the doors will open on the first school-based sixth form centres for Redcar and Cleveland.

Building work for the £12.6m centres at Nunthorpe School and Gillbrook College, in Normanby, artists impression above, is on schedule.

And hundreds of students currently studying for their GCSEs have signed up to join the centres to study A-levels, BTECs and NVQs.

The centres are a collaboration between Nunthorpe School, Gillbrook College and Eston Park School, under the name The Sixth Form Experience, to provide new post-16 education in the western part of the borough.

Pupils in Year 11 have been given lead roles to play in the establishment and running of the centres.


Shaping our own experience



STUDENTS are at the heart of The Sixth Form Experience.

A student leadership group has been set up at Nunthorpe School to work at the new centre, and a parallel group has been established for the Normanby site, made up of pupils from Gillbrook and Eston Park.

At Nunthorpe, head of sixth form Tim Hughes said students had to undergo a rigorous interview process. Nunthorpe headteacher Debbie Clinton said: “The leadership very much want to run this as student led. They will make big decisions on all sorts of things to do with the management.”

Dr Hughes said: “These days universities require not only top quality A-level results, they need other skills. The experience these students are getting can be put into their university applications.”

Alex Vickerman, 16, said: “We get to make big decisions for ourselves which will be around for years to come.” Alex and Max Wheatley are directors of learning, helping to interview staff. Nathan Pottinger and Liam Guest are directors of resources, and are responsible for ensuring the sixth form is fully equipped.

Seb Willis and Hannah Scurr are directors of enrichment and ensure there are extra activities students can do alongside their studies.

Ashley Sotheby and Jenny MacDonald are directors of pastoral learning, setting up a drop-in advice centre, and Marisha Pardey and Rebecca Earnshaw are directors of public relations and advertising.


The Sixth Form Experience has received more than 200 applications from students who already attend the three schools, and others who do not.

John Anthony, headteacher at Gillbrook College, said: “It is a school-based sixth form and that’s really important because further education colleges can lack the care and guidance which ensures they really reach their full potential.

“It’s about creating a new sixth form provision which actually ensures that children do reach their true potential because every day a child is monitored and their achievements are tracked.

“There’s a far greater bond between staff and student.

“Also we want to create a high quality sixth form, and that doesn’t mean to say every student getting As at A-level. What it means is for every student to achieve their own excellent personal goals, whether it’s BTEC National, an NVQ or A-levels.

“The most important thing is the students at this sixth form, who choose the subjects they want to study, will be taught in ways that motivate and excite them and they will achieve when they are ready to and not at a date set for them.”

Facilities will include state-of-the-art ICT equipment, a recording studio, a hairdressing salon, science classrooms, and a café-style restaurant. The centres will also have wireless internet access throughout.

Students have played a key role in choosing the facilities and decor. The centre they will attend will be determined by the courses they study.

The Sixth Form Experience will be governed by representatives from each of the schools’ governing bodies and Richard Bentley has been appointed director, with responsibility to the headteachers

Mr Anthony said: “I came to this area to make a real difference in the educational lives of young people here and I see it as a really important that the Sixth Form Experience meets the needs of all in the community.

“It is not just about providing for the most academically able.

“It is a real collaboration between the three schools and we look forward to involving more partners, such as business, to ensure we meet the skills shortage.”


]]> http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080314-101402 webman Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:14:02 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080312-164736

by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

There were smiles all round at Nunthorpe Primary School as a class of 30 discovered they were all going to the secondary school of their choice.

This week 10 and 11-year-olds across the country have been discovering which secondary school they will attend in September.

At Nunthorpe Primary School, 29 children will be going to neighbouring Nunthorpe School and one boy will be attending Stokesley.

Among the happy children going to Nunthorpe School are Chloe Wijesinjhe, 11, Emily Todd, 10, Nathan McGinley, 11, and George Gay, 11.

The children have had a look round Nunthorpe School and attend activities there every Wednesday afternoon.

They are now looking forward to an induction day.

Chloe said: “I wanted to go to Nunthorpe School because a lot of my friends are going there and my brother goes there as well.”

Emily added: “I like the fact the school has lots of opportunities for children.”

“I was glad I got Nunthorpe because all my friends are going there and there will be people I know from other schools as well,” said Nathan.

George said he was a bit nervous about starting secondary school.

He said: “I might not know everyone because there are a lot of forms and I might be in a separate form from my friends.”

Nunthorpe Primary School is in Redcar & Cleveland Council authority which has achieved one of the highest rates in the country for getting children in the schools of their choice - with 98% getting their preferred school.

]]> http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080312-164736 webman Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:47:36 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080208-220853

Source - TTE Website - News

The 18-year-old was invited by Stockton South MP Dari Taylor to join her at a reception at No 10 Downing Street to celebrate the endeavours of young people.

In September 2005, Jon, who went to school at Nunthorpe Comprehensive, where he achieved A* in all of his GCSE subjects, started a four-year Tees Valley Production Technician Programme, the first two years of which are carried out at TTE’s training centres at South Bank and Wilton.

During this time he achieved City & Guilds Certificate in Process Technology, NVQ level 2 in Process Operations, BTEC National Certificate in Operations and Maintenance Engineering with a double grade distinction.

The teenager is now training at chemical company BASF, where he will progress his NVQ 3 in Complex Process Operations. He is also doing a foundation degree course in Chemical Engineering at Teesside University.

Jon said: “Visiting 10 Downing Street and meeting the Prime Minister is something I shall never forget. There are not many teenagers who can say they have done that. It was a great privilege to be chosen to represent apprentices at the reception.”

Keith Hunter, Managing Director of TTE, said: “Jon is proof that the type of training offered by TTE gives young people the opportunity to work at blue-chip industrial giants like BASF.

“It is important that those at the highest level are made even more aware of the major contribution that apprentices and vocational-led training make to the skills and employment agenda and, therefore, it is great that Jon got the chance to meet Gordon Brown face to face.”

Dari Taylor said: “I was asked to invite a young person who was doing something exceptional and who would be an inspiration to others. I wanted to demonstrate that engineering is not a sunset but a sunrise industry and that apprenticeships pave the way to a good career and are an option which more young people should be encouraged to take up.

“Jon and TTE are great ambassadors for apprenticeships and demonstrate how valuable they are in equipping young people with the skills required by employers.”


]]> News http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080208-220853 webman Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:08:53 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080208-085010

by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

NOT only is the Evening Gazette the best read on Teesside, it’s also good for making a rocket!

Piles of Gazettes have been used by pupils at The Avenue Primary School to create a range of structures, including towers, a pyramid and a rocket.

The models were created as part of a two-and-a-half week project for the pupils, aged from seven to 11, with the help of keen dads, mums and grandparents.

A competition was held to find the tallest, strongest and most decorative tower.

The structures, which were made using other newspapers as well, had to be strong enough to hold an apple.

Headteacher Judith Dodd said: “It was a homework exercise to be done with parents or grandparents and put into practice what they’ve learnt at school - it is all part of our creative personalised learning.

“We have been absolutely amazed with the quality.”

Steve Wheterton, deputy headteacher, added: “The children have been coming into school quite chuffed, saying ‘my dad’s done this’ or ‘this is what my grandad’s done’.”

Bethany Averell, nine, was runner-up for the tallest structure, pipped to the post by her cousin Jacob Seagrave, ten.

She created her tower, made from newspaper rolled up so it was long and thin, with the help of her dad Neil.

“We worked from eight until three in the morning,” she said.

Brother and sister team Rhys and Leah Petrie, aged seven, and 11, worked with dad Matt to make Petrie’s Pyramid.

It won the award for the strongest structure.

“We used masking tape to make it a bit stronger,” said Leah.

“We needed a lot of newspaper and it took us four days. We had fun,” added Rhys.

The prize for the most decorative structure went to Rebecca Jackson, ten, who teamed up with her dad Stephen to make a green snake wrapped around a pole.

“We rolled up a piece of paper for the head and we used three little pieces and squashed them together for the body and painted it green,” she said. “I enjoyed making it.”


]]> News http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry080208-085010 webman Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:50:10 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry071206-174729

by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

LOCAL hockey star Steph Elliott has been selected for the England North Under-17 squad that will play in the Regional Championships at Millfield School, Somerset during the October half term.

The Regional Championships are an official England trial event and will offer Steph a fantastic opportunity to advance her hockey development.

Steph, aged 16 from Nunthorpe, is the first schoolgirl in the Tees Valley to be selected for the prestigious North squad and is a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication to sport.

Currently playing for Roseberry Ladies she is now a key member of the first team having started out as a Junior six years ago. She said: “I am so pleased to have achieved this level of success and must say a special thanks to Helen, my coach from Roseberry Ladies, for all her support and Anne Whitworth from Tees Valley Sport for believing in me and recommending me to the development squads.”

Anne, Tees Valley Sport’s Hockey Development Officer, is equally proud of Steph’s achievements: “Steph has progressed really well during her three years in the north development squad.

“Her commitment, ability to learn new skills and tactics quickly and her powerful overall game have been key to her selection and we wish her the very best of luck with the squad.”

Steph has also been a member of the Tees Valley Sport Hockey Academy for the past four years and is now back at the Academy as a leader and mentor to many of the young, talented players currently coming through and representing the local area.

For more information on Hockey in the area please contact Tees Valley Sport on 01642 342287 or visit www.teesvalleysport.co.uk.

]]> Sports http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry071206-174729 webman Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:47:29 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry071206-174322

by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

A CROSS-COUNTRY runner has marked a remarkable comeback by winning his first senior race after recovering from a rare lung condition.

Dominic Shaw, 18, of Ormesby, suffered setback after setback in his promising sporting career after being diagnosed with pneumothorax - a condition which caused his lungs to collapse.

“I think my lungs collapsed seven times altogether,” said Dominic, who is studying multimedia journalism at the University of Teesside.

“It was happening every six weeks at one point.

“Some people were saying I was going to have to stop running.”

The condition was releasing air between the outside of Dominic’s lung and the inside of his chest wall which was pushing the lung away from the wall and causing it to collapse.

He said: “The first time it happened I had been running up at Skinningrove and the next morning I could not run at all.

“Every time it happened we would have to go to accident and emergency.

“It was just frustrating because I was not getting to see how good I could be.”

But the determined New Marske Harrier refused to give up and last August he opted for an operation which effectively stuck the lung to his chest wall using a special talc.

The only explanation doctors could give the former Nunthorpe School and Prior Pursglove College pupil was that it had occurred because he was tall and thin.

Weeks later he was back in training and is now running better than ever.

The young star recently won his first senior race in the North Yorkshire and South Durham league.

“I felt really good so I just kicked on,” he said after winning the 10,000m race.

Dominic said his trainer Steve Shaw and his fellow runners had kept him going throughout his recovery.

“I think if I had quit I would always be wondering what if.

“I’m over the moon now. I’m doing now what I wanted to do years ago.”

Steve, 49, of Guisborough added: “He has had so many problems and it has been so frustrating. Most other people would have left the sport.”

Dominic’s next challenge is the European trials at Liverpool where Steve believes the teenager has a chance of finishing in the top 15 and getting an international vest.



]]> Sports http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry071206-174322 webman Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:43:22 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry071206-172616

by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

HATS off to a Teesside record breaker.

Outstanding teenage swimming prospect Aimee Willmott set a new British junior record of 4min 43.66sec in the 400m individual medley at the North East Championships in Middlesbrough.

The 14-year-old Nunthorpe School pupil shaved 0.41secs off Stephanie Proud’s record, which she had held since 2003.

With well over a year left to compete as a junior, she will be hoping to lower it further.

Aimee, who swims for Middlesbrough Amateur Swimming Club, also won both the senior and junior titles in the 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley, recording personal bests in both swims.

She went on to collect the top senior and junior girl awards at the competition.

The Teesside swim sensation is rated fourth nationally in the 400m individual medley and won four medals at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Belgrade.

The British Swimming World Class Development Programme member also won gold in the 200m individual medley, silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in the 200m backstroke in Serbia.


]]> Sports http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry071206-172616 webman Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:26:16 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry071205-115030

by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

CHILDREN have a bright new place to learn and play after their school had a £1m makeover.

Marton Manor Primary School, in Middlesbrough, now boasts a new nursery, refurbished foundation stage classrooms, and a new outdoor play area.

A new school entrance reception area has also been created to improve access for disabled visitors, to increase school security and provide a welcoming environment.

Five winners of the school’s high achievers awards unveiled a plaque to officially open the new areas at a special event attended by dignitaries.

The guests were Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar, Councillor Brenda Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for children, families & learning and Lyn Howard, chair of governors.

Headteacher, Gerri Howard, said: “The school looks fabulous. Parents are absolutely delighted and the children love it.”

Councillor Thompson added: “I am looking forward to seeing the results of the hard work that has gone into the project by the headteacher and council staff.”

]]> Community http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry071205-115030 webman Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:50:30 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070919-163545 by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

YOUNG people are being urged to tune in and have a say on the area where they live.

The biggest consultation exercise involving young people in schools across Redcar and Cleveland has been launched.

Hundreds of young people are getting an opportunity to have their voices heard in a series of school and college roadshows, run by Redcar and Cleveland Council with TFM Radio.

Radio show hosts Patrick Billington and Pete Casci will host events over the next three weeks.

Nunthorpe School kicked off the consultation this week, with views used to help to develop a formal Youth Offer for the borough, to be unveiled next spring.

Nunthorpe headteacher Debbie Clinton said: “We are delighted to host the first roadshow and we’re confident our young people will have some extremely positive and challenging views to contribute.”

]]> Community http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070919-163545 webman Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:35:45 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070823-172603

by Joanna Desira - Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission, additional information by Andrew Wappat, Nunthorpe School

RECORDS were broken across Teesside today as schools reported achieving some of their highest GCSE pass rates. Early indications showed improvements across the Tees Valley.

Nationally one in five pupils were awarded top exam grades and 63.3% were awarded A to C grades up from 62.4% last year.

Councillor George Dunning, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said: “Early indications are that we will be celebrating bettering last year’s
best-ever set of results, which was over 50% for A* to C grades for the
first time.”

And Councillor Alex Cunningham, Stockton cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This year’s results are our best ever.”

Among Teesside’s star students was Andrew Herbert, 16, a pupil at Acklam Grange, who notched up 13 A*s and one A.

Acklam Grange achieved its second best set of results with 61% achieving passes at A* to C grades.

Headteacher John Bate said: “There have been some outstanding performances by our pupils and we are very pleased all their hard work has come to fruition.”

Nunthorpe School exceeded its target with 74.5% of pupils achieving five or more A* to Cs. Top pupils were David A. Selby who achieved 11 A* grades and Ben Ellis and Freya Wilson with 10A*s.

Debbie Clinton, headteacher, said: “So very many of our students have
performed exceptionally well and will now enjoy the huge rewards they
deserve and so much hard work and commitment.”

Among the schools that achieved their best-ever results were Freebrough
Specialist Engineering College, in East Cleveland, Ian Ramsey School in
Stockton, which has seen its pass rate rise for the third year running;
Thornaby Community School, Eston Park, and St Peter’s School in South
Bank, which was attacked by vandals earlier this month.

Schools which saw more 60% of pupils achieve five or more A*s to Cs included Northfield in Billingham and Newlands FCJ School in Middlesbrough.

Nikhil Bhandari, 16, from Nunthorpe, was jumping for joy with his seven A*s, and four As.

“I plan to study medicine at university”, he said.
“I’m very happy with these results. They are pretty much as I expected.”

Sangey Lama, of Nunthorpe Gardens, also hopes to be a doctor and said he was happy with three A*s and eight As.

Among the Nunthorpe pupils celebrating today was Freya Wilson, 16, Bowland Close, Nunthorpe walked off with 10 A*’s and an A.

She plans to go to Teesside High to study maths, further maths, physics,
chemistry and music. Freya plans to study physics at university.

]]> http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070823-172603 webman Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:26:03 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070718-182412

by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission

Nunthorpe School recently held its inaugural Sporting Oscars Evening at the Marton Hotel and Country Club.

Nearly 250 guests attended for a function that was also be to one of several "goodbyes" to Mike Wright who has served the Sports Department there for the last 35 years.

Inevitably he was central to all the arrangements and was subject to many accolades during the evening but central to the whole affair were the pupils and their achievements over the last year. There were awards for a host of sports but in the end it was whittled down to a top three by Head of Sport Danny Yates and his team of staff.

Third was athlete Nick Phelps, runner up was Martin Rose from the football team but the Sports Personality of the Year was the very popular Sammy Conroy who excelled at girls football and netball and brought with her all the correct attitudes and approach to supplement her special skills on the pitch.


]]> Sports http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070718-182412 webman Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:24:12 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070711-192654 by Herald and Post - reproduced with kind permission


The work officially started on the 16-19 centres at Normanby on the site between Gillbrook Technology College and Eston Park on Monday, July 9, and is due to start at Nunthorpe School tomorrow, Thursday, July 12.
Construction contractor, Carillion is working to a timetable that will welcome the first students to the centres at the start of the new academic year in September, 2008.

Gillbrook headteacher John Anthony said: “This ceremony will be the first physical sign that the new sixth form partnership is a reality. It reflects years of close collaboration between the three schools which has created this unique opportunity. “For students in the area it heralds the provision of high quality post 16 learning in a school setting. They will be able to access courses on the doorstep so encouraging far more to accept the challenge to continue learning and achieve the success associated with it." Nunthorpe headteacher Debbie Clinton said: “For too many years now the young people of these three schools have been denied the opportunity to choose a high quality, 11-18 school- based option for their post-16 qualifications.”

“At last, we can now provide our young people with the post-16 education so many of them want and deserve - and all of it on their doorsteps.”
Eston Park headteacher Jim Rogers said: “The Sixth Form Centre will enable students of all abilities to access a range of courses in a caring and supportive environment.”]]> News http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070711-192654 webman Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:26:54 GMT http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070628-190131

by Ron Livingstone - Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission.

A CORTEGE of massed riders up to 150 strong rode to Teesside Crematorium to pay their last respects to biker brother John Toner.

John, 39, of Marton, Middlesbrough, a tireless fundraiser for charity, was declared dead at the roadside after he and another rider were hit by a car just 10 minutes from the end of a ride in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance.

The turnout for his funeral was such that Acklam Road in Middlesbrough was closed by police - on motorcycles - as his body made its last journey carried in a motorcycle hearse with a pall bearer riding pillion.



In a fitting mark of respect, the Great North Air Ambulance hovered overhead and dipped its nose to the mourners yesterday.

John was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on the A167 between Northallerton and Darlington at about 10pm on Saturday, June 16, at a spot known as Lovesome Hill.



He and wife Kendra, also 39, set up a child-minding business together at their home. He leaves a daughter Katie, 12, a student at Nunthorpe School, and son Ben, 18 months.

The other rider involved in the crash, self-employed Andrew Groves, 38, from the Leeds area, was badly injured.

This year’s annual 500-mile “Boundary Ride” around the Great North Air Ambulance operating area raised about £40,000. A collection at the funeral raised another £660. Organiser Brian Laverick said: “The turnout of the bikers - many of whom will not have known John - shows the community spirit the biker brotherhood for other members in adversity.”

John was also committed to an annual fundraising ride in aid of Zoe’s Place. It will now be renamed the John Toner Memorial Ride. The money will be split between the hospice and Katie and Ben, said Brian.

This article appears on the Nunthorpe website with the permission of John’s family. If you are interested in donating money or sponsoring the charities that John supported, please follow the links to Zoe’s Place and the JT Memorial Ride.

http://www.zoes-place.org.uk/give.htm
http://www.boundary500.co.uk/index.html

]]> http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/news/index.php?entry=entry070628-190131 webman Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:01:31 GMT