Sandhill View Academy

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Year 8 students took part in an ‘Energy Quest’ workshop. The workshop is a school programme that encourages young people to find out all about sustainable energy and learn about associated engineering careers. The interactive STEM workshop was packed with hands-on activities,...

University Challenge

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Year 11 students from Southmoor and Sandhill View Academies visited Newcastle University, to experience higher education and learn more about the transition from GCSE to A-level study. They tested their knowledge with an interactive university challenge quiz, learned new...

Getting Creative with Southmoor Scholars

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Our Sandhill scholars lecture series continued with a session delivered by Teesside University that focused on comic book illustration, which is now seen as a serious form of artwork that can be studied at university. Students created cartoon characters of themselves and learned...

Smashed Project Live

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Our Year 7 students were presented with a live performance by the Smashed Project Live. The project tours schools with a theatre performance, interactive workshops and teaching resources in order to engage pupils creatively in a safe and motivational learning environment,...

Sixth Form Open Evening

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We once again invited Year 11 parents from across the city to join us in our Sixth Form for our final open evening of the academic year. This was a chance for students to think about where they want to be in three years’ time, and with universities and higher apprenticeship...

Focus on Careers

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Our students were put through their paces during our Careers Focus Day last term. During the day, all lessons focused on the application process from searching for the dream job through to completing the application form. Our students even applied for some very interesting...

Cracking Art with Sandhill Scholars

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The Northern School of Art delivered a workshop on codebreaking in art for our scholars. Students were given a series of paintings and sculptures to evaluate, such as the ‘Venus of Wittenberg’ sculpture from the Stone Age, and were tasked with working out what...

GIMME at Nissan

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Last term a group of our Year 9 and Year 10 girls attended Nissan’s GIMME event and saw for themselves the variety of career pathways for young women in manufacturing and engineering. They were able to talk to a wide variety of female staff, from the production floor to director...

Full STEM Ahead at Salford

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In December the STEM team took 21 students to Salford University for the GCSE in action event. This was a jam packed day full of brilliant lecturers. The lectures included “What happens when the Universe ends?”, “Medicine in action”, “Deep sea exploration” and “Zap, the story of...

Sandhill Student Hits the Big Stage

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Well done to Sandhill view student, Tanisha Ridley who performed on the BBC’s ‘The Greatest Dancer’ show. Tanisha is a very gifted singer and dancer whom has competed all over the UK and we look forward to sharing more about her fantastic talent throughout her...

500/1000 rep challenge in memory of Josie King

20 Dec 2018

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To mark what would have been Sandhill View student Josie King’s 16th birthday, our amazing Year 11 students worked together to complete either the 500 or 1000 rep challenge in her memory. The students were outstanding supporting and helping one another through the gruelling...

Dec the Halls

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Year 7 & 8 students got in the festive mood as they helped decorate our theatre for the festive period, with each year group having the responsibility of preparing a Christmas tree. Our enthusiastic students were happy to help, though some help was needed on the higher parts...

Winter Woolies Welcome

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The school will be having a Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 14th December. This is to raise money for Save the Children, which is a global charity aimed at children’s rights and provides help and support for children in developing countries. We will be taking donati...

Workshops with Sunderland University

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Thank you to Sunderland University who recently held a series of workshops to our Year 11 students. Our pupils participated in a variety of activities revolving around skills for future careers in technology, manufacturing, business and engineering.

Languages & Legends with Sandhill Scholars

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Sam Bootle visited Southmoor, from the languages department at Durham University. His lecture focused around the text ‘Mythologies’ by Roland Barthes. Students examined the myths of contemporary French culture.

Sixth Form Open Evening

04 Dec 2018

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We saw a record turn out for the Sixth Form Open Evening. Our reputation as the best performing Sixth Form with unrivalled links to universities is certainly spreading! Alongside Southmoor and Sandhill View we had pupils and parents from St. Joseph’s, Grindon Hall, St. Anthony’s,...

Head of School’s Blog #33

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Careers Fair 2018

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We held our annual careers fair for pupils to speak directly to further & higher educational institutions, UK Armed Forces, Training & Apprenticeship providers, as well as employers in the public and private sectors. This year’s event was bigger than ever, with a huge...

Thinking Road Safety

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Our Year 8 students were presented with an impactful performance, delivered by ‘The Riot Act’, on the topic of being safe and aware around road traffic. We’d like to thank the team for coming in to present our students with such an important message.

Financially Sound

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All year 10 students spent a day exploring Northumbria University. This was a great day looking at the myths behind student finance and higher education, a tour of the state of the art facilities and ending with a range of practical revision skills to aid them in their upcoming exams.

Charity Drive Rolls On

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Well done to our fantastic staff and students who helped to raise an impressive £580 for BBC Children in Need! The charity drive continues as we move towards Christmas by supporting our local community. Students will be collecting food to support Sunderland’s food bank....

Sandhill at the Sixth Form

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90 of our year 11 pupils spent the day exploring our Sixth Form at Southmoor. The day was filled with a wide range of options for the students to choose from, looking at law, experimenting with gears and pulleys in the engineering session, dissections in the biology lab and many...

Head of School’s Blog #32

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Breakfast is Served

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We launched our new School Breakfast Programme in our school restaurant. From 7:45 – 8:15am we will be serving a FREE breakfast of bagels, porridge or cereal for every student who wishes to start their day with a healthy meal. All year groups are welcome. Last servings will...

Medical Marvels

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As part of our Careers curriculum, a group of Year 10 students visited Sunderland University to find out about the range of careers available in the medical profession. All students found it a really interesting and informative event and it was a very much an interactive...

Crime Solving Sandhill Scholars

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The Southmoor and Sandhill Scholars experienced their first lecture by Peter Beveridge, who worked with the students to re-enact a crime scene investigation and challenge their thinking throughout the process. Students had to imagine the roles of victims, perpetrators and police...

Head of School’s Blog #31

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Mental Health Awareness Day 2018

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Before half term we have invited our students to come into school wearing an item of yellow clothing in support of World Mental Health Day. We hope that by recognising this world-wide event that we raise awareness around mental health issues, mindfulness and the idea that it is...

Fantastic Result for Finlay!

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Congratulations to Sandhill student Finlay Anderson, who is thrilled after landing a national accolade. Finlay was announced the winner of the national Stabilo Young Journalist of the Year competition. He was chosen by the panel of judges for the article he wrote commentating on...

A Curious Incident

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Our students will watch a live production by the National Theatre of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ which follows the life of a young mathematician with behavioural difficulties as he attempts to solve a mystery.

On the Beat

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Recently we were introduced to the new Superintendent for Northumbria Police’s Southern Area Command, Barrie Joisce. Along with his predecessor, Steve Heatley, our guests visited both schools in our Trust, meeting pupils and staff. We look forward to forward to working closely...

Sandhill Scholars Start their Journey

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Just before half term saw the launch of the trust-wide Honours Programme with 30 students from Southmoor and Sandhill View selected. Students were given their reflective journals to record work on their personal projects over the coming weeks.

A Breakfast Boost

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We are delighted to announce our participation in the National School Breakfast Programme. We will be serving breakfast (porridge, cereal and bagels) for free in our school restaurant for every pupil in school that wishes to come and eat as much breakfast as they like, for free,...

Engineering a Future Career

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Computer science students from Year 10 recently attended the ‘Bring it on!’ event where businesses from across the region inspired, educated and informed students about the many possibilities engineering can offer in the North East. The day was active and interesting giving year...

Charity of Choice

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All students voted for this years school charity. In the spirit of democracy all form classes nominated 1 charity and then when we had the top 3, every student was given a token to place their final vote. This year the nominated school charity will be Cancer Research UK.

Thailand Beckons

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We have the pleasure in announcing our new expedition to Southern Thailand in 2020. This is a joint visit with Southmoor Academy. The itinerary includes an overnight trek in the Khao Yai National Park, waterfalls in the jungle, an expedition community project and having rest...

Understanding University

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150 of our Year 11 pupils visited Durham University. The day consisted of a range of activities looking at finance and planning for the future to give pupils a greater understanding of student loads. They also practised some creative revision skills to help prepare them for their...

Sandhill Scholars Set for Success

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We recently saw the launch of The Scholars Programme – a joint endeavour between Southmoor and Sandhill View to give students a flavour of university study with the independence to design and complete a personal project. Students will attend a series of guest lecturers...

Early Exam Excellence

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Nine of our year 10 students have recently completed Entry Level qualifications in English and Maths. Their hard work has paid off as all students have successfully achieved their certificates and are now working towards level 3. Well done everyone!

Politically Correct

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40 Year 10 students from Southmoor and Sandhill View visited Durham University’s Government and Politics Department for a taste of university life. They explored game theory in the context of politics and discussed the difference between fact and opinion. Students also took...

Wicked Workshop

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Students from Performing Arts were treated to a special visit to see a matinee performance of the smash-hit West End musical, Wicked! Pupils had a fantastic time enjoying the show, which for some was their first time attending a live theatre performance. We were also delighted to...

Head of School’s Blog #29

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Building Bonds at Derwent Hill

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Year 12 went for their traditional ‘Welcome to Sixth Form’ expedition to the Lake District. Dozens of students and staff ventured to Derwent Hill, for a packed few days of gill-scrambling, kayaking on the lake, high rope challenges and gorge walking, as well as games and bonding...

A Lakeland Adventure for Sandhill Students

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Over the Summer a group of Sandhill View students got the chance to take part in the John Muir Award. The award is a national environmental award scheme that encourages people to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places. As part of the award our students had to discover a...

A Runaway Success

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Congratulations to our staff members who took part in the Great North Run this Month. Mr Goodwin, Mrs Ord, Mrs Akien and Miss Malloy all now proudly sport their winner’s medals after completing the half-marathon in the withering heat. Well done to everyone who took part!

Footballing Fan Finlay Talks SAFC