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News, STARS, Bike Club & Trains! – from John & the PHS Team! Friday 20th June 2025

Welcome to 51ÊÓÆµ School's Whole School Blog!

Hi everyone,

First of all, it would be lovely to see any of you for any amount of time at all at the Summer Fayre tomorrow, from 11-2. This is brought to you courtesy of the fabulous FoPHS, which we’re very lucky to have and who do great things for is. Have a read over in Eileen’s blog, and hope to see you on Saturday, even if you’re just popping by

Secondly, from Joel, STEM Week is this week. STEM Week is a special event dedicated to celebrating & promoting the love and engagement of Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths. It’s a chance for our students to dive into fascinating topics, conduct experiments & better their understanding of the incredible world around us. Each pathway will visit the Centre for Life and engage within an animals encounter workshop

Thirdly, from Carla: letters will be sent home this evening with all Year 11 and current Post-16 students, containing information about next year’s bursary. The application form will be shared next week

Otherwise, there’s some great stuff below – check out the Bike Club, the Personal Development section and the trip to the railway museum! We are working on the new library, and the new KS4 social area looks very nice too. It’s a lovely time of year, with thoughts turning soon to handover and transition as well – scary sometimes but exciting too!

Thanks for all your support and very best wishes for a lovely weekend in the sun wherever you are. Take care!

All the best!

John S

😊 from John & the PHS Team 😊

 

We have 3 Super-Steering Groups which deliver our Key Drivers through our curriculum. The Key Drivers are Communication, Wellbeing and Independence. The Groups are Literacy, Physical Development and Personal Development

Ìý

Literacy

Becky, our Literacy Specialist Lead, leads a team that improve all aspects of literacy, including this year a lot of handwriting and oracy (it’s OK, she’ll be going into explain all of that) as well as reading, phonics, books and all sorts!

NEW LIBRARY UPDATES!

This week has continued to involve lots and lots of boxes of books for the Literacy Team, as we continue to organise and prioritise which books we’re keeping and which we’re letting go of. We were fortunate to have a LOT of books in the old library. However all the research states that it’s more important to have a smaller selection of great books rather than a sea of ‘ok’ books. We’re aiming for a smaller selection of great books, whilst still making sure we have a wide range of topics and reading levels.

We have a lot of duplicate copies of favourite stories from when our school was across two sites, and this has been a great opportunity to prioritise books we think our students will love. Duplicate books will be heading to the secondhand book stall at the Summer Fayre this weekend so they can still be given another home!

Also this week there’s been a lot of work gone into the Audiobook and e-book library that will be part of the new library, with a stash of tablets and headphones students will be able to borrow. These tablets will be used specifically for reading or listening, with other features locked so students can focus on their story, article or whatever they’re using! This will include some apps that students already have access to on school devices such as Pickatale or Twinkl Originals (both e-book platforms with read-along options), however we’re also working with North Tyneside Library Service to get access to BorrowBox, an audiobook platform. With BorrowBox students can ‘check out’ audiobooks that interest them in the same way you’d physically check out a book in the library. BorrowBox is free so this is something you can check out with your own library service if you wish to have access to audiobooks at home, and we can make our library devices an easy way to try out if listening to audiobooks is for them!

Physical Development

Everything that is fabulous in the world of Physical Development! This includes physio, hydro, MOVE, PE, HI, VI, a lot of OT and all sorts of key areas for us, including all of the Outdoor Learning, John Muir Award and many other aspects. Steph oversees this and will ensure that an aspect is shared in the blog each week

CYCLING!!! WITH BIKE CLUB!!!

Cycling is not only a fun and social activity, but it also offers a wide range of benefits that support children’s overall wellbeing.ÌýFrom boosting self-esteem and confidence to promoting physical development, cycling is a meaningful way for children to develop key skills to support daily life.

In particular cycling is great for the development ofÌýgross motor skills,Ìýsuch as:

Motor Co-ordination:ÌýImproving co-ordination of upper and lower limbs simultaneously through steering, controlling the brakes and maintaining a steady pedalling rhythm.

Strength:ÌýCycling helps the development of larger muscle groups, in particular in the legs, by being able to push off to initiate movement and continuously pedal maintaining speed against varying levels of resistance.

Endurance:ÌýRegular cycling increases cardiovascular fitness and overall stamina as sustained riding enhances children’s heart and lung function as well as developing muscular endurance.

Bilateral Co-ordination:ÌýUsing both right and left side of the body at the same time, (eg to steer and pedal evenly) supports many important skills in daily activities.

Balance:ÌýRiding a bike encourages the development of dynamic balance, as children learn to keep the bike upright while in motion, especially when navigating turns or uneven terrain.

Here are some photos of students from lower school in Harriet’s class, who have been working hard and really enjoying “Bike Club” every week for improved physical development.

Frankie-Rae even learned to cycle a pedal bike on her own!! Well done Frankie-Rae!!

Personal Development

One of the best things about the school and one of the most important for our pupils, PD covers PSHE, Wellbeing, Careers, Social Moral Spiritual & Cultural, Online Safety, Behaviour and similar areas. Jo pulls it all together. Let’s see what Jo and the team have in store for us this week! The inspectors really loved all of the PD we do.

Exploring the World

In Post 16, we spend lots of time developing relationships, be those peer to adult or peer to peer.Ìý It is important for our students to feel confident with lots of different people so that they can safely explore and enjoy the world around them. We facilitate this in class through Intensive Interaction, sharing smiles and laughter, being responsive and offering physical prompts, for instance, by using hand-under-hand support. ÌýExploring is an essential aspect of preparing for adulthood, as is developing relationships and we really enjoy our work, being with friends and having new experiences.

SMSC

Celebrating Diversity and Resilience: Pride Month, Gypsy Roma & Traveller History Month & World Refugee Week

June is a powerful month of recognition and celebration at our school, where we honour the rich tapestry of identities, histories, and stories that make our community vibrant and strong.

Pride MonthÌýreminds us of the importance of love, acceptance, and equality for all LGBTQ+ people. It’s a time to celebrate the courage and resilience of those who have fought for rights and recognition, and to reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

At the same time,ÌýGypsy, Roma and Traveller History MonthÌýinvites us to learn about the history, culture, and contributions of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities. It’s a moment to challenge stereotypes, recognize past and ongoing injustices, and celebrate the rich heritage that adds so much to our shared society.

DuringÌýWorld Refugee Week, we reflect on the journeys of millions of people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or hardship. Their stories of courage and hope remind us of the strength found in resilience and the importance of kindness and support.

This year, our school was proud to host a special assembly led by Chris Carr, focusing on the experiences of refugees worldwide. Chris helped us understand the challenges refugees face and the importance of welcoming and supporting those who have been displaced. It was a deeply moving session that encouraged empathy and action.

In the spirit of sharing voices and stories, we are honoured to share a beautiful poem written by refugee children in UK. Their words inspire us to keep hope alive and remind us of the universal dreams of peace and belonging.

Ìý

Wellbeing

Here are Andy and the Wellbeing Team about what’s happening this year in their brilliant Connect Challenge series! Go Andy!

Connect Challenge – Be Brave!

This week, our school’s Connect Challenge focused on the theme of bravery, a quality that ties into the ‘Coping ‘strand of the Resilience Framework. Bravery allows us to face challenges and develop resilience that positively impacts our overall wellbeing.

Throughout the week, we’ve been hearing about the ways our pupils have demonstrated remarkable bravery. Shoutouts go to

Katie – for bravely speaking up in class

Joe – for participating in a new activity (he tried surfing this week in sunny Blyth!)

Bradan and Jayden – for supporting their friend, Daniel, with an exciting new project

All these acts demonstrate how courage can make us stronger and bring us together


A special shoutout goes to Shannon, who has been taking steps towards her future. Not only has she started a work placement at South Shields Surf School (despite her fear of deep water), but she also bravely visited 51ÊÓÆµ College to explore her options for September. Her willingness to step out of her comfort zone is inspiring to us all – well done you!

Next Monday is World Music Day, and we invite you to connect with music! We would love your help from home too—please emailÌýa.dawson@percyhedley.org.ukÌýwith the title and artist of your favourite song. Whether it’s a family favourite or a song that holds special memories and makes you feel good, we want to hear about it!

Ìý

Gotta get yourself connected…..writing’s on the wall…..

 

Trip of the Week – The Stephenson Museum with Chris’ Class!

You can’t beat a good school trip! It sounds like Chris’s class had a great trip out this week – let’s hear what Chris’ take on it all was and look at some nice pictures.

Gotta get yourself connected…..writing’s on the wall…..

 

Trip of the Week – The Stephenson Museum with Chris’ Class!

You can’t beat a good school trip! It sounds like Chris’s class had a great trip out this week – let’s hear what Chris’ take on it all was and look at some nice pictures

Class 6CC’s trip to The Stephenson Railway Museum Woodland Walk

What an amazing day we had on our school trip to celebrate the official opening of the Woodland Walk at Stephenson Railway Museum! Our adventure started with a bus ride, and as we arrived, we were greeted by enormous butterflies walking gracefully on giant stilts — what a sight! The Woodland Walk was bursting with colour and life, filled with beautiful flowers, ponds, and sensory areas. Everywhere we looked, there were brightly painted stones, colourful crochet flowers, and flags waving in the breeze, making the whole walk feel magical. There was even music performed by an accordion-playing ant and some bees!!

One of the highlights of the day was the brilliant puppet show performed by the Mosstroopers. We watched in excitement as ‘Reynard’ the mischievous fox played tricks on his animal friends. The show was so entertaining, and we all joined in with the chanting to help the characters along — it was great fun! After the show, we climbed aboard a heritage train. We saw the steam puffing into the sky and heard the loud whistle blow as we set off on our journey. It was so exciting to experience what train travel was like in the past!

Inside the museum, we explored a fantastic collection of old trains and even spotted a metro! Many of us had a go at pretending to be train drivers, pressing buttons and pulling levers — it was brilliant. Before heading back to school, we enjoyed some tasty refreshments in the café. A huge thank you to Beth and all the staff.Ìý

 

Therapy Star of the Week! Daniel and Noah!

Love Therapy Star of the Week! Especially when it’s Daniel and Noah! Let’s hear from Brian, who has been doing what sounds like some very pleasant and good work with the guys.

Lunchtime walking – excellent!

Therapy Stars of the Week: Daniel G & Noah R!

Daniel and Noah have helped set up and consistently taken part in a weekly lunchtime walking group. With support from their OT and SaLT both students have worked on a range of community skills including planning the routes, time management, road safety and appropriate behaviour within a range of environments. Through consistent community exposure both students have demonstrated amazing improvements in other areas including ordering food, using public transport and taking part in a range of new community activities.

Here they are swiftly walking, well done guys!

 

Sport of the Week with Nathan!

Sport is so good here! Let’s see the latest that they’ve been up to with Nathan

This first half of the term PE has been focused on athletes’ skills which mainly consists of, throwing, running and jumping activities preparing students for sports day and an athletics event next week.

A shout out to Daniel G who has been extra motivated outside of PE to practice and set up assault course and has motivated other students to get involved too 😊

Behaviour for Learning (BfL)

Aylisha and Corin have developed the BfL Group and are working on supporting our pupils all the time on the best way to be in all situations

If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact the BfL team

  • holland@percyhedley.org.uk
  • orr@percyhedley.org.uk

Early Years – The Ducklings!

Let’s get the latest update from what’s been happening down in the fabulous Early Years, hear from Kerry, and also see some lovely pictures which show what sort of a week they’ve had and what they’ve been up to

Another busy week in Early Years!

Fun in the sun!

We have made the most of the nice weather and our outdoor provision. We have participated in some fantastic gross motor activities using the balancing beams, climbing apparatus and stepping in and out of the tyres. Keziah enjoyed playing in the big yard navigating the activities on the ground

We have been developing our fine motor skills posting shapes into the shape sorters, matching activities and large drawing with chalk in the outdoor area

Aimee has been using her PECs book to communicate the colours of paint she wanted for her picture

Some of the children have been exploring the switch toys. The big bad mouse came to visit, and we all enjoyed the Gruffalo story. Rowan then sat and recited the story to himself and his toys

Finally, we have had an update about our beehive. It now has its new occupants in, and they all seemed really settled as you can see from the pictures. I have also been informed that the bee with the blue dot on is the Queen.

UNICEF Award update with Rebecca

Since we gained the Bronze level of this award, Rebecca & the teams have been working on the next level

Exams with Kat!

Lots of exams and arrangements going on at the minute, and Kat sorts all of this out for us. Let’s hear the news!

Preparation for Adulthood with Hannah

PfA is a key part of the School Improvement Plan this year, and will be next year too.

School Lunches – new summer menus, vegetarian days and all sorts!!!!!

Safeguarding, Extra-Familial Safeguarding

Aylisha is our Safeguarding Officer, Rebecca is the DSL. Tracy and Corin round out a great DSL Team, with others involved too like Carla and Lizzie

Online Safety

Attendance!

Code of Conduct

Friends of PHS – the FoPHS!

A huge thank you to all of the FoPHS for their time, commitment & support, with projects, ideas and all sorts. Great to have you guys on board, you’re such an important part of the school Why don’t you join! The Fabulous Friends are always looking for volunteers for events! If you can offer any support, please contact Eileen at e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk

Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA) – with Tracy and the Team!

Please get in touch with Tracy via the email below and she will be happy to respond to any queries, suggestions about the LPPA and other issues for parents From Tracy and the LPPA team. Contact t.smithson@percyhedley.org.uk

Stars of the Week!

That reflect our School Values!

Makaton Signs of the Week with Julie!

Every Sunday Julie prepares a message for the whole school on Makaton signs that are current and relevant to the time of year. I generally reproduce them here so those at home can do the same thing if you want to and if it works for you – or just for you to learn a few signs each week. Hope it works for you!

And finally……it’s that time of year again……..oh yes…

…..from John & the Team here at PHS

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Our Key Drivers

Communication, Wellbeing, Independence