POSTGATE

NEWS

THE

ISSUE 09 | APRIL 2023

IN THIS EDITION...

Easter reflection Interested in teaching? Our door is open! Flame 23 event inspires pupils Classrooms transformed for World Book Day Highlights from some of our 37 schools

FORM ING LIVES REA DY TO FA CE T H E FUTURE

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CHAPLAINCY REFLECTION

As Easter approaches, we enter a time of reflection and renewal, a time to celebrate hope, faith and the promise of new beginnings. The Easter story tells us of the resurrection of Jesus, a story of triumph over death and the ultimate symbol of hope.

From political and social unrest to environmental crises and personal struggles, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged.

This Lent, pupils from across our secondaries joined others to attend Flame 23 in London. You can read about this later in the Postgate News, but I wanted to mention the theme, which was “Rise up”.

But by rising up in faith, we can find the strength to face these challenges head-on, to work towards a better future, and to inspire others to do the same.

It was taken from Mary rising up and going to see her cousin Elizabeth after the visit of the angel. It’s an appropriate theme to reflect on as we come to Easter. In this context, the idea of “rising up in faith” takes on special significance. It’s a call to action, an invitation to move forward with courage and conviction, trusting in a higher power and the possibility of a better future. For many people, Easter is a time to reflect on the challenges and struggles they’ve faced, when they find hope in the face of adversity, and to draw strength from their faith. Rising up in faith can mean different things to different people, but at its core, it’s about believing in something greater than ourselves, and finding the courage to overcome obstacles, no matter how daunting they may seem. In today’s world, we face many challenges that can make it difficult to hold on to hope.

In our schools, we see many examples every day of how we “rise up” in faith. These include our charity work and the way we support pupils who are vulnerable or going through a difficult time. These, and many other small daily interactions we have in school, are moments of lived faith. It’s a faith that brings hope, which is the promise of Easter, and which helps our young people to fulfil their potential. So as we celebrate Easter, let us reflect on the message of hope and renewal that it brings, and let us rise up in faith to meet the challenges of the day. Let us find the courage to stand up for what we believe in, to work towards a brighter future, and to inspire others to do the same. Angela O’Brien Lay Lead Chaplain

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CEO Welcome After a short half term, we finally arrive at this most significant time in the liturgical calendar for Christians. Easter Sunday, the Pascha, is fast approaching, and our schools have been preparing during Lent for this wondrous event. The vibrancy we associate with spring and the longer evenings brings a sense of excitement, and I know you will welcome having an opportunity to enjoy this edition of the Postgate News over the holiday period. The growing demand for places across our schools is clearly a challenge, as parents and carers see the benefits of joining the NPCAT family. We are working collaboratively with school leaders, and our admissions team is continuing to support parents and carers in this respect. Our wraparound care provision is proving very popular and this provision will soon be trust-wide, affording even further assistance to parents and carers looking for schools that provide the very best offer. The raft of Ofsted inspections this term once again reinforces how well we know our schools and how robust our NPCAT School Improvement Framework is, and we can also sense the confidence parents and carers have in our annual tiering of schools. NPCAT teaching and support staff, who are so committed to our aims, will be looking forward to a break from the routine, and the opportunity to spend time with their family and friends is always richly welcomed.

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Their work is so deeply appreciated and valued and I wish to extend my thanks to all those staff. I want to thank, too, all our school leaders and governors for their continued ambition for our pupils and for the manner in which they navigate the diverse challenges of leadership. Finally, to all our parents, carers, friends and families who actively support our work, engaging positively to ensure we maintain the highest standards across our schools and enable all pupils to progress and achieve, I offer a huge thank you. Catholics and Christians all over the world will celebrate the Easter season in their own way, focusing as they do so on the true meaning of Easter. As a fully inclusive family, NPCAT celebrates this common link in our beliefs, for we see this as what binds our faith, and makes us who we are. I wish you all a holy and joyous Easter. Blessed Nicholas Postgate Pray for us.

Hugh Hegarty

CEO

NPQH | MSc | PGCCGC | BEd Hons| CTC

Chair of the Board Message We have entered the second half of the academic year and as we approach the end of the liturgical season of Lent, we look towards the joy of Easter. Our family of 37 schools is flourishing and we are looking forward to All Saints Catholic School, York, joining us soon. The schools I have been in this term have impressed me with their quality of teaching and learning, the positive conduct and behaviour of the pupils and the fact that Bishop Terry’s vision for Catholic education informs all aspects of school life. I wish to thank again parents, carers, staff and governors for all you do for our children and young people. The trust Central Team continues to provide effective support to our schools, and I know from many reports that their vital work is very much appreciated. The development of each and every child in NPCAT remains our focus. On this note, I will end with a prayer that I came across recently.

Children’s Development Lord Jesus Christ, you once saw the world with the wonder of a child and asked the impossible questions of childhood. We give you thanks for the blessing and the responsibility of children, our own or those we meet in our daily life. We pray for them at home, at school and at play, for their security and protection from harm and for their growth and development in knowledge and understanding. Bless all parents, guardians and all who work with children, and give us childlike delight in the good things of your world. We pray this in your name, Amen.

Joe Hughes

Chair of the Board of Directors

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JUST THE TICKET!

All aboard St Margaret’s new school library

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Did you hear the story about the generous Teessiders who rallied round to create an amazing school library out of an old bus?

St Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School in South Bank is so popular it’s bursting at the seams and its old library is often called into use for other purposes, including an after-school club.

floor we would appreciate any help they could offer out of hours. We then contacted various suppliers who help Titan Trailers. “Everybody was happy to chip in and with the skill-set of our staff, we could fill the gaps.”

Reading lead Melissa McCarthy wanted to find somewhere more suitable for children to read and came up with the brainwave of writing to local bus companies.

PPG Paintline supplied the paint in the school colour, purple and Titan staff painted the bus in their onsite paint-shop.”

Gary Chisholm, from Stagecoach North East, replied instantly with the offer of a bus. The problem then was how to adapt the bus for its new purpose. Fortunately, St Margaret’s teacher Helen Adams’ husband Alex is the UK operations manager of Titan Trailers, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of trailers for the logistics and recycling industries. “At first I said we would be able to put in some bookcases and shelves and build a few trailershaped plant pots,” said Alex. “But when I thought about it, I realised we had the skill set to do a bit more and take it on as a community project. I told our guys on the shop

They then removed the seats and Redcar firm Jack Mannix supplied a new fitted carpet. Park Electrical provided most of the electrical equipment and Titan’s contract electrician, Dave Gill, together with his son and a friend, put in more than 100 hours to fit state-of-the-art lighting and heating and a top-quality sound system. They even repaired the push button “bus stopping” sign and bell, a favourite with children throughout the ages. Render Alarms installed and connected a new fire alarm to the school’s existing system. “As soon as I approached them, there were no questions asked, they just said whatever you want, we’ll help,” said Alex.

“It was typical Teesside generosity, all more than happy to do their bit for a local school and I’m absolutely thrilled with the result.” Alex was confident that Titan’s Canadian owners, Mike and Sandy Kloepfer, would support the venture. “Mike came over at Christmas and was slightly surprised to see a big purple bus in his yard,” he said.

The excitement didn’t stop there for St Margaret’s, as Middlesbrough Football Club captain Jonny Howson and mascot Roary dropped in to see the library for themselves.

“But he was very happy. The Kloepfers are a very charitable, philanthropic family.”

Once again, our imaginative teachers magically transformed classrooms throughout the trust on World Book Day as some of our best-loved children’s stories came to life.

The official opening of the library bus took place on World Book Day, with children dressed up as their favourite literary characters.

Reading for pleasure is one of NPCAT’s focuses this year and we treated pupils to a whole- day read, dedicating the first five minutes of each lesson to reading part of a story.

Headteacher Clare McNicholas said: “Reading is paramount in children’s development. We want children to be passionate about reading and become lifelong readers.

By the end of the day, pupils had a complete story read to them by five different teachers from across the curriculum.

“It’s at the core of our curriculum and we want them to enjoy it and we think this will ignite that passion and interest.”

A range of inspirational events took place across our schools.

Miss McNicholas couldn’t speak more highly of the amazing team of volunteers Alex put together. “I would like to thank Stagecoach North East, Titan Trailers and all the firms who played their part,” she said. “I was just going to get joiners in to add some shelving, but Alex has project-managed everything to perfection and gone beyond our wildest dreams. “Children can do reading and phonics lessons in the morning, we can have a library club at break-time, dinnertime and after school, and parents and carers can come in to read with the children. “It just looks amazing – in fact, I wouldn’t mind moving my office there!” The library is now full of brand-new books donated by families and friends of the school. “We always get fantastic support from our families and the parish and extended school community,” said Miss McNicholas. “We put together a book wish list and people have donated masses and masses of new books. It’s been like Christmas Day, every day, with massive deliveries coming from Amazon.”

St Peter’s Catholic College held a Bake Me a Story competition and teachers took part in The Masked Reader, where pupils had to work out which book linked to which teacher. Over at St Patrick’s Catholic College, teachers recorded videos of themselves reading extracts from their favourite books in the style of Jackanory to ignite pupils’ desire to read more. At Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary, exciting competitions, reading lunches and a book swap in the library encouraged hundreds of pupils to get involved in reading. Hats were the order of the day at St Francis Xavier as pupils celebrated their favourite books, along with an online reading selfie competition. Years 7 and 8 at Trinity Catholic College attended an online talk and story writing masterclass with author and former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo, while older pupils read a selection of their favourite books and poems to their peers. It was a fantastic day throughout the trust, with staff and pupils celebrating their love of reading together.

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Youth event sets flame of faith burning brightly

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FIRE Young Catholics from all our secondary schools joined thousands from around the country for what one of our pupils described as a “life-changing” experience.

Flame 23, at the OVO Arena, Wembley, is the largest annual Catholic youth gathering, with guest speakers including Cardinal Vincent Nichols and performances from musicians including award-winning rappers Guvna B and Faith Child. It was an early start, with the coach leaving at 5am for an 11am arrival at Wembley, where we joined the excited throng queuing to get through security. Pope Francis sent a message urging participants to “dare to be different”, embracing ideals of generosity, service, purity, perseverance, forgiveness, prayer, the pursuit of justice and love for the poor. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament was a highlight of the day, with the arena falling silent as we venerated the sacred host before us and contemplated the mystery of the Eucharist. On the coach back, our young people said they had found the speakers inspiring and that Flame had given them a sense of purpose and belonging. Everyone agreed it was an amazing day. It took a long time for the final song to leave us and for chants of “Every day! Every day! Every day!” from Guvna B’s passionate finale to die down. The event lit a flame of faith in our young people that will continue to burn brightly as they return to their homes and schools throughout Teesside and North Yorkshire. Here’s what one Trinity Catholic Sixth Form Year 13 pupil had to say…

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“I decided to attend Flame 2023 as I felt I was at a crossroads. Although I still believed in God and considered myself Catholic, I felt I had lost some of my faith. I am so glad I went. I was very nervous as the only sixth former, but I made some great friends on the bus who I experienced the day with. Flame was so clearly tailored to youth, using methods such as rap, stories and speeches to communicate key Catholic values and messages. It has helped to reinforce my faith and rebuild my relationship with God. I really enjoyed the inclusivity of the day. It made me feel welcome and contributed to the positive experience. Flame 2023 was a life-changing event.” Flame 23 is just one of the many ways the Catholic faith shone in our schools throughout the season of Lent. Many of our schools also rose to the challenge thrown down by CAFOD to take part in its Big Lent Walk. The idea was to be sponsored to walk as much as possible during the 40 days of Lent and donate the money raised for the Catholic charity’s vital work overseas. This year, CAFOD is supporting families with the skills and tools they’ve asked for to fight the climate crisis.

All RE groups from Year 7 to sixth form at Trinity Catholic College, Middlesbrough, played their part. They began with an RE lesson to explain what they were doing, and set a target of £1,300 - £1 for every pupil. Some generous pupils went much further, raising more than £100 each to support this very special cause. Before walking around the school field during RE lessons, pupils stopped to pray and reflect on what they were doing and the importance of enabling communities to help themselves. Last year, the amazing children and families of St Aelred’s Catholic Primary, York, raised more than £3,000 with a walk for Ukraine, and they were keen to help again. On the first Friday in Lent, pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 and their parents and carers walked along the cycle path to St Nicholas Fields where they stood and prayed in a circle together under a beautiful blue sky. By the time they returned to school, each child had walked three kilometres, which got the challenge off to a perfect start. One Year 6 pupil said: “It was lovely being in union with the whole school. We enjoyed being outdoors and active, while helping people who are in need.” Back in school, Early Years pupils had been walking around the school grounds to begin their contribution to the Big Lent Walk. Headteacher Suzanne Ulyett said: “The total on our CAFOD fundraising page is creeping up, and that’s even before sponsor forms and money have been returned. “It’s great to see families supporting CAFOD by heading out for walks at the weekend with their children.”

CAFOD community participation coordinator Carol Cross said 15 NPCAT schools signed up on the Big Lent Walk site, although she expected even more will be taking part. “We always know we can rely on the generosity of our Catholic schools to help those who are less fortunate than themselves,” she said. “Well done to all the pupils, staff and parents and carers who came up with so many creative ways to join our Big Lent Walk and those who sponsored the children or helped in any other way. “Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to help people such as 14-year-old Dristy and her mum, Rupali, in Bangladesh, who are building seed beds and planting palm trees to protect their crops from flooding and cyclones. “The money our schools raise will go to help people like Dristy and Rupali to grow their own food in the future, no matter what the weather does.” The schools that signed up were: Trinity Catholic College St Patrick’s Catholic College St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School St Edward’s Catholic Primary School St Clare’s Catholic Primary School St Pius X Catholic Primary School St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School

Year 6 pupils from St Thérèse Catholic Primary in Ingleby Barwick walked to visit their neighbours at Christ the King, Thornaby, where they had lunch together and shared a Lenten reflection, before walking back to their own school. The following week, Year 6 children from Christ the King made a return visit.

Christ the King Catholic Primary School

“As a faith community, we wanted to raise awareness of the work of CAFOD and raise much-needed funds for the vital support they give to the neediest in our world,” said Helen Lickess, executive head of school at Christ the King.

St Bede’sCatholic Primary School

“Our Year 6 children enjoyed their time together, sharing a simple meal and sharing a moment with God as they prayed for the people who work for CAFOD and the people around the world that they support.”

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

St George’s Catholic Primary School St Aelred’s Catholic Primary School

St Therese of Lisieux Catholic Primary school

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ST JOSEPH’S, PICKERING

CHILDREN LET OFF STEAM ON HARRY POTTER TRIP A magical steam train journey to Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade Station was the highlight of the day when our Year 5 and 6 class spent a day in the country. The group travelled on the scenic North York Moors railway from Pickering to Goathland, which was used in the film adaptation of JK Rowling’s first book.

Children also learned about why rural villages exist and how they have developed during the industrial revolution and now maintain their links with the wider area.

It was a wonderful day and the children loved escaping to the country and seeing sheep roaming the paths and roads.

They also enjoyed looking at the benefits that tourism can bring to an area.

We enjoyed a picnic-style lunch and discovered the story of the railway’s history and how it is still being used today.

Young batters and bowlers catch the cricket bug Coaches from Yorkshire Cricket Club have been coming into school to deliver sessions with pupils from reception through to Year 6.

Our next visit, as part of our school’s local community engagement plan, sees the children visit the beautiful Dalby Forest.

They have also been working with staff to try to develop a culture of cricket and fair play throughout the school. Children have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions, so much so that a recent covering of snow wasn’t enough to stop play at St Joseph’s! Throughout the term, they have shown a wonderful sense of teamwork, enjoying the competitive elements of the sport but also supporting each other. We hope this passion for sport continues and they appreciate the importance of leading physically active lives and understanding that teamwork is not only part of sport but an important life skill. We are keen to help the children experience as wide a range of sports as possible and develop their skills in games they might not otherwise play. The children especially enjoyed activities with our specialist orienteering coaches at the start of the year. We are now looking forward to our next sporting challenge, when we will use our teamwork skills to tackle the sport of Quidditch, made famous at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

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ST MARYS, RICHMOND

THRILLS AND SPILLS FOR INTREPID EXPLORERS Pupils from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Richmond experienced canoeing down the River Esk, den building, nighttime sledging, rock climbing, rock pooling and much more on an amazing outdoor education residential. Twenty-four Year 5 intrepid explorers set off from school for an action-packed week away from home at the East Barnby centre near Whitby. From the moment they arrived, to wearily climbing onto the coach home, they were active and engaged, developing their independence, learning new skills and embracing fresh adventures. The first day began with making their own beds, followed by a bracing and adrenalinepumping beck scramble. The water was certainly icy but this didn’t slow down our explorers, as they ventured through rocky passages, slid down rocks and hopped, skipped and jumped over the beck. Although they were all chilly by the end, the children were

delighted with their personal accomplishments. Over the week, the children worked as a team and impressed leaders and teachers with their excellent attitude towards challenges, showing empathy and consideration as they guided, supported and encouraged each other. On the last night, there was an opportunity to sit and reflect around the campfire as the children enjoyed toasted marshmallows and each shared their achievements and favourite moments from a week to remember.

Traffic police visit brings us up to speed Have you ever wondered what traffic police do?

After a recent visit to St Mary’s, our Year 5 and 6 pupils now have a better understanding of what the job entails and also how to keep themselves safe. Everyone left armed with the knowledge about how important it is to wear a seatbelt when travelling in a motor vehicle and to wear reflective or bright clothing so drivers can see them easily on darker nights. Our visitors also brought their speed gun, explaining how it worked and linking this to the speed limits.

Our children were fascinated to learn why different speed limits are set as they are, with the speed that cars can travel depending on the location of each road. A small group of children even went out with the traffic police and helped them during a speed check. They were all excited to report how they had helped keep the roads safe by pulling over a driver to warn them they were travelling over the speed limit!

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ST AELRED’S, YORK

HAVE-A-GO HEROES TAKE UP JUDO Ten of our Year 3 and 4 pupils experienced the exciting Japanese martial art of judo for the first time in a special taster session. Pupils from across the city gathered to meet judo black belt and former international competitor Sensei Balazs for the “Have a Go” event at York High School. During the session, Sensei Balazs demonstrated a range of judo moves, before the pupils got the chance to try them for themselves. Throughout the event, the pupils showed the core values of judo – courtesy, courage, sincerity, honour, modesty, respect, self-control and friendship, which mirror St Aelred’s school values. Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed the session, and many said they would like to take up the sport as a hobby. One pupil, Priya, said: “It was really fun because we tried lots of activities I would never normally do.” Millie added: “We could watch older children have a go first and then you could join in.” Bella said: “I would like to do judo again

because I thought the activities were really fun. Some were easy, but some were really difficult.” Thank you to Sensei Balazs for giving us an insight into this fantastic sport.

Emergency services show we are in safe hands We invited some very special visitors to come and teach our early years pupils about how we can keep safe at school, at home and in the community. Firefighters from York Fire Station arrived immediately after a real life call out to tell us more about their job. We learned about the many tasks the fire service carries out, such as extinguishing fires and rescuing people after car accidents or during floods. Another important part of the job is educating the public about fire safety.

the space for prisoners in the back and our children asked lots of interesting questions.

We were lucky enough to sit inside a real fire engine, test out the hose and listen to the very noisy siren!

What busy jobs they all have, keeping us safe every day!

Later, police officers and our community road safety officer came in to teach us how to cross the road safely and how to stay safe when we are walking in our local community. We loved sitting in the police van, especially in

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Many thanks to North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire Service for visiting us and bringing our learning to life.

SACRED HEART, NORTHALLERTON

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN! Sacred Heart team are Panathlon champs

A group of seven Key Stage 2 pupils attended the Panathlon sports event – and came first! This fantastic event enables children who cannot or rarely access sports competitions to experience this environment. Throughout the morning, children took part in a circuit of fully inclusive sports activities, including boccia (a precision ball sport, familiar to many from the Paralympics), new age kurling (an indoor version of the traditional ice-based game), and ten-pin bowling. The sports were adapted to allow every competitor to play a full part in contributing towards their team score and to push themselves to achieve individual goals. Messi-football was popular with many of our players. This event tested accuracy and ball control, with competitors being challenged to hit targets and pass footballs into ever-decreasing cone circles. Children thoroughly enjoyed all the activities but the firm favourite was parachute popcorn, which involves launching dozens of balls off a parachute and into the air. They were timed to run and collect all the balls before placing them in the corresponding containers. The team worked together to build up points as they progressed around the variety of activities. They all rose to the challenge – game-faces on, every team member played their part! It took an impressive effort to meet and overcome personal barriers and for some team members to push themselves to achieve beyond boundaries they had not previously surpassed.

Teaching assistant and PE leader Emily Treweek said: “I am so proud of each and every member of the team. They were extremely competitive and wanted to achieve their own personal best to contribute to the team.” The children were equally enthusiastic. “I had never tried some of these sports before,” said one Year 3 competitor. “They tested lots of different skills, but I had been practising my balancing and jumping, which I am certain helped me do my absolute best.” Another pupil, from Year, 5 added: “I enjoyed helping some of the younger pupils and being one of the leaders. “We encouraged each other and worked together as an excellent team. I think this helped us reach a higher score than we thought we could.” The morning concluded with a tense totting up of all the points won, followed by an awards presentation, where the Sacred Heart team were thrilled to learn we had come first. Well done, team!

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ST EDWARD’S, LINTHORPE

SCHOOL SCOOPS CHARITY’S ENVIRONMENT AWARD Pupils and staff are celebrating winning CAFOD’s LiveSimply Award for showing we are living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the world’s poorest communities. Some of our Year 6 Laudato Si’ leaders spoke to the LiveSimply coordinator as part of the school’s successful assessment in March. The pupils impressed her with how they could express their faith and understood the Church’s teaching about why we must care for our planet and our neighbours. During his recent visit, Bishop Terry inspired us on our LiveSimply journey, reminding us of the importance of living simple lives – as Jesus did – and to take only what we need, not what we want, in order to share fairly with the poor.

The visit was a wonderful opportunity for our young people to meet him – some for the first time. Pupil groups, including our Laudato Si’ leaders, pupil chaplains and Mini Vinnies, have all helped lead us throughout the year and show us innovative ways of putting our faith into action. Initiatives include our new prayer garden, a wheel or walk to school day, a fair trade stall, a toy sale for Missio, litter picking and working with our parish to support the Genesis Project. Laudato Si’, Mi’ Signore – Praise to you, my Lord!

Congratulations to our science superstars! St Edward’s has earned the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) to celebrate our commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning. A comprehensive review of our science curriculum identified high standards within science throughout the school.

carers and governors should be very proud.”

Associate professor Jane Turner, PSQM’s national director, said: “There was never a more important time for primary children to have a high-quality science education. Primary schools have an important role to ensure that children understand how science works and keeps us and our planet healthy and safe. The profile and quality of science in each awarded school is very high. Children are engaging with science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science, as well as secure scientific understanding and skills. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, headteachers, children, parents,

We deepened our curriculum experience further during British Science Week, when the children made scientific predictions and undertook investigations around this year’s theme of “Connections”.

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We are always keen to develop children’s experiences of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects and our children have attended workshops and welcomed visitors coming into school.

CHRIST THE KING, THORNABY

SENSATIONAL SKI SCHOOL GIVES EVERYONE A LIFT Pupils from three neighbouring primary schools enjoyed the trip of a lifetime when they went on a skiing residential to Claviere in Italy.

Year 5 and Year 6 children from Christ the King, St Patrick’s in Thornaby and St Thérèse of Lisieux in Ingleby Barwick, came together for this most amazing experience.

YEAR 5 SKI TRIP

YEAR 6 SKI TRIP

The trip began with an early 4:30am meet up at Newcastle Airport, before a flight to Heathrow and then on to Milan. They travelled by bus for the last section of the journey, arriving in Claviere in time for dinner and a well-earned rest. Both children and staff have benefitted from world-class ski instruction, taking them from real beginners to feeling confident on the slopes independently. They learned about having the correct kit, how to get safely up the mountain, how to ski back down and – most importantly – how to stop! In fact, some children got the hang of skiing before the adults, showing their teachers and teaching assistants how to do it. As well as skiing, they experienced authentic Italian culture and food – including some incredible homemade pasta and pizza from the chefs at the resort.

Members of the public at the airports and at the resort complimented them on their exemplary behaviour, manners and attitudes as they represented our schools across Europe. This was a fantastic opportunity for children from Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick to have an incredible experience. A big thank you must go to the staff who went with both groups for the week – it would not have been possible without their commitment and support!

The children from all three NPCAT schools were a credit to themselves, their families and their schools.

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ST BERNADETTE’S, NUNTHORPE

ST BERNADETTE’S REACHES GOLDEN AGE We are enjoying a series of special events at St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary in Nunthorpe as we mark 50 years of inspiring young people. As part of our golden anniversary celebrations, we invited former pupils to write in and tell us about their current jobs and how St Bernadette’s helped shape their careers. We had hundreds of responses, with alumni now working in exciting roles ranging from engineers to artists to doctors. We collated all these careers and then created a fantastic display as a daily reminder that our children can achieve anything they set their minds to. One former pupil, reporter Charlotte Brammer, visited from our local radio station, BBC Tees, as part of its Make a Difference campaign. The children loved having their photographs taken by a drone and some pupils were interviewed for a radio report. We talked about how our school vision – “Be courageous, shining in the light of Christ, making a positive impact in our world” and how our values help us make a positive difference wherever we go. We also told listeners about our work on vocations and Pope Francis’ letter about the environment, Laudato Si’, which our children have taken to their hearts. As our celebrations extended throughout the term, we have invited many interesting visitors to speak to our children, including founder of the CAUSE charity Pat McBride, Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston and environmentalist Julie Harrison. We are also planning a Mass in school for all past and present staff and governors. This will be followed by a celebration in the school hall, which will be open to everyone who has a connection to St Bernadette’s, including parents and carers, families and former pupils. Our visitors can take a trip down memory lane as they tour an exhibition that includes old photographs and even the school’s original log book! The next day, current children and staff will put on their dancing shoes for a 1970s-themed party day in school. It’s been wonderful to share this special anniversary with so many past staff and pupils. As our school mantra says, once a St Bernadette’s child, always a St Bernadette’s child! Long may the ties of family and community continue to thrive and blossom in our very special community.

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LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW NOW!

ST PAULINUS, GUISBROUGH

THE SCHOOL WHERE LOVE IS ALL AROUND Ofsted inspectors praised the loving environment at St Paulinus Catholic Primary as they reaffirmed its status as a good school.

“Pupils at St Paulinus embody the school’s mission statement ‘Love one another as I have loved you’,” the report said. “They know that it means to love and help everyone around them. “The basis for the curriculum is one word from the school’s mission statement, ‘love’. Each letter of the word ‘love’ represents a driver for the curriculum: learning, opportunity, values and excellence. These drivers shape the curriculum well and encompass the school’s aims.” Executive headteacher Simon Geaves and head of school Rachel Bircham, who have been part of the school’s leadership team for 10 years, warmly welcomed the report. “We are proud to read such a positive report that captures the school beautifully,” said Mr Geaves. “It is a ringing endorsement of everything that is good at St Paulinus. “The inspectors left with a real understanding of what makes St Paulinus school so special – it’s a school grounded on love. We would like to thank our children for being such beacons of joy and light, our families for supporting our school, the amazing staff who use every day to shape our children’s futures and the governors for volunteering their services to improve our school.” Mrs Bircham added: “The report identifies that our renewed curriculum, including mathematics and foundation subjects, is having a positive impact on our pupils’ learning experiences. We have worked hard to

ensure a consistent approach to phonics lessons, as we know this is the key to helping our pupils be successful and confident readers. Our pupils share a love of reading and the protected time we give to reading is something we continue to be proud of.” NPCAT also comes in for praise in the report, as do the school’s governors. “The trust provides leaders with a balance of support and challenge that helps the school to improve,” the report says. “Governors hold leaders to account in meetings. For example, they ask probing questions about pupil premium funding to ensure that it is spent effectively.” CEO Hugh Hegarty welcomed the report, saying: “The entire community can be rightly proud of all the wonderful work undertaken by staff and governors to ensure we have a highly ambitious offering for every child.”

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ST GABRIELS, ORMESBY

MP ADDRESSES PUPILS’ CONCERNS DURING VISIT Redcar MP Jacob Young came in to talk to pupils and listen to their concerns after being invited by our Mini Vinnies group. The group wrote to Mr Young to tell him about local issues, including how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting our community. The children explained that our school is trying to help by holding coffee mornings to raise money for CAFOD, donating hampers for vulnerable families and opening a parent and toddler group that offers families a warm space to sit and play in. We have also visited nearby nursing homes, supported our parish’s Friday lunchtime Lenten soup kitchen. We also run an Eco Shop, where people can buy 10 items of food for £2 a week.

Mr Young was given a tour of the school before he sat down with the Mini Vinnies to discuss their concerns and answer questions, including how he could help address anti-social behaviour. Mr Young said he works with the police, councillors and the mayor and would try to enlist their assistance. The last question came from a pupil who asked how to become an MP. Mr Young explained that anyone can put themselves forward for election – so we look forward to seeing a former St Gabriel’s pupil in the House of Commons before too long!

Why we are such good sports A BBC Radio Tees reporter came to school to learn how we promote Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity (PESSPA). LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW NOW!

PE lead Miss Richardson and two sports leaders told the reporter about all the amazing activities we do. Miss Richardson is very passionate about delivering high-quality PE lessons and ensuring children take part in school sport and competitions. BBC Tees listeners also learned about some of our fundraising efforts, such as the Children in Need Skipathon, the Teesside Hospice Reindeer Run and how we are raising money by taking part in CAFOD’s Big Lent Walk. Our sports leaders are excellent role models, showing positivity and determination to ensure all our children are active during playtime. They also spend a lot of time working with NPCAT Sport, improving their skills and finding new ways to support physical activity.

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They returned after recent leadership training with even more incredible ideas and projects, which we can’t wait to get started. School sports coach Mr Rymer has been an excellent addition to our team and works tirelessly to help keep our children fit and healthy. His efforts, including break and lunchtime coaching are already paying off – our basketball team recently won an inter-school competition.

ALL SAINTS, THIRSK

PRIDE AND JOY AS PUPILS BECOME CHART STARS

Fifteen excited pupils from All Saints Catholic Primary in Thirsk travelled to Sheffield Arena to join one of the world’s biggest children’s choirs. WATCH THE OFFICAL MUSIC VIDEO HERE

Two even more excited members of staff, Mrs Monaghan and Mrs Anderson, accompanied them for a fun-filled day that ended in a spectacular concert. We found our spaces in the vast arena and hung our All Saints’ banner – complete with fairy lights – proudly in front so parents and carers attending the concert could find us in the 5,040-strong choir. Lunch gave us the fuel we needed to sing our hearts out in the three-hour rehearsal that followed, led by world renowned conductor David Lawrence. After we perfected our harmonies, we busted some moves with Andy Instone, lead choreographer with London street dance troupe Urban Strides. Special guests, soul singer Heather Small, contemporary violinist Anna Phoebe and The Beatbox Collective were full of encouragement and praise for our eager young singers, while wowing us with their spellbinding talents. There was another break for food and before we knew it, the audience started filtering in and it was showtime! Nothing could prepare us for the electric atmosphere when the lights went down and the first bars boomed out from the opening number, Sing From Your Heart. To be part of such a huge choir with so many pupils from other schools and experience the fantastic production was spectacular and the delight on the children’s faces said it all.

For two hours we belted out a range of songs, from a Nile Rodgers disco medley and a Bob Marley classic to the children’s favourite, Rockstar. All too soon it was the grand finale and we sang our last note. The children had the most amazing day that they will remember forever. As for the staff, we were thrilled to sing the soul anthem Proud with the amazing Heather Small – what a voice! There was more exciting news when Young Voices told us they had released the recording of Proud, featuring the blended voices of all the Young Voices choirs, as a charity single. The single reached number two in the charts and you can still download it on Amazon Music or iTunes to raise money for Place2Be and support children’s mental health. It was an amazing day for All Saints to have played a part in and made all the hours of after-school rehearsals worthwhile. We’re already looking forward to Young Voices 2024!

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ST BENEDICT’S, REDCAR

A FOND FAREWELL TO CANON DEREK It was an emotional day for all at St Benedict’s Catholic Primary as we said thank you and farewell to Canon Derek Turnham. Canon Derek, who has served schools in our diocese for 24 years, was moving to Buckinghamshire with his wife Margaret, to be nearer to their children and grandchildren. For the last decade he has been parish priest of Blessed Nicholas Postgate parish in Redcar, which includes our school. Before he left, our children planned a special Mass, which included Canon Derek’s favourite hymns. Our children presented gifts and one of our pupils, Masie, read out a touching tribute. “We would like to thank you for everything you have done for our school over the last 10 years,” she told Canon Derek. “You are a very special person, and we are privileged to have had you as our parish priest. You will always be a part of St Benedict’s and in our hearts.” Headteacher Kendra Sill said: “Canon Derek has been a wonderful support to St Benedict’s School community through his work with the children and our strong links with Blessed Nicholas Postgate parish. His care, guidance and support over the past 10 years has ensured we have developed as a truly Catholic community, ensuring our children can be the best they can be. Every member of St Benedict’s will miss him and we wish him well as he moves to spend time with his family.” Canon Derek told the children: “Thank you for letting my last Mass in St Benedict’s School be such a great reminder of just what we can achieve together. I always go away after I’ve celebrated Mass with you feeling extra special and that I’ve been very close to God, because of the way you pray and how reflective you are.” Parents, governors, parishioners and representatives from Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary School and NPCAT were also present. NPCAT CEO Hugh Hegarty thanked Canon Derek for his work in schools across the trust, including his service on the NPCAT board. “Canon Derek has been at the forefront of the trust’s development at both strategic and operational levels,” he said. “It has been our privilege to witness his charismatic, warm and genuine presence, not only in those schools within his parish but across the family of NPCAT schools. Canon Derek has always been willing to give up his time most generously, attending interview panels, offering spiritual guidance and development and being a true friend and advocate for all of us who work in Catholic education.”

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ST PIUS X, PARK END

PUPILS PRAISED FOR ‘OUTSTANDING’ BEHAVIOUR Pupils at the school where Middlesbrough FC chairman Steve Gibson OBE and TV personality Chris Kamara MBE were once classmates are celebrating after Ofsted said their behaviour was “outstanding”.

Inspectors judged St Pius X Catholic Primary School in Park End to be good in all other areas and gave them top marks in the “behaviour and attitudes” category. “Pupils behave exceptionally well,” the report said. “They are polite and considerate towards staff and each other. Staff encourage working collaboratively. Pupils support each other with their behaviour and their learning. “Leaders ensure that pupils contribute to the life of the school and the wider community. “Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary … There is a calm and orderly atmosphere throughout the school.” Executive headteacher Anna McClurey said she was “incredibly proud” that the report highlights exemplary behaviour, as well as illustrating the school’s ambition for all pupils. She said: “The inspection team praised the curriculum and the work of leaders and staff on developing the curriculum and improving learning. I am delighted they recognised the dedication of leaders and staff, from acting as models of how they want pupils to behave, to the determination that all pupils gain the knowledge they need for future success. Parents have been hugely supportive of the school and the expectations we have for the pupils, and we would not have achieved such a fantastic report without their support. The pupils are a credit to St Pius X, their families and the local community and we are delighted the report reflects our exceptional school.”

Nick Bennett, head of school, said the report is a fantastic validation of St Pius X’s selfevaluation and improvement work to date. He added: “The children of St Pius X have always been our strongest asset – they are keen to learn and are keen to show our ARC (Aspiration, Resilience & Collaboration) values in all they do. To have their behaviour and attitudes graded as outstanding is a wonderful recognition of this and the calm and orderly atmosphere throughout the school.” There was also praise in the report for the contribution of governors. Trust CEO Hugh Hegarty said: “Congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard to make St Pius X the wonderful school it is. I know Mrs McClurey and all the staff are thrilled and I’m sure both parents and pupils will be even more proud of their school and community. Trust director and former St Pius X executive leader Carol Walker also deserves great credit for her role.”

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ST WILFRID’S, YORK

HEADTEACHER’S DELIGHT AFTER GOOD OFSTED RATING It’s Good to be back! A York headteacher who returned to work in the school where she was once a pupil is leading celebrations after Ofsted rated the school Good in all areas. Inspectors said St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School in Monkgate is an inclusive school where pupils feel safe and happy.

inspection and communicated the strengths of our school with great confidence. “The positive feedback in the report is a testament to the hard work of everyone within the school community.

“Leaders have an ambitious vision for all pupils to achieve well,” the report says.

Miss Keith began her teaching career in Harrogate but returned to St Wilfrid’s as deputy headteacher in 2012, before being appointed headteacher from September 2022.

“Leaders have high expectations of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The fabric of the school has improved since her days as a pupil, with extensions in the 1990s and again in 2017 being added to the original Victorian building.

“Leaders give pupils a wide range of experiences to help them develop both academically and personally. Pupils get the opportunity to develop their confidence and resilience through different leadership positions,

“But what hasn’t changed is the special feeling when you walk into St Wilfrid’s, and the strong relationships within the school community,” Miss Keith said.

“Pupils are taught that being kind, considerate and tolerant is important. This is reflected in the way that pupils treat each other. Headteacher Helen Keith, one of three members of staff who attended St Wilfrid’s, said the report reflected the school’s strong family ethos. “We are all proud of this positive outcome and of our whole school community,” she said. “Our pupils were excellent ambassadors throughout the

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“St Wilfrid’s is a genuine team and I’m so proud and privileged to lead this school.” NPCAT CEO Hugh Hegarty said: “I am delighted that the work of all the staff has been acknowledged in the report. “St Wilfrid’s has a proud tradition over so many years of delivering a rich and nurturing climate for learning. “The trust’s standards team have worked closely with all the staff in the months since the school joined NPCAT and I am confident this relationship will grow deeper and stronger as St Wilfrid’s moves towards being Outstanding.”

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ST PETER’S CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL

St Peter’s celebrates Good Ofsted rating Just as its patron was the rock on which Jesus built his Church, headteacher Stephanie Garthwaite says St Peter’s Catholic College is the rock of the community it serves.

The significant progress St Peter’s has made in recent years has now been acknowledged by Ofsted, which has judged it to be good in all areas. St Peter’s was told it still required improvement in 2019 after previously being rated inadequate but after a new leadership team led by Mrs Garthwaite brought in sweeping changes and a £1m investment from NPCAT, the 547-pupil school has bounced back in style. The report says: “St Peter’s is an inclusive school and leaders are proud to serve the pupils who attend. Leaders are ambitious that all pupils should access an aspirational curriculum. There is a vision, shared by all staff, to provide a high-quality curriculum for all pupils. This vision is being realised. It is making a positive difference to pupils’ education.” Mrs Garthwaite said everyone at the school is determined to continue improving. She said: “Working here is not just a job for our fantastic staff, it’s a vocation and they go above and beyond every

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ST PETER’S CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL

day. They work in St Peter’s because they genuinely want to make a difference to our children’s life chances. St Peter’s is the rock of the South Bank community and for generations, it has contributed positively to the local area. Our pupils know all about our famous alumni and many of their parents and grandparents came here and are extremely passionate about the school.” The inspectors said: “Teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge. Staff are committed to helping pupils access experiences beyond the taught curriculum.” New facilities at St Peter’s include a fitness area, PE changing rooms, an exhibition centre and a superb VR suite. NPCAT CEO Hugh Hegarty said: “Only a few years ago NPCAT had no secondary schools judged by Ofsted to be good. Today, three of our schools are good and one is outstanding, and another outstanding secondary school, All Saints in York, is joining us. Mrs Garthwaite and her team are determined to ensure the very best for every

“St Peter’s is an inclusive school and leaders are proud to serve the pupils who attend.” pupil. The staff at St Peter’s are magnificent advocates for this old and cherished school and their tireless work has now been rewarded.“ Mr Hegarty also praised governors, led by Mark Ryan, trust secondary curriculum directors and standards officers, led by Angela White and trust executive headteacher Michael Burns for their contribution to the transformation at St Peter’s.

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ST PATRICKS CATHOLIC COLLEGE

St Patrick’s feast day celebrations to remember

GOING

GREEN The feast of our patron, St Patrick, was a day to remember for all our pupils.

We encouraged staff to wear something green, including green ribbons, as we marked the importance of this very special occasion.

would help them at lunch time when they would complete a quiz in the dining hall. The winners were awarded with a St Patrick’s shamrock pin badge.

We decorated the school with shamrock plants to symbolise St Patrick’s analogy of the Holy Trinity. This reminds us that as a community, we’re united in our belief in three persons in one God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

At break time, there was a sale of shamrock-shaped cookies, with funds raised going to local charities. The pupils also shared in a sacred online liturgy, led by the curriculum leader of RE.

At the start of the day, we welcomed Year 11 into the dining area for a typical Irish breakfast of potato and soda bread, with an assortment of fruit juices in celebratory flute glasses. Year 11 pupils then took part in a mini-pilgrimage led by headteacher Miss Law to St Patrick’s Church, where Father Pat O’Neill celebrated Mass with pupils from our Catholic primary schools, St Patrick’s, Christ the King and St Thérèse of Lisieux. Meanwhile, we played Irish music in the reception area and the dining hall throughout the day.

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During periods one to three, teachers asked pupils to recall key facts about the life and work of St Patrick, which

One highlight of the day was during tutor time when pupils were given a St Patrick’s Day card keepsake. Each card included an inspirational message from St Patrick that the pupils could reflect on throughout their lives. One said: “May the dreams you hold dearest be those which come true and the kindness you spread keep returning to you.” We thank our entire community for getting involved in creating moments of wonder that lifted the hearts and minds of all of us. Go raibh mile maith agaibh – or thanks a million!

ST PATRICKS CATHOLIC COLLEGE

BISHOP TELLS OF ADVENTURES ON PASTORAL VISIT Pupils found out all about Bishop Terry’s days as a young missionary in Africa when he came to school for a pastoral visit. Bishop Terry spent a busy morning with our school community, starting with a brief meeting with our headteacher, Miss Law, before a tour of the school, visiting classrooms and getting to know members of our community. Our Young CAFOD Leaders, the first in the Diocese of Middlesbrough, and our SVP team shared some of the fantastic work they have already undertaken as they try to shape their vision for the future. The pupils asked Bishop Terry lots of questions and discovered he had also worked at a seminary in Spain, where he learned more about the life of St Teresa of Avila, who became one of his biggest inspirations.

Bishop Terry then joined us for our collective worship, which focused on the Parable of the Rich Young Man and Lazarus. Our drama pupils created and performed a modern-day version of this well-known Gospel story, which reminds us of the need to help those who are less fortunate. Miss Law said: “It was an honour to have Bishop Terry visit the school. His message to staff and pupils was an uplifting and inspiring one of hope and aspiration.”

Reaching for the stars! Pupils have been working hard to reach their goals in reading, articulating, Catholic life and helping others since the launch of the NPCAT REACH Awards programme at St Patrick’s. Growing numbers of pupils have had challenges signed off in their log books and some have even met the criteria for their REACH Bronze Award and are now working towards their Silver Award. Each week, form tutors have nominated pupils as REACH Stars of the Week in recognition of their efforts. The chosen pupils have then enjoyed hot chocolate and other treats in the headteacher’s office during Friday form time. We are very excited about holding our first REACH Awards ceremony before the end of term. We will present pupils who have completed the Bronze Award challenges with their pin badges and add their names to our school honour board, which takes pride of place in our school hall. Congratulations to Xico, Haniel, Rayanna and Stephen, our very first pupils to achieve their REACH Awards. Pupils were delighted to achieve the bronze award and are keen to continue achieving.

One said: “This programme has helped me to strive to become a better all round pupil.”

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T6 SIXTH FORM

Manchester visit brings geography studies to life Our Year 12 geographers took the train to Manchester to study themes related to Contemporary Urban Environments and Changing Places units of the GCE Geography course. Accompanied by our new head of humanities, Mr Coles and Mr Cosgrave, we were blessed with blue skies all day. The day began with a short walk to St Peter’s Square, followed by a study of Castlefields (regeneration) and Spinningfields (mixed use development). We then visited the People’s History Museum before taking a tram to Anchorage to look at how Manchester Docks have changed. This area was the highlight of the day for the pupils, seeing the striking skyline and the rebranded Media City UK, which is a major theme in our studies. We then took a tram from Trafford to New Islington to look at regeneration in East Manchester. We had time to pass Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, on what was the 65th anniversary of the Munich air

Expert speakers offer invaluable exam advice Year 13 A Level Business and Psychology students visited the MetroCentre for an A level booster session led by Tutor2U. Pupils engaged in fast-paced revision techniques and heard some vital information they will need for their summer exams from the expert speakers. The day was split into four sessions with breaks in between. As well as the wealth of invaluable information on offer, pupils were also given a workshop booklet and free access to online resources.

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disaster, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway. Of the 44 people on board, 20 died at the scene and another three died later from their injuries. A memorial service had just ended and pupils were presented with a book and programme before they paid their respects at the Munich Clock, while Mr Cosgrave and some United fans gave background information. There was also a brief visit to the Imperial War Museum and even half an hour of retail therapy before we boarded the train home. Mr Cosgrave said: “It was such a good day. The enthusiasm of the pupils made everything worthwhile and it was nice to get to know them better as we talked on the journey.”

T6 FOOTBALL ACADEMY

T6 Football Academy Home Phoenix Park reaches for the stars

PITCH PERFECT T6 Football Academy’s superb Phoenix Park has earned the praise of top FIFA and FA officials – and it’s about to get even better!

A brand new full-size 3G FIFA standard pitch was handed over to the trust in November and has replaced the previous artificial surface. The pitch went through vigorous FIFA testing in December and passed with flying colours to become a registered FA and FIFA framework standard matchday pitch. It currently boasts a four-metre-wide spectator area and two eight-seater dugouts. Work to further improve the facility is due to start shortly and will include a 100-seater covered stand and further covered space for another 100 spectators. Senior regional estates and capital manager Gareth James said the improvements will enhance the T6 Football Academy’s status as one of the best in the country. “This is part of a multi-million-pound investment from the trust into the sporting facilities,” Gareth said. “It will make the ground one of the best in the local area and will be a fantastic opportunity for the pupils and local community to enjoy such a fabulous facility.

“Lots of FA officials have been down to complete a site visit and have all remarked on what a fabulous facility this is.” Phoenix Park is home to the T6 Football Academy’s boys’ and girls’ teams, who are competing in elite leagues for the first time this season. Launched in September 2022, the T6 is the first and only post-16 football academy to work in partnership with Middlesbrough Football Club. Players train every day, as well as studying for academic qualifications at T6 Sixth Form. Led by head of T6 Football Academy Dave McTiernan, the coaching team include former pros Joe Fryer, Connor Simpson and Andy Campbell. The 16-19 academy programme supports and develops the very best young footballing talent in Teesside and North Yorkshire. A range of academic study pathways are available at the sixth form, including A-levels and BTEC Level 3 courses. Applicants must have played at professional academy level, county level, in Teesside Junior Alliance Leagues 1-3 or have other proven experience of playing elite-level football. They must also meet the standard entry criteria for Level 3 study and any other additional entry criteria for their chosen courses.

To find out more, visit t6footballacademy.npcat.org.uk/apply.

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New recruits boost our central services

WELCOME TO THE TEAM

The NPCAT team has been strengthened by a raft of appointments. Jonny Coates, previously chief operating officer of County Durham-based Eden Learning Trust, is our new head of business and financial support services in a role created after recent structural changes. Jonny began his career in banking before moving into education at schools in Tyneside and Durham and then taking up his previous role at Eden. There he led capital projects that improved schools’ learning environment and introduced digital systems to drive efficiencies and make the best use of resources. Jonny is a co-opted governor at three schools and a trustee of the Institute of School Business Leadership. He has also been vice-chair of Durham School Business Managers Group and Durham Schools Forum and an academy representative for school leaders’ union, the NAHT. “I’m proud to be joining NPCAT at a time of growth,” Jonny said. “It’s a privilege to work in education. Our work brings enormous satisfaction because of the impact we are able to have on pupils and young people. “I have high standards for myself and others and am joining an organisation that truly understands the value

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of its people and enables progression through effective challenge and support. “I will strive to add value to the trust and continue to give my all for the benefit of our children and young people.” Jim Blower joins NPCAT as head of estates and facilities, replacing the outgoing Matthew Laverick. After a long career in the Royal Engineers, carrying out construction, maintenance and engineering projects around the world, moving into facilities management was a natural transition. Jim’s most recent role was director of estates and facilities management at a multi-academy trust in Gosforth, where he was instrumental in the planning and design of two new schools. “My passion is for the built environment, and how the physical infrastructure can change outcomes within schools, colleges and the local community,” said Jim, who is also chair of governors for a multi-academy trust. “I strive to improve the classroom environment for both pupils and staff, and to support the fantastic work carried out by curriculum colleagues. I am delighted to join the expanded NPCAT family and lead the Estates and Facilities function across the trust.”

OPEN

DOOR

Are you interested in working in a Catholic school, or do you know someone who might be?

Interested in teaching? Our door is open! Catholic schools are special places to work. Our mission is to be a loving, caring and serving Catholic community in which we educate the whole person, share the Gospel message and put Christ at the centre of all we do. We are keen to support people who are interested in working in Catholic primary or secondary schools by providing bespoke guidance and speaking openly in a friendly and welcoming environment. Our Open Door events offer the chance to talk to primary and secondary school leaders about working in Catholic schools, with plenty of opportunities to ask any questions you may have. Who is it for? Anyone who would like to receive bespoke guidance and support about working in a Catholic school. Anyone who is interested in finding out more about teacher training in a Catholic primary or secondary school. Anyone who is already teaching in a non-Catholic primary or secondary school.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Saturday May 20, 9.30-11am: Bar Convent, 17 Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AQ Wednesday May 24, 4:00-5:00pm: Postgate House, Saltersgill Avenue, Middlesbrough TS4 3JP To reserve a place, or to find out more information about our Open Door events, please contact [email protected]

PERSONAL TESTIMONIES – WHAT OUR PREVIOUS CANDIDATES SAY… “As soon as I went to my first training day, I knew I had made the right decision about where I completed my teacher training. What drew me was the wraparound support I saw previous students getting, from mentors to the course leaders. This, matched with the relationships with local primary schools, meant I felt I would have the best experience at my placements.”—JT “I retrained as a secondary teacher after 20 years as a journalist. It was a huge step, both professionally and personally, and I couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming environment. The Initial Teacher Training course at All Saints has the care of the individual trainee at its heart, and while it fosters real independence in the classroom, there is also a fantastic network of support for those inevitable moments of crisis. The team at All Saints did the seemingly impossible – they proved I wasn’t too old to go back to school!”—SJ

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ACEO UPDATE

Spring in our step as term begins with another glowing report There was a positive start to the spring term, with yet another highly encouraging Ofsted report published for one of our secondary schools. This time it’s congratulations to the staff and pupils at St Peter’s Catholic College in South Bank for achieving good in every category after their recent inspection.

Pupils from St Patrick’s, St Peter’s, Sacred Heart and Trinity are joining these extra sessions, which leads towards a Level 3 Free Standing Mathematics qualification.

This latest result shows once again how the positive work we are doing to improve our schools is making a real difference for our pupils.

This qualification will give them a thorough preparation for A-level maths, as well as providing them with UCAS points to support their university applications in two years’ time.

We were delighted to welcome Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to St Francis Xavier School in Richmond, where he visited lessons and spoke to pupils. Pupils spoke confidently and impressively as they asked Mr Sunak how he planned to address both local and national issues they were concerned about. They were excellent ambassadors for their school and should be proud of their contribution to the Prime Minister’s visit. We also welcomed David Binns, UK director of language software specialist Sanako, to give a truly inspirational presentation to some of our Year 9 pupils. Emphasising the importance of studying modern foreign languages at GCSE level, David spoke about his own language learning journey, from being a child growing up in Leeds to his current role as Sanako’s UK director of operations. Despite not seeing the value of languages when he was at school, he said he owes his career success to changing his mind. Year 11 maths pupils across four of our secondary schools have been advancing their learning beyond GCSE level in additional after-school sessions since the beginning of this academic year.

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The sessions, led by the trust director for maths, support GCSE maths revision for pupils aiming for a Grade 9, as well as introducing them to topics such as differentiation and integration which vital components of the A-level course. We will extend the course to St Francis Xavier and All Saints for the next academic year, and we hope to continue offering the sessions for future year groups. Finally, to round up a busy term, our secondary schools have given some impressive performances as they prove they know what they’re talking about. Pupils took part in the prestigious English Speaking Union Public Speaking Competition and some also entered the Catenian Association Schools Public Speaking Contest against schools from across the region. Good luck to all involved!

Angela White

Assistant Chief Executive Officer

STANDARDS

Tributes paid to outgoing trust director of RE

THANK YOU, DERMOT! The secondary standards team and wider NPCAT family would like to celebrate and give thanks for the work and support that Dermot O’Neill has provided as we strive to ensure all our pupils are offered the very best Catholic education. Dermot came to NPCAT from London in September 2021, joining us with a wealth of senior leadership experience in Catholic schools.

Dermot has also been a great support to chaplaincy since he joined the trust and was closely involved in helping to plan and relaunch the Lourdes pilgrimage after Covid.

In his role of trust director of RE, Dermot supported RE departments across our schools through turbulent times as they continued giving pupils access to a high quality RE curriculum.

More recently, Dermot has been supporting chaplaincy in Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough, working alongside our trust lay lead chaplain, Angela O’Brien.

Within this role, Dermot has also carried out visits as part of the School Improvement Framework, supporting schools to ensure the highest expectations in Catholic standards. Dermot is also a trained Catholic school inspector and shared his knowledge of the new Catholic inspection framework through continuing professional development with staff and senior leadership across the trust. Catherine Handley, head of RE at St Patrick’s Catholic College, has worked closely alongside Dermot and wanted to thank him for his support. “Dermot has helped with the Catholic life of St Patrick’s, as well as with Religious Education,” she said. “He has been a great support and source of advice for us all. Dermot and I have worked together on the Building the Kingdom approach to Catholic education, exploring its themes, attending training and developing the role it will play in ensuring Catholic life is fully embedded across the curriculum. “Dermot’s contribution has been invaluable and he will be missed.”

Angela said: “Dermot has been instrumental in helping our young people understand their new saint tutor groups and how they can learn from them. “He has also been a great support with charity initiatives, whether they be selling cakes, walking the Big Lent Walk with many different classes or joining the Lourdes group on their sponsored walk in Guisborough Woods. “Dermot is always happy to get involved and support our young people as they grow and move along their faith journey. “I’d like to thank Dermot for his support as my line manager, always there to talk things through with and support the development of chaplaincy across our schools.” Although Dermot is leaving NPCAT, we are sure he will continue to support our young people through his work with the Catholic School Inspectorate and wider church community. We hope you will all join us in prayer as we ask God to give Dermot and his family health, love and happiness for the next journey ahead of them. Thank you Dermot.

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STANDARDS

Maths masterclass helps ensure teaching excellence

IT ALL ADDS UP NPCAT is dedicated to providing high-quality education to all of its pupils.

One key way the trust achieves this is by investing in the very best Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for our teachers. This investment ensures they are up to date with the latest teaching techniques and knowledge, which, in turn, helps them provide first-class teaching and learning experiences. Most recently, primary school leaders and teachers were invited to Crathorne Hall in North Yorkshire for a Maths masterclass with Dr Debbie Morgan CBE, who has worked with the Department for Education and is the primary director of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Maths. This day-long training was insightful and inspirational and will enable the school leaders to offer their pupils excellent teaching and learning in mathematics. Primary standards officer Catherine Stott said feedback from the event was extremely positive. “Our leaders appreciated the opportunity to network, collaborate and reflect on their current maths practice,” she said. “As a team, we will build on the day’s success and we already have exciting plans in place to further improve the quality of maths teaching and learning across our schools.” Comments from attendees…

“There was a tangible buzz in the room. A national lead in primary maths and a quality venue – thank you for a brilliant day!”

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“The day allowed us space and time to reflect and begin to plan improvements to our maths curriculum. It was so valuable to hear the rationale behind the mastery approach from Dr Debbie Morgan herself.” “Thank you for the opportunity. Debbie Morgan is a truly inspirational speaker and her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for maths mastery is infectious.” The trust’s commitment to CPD is ongoing, and staff receive an enriching programme specific to each subject. The Primary standards team outline the expectations for all primary schools through its Foundations for Excellence Framework. Assistant chief executive officer Nicky Jamalizadeh said: “The Foundations for Excellence set out our core foundations, which we consider essential in order to achieve an exceptional quality of education.

STANDARDS

“This, coupled with our School Improvement Framework, ensures that schools are delivering the best quality of education to all of our pupils and enables NPCAT lead practitioners to collaborate and share the excellent practice across all schools.” Meanwhile, secondary maths staff across the trust meet every half term to complete Maths CPD focused on the “Five Big Ideas in Teaching for Mastery” set out by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics. These ideas are coherence, representation and structure, mathematical thinking, fluency and variation. We currently have three secondary Teaching for Mastery specialists across the trust who work with our local hub, Archimedes Maths. NPCAT staff are also offered the chance to attend CPD run by the hub. We recently held a lesson study that was open to schools across Middlesbrough who are involved with the hub, as well as NPCAT staff. Trust director of maths Emma Brooksbank taught a lesson to Year 9 pupils at St Peter’s Catholic College, focusing on two of these Big Ideas, mathematical thinking and fluency, and involving the application of known angle facts to geometric problems. After the lesson, Emma held a session to discuss the thinking behind her planning and questioning, with a focus on precise reasoning and use of mathematical vocabulary.

There was also an opportunity for staff to ask questions and share what else is going on in maths classrooms across the town. “This was a valuable opportunity for teachers across the trust – particularly those early on in their careers – to observe a more experienced teacher and discuss the intricacies behind the planning and the reason why the lesson was structured in the way it was,” said Emma. “I look forward to seeing maths across our six secondary schools continue to develop at this high level, ensuring our pupils receive the best, most indepth mathematics education.”

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SPORT

Our young sports champions are perfect role models

LEADING THE WAY

The NPCAT Sport team has delivered training for fantastic “sports leaders” in each of our primary schools. Sports leaders are small groups of key stage two pupils who act as role models and champions for PE, school sport and physical activity (PESSPA), working in partnership with the PE lead and other school staff. These ambassadors came together at a recent Sports Leader Development Day at the Herlingshaw Centre, home of MFC Foundation, to focus in more detail on some of their roles and responsibilities. They took part in workshops based around inter-house competitions, played lunchtime games and looked at key stage one ideas, whole-school physical activity and school sports clubs.

There is a clear focus on teaching and learning with training provided to help increase the confidence, knowledge and skills of all staff, so they can deliver highquality instruction, practice and feedback.

NPCAT Sport is dedicated to providing world-class physical education, sport and physical activities that cater for all.

Throughout our schools, Active January gave way to Fit February and then we arrived at Move More March!

Our mission is to positively impact the lives of all pupils, equipping them with skills and attitudes that will open a world of enjoyment, experience and achievement.

These monthly active calendars encourage all pupils across our NPCAT primary schools to participate in a range of movements and skills designed to increase daily physical activity levels.

The NPCAT Sport Team continues to focus heavily on school improvement, ensuring every primary school provides two hours of high-quality PE every week, from a progressive and ambitious curriculum.

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Finally, we were delighted with the successful outcome St Pius X Catholic Primary after a deep dive into PE in Ofsted’s recent inspection.

SPORT

Congratulations to all the pupils and schools who took part in our latest competitions, especially our winners…

ROLL OF HONOUR Year 3 Boys Cross Country: St Bernadette’s Year 3 Girls Cross Country: St Alphonsus’ Year 4 Boys Cross Country: St Bede’s Year 4 Girls Cross Country: St Augustine’s Year 5 Boys Cross Country: St Bernadette’s Year 5 Girls Cross Country: St Edward’s Year 6 Boys Cross Country: St Edward’s Year 6 Girls Cross Country: St Benedict’s Year 5 Dodgeball (morning): St Benedict’s Year 5 Dodgeball (afternoon): St Mary’s, Grangetown Year 6 Dodgeball (morning): St Benedict’s Year 6 Dodgeball (afternoon): St Augustine’s

Year 5/6 Netball (morning): St Bernadette’s Year 5/6 Netball (afternoon): St Thérèse of Lisieux A special thank you to all our secondary school leaders who have helped officiate our competitions: Dodgeball: St Patrick’s Catholic College Year 8s Cross Country: St Peter’s Catholic College Year 10s Basketball: Trinity Catholic College Year 9s Netball: St Patrick’s Catholic College Year 10s Look out for the daily posts across our NPCAT Sport social media channels:

Year 5/6 Basketball (morning): St Gabriel’s

Twitter: @NPCAT_Sport

Year 5/6 Basketball (afternoon): Christ the King

Facebook: NPCAT Sport Instagram: npcat_sport

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CAREERS

YOU ARE

THE FUTURE NPCAT Futureproof Industry Partnership Board seeks new business partners

Our highly acclaimed Futureproof programme is now developing the FUTUREPROOF Strategic Partnership to offer our pupils even more opportunities. Our careers experts understand that both businesses and schools benefit from working closely together. The board will focus on how businesses and industry can influence the design and delivery of our curriculum, provide work experience and raise awareness of employability and careers for our young people. Collaborating with NPCAT schools provides a wealth of benefits to employers. Not only does it ensure a steady flow of young people interested in pursuing careers in different industries, but it also brings fresh and innovative ideas to businesses. By influencing the curriculum and ensuring that pupils are better prepared for employment, businesses can

bridge the gap between their needs and the skills young people possess. This leads to improved recruitment, greater productivity and reduced training and supervision costs – which can all help businesses reach new heights! But that’s not all. Involving existing employees in the mentoring and supervision of work placements and going into schools not only improves staff morale and encourages their own development and learning, but also demonstrates businesses’ social responsibility and commitment to community engagement. By offering work experience placements, businesses can increase their visibility and attract talented individuals to their sector or profession, ultimately raising their profile and reputation within the community.

To find out more, contact head of careers Lisa Lindo by emailing [email protected]

“For us to keep growing, we need to work alongside schools and school leaders – people who are keen to work, keen to understand existing knowledge and keen to learn brand new knowledge. We are therefore very proud to be supporting the NPCAT Futureproof industry partnership board.”

NPCAT Industry Partnership Board

Dominic Hill, customer quality and technical manager, special profiles at British Steel Industry Partnership

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Board | 1

CAREERS

Theatre company highlights variety of NHS roles Actors from the Performance in Education theatre company treated pupils to an enjoyable and informative show. The performance looked at the range of careers available in the NHS – more than 350 different roles! It also gave an insight into the various qualifications they can gain in post-16 education, including apprenticeships, T levels, A levels and vocational training. There was excellent feedback from both pupils and teachers, with everyone finding it engaging and especially enjoying the audience participation!

Careers events draw employers and educators

Year 9 pupils could engage with a variety of employers, colleges and universities at our informative Careers in Curriculum afternoons. Exhibitors included the armed forces, Teesside University, North East Raising Aspirations Project for Universities, Middlesbrough College and the Northern School of Art, to name just a few. Pupils asked questions about what subjects they should study at GCSE and higher levels, and how they can achieve their job goals. They left armed with lots of knowledge – as well as free pens, books and water bottles!

STEM talk inspires young scientists Year 9 pupils enjoyed an informative talk and presentation from Olivia Waugh, a STEM Ambassador from the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI). Olivia Waugh spoke about her experiences between leaving school and becoming an apprentice scientist. Pupils heard about some of the many apprenticeships available to them, as well as opportunities within CPI. Olivia engaged with the pupils and asked them lots of questions to help them think about issues that might influence their career choices. Based at the Wilton Centre, Redcar, the CPI brings together academia, businesses, government and investors to help bring bright ideas and research to the marketplace.

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Is God calling you to be a priest?

Father Phil Cunnah is one of the youngest priests in the Diocese of Middlesbrough

Would you like to speak to someone about whether God might be calling you to the priesthood? Contact Canon Alan Sheridan, diocesan vocations director, by emailing [email protected] or calling him on 01642 751304.

SERVING THE PARISHES OF:

Brotton, St Anthony of Padua Catterick Garrison, St Joan of Arc Guisborough, St Paulinus Great Ayton, St Margaret Clitherow Helmsley, St Mary Ingleby Barwick, St Thérèse of Lisieux Leyburn, Ss Peter & Paul Loftus, St Joseph and Cuthbert Malton, Ss Leonard & Mary Marske-by-the-Sea, St Bede Middlesbrough, Corpus Christi Middlesbrough, Holy Name Middlesbrough, St Clare of Assisi Middlesbrough, St Francis of Assisi Middlesbrough, St Joseph Middlesbrough, St Mary’s Cathedral Middlesbrough, St Patrick (Sacred Heart) Middlesbrough, St Thomas More North Ormesby, St Alphonsus Nunthorpe, St Bernadette

Ormesby, St Gabriel Pickering, St Joseph Redcar, Blessed Nicholas Postgate (Sacred Heart & St Augustine) Richmond, Ss Joseph & Francis Xavier Saltburn, Our Lady of Lourdes Staithes, Our Lady Star of the Sea Stokesley, St Joseph Teesville, St Andrew’s Parish Thirsk, All Saints Thornaby, Christ The King Thornaby, St Patrick Ulshaw Bridge, Ss Simon & Jude Wycliffe, St Mary Yarm, Ss Mary and Romauld York, English Martyrs York, Our Lady York, St Aelred’s York, St George’s York, St Joseph & St Wilfrid

Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, Postgate House, Saltersgill Avenue, Middlesbrough, TS4 3JP 01642 529200 | npcat.org.uk |[email protected] Chair of the Board: Joe Hughes | CEO: Hugh Hegarty