Newcastle is a City of Sanctuary that welcomes and cares for families that seek safety and refuge from all over the world; at NGA we are proud to be part of a multicultural community of students and their families. In fact, our thriving student community already includes speakers of a huge range of different languages and dialects, including those who have come to our incredible city for safety.

We will be putting all our efforts into ensuring that students who have faced displacement are welcomed, celebrated and given every opportunity to achieve their full potential. As well as this, we see it as incredibly important to educate all our students on the value of community, and the benefits that diversity continues to bring to our city and country.

Being a School of Sanctuary is a wonderful chance for all the children in our care to grow, learn and feel supported on their educational journey.

To read more about schools of Sanctuary, please visit: https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/

Why Order Early?

1. Avoid Last-Minute Rush: Ordering early means you won't be caught in the last-minute scramble. This ensures you have everything you need well before the first day of school. Our approved supplier, Michael Sehgal & Sons Ltd, recommends you place your order before the 1st of July.
2. Guaranteed Availability: Popular sizes and items can sell out quickly. By ordering now, you guarantee that you get the right sizes and styles.
3. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your uniform is sorted gives you one less thing to worry about as the new school year approaches.

Uniform items which do not include a school logo (badge) can be purchased from any retailer as long as they meet our uniform policy standards.

All uniform items with a school logo (badge) and our school coats should be ordered from our approved supplier, Michael Seghal & Sons Ltd.

You can visit their store located at: Unit 17 Airport, Industrial Estate, Kingston Park, Newcastle, NE3 2EF (near to Tesco), where you can also benefit from a measuring and fitting service. Or you can order online at www.michaelsehgal.co.uk/north-gosforth-academy/ You can contact them on 0191 230 2320 or email at sales@michaelsehgal.co.uk. 

Our school and uniform supplier can also help with access to secondhand uniform items.

Please contact us if you need any more information or assistance. We're here to help!

I am writing to introduce a new leadership model across our trust that will help strategic growth and collaboration across our family of schools.

From the start of the summer term, Steve Campbell will become the Executive Headteacher of Jesmond Park Academy and Gosforth Junior High Academy whilst Pete Fox will become Executive Headteacher of North Gosforth Academy and Great Park Academy.

Steve and Pete bring a wealth of experience and a passion for education, and I am confident that they will provide effective strategic leadership to both schools under their direction as well as being an asset to our wider community of schools. They are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and high achievement across the Trust, and they will ensure that the schools fulfil the Trust’s vision.

Each school will also have a ‘Head of School’ who will deal with the day to day running of the school to ensure that it meets its educational objectives and that students continue to thrive.

The following Heads of School have now been appointed:

• Dave Merrifield will become the Head of School of Jesmond Park Academy
• Mark Fryer will become the Head of School of Gosforth Junior High Academy
• Susanna Cooke will become the Head of School of North Gosforth Academy
• Katherine Billingsley will become the Head of School of Great Park Academy

We are delighted that we have such an experienced and talented group of leaders who will work tirelessly to ensure that each school continues to be successful and that all students can reach their potential.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Alexandra Thorp, CEO

Each week we shall display a new art ‘exhibition’, often on themes which are relevant to our school community. One exhibition, for example, is called Identity – ‘Who Am I?’ and explores personal identity through a range of artworks from Frida Kahlo through Napoleon to...Batman! Another is Masterpieces from the National Gallery in London. And there will be plenty of contemporary art and the latest digital art. The initial exhibition is called Overture: Welcome to ‘Sensations’ with art from Van Gogh and Andy Warhol.

Sensations is a resource for the whole school. Teachers and tutor/form group leaders can bring the art into their lessons – they will get an advanced view of the programming. And everybody in the school – including staff and parents - will be invited to make their own versions of the famous art to win prizes and see their creations on screen!

Sensations is produced by the charity Art In Schools.

Enjoy!

Please see the information letter below from the NHA about the Year 9 vaccinations due to happen on 5th February 2025. The letter includes information about the Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) and Tetanus, Diphtheria and Poliomyelitis (Td/IPV) vaccinations, including information on how you give consent or do-not consent for these to happen.

I am pleased to share some good news following our recent Ofsted inspection which took place on 26th and 27th November 2024. We are delighted to report that Ofsted has recognised the significant improvements made at North Gosforth Academy since our last inspection.

The inspection team highlighted the warmth and happiness that permeate our school community, which we believe sets a strong foundation for a bright and exciting future for our young people. We are especially proud that Ofsted noted our inclusive approach, ensuring that every student benefits from a high-quality education at our school.

The report emphasised several key strengths:

• Our students are enjoying a much-improved experience, which is reflected in their positive feedback to Ofsted.
• Our dedicated staff create a calm and purposeful atmosphere throughout the school, where students show respect for one another and take pride in their academic achievements.
• The high expectations we hold for our students' achievements have contributed to the overall improvement in the quality of education.
• The curriculum is not only well-designed but also broad and ambitious, our school is determined that all students should access the same high-quality learning.
• Our commitment to fostering a love of reading has made an impact and the report comments that we are quick to identify and support students who need assistance.
• Our staff are well trained to support our students with SEND and others who may struggle. The report notes how we are quick to identify barriers to learning and work collaboratively to remove them.
• We are committed to ensuring the most vulnerable students achieve well. Our high quality pastoral care has helped to improve behaviour and attendance.
• The involvement of our students in shaping their wider curriculum has been praised, as they appreciate having their voices heard and seeing their suggestions put into practice.

The report acknowledged the effective leadership at North Gosforth Academy. During the inspection, the team commented that we have already identified the areas for improvement in our school improvement plan and that these are being actively addressed. We recognise that there are areas for improvement, particularly in enabling pupils to demonstrate their understanding independently and enhancing their oracy skills during lessons; therefore, we have developed a comprehensive plan to work closely with staff to address these challenges and ensure that all students are well-prepared for their future learning, training, and employment opportunities.

We are pleased to read in the report that our staff feel supported, highly trained, and valued, and we are especially happy to read that our parents and carers views of our school have improved and that they too recognise the improvements we have made since our last inspection.

As we move forward, we remain determined to support our students in creating their futures by providing them with the guidance and resources necessary to succeed. We are fully committed to the continuous development of our school, ensuring that every student leaves North Gosforth Academy with excellent outcomes and every opportunity open to them.

Thank you for your continued support and for being a valued part of our school community. Together, we will ensure that North Gosforth Academy remains a place where every student can thrive.

Warm regards,

Pete Fox | Principal

The evening will be a short presentation about the school followed by an opportunity to meet with staff and some students.

If you would like to attend the information session you will need to call our school reception on 0191 236 1700 to book a space, preferably before the end of the week so we can plan accordingly.

Please note this admissions round is only for children currently in Year 9 at Monkseaton High School or in Year 8 in a North Tyneside middle school.

You can find out more about our school by clicking this link. If you have any other questions in the meantime, please do contact the school at admin@northgosforth.co.uk or 0191 236 1700.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes,

Pete Fox

Principal

Two groups of students each worked on their own projects to plan activities of their choice. The first group visited Jump Giants, while the second group honed their skills on the racetrack at TopGear Karting. We have truly enjoyed having Karissa with us to lead the project and provide our students with a fantastic opportunity to develop both group and individual skills.

Please note the date has changed and these flu vaccinations will now take place on Friday 13th December 2024.

Inspection of North Gosforth Academy by Ofsted

We have just told your child's school that we will inspect it on 26 November 2024. The lead inspector will be Hannah Millett, HMI. We are writing to you because we would like to know what you think about the school. Please take a few minutes to read the leaflet that came with this letter. It explains why we inspect schools and what happens during an inspection.

Your views about the school are important to us

If you are a registered parent or carer of a pupil at the school (including pupils on sick leave or who are temporarily excluded), you can tell us your views about the school by completing Ofsted's online survey, Ofsted Parent View, at: https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk.

Ofsted Parent View asks for your opinion on some aspects of your child's school, including the progress made by your child, the quality of teaching, how the school deals with bullying and poor behaviour. It also provides a free-text box for you to make additional comments, if you wish. The inspectors will use the online survey responses when inspecting your child's school. Written comments can also be sent to the school in a sealed envelope, marked confidential and addressed to the inspection team.

To register your views, you will need to provide your email address, which will be held securely. It will not be used for any purpose other than providing access to the online survey. Neither schools nor Ofsted will have access to any email addresses.

Please complete the online survey by 11am on 26 November 2024 as this will give the inspection team more time to consider your views. However, we will consider all online responses that are completed during the inspection, although the free-text box facility will not be available after noon on 27 November 2024.

Speaking to an inspector

If you are unable to complete the online survey, it may be possible to speak to an inspector during the inspection, for instance at the start of the school day, or to pass on messages to the inspectors if you are unable to speak to them in person. Inspection administrators will be happy to make the necessary arrangements. If concerns are raised about child protection, we may have to pass the information we receive to social services or the police. You can contact the administrators on 0300 013 1759. Inspectors will be pleased to receive your comments, but cannot deal with complaints about individual pupils or settle disputes between you and the school.

Gathering personal information on inspection

Inspectors will gather any personal information necessary to assist them in inspecting a school. Our privacy policy sets out what personal information we collect, what we do with it, how long we keep it and individuals' rights under data protection legislation. The contact details for Ofsted's Data Protection Officer are: Email - informationrequest@ofsted.gov.uk; Post - Information management team, Ofsted, 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6EH.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the online survey.

Yours faithfully

Charlie Soteriou

Inspection support administrator

The Gosforth Group follows the Department for Education's School Admissions Code (September 2021). As part of this Code, we consult on admissions arrangements whenever there is a change which requires consultation and at least once every seven years, even if there is no change.

Proposed changes for 2026 include amendments to the criteria used for determining admissions to Gosforth Group Academies and changes to the Published Admission Number for Great Park and Callerton Academies (following a move from temporary to permanent accommodation). There is also a proposed change to the Published Admissions Number for the Sixth Forms at Gosforth and Jesmond Park Academies to accommodate increased student numbers across Gosforth Group Academies.

This consultation process provides an opportunity for stakeholders to comment on the proposed changes. The consultation process will run for six weeks (not including school holidays) starting on Monday 25 November 2024 and closing on Monday 20 January 2025. At the end of the consultation period, responses will be considered and the final admission arrangements will be 'determined' by the Board of Trustees. The admission arrangements must be determined by 28 February 2025 and published by 15 March 2025.

Should you wish to participate in the consultation, please forward any comments regarding our proposed 2026 Admissions Policies to admissionsconsultation@gosforthgroup.org.uk

As I come to the end of my first two weeks as CEO of the Gosforth Group, I wanted to write to formally introduce myself to you and to welcome you back to the new school year. It is an absolute privilege to be leading the Gosforth Group MAT. Our schools already provide an extremely high level of education for all our students and the dedication of all staff, both in schools and in the central team, is clear to see. This is a firm foundation from which we can grow and develop, so that we provide all our students with the best life chances possible.

This term, we will be strengthening the links across our schools, providing opportunities for staff and students to collaborate and develop. We will be reviewing and improving the consistency of our communication to you as parents and carers to ensure that, no matter which school your children attend, you understand the routines, systems and expectations of the trust. We welcome your views and thoughts on how we can get even better and will provide opportunities for you to share these ideas and contribute to our future development.

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of visiting the new buildings for Callerton and Great Park. Both sites are progressing quickly with visible classroom areas and corridors beginning to take shape. I know that there have been frustrations with the delays, however, I saw first hand the speed at which the schools are coming together. They will create some amazing teaching and learning spaces for our students and staff.

Good attendance will remain a focus across all our schools this year. We will work with you to help remove any barriers to attendance. It is so important for all children to be in school regularly and on time.

This is an exciting time in the development of the Gosforth Group. I look forward to keeping you updated on the developments and achievements in the weeks and months ahead.

Dr. Alexandra Thorp

CEO

School Open Evening for students and families wanting to join us in Year 7 from September 2025.

Wednesday 25th September, 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

You will shortly be embarking on the process of confirming your choice of secondary school for your child and we would be delighted to give you the opportunity to visit North Gosforth Academy and discuss why this is the right school for you and your child.

We would like to offer you a formal opportunity to come to North Gosforth Academy on Wednesday 25th September between 5.30pm-7.30pm. There is no need to book an appointment. There will be a presentation from the Principal, a chance to look around the school and a variety of workshops held by our pupils. The Principal’s presentation will take place in the Theatre at 5.30pm and will be repeated at 6.30pm.

Come along to learn about our ethos, values, curriculum, and the opportunities we create for our students. As part of Gosforth Group, in addition to the first-class education we provide our students from Year 7, post-GCSE, we offer a seamless progression onto studying A Levels and BTECs at Gosforth Academy and Jesmond Park Academy.

At our Open Evening, you can immerse yourself in our school community, see our facilities, meet our teaching/support staff, and engage in conversations with our students.

What to expect:

• Meet our Principal
• Opportunity to tour the school
• Listen to musical performances
• Talk to our students
• Observe departmental activities
• Principal's school presentation

If you would prefer to make an individual appointment, please inform us by contacting the school office on 0191 236 1700 or via email on admin@northgosforth.co.uk, and we will arrange a time to suit you – either on the 25th or on another day which suits you better. Many parents do this and we are always happy to make ourselves available at a mutually convenient time.

Admission to our school is overseen by the North Tyneside Local Authority. To secure a place for your child, you must apply for a secondary school place by the deadline of 31st October 2024. For more information on the application process, please click on the Admissions links below. We are here to guide you through every step of the process.