Last week we held assemblies focused on the concerning events in Ukraine. We know many of our students have been following events closely and are concerned about how the situation is unfolding. In response to this, the assembly focused on the following

• The facts that have led to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• The response from NATO and the UK government
• The humanitarian crisis as over a million Ukrainians flee their country and the positive response from neighbouring countries
• The need to find credible and reliable sources that report developments
• Suggested strategies for managing our own mental health
• Signposting sources of support
• The importance of kindness in the way we lead our own lives

We are aware that donation centres are an alternative method of support and are happy to act as a donation centre. We will then liaise with a local charity to ensure that goods are transported to areas where there is need. Any donations from this list can be dropped by students at Student Support before school by Friday 11 March.

The letter issued to all Parents/Carers can be read in full here

The King Edward VI School Under 18’s visited Newcastle School for boys yesterday for a 7 a side rugby tournament. They overcame NSB, Dame Allan’s and Bede Academy to win the tournament.

Well done to all involved and thank you to Mr Short and Mr Rhodes for their support!

There are lots of activities going on in school this week to celebrate World Book Day. Students will receive a Book Token in their English lessons and they can trade these in at school for a free book (or use them at a participating book shop).

Our staff are sharing their favourite reads with students in assembly, to show that reading is a life-long passion and is central to our learning and development.

Students and staff are battling it out in our annual ‘Shelfie’ Competition. Take part here – all you need to do is try to name the member of staff who might own that bookshelf. Prizes on offer for our winners.

Our Book Quiz also returns for students – do you really think you know your stuff when it comes to books? Take the quiz here. More prizes to be won.

Self Isolation:  Staff and students are still required to self isolate for 5+ days following a positive LFT. The advice from the UK Health Security Agency outlines this position:

• “Children and young people with COVID-19 should not attend their education setting while they are infectious. They should take an LFD test from 5 days after their symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms) followed by another one the next day. If both these tests results are negative, they should return to their educational setting if they normally attend one, as long as they feel well enough to do so and do not have a temperature. They should follow the guidance for their educational setting.”
• “Children and young people who usually attend an education or childcare setting and who live with someone who has COVID-19 should continue to attend the setting as normal.”

This guidance is unchanged from the end of the last half term, and we will continue to follow these measures until the Easter holiday, unless the national picture changes.

The letter from Mr Simon Taylor CEO can be read in full here

Lauren Gilhom, A-level Art & Design/Photography class of 2020, has been awarded the prestigious Michael Ormerod Photography Travel Award. Lauren is currently studying Photography at Newcastle University and is the first ever Level 4 student to win the award. Lauren pitched her photo-shoot proposal to the panel of judges, including all the financial and logistics involved, and created the artwork during Summer 2021 in Scotland. We are all very proud of Lauren on her achievement and look forward to seeing the work in person in her exhibition at Mandela Gallery, Newcastle University, 21 February to 7 March.

Since October half term students have been permitted, as a result of Covid measures, to wear outdoor coats inside the building. We are now in a position where guidance states all windows no longer have to be open all of the time and the temperature in school is such that outdoor coats are no longer required.  

Therefore following the half term break we will be returning to our usual uniform policy as outlined below. Overall we are extremely pleased with the standard of uniform worn by our students and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support. Full uniform information can be found on page 16 of our Parent Handbook, however, we would like to clarify our policy regarding a number of persistent issues.

To read the letter in full please click here

Former student Amy Stokoe, has been racing in Italy on her first year as an FIS Athlete in Giant Slalom and Slalom. She has competed in races in Alpe Cermis and Santa Caterina in December and in Bormio in January.
She placed 9th in Slalom in Bormio in the Scottish Championships and 18th in Giant Slalom in Santa Caterina at the Ambition FIS Championships. Her FIS points currently stand at 114.63 in Giant Slalom and 117.94 in Slalom.
Her goal is to get below 100 points in order to be selected for the GB squad.

Amy will be going to Bormio for the English Alpine Championships where she will be representing the England Alpine Squad. She hopes to be racing in Andorra in March and in the British Alpine Championships in France.

Well done Amy and good luck.

This afternoon our Year 10 Rugby team took on Scarborough College for a place in the quarter finals of the U15 National Cup.

Despite the tough opposition, the team came together and walked away with a huge win. Tries from Aidan Moody (who also added two conversions and a penalty), Alfie Taggart (who captained the team) and Benjamin Hope, sent the team into the next round. Ayhan Yilmaz picked up the Player of the Match award for his attacking and defensive display.

The boys will play Sandbach School next Wednesday for a place in the semi-finals.

Congratulations to all the players on a fantastic win.

RESULT: KING EDWARDS VI SCHOOL 24 SCARBOROUGH COLLEGE 10

Tries: Aidan Moody, Alfie Taggart, Ben Hope
Cons: Aidan Moody (2), Ben Hope (1)
Pens: Aidan Moody (1)
Player of the Match: Ayhan Yilmaz

On Wednesday 26 January, ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, Year 9 students took part in an event where they heard Holocaust survivor Eva Clarke BEM share her family’s testimony.

The students heard about the family’s experiences in pre war Prague, what life was like under Nazi occupation and finally, what persecution they faced in the concentration camps such as Auschwitz. Eva described how her mother became pregnant whilst awaiting transportation to Auschwitz and concealed her pregnancy until a few weeks before her labour. In early April 1945, Eva’s mother was sent to Mauthaussen concentration camp on an open air coal waggon where she started to give birth to Eva. Eva was born on the 29th April 1945. If her mother had arrived in the camp one day earlier, it is very likely that she would have been killed. The day before Eva’s mother arrived in the camp, the Nazis had run out of gas and so Anka and Eva survived and were liberated on 5th May 1945.

The students taking part in this event behaved in a very respectful and mature manner and demonstrated their gratitude to Eva by giving her a standing ovation.