Our Summer extra-curricular sports clubs timetable is now available to view, please click here for further details of activities for all students!
St Mary’s has School Direct Initial Teacher Training places available in Maths, English, Art and MFL. If you are interested, we recommend that you attend the Trinity North East information event which will offer you the opportunity to meet local schools and training providers in North East England.
Students from Year 7 to 13 took us back to the 1950s with their feel-good production of Grease before half term. Students worked incredibly hard to put together an energetic, funny and dynamic performance of the well loved musical. Students willingly attended rehearsals after school and at weekends to prepare for this and we would like to thank them for their dedication and enthusiasm. As well as having fun, students developed their knowledge of stagecraft, working together across the different year groups and they had the opportunity to develop their skills as performers.
The musical brought together many different departments; Performing Arts, Music, Art and Design and Technology who all worked hard to bring the students hard work together. Live music accompanied the show performed by a talented group of musicians made up of staff and students. The audience were surprised with a cameo performance from some of the staff which went down very well each night!
Everyone is looking forward to getting started again ready for next year’s whole school musical!
Miss Stearman (Head of Drama)
GCSE History students in Year 10 travelled to the First World War Battlefields of Belgium and France in February 2015. Students visited battlefields, memorials and cemeteries in the Ypres Salient area of Belgium, as well as visiting notable sights in the Somme area of France. Students also laid a wreath as part of the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres. It proved a memorable and very moving visit for students and staff and was particularly significant as it took place during the centenary commemorations of the Great War. The students were an absolute credit to their families and our school. This visit will be led annually in the spring term for Year 10 students who are studying GCSE History.
St Mary’s travelled to Tyneside Badminton Centre to take part in the Sainsbury’s School Games on Thursday 15th January.
The A team consisted of Callum Larmouth, Sam Bird, Sam Walker, Kieron Dixon, and Michael Ngnie. Callum and Kieran faced very tough situations in game 1 against RGS, drawing the top seeds, but both gave it their all throughout and played with fantastic attitudes. Sam Bird and Sam Walker competed well, narrowly losing 21-18. In the second round of doubles Sam Bird and Kieran Dixon paired together, with Callum and Sam Walker making up the other pairing. Both pairs unfortunately couldn’t contend with the much more experienced RGS players, losing 21-4 and 21-6 respectively.
Game 2 was played against Gosforth Academy, and was a much closer affair. Sam Bird and Michael Ngnie played well as a pair, losing 21-8. Callum Larmouth performed well again, but again came up against a much more experienced player who was ultimately too good. Sam Walker was competitive throughout his match, losing 21-10 but playing some fantastic shots to test his opponent. The doubles matches were both close games, but the St Mary’s pairings were unable to get their first point on the board.
Game 3 vs Heaton Manor. Sam Walker played brilliantly in his singles, narrowly losing 21-18. Each doubles game showed a big improvement from the earlier fixtures, with teamwork and communication much improved. Despite these improvements St Mary’s again lost each doubles match.
The B team consisted of Kevin Okoh, Reece Monaghan, Jack Ferguson, Matthew Wilson. Playing Benfield in Game 1, St Mary’s performed well, and kept the games close throughout. Despite not winning a game the largest margin of defeat was 10 points, showing how hard the St Mary’s team worked to push their opponents.
Game 2 vs Heaton Manor was very similar, with each St Mary’s player pushing their opponents, but being unable to steal the first point for the team. Reece Monaghan and Jack Ferguson staged a brilliant fightback, coming back from 12-2, to 19-17 but couldn’t quite finish the job, losing 21-17.
The final game pitted A team against B team, with the A team coming out on top 5-1, despite each game being close. The pick of the games was between Sam Bird and Reece. With the lead changing hands several times in the game, Sam eventually came out on 21-19.
The lads were fantastic all day, facing much more experienced players but maintaining their composure and sportsmanship even in defeat. Sam Walker was the star of the day, competing well and showing real talent for the game. The team spirit between the group was brilliant to see, and was complimented by several of the other members of staff present.
Mr Hook (PE Teacher)
The Year 7 and 8 Boys competed in the Emerging Schools Rugby Festival at Bullocksteads sports ground on a wet day perfectly suited to some muddy rugby!
The Year 8 Team played fantastically well, and finished top of their group, winning two games and drawing one. Some outstanding attacking rugby was on display, with Ross Ward running in 6 tries in the 3 games and scoring all of St Mary’s points. It was by no means a one man show however, with terrific tackling and leadership on show from Charlie and Isaac Kain, Ollie Edgar and Matthew Brown.
The Year 7 Team had an inexperienced side, with several players being new to the game. Even in defeat they were able to gain a good taste of playing competitive rugby, with Nathan Challiner in particular, impressing in his first ever game by showing skills well beyond his level of experience.
All of the boys showed a tremendous attitude throughout the day, in what were some very testing weather conditions – Mr Bone and I could have been easily mistaken for players, we were that wet!
Year 8 Team (pictured) – Isaac Kain, Jack Dennison Thompson, Asif Khan, Charlie Kain, Matthew Brown, Josh Scott, Matthew Sheerin, Dan Meyer, Ross Ward, Ayo Oni, Harry Nesbitt, Ollie Edgar.
Year 7 Team – Alexander Histead, Adrian Atkinson, Sabaen Lanagan, Jamie Mundy, Jake Barlow, Owen Armstrong, Ben Jubb, Nathon Challoner, Adam Butcher, Harry Buggy, Giacomo Kasar, Nathan Parsons.
[wooslider id=”1123″]
Mr Hook (PE Teacher)
St Mary’s attended the English Schools’ Swimming Association Championships today. Performances were strong across the group, with all students involved swimming well.
The Year 8 Girls’ team did well to finish in the top 3 in their Medley heat, with great swims from Anna Hodgson, Rebecca Scott, Ellen O’Brien and Emilia Keavine. The Year 10/11 Girls stormed to victory in their Medley heat, winning comfortably by several lengths with Sofija Melnik, Sian Martin, Niamh Hall and Sophie Martin really unlucky to just miss out on a medal.
The stars of the day were the Year 11 Boys’ Team. Jonathan Gray, Jack McConnell, Joe Taylor and Zak Logue performed brilliantly in both the 200m Medley and the 200m Freestyle, dominating their heats and just missing out on the trophy. They finished 2nd overall, in both races and left with well-deserved silver medals, as a result.
The entire group acquitted themselves brilliantly from start to finish, and their attitudes and effort throughout, were a credit to the school!
Students competing included:
| Year 7/8 Boys | Year 8 Girls |
| Joshua Collinson | Anna Hodgson |
| Toby Caisley | Rebecca Scott |
| Adam Hastings | Ellen O’Brien |
| Tom Orr | Emilia Keavine |
| Year 7 Girls | Year 10/11 Girls |
| Leah Martin | Sofija Melnik |
| Lily Hall | Sian Martin |
| Lily Young | Niamh Hall |
| Hannah Crowdy | Sophie Martin |
| Thea Cowie | Year 11 Boys |
| Grace Taylor | Jonathan Gray |
| Jessica Stephenson | Jack McConnell |
| Becki Park | Joe Taylor |
| Zak Logue |
Mr Hook (PE Teacher)
St Mary’s Year 7 football team welcomed Excelsior for a first round City Cup match on the 1st of October. Ben Jubb scored an early strike from the edge of the area to get St Mary’s off to a fantastic start. Jack Pilling scored a well worked second, before Jubb added his second of the day with a screamer from outside the box, arrowed into the top corner leaving the opposition GK no chance. The defence was solid throughout the game with Damon Baghi, John Carr and Thomas Storey covering each other well. Jack Emmerson then scored a poachers goal, following up a well saved shot by the Excelsior keeper. A fantastic through ball from Jack Pilling then set up Connor Milne and he finished well at the near post.
After the half time, a terrific move ended with Jake Barlow hammering the bar from distance. Another well struck shot from Barlow beat the keeper to make it 5-0. Kieran Harrison was impressing in the St Mary’s goal, with a smart save from an Excelsior counter attack preserving the clean sheet. He was again called into action with another good save at his near post minutes later. Excelsior managed a consolation goal with a fine free kick from distance proving just out of reach for Harrison in the St Mary’s goal. Ben Jubb completed his hat-trick with 5 minutes to go with another long range strike flying in the top corner. Matthew Dyter and Damon Baghi added late goals completing a fine victory for St Mary’s, ending comfortable winners 8-1.
Thanks again to Johnnie Gray for refereeing the game.
Team
GK – Keiron Bell
LB – Damon Baghi
CB – John Carr
RB – Thomas Storey
CM – Ethan Kortenbach
CM – Jack Pilling
RW – Sam Lievesley
LW – Ben Jubb
CF – Sabaean Lanagan
Substitutes
Jake Barlow
Keiran Harrison
Toby Caisley
Jack Emmerson
Connor Milne
Matthew Dyter
[wooslider id=”1069″]
Mr Hook (PE Teacher)
