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K Theobald | Northgate High School
Max B who is part of the Northgate News Team, decided to interview Mr Oldfield, who is Head of Religious Studies and Citizenship as well as being Laboratory School Coordinator. Here’s what he had to say in response to Max’s questions:
What do you enjoy the most about being a Head of Department?
It gives me the opportunity to talk to other people – staff, students and parents – about things I find incredibly fascinating and help them learn about them.
Why do you think subjects like RE and Citizenship are important for young people today?
Our individual lives are impacted by those around us, and we impact other people; it’s up to us to ensure these happen in a positive way. RE and Citizenship
What’s your favourite topic to teach in RE or Citizenship?
It’s not so much that I have a favourite topic, but rather that any topic can come alive when the students grasp it. As a teacher, I’m always looking to make the topics come alive.
What qualities make a good RE or Citizenship student?
Inquisitive and thoughtful; wanting to find out more about other people, and wanting to think deeply about their own point of view.
What’s the most rewarding part of being a teacher?
Seeing students succeed.
What skills do students gain from RE and Citizenship that they might not realise?
Communication skills; the importance of listening to others and being able to express yourself clearly in response.
What do you enjoy doing outside of school?
I have a fantastic family with whom I love spending time. I thoroughly enjoy watching movies, and also playing bass guitar and acoustic guitar.
What’s a book, film, or documentary that has influenced the way you think?
The Bible.
If you weren’t a teacher, what career do you think you’d have chosen?
I was always going to be a teacher!
What’s a fun or unexpected fact about you?
I was born in Scotland
How do you think school subjects like RE and Citizenship help create better citizens?
It asks subjects to think about how they relate and react to people around them, and encourages them to be inquisitive.
Describe Northgate in 3 words.
A. Great. Place.
Do you support any sports teams?
I was brought up in Bolton, in the North West of England, so Bolton Wanderers are my football team.
What has been the biggest change you’ve seen in students since becoming Head of Department?
I became Head of Department in 2007, the same year the iPhone came out. Social Media, and its impact on students is DEFINITELY the biggest change I’ve seen. But that might be a whole other interview!
What do you hope students remember about your lessons when they leave school?
“Mr O cared about how well I did.”
Who was a teacher or role model that inspired you when you were younger, and why?
Teacher – my physics teacher who showed me that even if things are difficult, there is always a way to get better at it!
My parents – they taught me that how you treat other people really matters.
Thank you to Mr Oldfield for taking the time to answer Max’s questions. We always look forward to finding out a bit more about our teaching staff and support staff at Northgate. We look forward to the next interview.
Karolina is a new member of the Orchard Committee this academic year and has thrown herself into lots of different activities so far. Here’s what she had to say when she was asked about being a member of the Orchard Committee.
Why did you want to join the Orchard Committee?
I thought that it would be really fun for me and i also thought it would help nature. thought that it would be good for the environment and it would help me and my friends to get outside more and that it would be a pleasant experience.
What have you done so far?
So far we have built a planter and we helped prepare seeds and then planted them, we have helped clean up some of the Orchard by raking leaves and turning compost. We have also made seed balls for the birds!
Why do you think it is important for students to work outside and be with nature?
Because there is so much technology that kids are glued to and its good to take a break from that and go outside.
Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to doing as an Orchard Committee member?
We look forward to planting seeds in the ground and seeing our plants grow over time.
What is it like working with students from other year groups as part of the Orchard Committee?
They are all very kind and reassuring to all the younger years contributing to the Orchard Committee.
What do you like most about The Orchard that you have seen so far?
We like the fact that there is a stage and they have lights for when it gets dark and also how there is so many planters made by other students, we find it very inspiring.
Why do you think others should get involved in the activities at Orchard Committee meetings?
It helps you get outside more and that makes you happier.
Do you have any advice that you think will be of use as an Orchard Committee member?
Listen to what the adults tell you and be respectful to others and the area and you will have a wonderful time.
Would you recommend the Orchard Committee to you friends and if so, why?
Yes, because it would be a fun social experience to have and you will make great memories with them and have a positive impact on nature.
Karolina then decided to interview Miss Theobald, who heads up the Orchard Committee.
Why did you start the Orchard Committee?
I was given the opportunity to work with some Green Influencers in the school – specially chosen students to work on an environment based project of their choice. We decided to create a wildflower area on the field which is still there now and offers lots of colour in the spring and summer.
The Heads of School then told me there was an outdoor area of the school which could be developed and asked if my team wanted to work on it and that was the start of the Orchard Committee. We have been working on the area since about January 2023, with our official opening in June 2023. We have been awarded grants by both the Ernest Cook Trust and Norfolk County Council to help fund the project. We have won the Young People’s Achievement Award at the Norfolk Community Biodiversity Award in 2024 and were runners up at the Bishop of Norwich First Nature Awards in 2023. Along the way, students have also gained the Bronze and Silver Green Tree Schools Award with the Woodland Trust and the RSPB’s Bronze Wild Challenge Award.
What inspired you to run the Orchard Committee?
Seeing how much students can learn by being outside. It’s very different to my role as a Maths teacher so it was a new and exciting challenge for me. I like to give students different opportunities and to see them enjoy nature. Also it’s a chance for me to learn too – I have discovered a real love for nature and in particular wild flowers as a result.
What’s your favourite part of The Orchard?
I like seeing the wild flower area and also I like the butterflies and bees that visit. Spring time is my favourite when our seeds start to germinate and the flowers start to appear. The hard work starts to pay off.
What do you enjoy most about doing the Orchard Committee meetings?
Seeing how much fun the students and also working towards different awards. I have enjoyed having the opportunity to get out side and start to make a real difference .
What has been your favourite activity in The Orchard?
There have been so many, it’s difficult to choose! I would say I am pretty proud of the bug mansion that we constructed, called ‘Bugingham Palace.’ I have enjoyed helping students construct the potting tables and learning new skills in doing so. We have lots of exciting projects in the pipeline and are hoping to get some visitors in too so watch this space!
We are pleased to introduce our January bulletin. In our New Year bulletin this month there’s a Cross Country roundup, interview with a spelling bee champion, Christmas card and bauble competition winners, SPARX Maths stars, updates from the Library and much more.
We hope that you are able to take some time to have a look at all the goings on at Northgate from the last month and enjoy seeing what we’ve been up to. Please share with your friends and family via our Facebook and twitter pages.
Miss Theobald (School Council Coordinator) + Northgate School Council.
Pera, Year 8, from our Northgate News Team, decided she wanted to interview Mrs Chapman, who teachers RE and Citizenship Here’s what she had to say in response to her questions.
Describe Northgate in 3 words
Fun, challenging and engaging.
What is the best thing about being a teacher?
The eureka moment.
If you didn’t teach RE and Citizenship, which subject would you most like to teach and why?
Psychology, because I am interested in how people think.
Have you had any other jobs apart from being a teacher?
No
What is your favourite topic to teach and why?
Medical ethics- I enjoy discussing issues linked to the world around me.
Did you have a teacher at school that really inspired you?
No
What hobbies do you have outside of school?
Yoga and Pilates
Quick Fire Questions:
Autumn or winter? Autumn
Classroom discussion or quiet writing time? Classroom discussion
Cats or dogs? Dogs
City break or beach vacation? Beach vacation
Read minds or be invisible? Be invisible
Have a rewind button or a pause button in life? Pause button in life
Book or movie? Book
Pizza or pasta? Pasta
Group work or independent task? Group work
Thank you to Mrs Chapman for taking the time to answer Pera’s questions. We always look forward to finding out a bit more about our teaching staff and support staff at Northgate. We look forward to the next interview.
Jacob, Year 7, from our Northgate News Team, decided he wanted to interview Mrs Woods, Head of Computer Science. Here’s what she had to say in response to his questions.
What do you like about teaching computer science?
I like that it is innovative and creative. It inspires students to ask questions about technology, and it links well with my own interests and how I choose to spend my life.
What is your favourite book and why?
At the moment, I am listening to the audiobook The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, the second book in the series. It’s similar in feel to The Lord of the Rings and is a fantastic piece of fantasy fiction, which is why I enjoy it. I also like books by Dan Brown and have recently finished reading The Secrets of Secrets.
If you could build any LEGO set, what would it be and why?
I would build a LEGO Technic set of an oil rig, although it doesn’t exist yet—I’d love to design it myself. I’d also like to build the large LEGO T-REX dinosaur and the motorised lighthouse.
If computer science were never a thing, what would you want to teach?
I would love to teach engineering or Archeology.
Is it true you used to be a scuba-diving instructor, and what did you like about it?
Yes. I enjoyed it because I loved the technology involved, and I remember being one of the first people to use a dive computer. What I missed most, though, was teaching and using teaching skills when I stopped diving—so that’s ultimately why I became a teacher.
You used to have a job as an English teacher. What was your favourite thing about it?
I loved teaching the English language because it was my second language. I wanted to learn it well and teach it well. I was fascinated by grammar patterns, which is also why I enjoy the logic in computing.
What would you want to change about computer science?
I would like to have time for teaching more lessons across the KS3 year groups, so I can better share my love of computing.
Quick Fire Questions:
Crisps or peanuts? Peanuts
Movie or show? Movie
Car or train? Car
Cake or scone? Scone
Sweets or chocolate? – neither as I would have sherberts
Skin on or skin off chicken? Skin on
Keyboard or voice? Voice
Thank you to Mrs Woods for taking the time to answer Jacob’s questions. We always look forward to finding out a bit more about our teaching staff and support staff at Northgate. We look forward to the next interview.
Max B who is part of the Northgate News Team, decided to interview Mr Oldfield, who is Head of Religious Studies and Citizenship as well as being Laboratory School Coordinator. Here’s what he had to say in response to Max’s questions:
Pera, Year 8, from our Northgate News Team, decided she wanted to interview Mrs Chapman, who teachers RE and Citizenship Here’s what she had to say in response to her questions.
Jacob, Year 7, from our Northgate News Team, decided he wanted to interview Mrs Woods, Head of Computer Science. Here’s what she had to say in response to his questions.