Miss Thomas mainly teaches at Dereham Sixth Form, teaching Sociology, Psychology and Law, however this year she is also teaching Citizenship to a number of Year 7 groups. Jacob B, Year 7, who is part of the Northgate News Team decided to find out a bit more about Miss Thomas. Here’s what she had to say in response to his questions:
Did you have any jobs or experiences before you became a teacher, if you did what were they and what did you like about them?
Before I became a teacher, I was a therapist working in schools, helping young people and their families with common mental health concerns. I liked working with such a wide variety of young people. I of course enjoyed feeling like I was making a difference in people’s lives, but I also loved how much I learnt from all of the young people I worked with – particularly about how resilient people can be!
What do you like about teaching at Northgate and Sixth Form?
I have been really lucky that I have been able to teach a variety of different subjects – all of which I am really passionate about! I also therefore love that I get to work with a wide variety of students who often also share the same enthusiasm for the subjects as me! I therefore get to have really insightful conversations with students around really interesting topics.
Describe Northgate in 3 words?
Welcoming, vibrant and dynamic.
Do you have any hobbies or interests?
I have recently taken up the hobby of playing squash! When I was younger I never really found a sport I like, but I love how fast paced squash is.
Northgate loves its books, what’s your favourite?
My favourite book I have ever read has to be Catching Fire from the Hunger Games franchise.
Quick fire questions
Chocolate or sweets – Chocolate!
Summer or winter – Summer
Train or plane – Train
Tea or coffee – Tea (with a good number of biscuits)
Citizenship or criminology – That is a tricky one! I love both subjects and think they are both equally important for learning about society – but who doesn’t like learning about serial killers? So it might have to be Criminology.
Thomas, Year 8, is part of the Northgate News Team. He decided to interview Mr Collyer from the Maths Department. Mr Collyer joined Northgate in September 2024 and recently organised the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge. Here’s what he had to say in response to Thomas’ questions.
What made you want to become a teacher? I taught English in France. The students responded really well to me so as soon as I got back to England I knew it was what I needed to do.
Describe Northgate in 3 words?
Academic, Inclusive, Busy
What was your favourite subject at school apart from Maths?
Music
What do you enjoy doing outside of school? I enjoy playing golf and watching horror movies.
What is your favourite topic to teach and why?
Quadratics and non linear graphs. The topics go beyond CGSE and can be abstract and contextual in real life. They use lots of different Maths skills too.
If you weren’t a teacher, what job do you think you’d be doing? I would be a guitarist in a heavy metal band!
What’s a fun or surprising fact about you?
I play the drums, guitar and sing a little bit
Quick fire questions:
Pizza or burger?
Guitar or drums?
Golf or horror movies?
Ferrari or Red Bull?
Movie or TV series?
Maths or English?
Coffee or tea?
Thank you to Mr Collyer for taking the time to answer Thomas’ questions. We look forward to finding out about the next member of staff.
We are pleased to introduce our February bulletin. In our bulletin this month we are celebrating lots of successes of our students. There’s updates about upcoming events and competitions and some great pictures of work from the Art and Design Department.
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.
We were proud to recently hear of some successes with Northgate students who are part of 1249 Dereham Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets. They held an annual presentation evening where Dereham Town Mayor Cllr Ray O’Callaghan and Cllr Hugh King handed out trophies and awards.
Congratulations to Amelia B (Year 10) who won Best Junior Cadet and was promoted from Cadet to Corporal. She said, ‘I feel very happy and grateful that I got chosen for the award. I enjoy the activities and learning things that I wouldn’t in school. I have developed skills like communication and leadership during my time at cadets.’
Congratulations also to James A (Year 11) who won the award for Best effort in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and was also promoted from Cadet to Corporal.
Congratulations to Malachi B (Year 11) who was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant.
Final, congratulations to Jude B (Year 10) who won the Cadets’ Cadet Award and the Tracey Allan Shield as well as being promoted from Corporal to Sergeant.
Jude answered some questions related to his experiences in the Air Cadets.
When did you first join the Air Cadets, and what made you want to sign up?
I joined cadets two years ago during the autumn term, after my old football team disbanded. I was in search of something that would not only capture my attention but also my devotion. Similar to football I was welcomed to the cadets “team” as soon as I stepped through the door, cadets also offered more opportunities for my future.
What new responsibilities do you now have as a Sergeant that you didn’t have as a Corporal?
Since being promoted from Corporal to Sergeant in the Air Cadets, I now have greater leadership responsibilities. I support and supervise junior cadets, help lead training activities, and ensure standards are maintained. I am also expected to set a positive example, make decisions more independently, and assist in the smooth running of the squadron.
Which skills have you developed the most during your time in the Cadets? Teaching. I was given the role of teaching the new T-flight from the September entry, although I was second in command, I found myself taking more responsibility in this role teaching myself at the same time, in terms of classroom management and learning, but also leadership and confidence in front of an audience.
What’s been your proudest moment in the Air Cadets so far?
My proudest moment was when I had the opportunity to go flying. Once up in the air with the pilot, I was given control and had the chance to perform aerobatics by myself, including a loop, multiple barrel rolls and a stall turn. This was the proudest moment for me because I was given the controls and overcame the fear and did it anyway.
Do you have any future goals within the Air Cadets? As for further goals I only aspire to teach and help others gain the opportunity I have so they too, can find themselves learning new skills and develop their personalities, that will not only help now but for their future as well.
What qualities do you think make a good Sergeant?
I think there are many factors a SGT should bring to the squadron but here’s a few:
Leadership – able to guide, motivate, and support others.
Responsibility – reliable and accountable for actions and decisions
Communication – gives clear instructions and listens to others.
Confidence – able to take charge when needed without being overbearing.
Teamwork – works well with staff and other cadets.
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!
Miss Thomas mainly teaches at Dereham Sixth Form, teaching Sociology, Psychology and Law, however this year she is also teaching Citizenship to a number of Year 7 groups. Jacob B, Year 7, who is part of the Northgate News Team decided to find out a bit more about Miss Thomas. Here’s what she had to say in response to his questions:
Thomas, Year 8, is part of the Northgate News Team. He decided to interview Mr Collyer from the Maths Department. Mr Collyer joined Northgate in September 2024 and recently organised the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge. Here’s what he had to say in response to Thomas’ questions.
When did you first join the Air Cadets, and what made you want to sign up?
Do you have any future goals within the Air Cadets?
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:
