James, Year 7, and Willow, Year 9, who are part of the Northgate News, spoke to Miss Peach for the latest staff interview. Miss Peach teaches in the Art and Design Department. Find out what she had to say in response to their questions below.
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
I enjoy helping others and teaching others new skills. I was also inspired by my Maths/form tutor when they helped and supported me during my time at school.
Why did you decide to teach Art and Photography?
I love the creativity and the freedom that it gives for students. I love being able to see students grow in confidence and I enjoy transferring my knowledge to students.
What subjects did you choose for GCSE?
Food, Art and I did drama for a little while.
Did you always enjoy art when you were younger?
Yes, I’ve been creating art since I was very young. I mostly used to draw horses.
Have you had any other jobs apart from being a teacher?
I was a PAL mentor and ambassador at university and I was a cover teacher for a short duration of time before I did my teacher training.
Is there a particular artist that inspires you and if so, why?
Salvador Dali – I like how he symbolises using objects to represent hidden meaning.
What is your favourite aspect of Art to teach?
I love teaching the fundamentals such as drawing, shading, and painting.
Can you describe Northgate in 3 words?
Supportive, welcoming, creative
What are your hobbies outside of school?
Gaming, horse riding, journaling, and scrapbooking
If you were not a teacher, what would be your dream job?
Something related to animals, maybe something that is within the equine care sector.
What is the best thing about being a teacher?
Getting to know students, and seeing them grow and develop within themselves and their skills.
Quick fire questions:
Watercolours or pastels? Soft pastels
Art or Photography? Art
Eat in or eat out? Eat in
Winter or summer? Summer
TV or movie? Movie
Book or podcast? Book
Tik Tok or Instagram? Instagram
Vacation or staycation? Vacation
Tv drama or Tv documentary? Tv Documentary
Sweet or savoury? Sweet
Thank you to Miss Peach for taking the time to answer Willow and James’ 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.
Many of our students at Northgate take part in sporting activities outside of school. There is plenty in the local area they can do from football and rugby clubs, to going to the gym, swimming and martial arts.
Mirren, Year 10, and a Northgate News Team member, tells us about her passion for badminton.
‘After school, on a Thursday, I go to a badminton club at Dereham Leisure Centre. It is for children aged 8 – 14 and runs from 16:00 – 17:30. It also costs around £28 per term (7 – 8 weeks). I really enjoy it and I am looking to become a junior coach at the club. I joined the club May 2021 without ever picking up a badminton racket in my life and our coaches helped me all the way through my badminton journey. People within the club have achieved so much. A few of us have qualified with a junior coaching certificate. Some of us play for Norfolk County and travel all across the county for different games and a few of us help out with badminton here at Northgate! Our main coach, Julie, is very sweet and welcoming. Me and my friend, in Year 9, always walk to badminton and we have a laugh at the club while also learning new things as we go.
‘Recently, I have been looking at other club opportunities so I can not only just coach at the junior club, but then also play with other people as well of all different ages. There is a club on a Tuesday from 9:30 – 11:00 and that club is very cool! It is open to people of all ages and is a bit more on the competitive side. That is run by Charlie, also at Dereham Leisure Centre, who is also a coach at the junior club. He has however taken a step back from that and is focusing more on the other clubs he runs such as another club on a Thursday. That one is for 18 years old and older. It runs from 19:30 – 21:00, also at Dereham Leisure Centre. Both of these clubs are £3.80 a session. If you are interested, reach out to the team at Dereham Leisure Centre and they will be happy to tell you more about the club and the people involved in making it happen.’
‘Badminton is a really great and fun sport if you are looking to try something active, competitive but also maybe just having fun with your friends in a game of sport. Maybe this sport is for you!’
We are pleased to introduce our March bulletin. In our bulletin this month there’s updates from the Library, photos from the recent ski trip, Maths Challenge success, information about the upcoming World Book Week 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.
On Friday, 7th February, the entire Year 7 cohort came together for the annual Number Day activities, organised by Miss Theobald from the Maths department.
Over the past 15 years of Northgate’s participation in Number Day, Year 7 students have raised over £3,300 to support the vital work of the NSPCC and Childline. This year was no exception, with students enthusiastically engaging in a variety of activities throughout the day.
During Period 4, half of the year group gathered in the main hall to kick off their session with number aerobics. Some volunteers took the lead in demonstrating the moves, setting the tone for an energetic and enthusiastic start.
The main event was a quiz, where students competed both for House Team points and individual prizes within their teaching groups. The competition was fierce, with some challenging questions testing their mathematical skills. However, the students’ determination shone through.
In the final part of the session, students explored real-life graphing by creating a human coordinate grid. Each student was assigned a coordinate and followed instructions such as “stand up if your x-coordinate is 2” or “stand up if your y-coordinate is -3.” This interactive activity allowed students to visualize vertical and horizontal lines while incorporating key mathematical terminology like parallel lines. It provided an excellent introduction to straight-line graphs, a topic they will develop further in their Maths curriculum.
During Period 5, the remaining Year 7s had their turn to participate. They also engaged in a unique and intriguing game focusing on number properties, adding to the fun and learning of the day.
Beyond the classroom activities, students had the opportunity to take part in a teacher treasure hunt during break and lunchtime or from home via Satchel One. Twenty-five teachers were assigned numbers, and students answered questions such as “What is the sum of the Maths teachers?”, “Which teachers are square numbers?”, and “Which teacher is the smallest prime number?”
Returning this year was the popular virtual escape room. Twenty-five students took on the challenge in their own time, solving complex problems and cracking codes to navigate through ten different rooms in the school. This activity showcased some outstanding problem-solving skills.
Congratulations to the following Year 7 students who won the main quiz in their teaching groups:
7Aspire: George M
7Tenacity: Ava M
7Endeavour: Mason D
7Courage: Benjamin C
7Integrity: Sophie S
7Motivation: Harry C and Logan H
7Valour: Maisie B
7Determination: Keegan C and Oliver O
Winners received puzzle books, stress balls, stationery kits, and vouchers for Café North.
The winner of the teacher treasure hunt was Oliver M, who received a puzzle book, a stress ball, and a Café North voucher. Meanwhile, Charlie S emerged victorious in the Escape Room challenge and was rewarded with an Amazon voucher!
In the House Competition, the contest was incredibly close. Attenborough claimed victory for the second year in a row, followed by Rowling in second place, Holmes in third, and Hawking in fourth.
Reflecting on the success of the day, Miss Theobald shared, “It was wonderful to see so many students enthusiastically taking part in the activities in the hall and even continuing the excitement at home through the optional competitions. Year 7 has demonstrated impressive mathematical skills, and I’m eager to see how they develop in the coming years at Northgate. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event!”
One of the participants, Natalie P, said, “I really enjoyed Number Day, especially the quiz because it was really fun and I love quizzes. I also learned number aerobics! I took part in the escape room too, and I really enjoyed it.”
Mrs Smith, Head of Maths, was delighted to present the certificates and prizes at the final Year 7 assembly of the half term. To round off the event, Year 7 classes took part in a special lesson investigating the McNugget Number—an engaging mathematical concept (Google it to find out more!). This activity showcased fantastic problem-solving skills across the year group.
A huge thank you to Miss Theobald for organising and running such a fantastic event. Well done to everyone who took part, and a special thank you to those who collected sponsorships to support Childline and the NSPCC in their vital work!
January is an important month for our Year 9 students – it’s all about options. The time when they get to pick GCSE options and think about their future studies.
Colette is in Year 9 and is a member of the Northgate News Team. She decided to write about the process of picking her options and also spoke to a few of her friends to get their point of view.
Here is what they all had to say:
‘Picking your GCSE options can be quite a scary and daunting process. There will probably be some people who know exactly what they want to do and pick, but there are also people who are unsure and confused about what they want to do in their later life.’
‘The most important thing is to not just do a subject because your friend is doing it, choose a subject that you find exciting and enjoy or a subject that you might need for a chosen career. I spoke to a few fellow Year 9s to see where their head was at regarding options:’
What subjects are you most excited to choose, and what makes them stand out for you?
‘I am definitely most excited to choose RE because I really like enjoy debating on both sides of an argument and seeing other people’s points of view.’ (Imogen O)
Do you know what you would like to do later on in life and is this influencing the subjects that you pick?
‘Yes! I am going to do my dream job, being an astrophysicist.’ (Melody S)
Have you done any research on the topics or skills covered in the options you’re considering?
‘I have done a lot of research regarding the options I would like to choose.’ (Melody S)
How much of an impact do you think your chosen subjects will have on your future career or studies?
‘I think it will have a reasonable impact as the options we choose now will help us choose A levels which will ultimately end up deciding which courses we would like to take.’ (Imogen O)
Have you spoken to teachers or family members for advice on which options to choose?
‘Yes I have! I have spoken to many of my teachers and made a strong bond with them. (Melody S)
How important is it for you to have a mix of creative, practical, and academic subjects in your choices?
‘It depends on what you find more enjoyable and fun and what you want to do when you’re older as in if you want to go into history there is no point on doing art.’ (Imogen O) How important is it for you to choose subjects that you’re passionate about, rather than what’s seen as “useful” for future careers?
‘I think it is important to choose subjects that you enjoy but keep in mind what you want to be doing in the future.’ (Imogen O)
Ultimately, picking your GCSE options is a big decision, but it’s also an exciting opportunity to shape your future. You might not know what you want to do in the future for a job or career but that is completely normal. We are sure though that our Year 9s took their time, did their research and most importantly, have chosen subjects that they enjoy and feel passionate about—you never know where they might take you!
A few years ago, Mrs Woods, the Head of Computer Science at Northgate, founded the Lego Robotics Club. But this isn’t your typical Lego club—it’s a whole lot more! Northgate News Team members Natalie and Jessica sat down with Mrs Woods to learn more about it.
What makes Lego robotics different from regular Lego?
It’s the engineering aspect! It’s about introducing girls and boys to the world of Lego robotics.
What skills can you gain from getting involved in Lego robotics? You can develop logical thinking, computational thinking, and coding skills.
What do you enjoy most about Lego robotics? I love teaching it to students and watching them complete a project successfully.
Why should students join the Lego robotics club?
It teaches resilience, creativity, and provides a strong sense of achievement.
What is the most complex build students have completed so far?
The most impressive build so far has been a crane built by Year 7 student Dominic – it was an age 18+ build!
Are there any models you’re excited for students to build?
I’m looking forward to the electric excavator truck, though honestly, I love all Lego models.
When does the Lego Robotics Club meet, and what experience do you need?
No experience is necessary—anyone is welcome! The club meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In the autumn term, it’s open every day.
How can students get involved in Lego robotics?
Simply show up to the Lego club with a positive attitude!
Mrs Woods, Head of Computer Science set up a Lego Robotics Club at Northgate a number of years ago. Not just your normal Lego – this is even better! Northgate News Team members Natalie and Jessica, went to speak to Mrs Woods to find out what it is all about.
James, Year 7, and Willow, Year 9, who are part of the Northgate News, spoke to Miss Peach for the latest staff interview. Miss Peach teaches in the Art and Design Department. Find out what she had to say in response to their questions below.
On Friday, 7th February, the entire Year 7 cohort came together for the annual Number Day activities, organised by Miss Theobald from the Maths department.
A few years ago, Mrs Woods, the Head of Computer Science at Northgate, founded the Lego Robotics Club. But this isn’t your typical Lego club—it’s a whole lot more! Northgate News Team members Natalie and Jessica sat down with Mrs Woods to learn more about it.
