Thursday 17th November saw Northgate welcome back the Class of 2022 for the annual GCSE Presentation Evening. A chance to celebrate the achievements of our former Year 11s and present them with GCSE certificates, subject prizes and community prizes. This evening was even more special, since it was the first time hosting it again after the pandemic.
The evening was hosted by Heads of School, Dr Hone and Mrs Galley who talked fondly of the impact made by the students during their 5 years at Northgate and the extraordinary challenges and disruptions they encountered due to Covid. They had shown true resilience and determination throughout that time in particular. There were photos from their first week at Northgate, through the years and to prom
It was time for some of the GCSE certificates to be awarded along with certificates for those who had made outstanding progress. Mr Lea, former Head of Year, came back especially for the evening and read out the names.
The guest speaker for the evening was former Northgate student Bobby Copping. Bobby spoke of his time at Northgate and the support he received as his football career started to flourish. At a young age, Bobby was dealt some challenges on the pitch in relation to his health and had difficult decisions to make. Each time, he tried to turn the negatives into positives and come back stronger. Despite sadly having to retire from professional football a couple of years ago, after playing for Bury and Peterborough, Bobby has gone on to achieve great things. This includes being interim assistant CEO at Peterborough United FC, the Women’s Team general manager, head of the Schools Initiative, founder and CEO of the registered charity ‘The Bobby Copping Foundation’, supporting young people with their mental health, completing a masters degree in football business and management and currently completing a masters degree in sports directorship. What amazing achievements at such a young age! Bobby ended with some words of advice for the audience – his 5 Bs: be the hardest worker, be resilient, be grateful, be humble and lastly, be a good human being. Bobby’s words were truly inspiring and we are incredibly proud of everything he has gone on to achieve. It shows that with hard work and a positive attitude, the sky’s the limit.
It was then time for the subject prizes. Departments each nominated a student to receive the award and wrote a little piece as to why they were so deserving. There were plenty of cheers, laughs and smiles as winners collected their special trophies from Dr Hone, as Mrs Galley read them out.
Fine Art – Amber S
Drama – Maddison P
English Language – Lewis B
Religious Studies – Maddison F
French – Tommy G
History – Owen B
Music – Abbie B
PE – Jasmine F
Design Technology – Victor C
Photography – Freya M
Spanish – Bethan K
Textiles – Sarah S
Dance – Charlie M
Science – May H
Maths – Rhys T
foot and Nutrition – Taylor M
Graphics – Robyn C
Geography – Fred T
Computer Science – Blake P
Mr Lea then gave his speech to huge cheers and clapping. He said that the year group would always have a special place in his heart, as the first year group he took all the way from Year 8 to 11. He spoke of their hard work and determination throughout the 5 years and how proud we are as a school of what they managed to achieve.
The former Head Girl – Freya M, Deputy Head Girl – Lacey C and Head Boy – Lewis were presented with special awards by Mrs Galley and Dr Hone to thank them for their services to the school. They were great ambassadors for Northgate. A big thank you also to Deputy Head Girl – Prisha B and Deputy Head Boy – Fred T, who were unable to attend.
Finally, there were prizes for Contribution to the Community (Fred T), Dereham Lions Club prize for Services to the School (Freya M), Governors’ prize for Personal Progress (Cassidy W) and the Trustees’ Award for Resilience, presented by Alan Jones, Chair of Trustees (Damien F).
A big thank you to Mrs Bone for organising the evening, to parents and carers for their support of the students and school over the past 5 years, Mrs Galley and Dr Hone for hosting the evening, Bobby Copping for his inspiring talk and staff who supported the evening. Of course, a big thank you also goes to our ex-Year 11s who made the evening so special. We wish the Class of 2022 the best of luck in the future and hope they look back fondly on their time at Northgate.
Dr Musgrave joined Northgate in September as part of the Science. One of our Northgate News Team, Daniel, Year 9, thought it was about time we learnt a bit more about him so decided to meet for an interview.
In my interview I met Dr Musgrave who had a previous medical background working in multiple different departments of A&E, surgery, respiration, and other departments. This was all before deciding to pursue a job in teaching.
Why did you go into teaching?
As well as being a doctor I was also a rowing and rugby coach in my own time and in those roles, I was able to show my passion towards teaching.
How did you end up teaching at Northgate?
I was trying to find a school that matched my values and a school reasonably local to me and it just so happened that Northgate had an opening.
What is your favourite topic to teach in science?
My favourite topic to teach is the sports side of biology, where you go over respiration of the lungs, muscle in your arms, triceps and lots more.
Do you have or want any pets?
At this moment I have 10 fish and would quite like a dog of my own. But right now, as a teacher and my wife being a doctor it would be unfair for the dog.
How long does it take to become a doctor?
It took me 5 years at university to get my degree to be a doctor.
Does being a doctor run in your family?
My earliest relative that was in the medical profession was my grandfather who was a doctor. My sister works in the field of medicine, coming up with cures for diseases and finally my wife is also a doctor.
What was your strangest experience when you worked as a doctor?
I was working in General Surgery when a patient with gangrene in their foot attended. In the course of my examination, I was checking the blood supply to the toe, when it snapped off in my hand! This is certainly one of the more strange encounters I had as a doctor. Fortunately, the patient had a sense of humour about the situation (they told me to “keep the tip!”) and I carried on with my examination.
It was an interesting experience interviewing Dr Musgrave who teaches young minds at Northgate High School. Thank you very much for taking the time to meet.
On Friday 4th November, Year 11 Geography students travelled to Great Yarmouth to carry out their GCSE fieldwork.
They started the day on the north sand dunes, where the focus was to investigate how the dunes are being affected by human activities. Using a range of equipment, the students collected a variety of data, including looking at the height and angles of the dunes and the vegetation cover. The measurements and observations showed some clear areas where humans had had an impact. The trip also gave the students an excellent case study of how sand dunes change from front to back.
After lunch, the group headed into Great Yarmouth town centre. At three different spots, they completed an environmental quality survey, a pedestrian count, and made observations about the town and the opportunities available to visitors and residents. They also had the opportunity to complete questionnaires with members of the public to gather their reasons for visiting Great Yarmouth, and their opinions on the area.
Some of our new Year 7s have joined the Northgate News Team. They wanted to share their experiences of the first half term at Northgate with the school community. Here, each of them tells you what it has been like.
Colette:
‘My first half term at Northgate has been fantastic! Everyone has been so kind and welcoming. I felt right at home as soon as I had had my first week. I have joined several new clubs, such as creative writing, Fitness Friday, Dance and Drama. My favourite subject just has to be English. Both of my teachers are so kind and helpful and Refugee Boy which we are studying is great. The Library and Mrs Harris’ Dance Studio are my favourite places, they are both amazing spaces to be in.’
‘I’ve enjoyed using the cafeteria at break time. So far, I have sampled a slice of pizza, a jam doughnut, a slice of lemon drizzle cake, another slice of pizza, and a biscuit. All of which have been delicious!’
‘I can’t wait to experience the rest of this term, sign up to more clubs and write more articles as part of the Northgate News Team!’
Christina:
‘I have been at Northgate for 2 months now as a Year 7! The first day of high school was very scary. I could barely get out of bed and eat breakfast, I was overloaded with never ending questions and worries like being lonely, getting lost (considering how big the school is) or being called on an answer I did not understand. Now, after two months I have realised that I was stressing over nothing! There are so many opportunities and students that are willing to help or be your friend. It has only been two months but it feels like I have been here forever. I am now part of the School Council and I’m hoping to become a Student Librarian. All of this proves how amazing Northgate High School is!’
Florence:
‘My first half term at Northgate was great. At first, I thought it was going to be difficult because I would get lost and I would have no friends. But that didn’t happen at all. All the teachers were really nice and willing to help out. So were the other older children when a teacher wasn’t around and I was lost, but they came up to me and asked if I was ok and I replied I was lost and they helped me out. Once you are at Northgate for a few weeks you will just be like any other student. All the Year 7 children who I had no idea who they were when I started, are now some of the most reliable people I know. Even if you don’t know who anyone is then don’t give up hope. There are also loads of clubs to join. I’m now part of the school’s netball team because I joined the club and stuck with it. You will do fantastic things at Northgate. At first, I didn’t want to join the School Council but I signed up anyway and now I’m part of the Northgate News Team and the bigger part of the School Council. I’m part of the Northgate team and I’m proud!’
Anna:
‘My name is Anna and after having my first half term at Northgate I feel like I have overcome one of my biggest fears – starting high school. My first two weeks was enough to have settled in and I was completely fine. Soon after starting, I realised I had grown out of primary school and after 7 years of going there it was definitely time to change. Knowing that everyone was in the same situation as me, it made my transition a lot easier. Everyone has been very welcoming and supportive meaning I am very happy with my choice of school.’
‘My first 7 weeks have passed very quickly as I have had a lot of fun. It is worth coming to school each day telling myself I will learn something new and I will get rewarded for my hard work and efforts.’
Just before half term a coach load of Year 10 History students headed to the battlefields on a trip organised by Mr Hester. A chance to bring the pages of their books to life on this unique trip. Two students have written about the experience. First up is Chris who talks us through day 1 and then Poppi who tells us about the second day of the trip.
Thursday 20th October:
On Thursday 20th October, we had a very early start (3:30 am) and made our way to Folkestone, Kent where we drove onto the Eurotunnel. Once on the Eurotunnel it was about 35 minutes, until we arrived in Calais, France. Next, we made our way to Belgium where we would spend the rest of Thursday.
Our first destination was the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (10,000) where we learnt the story of Nellie Spindler (the only woman buried there). Nellie was a Nurse that specialised in urgent chest high wounds, she worked at NO 44. Casualty clearing station (CCS). On August 21st, the CCS was bombarded at 11:00am, Nellie along with four other nurses were hit by a shell and concussed. Nellie died just 20 minutes later at age 26 in the arms of sister Minnie Wood (the sister in charge).
Our next destination was the Langemark German Military Cemetery (40,000). In the First World War Hitler had served with the Bavarian Reserve-Infantry-Regiment 16 and had been in action in the area of Langemark, details of the battle are written in Hitler’s Mein Kampf. After the war, during his campaign Hitler visited the cemetery, and during his table talk, he reminisces ‘In the old days it was just a mound of earth. And now-! Fields filled with blossom and waving corn.’
Next, we visited the Hooge Crater Museum, where we learned about the medical advancements that occurred throughout the war and the treatments soldiers would go through. We also learnt about the uniforms and equipment each soldier was equipped with, and the structure and strategies involved with trench warfare.
Lastly, we made our way to Ypres, where we had the opportunity to buy Belgian chocolates and have dinner, before we experienced the Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony which takes place on every day at 8:00pm to commemorate the casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. A few of our students had the opportunity to lay a wreath as part of the ceremony.
Friday 21st October 2022
We had another packed day!
We set off at 08:00 and made our way to the Battlefields of the Somme and spent some time in The Sunken Lane.
Afterwards, we went to the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial (this is Canadian territory in France) and we got to walk through some of the trenches and see the shell holes that have been left.
Next, we visited Ovillers-la-Boisselle where we saw the Lochnagar Crater. The Lochnagar mine was the largest of the seventeen mines that exploded on 1st of July 1916. It was packed with 60,000lbs (27,216 kilograms or 27.216 tons) of ammonal in two charges 18 metres apart and 16 metres below the surface. The mine created a crater 100.5 metres across and 21 metres deep, including a lip 4.6 metres high. The explosion constituted what was then, the loudest man-made sound in history and debris from the explosion rose 4,000ft (1,219 metres) into the air. While here, we learnt about the use of gas during the war and looked at how gas masks had progressed.
Our last stop was to the Thiepval Memorial which bears the names of more than 72,000 men who lost their lives and is the largest Commonwealth WWI Memorial. The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme battlefields bears the names of 72,194 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces. These men died in the Somme battle sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. The date of 20 March was the day before the German Army launched a large-scale offensive, codenamed “Operation Michael”, against the British Army Front in the sector of the Somme. Over 90 percent of those commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial died in the 1916 Battles of the Somme between July and November 1916. The Thiepval memorial serves as an Anglo-French Battle Memorial. It was designed as an arch representing the alliance of Britain and France in the Somme 1916 offensive against the German defensive Front.
We then travelled back to Calais where we got on the Eurotunnel and made our way home.
A big thank you to Mr Hester and all the staff who made the trip possible. This really was a special experience for our students and one they will never forget.
The scrolling gallery below shows some photos from the trip.
In September there was a drama trip to Richmond Theatre in London to see the play ‘Noughts and Crosses’. I interviewed our Head Girl Emma about this. She said it was eye-opening and inspiring, among many other positive things. The performance was about a girl called Sephy and a boy called Callum. It’s a more modern version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and a flipped version of what society used to be. The story challenges our perceptions of race, power and truth.
Our Head Girl Emma seemed to have really enjoyed the trip and I’m sure everyone else who attended did too.
Mrs Harris (Head of Drama and Dance) said “I love running trips and allowing students to see a wide variety of performance work. It was important for me to take the students to see a performance that challenges serious themes such as segregation”.
Thank you to Mrs Harris for organising the trip, for some, this was their first opportunity to see live theatre.
Dr Musgrave joined Northgate in September as part of the Science. One of our Northgate News Team, Daniel, Year 9, thought it was about time we learnt a bit more about him so decided to meet for an interview.
In September there was a drama trip to Richmond Theatre in London to see the play ‘Noughts and Crosses’. I interviewed our Head Girl Emma about this. She said it was eye-opening and inspiring, among many other positive things. The performance was about a girl called Sephy and a boy called Callum. It’s a more modern version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and a flipped version of what society used to be. The story challenges our perceptions of race, power and truth.