A reminder to all of our students and their families…
We are collecting for the Wansbeck Valley Food Bank until 2nd December!
Let’s pull together and give a hand to people in our community who could really use it right now. Every bit makes a difference! No donation is too small; tins, basics or even just spreading the word all helps. If you are not in a position to donate but still want to try and help, why not share their Facebook page with your friends? To share, click the link below.
On Sunday 9th November, Duke’s Secondary School’s Combined Cadet Force proudly took part in the Ashington Remembrance Parade, standing shoulder to shoulder with local community members to honour those who have served and sacrificed.
Our cadets showed true courage and composure as they marched through the town, representing Duke’s with pride and respect. A particularly special moment came when CDT CPL Isla Blake laid a wreath on behalf of Duke’s Secondary School – a touching tribute to those who gave their lives in service.
Colour Sergeant John Langan acted as Parade Commander, leading the contingent with discipline and professionalism, while Second Lieutenant Kirsten Osman provided vital support in coordinating the march. A huge thanks to John and Kirsten!
This year’s parade was the first attended by Duke’s CCF as a full contingent under the new leadership of Mrs Georgia Goodfellow, marking the start of an important tradition that will see our cadets continue to take part in future Remembrance events.
We are incredibly proud of all our cadets for their commitment, bravery, and sense of duty. Their efforts embody the light values we strive towards every day at Duke’s. Well done to each and everyone involved, we couldn’t be prouder of you!
We have been informed of some LGBT+ workshops at Hirst welfare over the next few weeks. All info below.
Descriptions and links to book each workshop below . All are welcome!
Saturday 8th November – 10 – 12:00 – Hirst Welfare Centre
Character Design with MegÂ
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In this workshop we will discuss the concept of chosen family, and the importance of the being able to recognise the characteristics that we need when deciding who our chosen family are going to be. We will be exploring these concepts through the use of portraiture and character design, and seeing how this can change how characters are designed.
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Meg is a local illustrator from Newcastle whose work encapsulates humour, social issues, and portraiture through bright and bold illustrations.
Saturday 8th November – 12.30 – 15:00 – Hirst Welfare Centre
We are Family with Phyllis Christopher and Kate Sweeney
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The workshop will use the archive as a source of inspiration for ideas and conversations. Drop into this fun interactive photo studio, be inspired by pride themed photos then use the cameras provided to create new portraits and moments exploring the diversity and beauty and expansive possibilities of ‘queer life’ in Ashington in 2025. Please bring any objects that represent ‘diversity’, ‘belonging’ and ‘home’ to you – but not required – just come along and have a fun time!
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Kate Sweeney (https://katesweeney.icu/) and Phyllis Christopher (https://phyllischristopher.com) are artists based in Gateshead. They are currently using Phyllis’ photography archive which spans 40 years and documents the LGBTQ+ communities of San Francisco and England to facilitate creative workshops.
Saturday 15th November – 10 – 12:00 – Hirst Welfare Centre
Collage Poetry with Amy Langdown
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The workshop will focus on the idea of ‘home’ – what home means to each individual person and how we create ‘home’. We will explore the theme via poetry and collage.
Amy Langdown is a poet and participatory artist who focuses on community and creating safe spaces for people to share their lived experience.
Saturday 15th November – 13:00 – 15:00 – Hirst Welfare Centre
Tea Tray Painting and Mosaics with Lily Daniels
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Welcome, Karibu, خوش آمدید! Welcoming people to your home is so important, whether they’ve popped by for a cuppa, a chat or to celebrate. Welcome them with creativity by making a painted or mosaic tea tray, your work of art can be used at home again and again to welcome neighbours, friends and families.
Lily Daniels is an artist who works with old fashioned materials to connect to heritage and tradition. She works at GemArts to bring cultural arts to communities and schools.
Saturday 22nd November – 11:00 – 13:00 –Â Hirst Welfare Centre
Pop-up Houses with Mack Sproates
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Make and decorate pop-up houses and explore themes of home, family and belonging in this relaxed creative session
Mack Sproates is a theatre maker, facilitator, artist and zine maker based in Newcastle. Their work is joyful, playful, cut and stick, silly and raw; aiming to help marginalised people’s voices feel seen and heard. They are inspired by DIY punk scenes, pop-culture, music and comic books.
has exploded in popularity, with over 100 million downloads worldwide. The mobile trading card game is packed with quick battles, colourful decks, and the thrill of opening booster packs – but the excitement can come at a cost.
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This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide helps trusted adults navigate the risks – from addictive spending habits to endless new card sets. With tips on monitoring purchases, managing play time, and encouraging fairness, our expert advice supports parents and educators in keeping young players safe while still enjoying the game.
Applications into Year 7 for September 2026 at Duke’s Secondary School are filling up extremely fast. This is a final reminder that the last opportunity to apply is this Friday, 31st October 2025– Tomorrow!
Please be aware that sending an application does not automatically mean that your child’s place is guaranteed. Where the number of applications for admission is greater than the published admission number, applications will be considered against the criteria as set out in the Academy’s Admissions Policy.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, an application received after 31 October 2025 will be considered late. This will lower your chance of being offered a place at your preferred school. If you return your application after 31 October 2025, you must give a reason why it is late.
If you have not yet submitted your child’s application, we urge you to do so as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. To apply for admission into Year 7 at Duke’s Secondary School, please visit the website below immediately.
Welcome to the next chapter – Where student curiosity and growth meet…
We are thrilled to officially announce the fantastic news regarding the improvements and developments made to Duke’s Library… We’ve had a major refresh!
With over 7,500 physical books and over 3,000 eBooks that can be translated into any language on our Dukes E Platform – making it an easily accessible and fantastic resource for multilingual students. We’re bringing in a scannable QR code which takes you straight to the login so it’s easily accessible on mobile phones and can be translated by the click of a button; ‘edit’. There’s also 500 loan books from the School’s Library Service that will go hand-in-hand with our new suggestion box, ensuring our collection continues to reflect students’ interests. Students can anonymously request books they’d like to see added to our shelves.Â
Meet our new Librarian
Our wonderful new school Librarian Mrs Bonham has been at the heart of these new developments – bringing passion, expertise and a fresh vision to the role. Going above and beyond, Mrs Bonham has carefully curated a diverse, up-to-date and engaging collection by keeping a close eye on popular trends through trusted sources like Waterstones, The Times and even ‘BookTok’, a large community on Tiktok popular with teens. The library is now a vibrant and welcoming hub for student discovery and growth. Whether you’re into fantasy, non-fiction, graphic novels or the latest viral reads – there’s bound to be something you’ll love!Â
Thanks to the hard work of Mrs Bonham and numerous donations from members of the community, including local groups Reduce Waste and Get Creative Community Hub, Ashington’s Everything Must Go and various people from Facebook – the library is fully stocked and raring to go.
Library Lessons
All Key Stage 3 students have a fortnightly library lesson and within these, Mrs Bonham will be leading small group reading sessions of up to 15 students at a time. The sessions are designed to give every child the opportunity to explore their interests, ask questions, discuss what they’re reading and receive personalised book recommendations tailored to their unique tastes and skill levels. Students don’t need to wait until their next scheduled session to return books or seek advice, Mrs Bonham is always happy to speak with them outside of lessons. The goal is to give every student time and space to connect with reading in a way that feels personal, exciting and most importantly enjoyable. The library is open over break and lunchtime as well for those students wishing to access the space outside of lessons.
Accelerated Reader Programme:
Year 7 students will be continuing with the Accelerated Reader programme that they are familiar with from Primary School. In support of the accelerated reader programme – a computer-based reading management system that helps schools encourage independent reading – the library books are now colour coded to represent different reading levels. Inside there will be a code, which will lead to a quiz about that particular book. There will be competitions, incentives for points gained and an awards programme to reward students for their developing reading skills. Accelerated Reader aims to foster a love of reading and to improve students literacy skills through a structured reading programme.
Thank you to all of the lovely parents who came to the opening of the Library.
We hope you enjoyed visiting the new and improved space for our students and enjoyed chatting with us about how we can best support your children together. For those who couldn’t make it and wish to visit us, you are invited to the Library on the 25th November between 3pm – 4pm to browse the book selection of our Scholastic Book Fair, which will also give you the opportunity to buy books, journals and stationary if you wish.
Save the date…
Scholastic Book Fair – Monday 24th November 2025 – Friday 28th November 2025.
Christmas display in the Library – 1st December until the Winter Break.
We are excited to share the first edition of the Duke’s Careers Newsletter, designed to support parents and carers as they help their young people explore the wide range of pathways available beyond school.
This newsletter brings together valuable information from employers, universities, and local opportunities.
These resources are intended to help you support your child’s interests, inspire new ideas, and guide conversations about future careers and ambitions.
We hope you find this newsletter a useful tool to help your child explore and plan their future opportunities.
Fortnite’s latest season is packed with eye-catching features – but that can mean longer screen time, pressure to spend, and the lure of party chat with strangers.This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide shines a spotlight on what parents and educators need to know to help young players stay safe.
From comical dance emotes to realistic weapons and big-name collaborations, Fortnite is a cultural heavyweight. But even with its PEGI 12 rating, many younger children are joining the action. Our new guide explores the risks – and offers useful, clear advice for trusted adults.
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. All are welcome!
Hirst Welfare Centre
has exploded in popularity, with over 100 million downloads worldwide. The mobile trading card game is packed with quick battles, colourful decks, and the thrill of opening booster packs – but the excitement can come at a cost.
