Streaming services have become the go-to entertainment choice for many families, with children often favouring on-demand platforms over traditional television. This edition explores the realities behind these services, from rising subscription costs and advert-supported tiers to the impact of autoplay and endless content libraries on young viewers’ screen time and wellbeing.
It also highlights key safeguarding concerns, including age-inappropriate material, binge watching, algorithm-driven recommendations and phishing scams. With clear, practical advice for setting profiles, PINs and time limits – alongside tips for discussing algorithms and stereotypes – this guide supports parents and educators in promoting safer, healthier streaming habits.
We kicked off our celebrations on Tuesday when we welcomed author and filmmaker Henry Vyner-Brooks and his Great Northern Tour. His workshops for Years 7, 8, and 9 focused on more than just writing, (although they did get lots of useful tips); they focused on resilience.
Henry shared his story of overcoming severe dyslexia to find success in the literary world, which deeply inspired everyone. He did a presentation about his books and films, shared some extremely useful tips for writing and then concluded the session with a creative writing challenge for our students – focused on suspense and tension, which he then judged.
Noah, Leigha, Jack, Mollie and Oliver were all given signed books as prizes!
English Lessons
This week, our English department transformed into a hub of literary celebration! To mark World Book Day, our staff shared their personal love for reading by displaying their favorite titles in every classroom.
The festivities took a creative turn with our “Shelfie” Challenge, where students turned detective to match teachers with their home bookshelves. We also took a peek into the minds of our educators through their “Desert Island Books”—a great starting point for some brilliant classroom discussions.
Get Involved!
The excitement isn’t over yet. Students can still enter our two headline competitions:
Write a Book Review
Design a Book Cover
Both competitions are open until March 27, 2026, with £10 Amazon vouchers up for grabs for the winners. Show us your creativity!
Thursday 5th March 2026: World Book Day!
World Book Day on March 5th was a whirlwind of activity, bringing together students, visitors, and families to celebrate the power of the written word.
We kicked off the day in Period 1 by welcoming students from The Castle School. It was a joy to see them exploring our shelves, picking out new favorite reads, and diving into book-themed jigsaws.
By Period 3, the focus shifted to the “why” behind the “what.” Our student group engaged in a lively debate about how reading shapes our future prospects. The consensus was clear: whether you want to be an astronaut or an artist, reading is the ultimate superpower for any career!
The session wrapped up with a high-energy reading quiz and a “Favorite Book” writing competition.
A huge congratulations to our winners, judged by Ms. Everton:
Year Group
Top 3 Finalists
Overall Winner
Year 7
Hanna, Sherrie, and Oliver
Oliver
Year 8
Lola, Sophie, and Zara
Zara
Connecting with Families
We were delighted to welcome 12 parents and carers for a special Period 5 session. This was a fantastic opportunity for families to tour our facilities and hear from Mrs. Bonham regarding the National Year of Reading 2026.
The library truly came to life with:
Interactive Exhibits: Including a popular display of Harry Potter memorabilia and authentic film props.
The Big Quiz: A friendly but competitive round! Well done to our top three scorers: Thomas, Oliver, and Rubi.
It was wonderful to see so many families engaging with our staff and seeing first-hand where their children’s literacy journeys take place.
At Duke’s some Y7 and Y8 students took part in a creative workshop. It is one of many workshops created to work with different community partners to explore people’s connections to the coast. It was a puppetry workshop to get hands on The puppets designed and created in the workshop could then be taken home or go forward to form part of a professional theatrical production that will tour seaside locations in May.
This is linked to a project called ‘Strong Shores’. This initiative is a Defra-funded, nature-based coastal resilience project that aims to strengthen British coastlines and communities against flooding, erosion, and climate change by harnessing the power of natural marine habitats.
The students who took part learnt a lot about how our coasts help protect the environment and then created their own puppets and were shown how to use them properly.
With reading for pleasure in decline, this practical guide offers ten thoughtful ways to reignite children’s enthusiasm for books. From valuing all forms of reading to broadening access to diverse materials, it explores how adults can nurture positive reading habits both at home and in school. Digital tools, audiobooks and augmented reality are also considered as engaging ways to support today’s readers.
It also highlights the power of social connection – recommending books, reading together and meeting authors – alongside the importance of modelling reading ourselves. With expert insight from literacy specialist Carl Pattison, this edition provides supportive, achievable ideas to help young people reconnect with reading and see it as a meaningful part of everyday life.
Adult animated content is increasingly visible on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and streaming services. While the bright visuals and cartoon style may seem harmless at first glance, many of these shows and clips are created specifically for mature audiences, featuring strong language, sexual references, graphic violence and unsettling themes.
This #WakeUpWednesday guide helps parents and educators understand the risks, from misleading visuals and algorithm-driven recommendations to desensitisation and edgy humour. It also offers practical advice on platform settings, open conversations and building children’s critical thinking, so young people can navigate online animation safely and confidently.
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