Duke’s Sports Day 2026

17th July 2026Louise Gatti

A huge thank you to everyone who made Duke’s Sports Day 2026 such an incredible success!

From our fantastic PE Department for organising an epic day, to ICT for the electronic scoreboard and making sure the right House claimed victory, every team played their part.

Thank you to Maths for running Rounders; Humanities, Science and English for leading the field events; Beacon for keeping everyone fueled at the tuck shop; and Create and our amazing support staff for escorting year groups and keeping the day running seamlessly.

A special thank you to our Kitchen team for an amazing lunch, Pastoral for arranging the ice cream van, and our Admin and Safeguarding teams for ensuring everything at school continued to run smoothly while the celebrations were out on the field.

Thank you to Art for capturing so many wonderful moments, and to Music & Drama for providing the DJ and keeping the energy and good vibes flowing throughout the day.

Most importantly, well done to all of our students, who made this such a fantastic end-of-term celebration. It was the perfect send-off to an amazing 2025–26 academic year. Today, our students truly embodied our LIGHT values, showing outstanding teamwork, resilience, encouragement and House spirit.

What a way to finish the year! 💙🏆☀️ #DukesSportsDay #TeamDukes #LIGHTValues #EndOfTerm #Proud

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Duke’s Activities Week

16th July 2026Louise Gatti

Duke’s Activities Week has been a huge success, with students giving their trips and in-house events a fantastic 10 out of 10!

From the Tutor Duck Challenge and our inspiring PROUD assemblies to surfing at Blyth—where we may even have made an appearance as extras in a BBC drama—there was something for everyone.

Students chased thrills at Flamingo Land, took to the ice rink, and even tried their hand at dry slope skiing, with some future Winter Olympians certainly in the making!

One of the week’s highlights was our giant sandcastle-building competition at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, where teamwork and creativity were on full display. Students also enjoyed testing their skills at the golf driving range, playing footgolf, bowling, and tackling the challenges of Clip ‘n Climb.

For those who love shopping and exploring, there was a trip to the Metrocentre, while others enjoyed fascinating cultural visits to Beamish, Alnwick Garden, local zoos, and many other exciting destinations.

Throughout the week, Duke’s students have been an absolute pleasure to take out on visits. Time and again, members of the public commented on how polite, respectful, and well-mannered our students were. It was wonderful to hear such positive feedback and to see our students representing the school so brilliantly while enjoying themselves and making lasting memories.

A huge thank you to all the staff who helped organise and support these fantastic experiences. Most importantly, well done to all of our students for embracing every opportunity, demonstrating our LIGHT values, and making Activities Week such a memorable success!

Skin Betting

16th July 2026Louise Gatti

Skin betting is an emerging trend where players gamble using in-game cosmetic items that can carry real-world value. This guide helps parents and educators understand how these systems work, why they appeal to young people, and how easily they can blur the line between gaming and gambling.

It also highlights key risks, including unregulated platforms, social pressure and influencer promotion, while offering practical advice on spotting warning signs and putting safeguards in place. Supporting adults to have informed, open conversations, it aims to promote safer, more positive gaming experiences for children and young people.

Duke’s Prom Highlights

13th July 2026Louise Gatti

Our Year 11 students arrived dressed to impress and enjoyed a memorable evening celebrating the end of their secondary school journey. The night was filled with music, dancing, laughter, awards, and the chance to reflect on the friendships and achievements they have made over the past five years.

Mr Provitt, Head of Year 11, was delighted to see so many students celebrating together and creating lasting memories before they begin the next chapter of their lives.

Thank you to all the staff and everyone who helped make the evening so special. We wish all our Year 11 students every success for the future and look forward to seeing you all again on Results Day in August. Congratulations, Class of 2026!

Finally a huge thank you to Morpeth Town Football Club for hosting such a fantastic evening.

Tech-Free Summer For Teens

8th July 2026Louise Gatti

For many young people, the summer holidays can easily become dominated by phones, gaming, streaming and social media. This guide offers reassuring, realistic advice for parents, carers and educators who want to encourage 11- to 16-year-olds to spend more time offline without making technology feel like the enemy.

From phone-free challenges and micro-adventures to active travel, outdoor clubs and creative alternatives to scrolling, the guide focuses on small, achievable changes. It also highlights the importance of giving teens choice, responsibility and social motivation, helping them build confidence, wellbeing and healthier habits throughout the summer.

Managing Digital Boundaries

1st July 2026Louise Gatti
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Screens are now part of daily life, but for very young children, simple and predictable boundaries can make a big difference. This guide explores how adults can help under-fives build healthier digital habits by choosing content carefully, keeping devices in shared spaces, protecting bedtime routines and making screen time feel calm rather than constant.

It also highlights the importance of adult involvement, from co-viewing and chatting about what children see to modelling balanced device use ourselves. With practical scripts, transition tips and age-appropriate routines, the guide offers supportive advice for families, nurseries and early years settings looking to manage screen time with confidence.