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Achieving High Standards
by Demanding Excellence
Term 1 Newsletter October 2012
Welcome to the latest edition of the Longfield Newsletter. We hope you will enjoy reading about
Longfield’s recent achievements and join us in celebrating our pupils’ success. Your views and
comments are welcomed. Please visit our website at www.longfield.darlington.uk.com for further
information.
From Mrs Johnson, our Headteacher:
Term 1 has been a very busy and exciting time at Longfield. The extended
Transition project involving over 200 pupils from our feeder primaries took
place for two weeks. At the same time a Creative Arts project involving over
300 Year 5 pupils was held at Longfield. All of the Transition activities were
highly successful and have resulted in an excellent start for our new Year 7
pupils since they arrived in September.
The Year 11 Prom was attended by this year’s leavers and over 600 people attended our annual
Sports Presentation evening at the Dolphin Centre. More details about both of these events are
included in this newsletter. There is also more information about our annual Enrichment Week where
pupils took part in many educational visits to local, national and international destinations. The focus
for this week was the London 2012 Olympics and many pupils and staff visited a variety of Olympic
and Paralympic venues.
2012 GCSE Results for Year 11 were the highest ever at Longfield.
99% of pupils achieved 5 or more GCSE grades A*- C and 81% of
pupils achieved 8 or more GCSE grades A*- C. All of the pupils and
staff should be congratulated for their tremendous achievements.
Longfield has again been achieving national awards and this term we are delighted to have received
the ICT Mark in recognition of our impressive ICT infrastructure. We are one of the first schools in the
country to be re-designated for the second time with the prestigious ICT National Award. Mr Hunton
has included more information about these awards in the newsletter. The Maths and English
departments have also worked very hard to achieve the Improvement and Excellence Award and all
staff and pupils involved in this should be congratulated.
I am also delighted that Longfield has achieved the Investors in Pupils Award, and again congratulate
all staff and pupils.
The school was awarded this because we can show that:
Pupils share their opinions and ideas and they are valued
Pupils get involved in running the school
Pupils care about and are consulted about the important issues affecting the school
Pupils receive help and support in lots of different ways
Pupils’ needs are the school’s top priority
Staff care about what pupils think
Staff listen to what pupils have to say
1

Claire Myers, the ‘Investors in Pupils’ Assessor reported:
“The school has an abundance of talented, creative and enthusiastic pupils… I would like to
thank all the pupils and staff of Longfield Academy of Sport for a very enjoyable visit and for the
opportunity and privilege to witness such a positive school community in action.”
For the pupils she added:
“You obviously take great pride in your lovely forward-thinking school and in yourselves and you
willingly supplied me with information about everything I asked. Everyone seemed so pleased and
confident to tell me their ideas and explain how the school works so I really learnt a lot in a very short
space of time. It was very clear that:
you all enjoy going to Longfield Academy of Sport
you respect and help each other
you see it as part of your job to help make the school a better place
you feel that your ideas are listened to and valued”
Please can I take this opportunity to thank all parents/carers who have already completed the parent
survey. If you have not already taken part, you can do so by accessing the school website at
www.longfield.uk.com and clicking on the Learning Portal Tab at the top right of the page. Log in
using your unique parental password (this is available from school if required) and then open the
“Parents” tab to find the survey.
Senior Prefect Team Appointed...
Following a rigorous selection process the school is delighted to confirm that the following pupils have
been selected for the Senior Prefect Team for this Academic Year 2012-13:
Head Boy
Head Girl
Adam Howell
Aimee Hagger
Deputy Head Boy
Deputy Head Boy
Jack Davidson
Ali Bari
Deputy Head Girl
Deputy Head Girl
Samantha Harris
Amy Brennan
In total, we received 26 excellent
letters of applications and all pupils were a credit to themselves and the school during the interview
process. Many congratulations to the successful candidates!
Mrs Johnson
Headteacher
2

Introducing the new Longfield Logo
In order to reflect the changes that have taken place at Longfield, a new logo has been designed,
incorporating elements that represent Longfield’s ethos.
A group of pupils worked closely with a professional design company to share their ideas and discuss
what they thought were the most important aspects of school life. A competition then took place with
staff and pupils voting for their favourite design on the learning portal. The winning design retains the
‘Longfield blue’ of the old logo but it was felt that rather than representing the school’s sports
specialism only (like the old logo) the new design should show everything that is important about the
school. The symbol in the new logo does this; five arrows all feed into a central point, creating a star
shape.
The star shape signifies the school’s unrelenting focus on achievement and the fact that all five
elements create this shows how everyone works together as a team to achieve our shared goals. The
light blue arrows in the symbol represent sport, the green represent the local area and the dark blue
arrow the business-like focus of everyone at the school.
We feel that the new logo represents a new era at Longfield; one which retains the positive elements
of the past whilst looking forward to a bright, new future.
Miss Jackson
Deputy Headteacher
Longfield Academy of Sport secures
£50,000 from sporting legacy fund
People of all ages in the Darlington area can look forward to decades of high-quality sport after
Longfield Academy of Sport secured £50,000 from Sport England’s Protecting Playing Fields Olympic
legacy.
Longfield Academy of Sport will use the investment to improve the drainage to four football pitches.
The Protecting Playing Fields fund is part of the £150 million Places People Play legacy programme
that is bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the
country. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark –
celebrating the link to the Games.
Headteacher, Mrs Johnson, said: “We are delighted to have secured this investment, which means we
can upgrade the quality of our pitches to ensure maximum usage of our facilities from partner clubs.
This will ensure that partner clubs, local junior town and district teams have access to pitches which
currently have a history of drainage problems.
Overall, 163 projects have benefited from a total of £7.8million of investment from the three rounds of
Protecting Playing Fields funding, with 504 pitches and nearly 1,900 acres protected and improved,
and 57.4 acres of land purchased.
3

Important Information for Parents with children in Years 9 and 10
Raising the Participation Age (RPA) is coming into effect from summer 2013 1 .
If your son or daughter is currently in Year 10 or below this will affect them.
What is RPA
The Government is raising the age at which young people are required to participate in education or
training. If your son or daughter is currently in Year 10, they will have to continue in education or
training until at least the end of the school year in which they turn 17 (and of course they are then
able to continue beyond that if they want to). If they are currently in Year 9 or below, they will have to
continue until at least their 18th birthday.
This does not necessarily mean they will have to stay on at school after Year 11, and they will still be
able to work full-time, if they choose to. They will have a choice about how they want to participate
post-16, which could be through:
Full-time education, such as school or college;
Work-based learning, such as an Apprenticeship; or
Part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for 20 hours
or more a week.
Why make this change
We want to give all young people the opportunity to develop the skills they need for adult life and to
achieve their full potential. Participating in learning for longer means they are more likely to get the
skills and qualifications that will open doors to future employment, help them make the most of their
potential, and earn more over their lifetime.
Evidence shows that not being in education, employment or training at age 16-18 means young people
are more likely to be unemployed, earn less, have a criminal record and suffer from poor health and
depression over their lifetime.
What does this mean for you
The legal requirement to participate will be on your son or daughter. This is because we know that,
at 16, young people should be starting to make – and take responsibility for – the decisions that affect
their future.
However, we also know that your children look to you for advice and support as they make these
decisions. We know that you will want to do all you can to support your children to make the right
decision for them as they choose between their education and training options.
Making choices about education and training can be a challenge, so your child will receive support to
help them choose well. The careers information they will receive includes options information from
school, information and advice via the young people’s careers helpline and online resources. Your
child will receive careers advice and guidance from many people including their subject teachers,
careers co-ordinators or careers advisers. This will help them to think through their ideas and weigh up
the pros and cons of different options.
More information is available at:
http://education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/youngpeople/participation/rpa
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/OptionsAt16/index.htm
The young people’s careers helpline is available from 8.00am to 10pm, seven days a week, telephone
0800 100 900, or for text messages on 0776 641 3219.
1 RPA will take effect from the last day of the academic year in summer 2013 – young people with an offer of a place,
are not expected to participate until the start date of their course i.e. in most instances the September following the
Summer break.
4

More Futsal Success…
Longfield Academy Futsal Team Reach Nationals
On Sunday 27th May, six Longfield Academy pupils travelled to the Richard Dunn Sports Centre,
Bradford to take part in the North East and Yorkshire Futsal Festival following qualification from a
regional festival.
Longfield didn’t get off to a great start,
drawing their opening game 2-2. After
throwing away a 2-0 lead in the last 30
seconds, the team had a mountain to climb
and needed to win their remaining two
games to see them stand any chance of
winning the competition.
Longfield won their second game
comfortably 3-0 with goals from Lewis Rees,
Jonny Lazenby and Caleb Padurariu.
Going into their final game Longfield needed
a win to top the group; anything else would
see them finish in second place. The team
duly delivered and won their final game 5-0
with goals from Nathan Stephenson (3) and
Lewis Rees (2). The result put Longfield at
the top of the group and were crowned
Champions for the third successive futsal
tournament.
Following the win, Longfield went on to represent the North East and Yorkshire at the Fustal Nationals
in Birmingham on Sunday 1st July 2012. Out of the four games played, they won two and lost two, so
sadly did not qualify from their group.
Rockin’ All Over the World…… and Longfield!
On 19 th July, Pupils in Year 8 and those taking GCSE Music were
treated to a Drum and Percussion masterclass by world famous, former
Status Quo drummer, Jeff Rich. Mr Rich, who played in the band for 15
years, talked about the history of drumming and demonstrated his skills
on a variety of drums and percussion instruments, and let the pupils try
out some of the instruments for themselves.
Music teacher Mrs Brown said: “It was absolutely fantastic and enjoyed
by all the pupils; even the staff were rocking along as well. Those who
played the drums already were given the opportunity to perform in front
of Jeff and the whole school, so it was a great opportunity for them. It
really inspired the students and showed them what you can achieve with
a bit of hard work. We have already had some pupils telling us they
want to play the drums now.”
5

Longfield Year 9s Win the Treble For the first Time EVER!
Longfield Year 9s have won the County Cup, The Town Cup and the League! Declan, a
pupil and supporter, reports:
In the last football match of the
season, to win the Town Cup, we
played St Aiden’s School. We kicked
off to a good start when Nathan
Stephenson scored after 33 seconds
with a left-footed volley into the bottom
left-hand corner.
Soon afterwards, Longfield went 2-0
up when David Parker lobbed the ball
through to Lewis Rees who scored an
inch perfect goal which any Premier
League striker would have been proud
of. As half time approached,
Longfield’s luck held and goalkeeper
Connor Pearce made a stunning save
to keep Longfield’s 2-0 lead! Then in
the last minute of extra time, Nathan Stephenson scored a screaming missile of a free kick from 45
yards out, putting the icing on the cake for the first half.
When the second half kicked off, the St Aidens’ fans were out-cheering the Longfield supporters, but
this didn’t stop David Parker taking on two defenders, scoring a great goal. He performed a dog walk
celebration to the crowd and boosted the atmosphere in the Darlington Stadium, but St Aiden’s decided
to fight back and pulled a quick counter attack. A penalty kick awarded to St Aiden’s gave them a
glimmer of hope, as although Longfield keeper Connor Pearce got his finger tips to the ball, it ended up
in the back of the net.
The goal really boosted St Aiden’s confidence and they began to test the Longfield back four
defenders (Alex Nelson, Callum Bates, Andy Macnab and Ellis Rochester). However, the decision of
Longfield’s Mr Raw to make a triple substitution focused on defence, added a new lease of life to the
team and turned the game back in favour of Longfield. Alex Nelson played a great ball through to
Nathan Stephenson, who took on 8 players and then the keeper but hit the post! Luckily, Bradley
Middleton was there at the right moment to skilfully trick the defender and score.
Finally Longfield were just seeing the game out, when Caleb Padurariu played a wonderful
searching ball and Jonathan Lazenby’s cracking shot rattled the frame of the goal. The game
eventually ended with a convincing win to Longfield, beating St Aidens 5-1.
At the end of this season, Longfield go home with their heads held high, knowing that this year they
have won the illustrious Treble.
Congratulations to Longfield Football Team and the Longfield Manager, Mr Raw.
Starting Eleven: Nathan Stephenson (Captain), Lewis Rees, Bradley Middleton, Ellis Rochester, Caleb Padurariu,
Alex Nelson, Jonathan Lazenby, Andy Macnab, Callum Bates, David Parker and Connor Pearce. Substitutes: Jake
Miller, Callum Winfield, Jordan Pollock and Lewis Macdonald.
6

Examinations
Dates for your diary…
Parents / Carers frequently ask when they can expect their children to have examinations. Below is a list of
examinations that will take place during this academic year. Please be assured that we endeavour to post home
examination timetables well in advance of any examinations.
GCSE Examinations - November 2012
Tuesday 6th November AM
Thursday 8th November PM
Mock Examinations 2012
Tuesday 27th November AM to Friday 7th December AM
GCSE Examinations January 2013
Wednesday 9th January to Wednesday 30th January
March GCSEs and Y10 Internal Exams
Monday 25th February to Wednesday 6th March AM and PM
KS3 Optional Tests for Years 7, 8 and 9
Tuesday 16th April to Friday 19th April AM and PM
Summer GCSE Examinations
Monday 13th May to Monday 24th June AM and PM
Exam Pencil Cases
Exam regulations stipulate that only a clear pencil case can be used during examinations. The Exams Office has
suitable pencil cases to sell for £1.50. They come stocked with 2 black pens, 1 pencil, a pencil sharpener, an eraser, a
compass, a protractor and 15cm ruler.
GCSE Certificates
Current pupils who achieved GCSE or BTEC qualifications last academic year will be presented with their certificates
during an assembly on Tuesday 20 th November. Pupils who left us this summer will be able to collect their
certificates on Tuesday 20 th November from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. If they would like to send someone else to collect
their certificates they must send that person with a signed letter of permission.
7

Dance Festival Success...
Longfield’s annual dance festival was a roaring success this year, raising over £750 for the charity
ClicSergant. This event was organised by the school’s BTEC Dance class, which consists of 19 pupils
from years 10 and 11. They aimed to make £500, but exceeded that target by a massive amount which
could change so many people’s lives.
ClicSergant is a children’s cancer charity which uses the money donated to make sufferers’ lives a lot
more comfortable and to support families in any way possible. They have ‘home from home’ houses
near the main hospitals which treat children’s cancer, for the relatives to stay in throughout the
duration of the treatment. They also help with financial troubles, such as not being able to afford petrol
to get to the hospital, by giving the families the extra money they need.
This show was hosted at Longfield Academy of Sport on May 2nd 2012 and such was the anticipation
of the audience that tickets were sold out the day before the show! There were performers from year 2
to year 13 and a huge range of styles as well, from breakdancing to burlesque. Many of the performers
were Longfield school pupils, although some students did go into primary schools to complete their job
roles, such as Heathfield Primary School and Corporation Road Primary School.
The show also benefited Longfield pupils as for BTEC Dance the pupils have to organise a show so
they can fulfil a job role such as choreographer or health and safety officer. If completed to a high
standard, it can greatly improve the grade received at the end of the course.
Overall the show was enjoyed by 100% of both the audience and performers who took part in a
survey. One audience member said, “The show was fantastic, it was really good value for money. The
performers obviously put a lot effort and determination into their routines. I will definitely attend next
year’s dance festival!”
Pupil Governors Elected
This term has seen the election of two new pupil governors, filling places of pupils who left Longfield at
the end of Year 11. The successful candidates were Georgia Craddock and Daniel Brown and they
join Noori Begum and Cameron Wallace who were elected earlier in the year. As pupil governors they
sit on the Achievement and Curriculum sub-committee, the Ethos / Pastoral sub-committee and attend
the full governors meetings 3 times per year. They are invited to contribute their views which are
listened to seriously and taken into consideration when decisions are made.
8

Place for Pupil in North East Netball Team
Year 11 pupil Antonia Barr has been chosen to join the U19 regional netball
squad. After taking up netball only a few years ago, she has already played at
county level and now will represent the north east. Mrs Johnson said “It’s an
incredible achievement for someone of Antonia’s age to be selected as part of
the regional netball team. She has shown a great deal of dedication to her sport
and spends most of her spare time playing or training. We are all extremely
proud of Antonia’s achievement and hope that this takes her one step closer to
her goal of playing in the national league.”
School Prom 2012...
Longfield academy of Sport had another fantastic and successful Year 11 Prom night at Walworth
Castle on Wednesday 20th June.
Pupils, parents, school and hotel staff all commented positively on how beautifully pupils were
dressed, and how they conducted themselves. A great time was had by all.
Should you require further information about the Year 11 Prom, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs
Payne, Year Leader on 01325 380815 or e-mail apayne@longfield.uk.com
9

Learning a Language First Hand
French
Some year 8 and 9 pupils enjoyed a trip to Paris in July enrichment week with Miss Cairns, Miss
Stones, Mr Holden and Mr Hunton. They saw lots of famous sites including the Eiffel Tower, the
Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame, and went on a boat trip along the River Seine.
They also enjoyed a fun day in Disneyland Paris!
Spanish
Mr Rolph, Mr Marsh, Miss Braines and Mrs Parkin (now retired) took 35 Longfield pupils to Spain
during July enrichment week. They saw the sights in Barcelona, visited a water park, an aquarium, the
beach, the shops, and spoke plenty of Spanish! Everyone enjoyed the trip, and we hope to offer the
same trip again next year.
10

Research has revealed that young people regard chefs such as Brian Turner, James Martin and
Heston Blumenthal almost as highly as pop or television stars, but surprisingly very few have seriously
considered a career as a chef. FutureChef tries to address this directly by encouraging young people
to cook, providing opportunities for them to improve and expand their skills, and to develop links with
the food and hospitality industry.
Each year Longfield pupils have the opportunity to enter The Springboard FutureChef competition;
there are four stages, culminating in the National Final in London in the springtime. In the 2012
Longfield pupil Ruth Hansom did incredibly well and her achievement of second place in the national
finals was celebrated in the previous edition of this newsletter. This year the challenge is being taken
up by Hannah Goram, who has already won the school heat and goes through to the next stage of the
competition - the local final. Well done Hannah -we wish you every success!
Ruth Hansom’s Success Continues
16 year old Ruth Hansom has just completed Year 11 at Longfield after securing a host of fantastic
GCSE and AS results.
Her acheivements include:
Well done Ruth!
An ‘A’ Grade in GCSE Food Technology in Year 9
An outstanding ‘A’ Grade AS Food Technology in Year 11
Becoming runner –up in the National FutureChef Competition beating over 8000 other
entrants
Being selected to cook in the Royal Enclosure during Royal Ascot
Winning a place at the prestigious Westminster College to study Culinary Arts
Working part time in the London restaurant of Frederick Forster – National Chef of the
Year
Anyone for Cricket
There was success for a cricket team from Longfield, made up of some
of our younger pupils at a recent Darlington cricket competition. They
beat the Hurworth A team by 5 runs to lift the title. Our man of the
tournament was captain Ben I’Anson who excelled with both bat and
ball.
11

Who are some of the people who can listen to your views
and help you in school
12

Olympian Mentor Unlocks Potential
13
A determined pupil has received Olympic
inspiration to take forward her plans for a
community youth project. Longfield Academy
of Sport pupil Beth Lynas is being mentored
by former Judo Olympian Chloe Cowen, in a
bid to create a Darlington teenage drop-in
centre, as part of a nationwide Unlocking
Potential Programme sponsored by Dame
Kelly Holmes.
The programme, run by AQA and the Dame
Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, aims to help
unlock the potential of young people aged
14-19 who have shown commitment and
integrity in the face of challenging personal
circumstances. Dame Kelly said “ Unlocking
Potential is a personal development
programme that will give Beth a fantastic
opportunity to make a really positive impact on her local community. In a project delivered by worldclass
sports stars, Beth has earned the chance to learn from winners in sport, helping her to be the
best she can be.”
Nominated by her RE teacher Miss Greenhow, Beth is one of only 20 young people in the country
selected to take part in the venture. “This will be an amazing opportunity for Beth,” said Miss
Greenhow. “She is such a thoughtful young woman who puts others first. This will be her chance to
pull together everything she is doing and to recognise the contribution she is already making to others
around her.” The programme will help will help its participants, supported by their sports mentor, set
up and run a social action project within their local community.
Beth, currently a pupil in Year 11, said: “When I found out that I was part of the Unlocking Potential
Programme I knew straight away that I wanted to set up something for teenagers because there is
nowhere safe for them to go and nothing for them to do at night. Most groups of young people either
get moved on in the town or get into trouble and I don’t want that to keep happening. Friends of mine
were moved on by the police from the town centre and when they went to a local park they were
threatened with a knife. I want to use this project to create an environment where young people can
come together and socialise safely.”
After submission of a business case, Beth will bid for funding for the project from the Dame Kelly
Holmes Legacy Trust and AQA, as well as looking for potential additional revenue from businesses
and local authorities.
Mentor Chloe, 38, of Blyth, a 12 times national champion, Commonwealth Games Gold medallist and
five time European medallist, competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics before a broken foot halted her
dream of a medal. “Beth and I clicked straight away when we met,” said Chloe. “She has got a gritty
determination and knows exactly what she wants to achieve. My role as her mentor is to work with
Beth, to bring out her confidence, ambition and drive and together we will try to deliver a sustainable
community project which she can be very proud of. Her idea for a safe place for teenagers to socialise
is fantastic. It’s not an easy time at the moment for young people but I’m sure this will make a really
positive impact on the community and it will be a great experience for Beth to manage her own
projects to benefit young people.”
Andrew Hall, Chief Executive of AQA, said, “We’re excited to be working with the DKH Legacy Trust
on a project that will make a direct and lasting difference to the lives of the people taking
part. Sometimes all that young people need is a bit of a boost to help them realise their potential – I
really hope this opportunity provides them with the inspiration they need .”

Longfield Summer School 2012
At the start of the summer holidays, 24
Longfield School pupils were given the
opportunity to participate in the newly
revived Summer School programme.
Being a fantastically exciting and
motivating summer of sport, we wanted
to make this year a Summer School to
remember...by taking the pupils to
watch the Olympic football! Alongside
being given a Brazilian master class in
the art of winning a match, the pupils
were also lucky enough to take part in
many other rewarding activities, such as
the visiting the home of Tracey Beaker
at the Seven Stories Library, exploring
the ice wall at the Life Centre in
Newcastle and swinging around in the
trees at Beamish Wild.
Teacher Mr Rawle said: “During these two weeks, it was clear to see how much the pupils grew in
confidence and in their own ability and this was definitely an inspiring and memorable experience for
all involved.”
Sports Captains Elected
The School Sports Captains have been elected for 2012/13. They are:
Male Sports Captain:
o Vice-Captain:
Andrew Gibson
Ryu Williamson
Female sports captain: Aggie Kenshole
o Vice-Captain: Charlotte Firth
Congratulations! We hope you will lead the school to many more memorable sporting
successes throughout the coming year.
Food for thought:
“If we all did the things
we are capable of, we
would astound ourselves”
Thomas Edison
“Don’t GO through
life – GROW through
life”
Eric Butterworth
14

Work Begins on the New Sports Hall
Work is about to start on a new £2m community sports hall at Longfield Academy of Sport. The
development will include the construction of a new 4 court sports hall, changing rooms, community
gym, lawn tennis association standard tennis courts and additional car parking.
This is an exciting time for the Academy, who have been trying to secure funding for this facility for the
last ten years. It is anticipated that completion will take place in summer 2013. The sports hall, once
complete, should have a significant positive effect on the learning experience of pupils in the Academy,
but will also become a local hub for a variety of sporting and community activities.
Headteacher Mrs Johnson, cut the first turf on Monday 15 th October 2012.
Included in the attached picture are representatives from Longfield Academy of Sport and Hall
Construction Services Ltd, who are the appointed contractor.
“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us”
Winston Churchill
15

Sports Day
It proved impossible to hold the School Sports Day at the traditional time due to wet weather, and
eventually the decision was taken to move the event to September. This
had the added advantage that the new pupils in Year 7 could participate,
making it a whole school event with five year groups competing instead of
the usual four.
Although the skies were a little threatening, the rain held off and a
mammoth 42 races were staged. Competition was fierce and there were
many excellent performances by pupils throughout the day.
The final team results were:
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
SYDNEY ROME LONDON ATLANTA MOSCOW BEIJING TOKYO
Congratulations to Sydney! Well Done to all runners and supporters!
Did you know…
There is a lot on information available to you and Longfield pupils within the Learning Portal. You
can view it by accessing the school website at www.longfield.uk.com and clicking on the
Learning Portal Tab at the top right of the page. After logging-in using your unique parental
password (this is available from school if required), you will be able to check out both the general
learning resources and those specific to each pupil on a lesson by lesson basis. Look for your
son/daughter’s academic, attendance and behaviour record too - keeping informed will help you
to help them achieve their best.
Please do not hesitate to contact the school using the information found on the website if you
have any questions, queries or concerns.
16

Sports Leadership Academy: Developing Leadership & Life Skills
through Sport
Pupils are proving to be good sports after the
school was recognised nationally for its work in
developing skills. Longfield Academy of Sport
has become the first school in the Tees Valley to
be awarded a prestigious sports leadership
accolade.
Sports Leader UK, which runs the Sports
Leadership Academy project, has recognised the
work being carried out at the school by students
and staff. Longfield is being hailed a centre of
excellence for going beyond the call of duty in
leadership delivery.
Head teacher, Mrs Johnson, said: “We are very proud to achieve this award. It’s not just about sport, it
helps pupils to develop essential life skills, like working with others and teamwork. Sports leaders are
very involved with organising events in the school and the community and this award raises
awareness.”
Three years ago around 20 pupils were taking part in the initiative. Today, around 120 students enjoy
the benefits of the scheme. Being a sports leader gives pupils the opportunity to gain qualifications in
areas such as dance leadership, sport leadership and community sports leadership.
Sports Leader UK community development director Ms Blake, who presented the award, said: “This is
all about going that extra mile to get young people through awards and this is what Longfield School
has been doing. It’s about working with the community and building better skills. They have also been
introducing Maths and English to students in a way that they enjoy through their favourite sport, which
is a great achievement.”
Physical education teacher and centre course manager Miss Mason said: “Receiving the academy
status is fantastic because it is a reward to the students who are involved and it recognises all their
hard work. It’s good to see they are getting involved in something vocational and creating
opportunities for others in the school to join in too. I took part in the scheme myself as a pupil so it is
very rewarding to be involved in coaching them.”
Photo Front row (L-R): Natalie Dunbar, Olivia Wilbraham, Ms Blake, Mrs Johnson, Stacey Skippen, Miss Mason,
Back row, Annie Knight, Declan Simpson, Hollie Gartland, MrsParkin, Nicole Damianou, Katherine Holden and Jake Brown.
Maths Master Class – learning really does
add up!
Three Year 8 pupils from Longfield have had the opportunity to
attend a series of specialist mathematical workshops held by
Teesside University at the start of this term. Grace Davies,
Georgina Craddock and Charlotte Connor spent five Saturday
mornings attending tutorials given by a variety of guest speakers.
Maths teacher Mrs Kirkbride said: “The master classes gave them the opportunity to appreciate a
different type of maths that we may not necessarily teach in school and gain new confidence in their
ability.”
17

Important Dates
For your Diary
Friday 26 th October Break up End of Term 1
Monday 5 th November School Re-opens Start of Term 2
Thursday 22 nd November
Break up for Staff Training
Friday 23 rd November to Monday 26 th November Staff Training Days
Tuesday 27 th November
School re-opens after Staff Training
Tuesday 27 th November to Friday 7 th December Mock Examinations for Years 10 and 11
Tuesday 11 th December to Thursday 13 th
Christmas Production – We Will Rock You
December
Tuesday 18 th December
Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party
Wednesday 19 th December
Non-uniform Day
Christmas Lunch and Christmas Parties Y7-11
Friday 21 st December
Break up for Christmas holiday
2013
Monday 7 th January
School re-opens after Christmas holiday
Wednesday 9 th January
Start of January GCSE exams
Thursday 24 th January
Year 10 Parent Consultation Evening
Thursday 31 st January
End of GSCE exams
Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening
Tuesday 5 th February
Choices at KS4 Open Evening
Thursday 14 th February
Academic Mentoring Day
Years 10 and 11 Better Grades Day
Friday 15 th February Break up End of Term 2
A Diamond Celebration
On the 29 th May, sixty local senior citizens were invited to tea at school to mark the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee. Staff and pupils provided a variety of entertainments including party games such as “Pin the
tail on the donkey” and there was rousing community singing of suitably patriotic songs! A delicious
spread of sandwiches and cakes was much enjoyed by our guests and
great fun was had by all!
18

Longfield gains prestigious ICT Mark Award...
Pupils at Longfield Academy of Sport are at the forefront of using
information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance their work,
and that’s official! Following an extensive external assessment Longfield
has become one of the first schools in the country to be re-designated for
the second time the prestigious ICT Mark.
The award recognises the school’s success in developing the strategic use of ICT in both
administration and across the curriculum Head teacher, Mrs Johnson commented, “I am delighted to
be awarded the ICT Mark again. It recognises our positive approach to ICT and the benefits it is
bringing to our pupils. We believe that ICT can be used in every aspect of learning and that it is
essential our children are equipped for the modern world.”
The lead member of staff, Assistant Headteacher, Mr Hunton, who was involved in ensuring the school
was ready for ICT Mark assessment, said “I am really pleased that the presentation of this award
shows recognition of the excellent ICT work that is taking place at our school. Applying for the award
really brought into focus the ICT work that we are doing each and every day. All pupils and staff
deserve credit for this achievement.”
Ms B Brooks, Naace General Manager, said “Longfield thoroughly deserve the accolade of an ICT
Mark accreditation. They clearly demonstrate how important it is to take a whole school approach to
using ICT in schools. We look forward to working with Longfield to demonstrate how ICT can have a
substantial impact on learner outcomes in the future.”
Coming Soon ……
Longfield Academy of Sport Presents
Following on from the success of the last show, the pupils of Longfield are putting on a production of
the Queen musical 'We Will Rock You' on Tuesday 11th, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th
December. Tickets will be available from mid-November from school.
Come along and prepare to rock!
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Advance Notice of Extra Traffic Expected
Please see below a list of events that will be taking place during this
academic year, when we expect a large number of vehicles to be in
the area. This is of particular relevance to those families living near
to the school, but also to those picking up or dropping off pupils.
Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience any of these
events may cause you and your family, and thank you for your continued support of Longfield Academy of
Sport.
Thursday 25 th October
Tuesday 11 th December
Wednesday 12 th December
Thursday 13 th December
Thursday 24 th January 2013
Thursday 31 st January
Tuesday 5 th February
Thursday 14 th February
Monday 11 th March to Friday 15 th
March
Thursday 2 nd May
Tuesday 25 th June
Monday 8 th July to Friday 12 th July
Presentation Evening
Christmas Show – We will Rock You
Christmas Show – We will Rock You
Christmas Show – We will Rock You
Year 10 Parent Evening
Year 11 Parent Evening
Year 9 Choices at KS4 Open Evening
Academic Mentoring Day
Enrichment Week
During this week there will be a number of
educational visits taking place, during this
time parents may be dropping off and picking
up pupils, early morning or late evening.
Musical Event
Year 6 Induction Evening
Enrichment Week
The Olympic Torch comes to Longfield
Many pupils and parents from Longfield lined the
streets with excitement and anticipation when the
Olympic torch came to Darlington on July 17 th .
However, for one ex-Longfield pupil, Matt Carnelly, it
was not just a case of looking on, but running as a
torch bearer when later on the flame travelled to
Hartlepool.
Matt left Longfield in 2008 and began coaching sport
voluntarily alongside my a-level studies. He is a local
hero in every sense of the word, and has overcome a
number of difficulties to excel, achieve and help his
local community. Matt has been coaching sport and in
particular football and futsal to hundreds of children in
the past few years, particularly in the Darlington and Leeds areas. Even though Matt devotes much of his
time and efforts to his voluntary work, he has successfully completed his A-levels and is studying for a BSc
in Sports Coaching at Leeds Metropolitan University. He has done all of this despite the fact that he had
meningitis as a baby and has hydrocephalus as a result. Matt's efforts have seen him win many awards
including Volunteer of the year, Student of the year and Best Student in Darlington but carrying the torch
was a perfect reward for sports mad Matt! Afterwards Matt kindly brought the torch into school and to the
Sports Presentation Evening and many pupils (and staff) had the opportunity to be photographed with the
torch as a momento of their own Olympic experience.
20

Longfield 100 Club
As part of our fundraising activities we run a small lottery draw – the 100 Club. It is open to
parents/carers, governors and staff. For £2 per month you can “buy” a number, which
will be entered into the monthly draw, giving you the chance to win a cash prize.
If you would like to take part or would like further information, please contact: Mrs
Hannah, Administration, by e-mail – phannah@longfield.uk.com or telephone
01325 380815
The winning numbers for the 100 club for the last few draws were
MARCH
APRIL
1 st 52 Rollover 1 st 38 Rollover
2 nd 80 Rollover 2 nd 78 B Collishaw
3 rd 40 S Gibson 3 rd 35 Rollover
MAY
JUNE
1 st 32 Rollover 1 st 61 Rollover
2 nd 69 Rollover 2 nd 83 Rollover
3 rd 23 J Walker 3 rd 85 Rollover
JULY
AUGUST
1 st 37 Rollover 1 st 54 Rollover
2 nd 26 A Hill 2 nd 41 Rollover
3 rd 33 E Hart 3 rd 09 J Wood
SEPTEMBER
1 st 26 A Hill
2 nd 07 Rollover
3 rd 48 Rollover
This term pupils have had a chance to try….
Cycle Polo
21

Sports Presentation Evening
On the evening of 5 th July, Longfield held its Sports Presentation Evening at the Dolphin Centre in
Darlington.
The event celebrated the wide variety and success in sporting achievement over the past year at
Longfield and was attended by over 120 pupils, their parents/carers and a number of guests including
the Worshipful Mayor and Mayoress.
Sporting achievement prizes and awards were presented by our inspirational guest speaker Lee
Fawcett. After being left paralysed at the age of 15 following a spinal operation, he coached a junior
football team from a wheelchair. Their success inspired him to take up disabled sport and become a
paralympian. A former player in the GB Wheelchair Basketball team and GB Paralympian Wheelchair
fencer, Lee gave an inspirational speech. Pointing out the determination, dedication and commitment
required in competing for Great Britain in two different sports, he talked about the highs and lows of
being an elite athlete and how sport helped him in life.
The event was a huge success!
22

Have you received this newsletter by e-mail
If not why don’t you register for ParentMail
By registering for ParentMail you can receive messages from the school via email and text and have
the opportunity to sign up for +Pay, which enables you to pay for educational visits and add money to
your son/daughter’s cashless catering account on-line using your credit or debit card. If you pay via
+pay for your son/daughter’s lunch you now have the opportunity to check online to see what they
have had to eat. Unfortunately, parents of pupils paying by cash do not have this opportunity.
Please download a Data Capture Form from the Parent Page of Learning Portal or ask your son /
daughter to collect a form from Reception. Once the form has been returned to school, you will soon
be able to receive messages via e-mail and text.
A day at the races
Although very wet weather meant
that racing was called off, a group of
pupils still spent a very enjoyable
day at Pontefract racecourse,
learning about how the course
operates and more about the jockeys and horses. The trip was organised by maths teacher Mr Battell,
and revealed that good maths skills can be useful in all sorts of areas in life!
23

School Holidays October 2012 – July 2014
Date School Closes for Holiday
Date Re-open for Teaching
Purposes
End of Term 1 Friday 26 th October 2012 Monday 5 th November 2012
Staff Training
Days
Thursday 22 nd November 2012
Staff Training
Friday 23 rd November 2012
Monday 26 th November 2012
Tuesday 27 th November 2012
Christmas 2012 Friday 21 st December 2012 Monday 7 th January 2013
End of Term 2 Friday 15 th February 2013 Monday 25 th February 2013
Easter 2013 Thursday 28 th March 2013
Tuesday 16 th April 2013
Staff Training
Monday 15 th April 2013
May Day 2013 Friday 3 rd May 2013 Tuesday 7 th May 2013
End of Term 3 Friday 24 th May 2013
Tuesday 4 th June 2013
Staff Training
Monday 3 rd June 2013
Summer 2013 Tuesday 23 rd July 2013
Tuesday 3 rd September 2013
Staff Training
Monday 2 nd September 2013
End of Term 1 Friday 25 th October 2013 Monday 4 th November 2013
Staff Training
Days
Thursday 21st November 2013
Staff Training
Friday 22 rd November 2013
Monday 25 th November 2013
Tuesday 26 th November 2013
Christmas 2013 Friday 20 th December 2013 Monday 6 th January 2014
End of Term 2 Friday 14 th February 2014 Monday 24 th February 2014
Easter 2014 Friday 4 th April 2014
Wednesday 23 rd April 2014
Staff Training
Tuesday 22 nd April 2014
May Day 2014 Friday 2 nd May 2014 Tuesday 6 th May 2014
End of Term 3 Friday 23 rd May 2014
Tuesday 3 rd June 2014
Staff Training
Monday 2 nd June
Summer 2014 Tuesday 22 nd July 2014 To be confirmed
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