By the time you read this, we will have packed away the accoutrements of school life for this year. What a year it has proven to be for Durham High School, and here are some of our 'High'lights:
September 2022
The official launch of our new school video at Speech Night went down splendidly, as did the new venue. After over fifty years- minus the Covid years- we decided that the Sports Hall was no longer fit for purpose for the most important event in the school calendar. The venue was deemed a great success and- as of July 2023- we are planning the next one in the exact same spot. Note to self for the next event: it was very hot on stage and the unnatural fibres of the academic gowns rendered the wearers being almost stuck to the seats…
October 2022
The dreaded ISI called…That is, the Independent Schools Inspectorate came, a full year after we were due to be inspected. I was so relieved when the call came that I thanked the other person on the line: he probably thought that I had partaken of the photocopier fluid that day…Anyway, after three gruelling days, we received the results: full Compliance- phew- and Excellent in all areas. In the independent sector, there is no grade such as Outstanding, so this was the highest we could achieve. We were so relieved and thrilled, and we wanted to sing it from the rooftops. However, we were under strict instruction in the feedback session that we could not say anything specific to the staff at large. So, I had to virtually hide myself away until the report came out, lest my grins would give us away.
December 2022
The glorious Nine Lessons and Carols were held at the Cathedral. It was magnificent, with the choir sounding so beautiful that there was barely a dry eye in the house by the end of ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’. As I walked to the pulpit, to read the Ninth Lesson, there was a millisecond of panic as I almost tripped over my gown, and I realised that it had grown twelve inches longer because I was wearing my husband’s. Anyway, crisis was averted, the Principal did not trip, and the students did us all proud. Result.
February 2023
Before February half term, we had our production of School of Rock at the Gala Theatre. It was decided that we should do production with a double cast, with the main leads doing two nights each out of four. I saw all four performances performance, and the audiences roared their approval each night. Many people commented that it was one of the strongest they had seen, and I would concur with this. Unfortunately, I had a sore throat for a week afterwards as I had whooped myself hoarse each night.
May 2023
The dreaded exam season started in May, with little fuss and much resilience on the part of our students. The Upper Sixth did not sit GCSEs, as they were the recipients of TAGs, but they approached the examinations with a degree of resilience that would make Andrea Duckworth, the academic who coined the term ‘Grit’, as proud as Punch of them.
Overall, a brilliant year thanks to the superb teaching and wonderful students at DHS. Of course, a school doesn’t ever really stop, and, as I write, I am sitting with a schedule for the Results Days in August. Roll on 2023-4, but please don’t come too quickly as I am looking forward to my holiday…Spain…
Every day is an Open Day at Durham High School. Call 0191 384 3226 or email enquiries@dhsfg.org.uk to find out more or arrange a visit.