NHSG School News

School community relieved to return on 8th March

It was a huge relief for our whole school community when it was confirmed that, after the second lockdown in January 2021, pupils would be able to return to school from Monday 8th March. Even though our excellent Guided Home Learning programme meant that all our pupils were able to continue with live lessons and with learning, we were all very much ready to be back in the physical classrooms. One hurdle to overcome before this could happen however was the mass asymptomatic testing of all staff and all pupils at our Senior School – something that all schools had been tasked with by the Government. Every member of staff and pupil needed to have taken three lateral flow Covid tests, the first of which had to be completed before being allowed back into school.

There was no doubt that this was a major logistical exercise and yet another of those situations that we couldn’t have imagined 18 months ago. Our staff and volunteer helpers were outstanding in bringing this about, not just in undertaking roles very different to usual and in converting one of our sports halls into a giant testing centre, but also in the compassion and support they gave the staff and pupils being tested. Their work made the process as efficient and painless as possible, and also meant that all NHSG pupils could be back in school from Day 1 which we knew was so important for our families. It was an incredible achievement.

Class bubbles, social distancing and plenty of hand washing were still very much the order of the day during the Summer term. Despite the challenges, the school staff went above and beyond to support the girls both in their studies and pastorally. Girls in Years 11 and 13 had GCSE and A Level studies to contend with and everyone has had to adapt to the new teacher-assessed approach to grading.

The start of the new academic year in September 2021 brought more school-based lateral flow testing, but also saw the removal of bubbles and social distancing in school. This meant the whole school was able to enjoy some level of normality and it has been particularly joyful to see how much more relaxed the girls were with the reduced restrictions.

As predicted, there have been, and will be more bumps along the way but as we learn to live with the pandemic, NHSG will continue to deliver the very best education for all of our pupils. The chorus from the NHSG School song seems particularly fitting here: And we sail forth Through stormy seas and tides And we will strive with grace and pride And forward….prorsum semper honeste And nothing will stand in our way.

Phenomenal result for Freya: highest mark in the world!

We were elated to discover that Year 13 pupil, Freya Young, was credited with obtaining the highest mark in the world for the Cambridge International AS Level in Information Technology. Freya’s excellent academic abilities were already well known to all at NHSG after she was selected for a Reece Award when she joined us in Year 12. We spoke with Freya to see how she was feeling after this impressive achievement. She said:

“Mr Tippett phoned me to tell me the good news, I felt so shocked and surprised that I got the highest mark! I thought the exam was hard but I felt prepared for it as I had been revising heavily and we had just completed a mock before the exam. My advice for anyone taking the exam in future is to test yourself with as many past practical and theory papers as possible.”

Huge congratulations to Freya, who has shown that hard work really does pay dividends. Freya is now studying for a degree in Engineering at the Dyson Institute and we wish her the best of luck for the future.

NHSG twice triumphant in shortlist for TES awards

On Friday 26th March we were delighted to receive news that Newcastle High School for Girls had been shortlisted by the Times Educational Supplement (TES) Independent Schools Awards for our contribution in not one but two categories; Marketing Campaign and School Partnerships.

The TES Independent School Awards celebrates excellence and innovation across the sector so to be recognised in this way is a huge honour.

Specifically, the Marketing Award recognises a powerful and effective strategy used to promote the school and the Partnership Award recognises initiatives that involve working and cooperating effectively with a state school or schools, with clear benefits to all parties. It was wonderful to see that many of our fellow GDST schools were shortlisted across various categories, evidencing the pioneering approach of our organisation.

Bringing the West End to the North East

Musical fans will delight in the knowledge that we welcomed Hamilton lead, Jason Pennycooke, to NHSG in July for an intensive workshop with our Dance pupils in July. The girls rehearsed tirelessly under his expert direction and performed a spectacular version of Hamilton number, My Shot, to the whole of Senior School via video link on the last day of term.

Jasmine joins School Governing Board

We are thrilled to welcome Jasmine, NHSG Alumna Class of 2015, back to the School in her new capacity as a School Governor. Since leaving NHSG, Jasmine has gained a degree in Economics and carved out a successful career in investment banking. Jasmine has recently returned to the North East to explore her true passion, entrepreneurship, and to support the School that Jasmine says made her who she is today.

When Jasmine was eleven years old, her mum made a decision that would dramatically change her life. She successfully applied for a bursary for Jasmine to attend Central Newcastle High School.

Jasmine joined CNHS in 2007 and has never looked back. “It was a wholly encouraging environment. Being at an all-girls school meant that there wasn’t as much distraction, and success and intelligence were celebrated. I was constantly reminded that I could be whoever – and whatever – I wanted to be. Ambition was encouraged, respected and supported.”

Jasmine excelled in Maths and, following a Sixth Form Insight Day with a Japanese Investment Bank in London aged 16 (owing to the opportunities within the Girls’ Day School Trust network), she decided to apply to study Economics at university with the aim of pursuing a career in investment banking. After graduating from Edinburgh University in 2019, having been supported by a scholarship throughout, Jasmine successfully secured a position at a prestigious global investment bank based in Mayfair where she worked on numerous high profile transactions worth billions of pounds.

Jasmine said: “Investment banking is hard work, and the learning curve is steep, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. I found it thrilling reading about high profile transactions that I was working on in the press, and the exposure to such senior people (for example CEOs of FTSE 100 companies and Senior Government Advisors) was fascinating. The world of mergers and acquisitions can be tough, but it’s an exciting place to begin your career.”

With a couple of years experience under her belt and a healthy savings account, Jasmine has decided to take time out to travel – which will see her horse-riding in Mozambique and trekking across South and Central America - before making her next career move.

She added: “With two years of investment banking experience under my belt and the skills I have gained, I am going to enjoy a few months of travel knowing I can hit the ground running when I come back to the UK. I’m keen to explore entrepreneurial opportunities when I return, perhaps working in venture capital or at a startup.”

At 26, Jasmine is the youngest on NHSG’s School Governing Board, something she decided to apply for in order to give back. “I’m especially keen to support the school in regards to its bursaries and scholarships programme. There are so many opportunities out there for people like me, who might not have had the means necessary to apply to a school like Newcastle High in the traditional way. Nobody’s future should be shaped by their childhood circumstances, and I am so incredibly grateful to my Mum for the lifechanging decision she made early on in my school career.

“I’d say to any young woman that, if you’ve a burning desire for success, you should absolutely look into bursaries or scholarships. Don’t simply settle for what’s in front of you – there are ways and means! And always remember that it’s cool to be clever.”

New Head appointed at Junior School

In April 2021, we were extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Amanda Hardie as our new Head of Junior School. Mrs Hardie, a graduate of Oxford University, will be familiar to those who attended Church High where she was a teacher of Religious Studies and subsequently Director of Studies. Following the merger of Church and Central in 2014, Amanda became Deputy Head Academic of Senior School, a role in which she remains alongside her new appointment. With her wealth of experience and passion, Amanda has already been implementing transformational plans to refresh the Junior School curriculum and boost its cocurricular activity programme.

At the time of appointment, Mr Tippett said: “Amanda Hardie made an immediate impact on our educational provision at Junior School during her time as Acting Head and I’m extremely pleased she will be taking on the role permanently.

“When I took over as Head in 2018 I knew it was paramount to strengthen the academic attainment at the school and to deliver a seamless transition from Nursery through to Sixth Form. We’ve seen excellent results in this area with an uplift in GCSE and A Level grades, and Amanda has played a key role in this success.

“Since taking on the role of Acting Head of Junior School in December 2020, Amanda’s rapid introduction of a new activities programme, and the robust curriculum review currently underway, are both testament to her outstanding ability and drive. I now look forward to seeing her longerterm plans for Junior School and I’m confident it will go from strength to strength.”

Amanda said: “My vision for Junior School is in essence very simple – I want the girls to flourish and be supported from day one so that they become the very best version of themselves. I will be working alongside the experienced staff at NHSG so that every girl will be enriched academically and creatively and all within our truly warm, happy and caring school environment.

“The heart and soul of NHSG Junior School will remain very firmly in place while at the same time a review will be underway in terms of the curriculum and we are already introducing exciting new initiatives which will be available immediately. From day one, we will empower our young pupils, enabling them to be leaders, trailblazers and world-shapers. Our school is the perfect size to ensure that each girl is known and valued as an individual.

Alongside an inspiring curriculum, which we regularly review to respond to a changing world, we will offer an extensive co-curricular programme that challenges girls to develop their skills, independence and confidence.

Plus, our membership of the Girls’ Day School Trust offers our girls so many additional opportunities beyond those available in our region.”

Does happiness come before academic performance when children are at Junior School?

Happiness goes hand in hand with academic performance for girls in Junior School. Our aim is to ensure that our girls flourish in a warm, nurturing environment where they are supported to take risks, step outside their comfort zone and develop their skills through a wide range of curricular and co-curricular opportunities. Our staff are experts in the education of girls and our curriculum is designed to encourage independence, creativity and

enquiry. When girls feel safe and happy they are more likely to flourish academically, and when they flourish academically they get a sense of achievement that brings happiness. It’s a winning formula.

Can you tell us about the impressive co-curricular provision at Junior School?

We have redesigned our co-curricular programme to ensure that all girls are given the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities.

A number of music clubs will run each week, including choirs, a Junior Orchestra and Samba Band. Alongside this, a programme of sport will be on offer and from Year 3 this will take place on our Senior School site so that our girls benefit from the facilities on offer there.

Girls from Year 2 to 6 will also have the opportunity to participate in a carousel of creative activities (Creative Sparks) that will run throughout the year on a Wednesday evening and on Thursday evenings we will offer Year 2 to 6 an academic enrichment programme (Bright Sparks) that will inspire curious young minds. We’ve also just launched an exciting leadership programme for girls in Years 1-6. Children have had a tough time over the past year. What’s been the biggest issue and how do you plan to support them to get back on track?

This year has been incredibly tough on children, despite our best efforts to ensure that our girls were supported through a programme of lessons each day as part of our guided home learning provision. It was tough on parents, too, many of whom were trying to work from home alongside supporting their children with school work. Some of our youngest children will not remember a time when social distancing didn’t exist. They’ve missed out on hugs with grandparents, family and friends. Our assessment programme has allowed us to identify any academic gaps resulting from the time spent working at home and we have clear plans in place across Junior School to address any concerns identified. Well-being activities, pastoral support and opportunities for fun, laughter and happiness are a real priority for us.

How do you unwind away from work?

I get so much pleasure and fulfilment from my career and I have always been so grateful for the opportunity to work in such an amazing school. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Under normal circumstances, that would include lots of travel, as I love exploring new places with my husband and two teenage daughters. Covid-19 has meant that hasn’t happened this year, but I’m hopeful that one day in the not too distant future I will need my passport again!

110 Years of International Women’s Day

The History of IWD

International Women’s Day (IWD) is recognised each year at NHSG with an annual competition to highlight the achievements of women, while continuing the call for accelerating gender parity. It gives us an opportunity to draw attention to the ongoing struggles for women’s rights, to link this with women’s struggles worldwide and to demonstrate international sisterly solidarity with working women everywhere. The day has been recognised across the world since as early as the 1900s, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialised world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

The motivation for International Women’s Day came from two sources, the struggle of working class women to establish better working conditions and the fight for women’s right to vote.

In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. It was the Socialist Party of America who declared the first National Women’s Day in 1908. The idea to make the day international was suggested by a woman named Clara Zetkin in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. There were 100 women there, from 17 countries, and they agreed on her suggestion unanimously.

IWD was first celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The centenary was celebrated in 2011, so this year we’re technically celebrating the 110th International Women’s Day!

It wasn’t until 1917 that 8th March acquired great significance. On this day, women workers in Petrograd held a mass strike and demonstration demanding Peace and Bread, which is attributed as the flashpoint for the Russian Revolution. Lenin subsequently declared that 8th March should be designated officially as Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975. Then in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed.

Since then the world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in thinking around women’s equality and emancipation. Females from a younger generation may feel that ‘all the battles have been won for women’ while many feminists from the 1970s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of the patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally, women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and Prime Ministers, female students are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family. Women have real choices. And so each year the world inspires women and celebrates their achievements. IWD is an official holiday in many countries and the tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends and colleagues, with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has

the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

IWD at NHSG

NHSG is very fortunate to be the recipient of a generous donation from Christopher and Margaret Vane, parents of a former pupil, to fund an annual prize celebrating International Women’s Day. The prize asks our pupils to reflect on extraordinary women and their accomplishments and they are invited to submit an entry in any format that would best represent their chosen female, one they feel has made an exceptional contribution to a particular theme or topic.

IWD 2021

This year we asked pupils to choose a woman whose work they felt had made, or is making, a significant positive contribution to the environment and the sustainability of our planet.

We were delighted that Central Newcastle High Alumna Isabella West (pictured front cover), founder and CEO of the UK’s leading fashion rental brand, Hirestreet, was able to visit NHSG to award the Prizes. Isabella is listed in the Forbes and Drapers 30 under 30 and has been recognised for being the founder of the fastest growing female powered business in the North East.

While all of the entries to the competition were worthy of a prize, our panel of NHSG staff judges, including our Go Green Coordinator Mrs Edmonds, had the difficult task of selecting three finalists.

Angela Lu, Year 10, was awarded third place with a powerful video about Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. Emma Gibson, Year 12, achieved second place with her collection of five poems about five influential women, Costa Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres, Irish politician Mary Robinson, Marshallese educator and politician Hilda Heine, twelve year old Salvi Shakvi from Fiji and Rayanne Cristine Maximo Franca, part of the Indigenous Youth Network from Brazil.

Christiana Figueres has clearly made an impression on NHSG pupils as she was also the subject of our winning entry from Daisy Pass, Year 13. Daisy’s admiration of Figueres’ historical political achievements in global climate negotiating processes, climate change, sustainable development, energy, land use and technical and financial cooperation led her to choose Figueres as the subject of her entry. The resulting and extremely striking piece of artwork (pictured below) is an intricate drawing which uses pattern to represent perspective and the patterns of behaviour which are causing the greatest harm to our planet.

Many congratulations to Daisy, Emma and Angela for their thought-provoking contributions and thanks again to Mr and Mrs Vane, without whom the prize would not exist. The winning girls were awarded vouchers for eco-friendly retailer, Ethical Supermarket.