MARCH/APRIL 2023
Easter fun
Cool stuff to keep busy
Perfect prom
Say goodbye to high school in style
World class
An education for all
saturday 13th may, 9am-12noon
Dame Allan’s recently celebrated the opening of its Jubilee building, boasting outstanding facilities for the thriving STEAM subjects of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. The £8 million development officially opened as part of ‘Dedication Week’, featuring entrepreneur Sara Davies speaking as part of ‘The Lectures’ - the school’s series of talks from inspirational people from a range of careers - plus an alumni dinner, a performing arts showcase and art masterclasses.
The latest addition offers a light and airy exhibition space for pupils to showcase their artwork and be inspired by others. As well as this, the building has purpose built science labs, a dedicated design technology space for sixth formers, maths classrooms and a living wall to demonstrate the school’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
Principal Will Scott said: ‘The Jubilee building is a testament to our belief in the future of Dame Allan’s Schools and is benefiting pupils in many ways. They are already flourishing academically and artistically thanks to the range of facilities. The formal exhibition space is an excellent place to showcase pupils’ work, and the science laboratories and design technology suites are aiding the teaching of practical skills for a range of STEAM careers.’ dameallans.co.uk
As fashionistas gathered around the world for Fashion Week, young designers of the future from Newcastle High School for Girls (NHSG) have presented their own annual Art and Design Fashion Show. Showcasing their fashion collections inspired by themes such as race, medicine, the human body and Formula 1, alongside inspiration from the work of a variety of artists, the designs took centre stage in the school’s highly anticipated annual catwalk show. NHSG, which has an outstanding reputation as a centre of creative excellence, sees many of its pupils following art and fashion related courses and go on to enjoy successful careers in fashion. label.newcastlehigh.gdst.net
Durham High School’s U19 netball team will be representing the North East at the Netball National Schools Finals this March. The girls made it to the National Finals having topped both the county and regional competitions without losing a single match. Jo Slane, Director of Sport at the school, said: “The team played superbly and we are immensely proud of their achievements this season. It will be fantastic to see Durham High School representing the North East, playing against the top school teams in England.
“The girls are wonderful role models for our younger players and are the perfect example of what can be achieved when you are dedicated, determined and collaborative as a team.
Durham High School’s commitment to sport and extra-curricular activities was recognised in a recent report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), which found it to be ‘excellent’ across all aspects of school life, from the rounded education it provides to the social and moral development of its pupils. dhsfg.org.uk
Luxe chats to Christopher Nutman, founder and chief executive at Global Teacher, about giving marginalised children in developing countries access to education
What can you tell us about Global Teacher and its place in the education sector?
Global Teacher is a charity focused on giving marginalised students access to education in developing countries. We utilise innovative technology, such as our 3D printed, offline, off-grid educational kit, to provide world-class education to areas where access to electricity and the internet is limited or non-existent.
How is Global Teacher doing its bit to change the way we educate?
Global Teacher is dedicated to breaking down barriers to education and making quality education accessible to all. Our unique approach empowers students to learn and grow in ways that were previously impossible.
What can you tell us about your innovative approach?
We combine 3D printing, solar power, and offline, off-grid technology to provide students with access to world-class educational content. Our educational kit is designed to be self-sustainable and bring education to even the most remote areas.
How important is the North East in the development of Global Teacher?
The North East is a crucial part of Global Teacher's development, as our educational kit is designed and manufactured right here in Sunderland. The region's strong manufacturing and innovation sectors are integral to our mission to grow and recruit here, providing quality education to marginalised students across the globe.
How can people get involved? People can get involved by supporting our crowdfunding campaign (crowdfunder. co.uk/p/globalteacher) and spreading awareness about our mission. We are looking to raise a significant amount of money through individuals, corporate sponsorship and philanthropy to keep pushing and make this
dream a reality. We also welcome volunteers, strategic partnerships and any other support that can help us achieve our goal of educating one million marginalised students.
What’s in the pipeline for 2023? In 2023, our focus is on testing, launching and scaling the distribution of our educational kit to reach as many marginalised students as possible. We will also be working on developing new, innovative educational tools and resources to enhance the learning experience for students worldwide.
globalteacher.co
Looking to make an entrance? Prestige Car Hire has you covered. Make heads turn with the supercar of your dreams. With a huge range of impressive vehicles and occasion packages to choose from, this Newcastle-based business has your chauffeuring needs taken care of. prestigecarhirenortheast.co.uk
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in all things prom, then Laura Lea Boutique is the place to go. The shabby chic interior and quirky detailing make this dress boutique a hidden gem, nestled within a beautiful Georgian style building in Old Eldon Square. From red carpet glamour to chic and stylish, and all styles in between, it’s a fan favourite when it comes to ticking boxes for prom. lauraleaboutique.co.uk
From sparkles and sequins to sleek and sophisticated, Paris Dress House is home to a range of gorgeous styles for you to choose from. Located in the Metrocentre, the family-run and award-winning, independent dress retailer, aims to make you look and feel your very best by providing one-to-one dress consultation appointments dedicated to you and your dream dress. parisdresshouse.com
Stand out for all the right reasons with a suit that allows you to express your individuality. Located in Newcastle, Mr. Munro is an independent family business, specialising in men’s suits, shoes and accessories. When it comes to choosing the perfect suit, there’s a huge variety to choose from - all of which are inspired by vintage and heritage designs that will give your look the edge. As well as a range of impressive brands under their belts, Mr. Munro offers some seriously stylish accessories including the likes of pocket watches, waistcoat chains, pocket squares and more. mrmunro.co.uk
Woven is an award-winning Gentlemen’s Outfitters situated in the heart of Durham City. Offering a diverse range of tailoring, casual wear, accessories and footwear, it’s the ultimate one-stop shop for your prom attire. With suit hire and made-to-measure services, along with clothing alterations and dry cleaning options available under the same roof, it’s hard to think of reasons why not to visit this suave Elvet Bridge store. wovendurham.co.uk
Looking to capture the perfect pre-prom pic? Look no further than The Little Events Company. This North East-based business has been making a storm in the event decor industry and for good reason. From elegant feather, pretty flower, and glitz and glam shimmer walls, to the most beautiful balloon arches, personalised signs, igloo hire and more, they’ve got it all. instagram.com/thelittleeventscompany
When it comes to glitz and glam, the wonderful Alex couldn’t come more highly recommended. For all of your hair and makeup needs, she’s the girl for you. Alex is a highly qualified and experienced mobile hair stylist and makeup artist for all occasions in the North East. Whatever your desired look, let her know and she’ll work her magic to make your glam dreams come true. instagram.com/byalexforth
This April, book your child onto one of the local Grass Roots Easter courses for a whole host of sporting fun. Throughout the Easter programme, children will be able to try their hand at a variety of sports including football, cricket, gymnastics, rounders, tennis, hockey and more. As well as getting stuck into the sporting activities, they can expect fun-filled games, water fights, crash mat tournaments, tug of war competitions and more. grassrootssports.co.uk
If your little one is the adventurous type who loves being outdoors, then this Easter Holiday Camp is just the ticket. Located on a real working family farm in Ponteland, kids ages 5 - 11 will get to experience first-hand what life is like on the farm and, of course, have a great time! This hands-on holiday club comes packed with a fun range of activities including feeding farm animals, harvesting vegetables and collecting poultry eggs. Little ones will come face-toface with pigs, sheep, goats, spring lambs and a whole range of poultry. Farm work aside, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to roll up their sleeves and get crafty, take part in farm-themed games and enjoy much more!
wilde-farm.myshopify.com
Get on your dancing shoes for four fun-filled days at Dance City’s Easter Dance Camp. From 3 - 6 April, children aged 5 - 14 will learn routines and develop skills in Street, Break, Bollywood, Contemporary and Musical Theatre. Representing diversity, movement, energy and fun, this Easter Dance Camp welcomes all. Whether your child already dances or is a complete beginner all they need is passion and enthusiasm to get moving and have fun. Here, your little ones will be taught by experienced dance artists who will support your child to have the best experience –growing not only in dance skills but in confidence and social skills too.
dancecity.co.uk
Water babies will love this action-packed ocean activity holiday club at South Shields Surf. For kids aged 8 - 16, the Surf & Paddle Board Holiday Club is a four-day course which runs 10 - 2pm Monday to Thursday every week in the school holidays. Throughout the week, they’ll learn to surf, stand up on a paddle board and learn about water safety. Each day will be spent in the water and on the beach with a small break for lunch in the middle of the day. For more oceanfilled action, little ones can opt for the Coast Explorers Club, which consists of four sessions of fun, games and exploring our coast with a different focus each day; they’ll go rockpooling, make plaster casts of shells, build kites, and press flowers. They’ll find creatures, identify plants, build sand sculptures, rock towers and play loads of games. southshieldsurf.co.uk
Based at Dame Allan’s Junior School, SportsNE is a holiday club centred around sport, fun and friendship for children aged 4 - 12. Each day will consist of a mixture of high-action sporting activities, arts and crafts, quizzes, free-play and team building activities, with scope for children to improvise, build confidence, learn new skills and make new friends. Easter week one runs from Monday 3Thursday 6 April and Easter week two runs from Tuesday 11 - Friday 14 April. sportne.co.uk
Half-term activities to get stuck into across the region this Easter...
