Congratulations to our 6 students on being shortlisted for the South Tyneside and Gateshead Poetry Award in recognition of the 90th Anniversary of the Jarrow March. The Awards Ceremony, hosted by local MP Kate Osborne, took place yesterday at Hebburn Town Football Club.  We are extremely pleased to announce that the winner of the Secondary Schools Award, was Yathu Anbu Bhuvaneswari for his poem titled 'The March'. Well done on an amazing achievement!

The March

Beneath the cranes of silent yards,
Through rusted gates and empty guards.
The hammer’s ring had died away,
Leaving the town in shades of grey.
Two hundred men in coats worn thin,
Left Jarrow’s streets with hope within.
With steady steps and hearts that cried,
They marched with pride, side by side.
Their hands held tight a simple plea,
To work, to live, and to be free.
Through wind and rain and biting cold,
They told their story, brave and bold.
From Tyneside’s fog to London’s gate,
They carried burdens, sealed by fate.
Though doors were closed, and hearts were turned,
A fire for justice brightly burned.
The yards are gone, their boots are still,
But still their spirit bends no will.
A legacy of strength and pain,
That echoes through the English rain.

The PE team are delighted to announce that they have received the Platinum School Games Mark award for their commitment to PE, school sport and physical activity. This award is extra special as it can only be applied for after demonstrating consistency at Gold standard for 4 years in a row. We are only the 2nd secondary school in South Tyneside to hold this mark.

A big thank you to Mr Thompson, Mrs Robertson, Miss French, Mrs Hall, Mr Jernskau, Mr McConway, Mr Murtha, Mr Andrews, Mr Whitley, Mr Clifton, Mrs Smith and Mr Anderson for all giving up their time to offer Jarrow School students wider PE opportunities.

Thanks to Bryan and Liam who run a very well organised and engaging calendar for the schools in South Tyneside. Also, a big thank you to all of our students who engage with this programme and our PE curriculum, we hope you have enjoyed it! Mr Marley

On the 21st of March, Jarrow School entered the first round of the national Mock Trial Competition, run by Young Citizens every year, which challenges students to undertake a whole host of roles in a simulated court environment. We are delighted to share that our Year 9 entrants were successful and will continue on to the second round of the competition! The students have shown a fantastic commitment throughout this term and presented themselves with the utmost professionalism and this result reflects all of the hard work they put in.

The competition challenged students to either step into the role of barristers, arguing their case in front of a magisters bench, or into the shoes of the witnesses, having to learn their parts and accurately answer questions thrown at them by other competitors. Some students also took on more professional roles, as either a court usher, keeping the trial moving steadily forward or sat on the bench themselves, with the difficult job of deciding the final verdict of the case. The judges were exceedingly impressed with both the prosecution and defence side of our team, with everyone giving stand out performances.

The first trial of the day was between the defence team of Jarrow School and the prosecution team of Durham Johnson. Our team was led by Yathu Anbu Bhuvaneswari and Naomi Mendes and they presented themselves brilliantly, successfully achieving a not guilty verdict for their defendant. The witnesses were played by Caitlyn Ferguson and Neil Dixley, who both held up under questioning and were excellent in their delivery. The second trial between Jarrow School prosecution and the defence of Belmont School was equally successful. Our team was lead by Fiona Jayawardena and Izzie Coyle, whose arguments managed to sway the magisters and achieve a guilty verdict, a very impressive feat that rarely happens during competition. The witnesses Caitlyn Ferguson and Hollie Reynolds were crucial to this success as their preparation made sure no other choice could be made. 

This achievement was particularly noteworthy given the level of competition they faced and the complexity of the case they were required to present. For all of the students, this was their first experience of a mock trial, making their performance all the more impressive. It is a testament to their resilience, responsibility and respect, upholding the Jarrow School morals.

The team was led by two staff members, Miss Angus and Mr Simmonds. This was a collaborative effort between students and staff and their ongoing support of the students has been vital.

The team now looks ahead to the next round of the competition in a few months time and we wish them every success. Regardless of the outcome, their achievement already is truly impressive and they have made the school incredibly proud. We look forward to their ongoing success and celebrating what promises to be an exciting journey.

Congratulations again to everyone involved!