Pupils from Gosforth Academy and Great Park Academy have just returned from a highly successful German exchange trip to Heidelberg, Germany. This year marked a significant milestone for the exchange, as Great Park Academy participated for the first time, joining Gosforth Academy, which has proudly upheld this enriching collaboration for nearly three decades.

For an entire week, our pupils had the invaluable opportunity to fully immerse themselves in German language and culture. They stayed with host families from the Elisabeth-von-Thadden-Schule in Heidelberg, gaining firsthand experience of German daily life and attending a German school day.

Beyond the classroom and family life, the exchange offered a packed itinerary of cultural and educational excursions. Pupils explored Germany's largest interactive science centre, the Experimenta in Heilbronn, and delved into the world of media art at the ZKM Centre for Digital Art in Karlsruhe. A trip to the zoo provided a fun way to learn the names of animals in German.

Adventure was also on the agenda! After a sunny boat trip down the River Neckar, pupils embarked on a challenging hike up a steep hill to the impressive fortress of Dilsberg. This historical site offered a perfect opportunity to compare it to Dunstanburgh Castle, which pupils visited during the first leg of the exchange back in October.

A highlight of the trip involved a collaborative project where pupils, working with their German exchange partners, produced fantastic videos interviewing each other about their daily lives in each other's language. It was truly inspiring to witness the confidence with which our pupils began to use German outside the traditional classroom setting.

What Our Staff Had To Say:

"Participating in the German exchange for the first time has been an incredible experience for our Great Park Academy pupils," commented Ms Khalid, Curriculum Leader for MFL at Great Park Academy. "They've not only significantly improved their language skills but also gained a deeper understanding of German culture and forged lasting friendships. We're thrilled to be part of this long-standing tradition."

Ms Schneider, German-Exchange Coordinator at Gosforth Academy, added, "It was wonderful to see the collaboration between Gosforth and Great Park Academy pupils flourish. The exchange continues to be a cornerstone of our MFL department, providing an unparalleled opportunity for our students to develop their linguistic abilities and global awareness. The confidence they gained in speaking German was truly remarkable."

A Level German students were in for a treat when Christian Wheeldon, Gosforth Academy’s librarian and author of “Deep Distance: ​The Musical Life of Manuel Göttsching”, delivered a talk on “Krautrock Music” in its historical context. Mr Wheeldon inspired students with his passion and knowledge of the origins of this revolutionary psychedelic rock and electronic music after the Second Word War, and its influence on today’s music.

The first cohort of German A-level students to learn about Mr Wheeldon’s book on Manuel Göttsching were so enthusiastic about his session that - for the third year running - students have been asking for Mr Wheeldon to come to enrich their German learning journey as well.

German teacher Angelika Schneider commented: “Mr Wheeldon is not only an outstanding librarian who always ensures that Gosforth Academy’s library is stocked with interesting books to accompany and enhance our curriculum, but he is also a thought-provoking author and expert of a unique musical genre that is relevant to the German A-level course. His session is also a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn about the process involved in writing a book and a great inspiration for their own individual research projects which they will have to present at the end of their course.”

As we prepare for the upcoming academic year, it's time to ensure that all students are ready with their school uniforms. Here’s everything you need to know about ordering your uniform and why it's crucial not to delay.

Why Order Early?

1. Avoid Last-Minute Rush: Ordering early means you won't be caught in the last-minute scramble. This ensures you have everything you need well before the first day of school. Our approved supplier, Michael Sehgal & Sons Ltd, recommends you place your order before the 1st of July.
2. Guaranteed Availability: Popular sizes and items can sell out quickly. By ordering now, you guarantee that you get the right sizes and styles.
3. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your uniform is sorted gives you one less thing to worry about as the new school year approaches.

Uniform items which do not include a school logo (badge) can be purchased from any retailer as long as they meet our uniform policy standards.

All uniform items with a school logo (badge) and our school coats should be ordered from our approved supplier, Michael Seghal & Sons Ltd.

You can visit their store located at: Unit 17 Airport, Industrial Estate, Kingston Park, Newcastle, NE3 2EF (near to Tesco), where you can also benefit from a measuring and fitting service. Or you can order online at michaelsehgal.co.uk/gosforth-academy. You can contact them on 0191 230 2320 or email at sales@michaelsehgal.co.uk.

Our school and uniform supplier can also help with access to secondhand uniform items.

Please contact us if you need any more information or assistance. We're here to help!

Please click below to view the Principal's update.

We are delighted to announce that Gosforth Academy is featured in the Top 11 Secondary Schools in Tyne & Wear, based on the Government's updated preliminary performance tables. NewcastleWorld.com has reported the rankings and created a top 11 listing, which lists our school in third place.

The newly released GCSE performance data, drawn from the Progress 8 Score for the 2023/2024 academic year, reflects our students' outstanding academic performance and overall development. This score assesses student achievements and learning progress relative to peers from similar primary schools across the country. A score above zero is labeled "positive," and a score exceeding 0.2 is recognised as "above average." Gosforth Academy proudly reports a Progress 8 score of 0.64, categorised as ‘well above average.’ This Progress Score reflects our aim to foster academic success and personal growth for all of our students.

Our Principal, Preit Chahal, shared his pride and said, “We are thrilled to be recognised among the top state secondary schools in the region. Our unwavering focus on academic excellence, alongside our commitment to student wellbeing, creates an environment where every pupil can thrive.”