On Monday 3B visited Durham Cathedral with Mrs Whitehead and Mrs Hymers. Students were a credit to Hill Top and showed great attention and interest to the staff teaching them about the interesting artefacts around the Cathedral, how they dress in different robes for different celebrations in the Christian calendar, amongst many other things. Students enjoyed looking at a Lego model of the Cathedral and some built a mini version of their own. 

In maths students have continued study of measurement and completed lessons on Mymaths online.  

Geography – students looked at locations of farms in the area in preparation for a visit to a farm. 

In drama, students have continued study of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and enjoyed choreographing a sword fight.    

English – as part of our, Writing for Different Purposes target, students planned and wrote a formal letter to one of Hill Top’s senior leaders with suggestions on how to improve the school environment. We will be addressing an envelope and posting them next week. 

Science – we continued our Light topic and enjoyed making a reflection tester and using it to investigate a range of materials to help us decide on the best fabrics to use in a book bag design. They then designed a book bag that would be visible in dim light or the dark. I was really impressed with some beautiful and effective designs. 

PSHE – we continued study of nutrition and a healthy diet and lifestyle with students carrying out some online research to find answers to trickier questions.  

ILS – Students did really well with further practice of ironing different items of clothing, colour sorting and loading a wash and stripping and making-up a single bed. They also practised some folding of clothes and linens and hanging items onto hangers. Please encourage them to help out at home and continue to practise. 

PE – students have taken part in speed, agility and quickness (SAQ) games and timed their efforts to see if they could beat their best on the next round. They’ve also enjoyed some trampolining on the new trampoline. Well done to EH and SF for doing so well in the Newcastle Foundation football tournament this week. 

Well done to 3B superstars for all of their hard work this past week! 

Such a great week in 3B with a few ‘different days’ experiencing lots of events to promote independence. 

 On Monday morning we completed our Read Write Inc modules ready to start a new one. We then had a Q and A session with the police. They came with a car and van with a cell in the back. We got lots of stories and information from them. This was a good visit! 

  In cookery we cooked vegan mince pies and made our own pastry.  

  On Tuesday, we celebrated Holocaust Memorial Day with an assembly by Mrs Whitehead. We asked questions and would not have like to experience the camps. We then joined a National zoom for an hour with the writer Tom Palmer and a survivor from the Kindertransport. We asked her a question – “Did she keep in contact with other children?” and she explained there was a reunion which was very nice, but all she concentrated on as a child was her and her brother.  

  In drama, we have had an amazing week responding to the assembly on the Holocaust and expressing individual thoughts and feelings on the subject and connecting this to our own experiences in everyday life. Students have also made terrific progress in understanding the plot of Hamlet!   

On Wednesday we visited the Metro Centre, via Gateshead Interchange with Miss Hayles, Mrs Hymers and Mr Weites. An Independent Living Skills trip that students had planned and researched using online bus timetables and decided upon the shops they would visit. I cannot praise 3B students highly enough for representing Hill Top School in such a positive light – A huge well done to them all!  

  

English – as part of our, Writing for Different Purposes, target students looked at the features, language and layout of formal letters and amended an informal letter to read formally.  

 PSHE – we studied food allergies, looked at the main groups and how food allergies and intolerances can affect the lives of those who suffer with the condition. 

ILS – We looked at the features of an iron and how to use it safely, after a demonstration. We practised putting the board up and down and storing it safely. We ironed a delicate item on a cool setting, a sweatshirt on a medium setting and then a pair of jeans on a hot setting with lots of steam and the water jet. A massive well done to all students for showing great attention, demonstrating skills and using the iron in such a mature and sensible way. 

PE – Leisure Games, such as bowling, darts, pool, etc. enjoyed by all.  

Another huge well done to 3B Superstars who all received a very well-deserved certificate for their exemplary behaviour when out and for safe and mature ironing practise. 

Wishing you all a great weekend from 3B staff! 

Another busy and productive week in 3B 

 

Maths – continued study of measurement converting centimetres to metres and vice versa. Students enjoyed measuring the yard and dinner hall with a trundle wheel and recording their results.  

Geography – researched information online on The Red Tractor Scheme.  

 RE – continued study of Judaism. 

 

Students continued to work on Read, Write, Inc literacy scheme or free reading. 

 English – ‘Varmints’ as part of our, Writing for Different Purposes, target we designed a leaflet or poster about caring for the planet and looked at the features of formal letters.  

 PSHE – we designed healthy meals for a day, ensuring we were hitting all of our food group targets and drinking 6-8 cups of water. 

 ILS – We named household equipment and resources in relation to caring for clothes and linen and practised skills in the ILS Room. Excellent bed making skills shown by some. 

 

Science – we shared what we knew about this half term’s topic Light and enjoyed trying to guess items in feely bags that we could not see and then revealing them into the light and comparing them with our guesses. 

 PE – Leisure Games enjoyed by all.  

 Drama - 3B have just completed the first 2 acts of the story of Hamlet, running through the scenes, taking on the parts of characters and performing.   They are demonstrating understanding of the characters' emotions and the plot.  It has been an exciting week in Drama! 

Massive well done to EH for her fantastic effort and achievement in the Swimming Gala! 

3B are very much looking forward to visiting the Metro Centre next Wednesday as part of our Independent Living Skills.  

Another very successful and busy week in 3B.  

Maths – measurement in cm’s and metres and a practical using a measuring wheel to collect results.  

History – researched where the 7 kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon Britain were located and added to a map.   

Geography – farming and what livestock you might find on a farm. 

RE – Judaism, where and when the religion was founded, and students shared what they know about the Jewish faith already.  

 

Students continued to work on Read, Write, Inc, literacy scheme or free reading. 

 English – We watched a film version and our story, ‘Varmints’ and compared it with the book. We created a picture board and wrote our own simple version of the story and then wrote a diary entry in past tense. 

 PSHE – We assessed last term’s topic and then started learning about healthy living. 

 

ILS – We shared our knowledge of caring for clothes and linen and completed a baseline assessment. 

 Science – we revisited the water cycle and assessed ‘States of Matter’. A huge well done to students for the progress made last HT. 

 PE – Students continued baselining components of their fitness, grip test, beep test and vertical jump. 

 

Drama - completed a personality quiz and we are all set to look at the results next week. 

Students all enjoyed their Friday session in the Sensory Room, Softplay and Imuse after attending assembly celebrating World Religion Day. 

3B settled very well back into class after the holidays. All chatted about how good the holidays were and Christmas /Santa was good to them.  

We have started new topics in Maths - looking at length and measuring things with a ruler in cm.  

History - Bede and Anglo-Saxons - who they were and where they came from.  

Geography - farming and what it is. 

 

Students continued to work on Read, Write, Inc literacy scheme or free reading. 

English – We read through and discussed our new story, ‘Varmints’ and explored the theme within it. As part of our, Writing for Different Purposes, target we planted seeds and wrote instructions. 

PSHE – Think it or Say it! All about impulse control and thinking before speaking and being mindful that our words have an impact on others. We have also identified and explored different forms of discrimination and racism. 

ILS – We discussed appropriate and safe ways to behave when we are out in the community and came up with our own suggestions before reminding ourselves of the Hill Top School – Code of Conduct. 

 

Science – we carried out an Evaporation Experiment, wrote it up and compared our findings with our hypothesis and wrote some well-considered conclusions. 

PE – Students built up a sweat taking part in a fitness beep test and calculated how much their heart rate had increased after vigorous exercise. They are looking forward to taking part in Leisure Games this half term. 

Drama - 3B have made an excellent start into our work on exploring character, by exploring their own character!  They have answered questions honestly and thoughtfully in the first part of their personality test and have identified strength and weaknesses.  Well done! 

3B have settled in really well and are a good team. The class work together and support each other in learning. It is never quiet not a dull moment! 

Read write Inc has helped the class improve in all areas and we are seeing more becoming free readers- well done for the hard work. 

We are becoming more aware of our environment and locality from visits , geography, history and independent living skills. We have mapped out where we are all coming from to school and compared with staff. 

We have enjoyed experiments in science on solids, liquids and gasses, and made rice crispy cakes with the melted chocolate. 

We think it has been a good term, we have enjoyed swimming, history and the visits, science and the experiments and chilling in the sensory room  and soft play! 

We hope that we will have more visits next term to support us in our learning.

Maths – we have been working on finding half and quarter of shapes and numbers. This has been challenging but the class have tried hard and not given up.  

History - Roman food - we have tasted food that Romans may have had, honey, vinegar, celery, spicy meat, chicken, olives, grapes, soft cheese, bread and pomegranate seeds. Not all were the taste of the class and olives were described as minging and the cheese as old socks!  

RE - we have looked at what we do for Christmas and compared this to what a Christian would do.  

Geography – we have looked at maps and where we are. Our location. 

English – students planned and wrote a narrative poem with a Christmas theme. They all wrote a lovely poem describing the scene, characters, action and feelings with a strong ending. 

Science – students carried out investigations looking at the three stages of water and described what was happening in each experiment. They also wrote up last week’s experiment when they Investigated the quickest way to cool chocolate crispy cakes so they were ready for a birthday party.  

ILS – students used their internet research skills to plan a journey to the Metro Centre from Hill Top School. They copied and printed a map highlighting the bus routes and identified any potential dangers on their travels. They also discussed the things they will need take with them when travelling on public transport. We look forward to visiting the Metro Centre in January 2026. 

Drama – students enjoyed singing Christmas Carols. 

PE – students enjoyed Basketball. 

Maths- This week we have started a new topic - fractions. Looking at half and quarters of a shape and number. The work we did on multiplication should help us work out problems.  

RE- We have made Christingle Oranges and learnt what the parts represent for Christians.  We took them home to show people. This is done in church with children during advent, the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas.  

Geography - We have completed what do we know tasks from our learning this term. Questions on map reading, symbols, and location of the school, along with basic geography of our region.  

English – We have completed two pieces of Christmas themed descriptive writing. The first describing a town decorated for the festivities and the second all about Christmas Eve. 

Science – We have studied melting and freezing. We carried out two practical investigations. In the first we found out the best temperature for melting chocolate and in the second we used our knowledge to make Rice Crispy Cakes and the best method for cooling them. We compared our predictions with results and discussed how the structure of the chocolate had changed in both investigations. 

PSHE – Students looked at different scenarios of bullying, teasing or banter and decided the best fit for each.  

PE – We continued to practise basketball skills and some students did well when taking part in football tournaments. 

Drama – We enjoyed singing Christmas Carols and practising keyboard. 

The Key – Students had to work cooperatively to decide on where they wanted to visit on their Key funded trip.     

This week 3B have worked hard on the following; 

Assessments in RE on what they have learnt in Christianity - the Creation, Nativity, beliefs and symbols and in History - Romans in the North East - including writing a letter home from the fort.  

Maths - we have been working on multiplication and sharing using bricks. Then we are moving on to simple division in written methods.  

English – we have continued to study the classic poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’, and looked at the meaning of some of the language used in 1823 when the poem was written such as, ‘twas, ere, ‘kerchief, hordes.’  We looked at different Christmas traditions around the World and wrote our own short stories with a Christmas theme. 

ILS – we studied how to read a 24-hour bus timetable and began to plan a journey. 

Science – we carried out an investigation into how much gas (CO2) is found in fizzy drinks, how to weigh the gas and how to make sure our results are fair and reliable. 

PSHE – we considered situations from a positive and negative viewpoint and how this can influence how we feel and act. We also looked at the difference between teasing and banter. 

Drama –3B sampled some music from the Russian Christmas Vesperian tradition: a male voice choir singing the Russian Christmas song, 'O Mild Light'.It received mixed reviews, but all students proved they are getting more competent with using our inter-related dimensions to describe musical compositions.  Well done, 3B! 

Key Fund – Students looked at positive ways to settle disagreements. 

PE – Students improved their skills in shooting games and basketball. 

Drama - This week 3B have been learning about Aeolian harp music and using their knowledge of inter-related dimensions to describe a piece by Roger Whinfield.

 Maths - 3B have been challenged by division using their knowledge of multiplication and being introduced to bar division using blocks.  

 History - planning a feast in preparation for the feast! Looking at what the poor and rich ate and whether or not they would like flamingo tongue, peacock or fig, never mind the fish gut stew! 

 RE- identifying the order of the Nativity Story and who was at the birth of Jesus. 

 English – Students delivered a presentation of a short report that they researched, wrote and delivered in one lesson amalgamating the skills they had learnt last term studying ‘Non-Chronological Report Writing’. We also had fun joining a live link for Poetry Day with Michael Rosen when he performed some of his well-known poems with a food theme. Students then wrote their own poems with a food theme.

 PSHE – Students completed an assessment of the last topic ‘Consent’ and a baseline assessment of the new topic, ‘Bullying and Discrimination’.

Science – Pupils began this half-term’s topic, ‘States of Matter’ by grouping items into Solids, Liquids and Gases.

Pupil Lead Learning (PLL) – Students have met with Mr Taylor and discussed how they can collaborate and apply for up to £250 from The Key Charity to enable them to attend an activity of their choice or purchase items they would like in school. Students practise a wide variety of skills including teamwork, cooperation, commitment, problem solving, resilience and presentation, etc.

Theatre Trip to Lion Witch and the Wardrobe 13/11/25 at Sunderland Empire. 

10 pupils from a mix of  KS3 and 4  watched the dramatic musical performance of the book. 

Mrs Gatt, Mr Weites and Mrs Whitehead spent a great afternoon with the pupils who were entranced by the production- watching Aslan the lion as a large puppet, the White Witch and magic and flying into the sky along with Mr Tumnus and of course the lamppost. This was a modern adaption of the book and very different to the film. Live musicians supported the drama on stage taking various parts. Even the battle scene was re-enacted using large puppet heads for mythical creatures. This was a great visit and behaviour was impeccable. 

 Parent’s Evening – A big thank you to parent’s for either coming into school or chatting on the phone and giving us the opportunity to share how well all 3B students have settled in and made such a positive start to the academic year 2025-26.

 Thanks