Wider Curriculum

CRIME REDUCTION
John from the Crime Reduction Unit came in last week to talk to KS3/4 and 6th form about being safe when using phones and messaging. The pupils were great and learnt a lot.

LIBERDADE
Last week our students enjoyed a visit from the amazing Liberdade, a local expressive movement and performance group that works with students in the area with special needs. It was a wonderful day and absolutely fun-packed!

At Hilltop we have a thriving performing arts community that knows how to have a good time and are used to working hard to put on a first class show, so it was a wonderful treat for us to come together and someone put on a show for us!

Liberdade gave a short expressive performance that was at once beautifully simple, dramatically inspiring and thoroughly thought-provoking. As if that was not enough we were then treated to 2 workshops that put two small groups through their paces with the most fun games I think we had ever played! Liberdade demonstrated games, integrated teams and cheered us on as we all got involved with the competitive games.

In nail-biting finishes, both staff and students alike cheered, raced and even fell to the floor laughing and gasping for breath, or maybe that was just me.

We are so very grateful to Liberdade for coming to our school, free of charge, to share their joy and enthusiasm with us and leave us with games and memories that will last. Yet even more than that, I was overwhelmed by the resilience of our young people, their sense of fun and fair play as well as their ability to win and lose well. They are an incredible bunch and it is our delight to work with them and see them enjoying being them.

Well done, Hilltop!

PUPIL LED LEARNING
Students enjoying various activities during pupil led learning.

GIRLS FOOTBALL
This week, 12 of our female students, from all year groups, attended the Girls’ Only Football event at Nucastle, the home of, the Newcastle United Foundation. where they played football against other SEN schools from across the region. This event coincided with the ESFA Schools Football Week, so all the girls who attended received a certificate. It was also our first chance to wear our brand-new track suits. The next girls football event will be on Wednesday 8th March, which will be part of the FA’s #letgirlsplay Biggest Ever Football Session.

WALL ART
Pupils and staff enjoyed making a collaborative art on the wall in the autism centre. The tree represents our values of we are kind, we respect, we belong and we are ambitious, it was great to have everyone involved.