St John's Weekly News - 16 March 2026
Celebrating Musical Achievement at St John’s, Bishop Auckland
At St John’s in Bishop Auckland, we are incredibly proud of our students’ dedication to their musical studies. Playing an instrument takes commitment, perseverance and countless hours of practice — and this week, we are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of students who have demonstrated exactly that.
Celebrating the Joy of Reading at St John’s in Bishop Auckland
On Thursday, St John’s in Bishop Auckland celebrated the joy of reading and the power of stories to spark imagination, build empathy and bring our community together. At St John’s, we are passionate about fostering a lifelong love of reading — from diving into new worlds and exploring new perspectives to enjoying a peaceful moment with a great book.
St John’s Cast Visit Sunderland University for Little Shop of Horrors Experience
The principal cast of this year’s St John’s school production of Little Shop of Horrors had the fantastic opportunity to visit Sunderland University to watch their performance of the musical live on stage. This visit offered our cast a valuable chance to see the show brought to life, helping them develop their own characterisation, vocals and performance skills ahead of our school production.
St John's Weekly News - 9 March 2026
Celebrating the National Year of Reading: Love Your Library Month at St John’s
February’s Love Your Library Month brought an exciting buzz to St John’s Catholic Secondary School and Sixth Form, with students across all year groups diving into reading activities, competitions and creative challenges. We were truly blown away by the quality of the entries submitted—proof that our students have an incredible imagination and a genuine passion for books.
A Magical Evening at Matilda the Musical
Just before half term, a group of our talented Performing Arts students – including members of our school choir and the Little Shop of Horrors cast – enjoyed a spectacular trip to the Sunderland Empire to see the award‑winning Matilda the Musical.
St John's Weekly News - 2 March 2026
Tom’s Talks: Year 10 Explore Positive Masculinity and the Power of Social Media
At St John’s Catholic Secondary School and Sixth Form, we are committed to developing confident, compassionate and responsible young people. As part of our ongoing personal development and character education programme, our Year 10 boys recently took part in an inspiring Tom’s Talks workshop led by speaker and youth educator, Tom. This thought‑provoking session tackled some of the most important issues facing young people today, including toxic masculinity, misogyny and the powerful influence of social media.
Ash Wednesday Liturgies: Beginning Our Lenten Journey Together
During the final week of term, all year groups at St John’s Catholic Secondary School and Sixth Form came together to mark the beginning of Lent with meaningful Ash Wednesday liturgies. These reflective services offered students a moment of calm, focus and spiritual renewal as we entered this important season in the Church’s calendar.
Sixth Form Theatre Trip to York: A Day of Culture, Creativity and Conversation
Our St John’s Sixth Form students enjoyed an unforgettable cultural experience this week as our Performing Arts and Art groups travelled to the historic city of York for a day filled with creativity, inspiration, and powerful theatre.
Inspiring Visit to St John’s Bishop Auckland: Year 10 Learn from Syrian Refugee Speaker
Last week at St John’s Catholic School & Sixth Form College in Bishop Auckland, our community had the privilege of welcoming Iman, a Syrian refugee who shared her powerful personal story with our entire Year 10 cohort. Since arriving in the UK in 2017, Iman and her children have faced challenges, change and incredible moments of resilience — and her visit offered our students a unique opportunity to learn directly from lived experience.