Opportunity for Year 10 and Year 11 students interested in careers in the energy sector

By Martin Said10th September 2026

Students aged 14-19 can apply to become a member of Northern Powergrid’s ‘Focus for Future’ Youth Insights Panel 2026-2027?

Key Information

  • Young people will form the Focus for Future Panel and contribute their perspectives on decision making and future thinking with Northern Powergrid. We, Solutions for the Planet, partner with Northern Powergrid and the young people to deliver the Panel.
  • There will be a total of 5 Panel Sessions through the year, from October 2026 to May 2027 – with Session 1 on Thursday 22nd October.
  • The Session agendas will be developed in partnership with the business and the Focus for Future panellists, leading to meaningful and relevant engagement.
  • Panel Sessions will take place online on Zoom and after school / college.
  • Panel Sessions will each last about 1.5 hours, with approximately 30 minutes of preparation work and a 15-minute Feedback Form.
  • The deadline for applications is Tuesday 6th October 2026, with first interviews currently scheduled for Thursday 8th October.

Benefits for Young People

  • Gain increased networking opportunities.
  • Develop skills, e.g., teamwork, confidence, negotiation.
  • Influence the plans and strategies of a business.
  • Broaden their understanding of the business landscape.
  • Receive recognition of their work via references and certificates.

About the Business

Northern Powergrid is an electricity distribution business, delivering electricity on behalf of suppliers from the national transmission system to 3.9 million domestic and business customers. Covering an area of 25,000 square kilometres, Northern PowerGrid’s network extends from north Northumberland, south to the Humber and northern Lincolnshire, and from the east coast to the Pennines. The network consists of more than 63,000 substations and around 96,000 kilometres of overhead line and underground cables.

G30 First Week Back

2nd September 2026Emmy Tatters

What a first week back G30 had! 


The guiding question for G30 was ‘How can we ensure that our future selves will thank us for the next two years?’ As always, we utilised our first week back to reconnect with the principles of crew and what it means to be OUR crews. Throughout the week, students engaged in initiatives – challenges that they had to overcome together as a crew. Through engaging in these, students were able to identify the features of a strong initiative and design their own. 


Students also explored the importance of building strong habits from the outset to ensure we are all as successful as we can be in our GCSEs in Summer 2028. To help motivate students, they looked at possible post-16 pathways and courses. 

This led students to create a professional CV which encouraged them to identify their strengths and reflect on all of the incredible things they have already done in their time at XPG and out of school. 
Students also had the opportunity to engage in 2 workshops with external professionals. These sessions focused on developing public speaking skills and interview skills. 


Students were then able to utilise these skills in the culmination of the week; every student in G30 had a 1:1 interview with an external professional, largely aligned to the student’s future career interests. 
I do want to share some of the incredible feedback we received from these visits: 

  • ‘Engaging and thoughtful speaker’ 
  • ‘Great communication, eye contact, confident but with humility’ 
  • ‘Engaging – great two-way conversation’ 
  • ‘Excellent interview, you showed great courage and will handle an interview very well.’
  • ‘Came across as kind and someone who likes to help others.’
  • ‘Unbelievably articulate’
  • ‘All answers felt authentic.’
  • ‘Should be very proud of herself. This was a fantastic interview. She was thoughtful, well prepared and confident throughout.’ 

It was truly a delight to see the smiles on the faces of the students as they walked away from their interviews. Interviews are something all our students will have later in life so this really is an invaluable experience for them to have at this point in their schooling. 

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Students will work with the feedback they have been given through their Thoughtful Thursday crew sessions over the coming weeks.

I want to thank you for the strong start that G30 have made to this important year. 
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s crew leader in the first instance.

Summer activities from Gateshead FC

12th July 2026XP Gateshead Office

Gateshead FC are delivering a range of fun, inclusive and engaging holiday activities for children aged 5–16 years, with sessions taking place at both Kibblesworth Park Pavilion and White Mere Primary School throughout the summer holidays.

Please see below for 5 timetables of their summer holiday camp offers. 

Their programme includes a wide variety of activities including:

⚽ Football & sports activities
🎨 Creative activities
🍎 Food-based activities
🌱 Outdoor learning & nature activities
🤝 Friendship building & team games
🧩 Sensory play, Lego, giant games and free play opportunities

There are have both:

🎟️ Funded HAF places available for eligible children
💷 Paid places available for families who do not qualify for HAF funding

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Booking links are below:

Funded HAF Places:
https://app.holidayactivities.com/parent/providers/gateshead-united-fc

Paid Places:
https://form.jotform.com/261745261095055


Gateshead United FC/ LJB Coaching
[email protected]
07580 420361

G30 – GCSE Pathways information – Drop in event this week

31st May 2026Martin Said

A reminder that to support Year 9 families in discussing Key Stage 4 pathways with your children, we are hosting an evening slot for any G30 families that wish to attend.

This event is happening on Tuesday 2nd June between 5pm and 6pm in school. You can drop in to the evening at any point from 5pm.

Staff leaders will be available to talk about your child and the courses on offer.

On the evening staff will be available to give you and your child advice in their role as:

GCSE Spanish – Miss Fielding

Level 2 Interactive Media – Mr Said

GCSE Geography – Miss Jones

Level 2 Childcare / Health & Social Care – Mrs Diamond

Level 2 Sports – Mr Devitt

Level 2 Spark Design / Technology – Mr Said

Art & Design – Photography – Mrs Carter

Art & Design – Fine Art – Ms Macphail

Mrs Mosley and Miss Tatters will also be on hand to answer any questions that families might have.

G29 KPMG Workshop in Newcastle – Thursday 4th June

31st May 2026Martin Said

On Thursday 4th June, 12 students from G29 will be attending an event at KPMG in Newcastle.

This event is a careers information workshop called Opening Doors which will give students an insight into life at KPMG, a professional services firm, where they will learn from consultants working at the forefront of technological innovation.

There are 12 spaces at the event and so far 7 students have signed up:

  • EA-H, LA, MH, BM, JM, HS-C, HW

Year 10 Students can sign up by following this link from their iPad. It is also linked form Student Notices.

Students that are attending will leave school at 8.30am. We will travel by foot to Heworth Metro and then will walk down to the Quayside from Gateshead Metro.

We will be back in school for a late lunch so students do not need to bring a packed lunch unless they would usually do so.

FULLY FUNDED Summer Careers Experience for Year 10 or Year 11 students

By Martin Said15th February 2026

This amazing opportunity is open to students who will be over 15 years old in the summer break who either:

  • Currently receive free school meals
  • Have lived experience of care, or as a young carer
  • Lived experience of refugee resettlement or humanitarian protection

This is a fully-funded weeklong experience including time on a university campus for students interested in careers in:

  • Investment Banking
  • Law
  • Medicine
  • Engineering
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Psychology
  • Architecture
  • Art & Design
  • Computer Science
  • Dentistry
  • TV & Film
  • Forensic Science
  • International Politics
  • Veterinary Science
  • Media

Apply by clicking here.

 

 

G28 Pathways – St Joseph’s (Hebburn) Sixth Form

By Martin Said16th October 2025

There is a sixth form open evening at St Josephs (Hebburn) on Thursday 13th November from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
This is an opportunity for Year 11 students to explore the courses they offer, meet their staff and current sixth formers, and get a feel for life in our their post-16 community.

St Joseph’s have an offer of both A-Level qualifications and vocational courses.

Auditions for National Children’s Choir are now OPEN FOR BOOKING

By Martin Said5th October 2025

Newcastle: Saturday 29th November

What happens in the audition?

Your child will be asked to perform one song from memory, accompanied. The performance should take no more than 3 minutes. They will also do some aural tests including musical memory tests and singing chords and some sight singing (see examples on the NCCGB website). The audition will take around 20 minutes.

More details can be found by clicking here.