The Norton Educator

Outlook: Brilliant September 2000 to July 2007 Price: 17s 9½d

PROUD PARENTS John and Lorraine Marsh jump for joy as they celebrate their son Jonathan’s examination results. The seven years’ hard work that Jonathan put in at Breckenbrough school finally paid off as he picked up no less than eight GCSEs at grade C or above, with a double A* for Science (the first ever at Breckenbrough). “I knew he could do it,” said a thrilled Mum; “So did I”, added Dad. When asked about how pleased his parents’ were at his success, Jonathan quipped “If only they weren’t as pretty as Punch …!”

The Day We Went To London …

What a day that was. The taxi took me straight to Northallerton station where I met the rest of the school. We boarded the GNER train to London and tried hard to contain our excitement for the two hour journey south. That time soon passed, and, having disembarked at King’s Cross, we split up into groups. My group visited the Science Museum and the BBC television centre, where we saw a TV programme actually being made. We used the tube train to get out and about in the city, and given the fine weather, in the grand old tradition of the humble tourist, we took in a few sights and saw some of the famous London landmarks (like the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament) which I photographed. However, no sooner had we begun to enjoy our visit than it was time to return home. Wearily, we all clambered aboard the train at King’s Cross and settled in for the long journey north. If someone had told me that we wouldn’t be delayed, I’d have scoffed. Trains have been known to stop if the track is straddled by a leaf, or by the wrong kind of snowflake. In our case it was sheep. We lost about an hour waiting for Bo Peep to sort herself out. We eventually arrived at Northallerton station at about 10pm, where I got picked up by Mum and Dad.
This was my first ever trip to our Nation’s capital and I don’t expect it to be the last I really enjoyed it, and I’m sure it will be something I’ll always remember.
JDM

TRAVELFACTS

Jonathan lives over 30 miles away from Breckenbrough school; he travels daily to and from school by taxi. So, just over 60 miles per day times 5 days per week, times 40 weeks per year times the seven years or so he’s been doing this gives a grand total of nearly one hundred thousand miles. That’s about four times around the world, or, nearly half way to the moon, and since 100,000 miles is a typical life expectancy for a car, this job would have worn out a brand new taxi as well.

IT IS SAID THAT ‘many hands make light work’, and Jonathan was helped to see that light by many people at Breckenbrough whom we’d very much like to thank – in particular: Rob Arrowsmith; Linton Austen; Simon Baker; Trevor Bennett; Pete Breckon; Gillian Davey; Hannah Dungay; Alan Edwards; Stuart Edwards; Eddie Fernside; Sharon Goodwin; Lindsey Wellington-Graham; Glynis Grange; Rob Knox; Will Knox; Claire Lacey; Rob McNeill; Marilyn Norris; Maggie Stanbridge; and not forgetting Chunky and Brian, the Electricians, Ian the taxi driver, and of course, Juliet. There are other staff at the school, and indeed many fellow pupils, as well as staff of the Special Needs Department of Stockton Borough Council, to whom Jonathan and we also owe a debt of gratitude – we thank them too.

BEFOREandAFTER

‘Jonathan has made incredible progress; from the young man who arrived at Breckenbrough struggling to come to terms with the world to the mature, bright and positive young man that now goes on to what I am sure will be a positive future.’ (TB)

No student’s school life would be complete without the infamous school uniform; and Breck’ was no different. However, catering for youngsters as youngster as Jonathan doesn’t appear to have been a regular occurrence. His polo shirt was clearly designed for the ‘Empire State’ Pupil, but they said ‘… he would grow into it’. This he dutifully did – into it, and indeed, out of it again!

Yes, it is the same shirt …

Reports

First Report – December 2000

Music – Jonathan has done absolutely NO WORK AT ALL in this subject since he arrived at the school. On the few occasions he appears in the music lessons, he either covers his ears and screams incessantly or tries to spend the lesson sat in a cupboard.
French – As yet Jonathan has not been persuaded to join in with this group and participate in any of the lessons. Quite often he will hide under the units built for the listening equipment or will wander about fiddling with the control panels…He will throw things and hit and kick and if attempts are made to get him to behave he will respond by running off or lashing out at me (kicking, spitting, trying to bite.)
Art – Jonathan has made a good beginning in his art work. He shows flair and bright ideas. I encourage Jonathan to find his own space and ensure the rest of the class respect that space.
Outdoor Education – His first outdoor ed lesson was very difficult and every few hundred yards he would sit down and tell us he couldn’t go any further, however since then things have improved dramatically.
Care – Jonathan now seems happier during break and lunchtimes and although he still has noisy sessions they have reduced in number if not in volume.
Core – Jonathan has made steady progress since he joined us. At first his anxieties manifested themselves usually at someone else’s expense. He accused his classmates, he would scream and he was aggressive towards me. He is a lovely boy, fully aware that he struggles with other children.
Science – After a difficult start Jonathan seems to be settling down. So far the limited amount of written work he has done has been of a reasonable standard but it has not been easy to get him started on it and he has needed a lot of prompting to keep him on task.
Humanities – Jonathan shows great understanding and has an excellent general knowledge. His behaviour is improving. He used to throw the felt pens around the room, he has now stopped doing this. His target will be to stop throwing the black board cloth at other pupils.

From Last Report
April 2007 (unless otherwise stated)

Music – (July 2005) Jonathan is still working well in class, and although Music is not his first priority, he does achieve some pleasure from listening. However, what does give me the greatest pleasure, is seeing him maintain the excellent level of behaviour that has emerged over the last two terms.
French – I am thrilled with Jonathan’s attitude and progress this term. He has consistently worked with enthusiasm and commitment and is responding to the demands of the course maturely. He is a co-operative and well motivated student who can always be relied upon.
Art – (ROA) … The effort, time and concentration Jonathan took in completing his final piece are extremely creditable. His welded, recycled sculpture is arguably one of the best pieces of art work that I have seen completed for examination during my time at the school.
Outdoor Education – (July 2005) Jonathan’s behaviour is usually good and he has taken a proactive part in all of the activities covered. He rarely finds it difficult to motivate himself to start the activity and when on task he puts effort into the activity.
Care – Jonathan still provokes other boys at times and is surprised if they reciprocate. He can’t seem to understand that if he didn’t start the provocation then he would not get it back
Core – (July 2003) Jonathan’s social behaviour is much improved. I have no targets for his social skills; I would like to concentrate on his academic ability. Jonathan does have the ability – we just have to find the most suitable, comfortable method for him to produce his academic work.
Science – He has matured greatly, and his once poor and frequent overreactions in the lab are a thing of the past. Jonathan is very capable orally and is able to justify his responses with well thought out scientific reasoning and has developed many interesting ideas of his own.
Humanities – Jonathan has continued to excel at this subject. His concentration and focus is excellent. There has been a significant improvement in his written work. Unfortunately he still complains about writing and is reluctant to write for more than 20 mins.

Fond Memories of Breckenbrough
by Lorraine Marsh
I remember my first impression of Breckenbrough: If the school turned out such polite, mature and intelligent young men as I’d met there on that first visit, then this was where I wanted Jonathan to be.
- Jonathan’s first visit – sitting on a bench with Richard H discussing custard bombs.
- in week two, Jonathan telling me that the only reason he’d crawled through the water-filled tunnel while caving was so that Maggie would have to do so as well.
- in the early days, staff telling me that they hadn’t heard him recently rather than that they hadn’t seen him.
- Maggie telling me that sometimes he would hold her hand when they were on outdoor ed.
- that telephone call I received from Linton from a car park in Keswick.
- the positive approach of staff, trying to get to the root of the what caused an outburst rather than punishing it.
- setting off at 5.30am one glorious summer morning to pick Jonathan up from Hawkeshead – a pleasant drive that included two ferry trips across Windermere, and back in time for a lunchtime meeting at work!
- Jonathan completing the whole of the long distance walk because I’d tried to encourage him with £1 per mile and he wanted me to have to go to the bank.
- Jonathan sitting in the great hall for Christmas dinner at the same table as people who were eating vegetables!
- staff sharing our pride in how Jonathan has developed.
- the pride I feel in Jonathan’s attitude towards his course work, revision and exams: I can still see him sitting in the corner of the great hall – the last boy in the room, still writing even though he hates to.
- Juliet, without whom Jonathan and I would not have survived: She has organised, encouraged and disciplined Jonathan when I couldn’t be there to do so. She has been a great friend and like a ‘big sister’ to Jonathan.
- the strange sense of loss on the day that Jonathan left Breckenbrough.
- the exhilaration on the morning Jonathan received his results.
- How proud I felt on hearing that Jonathan had achieved a double A* in science – the first ever achieved at the school.

Words and Music

JONATHAN was never one for the performing arts – he doesn’t even sing in the bath (at least, we don’t believe he would!) However, whilst at Breckenbrough he was once inspired to take part in the ‘Words & Music’ presentation, reciting a poem about his then favourite pastime – gardening. It seems that the theory was, if it all went wrong, at least he could claim it was Tina Turner!

Juliet…

When Jonathan first started at Breckenbrough as a year five pupil, aged only 9, I was very uneasy about his having to travel so far without me. To put my mind at rest I contacted Juliet who was to be his transport escort. Meeting Juliet instantly allayed my fears: she was exactly what I would look for in a person whom I would trust to look after my young son.

After two years at the school, Jonathan’s behaviour became more challenging, and it was decided that he now needed one-to-one support. It was felt in all quarters that Juliet would be ideal for this role and so it came to be.
Since then, Juliet has served as everything from Jonathan’s personal secretary – passing messages, letters and completing daily reports, to Jonathan’s ‘pillow’ on the long journey between school and home. Juliet has been Jonathan’s safety net – talking him through difficult situations; she has been another teacher to him – keeping him in the classroom and on task; she has been my friend – putting me at ease by finding answers to my numerous questions and very often being one step ahead. In fact, for the last seven years, during term time, I’m sure that Juliet has spent at least as much time with Jonathan as I have myself. And yet in the course of her work with Jonathan I’m sure that she has discovered a lot, too, especially about electricity, computers, Laurel and Hardy and The Goodies!

It is difficult to imagine what Jonathan’s time at Breckenbrough would have been like without Juliet’s constant support – it is clear that she has been instrumental in bringing Jonathan’s qualities to the fore, and for this we are eternally grateful. Juliet, we thank you.

Finally, as can be seen from his results, Jonathan and his team of Home, School, and Juliet, have done a great job – a job to be justly proud of.

Lorraine Marsh

Crossword

ACROSS
7 Team cox in mix-up with duty (6,3)
8 Delicate Women’s Institute spot (5)
10 CH4 backbone (6)
11 Hitting close resemblance (8)
12 Shoved into plutonium cabin? (6)
14 Neatly I changed lid in half of tyre (6)
16 Our responsibility (4)
17 Colour of cooked bream (5)
18 Pole in Iwo Jima story (4)
19 Quasi-stellar radio source (6)
21 Young child loses right to waddle (6)
24 A tall vet all over in Malta (8)
26 Stop working – bad rite in religion (6)
27 Automobile in Sci-fi keeps neck warm (5)
28 Supply space where goods are stored (9)

DOWN
1 Finger in mind experiment (5)
2 Indian city’s trousers (8)
3 Fitness of man with a bone in left hand (6)
4 Weight of mother ship? (4)
5 Joined for golf? (6)
6 As cowardly as a hedgehog isn’t (9)
9 More correct-sounding author (6)
13 First appearance of inverted tyre type (5)
15 Protection for United Nations in races crisis (9)
17 One time endless tea put air in (6)
18 My rail it broke the war office (8)
20 Sarah and Ray exchanged income
22 Tired 100 failed to show (6)
23 Evidence that short teacher takes nothing (5)
25 Serves to remove potassium from toppled stack (4)

Jonathan’s GCSE Grades – August 2007

Art – B
Business & Communication Systems – C
English Language – E
English Literature – G
French – E
Geography – C
History – F
Information & Communication Technology – A
Mathamatics – B
Science (Double Award) – A*
Science (Double Award) – A*

Art For Art’s Sake?

Jonathan’s lineage was never particularly ‘arty’; his mum is a teacher of geography and mathematics, while dad works in a power station control room, and both grandads were technically oriented. Nevertheless, the great respect for study that pervades his household meant that no small effort would be brought to bear on the challenge of passing his art examination.

With information brought from the school by Juliet, evening discussions would centre around how Jonathan might come up with an idea and then develop it. Of the several options considered, it appears that a germ of an idea formed in Jonathan’s mind on the theme of ‘recycling’. A couple of pieces at home are made from nuts, bolts, nails and washers tacked together to form an owl and a man standing by a lamp-post. So, with some samples taken from a box in the garage, Jonathan quickly formed quite credible ‘bugs’ of his own.

It wasn’t long before ‘web crawler’ was conceived. It was to be a spider and a fly made from old nuts, washers and screws, on a web of copper wire recovered from off-cuts, and suspended in some form of steel frame. As a practising amateur electrician Jonathan could already solder, but in order to complete this project he would have to learn to MIG weld. This he managed to do using the facilities in the DT workshop.

As the project progressed, mum and dad would quiz Jonathan on how it was going, to which he would reply with his usual reticence, ‘OK’. With a bit more cajoling he would reveal that he’d almost finished the spider, or he’d nearly soldered the web.

When he reported that he’d completed it, and Juliet had described how good she thought it was, it was almost unbearable that we couldn’t see it. It didn’t seem plausible that, in Jonathan’s non-art-oriented mind, such a piece of work could even be envisaged let alone end up as a finished product.

Then in August we learned that Jonathan had passed his art GSCE with a grade ‘B’ which we consider to be a massively creditable performance – he is the first Marsh to have achieved a qualification in art since before the dawn of O-levels! Very well done indeed, Jonathan.

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