A middle school raised a bucket load for charity...by learning their spellings!

Hirst Park Middle School in Ashington raised a staggering £1500 for Childline, as pupils across all four year groups knuckled down and took part in the spelling initiative.

The NSPCC sponsored spellathon gave the children extra incentive to ensure one hundred percent accuracy with their spellings, making the teachers and the school as proud as punch.

Teacher Jayne Norvell's year 5 class, pictured, raised the most money out of the four year groups, and enjoyed the challenge as well as an opportunity to raise some money. She said: "The children really got stuck in and did extremely well. I was very proud that my class raised the most money, and on the whole, the school did excellently. Their spelling improved and it was all for a great cause."

One year 5 pupil added: "I liked having to get sponsored because it meant I had to learn how to spell new words and I tried hard so I got most of them right!"

Do you have any old photos of Ashington that you're willing to share with the community?

A former Ashington colliery worker took a trip down memory lane as he returned to his old school 50 years after leaving as a 15 year-old.

The 2011 Hirst Park Middle School Summer Fair was again a roaring success as the final term of another campaign comes to a close.

Year 8 students in Ashington have been out and about reporting as part of their 'Journalistic Challenge' week at Hirst Park Middle School. Pupils Jay, Daniel and Sophie report from Woodhorn, where they were given an informative and fascinating insight into the famous old colliery.

Local lad Nicholas Storey is a football coach who is going places having recently graduated at the mighty Wembley stadium!

Pupils in Ashington have ditched their regular timetables as they participate in something a bit different this week.

Students were stumped last week when challenged to produce a poster or leaflet that would entice tourists to Ashington.

The Year 8 class spent much of the lesson in hysterics, mocking their home town and producing endless lists of the negative attributes associated with Ashington. Shame as opposed to pride.

Sarcastic underage drinking and graffiti related comments aside, it got me thinking - what would appear in such a brochure?

A local Middle School enjoyed a morning off from regular lessons when the Newcastle Eagles swooped in.

Hirst Park Middle School pupils in Ashington endured a day spent looking upwards as Newcastle's number one basketball team were welcomed into school. and they towered above both students and teachers.

A day out at ALPEC is the first day of the rest of the lives of the pupils fortunate enough to visit. And that's exactly what the Ashington Learning Partnership Enterprise Centre is all about - preparing the next generation for life beyond the school gates.