Durham Johnston Comprehensive School
Encyclopedia
Durham Johnston Comprehensive School is a secondary school in Durham
, UK
.
Introduction
Durham Johnston is a 1500-place 11-18 school serving Durham City and communities beyond to the south and west. It is situated on Crosssgate Moor, on the A167 (the former Great North Road). Durham Johnston traces its history to the foundation of a county grammar school for girls and boys in Durham City, partly funded by the will of Susan, widow of James Finlay Weir Johnston, in 1901 in South Street. Johnston is a Language College and a lead school for Gifted and Talented education, with full International Status. It is usually oversubscribed and runs on strict admissions criteria based entierly on students' addresses, managed by the County Council. The local Labour MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods is a governor of the school and was formerly Chair of Governors.
The Johnston School opened in 1901 with 13 pupils. They came from a range of backgrounds. James Jefferson and William Potts were the sons of schoolmasters, John Wetherell’s father was the manager of the City Swimming Baths; Arnold Shaw’s father was a clergyman while Mary Martin’s father owned Martin’s Flour Mill in the City. Elizabeth Herbert’s father was a clerk and Lydia Pearson’s a signalman. Frances Guthrie was simply described as ‘orphan’.
The first building was in South Street, which was then extended into some former housing and Mr Dean’s Stocking Factory. Though the school had a beautiful view it was cold, damp and unsuitable for education. Rebuilding was held up by the second world war but ‘The Johnstonian’ of spring 1948 reported:
The old familiar ring with which the words ‘new school’ were uttered by past Johnstonians is gradually changing to a new and incredulous note of hope. So many annual speech days have been the occasion for references to the inadequacy of the present building, that this year’s announcement that building ought to commence in 1950 was met with qualified applause. It seems too good to be true!' May we respectfully offer two hints to the authorities concerned? First that the consensus of old and present Johnstonians is that the present title of the school should be retained in that it relates to the name of its founder, Professor Johnston. Secondly, that although it is true that hope springs eternal in the human breast it is equally true that hope deferred maketh the heart sick!’'So the third headmaster of the school, Christopher Storey ended his first prize day speech with the words
‘What the future holds no one can exactly say. The long awaited new building has been promised, but whether it comes about or not the work must and will go on; boys will continue to find here both knowledge and experience and skill of mind and hand and muscle; they will take to heart the school’s motto and courageously seek for wisdom, and the world will be a better place because of their presence in it and their abiding faith in the high standards of work and conduct which the school has ever striven to uphold.’
When the school was finally begun in 1950 it was described as
‘ built on a 22 acre green field site at Crossgate Moor alongside the Great North Road … retaining a view of Durham Cathedral from many of the classrooms. ….There would be good facilities for physical training ‘so long yearned for by the masters and boys in the present school’ and up to date accommodation for school meals.’
On the school’s 50th anniversary one of the teachers wrote in the Johnstonian
‘Lest we seem ungrateful to our founder, let us here salute his memory, and pay grateful tribute to all those who helped establish the traditions of the school within the walls of the 50 year old building which we have now outgrown. The safe transplanting of those in new ground will be our privilege and duty when we occupy the new school.’
There were 34 boys in the sixth form when the new school opened.
Headmaster Storey’s hope was fulfilled:
‘Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer! Long years of hopes deferred, makeshifts and overcrowding have made of the proposed new school an elusive will o’the wisp, subject for cynical jest, yet the gleam was pursued and at last shines clearly before us, beacon of the promised land! Moreover, the name of our founder will be retained in the title of ‘The Johnston Grammar Technical School’.’
Durham Johnston school now is very different. The Johnston community as it is now was put together after 1979 when grammar schools in County Durham were abolished. The Modern Schools in Brandon and Whinney Hill closed, followed by Lansdowne School in Bowburn. Durham Johnston Comprehensive School worked as a split-site school for 30 years with years 7 and 8 at Whinney Hill and years 9 to upper sixth in the Grammar School buildings. (The old annexe buildings were bought in 1968 when the Cottage Homes Orphanage closed, and was fitted out as a sixth form centre which opened in 1969, the year that girls returned to Johnston.)
In 1982, Durham County Council proposed to close the sixth form of the school, and those of Framwellgate Moor and Gilesgate, and create a sixth form college on the site Wearside site of Gilesgate school. Sir Keith Joseph
rejected the proposal on the grounds that it would have been too disruptive and costly.
Successive years and governments brought planning blight and hopes deferred once again until the school buildings reached an advances state of dilapidation. However, after the efforts of Head Richard Bloodworth (1999-2004)and Chair of Governors Robert Blackman-Woods (now MP for the City of Durham) it was rebuilt in 2006-9.
Carolyn Roberts, Head since 2005, said to the students as the school moved in 2009
‘You’ve never known anything other than crumbling and overcrowded buildings and it shows what a strong school we are that we’ve built up such a good community despite being inconvenienced and windblown. You’ve put up with not being able to find teachers and being cold for most of the year, except when you’re too hot. You’ve been educated in buildings which look as though no one cares about us but you’ve worked hard and done your best. That part of our history ends here. This £25m building bring us all together and, still on the Great North Road, shows the world that we are a historic, stable and successful school. We have the building we need to open a new chapter in our distinguished history.’
When the Lower School Council came from Whinney Hill to visit the new building they said:
‘It’s amazing that such a building exists without us having to pay to go to it. It shows that we are every bit as good as the expensive schools, and that we matter too. It’s not just exciting, it’s an honour.’
Gordon Brown's Labour Cabinet held a meeting and public consultation in February 2010 and proased the school for its commitment to academic excellence, social justice and global future. Gordon Brown. It was the first cabinet meeting in the North East
, and the first in a school.
In October 1998, it was the first comprehensive school to enter the Financial Times
top 1000 schools.
The new school cost £24m.
Durham Johston's War Memorial 1921-2011
Durham Johnston in 2011 raised funds to re-site and rededicate the school war memorial. There are 107 men named on the memorial; the majority of whom were members of the Durham Light Infantry. However, the men who are remembered served in both wars and in a variety of services and regiments. The memorial was first suggested in a speech by Mr Whalley, the school’s Headmaster, in 1920. He referenced the death of Captain C. N Crawshaw. Crawshaw was a teacher at the school, who had volunteered when the war broke out in 1914. Mr Whalley proposed a memorial in honour of the 34 former students and 1 teacher who had died during the Great War. A meeting was held on Wednesday 24th March 1920 for former and current students and £160 was raised towards the cost of the memorial.
The original panels of the war memorial were unveiled at 6 p.m. on Saturday 22nd 1921 by the Bishop of Durham. It was located on the stage of the school, when the school was located in South Street. It acted as a memorial for the 35 ex Johnstonians who had died during the Great War. In addition to the former students, one member of staff, Mr Crawshaw, had died in action. Two teachers returned to the school after the war, Mr Hutchinson and Mr Dent, and a third, Mr Cousins, returned, but retired, due to war related stress, in 1921.
The unveiling of the memorial was recorded by the Durham Advertiser:
“The memorial has been erected by subscriptions from parents, staff past and present and pupils of the school. It consists of a mural panelling in light oak, of classic design, together with a memorial desk and chairs of a similar character. On the memorial desk is a brass inscription plate on which is engraved: ‘A tribute from the boys of 1918-1920 to the Johnstonians who served and fell in the war, 1914-1918.” The design and erection of the memorial have been ably carried out by the North of England School Furnishing Company.”
In addition to the brass inscription plate there is an engraving which states; “Nothing is here for tears, nothing but fair and well, and what may quiet us in a death so noble.” The motto for the memorial is taken from Milton’s “Samson Agonistes.”
The memorial has been erected in the school assembly hall, and will daily remind the boys of the patriotism and self sacrifices of Johnstonians during the dark days of the war.”
A large number of former Johnstonians were involved in World War Two with a significant number losing their lives. Two new panels were commissioned for the war memorial and money was, again, raised from contributions. The two panels were dedicated in June of 1948 with a ceremony, performed by the Reverend R.F Morgan – a former student at the school – at St Margaret’s Church. A significant amount of money was raised from subscriptions. After the new panels had been paid for the residue of the money was used for a War Memorial prize, which was awarded annually to a high achieving student at the school.
A tradition was established after 1948 that fresh flowers would always be put next to the memorial during term time and that a British Legion wreath of Flanders poppies would be placed next to ther memorial on Remembrance Day.
In July 1954 the school moved from its South Street site to new buildings in Crossgate Moor. The memorial was removed in July 1954 and placed upon the left wall in the new school hall. It remained in place until the spring term of 2009, when it was removed and stored in preparation to be rededicated in the new Durham Johnston school hall. it was resintalled in the third building and dedicated in March 2011 in recognition of the 90th anniversary of Johnston, with students and members of the local community raising the money for the initial memorial. A new plaque has been installed with a quotation from the Proverbs to acknowledge money raised by our current students. Local companies, particularly Harrison and Harrison Organ Builders, helped to support this project.
Notable on the war memorial is Captain Isidore Newman, an old boy of the school and linguist who was attached to the SOE during the second world war. He was eventually captured and muredered at Mauthausen Concentration Camp. Because of this, the rededication of the memorial in 2011 was attended by representatives of AJEX, the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and the Rabbi to the Army performed a blessing in the school, as well as the local Anglican Vicar.
, a professor of Chemistry at Durham University
. He was an autodidact polymath committed to free secular education. Its motto is Sapere Aude, meaning "Dare to be wise".
History and Names in the New Johnston
Durham Johnston has a long history – a great school on a vital historical site.
The new building is large, so to make the different areas more memorable the school named some of them after parts of its history.
Johnstonian Names
Some areas in the new building are named after James Finlay Weir Johnston (1796 - 1855)who bequeathed money to set up a school for girls and boys, teaching science and the arts to ordinary young people of Durham, rich or poor.
The main street on the ground floor is James Street, on the first floor is Finlay Street, on the top floor Weir Street. The assembly hall is therefore the James Hall. The quotation outside the door is the name of JFW Johnston’s most successful book - an 800-page 2-volume work called ‘The Chemistry of Common Life’. The Library is called Lydia, for Lydia Pearson. She was the first pupil to enter Johnston’s first new building in South Street in 1901.
Battlefield Names
Some of the areas are named after the great battle of Neville’s Cross which was fought on the site in 1346. It was between the English and the Scots: the English won.
The ground floor of the 2-storey block is David Street, named after the defeated Scottish king. The ground floor of the 3-storey block is Edward Street, named after the victorious English king, though he wasn’t at the battle. The PE corridor is called Neville Street after one of the English commanders. He was described in the Lanercost Chronicle as ‘strong, truthful, cautious and brave’. The music and drama corridor is Zouche Street, named after the Archbishop of York, another English military commander. The top floor of the 2-storey block is Douglas Street, named after one of the Scottish commanders. The staff room corridor is called Beaurepaire, the French name for the monastery which then became Bearpark. The Learning Support and Sixth Form corridor is Rokeby Street, named after another English commander. The first floor of the 3-storey block is Mowbray Street, another English commander. The top floor of the 3-storey block is Auld Alliance. That describes the link between the Scots and France, united in attacking England. The single pod venue is Philippa. She was the English queen, much more involved in the battle than Edward.
In 2010 student Lauren Mincher won the international Saatchi Art prize.
Johnston was inspected by OFSTED in February 2011 and judged 'outstanding'.
Former teachers
News items
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Introduction
Durham Johnston is a 1500-place 11-18 school serving Durham City and communities beyond to the south and west. It is situated on Crosssgate Moor, on the A167 (the former Great North Road). Durham Johnston traces its history to the foundation of a county grammar school for girls and boys in Durham City, partly funded by the will of Susan, widow of James Finlay Weir Johnston, in 1901 in South Street. Johnston is a Language College and a lead school for Gifted and Talented education, with full International Status. It is usually oversubscribed and runs on strict admissions criteria based entierly on students' addresses, managed by the County Council. The local Labour MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods is a governor of the school and was formerly Chair of Governors.
History
Durham Johnston was founded in 1901 with money left to the County Council by Susan, widow of JFW Johnston who died in 1855. He was a pioneering educator, influential also in the development of Durham University and the colleges which became Newcastle University. He worked to bring education to a wide range of people – rich and poor, male and female – and believed that it should be secular, useful and scientific as well as historical and literary. The first Johnston was, unusually, a mixed grammar technical school until 1918, when a girls’ grammar school was built which is now the Durham Gilesgate Sixth Form Centre.The Johnston School opened in 1901 with 13 pupils. They came from a range of backgrounds. James Jefferson and William Potts were the sons of schoolmasters, John Wetherell’s father was the manager of the City Swimming Baths; Arnold Shaw’s father was a clergyman while Mary Martin’s father owned Martin’s Flour Mill in the City. Elizabeth Herbert’s father was a clerk and Lydia Pearson’s a signalman. Frances Guthrie was simply described as ‘orphan’.
The first building was in South Street, which was then extended into some former housing and Mr Dean’s Stocking Factory. Though the school had a beautiful view it was cold, damp and unsuitable for education. Rebuilding was held up by the second world war but ‘The Johnstonian’ of spring 1948 reported:
The old familiar ring with which the words ‘new school’ were uttered by past Johnstonians is gradually changing to a new and incredulous note of hope. So many annual speech days have been the occasion for references to the inadequacy of the present building, that this year’s announcement that building ought to commence in 1950 was met with qualified applause. It seems too good to be true!' May we respectfully offer two hints to the authorities concerned? First that the consensus of old and present Johnstonians is that the present title of the school should be retained in that it relates to the name of its founder, Professor Johnston. Secondly, that although it is true that hope springs eternal in the human breast it is equally true that hope deferred maketh the heart sick!’'So the third headmaster of the school, Christopher Storey ended his first prize day speech with the words
‘What the future holds no one can exactly say. The long awaited new building has been promised, but whether it comes about or not the work must and will go on; boys will continue to find here both knowledge and experience and skill of mind and hand and muscle; they will take to heart the school’s motto and courageously seek for wisdom, and the world will be a better place because of their presence in it and their abiding faith in the high standards of work and conduct which the school has ever striven to uphold.’
When the school was finally begun in 1950 it was described as
‘ built on a 22 acre green field site at Crossgate Moor alongside the Great North Road … retaining a view of Durham Cathedral from many of the classrooms. ….There would be good facilities for physical training ‘so long yearned for by the masters and boys in the present school’ and up to date accommodation for school meals.’
On the school’s 50th anniversary one of the teachers wrote in the Johnstonian
‘Lest we seem ungrateful to our founder, let us here salute his memory, and pay grateful tribute to all those who helped establish the traditions of the school within the walls of the 50 year old building which we have now outgrown. The safe transplanting of those in new ground will be our privilege and duty when we occupy the new school.’
There were 34 boys in the sixth form when the new school opened.
Headmaster Storey’s hope was fulfilled:
‘Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer! Long years of hopes deferred, makeshifts and overcrowding have made of the proposed new school an elusive will o’the wisp, subject for cynical jest, yet the gleam was pursued and at last shines clearly before us, beacon of the promised land! Moreover, the name of our founder will be retained in the title of ‘The Johnston Grammar Technical School’.’
Durham Johnston school now is very different. The Johnston community as it is now was put together after 1979 when grammar schools in County Durham were abolished. The Modern Schools in Brandon and Whinney Hill closed, followed by Lansdowne School in Bowburn. Durham Johnston Comprehensive School worked as a split-site school for 30 years with years 7 and 8 at Whinney Hill and years 9 to upper sixth in the Grammar School buildings. (The old annexe buildings were bought in 1968 when the Cottage Homes Orphanage closed, and was fitted out as a sixth form centre which opened in 1969, the year that girls returned to Johnston.)
In 1982, Durham County Council proposed to close the sixth form of the school, and those of Framwellgate Moor and Gilesgate, and create a sixth form college on the site Wearside site of Gilesgate school. Sir Keith Joseph
Keith Joseph
Keith St John Joseph, Baron Joseph, Bt, CH, PC , was a British barrister and politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under three Prime Ministers , and is widely regarded to have been the "power behind the throne" in the creation of what came to be known as...
rejected the proposal on the grounds that it would have been too disruptive and costly.
Successive years and governments brought planning blight and hopes deferred once again until the school buildings reached an advances state of dilapidation. However, after the efforts of Head Richard Bloodworth (1999-2004)and Chair of Governors Robert Blackman-Woods (now MP for the City of Durham) it was rebuilt in 2006-9.
Carolyn Roberts, Head since 2005, said to the students as the school moved in 2009
‘You’ve never known anything other than crumbling and overcrowded buildings and it shows what a strong school we are that we’ve built up such a good community despite being inconvenienced and windblown. You’ve put up with not being able to find teachers and being cold for most of the year, except when you’re too hot. You’ve been educated in buildings which look as though no one cares about us but you’ve worked hard and done your best. That part of our history ends here. This £25m building bring us all together and, still on the Great North Road, shows the world that we are a historic, stable and successful school. We have the building we need to open a new chapter in our distinguished history.’
When the Lower School Council came from Whinney Hill to visit the new building they said:
‘It’s amazing that such a building exists without us having to pay to go to it. It shows that we are every bit as good as the expensive schools, and that we matter too. It’s not just exciting, it’s an honour.’
Gordon Brown's Labour Cabinet held a meeting and public consultation in February 2010 and proased the school for its commitment to academic excellence, social justice and global future. Gordon Brown. It was the first cabinet meeting in the North East
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
, and the first in a school.
In October 1998, it was the first comprehensive school to enter the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
top 1000 schools.
The new school cost £24m.
Durham Johston's War Memorial 1921-2011
Durham Johnston in 2011 raised funds to re-site and rededicate the school war memorial. There are 107 men named on the memorial; the majority of whom were members of the Durham Light Infantry. However, the men who are remembered served in both wars and in a variety of services and regiments. The memorial was first suggested in a speech by Mr Whalley, the school’s Headmaster, in 1920. He referenced the death of Captain C. N Crawshaw. Crawshaw was a teacher at the school, who had volunteered when the war broke out in 1914. Mr Whalley proposed a memorial in honour of the 34 former students and 1 teacher who had died during the Great War. A meeting was held on Wednesday 24th March 1920 for former and current students and £160 was raised towards the cost of the memorial.
The original panels of the war memorial were unveiled at 6 p.m. on Saturday 22nd 1921 by the Bishop of Durham. It was located on the stage of the school, when the school was located in South Street. It acted as a memorial for the 35 ex Johnstonians who had died during the Great War. In addition to the former students, one member of staff, Mr Crawshaw, had died in action. Two teachers returned to the school after the war, Mr Hutchinson and Mr Dent, and a third, Mr Cousins, returned, but retired, due to war related stress, in 1921.
The unveiling of the memorial was recorded by the Durham Advertiser:
“The memorial has been erected by subscriptions from parents, staff past and present and pupils of the school. It consists of a mural panelling in light oak, of classic design, together with a memorial desk and chairs of a similar character. On the memorial desk is a brass inscription plate on which is engraved: ‘A tribute from the boys of 1918-1920 to the Johnstonians who served and fell in the war, 1914-1918.” The design and erection of the memorial have been ably carried out by the North of England School Furnishing Company.”
In addition to the brass inscription plate there is an engraving which states; “Nothing is here for tears, nothing but fair and well, and what may quiet us in a death so noble.” The motto for the memorial is taken from Milton’s “Samson Agonistes.”
The memorial has been erected in the school assembly hall, and will daily remind the boys of the patriotism and self sacrifices of Johnstonians during the dark days of the war.”
A large number of former Johnstonians were involved in World War Two with a significant number losing their lives. Two new panels were commissioned for the war memorial and money was, again, raised from contributions. The two panels were dedicated in June of 1948 with a ceremony, performed by the Reverend R.F Morgan – a former student at the school – at St Margaret’s Church. A significant amount of money was raised from subscriptions. After the new panels had been paid for the residue of the money was used for a War Memorial prize, which was awarded annually to a high achieving student at the school.
A tradition was established after 1948 that fresh flowers would always be put next to the memorial during term time and that a British Legion wreath of Flanders poppies would be placed next to ther memorial on Remembrance Day.
In July 1954 the school moved from its South Street site to new buildings in Crossgate Moor. The memorial was removed in July 1954 and placed upon the left wall in the new school hall. It remained in place until the spring term of 2009, when it was removed and stored in preparation to be rededicated in the new Durham Johnston school hall. it was resintalled in the third building and dedicated in March 2011 in recognition of the 90th anniversary of Johnston, with students and members of the local community raising the money for the initial memorial. A new plaque has been installed with a quotation from the Proverbs to acknowledge money raised by our current students. Local companies, particularly Harrison and Harrison Organ Builders, helped to support this project.
Notable on the war memorial is Captain Isidore Newman, an old boy of the school and linguist who was attached to the SOE during the second world war. He was eventually captured and muredered at Mauthausen Concentration Camp. Because of this, the rededication of the memorial in 2011 was attended by representatives of AJEX, the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and the Rabbi to the Army performed a blessing in the school, as well as the local Anglican Vicar.
Traditions
The school is named after James Finlay Weir JohnstonJames Finlay Weir Johnston
James Finlay Weir Johnston, FRS was a Scottish agricultural chemist.Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Johnston was educated at University of Glasgow, acquired a fortune by his marriage in 1830, and devoted himself to studying chemistry. He visited the chemist J. J...
, a professor of Chemistry at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
. He was an autodidact polymath committed to free secular education. Its motto is Sapere Aude, meaning "Dare to be wise".
History and Names in the New Johnston
Durham Johnston has a long history – a great school on a vital historical site.
The new building is large, so to make the different areas more memorable the school named some of them after parts of its history.
Johnstonian Names
Some areas in the new building are named after James Finlay Weir Johnston (1796 - 1855)who bequeathed money to set up a school for girls and boys, teaching science and the arts to ordinary young people of Durham, rich or poor.
The main street on the ground floor is James Street, on the first floor is Finlay Street, on the top floor Weir Street. The assembly hall is therefore the James Hall. The quotation outside the door is the name of JFW Johnston’s most successful book - an 800-page 2-volume work called ‘The Chemistry of Common Life’. The Library is called Lydia, for Lydia Pearson. She was the first pupil to enter Johnston’s first new building in South Street in 1901.
Battlefield Names
Some of the areas are named after the great battle of Neville’s Cross which was fought on the site in 1346. It was between the English and the Scots: the English won.
The ground floor of the 2-storey block is David Street, named after the defeated Scottish king. The ground floor of the 3-storey block is Edward Street, named after the victorious English king, though he wasn’t at the battle. The PE corridor is called Neville Street after one of the English commanders. He was described in the Lanercost Chronicle as ‘strong, truthful, cautious and brave’. The music and drama corridor is Zouche Street, named after the Archbishop of York, another English military commander. The top floor of the 2-storey block is Douglas Street, named after one of the Scottish commanders. The staff room corridor is called Beaurepaire, the French name for the monastery which then became Bearpark. The Learning Support and Sixth Form corridor is Rokeby Street, named after another English commander. The first floor of the 3-storey block is Mowbray Street, another English commander. The top floor of the 3-storey block is Auld Alliance. That describes the link between the Scots and France, united in attacking England. The single pod venue is Philippa. She was the English queen, much more involved in the battle than Edward.
Academic performance
The school ranks in the top 100 schools in the United Kingdom. and is very highly ranked in lists which distinguish clearly between comprehenive and selective schools. GCSE 5 A*-C with English and Maths are usually in the top 3 in the county, A level results are always very high. Johnston achieves the highest results of any state school in the region and has a distinguished track record in getting stduents from all backgrounds into the most competivie courses. Sutton Trust report 2009 cited it as the only state school in the region reliably to do so year after year. Oxbridge entry is usually between 10-15 each year. The sixth form and its success is the lasting legacy of the longest-serving and most well-known Head, Dr John Dunford (1983-1999).In 2010 student Lauren Mincher won the international Saatchi Art prize.
Johnston was inspected by OFSTED in February 2011 and judged 'outstanding'.
Alumni
Durham Johnston Grammar School- Douglas Appleby, Managing Director of Boots from 1973–81
- Sir Kingsley Charles DunhamKingsley Charles DunhamSir Kingsley Charles Dunham FRS was one of the leading British geologists and mineralogists of the 20th century. He was a Professor of Geology at the University of Durham from 1950-71. He was later Professor Emeritus from 1967-2001...
, geologist, Professor of Geology from 1950-66 at Durham University, President from 1975-7 of the Mineralogical Society and from 1969-72 of the International Union of Geological SciencesInternational Union of Geological SciencesThe International Union of Geological Sciences is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field of geology.-About:... - Ronald Hedley CB, zoologist
- Barry Laight OBE, engineer and aircraft designer, who became Technical Director of Blackburn AircraftBlackburn AircraftBlackburn Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer that concentrated mainly on naval and maritime aircraft during the first part of the 20th century.-History:...
, chief designer for the Blackburn BuccaneerBlackburn BuccaneerThe Blackburn Buccaneer was a British low-level subsonic strike aircraft with nuclear weapon delivery capability serving with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force between 1962 and 1994, including service in the 1991 Gulf War...
, then for Hawker Siddeley, helped design the HawkBAE HawkThe BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
(as well as the cancelled supersonic P.1154Hawker Siddeley P.1154The Hawker Siddeley P.1154 was a planned supersonic vertical/short take-off and landing fighter aircraft designed by Hawker Siddeley Aviation . Developed alongside the subsonic and smaller Hawker Siddeley P.1127/Kestrel, the P.1154 was derived from the P.1150. The P.1150 proposal did not meet NATO...
), and President from 1974-5 of the Royal Aeronautical SocietyRoyal Aeronautical SocietyThe Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
(RAeS) - Prof John Laing, Courtauld Professor of Animal Husbandry and Hygiene from 1959-84 at the Royal Veterinary CollegeRoyal Veterinary CollegeThe Royal Veterinary College is a veterinary school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. The RVC was founded in 1791 and joined the University of London in 1949...
, and President from 1996-8 of the World Association for Transport Animal Welfare and Studies - Prof David Parker, Professor of Chemistry since 1992 at Durham University
- Peter Reid ARPSPeter Reid ARPSPeter Reid ARPS MA BSc PGCEPeter Reid is the elder son of Arthur and Sadie Reid, born 30 December 1946 at Ferryhill, Durham. His secondary education was at the at Durham...
, photographer - Anthony Savage CB, Chief Executive from 1972-80 for the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce (became the Rural Payments AgencyRural Payments AgencyThe Rural Payments Agency is an executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs .The RPA was created on 16 October 2001 from the amalgamation of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and the Defra Paying Agency as a single paying agency for most Common...
in 2001) - Michael Shields CBE, Chief Executive from 1998-2003 of the Northwest Regional Development AgencyNorthwest Regional Development AgencyThe Northwest Regional Development Agency is the regional development agency for the North West England region and is a non-departmental public body.....
, Trafford Park Development CorporationTrafford Park Development CorporationThe Trafford Park Development Corporation was established in 1987 to develop land in Trafford and Salford. Its flagship developments included the Quay West office development at Wharfside, Trafford Park Village and Northbank Industrial Park. During its lifetime 8.3m sq.ft. of non-housing...
from 1987–98 and TraffordTraffordThe Metropolitan Borough of Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of 211,800, covers , and includes the towns of Altrincham, Partington, Sale, Stretford, and Urmston...
Borough Council from 1983-7 - Prof Stephen Smith, Professor of Economics since 1997 at University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
- Gerry SteinbergGerry SteinbergGerald Neil Steinberg, known as Gerry Steinberg, is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was Member of Parliament for the City of Durham from 1987 until his retirement at the 2005 general election.-Early life:...
, Labour MP from 1987-2005 of the City of Durham - Prof Sir Graham Teasdale, Professor and Head of Department of Neurosurgery from 1981-2003 at the University of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, President from 1994-8 of the International Neurotrauma Society, and from 2000-2 of the Society of British Neurological SurgeonsSociety of British Neurological SurgeonsThe Society of British Neurological Surgeons is a medical association for British neurosurgeons.-History:It was formed in 1926, with Sir Geoffrey Jefferson and Professor Norman Dott. Sir Charles Alfred Ballance was the first President...
, and invented the Glasgow Coma ScaleGlasgow Coma ScaleGlasgow Coma Scale or GCS is a neurological scale that aims to give a reliable, objective way of recording the conscious state of a person for initial as well as subsequent assessment...
GCS (with Bryan JennettBryan JennettBryan Jennett was a pioneering Professor of Neurosurgery who established Glasgow as a world centre in the speciality and made major advances in the care and management of patients...
) - John Towers CBE, Chairman of Rover GroupRover GroupThe Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
from 2000-5 and General Manager from 1983-6 of Perkins Engines Company Limited - Paul West, Chief Constable since 2003 of West Mercia Police
- Frederick WilleyFrederick WilleyFrederick Thomas Willey was a British Labour politician.Willey was educated at Johnston School and St. John's College, Cambridge, and was called to the Bar in 1936...
, Labour MP from 1945-50 for SunderlandSunderland (UK Parliament constituency)Sunderland was a borough constituency of the House of Commons, created by the Reform Act 1832 for the 1832 general election. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election until it was split into single-member seats of Sunderland North and Sunderland South for the 1950...
and from 1950-83 for Sunderland NorthSunderland North (UK Parliament constituency)Sunderland North was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:... - Prof Thomas D. WilsonThomas D. WilsonDr. Thomas D. Wilson has been an active contributor to the world of information science since 1961, when he received his Fellowship from the British Library Association. His research has focused on information management and information seeking behaviour....
, Professor Emeritus at the University of Sheffield, formerly Head of the Department of Information Studies.
Former teachers
- Dr John Dunford OBE, General Secretary since 1998 of the Association of School and College LeadersAssociation of School and College LeadersThe Association of School and College Leaders , formerly the Secondary Heads Association , is the British professional association for leaders of secondary schools and colleges.-History:...
, and headteacher from 1982–98, and maths teacher at the neighbouring Framwellgate School DurhamFramwellgate School DurhamFramwellgate School Durham is a large state Science College, Community School and Sixth Form Centre, in the Framwellgate Moor area of Durham City, County Durham, England. The current Head Teacher is Mrs...
from 1973-8
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