11th September 2026

Welcome to our weekly bulletin,

A huge congratulations to our students, staff and families as we reach the end of our second week of term. What a start it has been! Our students have embraced and welcomed our new staff brilliantly, while also settling into their own new routines, classrooms and expectations. Finding the right room at the right time has certainly provided a few adventures.

Despite all the changes, our students have shown resilience, kindness and a real determination to make the most of every opportunity. They have made us incredibly proud, and we couldn’t ask for a better start to the new school year.

Key Dates for your Diary

Thursday 17th September 2026, 4pm-6pm

Year 10 and 11 Key Stage Four Information Evening

Thursday 24th September 2026, 6-8pm

Open Evening

Thursday 15th October 2026, 4pm-6pm

KS3 Tutor Evening

w/c 12th-22nd October

Year 11 Mock Fortnight

Friday 23rd October 2026

All students working from home. School closed for students.

New Build Update: The Final Weeks

Work on our new school building is now entering its final stages, with the finishing touches being made inside the building. As staff begin packing up and preparing for the move, the new school is becoming a reality. We are excited to see everything coming together and look forward to sharing more updates with you as we get closer to moving in.

Please remember that Friday 23rd October and Monday 2nd November will be home-learning days. The school will be closed to students on both days, and staff will provide further information about arrangements and what students need to do closer to the time. Thank you for your continued support as we prepare for this exciting next step for our school community.

Student Council Elections

This week, students took part in our School Council elections, giving them the opportunity to have their voices heard and play an active role in shaping our school community. The School Council provides students with a platform to share their ideas, raise issues and work with staff to help make positive changes within the school. As part of the election process, students standing for election have created and presented their own manifestos, outlining their ideas, priorities and the changes they would like to make. This has been a valuable opportunity for students to develop their confidence, communication and leadership skills while experiencing the democratic process in action.

Congratulations to all who submitted a manifesto and to those who were selected to represent their tutor groups.

Year 11 Careers and Next Steps

It is never too early for our Year 11 students to start thinking about their next steps beyond school. Whether students are considering college, sixth form, an apprenticeship or another pathway, now is a good time to begin exploring the different opportunities available and thinking about what might be right for them. Mr Talbot will be in touch with students and parents next week with further careers and post-16 information. In the meantime, we encourage families to attend the upcoming college and sixth form open evenings. These are a great opportunity for students to explore different settings, meet staff, find out about courses and get a feel for what each college or sixth form is like.

Support for Parents and Students

If you require any support or have a concern that you would like to discuss, please contact our Pastoral Team at pastoral@durhamacademy.org.uk. The team will be happy to offer advice and support or help direct you to the appropriate member of staff. Please continue to use our usual communication channels for reporting student absences and any urgent issues so that these can be dealt with promptly.

Want to know more?

Telephone: 0191 3730336

Email: contact@durhamacademy.org.uk

For the most up to date information about what is going on in our school, please visit our website at:

https://durhamacademy.org.uk

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