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18th September 2026
18th September 2026
Welcome to our weekly bulletin,
We are now three weeks into the new academic year, and it has been wonderful to see our students settling into their routines and getting stuck into their learning. As we continue through the term, we would like to thank parents and carers for your ongoing support in helping students make the very best of every school day. Please continue to ensure that students attend school every day unless they are genuinely unwell, arrive in the correct school uniform and have all the equipment they need for the day. We would also like to gently remind students that mobile phones should remain safely in their bags during the school day. These simple routines help us maintain a calm, focused and positive environment where every student can thrive.
Key Dates for your Diary
Key Dates for your Diary
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
There comes a moment in every school move when staff are forced to confront the uncomfortable truth: we apparently own far too much stuff! With just a few boxes to our name, the great packing challenge is underway — deciding which books are essential, which resources we might use one day and which mysterious objects have somehow survived in cupboards since 2012. Staff rooms are beginning to resemble a giant game of Tetris, boxes are multiplying overnight, and everyone is suddenly an expert in the art of “I’ll just squeeze one more thing in.” Wish us luck as we attempt to fit years of teaching, memories and questionable stationery collections into a handful of boxes!
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.
Attendance
As you know, regular attendance is one of the most important things we can do to support our young people to succeed at secondary school. Every day matters, as lessons build on previous learning and even a small number of missed days can create gaps in knowledge, confidence and understanding. being in school every day also helps students develop positive routines, friendships and habits they need for future education and employment. We understand that sometimes children are unwell or there are circumstances that make attendance difficult, and we are always here to work with families when support is needed. We ask parents and carers to help us by prioritizing school attendance and ensuring students arrive on time, in the correct uniform and ready to learn. Every day in school is an opportunity to learn and achieve.
Since September Year 7 have the best attendance to date is Year 7 with an impressive 98%. Keep this up.
Year 7 have also accumulated an outstanding 17,000 achievement points in the three weeks they have been with us. This is an amazing acheivement and one they should be proud of!
Attendance poster - Durham (2).pdfGoing the Extra Mile: Our Staff Take on the Great North Run!
A huge congratulations to our fantastic members of staff who took on the Great North Run this weekend! Their determination, commitment and fundraising efforts are something to be incredibly proud of. Taking on the 13.1-mile challenge is no small achievement, and we are delighted to celebrate their success.
Well done to everyone who took part – you have certainly gone the extra mile!
Mrs Blanckley
Mrs Blanckley
Ran with her son Ben for the National Autistic Society and finished with a very impressive 1 hour 57 minutes.
Mrs Beckwith
Mrs Beckwith
Ran for Diabetes Uk and raised £812. Mrs Beckwith ran in honour of her daughter who has been diabetic for 11 years.
Miss Hornsby
Miss Hornsby
Who wanted to complete in under two hours.
Congratulations on achieving your personal goal!
Mr Potts Proudly Goes the Extra Mile
Mr Potts Proudly Goes the Extra Mile
The Great North Run: One Staff Member’s Journey
When did you start running?
I took up running in November 2017 after completing my first-ever parkrun to see what it was all about.
Why did you start running?
I have always played cricket in the summer and football in the winter. However, after retiring from playing in goal, I decided to give running a try to keep me occupied during the long winter months.
How do you prepare for a big race?
For a big race, the day before will involve getting all my race gear ready, drinking plenty of water and having a big carbohydrate-rich meal, which usually involves pasta or pizza.
On race day, I will have porridge at least a few hours beforehand before heading to the race. I’ll then complete a couple of miles as a warm-up before the race kicks off.
The main thing I also need is the support of my partner and my daughter, who follow me all over. Without them, I wouldn’t achieve what I do.
What is your biggest achievement to date?
I would say I have two personal achievements. The first is running three marathons, including two at London, and achieving a PB of 2:43. My second would have to be representing England Over 40s in the Great North 10K, where I finished 63rd out of 10,000 runners.
What to do if I want to get into running?
The best thing for anyone who wants to start running is simply to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and take in what’s around you.
After that, why not try parkrun every Saturday morning at 9am? There are over 40 Parkruns across the North East, so there’s bound to be one near you. It’s 5km, and it’s completely free.
On a Sunday morning, under-14s can also attend junior parkrun, which starts at 9am and is 2km.
If all that goes well, why not find a local running club? There are many across the North East, and they’ll be more than happy to help you get started and develop your running.
In school if you’re interested in running speak to Mr Potts or Mrs Blanckley who are both involved in running clubs and can give you advice on how to get started.
Lights, Camera, Action… Oliver Jr. Is Coming to Durham Academy!
Lights, Camera, Action… Oliver Jr. Is Coming to Durham Academy!
We are delighted to announce that this year’s school production will be Oliver Jr.! We are incredibly excited to bring this much-loved musical to life and look forward to giving our students the opportunity to develop their confidence, creativity and teamwork while showcasing their talents on stage. Auditions and rehearsals will be taking place throughout the academic year, with further information about opportunities to get involved shared with students shortly. If your child is interested in auditioning or would like to find out more about taking part, please encourage them to speak to Miss Dixon or Miss Tomlinson. We would also love to hear from any parents or carers who may be able to support the production, whether through helping with costumes, props, set design, hair and make-up, backstage support, fundraising or other practical skills. If you feel you could support us in any way, please contact the school and ask to speak to Miss Dixon or Miss Tomlinson. We are looking forward to creating a fantastic production together and hope our whole school community will get behind Oliver Jr.!
You will be able to see the show on 6th and 7th July 2027 at 6pm.
STEM Literacy Boost.
We are thrilled to extend our sincere thanks to Imperial College London, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and children’s publisher What on Earth Books for donating a valuable £150 STEM resource kit to support literacy and scientific curiosity.
Featured Book: Scientists Making a Difference This resource profiles 47 real-world scientists, technicians, and apprentices—including several researchers from Imperial College London—working across groundbreaking fields of AI, Molecular Bacteriology, Climate conversion and space exploration.
The Mission This initiative aims to dismantle traditional stereotypes about who belongs in science, showing students how accessible, achievable, and diverse technical careers truly are.
Support for Parents and Students
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?
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:
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