Our new build now has definite levels, complete with floors and ceilings. 

This week our contractors have been working on the ceilings and floors of our new build. Each level has a clear floor space and we are starting to imagine what the internal walls are going to look like. 

Year 10 students have been involved with the Durham Works Career Programme and as part of this amazing preparation for adulthood, they visited Amazon on Monday. This is what they had to say:

What a genuinely inspiring day out with Durham Academy as part of the workplace project through DurhamWorks - and from the moment we arrived at #AmazonGateshead, it felt like stepping into the future. 

First up: earpieces and walkie-talkies - instant mission mode  - and huge thanks to our brilliant guides Dawn and Violetta for making the whole experience welcoming, engaging, and fun. 

The students saw robotics whizzing about, clever systems sorting packages, and pods zipping deliveries across the floor - all working alongside people. It was a great real-world look at how people and technology partner in today’s workplaces and how that’s shaping future careers. Fun fact: some Amazon fulfilment centres are as big as 28 football pitches - that’s a LOT of running around if you forget your morning coffee! (About Amazon UK). 

We also learned about how surplus and damaged goods can support local community projects like food banks - a reminder that big businesses can also have big heart . The souvenir mini Amazon trucks and lambs? Huge hit with students. 

Best moment? Two of the boys looked around and said, “Yeah… I could definitely work here.” Flexible hours, great rewards - and suddenly a future career didn’t feel so abstract. Warm, eye-opening, and genuinely fun - this is the kind of experience that sparks confidence, curiosity, and possibility in young people. 

Thank you once again #Amazon. 

Our students proudly represented the school at this year’s competition, hosted at the Beacon of Light.

Throughout the event, the team demonstrated our school values in action — competing with determination, showing respect for opponents, and supporting one another in every match.

A fantastic effort against strong opposition. Well done to all involved!

KS3 have launched their new Table Tennis unit in Core PE 

For many students this has been their first experience of the sport, and it’s been fantastic to see such positive engagement from the outset. Pupils have shown real resilience and ambition as they work to master new techniques, develop consistency, and refine their tactical awareness.

A brilliant example of students stepping outside their comfort zone and embracing a new challenge.

All students have access to our outdoor table tennis courts at break and lunchtimes so please encourage your child to make the most of these resources. 

We’ve installed brand new 9-a-side and 7-a-side goals to enhance our Core PE provision, expand lunchtime football opportunities, and support wider community use. The ASTRO is open to all students and they are also able to borrow school boots (disenfected after every use). 

Miss Burke was beside herself on Wednesday when a Year 9 student arrived with his weekly (extra-curricular) essay on the topic of Noughts and Crosses drawing parallels between the characters and civil rights activists. 

This student is exceptionally talented and the standard of the essay would not have been out of place in the third year of a university degree. 

As such, we have decided to send the essay to Durham University and see what they make of it!  

Amazing independent work! 

No typo. We have actually been racing peas. Mr Clarke's ACCESS group have completed wild and wonderful challenges this half term, showing resilience, determination and team work. 

From drawing the median duck to creating a human marble run, they've certainly had fun and we really appreciate the lengths Mr Clarke goes to each week to think of and resource these fantastic tasks. 

Year 9 have had their Pathway Preferences Assembly this week and there is an air of excitement around the year group who now have some serious thinking to do. 

Mrs Willis has shared a detailed document. Please discuss this with your child and follow the links to career advice and information. 

Final conversations around preferences will be held during our Parent/Carer event on Thursday 12th March.

Please contact Mrs Willis if you have any questions. 

This year’s celebration welcomes the Year of the Fire Horse (火马年), a dynamic and relatively rare sign within the 60-year Chinese zodiac cycle. It symbolises energy, bold action, and transformation.

Historically, horses were central to ancient Chinese society, playing a vital role in transportation, agriculture, and military life. This importance elevated the horse to a lasting cultural symbol of power and resilience. In Chinese tradition, the horse represents strength, speed, freedom, and perseverance.

We wish all of our families health, prosperity and happiness for the year ahead.

Life sometimes throws us some difficult things to deal with and it is often even harder to know and find out where help can be accessed. This link will take you to a wide range of support services from Foodbanks to Family activities and is available across County Durham. 

Some of our students will be fasting for Ramadan this month and we have reminded all families that we are here to support. If your child is fasting please let us know so we can support them around PE lesson, lunchtimes and quiet spaces. 

For anyone who does not know what fasting involves, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims worldwide start fasting. Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic year and an Islamic event of fasting, prayer, reflection and community and is celebrated as a commemoration of Muhammad’s (pbuh) first revelation. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts just under a month from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory for all adult Muslims unless they are exempt due to certain circumstances like illness and pregnancy etc. During the day, they will not be able to eat or drink and will take the time to control their lives by learning to exercise self-restraint and practice self-discipline. All Muslims will break their fast at sunset with their iftar which is their first meal after sunset. They will also have a meal referred to as suhoor which is the last meal they eat just before sunrise before they start their fast again.

As you know, not a week goes by without Dr Atwal planning a fabulous opportunity for students and this week is no exception with three amazing offers. 

Please encourage your child to make the most of these future changing events. 

School reopens on Monday 2nd March and all students should be on site on or before 8.25am

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