24th October 2025

Welcome to our weekly bulletin,

It is difficult to believe that this is the last bulletin for this half term. The academic year is flying by at great speed and the school days are so full of amazing lessons and events that it is quite unbelievable that we are now planning for Christmas rewards and community events for next half term.

We have been very busy...

Watching bulldozers

The steel frame is scheduled to built in November and so the ground works have continued this week and as Friday come around it feels like we have moved from a demolition area to a real building site with things being added rather than taken away.

The building team have been fantastic over the last eight weeks and kept us all safe and undisturbed during lessons whilst simultaneously transforming the school site. We can wait to come back after half term and see the progress that has been made.

Thanking parents and carers who attended our KS3 Tutor Evening

The school was a buzz with parents, carers, students and staff reviewing the first half term last night with the majority of families in attendance.

It was a great opportunity to catch up to see how Year 7 students have settled in and check in on year 8 and 9 students as they have embarked on the new year in front of them.

Parents and carers had the chance to trouble shoot and log any issues, tell us their opinions on what we are doing well (which were overwhelmingly positive) and resolve the small number of queries they may have had.

If you were unable to attend but would like to speak to your child's Tutor please contact reception.

Tutor Evening Slides

Reflecting on the Year 7 experience

Our Year 7 students have now firmly established themselves as members of Durham Academy and they are a marvellous bunch.

Despite only being with us for eight weeks, they have demonstrated confidence, ambition and respect and we are proud of the progress they have made.

One year 7 student told us that they have learnt more in the last eight weeks than they did in the whole of Primary school. Now whilst we know that's not quite true and our feeder primary schools do an awe-inspiring job, what the year 7 was saying is that they have recognised the demands of secondary school and have stepped up to them with great enthusiasm (no doubt because our primary schools and families have given them the firm foundations to do so).

They are enthusiastic and engaged learners and the level of debate in their lessons is outstanding.

Getting a sneak peek of Lumiere

We are now counting down the days to Lumiere and if your child has been involved in the Year 9 workshops you have been invited to a special preview event on Wednesday 12th of November from 5pm-6.30pm at Shildon to see their work installed.

We also have 90 tickets available for families who have participated in the project for the city centre event.

In order to receive these free tickets, please complete this request form.

LUMIERE SHILDON INVITE.pdf

Learning from a Paramedic

Year 7 were gripped by a visit from a Paramedic this week and learnt about the demands of the job, how to enter into this as a career and the reality of day to day as an emergency service.

Mrs Lister said that there were so many questions that the Paramedic could have stayed all day!

Reminding you about positive attendance

We are entering cold and flu season and a number of students have reported feeling unwell. Whilst this means they might not be on top form, we would still like them to come to school and give their learning a go.

If they are unwell to the point that you need to take the day off work to look after them, please follow the usual absence procedures but if they are able to come to school we will look after them and contact you if we feel they are too ill to be here.

Attendance poster - Durham.pdf