Welcome to our weekly bulletin,

It has been a wonderful and busy week at school, with parents and carers joining us on site for both our KS4 Information Evening and our Year 5 and 6 Open Evening. It has been fantastic to welcome so many families into school and to share the opportunities, support and experiences we offer our students.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to attend and engage with our staff and students. These events are an important part of building strong partnerships between home and school, and we value your continued support.

We are now looking forward to our next parental event, which will be a particularly exciting one as it will take place in our brand-new school building. We cannot wait to welcome our families into this fantastic new space and share this important milestone with our school community.

Our Open Evening was a wonderful opportunity for prospective students and their families to step inside Durham Academy and experience the excitement of school life for themselves. From the moment families arrived, there was a real buzz around the school, with our student tour guides helping visitors find their way and sharing their experiences of life at Durham Academy.

The evening began in the Auditorium, where families were welcomed before hearing a presentation about the school. Visitors could then explore the many different subject areas, with each department bringing learning to life through a fantastic range of interactive activities.

There was certainly something for everyone! In Science, visitors could get involved with exciting practical demonstrations including flame tests, methane bubbles and indicators, while STEM showcased its impressive go-kart, models, awards and activities.

Our creative subjects were equally vibrant. In Art, families could see examples of KS3 and GCSE work and watch students demonstrate their practical skills, while Music provided opportunities to explore keyboards and enjoy performances from our talented students.

Visitors also discovered the many opportunities beyond the traditional classroom. The Sports Hall was alive with activity, including badminton, table tennis, gym activities, while Design Technology and Food offered a glimpse into our practical curriculum, including robotics, 3D printing and baking.

Humanities challenged visitors with map activities, history challenges and French quizzes, while our SEND team showcased the wide range of support available to students, including intervention strategies, adapted games and sensory resources.

And, of course, English and the Library transported visitors to the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with bookmark creation, sensory writing, a Golden Ticket challenge and a library treasure hunt.

With refreshments, practical activities, performances and plenty of opportunities to talk to staff and students, the evening was a fantastic celebration of everything that makes Durham Academy such a special place to learn. Most importantly, it gave prospective students the chance to see, hear, explore and experience our school for themselves — and we hope many of them left already looking forward to becoming part of the Durham Academy community.