The brick work has progressed during our week off and another set of students have visited today. 

This week, talks have been around furniture - what we will keep and what we need to buy, what colours these should be and how they will be arranged in classrooms and offices. 

Tarmacking has been discussed as well as the temporary areas available to students during the demolition phase for the old building. 

The weather tested our waterproofing on Tuesday and Wednesday night and we are pleased to day that no leaks were to be seen. 

Huge shoutout and a massive thank you to Engineering Educated! 

Thanks to their amazing funding support, our STEM go-kart project is officially getting a massive boost. This contribution is going to make a huge impact on our build, allowing us to get on the track sooner and learn deeper.

We can’t wait to show you what we build with your support. Stay tuned for updates 

The summer holidays can seem like a very long time when you have children of different ages to entertain and the costs mount up very quickly over the course of six weeks. 

The Altitude Foundation are offering your child the chance to participate in a FREE experience which includes transport and food that will not only entertain your child if they are aged between 11-18 but develop their digital media skills for the future. 

Follow the link to sign them up! 

Year 10 started their exams today and this marks the start of their Year 11 assessment journey as the results will inform planning and intervention. 

Please ensure that your child is on time for school every day and that they have been up and had something to eat (free breakfast is available to all students in school.)

All details of revision required have been shared with them. 

Please contact Mrs Anderson if you have any questions. 

On Monday 8th June we have a session run around 'anxious thoughts and feelings'  and school based anxiety.

It will take place at school at 2:00pm and is open to all parents. 

This will be run by Tanya Davis who works for the local authority's communication and interaction team and supports students who might find this difficult and she will suggest practical strategies and support to help.

If you are not able to attend this session but would be interested in being invited to the next one please contact reception or Mrs Smith our SENCO.

We were delighted to host the DiscoverChemEngLIVE workshop for our Year 8 students today.

The interactive session provided a fantastic insight into the diverse and impactful world of chemical engineering. Our students engaged in hands-on challenges, developing their critical thinking, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving skills.

Exposing our students to these vital STEM industries early on is key to inspiring the next generation of innovators. Thank you to the organizers for delivering such an engaging and educational experience!

Thank you to Josh Minto from RTC North for delivering the workshop!

#DiscoverChemEng #STEM #CareersInSTEM #SchoolNews #EngineeringEducation

Following OFSTED we have been contacted from a number of different schools to share our practice in a range of school areas and on Wednesday it was the turn to showcase and share how we make sure all children have their needs met. 

Visitors from another school visited lessons and intervention sessions and spoke to students about the support they are given. 

It was delightful to hear our students speak with confidence about the support they receive from word banks during do now activities to confidence building social interaction sessions, our students could articulate very clearly how these things support them with learning and life. 

We also visited a reading intervention session and our visitors saw first hand how our students are taught to read with expression, using punctuation as their guide and debunk tricky words to ensure comprehension. These sessions happen every hour of the day, every day of the week and it is easy to assume this is what all schools do but it isn't. As OFSTED said, "Leaders have a deep understanding of the school's context and the challenges that pupils may face. They have a significant positive impact on the many pupils who face barriers to their learning and wellbeing during their time at the school. Before pupils join the school,

significant additional work takes place. Pupils who join part way through their education are quickly identified for extra support should they need it. Transition visits, personalised support programmes and effective information-sharing ensure that leaders have a precise understanding of each pupil's needs. Close collaboration with families and external agencies helps to shape support for pupils. Pupils who attend the school’s specially resourced provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive bespoke support matched to their individual pathways and needs.

Staff continually develop their skills in supporting pupils with SEND and those pupils who are disadvantaged. Staff demonstrate an expert understanding of individual pupils and their specific needs. Leaders closely monitor the impact of their work. Plans to support pupils with SEND are reviewed and adjusted precisely..."

The word that kept coming up on Wednesday was, "bespoke" and that really does summarise our approach. Every child is different and so every child needs a different plan and of course everything we do is based on through academic research so every day at Durham Academy includes the EEF 5 a day. 

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