We have been fascinated to watch a giant machine both supporting part of our structure and move more pieces of framework into place this week. 

In addition to this Mrs Jobling has been finding out about our state of the art auditorium which will have a performance area with sound and lighting to rival The Newcastle Arena! This will be a brilliant area to showcase and celebrate our students talents. 

As part of the upcoming Careers Week, Amazing Apprenticeships invite all parents and carers to a webinar to help navigate the apprenticeship offers available to your children so that you feel confident and informed about your child's next stage of education. 

You can access this service and the webinar via this link. 

Our school nurse will be on site on the 17th of February. She is available to any student who wants to speak to her and can cover all sorts of physical and mental health issues. 

Please let reception know if you would like to make an appointment for your child. 

Mrs Turnbull runs a whole host of lunchtime clubs in the library ranging from Film Club to British Sign Language and this week students have tried their hand at cross stitching. 

The club was surprisingly popular and students showed great creativity and determination to make spring themes items along with Mother's Day gifts. 

If your child would like to join a library club please direct them to Mrs Turbull. 

The Mental Health Support Team is visiting us next Thursday to provide advice and information to all students. They will be available during Break and Lunch in the Cafe. 

Our attendance team are working very hard to support all students to maintain their good attendance. 

Every lesson missed is like a piece of jenga removed from the tower. By the time the tower reaches Year 11 exams, it is very vulnerable and struggles with the weight of knowledge required to pass exams because instead of building up over time, it has to be rushed at the end to close gaps and holes filled are never as secure as things built on firm foundations in the first place. 

If you child is not physically able to be in school and requires a Drs or hospital appointment then please follow our reporting procedures. If your child does not need medical care then please send them to school and we will look after them. 

As a school we have a legal duty to follow up all non-attendance and this includes visiting homes to check on the wellbeing of children who are absent from school to ensure they are safe. 

Students who attend 97% of the time or more make better that the national amount of progress by the end of Year 11 so lets work together to ensure they have the best chance to succeed. 

We can not stress how important it is for your child to make informed decisions about Post 16 destinations. 

It is very easy to follow your friends or sign up to a course because you have heard about it from someone else but without visiting and seeing for yourself, you can't be sure you have made the right decision. 

Every child receives independent careers advice at Durham Academy and has assemblies and guidance in PHSCE to support their application to college or sixth form. 

Please insist that your child visits both College and Sixth form open evenings so they make the most aspirational and ambitious application at the end of Year 11. 

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