This year's trip to France was yet another resounding success, with 36 students in Years 7 and 9 travelling to Paris for an action-packed, four day break.

Following nomination by a number of our Sixth Form students for the Journal's prestigious North East Schools Awards 2014, Linda Dixon was declared winner in the category of Support Worker of the Year.

A group of students in Year 10 have recently enjoyed a taster session of Rock Climbing thanks to portable facilities provided by Consett and District YMCA.

Sixth Form Media students have recently enjoyed a Re-ball and Climbing Wall taster session at the Academy organised by the Consett and District YMCA.

This year, whilst our building work is underway, our annual Sports Day took place at Bishop Auckland Cricket Club, which is located next to our school grounds.

Mr Shearer, our Head of Sixth Form's "Aim Higher' initiative gives students in Years 9-13 an opportunity to visit universities across the UK to get a taste of student life. Trips take place throughout the year to cities including London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Liverpool.

Once again, we are celebrating the exceptional achievement of our students in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge.

Each year, students in Years 7, 8 and 9 take part in ACE (Active Community Engagement) Day, an event designed to raise awareness and encourage our young people to become more involved in their local community. This year, a host of activities took part both inside and outside of our school grounds.

Had it not been for the devastating earthquake and typhoon in the Philippines, the King James Marine Conservation team would have recently returned from a three week scuba diving adventure to the islands of Cebu and Bohol. There, they would have been working with local people to help preserve the coral reefs. Sadly, due to concerns about safety in the region, the expedition had to be cancelled, however this gave our students another idea.

As part of our A.C.E Day activities, a group of Year 7 students, accompanied by Mrs Stewart, visited the Durham Food Bank to deliver and help sort groceries that they had collected in school.