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Our History

Opened on the 3rd September 1913, the ‘School on the Sands’ was initially built to accommodate 248 girls. The building, now Durham Sixth Form Centre, was officially opened on 21st January 1914 by Dr Hensley Henson, the Bishop of Durham.

The school was designed by W. Rushworth and was built in the Neo-Georgian style costing £16,250. It was originally suggested that the school should be called the ‘Johnston School for Girls’ as a tribute to the illustrious benefactor of the original school, James Finlay Weir Johnston.

However, it was also felt that the part played by Durham County Council in establishing both schools should be reflected, so the name Durham Girls’ County School was granted. In 1969, the school became co-educational and, in 1984, predominantly a sixth form provider.

In 2023, we celebrated 110 years of education at Durham Sixth Form Centre, as the ‘School on The Sands'.

110 Years Celebration

Timeline

This page showcases key moments from our school's 110-year history, capturing its evolution through major milestones, challenges, and achievements.

2023

Celebrating 110 Years of Education

In 2023, we celebrated 110 years of education at Durham Sixth Form Centre, as the ‘School on The Sands'.

2023

Opening of the Dead Dog Gallery

In July 2023, Durham Sixth Form Centre formally opened the brand new Dead Dog Gallery.

2019

Opening of the Digital Media Centre

Opened in September 2019, our Digital Media Centre houses the most up-to-date and industry standard technical equipment.

2013

Celebrating 100 Years of Education

In 2013, we celebrated 100 years of education at Durham Sixth Form Centre, as the ‘School on The Sands'.

2013

US Ambassador to the UK, Matthew Barzun Visits DSFC

Durham Sixth Form Centre were honoured to host Matthew Barzun.

2006

Opening of the Visual Arts Centre

To improve the centre’s arts facilities a new custom-built, state-of-the-art Visual Arts Centre was built in front of the original school building.

2023

Celebrating 110 Years of Education

On July 14th 2023 a special event was held to celebrate the 110 year anniversary of the school opening. Attended by past and present staff, ex-students and friends of the school, guests were treated to afternoon tea and presented with gift bags containing gifts marking the occasion.

Exhibition panels giving an overview of the school’s history and a display of items from the archives were on display, plus visitors were invited to visit the Dead Dog Gallery to see the first exhibition in the newly opened space.

2023

Opening of the Dead Dog Gallery

Work to convert the former caretaker’s lodge began in early 2022, as a direct result of a Department for Education award of funding to provide additional capacity for post-16 learners in County Durham. An extension to the Visual Arts Centre was also carried out at the same time.

The gallery represents a bold step forward in the centre’s commitment to the arts through its ambitious Arts Development strategy. With a vision to create a free arts hub in Durham City which is inclusive, accessible and that engages with the public and wider creative community, the gallery is the centrepiece of that plan.

2019

Opening of the Digital Media Centre

The construction of the £3.4 million DMC required sixty-three highly skilled workers and 13 locally sourced sub-contractors to ensure the project was completed on time. An amazing 482 lengths of steel were used in the construction of the building’s structure. The DMC houses a high-tech IT hub, multimedia room, TV studio, small cinema room and a conference/event space. It also contains 13 modern classrooms teaching a wide range of subjects including A-level media, film studies, business studies and law. As well as this, students have access to a games room and refreshments from the on-site café.

2013

Celebrating 100 Years of Education

As the new year began in September 2013, staff and students marked 100 years of education at Durham Sixth Form Centre by releasing 100 golden balloons into blue sky
to mark the momentous occasion.

2013

US Ambassador to the UK, Matthew Barzun Visits DSFC

In January 2014, Durham Sixth Form Centre were honoured to host Matthew Barzun, US Ambassador to the United Kingdom as he visitied the Centre on the afternoon of Wednesday, 22nd January 2014. As a keen believer in the importance of education Mr Barzun requested the opportunity to address around 250 students on business, entrepreneurial spirit and education.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to welcome Mr Barzun to Durham Sixth Form Centre. It is a fantastic opportunity for our students to meet and listen to the words and experience of such a highly regarded dignitary” said Head Teacher, Ellen Beveridge.

2006

Opening of the Visual Arts Centre

This impressive and award-winning facility opened in February 2006. With its large, airy spaces and great natural light, the building came equipped with excellent facilities, such as photography darkroom, kiln room and exhibition space.

It provides the perfect creative environment and superb opportunities for students to pursue their interests and develop their skills in the arts: photography, textiles, fine art and graphic design.

110 Years Book Launch

Our Alumni

David Gartland

Darlington College Principal and Chief Executive

I started at Durham Sixth Form Centre without really knowing where or what I wanted to do with my life.  From day one, my Personal Tutor, James O’Leary, took a real interest in helping me get my GCSE’s (which I didn’t get from school) and then encouraged me to progress onto A levels. After three years of continual support and encouragement, I had the confidence to go onto University – something that I had never considered throughout my school life.  My subject teachers, particularly Norman Ferguson, my sports teacher, was always supportive and more than happy to tell me when I wasn’t doing as well as I should be and what I had to do to improve.

As well as getting a great education in all the subjects I studied, the social aspect of the Sixth Form Centre was fantastic.  It provided the opportunity to meet so many different people from different areas. I went to University in London, where I studied Sports Science combined with a teaching qualification.  Since graduating, I have worked in an inner-city Sixth Form College in South London for 12 years.  My job has enabled me to travel the world, setting up international links in India and, more predominately, in China.

These links have enabled students from both countries to visit one another and work on collaborative projects linked to the subjects they are studying at the sixth form.  My experiences at DSFC shaped who I am today and gave me the confidence to go on to University and to get a degree, which has enabled me to work with sixth form students. I am thoroughly enjoying doing something that I was inspired to do by my teachers at the sixth form centre – hopefully encouraging students, who are a bit like me, to go on and do things that they never thought possible.

Steph Houghton

Houghton started at Sunderland, before moving on to Leeds Carnegie in 2007, where she won the FA Women’s Premier League Cup. In 2010, she joined Arsenal Ladies, where she won the FA WSL on two occasions and is a two-time winner of the FA Women’s Cup and three-time winner of the FA WSL Cup. She broke into the Sunderland team as a striker before moving back into midfield and later into defence.

Since her debut in 2007, Houghton played over 100 times for England women’s national team. She was made England captain in January 2014, and went on to captain her country at two World Cups and a Women’s Euro, earning a bronze medal at the 2015 World Cup. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Houghton scored three goals in Great Britain’s four games, including winners against New Zealand and Brazil. She represented Great Britain again in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Houghton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to football.  She was awarded the Freedom of the City of Sunderland on 8 March 2023.

Matt Baker

“My truly inspirational teachers were at Durham Sixth Form Centre.”

Matt talked about how he was given valuable career advice, which, in his opinion, set him on the path he has found himself on today. With the support of his teachers, Matt was able to re-asses the A Levels he was doing, and benefited from this when he went on to audition for drama school.

Matt described his teachers at Durham Sixth Form Centre as being “really influential in helping me make a life-changing decision.” He went on to add “If it wasn’t for Grease and swapping my A Levels, I wouldn’t be doing what I am today.”

Matt presented ‘Blue Peter’ for seven years and, as well as ‘The One Show’, presents ‘Countryfile’ on BBC1. He won two TV BAFTAS during his seven years on Blue Peter, and came second in 2010’s season of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

Durham Sixth Form Centre is very proud of Matt’s successes. The Theatre Studies & Performing Arts courses at the Centre are going from strength to strength.

Poppy Pritchard

An academy product of Women’s Championship club Durham, Pritchard started her senior career at Durham, making a total of 22 appearances and scoring twice.  She made 4 appearances in the 2022–23 Championship season, followed by another 13 in the 2023–24 season.

In November 2022, Pritchard scored a hat trick for Durham under-21 team against Manchester United, becoming the first team to win against United’s U21 side with a 3–2 result. In the 2022–23 season, she scored at total of 18 goals and provided 3 assists for Durham U21 team. In September 2023, Pritchard scored within 15 minutes of her youth international debut with England under-19s, in a 5–0 win over Denmark, followed by a brace against Germany in a 3–3 draw six days later. For 2024 Under-19 Championship qualification on 25 October 2023, she scored the fifth goal against Wales in a 6–1 victory, and provided two assists. On 1 December 2023, as the number 9 striker, she scored two goals in the 5–1 win over Sweden.

In 2024, Pritchard scored the opening goal against Switzerland in a 2–0 victory, followed by a brace against Italy in a 4–1 win helping the team to qualify for the final tournament in Lithuania. With 9 goals in 9 appearances for the under-19s, BBC Sport described Pritchard as a player to “look out for” in the tournament. In July, Pritchard scored a hat-trick in England’s opening group stage match of the tournament in a 10–0 victory over Lithuania, followed by scoring the winning goal against France to win the group.

On 31 January 2024, Pritchard signed for Manchester City on a three-and-a-half-year deal, after interest from several WSL clubs including Tottenham Hotspur.

Now, excitedly the 19-year-old centre forward has been signed by Newcastle United Women on loan for the rest of the season. We are so thrilled for Poppy to be back playing in our region!

 

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