We are delighted to announce that we have, once again, been awarded the Quality in Careers Standard (QiCs), through Investors in Careers, following our reassessment for the award in October 2022. The Quality in Careers Standard is the national quality award for careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) in secondary schools, colleges and work-based learning.

Year 13 student Elizabeth McKinnon’s cycling achievements have been outstanding, being selected for Team GB and winning three national trophies out of six over the last year. She recently won The National Trophy Cycling competition and has also just achieved second place in the British Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championships in the Lake District.

A group of Geography and Biology students, and members of staff, had an amazing trip to Iceland recently. It was dark when they arrived at the cosy 22 Hill Hotel, so the first exploration was the harbour area in the dark, with some great views of Imagine Peace Tower lighting up the night sky.

To celebrate the relaunch of their Durham branch, the Historical Association reached out to Sixth Form Colleges across the region, asking their students to consider whether or not emotion has a place in the study of history?

Year 13 student Daisie Winter has recently won a silver medal at the European Karate championships which was hosted in Florence, Italy earlier this month. After completing her GCSE studies at Biddick Academy, Daisie chose Durham Sixth Form Centre to study Criminology, Sport and Health & Social Care alongside devoting her spare time to Karate, at her local club Kensho Karate in Gateshead, where she has trained since the age of six.

Three students from Durham Sixth Form Centre have had their artwork exhibited online as part of the Sixth Form College Association annual exhibition. The theme ‘Planet Future’ saw students from across the nation enter a wide range of artworks to be exhibited.

The Visual Arts Department opened its doors once again to the public for the annual Big Draw event at Durham Sixth Form Centre. The festival is a worldwide celebration that promotes the universal language of drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention.

This unique competition is funded by the Henry Smith’s Charity, which was set up to support young people in their first career steps and was introduced to the SIxth Form by Deputy Headteacher Jo Lain. 

Students were required to create a short video, on their phone or device, of themselves presenting an issue they felt needed to be publicised and discussed.

Year 12 student Lana Crocher attended a prize giving ceremony at Newnham College, Cambridge after winning the third place prize in the college’s Archaeology annual essay writing competition.

Newnham College’s annual essay prize competitions are designed to encourage female sixth-form students to explore university-level subjects, including such subjects as Classics, Maths, and Engineering, and to develop their independent research and writing skills.

A group of students from DSFC gathered on Wednesdays after school over 6 weeks to discuss their thoughts about racism, activism and how to be anti-racist. Hosted by artists Theresa Easton and Theresa Poulton, students were able to engage with Dr Beverley Prevatt Goldstein, author of African Lives in Northern England.