At the start of our autumn term, our newly appointed Enrichment Lead organised a busy Freshers’ Fair to give our Year 12 and Year 13 students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant spirit of our community.

Year 13 student Jaden Dixon has had a very busy summer volunteering with 11Arches, the organisation responsible for producing the Kynren live performance event throughout the summer in Bishop Auckland. 

Jaden began volunteering as part of Kynren in 2016 when the event was first established.

Every year Durham Sixth Form Centre enters teams into inter-schools debate competitions. After a very good showing in the annual European Youth Parliament Inter-Schools Debating Competition in March, a team was also entered for the North-East Regional Debating Matters competition held in Durham at Pemberton Buildings near Durham Cathedral.

Our Year 12 students were busy during the final week of the summer term taking part in a wide variety of work experience placements and tailored sessions on site to deepen their careers knowledge. Our BTEC Sport students have been particularly successful in their search for placements and have organised a very varied range of opportunities as part of their course.

Law students visited Newcastle Combined Law Courts to observe a broad range of cases. Although a little apprehensive about walking into courtrooms on their own whilst cases were ongoing, students soon gained confidence and were quickly dispersed across the four floors to observe a range of cases.

Students and staff from Classics, Religious Studies and Philosophy departments all enjoyed a wonderful trip to Rome during the summer.

On the first day they set out for The Ara Pacis, the stunning altar of the Augustan Peace, built by the Roman Senate to honour Augustus in 13BCE.

Inspector Ian Bowden and PCSO Annabelle Chambers from Durham Constabulary visited Durham Sixth Form Centre to deliver two assemblies to over 300 students, looking at the themes of knife crime, road safety and driver awareness.

PCSO Annabelle Chambers delivered the session regarding knife crime where students were informed around the legal responsibilities about carrying a knife.

Over 200 students and their progress tutors embarked on an inspiring journey to the Newcastle Utilita Arena to the annual UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) event.  Alongside their peers, they went to visit over 100 university, college and apprenticeship representatives to find out about different options and pathways after they leave Durham Sixth Form Centre.

Two hundred of our Year 13 students recently celebrated the end of their studies here at Durham Sixth Form Centre with a Leavers Party at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the city centre. The event was organised by the Student Leadership Group and quickly sold out when it was advertised earlier in the year.

Every year we run our DSFC Writing Competition, this year the theme was Power.  We want to pick a theme that will allow students across the centre to participate, the piece could be a story, poem or an academic piece in the field of a student’s choice.