Year 12 students are given the opportunity to participate in the prestigious Fiona Hill Oracy Award. This unique competition is funded by The Henry Smith’s Charity, which was set up to support young people in their first career steps. 

In September, our Silver Award students embarked on an incredible expedition through the scenic landscapes of Middleton-in-Teesdale and Barnard Castle. Over the course of three days, they covered nearly 60km (37 miles), testing their endurance, teamwork, and outdoor skills.

A visit to the Kundasang War Memorial followed, paying tribute to prisoners of war, where they learnt about a key moment in history. The students also explored Desa Cattle Dairy Farm, often called the “Little New Zealand” of Sabah, surrounded by scenic mountain views.

In July, as part of the Turing Scheme funding, our students embarked on an unforgettable journey to Borneo in Malaysia, exploring its rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and diverse wildlife. From cultural villages to lush jungles, here’s a glimpse into their trip.

In July, we held our annual Year 12 Opportunities Week, where students were off timetable taking part in work experience either onsite or virtually. The aim was to provide all Y12 students with the chance to develop their employability skills through meaningful work experience or bespoke sessions. 

Business and economics students from Durham Sixth Form Centre participated in a two-day event at the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC). The visit, organised by Dylan Bowater, DSFC alumni and current ONS degree apprentice economist, offered students a comprehensive look into civil service careers and economic policy-making.

The History Department took their Year 12 students on a walking tour of the City of Durham, due to the location of Durham Sixth Form Centre we are surrounded by quite a bit of important history, significant to both local and nationwide stories. 

On Monday 15th July, 42 of our Year 12 students made the journey to Shrewsbury Prison. The original prison was built in 1793 and was then redeveloped during the Victorian era. It was decommissioned as a prison in 2013 and reopened as a tourist attraction.

Our vocational teachers have recently undertaken a range of transformative business externships, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the possible career routes their subjects feed into, as well as further developing many links with our local employers and wider community. 

Another year of outstanding results…

Students and staff at Durham Sixth Form Centre are celebrating success today following the publication of Level 3 results, marking yet another year of outstanding academic and personal achievements.

In our A Level and other academic qualifications we achieved a 100% pass rate and an average Grade B, with almost three quarters of the grades awarded being impressive A*-B grades.