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.

Congratulations to Rachael Vallis who recently won three county archery competitions, after only taking up the sport a year ago!

Originally a birthday present for Rachael’s younger sister, the whole family decided to take part in an archery beginners course and all became hooked on the sport.

Congratulations to Durham Sixth Form Centre students Sam Treweeke, TJ Outhwaite, Henry Bowler and Sam Woodward who represented Houghton Rugby Club in the Colts County Plate win, and to James Fish who helped them get into the final.

Year 12 Photography students spent the afternoon at Sunderland University visiting the Northern Centre of Photography as part of their art enrichment. This trip included a tour of the Centre’s industry standard facilities, and a studio portrait workshop.

Year 12 students from the Visual Arts Department went on the annual trip to Newcastle and Gateshead as part of their art enrichment. This trip included a visit to the BALTIC, Side Gallery, Hatton Gallery and Newcastle University Fine Art department.

A group of Year 12 and 13 students spent a week skiing in the stunning Camonica Valley accompanied by members of staff.

Aprica is a large resort that offers skiers an incredible 1119 metres (3670 feet) of vertical descent and 21 pistes with a total length of 50 kilometres (30 miles).

Apprenticeships are competitive and sought after, yet despite this each year Durham Sixth Form Centre students manage to secure places with some of the biggest regional employers. Our young people are eager to get out into the workforce, start earning and have their employer pay for their higher education. 

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.