In September, our Sixth Formers will be able to enjoy brand new facilities in a bespoke detached building including a new Common Room and Study Zone.

Cllr Joy Allen, the Mayor of Bishop Auckland has visited King James to present three of our students with some very special awards. The presentation was a special occasion for all involved as it was also the first official engagement as Mayor for Cllr Allen.

This year has seen an exciting display of creativity and determination by the Dramatic Arts Department. Students have produced dynamic and electrifying performances and have achieved both academically and personally.

A group of 40 students in Year 12 have attended a UCAS event at Teesside University as part of our Aim Higher programme. The event focused on carer planning.

Sixth Form Music students have produced their own 15-minute set for a festival setting. They rehearsed four songs, created mash-ups, composed their own song and developed lighting and set design for their performance, as well as developing their skills for live sound and PA systems.

A group of students and leaders from our RTS Theatre Group have recently returned from a week-long trip to Paris. The students had been specially selected to attend the trip as a reward for their outstanding work and commitment to the group.

To support their studies and reinforce their learning, A-Level Mathematics students in Years 12 and 13 have competed in the annual UKMT Senior Team Maths challenge. This is a prestigious competition which encourages teamwork whilst solving non-routine maths problems.

A-Level Geography students take part in a variety of learning activities outside of the classroom as part of their studies. Regular field trips to investigate topics such as population, tourism, impact of adverse weather and flood defences help students to put their classroom learning into perspective.

A group of 20 Media Studies students in Years 11 and 12 have recently attended a film-making workshop at Teesside University. There, they were were able to use state-of-the-art camera, lighting and editing equipment to create a professional music video for their coursework.

Our Level 3 Professional Cookery course is going from strength to strength since its launch in September.