This month, we organised a host of activities for students in Years 7-10 as part of Active Community Engagement week (ACE) at King James. From volunteering in our community to interviewing local Councillors, taking part in alcohol awareness workshops to gaining an insight into our Fire and Rescue Service, students were extremely busy.

Exclaimer online magazine, which is written and designed by our students in

Years 11 and 12, has reached the final of the School Awards 2013, an annual competition which is run by the Journal and Evening Gazette.

Students in Years 7-10 have recently enjoyed their first horse riding experience at Field House Equestrian Centre in Howden-le-Wear as part of our Summer of Sport initiative.

Once again, our A Level Performing Arts students have created some ground breaking performances this year, described by the visiting moderator as "the best he has seen this year'.

Over 30 of our Year 9 students, accompanied by eight Year 11's, visited Northumbria University this month as part of our "Aim Higher' programme, which aims to inspire young people to progress on to higher education. This programme includes a number of trips each year to universities across the UK.

This year, our BTEC Creative Media courses were further developed to include print-based media units alongside our already popular film studies. This allows students to develop additional skills in commercial graphic design, publishing, journalism, promotion and marketing.

In September, new Year 11 Media students will be filming at Auckland Castle, thanks to a brand new education-meets-business link.

A group of students in Years 7 and 8 have competed in the County Durham Level 3 Sainsbury's School Games.

Our Future Business Magnates (FBM) team have won a special award at a prestigious presentation evening held at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe.

The Year 11 Prom 2013 was a glittering event enjoyed by all. Our young ladies and gentlemen turned out in style to celebrate at Rockliffe Hall in Darlington with a three course dinner and dancing.