Over 70 of our new starters joined us at our Transition Summer School this year, spending two days in school before heading off for a free, three-day adventure holiday to Weardale Adventure Centre in Ireshopeburn.

Year 11s have returned from a three-week trip of a lifetime to America. The group attended a week-long summer camp in Iowa where they took part in many outdoor activities from canoeing to camping and slept in log cabins with eight American young people.

A team of six girls have won the EDT (Engineering Development Trust) "My Healthy School' competition, which was held at Teesside University last term.

Our annual Academy Sports Day took place on the last day of term and our young athletes competed with great determination and sportsmanship in a number of track events from 100m sprints to relay races.

An Art Department reward trip saw 54 students in Years 7-9 selected to attend a visit to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield.

Media Studies students in Years 11 and 13 have returned from a two-day Media experience to Leeds. The trip included a range of activities designed to increase their understanding of the media industry, and various opportunities to simply try something new.

Our annual Academy Election event allows our students to select their own Year 11 Head Boy and Girl; student leaders for 2018-19 have now been appointed.

This month we held our annual Academy Election to appoint student leaders and prefects for the next academic year. Music students in Years 10 and 11 provided live music as part of the event.

Our students work hard throughout the year and achieve great things through dedication and effort. Our Reward Day recognises students with an excellent attitude to their studies and homework, alongside a good attendance and behaviour record.

Last term, two of our Year 9 students, supported by two of our former Sixth Formers worked on an exciting primary outreach project called "Picnic in the Park' in partnership with the Auckland Project. The activity took place in the beautiful grounds of Auckland Castle.