Learning to Inspire
Learning to Succeed
Learning to Develop
Learning to Excel
Learning to Respect
Learning to Appreciate
Learning to Share
Learning to Challenge
Discover more about King James I Academy including Ofsted inspection reports, Bus Timetables, Uniform requirements and details surrounding the School Day.
Learn MoreInformation for our students, including bus times, uniform, timetable information and Student Support.
Learn MoreThis year in response to feedback from our teachers and students we will be trialling a homework timetable.
Learn MoreLearn about our academy's safeguarding team, make a referral or read our key policies.
Learn MoreInformation for parents of students attending or thinking about attending our school.
Learn MoreContact Details such as Address, Telephone Numbers, Email Addresses and Points of Contact within the Academy.
Learn MoreThis year we can return to our full transition programme to ensure a smooth start to Year 7.
Learn MoreWelcome to King James I Academy and thank you for taking the time to visit our website where you will find out about the exciting things that are happening within the Academy.
Throughout the 2023/24 academic year we continued to build upon our many successes and we will continue to do the same in 2024/25 as we look forward to another exciting and inspiring year filled with opportunities to learn and grow. We are over-subscribed for the sixth year running and hope to be again in September 2025, meaning that we can provide the King James experience to as many young people as possible from the local area.
At King James, we pride ourselves on the quality and breadth of the curriculum we offer and we employ specialist teaching staff to ensure that all of our children are safe, well cared for, supported, and academically challenged. We are keen to work in close partnership with our parents and we work hard to ensure that our students enjoy and succeed in all aspects of their education.
We are a fully inclusive school, and recognise the increased pressures for young people in the world today; in order to support students, we employ a large number of highly skilled support staff who are available to help all of our students to prosper, develop reslience, and overcome barriers. From our Student Support Workers who provide day to day support to students to our Learning Support team we are a caring school. We also employ a School Counsellor, and a dedicated Attendance Officer as well as having access to external support staff who help students to be prepared and able to learn.
Our International School Award reflects our belief in learning beyond the classroom and our Vision Magazine celebrates the variety we offer and the many achievements of our students. We were delighted to be able to re-launch international visits with trips to Malta and the Netherlands last year, and have more planned for the future, including Majorca, as well as funded trips to France and back to Malta.
King James I Community works closely in partnership with our local primary schools and the local community to provide a venue for a large range of out of hours, community-led educational and leisure activities including supporting Roots (a local performing arts group), hosting Bishop Auckland Juniors Football Club, Bishop Ladies, Bishop Auckland Reserves, and the Bishop Auckland District Football Teams, as well as working in partnership with Shildon AFC and Shildon Youth teams.
Our children take part in a range of academic, sporting, and other activities beyond the school day and there is a seamless connection between the school and community activities which take place on the Academy site. Students benefit from an Enrichment period at the end of every day, other than Friday, that provides them with the opportunity to develop new interests and to extend their learning.
King James offers a wealth of opportunities, which help our students to thrive and achieve excellent outcomes and which help us to provide "learning to inspire". Ultimately, we aim to develop our students into confident, responsible young people with the skills that enable them to thrive in modern society.
Should you require a copy of Vision or any further information then please access information via the website or contact the Main Reception on 01388 603388, or if you are interested in visiting King James then please do not hesitate to make personal contact with me.
Best wishes.
Simon Whitehead
Headteacher
Year 8 student, Ashton T is enjoying great success in competitive swimming, despite only entering the sport two years ago.
Around 70% of teenagers say they’ve seen real-life violence on social media in the past year. This guide is designed to help parents become more aware.
Year 10 students have enjoyed a week-long period of work experience with local businesses and organisations from a wide variety of sectors.
This month, 45 students in Years 8 and 9 have travelled to Holland for a five-day action-packed trip. Organised by our PE Department, this bi-annual experience is an extremely popular international opportunity, especially for our young football fans.
Music students in Years 7-10 have taken part in the inaugural Young Musician of the Year competition at King James. The event, which was organised by Director of Learning for Music, Mr Smith, showcased some of the best talent in the Music department.
Our 2025 Future Business Magnates team has recently taken part in the fifth challenge of the enterprise competition at Beamish Museum.
Students in Mr Wheatley’s Comic Book Club have visited Auckland Castle to hear some of the interesting but gruesome stories linked to our local area. Bishop Auckland has a strange and fascinating history, and our comic book creators were able to take inspiration from them.
As part of our 'Aim Higher' programme, a group of Key Stage 4 students have visited Teesside University with Mr Butters to take part in an event called 'Choose your Future'.