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.

Over 300 people from our local community came to King James to see our latest Dance Show, entitled Novo Começa, which is Portuguese for "New Beginnings'.

We celebrated a grand total of seven nominations at the Bishop Auckland Town Team Youth Awards 2018, which recognises the achievements of young people in our area.

Year 11 GCSE Geography students have enjoyed a field trip to Keswick as part of their studies. The town, which was devastated by floods in both 2005 and 2009, now has a £6 million flood protection scheme, which makes it the perfect location to study flood defences.

This month, eight of our Year 10 girls travelled to London to take part in our Girls Active Wimbledon trip. The two-day trip is organised each year by our PE Department to promote female participation in sport and to reward students who show dedication in their lessons.