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A Late Christmas Present That Made a Big Difference
A late Christmas present is always appreciated — especially when it brings joy to children spending the festive season in hospital. Two St John’s Sixth Form students, Caitlin Bell and Lily Atkinson, were recently awarded the Team Volunteering Award 2025/26 at the Bishop Auckland Town Council Awards. They received this recognition for organising Christmas gift donations for the Children’s Ward at Darlington Memorial Hospita
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Balancing Study and Sport: Hannah’s Journey in Acrobatic Gymnastics
Hannah Singlewood in Year 13 writes… Acrobatic gymnastics is a discipline that is often overshadowed by the more widely recognised artistic gymnastics. It involves athletes working in partnerships to perform routines that combine artistry, strength and teamwork through balances and dynamic sequences, relying heavily on trust and coordination to execute complex skills.
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Sixth Form Spotlight: Beth Teasdale Balances Football Success With Academic Study
Year 13 student Beth Teasdale plays football for the Newcastle Under 21s Women’s Team. They compete in the Professional Game Academy, playing against other academy teams from across England.
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 2025 – A Year to Remember
St John’s Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland is proud to recognise the incredible achievements of twenty‑three students who completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition in summer 2025. The expedition was truly an experience of two halves. One group faced blistering 27‑degree heat in the Langdale Valley in August, while the other battled days of relentless rain and 50mph winds across Borrowdale and the Ullswater Valley. Sunshine made an appearance only at the very end of their journey.
Be Adventurous, Be Bold: The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at St John’s Sixth Form
At St John’s School and Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland, we are proud to offer an active and supportive Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) programme at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The DofE Award is a nationally recognised scheme that encourages young people to be adventurous, build confidence and develop valuable life skills that last a lifetime.
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Casual Work Opportunities for Year 12 Students at St John’s Sixth Form
St John’s Catholic Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland is proud to highlight a new opportunity that is helping students gain valuable experience in the world of work. Five Year 12 students — Abi Thompson, Rosa Jones, Niamh Taylor, Jess Berriman and Sophie Ramsey — have recently taken on trained and paid roles as casual Till Operators in the Sixth Form Bistro and Dining Hall. This initiative gives students the chance to develop practical employment skills within a supportive school environment.
St. John's Sixth Form Cultural Enrichment Trip to York
Students from St John’s Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland enjoyed an inspiring cultural visit to York, bringing together our Performing Arts and Art cohorts for a day designed to broaden perspectives and spark creative thinking.
Former St John’s Sixth Form Student Supports Current Learners at Teesside University
On Wednesday 18th February, St John’s Sixth Form Computer Science and IT students had an inspiring opportunity to explore university life during a full‑day visit to Teesside University. Led by Mr Minton, a group of 22 Sixth Form students took part in two hands‑on workshops designed to deepen their understanding of cutting‑edge digital technologies.
St John’s Sixth Form Launches 2027 Peru Expedition: A Life‑Changing Opportunity for Students
This week, excitement filled the room as more than 100 Year 11 and Year 12 students gathered for the official launch of the well‑established St John’s Sixth Form charitable expedition to Peru. This remarkable project—running every two years since 2009—continues to be one of the most transformative experiences offered to our students. Joe Plumb, long‑standing leader of the initiative, delivered an inspiring introduction to the aims and vision of the expedition, outlining what students can expect from the 2027 journey and why the project remains such an important part of St John’s Sixth Form life.
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St John’s Sixth Form – Scientists of the Future
When it comes to planning for the future, many of our students begin their journey long before they reach Sixth Form. This week, fifteen enthusiastic Year 10 students with aspirations in A‑level Science and STEM careers took part in a post‑16 STEM careers event hosted at New College Durham — and they certainly made their mark.
Holocaust Memorial Day at St John’s Sixth Form: Reflecting, Remembering and Learning for the Future
Holocaust Memorial Day is marked every year on 27 January, a date chosen to honour the liberation of Auschwitz‑Birkenau and to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust, along with the millions of others persecuted under Nazi rule. Across the country, schools and communities pause to reflect on these atrocities, and at St John’s Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland, our students have played a meaningful role in this year’s act of remembrance.
Sixth Form Ice Skating Trip: A Festive End‑of‑Term Treat
Our St John’s Sixth Formers enjoyed a fantastic festive outing yesterday as they headed to the Centre for Life in Newcastle for an afternoon of ice skating. It was the perfect way to celebrate the end of a busy term and to reward students for their hard work, commitment and positive attitude over the past few months.