St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form, Bishop Auckland is proud to recognise one of its students, Daniel Dodd, who was nominated for the Durham University Schools’ Physicist of the Year Award.
Durham University Schools’ Physicist of the Year Award
The Schools’ Physicist of the Year Award is an annual regional prize run by Durham University’s Department of Physics in partnership with The Ogden Trust. The event celebrates academic excellence, commitment, and passion for physics among students in Year 10 to Year 12 who are nominated by their schools.
This year’s ceremony took place on Monday 15th June at Durham University and recognised high-achieving students from across the North East.
A Regional Celebration of Physics
Schools from across the region—including Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington, and Hartlepool—put forward their top-performing pupils. Nominations are made by teachers and heads of physics, highlighting students who have shown outstanding achievement or notable progress in the subject.
The event included a range of activities designed to engage and inspire students, including:
- Interactive demonstrations featuring hands-on physics exhibits
- Lectures led by Durham researchers, covering topics such as turbulence
- Student talks, where undergraduates and researchers shared their experiences of studying and working in physics
St John’s Nominee: Daniel Dodd
For 2026, St John’s Catholic School nominated Daniel Dodd, a Sixth Form student with a strong interest in physics.
Daniel is currently studying:
- A Level Physics
- A Level Maths
- A Level Chemistry
He is also completing an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) exploring:
“The extent to which space exploration is worth the cost.”
Teacher Recognition
Daniel’s teachers at St John’s Catholic School described him as:
“Daniel is an exceptional student who combines curiosity, energy, enthusiasm, academic excellence, and a genuine passion for physics. He approaches new concepts with confidence, always willing to challenge himself, and keen to try the most demanding problems from Isaac Physics and the British Physics Olympiad. He works well independently or as part of a group, where he often takes the lead. He takes real enjoyment in understanding how everything works, and clearly explains the steps in his working, supporting others in their understanding. One memorable moment that perfectly captures his mindset was when he described an oscilloscope trace as ‘beautiful’ — a reflection of both his appreciation for the elegance of physics and his deep engagement with the subject. Daniel is exactly the kind of student this award is designed to recognise: hardworking, inquisitive, and genuinely inspired by physics.”
Looking Ahead
Daniel has shared his future ambitions, saying:
“In the future I hope to use Physics to be taking a degree in Engineering. I’ve always been interested in how things work.”
As part of his Year 12 four-day curriculum, Daniel uses his Fridays working at B&Q, where he gives advice on how to make things work—reflecting his ongoing interest in practical problem-solving.
Celebrating Student Achievement at St John’s Catholic School
The nomination highlights the continued commitment of St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form, Bishop Auckland to supporting students in their academic development and encouraging a passion for subjects such as physics.