Year 7 Auckland Project Visit Brings Geography Learning to Life
Year 7 pupils from St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College in Bishop Auckland recently enjoyed a valuable learning experience as part of their Geography studies, taking part in a visit to The Auckland Project. Mrs Swinbank and Miss Allaway accompanied class 7M on Friday’s visit, which linked directly to their current topic on Urban Regeneration. The pupils had the opportunity to bring their classroom learning to life by visiting Auckland Tower, Auckland Palace and the Faith Museum.
Soar and Explore… Coming Soon at St John’s Catholic School, Bishop Auckland
St John’s Catholic School in Bishop Auckland is delighted to announce the upcoming launch of a brand new cultural enrichment initiative, Soar and Explore. This exciting new programme reflects our continued commitment to providing meaningful experiences beyond the classroom.
Year 7 Auckland Project Visit Inspires Learning at St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form
St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form is proud to celebrate the first of our Year 7 Auckland Project visits, with 7A setting an excellent example during their recent trip to Auckland Palace. The students demonstrated outstanding conduct throughout the visit and fully immersed themselves in the “Awful Auckland” experience, where they explored the more challenging and not‑so‑pleasant aspects of Bishop Auckland’s history. This engaging approach allowed students to deepen their understanding of the past in a memorable and meaningful way.
Sporting Success for St John’s Students at Durham School Golf Championships
St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form is proud to celebrate recent sporting success, as three of our students took part in the 2026 Durham School Golf Championships held at Beamish Park this week. The competition was very well attended, with an exceptionally high standard of play throughout the event. Representing St John’s were Sam Johnston, Sam Ramsey and Emmanuel Reed, who competed with confidence and enthusiasm.
Sports Leaders Shine at Girls’ Football World Cup
The Girls’ Football World Cup was held at St John’s on Friday, welcoming teams from our local feeder primary schools for an exciting and enjoyable day of competition. The event provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen links within our wider school community while promoting participation in girls’ football.
St John’s Crowned Under 13s South West Durham Netball Champions
St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland are proud to announce that their Under 13s netball teams have been named South West Durham Netball Tournament Champions. It was an outstanding day of competition for the school’s Year 8 Netball teams, who once again secured tournament success. Throughout the event, the students represented St John’s with pride, demonstrating excellent teamwork, strong practical skills and growing confidence with every match.
St John’s Students Shine at Durham Gala Theatre Drama Festival
Students from St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland took to the stage with confidence this week as they performed at the Durham Gala Theatre as part of the second annual Schools Drama Festival.
A Spectacular Celebration of Talent: The Fourth Annual Jaquie Holloway Prize for Performing Arts at St John’s
What an incredible evening we have had for our fourth annual Jaquie Holloway Prize for Performing Arts. It was a truly inspiring event which showcased the absolutely amazing range and level of talent we have here at St John’s Catholic School & Sixth Form College. From our 12 finalists, each of whom performed with confidence, skill and passion, to our outstanding ensembles.
St John’s Students Shine at Regional National Schools Badminton Championships in York
Students from St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College in Bishop Auckland once again demonstrated their talent and dedication as they travelled to York for the North East and Yorkshire regional finals of the National Schools Badminton Championships.
Celebrating the Joy of Reading at St John’s in Bishop Auckland
On Thursday, St John’s in Bishop Auckland celebrated the joy of reading and the power of stories to spark imagination, build empathy and bring our community together. At St John’s, we are passionate about fostering a lifelong love of reading — from diving into new worlds and exploring new perspectives to enjoying a peaceful moment with a great book.
St John’s Cast Visit Sunderland University for Little Shop of Horrors Experience
The principal cast of this year’s St John’s school production of Little Shop of Horrors had the fantastic opportunity to visit Sunderland University to watch their performance of the musical live on stage. This visit offered our cast a valuable chance to see the show brought to life, helping them develop their own characterisation, vocals and performance skills ahead of our school production.
A Magical Evening at Matilda the Musical
Just before half term, a group of our talented Performing Arts students – including members of our school choir and the Little Shop of Horrors cast – enjoyed a spectacular trip to the Sunderland Empire to see the award‑winning Matilda the Musical.