Andrew Bell has been appointed as Woodham’s new headteacher from September. He will replace the current headteacher, Christine Forsyth, who is retiring in August. Andrew joined Woodham in 2013 and, as deputy headteacher, has been responsible for student outcomes. Under his leadership, students of all abilities have made good progress,...

A business coach claimed improved staff competency can boost a company’s productivity by as much as 30% during a fascinating workshop delivered to Aycliffe businesses. Darren Race, managing director of Aycliffe-based Think Eleven, says average productivity in the workforce stands at around 55% – and can be as low as 24%. But he has...

A lack of choice and apparent high rent rates appears to be the main frustrations from Aycliffe residents about the town centre. Almost 100 comments were posted on our Facebook page, most of them negative, when we asked local people for their views on the shopping precinct. While some people have praised the landlords, Freshwater, for their...

Newton Aycliffe 0, Sunderland RCA 1 By Dave Strickland Newton Aycliffe put up a good show at home to in-form Sunderland RCA, but went down 1-0, conceding another injury time goal on Tuesday night. RCA started slightly the better, with Preston bringing a save from Adam Pickford after 4 minutes. Five minutes later, RCA were unlucky not...

Primary students have been enjoying after-school science sessions at Woodham Academy. With one session every half-term, Woodham ‘Sparkies’ gives students in Years 5 and 6 the opportunity to mix with students from other primary schools whilst taking part in fascinating science activities. So far, over 50 students have taken advantage of...

Newton Aycliffe MP Phil Wilson insists he isn’t leaving the Labour Party – as his calls for a second Brexit referendum gather pace. Amid local rumours that the Sedgefield MP, who has been critical of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is about to join the cross-party Independent Group, Mr Wilson has told Aycliffe Today he’s “going...

One of the region’s leading IT firms has announced a major expansion with the acquisition of another company. razorblue, which looks after several clients on Aycliffe Business Park, has revealed its move to the North-West region following the acquisition of the J-Media IT Managed Services business from Manchester-based CMAP Group for an...

A free digital health workshop around the NHS’ ‘One You’ website will be held in Newton Aycliffe. The Pioneering Care Centre (PCP), along with Wellbeing for Life, will be hosting the session on Thursday March 7, 10-am-2pm and will show participants around the NHS website ‘One You’, which is designed to promote physical...

County Durham has been selected as one of eight new national hubs to receive funding to tackle mental health stigma. The county will become a 2019 Time to Change funded Hub, with the aim of helping change the way people think and act about mental health problems. The granting of the status, by national mental health campaign Time to Change,...

Organisers of the ever-popular annual model railway exhibition, staged by the Rotary Club of Newton Aycliffe, say they’re well on track to make this year’s event, their tenth, “bigger and better than ever”. Two worthy causes will benefit from the exhibition – ‘Heel and Toe’, a North East children’s charity that supports...