Children with special educational needs in County Durham will have better access to the facilities they need to thrive thanks to a funding boost from central government. Durham County Council has received £1.3m from a national fund which aims to help transform the lives of thousands of children with special educational needs and disabilities...

Primary school students built and launched their own rockets at Woodham Academy’s after-school science club. Woodham Academy runs ‘Sparkies’ to provide fun and interactive science sessions for Key Stage 2 students. At the last Sparkies session of the year, students competed against each other to build the water rocket which reached...

Young women are being encouraged to consider a career in engineering by a former apprentice who has enjoyed a decade at a global science company. Lisa Fletcher, an advanced manufacturing engineer at 3M’s Newton Aycliffe plant, met girls from Bishop Auckland’s King James 1st Academy during a tour of South West Durham Training. The visit...

As the World Cup semi-final approaches, police are urging fans to enjoy the game safely and responsibly. Durham Constabulary experienced its busiest day of the year on Saturday, as England won a place in the World Cup semi-finals after beating Sweden 2-0. Throughout the day, the force dealt with 1,418 calls – 390 of which were calls to...

Aycliffe had a hard-fought victory at home to Hartlepool second team by just nine runs... Saturday 7th July – NYSD Division 2 Newton Aycliffe 1st XI v Hartlepool 2nd XI – weather was very hot and sunny. Hartlepool won the toss and chose to bowl first. Newton Aycliffe 1st XI 152 all out after 48.2 overs Darryn Bancroft 36, Chris...

Fewer young people from County Durham are entering the youth justice system than ever before, councillors will hear this week. The latest data shows that 119 young people from the county entered the youth justice system between April 2017 and March 2018, the lowest number ever achieved. The figures are included in the latest update to the...

Partners involved in an innovative European project aimed at promoting energy efficiency have been sharing ideas at conferences in Italy and the UK. The Renovation for Energy Efficient Buildings (REBUS) project sees eight public authorities from countries across Europe come together to share good practice and learn more about new alternative...

Dan Mellanby says Northern League side Newton Aycliffe need to take a leaf out of FA Vase finalists Stockton Town’s book – by promoting the town’s younger players right through to the senior team. Mellanby, who has stepped down as joint-manager at Moore Lane Park this summer to concentrate on a new role for the club, wants Aycliffe to...

Young entrepreneurs from Woodham Academy entered the ‘dragon’s den’ after designing their own product. The team of Woodham Academy’s More Able Academy students attended the Big Deal Competition at the University of York. Year 10 students Emilie Dunn, Joe Richardson and Macy Cane, have worked on their project for three months,...

Practitioners across County Durham and Darlington were planning their future work together for tackling hate crime at a conference held in Newton Aycliffe this week. The conference was opened by Mr Hogg, and chaired by James Kingett, from Show Racism the Red Card. Delegates were delighted to receive a speech from Stephen Miller, the...