As GCSE exam season approached, hundreds of students at Woodham Academy have shown their dedication and commitment to work hard by attending a range of weekend revision sessions in preparation for their GCSE exams. Students have been attending target revision sessions in English literature focusing on their key texts of Macbeth and An Inspector...

He started his career 12 years ago on a Teesside bridge revamp – but now “absolutely elated” Ryan Gibson is celebrating his firm winning the Newcomer of the Year title. Dart Industrial Services, which specialises in surface preparation and protective coatings application, only moved to Aycliffe from Teesside in early 2024. Aycliffe was...

Woodham Academy’s newly established photography cohort, along with their photography teacher Richard Gore, headed on a field trip to Newcastle for the day, earlier this month. They spent the day collecting a portfolio of photographs inspired by their surroundings. Initial photographs were taken, on route to Newcastle, of the Angel of the...

A conscious decision to expand has paid remarkable dividends for IT and communications firm Murtek – and helped earn it the Small Business of the Year title. On target for a £1m turnover this year, it’s been a time of rapid growth for a company that was, in its own words, “somewhat a secret” – until now. Thanks to a shift in...

Jake Petitjean scooped three awards as Newton Aycliffe FC celebrated its highest ever league placing at Newton Aycliffe Sports Club last Friday night. Jake was voted Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year as well as picking up the top goalscorer prize. The midfielder – pictured above with club treasurer Alan Nelson – was also...

Persistence paid off for Apprentice of the Year Matthew Davis, who’s been excelling in his role with 3M Aycliffe. Aycliffe Village lad Matthew, 23, admits that when he was younger, he tried for several roles with various companies at Aycliffe Business Park but failed to get taken on. But it turns out that their loss has been 3M’s gain as...

As part of the government’s Turing Scheme, 12 ambitious science students from Woodham Academy recently embarked on an educational journey to Florida to analyse the sustainability of tourism and explore green energy solutions. This once-in-a-lifetime experience offered them a unique opportunity to conduct research on pollution, energy...

Community projects – and even Christmas – wouldn’t be the same without Palram DPL. A successful business in its own right, the Coatham Avenue-based PVC sheet maker also devotes time and expertise to several good causes – from creating a sensory room at Glow Church and transforming the Little Clubs nursery garden to providing PVC sheets...

Lee Weldon’s weekly round-up from the wicket… Saturday 24th – NYSD Division 3 Normanby Hall 2nd XI v Newton Aycliffe 1st XI – weather was mild and overcast. Newton Aycliffe won the toss and chose to bat first. Newton Aycliffe 1st XI 224 for 6 after 40 overs Chris Palmer 111 not out, Tez Smit 68, Ramzan Hussain 11 and Tom...

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has called for more to be done to tackle alcohol harm, particularly in young people. In 2023 it was revealed by the Government that 42% of violent incidents are alcohol-related and 40% of secondary school-age children have been involved in some form of violence because of alcohol. Attending the...