Parents are reminded they are running out of time to apply for primary school places for their children. The deadline for applications for the next academic year, which starts in September 2018, is Monday 15 January 2018. In order for a child to be eligible to start school in September 2018, the child’s birthday must […]

Parents whose children are due to start primary or secondary school next year can start applying for a place from next week. Durham County Council will be accepting applications for the 2018/19 school year from Tuesday, 12 September. Councillor David Freeman said: “Anyone with a child who is due to turn five between 1 September […]

Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party has failed to find local candidates for the council elections. Instead they are putting up candidates from Coxhoe and West Rainton in our area! Both are standing for election to parish councils in the villages, so will not be able to give Durham City their full attention. As you will have […]

Liberal Democrats are furious that a legitimate motion to council, calling for Durham’s Teaching Assistants not to be sacked, was removed from the council meeting agenda this week by council bosses. Lib Dem Councillor Owen Temple submitted the motion, calling for the sacking of Teaching Assistants to be stopped rather than just suspended. Liberal Democrats […]

Lib Dem councillors welcome any move on the part of the county council to pull back from its draconian proposal to dismiss all its teaching assistants and re-employ them on greatly worsened contracts. Amanda Hopgood, the Group’s leader on the council, commented that after nine months of the council arguing that no alternative course of […]

57 Labour councillors lined up today to approve the dismissal of 2,700 teaching assistants in County Durham. They will then be offered their jobs back – minus 10% or more of their pay. Lib Dem councillors all voted against. There were several very interesting sub-stories to be seen however. Where were the rest of the […]

After years of delay the Council has finally approved new policies which will give it powers to ensure we can try to maintain a balanced community in Durham City between permanent residents and student houses. What is called an “Article 4 Direction” will allow better control new houses of multiple accommodation and a policy on […]

St Leonard’s Catholic High School is consulting residents, pupils, parents and staff on whether to become an academy school. More details here: http://www.st-leonards.durham.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Frequently-Asked-Questions-Academy-Status.pdf

Parents are reminded the deadline for applications for a place in a primary school in September 2015 is Thursday 15 January 2015. You can apply on-line by going to www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions where forms and full details are available. Forms can also be requested by ringing 03000 265 896 or by writing to the School Admissions and Transport […]

Disadvantaged primary school pupils in County Durham are set to receive over £26 million to boost attainment, the Liberal Democrats have announced. The pupil premium funding for 2015/16 will help teachers support those children at most risk of falling behind their colleagues. The figure for the county is £26.42 million, an increase of £250,000 on […]