Tuesday 24th September saw students at Woodham Academy participate in the school’s first Specialist Day of the new academic year. Each year group focused on a range of different activities based on the schools PSHE programme.

Year 7 students investigated Great British values and friendship. This promoted the idea of respecting people of other faiths, beliefs, and religions.

The whole of year 8 worked with the Durham Education Business Partnership as part of an interactive careers workshop entitled ‘Duck Day’. The various tasks helped to develop and improve students’ team working skills.

Year 9 began the annual Apprenticeship Challenge. Each tutor group was paired with a company that offers and promotes apprenticeships and went on a site visit. They returned for lunch and then worked in teams to develop a presentation and collage based on what they had learnt about their organisation and apprenticeships. The companies involved in this year’s event are 3M, South West Durham Training, Lucite, The Pioneering Care Partnership, and The Highways Agency (Carnell)

Relationship and Sex Education was the focus for Year 10. Topics covered included LGBTQ, E-Safety, Self-esteem, teenage pregnancy, friendship and peer pressure, and preventing exploitation.

Finally, year 11 students took part in a careers carousel. They spent time learning about the many opportunities they have when they leave Woodham. Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington College, Bishop Auckland College, Durham Sixth Form Centre, the UTC, as well as the National Apprenticeship Service and National Citizen Service where all present to speak to each tutor group about the courses and activities they offer.

‘Delivering a wide and varied range of activities throughout the year to our students is essential in helping them to develop into well rounded citizens and members of the locally community and society’ explained Dave Walker curriculum leader for PSHE.