School Information
Hummersknott is a successful and thriving Academy. Consistently over subscribed. We also pride ourselves on our commitment to a broad education with a wide range of curricular activities both in and out of School. Academic progress is good, with results well above national and local averages.
Community
We are committed to developing the academy as a facility for the local community and the Hummersknott Active centre are seeking to build up a range of activities for both leisure and learning by making the facilities available for private hire.
Organisation
The academy, which is heavily oversubscribed, now takes 240 students each year and these are organised into 5 colleges of entry. Students are then organised into teaching groups by each subject area, allowing each subject leader to set or use mixed ability organisation. At present the Mathematics, English, Science and MFL Departments set students.
Languages
We are committed to ensuring that all students have access to a wide range of languages. All students study French in Year 7. In Year 8 they take a second language chosen from Spanish or German. All students take a language to examination level. We have partner schools in France, Germany and Italy and students have opportunities to exchange with students in these countries and to take part in visits abroad.
History
Hummersknott was originally the Girls’ High School which moved into this building in 1955. In 1968 it was reorganised by the then Darlington County Borough to form one of six 11-16 co-educational comprehensive schools. In 2006 a £14.5 million refurbishment programme commenced providing state of the art facilities for students and staff. On the 1 July 2011 the School converted to an Academy.
Guidance and Welfare System
Students are registered in their college blocks. Form tutors follow their form through the academy and are responsible for the individual care and welfare of their students. All students spend at least a week on work experience in year 10. Extra curricular activities are a strong feature of the school and inter-college activities take place each week. These are led and organised by Year 11 students.
Contact with Parents
The academy believes a strong partnership between staff, parents and students is vital for success. Parents receive a report each term and there are parents meetings each year. Parents also have access to their student’s information held on MyChildAtSchool.
Staffing
There are over 70 members of teaching staff (including a PE instructor) and over 60 Support Staff who provide a curriculum to cater for the needs of all abilities. Staff are encouraged to use a wide variety of teaching styles to meet different objectives.
