Career Chat UK has provided Durham County Council (DurhamWorks) with a licence to use the latest version of CiCi, the careers chatbot for the next few months. CiCi helps young people navigate education, employment, and training pathways as they make important decisions about their future.
CiCi is a national award-winning AI tool that provides 24/7 access to reliable careers information and advice. It is already being used successfully by schools, colleges, universities, and careers services across the UK.
In County Durham, CiCi includes:
You can access CiCi directly using the following link:
UTC are having their Open Evening on 19th November:
More info re Y10 via this link
More info re sixth form via this link
We are pleased to share details of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships Vacancy listings which might be of interest to our Y11 students, more info via this link
British Council UK-Ukraine Reading Partnership
Belmont Community School in Durham has partnered with Dorobratove Hub School in Ukraine to share the joy of reading and create connections between communities.
The schools have been matched through the British Council’s UK-Ukraine School Partnerships programme, which is funded by the Department for Education. This unique initiative supports schools to build lasting international partnerships, and explore reading as a tool to expand horizons, build confidence and boost mental health and wellbeing. The programme will connect 100 schools in the UK and Ukraine (50 schools in the UK with 50 in Ukraine). Classes will work together on activities to encourage reading for pleasure, building and understanding of each other’s cultures through a common love for reading.
Ms Burton, Head of School at Belmont Community School said: “We are thrilled to be part of such an exciting initiative that will bring young people who share a love of reading together. An enterprise such as this that supports young people’s mental health and wellbeing is always a welcome one!”
The UK-Ukraine School Partnerships programme is funded by the Department for Education in support of the 100-Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine, which is a long-term commitment to broaden and deepen the bilateral relationship across defence, trade and other areas as well as enabling closer community links between both countries. The UK-Ukraine School Partnerships Programme is the flagship education offer for the 100-Year Partnership, signalling the UK’s support for fostering cross-cultural understanding among pupils, teachers and wider school communities, helping to bring international awareness into classrooms. The programme is delivered by the British Council in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust.
Shannon West, Head of UK Schools at the British Council said: ‘Creating opportunities for young people has been at the heart of the work of the British Council for the last 90 years. We are delighted to be working with so many schools on this programme, which will give young people the international outlook and skills to thrive in our global society, and strengthen ties between the UK and Ukraine.’
With your Year 6 students moving onto secondary school in September, parents, carers, and guardians will currently be considering how their child is going to travel to their new school, with bus travel potentially being one of those options they are considering.
The cost of travel will be particularly important to them, especially with the cost of living increasing
With this in mind, and to ensure that parents, carers, and guardians have the correct ticket information to hand, on the most cost-effective ticket we provide, could I ask you to distribute the attached document, so that they have the information prior to the Summer break.
Parent, Carers and Guardians can contact our dedicated student mailbox studentsne@arriva.co.uk with any questions they may have.
The Department for Education have asked us to share the attached information regarding the Great British Summer Savings. Read more via this link.
Click the link below for details of Durham County Council’s Fun and Food events.
