The Dorcan Academy

On Sunday, some of our talented students performed at the Colebrook Primary School summer fete. Well done to all the students involved. They showed excellent courage! 🎵

Last night our drama students put on a fantastic performance of “The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet”. 🎭
Well done to everyone for all your hard work and commitment and a special thank you to Mr Roke for directing the play. 🎭

Think you've got what it takes to be this year's Dorcan's Got Talent winner? 🎤
We're looking for singers, dancers, musicians, comedians, actors and any other school-appropriate acts to take part.
Auditions begin Monday 8th June in the Music Department at lunchtimes and after school. Speak to Miss Durston for more information.
Successful acts will earn a place in the Dorcan's Got Talent Final on Thursday 25th June at 7pm in the Main Hall.
Please note: performances must be under 5 minutes and auditions are used to select the acts for the final.
Good luck! 🌟

What an incredible trip to Spain for 40 of our Year 8 and 9 students from The Dorcan Academy!
We were lucky enough to stay in the stunning resort of Calella, where students enjoyed the sunshine, the beach and even some volleyball by the sea! It was the perfect base for an unforgettable adventure.
Our days in Barcelona were packed with amazing experiences from visiting the famous stadium and the Olympic Stadium, to exploring Montjuïc, Poble Espanyol, and the breathtaking beauty of La Sagrada Família. Students also enjoyed some shopping time at Arenas de Barcelona (the former bullring turned shopping centre!) and of course plenty of delicious helados along the way.
We also travelled to Figueres, the town where Salvador Dalí was born, to visit the fascinating Dalí Museum and to the charming town of Girona – another real highlight of the trip for many.
Throughout the visit, Mrs Easton, Mrs Burnett, Ms Murphy and Mr Pettyfoot were incredibly impressed by our students. Their excellent behaviour, enthusiasm and the way they demonstrated Dorcan values every single day made us all so proud.
They were fantastic ambassadors for our school and this trip created memories that will last a lifetime. Well done everyone!

Our Spanish Trip group are really making the most of the Mediterranean climate. Here they all are in the Pueblo Español.

We are so proud of George in Year 11 who was chosen by North Wiltshire Youth Football League to referee two Cup final matches at Swindon Town Foundation Park. He was chosen on merit for reports sent in throughout the season from league games for professionalism and hard work. George works hard at weekends, volunteering as a coach as well as studying for his exams. He demonstrates our Dorcan virtues in spades. Congratulations George!

The Spanish trip students have arrived safely in Barcelona and are en route to the hotel 🇪🇸☀️

Our group of students have participated in Swindon Town Community Foundation’s Project Me sessions for the last 10 weeks alongside Mrs Page. Project Me is an early intervention and support package for young people. This has included individual and group work supporting young people with mild to moderate mental health issues including anxiety, low mood, phobias, difficulty with anger, self-esteem and behavioural difficulties. Each week our students have participated in lots of written activities around career aspirations and opportunities, behaviour management, self reflection, finances and lots of sporting activities.
On their last week the students were invited to a graduation ceremony at Foundation park where they took part in activities, had a tour of the County Ground and was presented with their certificate of completion. ⚽️

The Assistant Educational Psychologists at the Swindon Educational Psychology Service are writing to let you know that they will be delivering six free online parent workshops after Easter.

To sign up, parents can contact the Adult Community Learning Team directly using the contact details included in the leaflets.

• Helping your child get better sleep
Friday 17th April, 10am–12pm (Online)
Covers why good quality sleep matters, common sleep difficulties, and simple strategies for healthier routines at home.

• Helping your child to stay safe online
Friday 24th April, 10am–12pm (Online)
Looks at how the online world affects children, types of digital harm, and practical strategies to support balanced and safe online use.

• Helping your child with anxiety
Friday 1st May, 10am–12pm (Online)
Covers what anxiety is, how it presents in children, and simple approaches you can use at home to help them manage their worries more confidently.

• Helping your child through exams
Friday 8th May, 10am–12pm (Online)
Explores what exam stress looks like at home and in school, why it happens, and practical emotional and organisational strategies to support children.

• Helping your child to attend school regularly
Friday 15th May, 10am–12pm (Online)
Explains the importance of attendance, factors behind school avoidance, and practical approaches to support a more positive and consistent routine.


• Helping your child through school transitions
Friday 22nd May, 10am–12pm (Online)
Explores the emotional impact of school transitions, why change can be challenging, and practical ways to help children feel more settled and confident.

A massive thank you to the Volunteers at Keep Swindon Tidy who did an amazing job clearing our school field last weekend. You are Superstars! ⭐️

A very successful little litter pick over at Dorcan Academy this morning
Huge thanks to Toni for organising and rallying the troops as always. The usual suspects were out in force – myself, Toni, Sue, Xabi, Loraine and Jan – plus we were joined by Cllr Mike Davies and newbie Jo (welcome to the madness!).
We worked our way around the edge of the playing field and filled around 15 bags with the usual suspects… cans, bottles, crisp packets – honestly, if rubbish had a personality, we’d know it very well by now.
Xabi took away the cans, some plastic and a few rogue bits of metal to recycle, with the proceeds going towards his charity – turning trash into something a bit more positive
We were also treated by a lovely passer-by who gave us some packs of biscuits – which, let’s be honest, is the way to a litter picker’s heart! We do appreciate these little acts of kindness… I’ve had a bottle of beer before, and once a young lad even donated his £1 pocket money. Absolute legend.
Loraine and I then popped into Morrisons for a well-earned cuppa (fuel is essential in this line of work), before heading over to Dorcan Industrial Estate where we filled another 3 bags and rescued a few larger items from the bushes… because of course they were in the bushes.
All in all, a very productive day in the sunshine – not bad for a group of people who willingly spend their free time picking up other people’s mess