Villa Real Road, Consett, Co Durham DH8 6BH | villareal@durhamlearning.net | 01207 503651
NEWS & EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
1st - 5th June
Child Safety Week
24th April
Circus Skills Day
April
Autism Acceptance Month
11th - 15th May
Mental Health Awareness Week
20th May
National Numeracy Day
1st April
Primary Easter Assembly
10:30-11:30am
2nd April
Secondary Easter Assembly
10:30-11:30am
SCHOOL NEWS
Chris Drinkwater Creative Health in Primary Schools Award
Posted 25th March 2026
We are delighted to share that Villa Real School was recognised for its creative and health‑focused work through our recent entry to the Chris Drinkwater Creative Health in Primary Schools Award 2026. Although we were not selected as a final winner this year, the judging panel, made up of leaders in education, health and the arts, highlighted several positive elements of our project and commended the impact of our work.
We are proud to have been considered alongside many inspiring schools across the region, and we look forward to continuing to develop our creative health offer for pupils. We have also been invited to take part in the online awards celebration event, where we will have the opportunity to connect with partners, share ideas, and further showcase the strengths of our school community.
Thank you to North East Museums and the Child Health and Wellbeing Network for recognising our contribution. This acknowledgement motivates us to keep growing, innovating, and championing creativity for all children and young people at Villa Real School.
School Meal Price Increase
Posted 17th March 2026
Dear Parent/Carer
We would like to inform you that the school meal price from Monday 20th April will be £3.08 per day. If you wish to cancel school dinners due to the price increase, then please inform us so that we can amend our records.
Red Nose Day
Updated 5th March 2026
On Friday 20th March we will participate in Red Nose Day with a theme of 'Do Something Funny for Money'. If parents/carers would like to donate please use this QR code or this link:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rnd26-villa-real-school
We will also be selling red noses in school, they will be available from Beech class for £2.50 each.
Easter Assemblies
Posted 12th March 2026
This year's Easter assemblies will take place as follows:
Primary Easter Assembly - Wednesday 1st April 10:30-11:30am
Secondary Easter Assembly - Thursday 2nd April 10:30-11:30am
This year's theme is 'Spring Awakening,' which explores animals in spring. The aim is to consider the importance of spring, its impact on animals and how we can be helpful in this season.
As usual, due to space, this will be limited to two parents/carers per child.
World Book Day 2026
Posted 12th March 2026
Parenting in an Age of AI Event
Posted 11th March 2026
Our next parental engagement event will take place on Wednesday 18th March in school at 10am. Focusing on AI, parents are invited to attend to learn more about how we are using AI in school and how best to support your child when using AI. As a school community, we know that technology can often provide life-changing accessibility. This session is a safe space to ask questions, share concerns, and discover new ways to support your child’s development at Villa Real School using AI as a tool to promote learning. Please return the slip on the letter that was sent out earlier this week to book your place.
World Engineers Day
Posted 5th March 2026
On Wednesday, March 4th, we celebrated World Engineers Day. This significant date in the engineering calendar is recognised annually and is an official UNESCO International Day. It serves as a platform for sharing ideas and inspiration, highlighting the crucial role that engineering plays around the world.To commemorate the occasion, our school participated in the "Spaghetti Tower Challenge" organised by the Junior Duke Award—a life skills program that helps children develop confidence, resilience, and independence. Each class received a packet of spaghetti, a roll of tape, and some Blu-Tack. The students were tasked with building the tallest, most structurally sound tower possible in 20 minutes. The completed towers were judged by Civil Engineer Matthew Tetley from Absolute Civil Engineering Limited in Consett. The winning primary class was Beech, and the winning secondary class was Rowan.Congratulations to everyone for their participation in the challenge!
After School Dance Club
Posted 17th February 2026
The after school dance club will continue after half term for Willow, Hazel, Maple, Ash, Beech, Sycamore, Cedar & Blossom classes. Letters will be sent to parents with a reply slip, please return these as soon as possible to register.
New School Building - Update
Posted 4th February 2026
Dear parents/carers,
We are waiting for final sign off when we can share more information, however the councillors have released that today they have taken the first step in awarding us a new school. As you know we have battled for the last 10 years for a new building and we cannot express too strongly how delighted we are. It will be fantastic to be able to offer the best provision for the fantastic pupils at Villa Real. It will be based on the old Blackfyne site so will mean no extra travel and the build is aiming to complete in 2029.
National Number Day
Posted 2nd February 2026
📅 Friday 6th February is National Number Day!
We’re celebrating with a whole-school maths + PE mash‑up where counting, tallying and timing take centre stage. 🧮⏱️💪
Get ready to flex your brain‑ceps AND your biceps as we put our number skills into action in a fun, active way!
Let’s make maths move! 🔢🏃♂️✨
After School Games Club
Posted 16th December 2025
Our new after school club will be starting Thursday 15th January. This will be limited to 8 pupils from Aspen and Rowan classes only on a first come-first served basis.
School Christmas Fair Update
Posted 10th December 2025
Many thanks to everyone who attended our school Christmas Fair. It was very successful and we raised a total of £1935.70! Well done to everyone who helped with the organisation and set up and to everyone that won prizes.
UK Parliament Week
Updated 1st December 2025
On Thursday 27th November we welcomed the Chairman of Durham County Council, Robbie Roddis, into school as part of UK Parliament Week. He visited classes and took an interest in school council and pupil voice around democracy. He was then treated to a live debate by Rowan Class on banning mobile phones for under 16s.
School Christmas Fair
Posted 3rd November 2025
We are pleased to announce that our annual school Christmas Fair will this year take place on Friday 28th November from 10am - 11:30am in school.
We’ve got a great morning planned including a cake stall, raffle, sweet stall, tombola, Santa’s Grotto and much more. Family and friends welcome.
We would welcome donations of raffle prizes, bottles, tombola items sweets and chocolates. All items to be unused/unopened. No books, soft toys or bric-a-brac. Homemade donations for the cake stall can only come from those with a food hygiene certificate and must be nut free.
Christmas Performances
Posted 10th November 2025
We are excited to invite parents and carers to this year's Christmas Performances which will be held in school on the following dates:
Christmas Performance 1 - Blossom, Sycamore, Beech, Ash classes: Monday, 15th December, from 10:30 to 11:00am
Christmas Performance 2 - Willow, Hazel, Cedar, Maple classes: Thursday, 18th December, from 10:30 to 11am
Christmas Performance 3 - Rowan, Aspen, Oak, Cherry, Elm classes: Friday, 19th December, from 10:30 to 11:00am
We encourage you to bring your family and friends to join in the festivities.
Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to seeing you at the celebrations!
Gardening With Grown-Ups Morning
Updated 21st October 2025
We have held another successful parental engagement event in school with a theme of giving our allotment area some much needed gardening attention. With the help of our fantastically supportive parents and carers we got to work on a range of jobs in the allotment, such as turning over soil, weeding, planting, weaving and cutting back over-grown shrubs. It was a lovely morning topped off by our amazing Sixth Form staff and students helping to provide some much-appreciated refreshments. We look forward to seeing you at one of our next events.
Wear Red Day
Posted 13th October 2025
On Friday 17th October we will be raising awareness of Showing Racism the Red Card Day by wearing red. This is not a fund raising event but simply an opportunity to develop our pupils' tolerance and understanding of equality. Please support us in allowing your child to wear red for that day.
Change Of Holiday Dates
Posted 26th September 2025
Please note that the staff training day that was due to take place on Monday 3rd November has now been moved to Monday 20th July. As a result of this the pupils will return to school after the October half term holidays on Monday 3rd November rather than Tuesday 4th November as previously stated. Please see the school holidays section for a full listing of school holidays and staff training days.
Parents That Paint Morning
Updated 23rd September 2025
On Thursday 18th September our library and surrounding area was given a make-over thanks to the brilliant parents and carers that continue to support our school, enabling our children and young people to continue to enjoy using the library facilities. We were also joined by Rachael from AK Teaching who supplied some of the refreshments along with our Sixth Form students helping the parents and carers enjoy some teas and coffees and a home baked cake. The library now looks fantastic and is ready both internally and externally to celebrate National Green Library Week next month.
Staffing Update
Posted 9th September 2025
Dear Parents/Carers,
Sam Dawson has decided to retire and is no longer with us. Natalie Fitzpatrick is our new Deputy Head. As you all know her well I'm sure you know her door is always open. Thanks for your support for such a positive start to the year.
Jill Bowe
Harvest Festival Assemblies
Posted 8th September 2025
Due to health and safety reasons this year's Harvest Festival assemblies will take as virtual events as follows:
Primary - Monday 20th October at 10:30am
Secondary - Friday 24th October at 10:30am
We will be collecting for the Durham Christian Partnership foodbank, all donations welcome.