The Dorcan Academy is proud to announce that it has been appointed as a Lead School for Music within the Gloucestershire, Swindon, and Wiltshire (GSW) Music Hub. This prestigious recognition places the school at the forefront of music education in the region, championing high-quality music-making and supporting schools across Swindon in developing their provision.

The GSW Music Hub, which serves schools across three counties, has carefully selected seven outstanding institutions to take on Lead School roles, providing specialist support, professional development, and leadership in music education. The Dorcan Academy will play a key role in driving excellence in music education for secondary schools in Swindon, ensuring that all students have access to engaging, high-quality music experiences both in and beyond the classroom.

As a Lead School, The Dorcan Academy will be instrumental in:

• Providing specialist training for teachers across Swindon in areas such as composition, improvisation, assessment, and inclusive music-making
• Supporting schools through visits and mentorship to develop their own music provision
• Championing music education and advocating for its importance in a well-rounded curriculum
• Leading extra-curricular opportunities such as concerts, workshops, and collaborative events for students across the region

This achievement is a reflection of the incredible work and dedication of Bethany Durston, Head of Music and Performing Arts Coordinator at The Dorcan Academy. Her leadership has been pivotal in transforming the school’s music department and creating an environment where students can thrive musically.

Speaking on the appointment, Miss Durston said:
“Music plays a vital role in our school community, and I am incredibly proud that we now have the opportunity to support and inspire other schools across Swindon to enhance their own music provision. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our students, staff, and the wider school community who continue to champion the arts. The support of our Headteacher, Sherryl Bareham, has also been invaluable in developing the school’s music department. Having a Headteacher who is a music specialist herself means that music is truly embedded in our school’s culture, and her understanding of its importance has been instrumental in enabling my department to grow and flourish.”

The GSW Music Hub’s appointment of Lead Schools aligns with the Department for Education’s vision for stronger collaboration between schools, academy trusts, and Music Hubs, ensuring that music remains an essential and thriving part of every child’s education.

This is an exciting new chapter for The Dorcan Academy, and the school looks forward to making a lasting impact on music education across Swindon and beyond.

We can now share the news that Oisin in Year 10 won the semifinals of the English Boxing Championships and in the finals walked away with the silver medal. Oisin has had a call from the England Boxing Association to say that he has been scouted to train and fight for England,  with his first training camp to begin at the end of April this year. This is an amazing achievement. Everyone at The Dorcan Academy is super proud of him and his dedication to the sport and his determination to succeed. Keep going Oisin, and next time you will get the Gold! You are a superstar!!

We are delighted to share the news that Oisín in Year 10, Eagle House has made it through to the semifinals of the English boxing championships to be held on Saturday the 22nd of March. Oisín has now become the western counties champion beating all other opponents within the Western counties English boxing Association. We are all really proud of this achievement which is the result of a lot of dedication and hard work and wish him the best of luck as he continues in the competition.

Congratulations to Zofia (Year 7) and Giovanni (Year 9), our Dorcan Academy winners of the Swindon Youth Festival of Literature Illustration Competition! Their prize was a fantastic opportunity to attend a workshop with author and illustrator Steve Antony at Swindon Central Library.

Alongside winners from 11 other Swindon secondary schools, they spent the morning learning about Steve’s journey as an illustrator and developing their own character designs. It was a wonderfully creative session and both students thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Giovanni even had the chance to share her impressive sketchbook with Steve who was amazed by the incredible talent in the room.

A huge thank you to Steve Antony for inspiring our budding artists and once again, well done to Zofia and Giovanni on their achievement!

World Book Day was an unforgettable celebration of reading and adventure!  

The day began with Breakfast with a Book, giving students a chance to pick up a book, a brioche and a hot chocolate. Meanwhile, our Year 7 Literacy Stars were treated to a Percy Jackson Party, packed with mythological fun. They enjoyed Percy’s famous blue food sweet trolley, Poseidon’s Catch of the Day, Messages from Hermes and Pin the Eye on the Cyclops! The excitement didn’t stop there, as they also faced The Kids of Kronos in a test of bravery and skill, before putting their aim to the test in Artemis’s Archery Challenge.

At DEAR time, all tutor groups took part in The Masked Reader, where they had to guess the mystery staff members behind the books and our tutor groups also got creative in the Tutor Bunting Competition, decorating their spaces with fantastic book-themed designs.

During the last two weeks students have also been taking on the challenge of Escape the Labyrinth, a Greek mythology-themed escape room in the library, where their wit and teamwork earned them a free book and a WBD token.

Adding to the magic of the day, many of our wonderful staff fully embraced the theme, dressing as gods, goddesses, wizards and legendary queens to bring the world of books to life! A huge thank you to everyone who took part and made the day such a fantastic celebration of books and imagination! 📖✨ #WBD2025

Last week, we were delighted to host seven secondary schools from across Swindon for an inspiring Singing Day! Led by the incredible Val Weston and Janice Thompson, students explored a range of vocal techniques and developed their confidence in singing.

A huge highlight of the day was a special guest performance by West End star Harry Apps, who captivated the students with a stunning solo. ⭐

A fantastic day of music, learning, and collaboration—well done to all involved! 🎤👏