Before you start a reminder that you can find a copy of the transition handbook below (Parent/Student Induction Handbook).
You can also take a virtual tour of our school here if you wish to do so.
If you have questions about any aspect of school life at Durrington please contact us on 01903 244957 or email admin@durring.com
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all our latest news.
After the transition evening, the slides will be available to view here.
Please click the following link to view the Year 7 Parent Student Handbook TBC.
Please note that all communications will be sent via email to the email address provided on your application to county, when you originally applied to Durrington High School. You will shortly be able to access our Parent/Careers portal to make changes or additions. Alternatively, please keep an eye on this web page, which we will regularly update with any communications sent out.
Key dates
March – offer letter received
?? March ?? – Welcome letter sent from Co-Headteachers
?? March ?? – Deadline for accepting school place
May/June – Parent/Carer coffee morning
June – School visits from Head of Year 7 and Year 7 buddies
June – Year 5 & 6 Transition evenings
July – Transition Day and Year 6 parents information evening
Miss Vaughan
Head of Year 7
I am Miss Vaughan and I am the Year 7 Lead at Durrington High School. My job is to help you settle in to your first year at school, as well as support you when you need it; I will also be teaching Social and Moral Education (SME) and Science. Outside of school, I enjoy playing sports such as Netball, or when weather permits, snowboarding, and I was a gymnastics coach for many years before becoming a teacher. At home, you can find me cuddled up with my 2 cats named Ron and Harry or reading a good book!
Mrs Fullwood
Pastoral Manager
I am Mrs Fullwood and I am the Year 7 Pastoral Manager at Durrington High School.
My role is to help you settle into your first year at High School and support you through the year and help you feel part of the Durrington community. I especially like it when year 7 students come and tell me what they like about High School and things they have achieved.
I enjoy taking walks in the countryside and cooking as well as sitting down with a good book.
Miss Hewett
Assistant Head Teacher
I am Miss Hewett and I am an Assistant Headteacher here at Durrington High School and the year 7 year group SLT link.
My role is to support you in your first year at Durrington, I will be a friendly face in assemblies and around the school building. I am also a Maths teacher so some of you might be in my class as well.
I enjoy skiing and going for long walks in my spare time.
Mrs Fuller
Associate Assistant Head Teacher
I am Mrs Fuller and I am an Associate Assistant Headteacher here at Durrington High School and I am the second Year 7 SLT link.
I am looking forward to meeting you all and welcoming you to our school. I teach PE so I may have the privilege of teaching some of you! Football is my favourite sport and I am a Southampton fan (no judgement!) I play for Moneyfields and enjoy walking my dog Arlo in my spare time.
Transition Top Tips
Before you start in September make sure you have taken the opportunity to visit us and look around the school. This could be at the open evening, a planned visit with your family or at the Year 6 transition day in July.
Find out which of your friends from different primary schools will also be starting at Durrington High School. Remember, a new school is also a fantastic opportunity to make new friends.
Before you start in September it’s a good idea to know how you will be travelling to school each day. You will want to know how long it takes so you are on time every day. Practice the route over the summer holidays so you become confident in your journey to school.
You will need the following equipment:
- 2 pens
- 2 pencils
- Ruler (15cm or 30cm)
- Scientific calculator
- Paperback book
- Coloured pencils (optional)
- Highlighters (optional)
Spend the summer getting all your equipment together and practice packing your bag so you can take everything you will need each day. Don’t forget you can get a locker at school to leave everything in!
Transition FAQ
Our school day runs from 8:45am to 3:10pm. You need to be in the building by 8:40am in preparation for the first bell for Period 1.
All lessons are 1 hour long except Period 1 which is 30 minutes.
There are 6 lessons in a day. Durrington High School has a two week timetable – Week A & B. First break is 20 minutes and second break is 30 minutes A typical day looks like the following:
In Year 7 you will have lessons in the following subjects:
- Art
- Computer Science
- Drama
- English
- Geography
- History
- Maths
- Modern Foreign Languages (you will complete 3 lessons of French and 3 lessons of Spanish per fortnight)
- Music
- PE
- Science
- SME (Social & Moral Education)
- Technology (Rotation of Product Design, Food Preparation & Nutrition & Textiles)
Many of our older students are supportive of our younger students and are happy to guide you when needed. If you see a student with a grey blazer and tie, they are Year 11 and are a member of the Senior Student Leadership Team. They will be happy to help you.
There is a mixture of hot meals, baguettes/sandwiches/wraps, salads, desserts and drinks. More information is available on our catering page.
For safety reasons, only one pair of small (<3mm) plain metal (silver or gold)
stud earrings can be worn. No other jewellery is allowed.
As our canteen is a cashless outlet, all students have their fingerprint taken in the first few days, which is then used to pay for anything from the canteen using a fingerprint reader. This is linked to their Arbor account which is topped up by parent/carers. Details of how to set this up will be sent to you.
- Our uniform suppliers are:
Broadwater Sports
37 Broadwater Street West, Worthing, BN14 9BY
schooljumpers.co.uk - First 4 Uniform
32, North Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN15 9AB
first4uniform.com
Details about uniform and personal presentation expectations can be found here. If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact the school.
Bring your school bag with a full pencil case and packed lunch if you would prefer it to canteen food. You will NOT need your PE kit on your first day.
- Lockers will be available to Year 7 students for use throughout their time at DHS. Students will need to provide their own padlock.
No, we have changing facilities for students to use for PE.
No. Phones should be switched off and in your bag.
If a member of our community behaves in an inappropriate way to you it is important that you tell somebody, whether that is a friend, parents/carers, your tutor, or member of staff. You must tell somebody to enable the problem to be dealt with as quickly as possible.
If you are feeling unwell during the school day, you must report to the Medical Room on the bottom floor next to Reception. If staff in the Medical Room feel that you need to go home they will contact your parents or carers. Please do not contact your parents before you go to the Medical Room.
If you feel unwell and are unable to attend school, your parent/carer should notify us by email at: studentservices@durring.com or call the absence line on 01903 244957.
In the first instance you should go to your tutor. They are your initial support for all your questions and they can support you or direct you to the appropriate member of staff.
In your year group there will be approximately 330 students. There are just over 1600 students across the school in Years 7-11.
Both you and your parent/carer will be able to set up a login on Arbor where you can see all of your homework that has been set. Your teachers will also show you the homework in class when it is set and show you what to do.
If you cannot do your homework, you need to speak to your teacher who set it. You can choose to speak to them at the end of a lesson, breaktime, lunchtime or you can email them. All teacher emails are available on our website.
You will be signed in by a member of entrance duty staff. If you are late, you will have a 20 minute detention in the second break. If you have a legitimate reason for being late i.e. appointment, please ensure your parent/carer has informed the school before 8:30am. If you arrive after 9:20am without an appropriate reason, you will be marked as an unauthorised absence which will impact your attendance.
Please see our extra curricular page for an up-to-date list of our enrichment programme.
Yes, we have visiting teachers offering weekly lessons on a wide range of instruments. Please contact bmaughan@durring.com if you are interested.
News & letters
Year 7 SME
During the first half of the Spring term our year 7s have been looking at how the body changes through puberty, what to expect and where to go for advice
Updates from the House Teams
Year 7 Year 7 has had a fantastic first half of the academic year, with plenty of achievements to celebrate! Our Year 7 Girls’ team claimed victory in their football
Year 7 History – Spring Term 2025
This term our year 7s are studying monarchs, religion and the later medieval period. The students will explore the nature of kingship in the medieval period following the Norman Conquest,
