In July, 2007 a £15 million scheme to demolish and replace some school buildings and renovate others was initiated. The bulk of the funding was provided by national government, with the local council providing £2.7m, and the school £0.7m. Work began on the school building during the summer of 2007, although plans for the new design were drawn up a year earlier. The work was completed in 2010 and the refurbished school was 'reopened' by the Duke of Gloucester in September 2010. The main hall was refurbished and new lighting and stage area was included in the refurbishment.
Academy Trust
The school became a self-governing academy, under the name Hummersknott Academy on 1 July 2011. It is operated by the Hummersknott Academy Trust, a company limited by guarantee. On 1 February 2013, the Hummersknott Academy Trust was reconstituted as a multi-academy trust when it took over the newly formed Skerne Park Academy in the town.
House and college reform
Originally, when a grammar school for girls, the school had six houses into which all pupils were distributed and these houses competed against each other in sporting and music competitions for the honour of winning the House Shield. The shields of each house can be seen above the doorways on the front of the school building. These houses were: Barrett, Bede, Caedmon, Carroll, St Hild and Wycliffe. The house system was changed in the late 1980s and the school played host to four houses: Dunelm, Edinburgh, Starmer, and Trinity. In July 2006 these were phased out and replaced by a system of colleges.
Colleges
Pupils are divided into five colleges named after a variety of cultural and local aspects of life, across Darlington and the wider north east of England:
Cuthbert, was named after St Cuthbert. Cuthbert is the humanities section of the school.
Ketton, was named after the Ketton Ox. Ketton does PE and Science.
Quaker, was named after the Quakers religious group, who were prominent inhabitants of Darlington. Quaker is Languages, ICT and Business Studies.
Stephenson, was named after George Stephenson. Stephenson is the Maths corridor, Art and DT department.
Wyvern, was named after the Wyvern dragon. Wyvern is Music, Drama, English and Media Studies.
In September 2012, the rôle of 'Head of College' was removed; the Assistant Principals in these posts were given revised rôles in the senior leadership team and their functions were replaced by College Managers.
