Some spectacular science and a lot of sport
Science Practical
As part of their Science GCSE, Year 10 have been learning about neutralisation reactions. A vital part of their GCSE is the completion of a number of required practicals that they could be assessed on.
The above images show the product of reacting copper oxide and sulphuric acid. The transparent blue solution is a salt called copper sulphate. After 48 hours of further evaporation and crystallisation, the students are left with the beautiful copper sulphate crystals.
Such crystals would not have been produced if it wasn’t for the careful, methodical practical work that the Year 10s demonstrated in this lesson.
Sports Roundup
Rugby
6th Form student Will Sanders was selected to play for Devon County Rugby League against the Army Veterans side last weekend. The game was hard-fought with the Army coming out on top by just 2 points at full time. Will is the only school-age player on the team and plays both Union and League at the adult level. Well done to Will
Football
Year 8 Football
On Monday, the Year 8 team played the first of their 2 semi-finals at Forces Cross against Newton Abbot College. On a windy afternoon, on a surface which was not conducive to the boys’ style of football, we ground out an outstanding penalty shoot-out win, to progress to the County Cup Final. Playing up the hill, and against the wind in the first half TA started well. The back four of Coulson, Wilson, Warner and Abraham-Thomas were solid and resolute and we looked dangerous going forward. As the half progressed, and Newton Abbot’s excellent goalkeeper kicked ball after ball down the hill at us, we gradually sat deeper and allowed them some chances but Harry Lee in goal was more than capable of thwarting all of them as he yet again performed brilliantly. However, on the stroke of half time, another long ball was chased by the fast NAC striker who managed to pull the ball back from the byline for a tap in that Harry could do nothing about. Half time – NAC 1-0 TA.
The message at half time was to now use the elements in our favour. Brandon Edwards came on up front for added pace and for the whole of the second half, we dominated. We had lots of good possession and created numerous opportunities. It was with 15 mins remaining that we got what we deserved, after good link up play between Ryley Steele and Josh Watt, Will Makinson arrowed a bullet drive from 20 yards into the bottom corner for 1-1. From the kick off, we were straight back on the front foot, pressing NAC into errors and creating chances. With 5 minutes remaining, Josh Watt, who was brilliant, side footed a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box for 2-1!
Then came the controversy…..with seconds remaining a long ball forward caught us napping in defence, and despite the flag of the assistant referee indicating an offside, play continued and the equaliser was scored….the referee then overruled the decision of the assistant and we were all level at 2-2.
Full time NAC 2 – 2 TA.
The boys did not feel sorry for themselves in extra time and in fact used all of the added motivation to galvanise them and drive them forward with such determination. Extra time came and went without any more further goals, but unbelieveable desire and energy from all of the TA boys made us seem the far more likely to win.
And so to penalties…..
NAC took the first one…..Goal….just
TA (Will Makinson) first one….Goal
NAC second one….Saved by Harry Lee
TA (Ryan Wilson) second one…..Goal
NAC third one……Saved by Harry Lee
TA (Josh Watt) third one……Goal
NAC fourth one…..Saved by Harry Lee!
A simply astounding penalty performance from Harry and 3 perfect penalties from the lads see us through as deserved winners! Next stop…the South Devon semi final against Paignton next Wednesday.
Year 10 make it through to South Devon Cup Final
On Wednesday the year 10 football team made it through to the South Devon Cup Final with a 6-2 win over Teignmouth. TA did not play their normal free flowing football however a workman like performance in the second half was enough to overcome their opponents.
Northern Ireland training at TA
Northern Ireland School under 18’s train at TA. On Thursday and Friday Northern Ireland under 18’s trained at the school ahead of their game against England Schools tonight at Plainmoor.
Netball
Year 7 Netball Team reach Quarter Finals
Congratulations to the Year 7 Netball team who reached the quarter finals at the End of Season tournament this week. The girls played in some excellent games of Netball to finish 4th in Pool B, including one game where they overpowered Coombeshead to win 7-0! Unfortunately the girls came up against some strong competition in the quarter finals, Teign School the winners of pool A, and were defeated. Well done and a huge thank you to all the girls for their enthusiasm and commitment to the Netball team this season.
Team (L-R) Taylor Ford, Sophie Milford-Caddick, Ellie Mitchell, Maya Wolsey, Mya Edralin, Emma Harrison, Katie Walker, Rhyanna Lewis,
House update
TA ran its first Staff and 6th Form house table tennis tournament on Wednesday. The event was very well attended with over 60 students and staff competing.
Competitors were put into an initial group stage of 4 or 5 with everyone in the group playing each other. When all games were finished and positions from 1-5 established, we went into 5 knockout tournaments.
The overall winner of the main event was Joe Mcfarlane who beat Morgan Harford in the final. Joe played consistently throughout the tournament with an excellent aggressive game.
The following results were recorded:
– Joe Mcfarlane – TA House Table Tennis Champ
– Mr Honey – Premier League winner
– Mattia Pipio – Championship league winner
– Vernon Moore – Division 1 league winner
– Harry Allen – Division 2 league winner
The Year 8s played their house basketball tournament on Tuesday and was again attended with excellent numbers. Brunel were again the favourites with their depth and quality however Harrison won the event. Kofi Essiful was the player of the tournament with an excellent performance on the day.
Well done to the Harrison team of Kofi Essiful, Alex Westwood, Matty Leighton and Harry Vooght.
Next Wednesday the Year 12/13s travel to Haldon Forest to compete for the last 7 places left in the House Velodrome Finals, Newport, Wales.
Success means different things to different people
This week Year 11 student Ali Wood achieved his own, very personal success in his Maths Period 6 lesson with Mrs Nock. Ali not only developed a fantastic mindset during the lesson but she said she was privileged to watch him grow in confidence and self-belief. Mrs Nock stated that she was really proud of all the work he managed to do correctly (and neatly!) – all the red pen is his. More importantly, she thinks he looks super proud of himself. Well done, Ali.
First Year 7 Lexia Finisher
A huge congratulations goes out to our first Year 7 student to complete all five levels of Lexia. Aaron Edwards (pictured) has worked extremely hard since September, working his way through sight words, vowel sounds, Latin and Anglo-Saxon. Aaron has worked really hard, not only in school but has also given up his free time to complete bars at home, one week even managing to complete a record 72 bars in one week. This is a huge achievement for Aaron and really goes to show that hard work and dedication pay off.
Principal Certificates
Principal Bronze – (not in order) Ryan Johns-Kouadio, Connor Berry-Mills, Charlotte Skinner, Iasbel Cresser, Brjan Biegalski, Kacey Kenyon, Aeryn Amesbury, Molly Brooksbank, Hannah Mabbutt, Josh Haydock, Rebecca Willis ,Noah Johnson, Victoria Raey, Amy Langley, Anthony Brooking, Scott Taylor, Leah Chappell, Isabella Spurle, Sienna Pethard, Ollie Mellitt, Thomas Brown
Principal Silver – Paige Godwin, Taylor Ford, Ollie Mellitt, Ben Dowen, Josh Shuttleworth, Sean Brown, Nathan Wells
Principal Gold – Sana Shah
Students of the Week
Students of the week with Mr Jones, Mr Chadwick, myself and Miss Cape are; Jordan Saunders, Noah Johnson, Nicolae Marin, Oliver Davey and Lucas Macfie-Jones