Highlights of the Week
Science Takes Centre Stage at Open Evening
Visitors to our recent Open Evening enjoyed an exciting range of demonstrations from the Science department. The practical activities showcased the engaging opportunities available to students and brought science vividly to life for prospective families.
Some of the demonstrations were expertly delivered by our wonderful students, who represented Torquay Academy with confidence and enthusiasm. Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a memorable introduction to life at TA.
Team TA
Sixth Form Netball Academy Opens Its Season
Our Sixth Form Netball Academy made a great start to the season with their first AoC League game against Bridgwater & Taunton College. Well done to all the students who represented Team TA as the new campaign got under way.
A Winning Start for Our Year 8 and 9 Netball Teams
Our Year 8 and 9 Netball Academy teams enjoyed a successful start to the week, with plenty of wins and goals. It was wonderful to see our students out on court representing Team TA. Well done to everyone involved!
Year 10 Boys Progress in Elite Schools National Cup
Torquay Academy 4–3 Budehaven
What an afternoon for our Year 10 boys, who progressed to the next round of the Elite Schools National Cup with a dramatic 4–3 home victory against Budehaven.
TA controlled large periods of the first half, moving the ball well and creating numerous opportunities. However, we were wasteful in front of goal and were punished when Budehaven broke on the counter-attack and scored with a long-range strike. Despite dominating possession and territory, we went into the break 1–0 down.
The half-time message was simple: stay calm, keep passing the ball and increase the urgency. The team responded brilliantly, with Stanley Cambrey scoring twice shortly after the restart to put TA 2–1 ahead.
Budehaven levelled through a deflected free kick before Rudy restored our advantage with a well-taken goal. The visitors then equalised again on the counter-attack, leaving the score at 3–3 as the clock ticked down.
With extra time looking inevitable, Calum played a perfectly timed pass through to Gio. He kept his composure and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper with almost the final kick of the game, sparking fantastic celebrations.
There are things for us to improve, particularly our game management and ability to finish matches when we are in control, but the resilience shown by the boys was outstanding. They never stopped believing, attacking or fighting, and now march on to the next round.
Goals: Stanley Cambrey ×2, Rudy and Gio.
U14 Netball Knockout Thriller
Torquay Academy produced an outstanding performance in an extremely close knockout match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
From the opening whistle, TA played high-energy, high-quality netball. Our students attacked the ball with strength and applied relentless defensive pressure across the court, disrupting the early play and establishing a well-deserved lead.
Maynards fought back strongly, converting crucial turnovers and edging ahead by the end of the third quarter. With the match in the balance, TA dug deep during a high-intensity final period.
Showing immense grit under pressure, the team tightened its defence in the circle, moved the ball sharply through mid-court and produced clinical shooting when it mattered most. TA regained the lead, kept its composure and secured a thrilling, hard-fought victory.
Congratulations to all our players on an exceptional display of netball. We look forward to seeing the team compete in the next round.
Life at TA
A Fantastic Evening of Cadet Training
Torquay Academy CCF proudly welcomed its new Year 8 cadets to the contingent this week. They made an excellent first impression, embracing every activity, learning about the CCF and finishing the evening by joining the more experienced cadets on the final parade.
The Army Section continued developing its skills through safe weapons handling, an introduction to Close Quarter Battle, command tasks and drill. The RAF Section worked hard on its drill in preparation for the forthcoming RAST competition, strengthening precision, teamwork and discipline.
Our newly formed Navy Section also continued preparing to parade its new cadet section for the first time. The enthusiasm and commitment shown across all three services made it another excellent evening for the contingent.
The CCF is also looking for enthusiastic adult volunteers. No previous cadet or military experience is required—just a willingness to get involved, learn new skills and help young people develop confidence, leadership and teamwork. Anyone interested can contact ccf@tqacademy.co.uk.
DofE Silver Students Show Outstanding Resilience
Twenty-six Year 11 students completed their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Silver practice expedition last weekend, demonstrating impressive resilience, determination and teamwork ahead of their qualifying expedition later this month.
The expedition began after school on Friday, with five teams walking from Starcross to Cofton Campsite before darkness fell. After navigating concealed footpaths, every group successfully found the campsite, pitched its tents and prepared a team meal using gas stoves.
Saturday brought the weekend’s toughest challenge: a 20km hike carrying full packs, including tents, stoves, food and clothing. The route climbed towards Haldon, passed Teignmouth Golf Course and continued through Kingsteignton along the Templer Way to Twelveoaks Farm. A few wrong turns added to the adventure, but the students learnt from their mistakes and finished strongly.
Despite blisters, bruising and tired legs, the students were determined to continue. On Sunday, all five teams completed the final 10km route through Stover Country Park, Liverton and on to Heathfield Industrial Estate, with everyone finishing by 2.30pm.
Thank you to Miss Stoyle, Miss Coull, Dr Jones, Miss Baker and Mr Adams for giving their time to support this excellent experience.
Congratulations to Reuben Harrison, Matt Campan, Anastasiia Tukilush, Emily Cowan, Lewis Collett, Annie Briggs-Aldous, Alexa Lyons, Heidi Bowers, Imogen Clifford, Kira Fedotova, James Beer, Ivan Masliakovas, Riain Leal, Jonathan Siuchninski, Gustaw Adamczak, Emily Lock, Naomi Szyszka, Lauren Harbutt, Tanya-Lee Neill, Zak Haridi, Mia Hawkes, Ed Rackley, Anya Cosslett, Will Wrathall, Mollie Longthorpe and Millie Russell.
Learning at TA
Year 12 Health and Social Care Explore the Human Heart
Year 12 students studying the double and triple Health and Social Care courses have made a fantastic start, particularly in their anatomy unit. They have approached their studies proactively in lessons and while consolidating their learning independently in the study centre.
As part of their work on the cardiovascular system, students have been learning about the heart, blood and blood vessels. To develop their understanding of the heart’s structure, they completed a dissection of a pig’s heart, which is anatomically similar to a human heart.
Students identified the left and right sides by comparing the thickness of the cardiac walls before locating the four internal chambers and tracing the main blood vessels. The practical activity helped bring their classroom learning to life and gave them a much clearer understanding of this vital organ.
A Level Biologists Bring Ecosystem Succession to Life
Our A Level Biology students visited Braunton Burrows, one of the UK’s largest sand-dune systems, for an exciting day of fieldwork.
Beautiful weather provided ideal conditions for exploring the dunes and carrying out biological investigations. Students collected valuable data about sand-dune succession, examining how environmental conditions and plant communities change from the younger dunes towards areas of more established vegetation.
The visit gave students an excellent opportunity to put their classroom knowledge into practice in a fascinating natural environment. They returned with plenty of useful data to analyse and a deeper understanding of ecosystem succession.
Student Awards
Sparx XP Leaders
This week’s Sparx leaderboards celebrate the top 10 students in each year group for XP earned so far this academic year. Congratulations to everyone featured for making such a strong start and showing excellent commitment to their independent learning.
More Students Complete Their DofE Awards
More and more Torquay Academy students are successfully completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards each year. This week, a further five Bronze Award certificates and three Silver Award certificates were presented.
At Bronze and Silver level, students complete skills, physical and volunteering activities over several months. They also undertake demanding expeditions that require them to plan routes, navigate with maps and compasses, carry their equipment, pitch tents and prepare their own food.
Congratulations to our Bronze Award recipients: Rebecca Quarshie in Year 12, and Reef Whayman, Harry Pitman, Anya Cosslett and Lauren Harbutt in Year 11.
Congratulations also to our Silver Award recipients: Grace Halsey, Hayden Halsey and Neve Lithgow, all in Year 12.
Sparx Reader Leaders
Congratulations to the students featured in this week’s Sparx Reader leaderboards for Years 7, 8 and 9. Their commitment to regular reading practice is helping them build confidence, fluency and vocabulary.
Tassomai Leaders
Congratulations to the students featured in this week’s Tassomai leaderboards. Their consistent effort and excellent engagement with independent practice are helping them strengthen their knowledge and make strong progress.
Students of the Week
We are delighted to celebrate this week’s Students of the Week, who have been recognised for their hard work, positive attitude and contribution to school life.
Year 7
Congratulations to Jade Emerson, Alfie Coleman, Aggie Chant and Archie Snow.
Year 9
Congratulations to this week’s Year 9 Students of the Week.
Year 10
Congratulations to Alexa McCarthy and Harry Rowlands, our Year 10 Students of the Week.
Year 11
Congratulations to Matthew Campan and Maria Nihtyanova our Year 11 Students of the Week.
House Certificates
House Stars of the Week
Year 7 House Stars
- Brunel: Melisa Uven
- Christie: Maddox Wotton
- Darwin: Lola Pocknell
- Fawcett: Edward Mellitt
- Kitson: Maggie Surmon
- Nearne: Ellis Redhead
- Pengelly: Kendall Manley-Brown
Year 7 Homework House Stars
- Brunel: Jamie-Leigh Palmer
- Christie: Mariella Bates
- Darwin: Reuben Robinson
- Fawcett: Mickeila Mizeya
- Kitson: Henry Hill
- Nearne: Anna-Leigh Taylor
- Pengelly: Jake Roadnight
Year 8 House Stars
- Brunel: Ludo Mudge
- Christie: Rosie Taylor
- Darwin: Daisy Prior
- Fawcett: Bobby Shannon
- Harrison: Themba Sibanda
- Kitson: Bogdan Piasta
- Pengelly: Alfie Bortoli
Year 8 Homework House Stars
- Brunel: Isla Copping
- Christie: Sienna Thomas
- Darwin: Holly Garbett
- Fawcett: Kaci Street
- Harrison: Marek Piasta
- Kitson: Dominik Mohacsi
- Pengelly: Toby Wright
Year 9 House Stars
- Brunel: Tyler Moss
- Christie: Eva Thompson
- Darwin: Skyla-Rose Whitfield
- Fawcett: Jack Parker
- Kitson: Karim Taha
- Pengelly: Toby Roadnight
Year 9 Homework House Stars
- Brunel: Evie Jewell
- Christie: Nora Gordon
- Darwin: Laila Stuttaford
- Fawcett: Bella Stevenson
- Kitson: Sophia Hill
- Pengelly: Myla Thomas
