SummerFest Plans, Buckingham Palace & Student Success!

DofE Gold garden party at Buckingham Palace

In the week before half term, Mr Adams, our Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager, was lucky enough to be invited to one of the Buckingham Palace DofE garden parties, hosted by the Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince Edward. The Garden Parties are held to celebrate the success of young people that have achieved the prestigious DofE Gold Award. One of our very own students, last year's Head Girl, Penny Richards, was one of the students being celebrated at this event.

Penny started her DofE journey in Year 9, undertaking her Bronze Award. In years 10 and 11 she completed her Silver Award. And in Sixth Form she showed the discipline, organisation, endurance and resilience to complete her Gold Award. It has been such a pleasure and an honour to see and support Penny to get to this prestigious event and her attendance is testament to her commitment, hard work, resilience, enthusiasm and drive to succeed. This achievement is the highest level of the world's most acclaimed young persons character development award and is such a credit to have on a young persons CV.

Penny said herself to Mr Adams at the Garden Party, that she spoke at length about her Gold Award in her UCAS application, and believes (in addition to her excellent A-Level results) it played a large part in her successful acceptance on her Business Management degree course at Cardiff University.

Our warmest congratulations to Penny - very much deserved - and we wish her all the best for the future!

SUMMERFEST PLans

On Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of our Sixth Form students to hear their plans for this year's SummerFest, which will take place on the Friday of the penultimate week of term.

I was incredibly impressed by the quality of their presentation and the amount of thought, planning, and organisation that had gone into preparing the event. The students spoke confidently about their ideas, carefully explaining how the day will run and the experiences they hope to create for students across the Academy.

From what I saw, SummerFest is shaping up to be a fantastic celebration. Plans include a Main Stage featuring entertainment throughout the day, a Karaoke Stage where students can showcase their talents, and the much-anticipated Rave Cave, which is sure to be a popular attraction. Alongside these headline events, there will be a wide range of stalls, activities, food, and drinks available throughout the day.

What stood out most was the professionalism of the students. They had clearly considered everything from logistics and safety to student enjoyment and engagement. They responded thoughtfully to questions and demonstrated excellent teamwork throughout the presentation.

One of the aims of Sixth Form is to provide opportunities for students to develop leadership, organisation, and communication skills beyond the classroom. This project is a fantastic example of those skills in action. The students have taken ownership of the event and are working hard to create a memorable experience for the whole school community.

A huge thank you and well done to everyone involved. I look forward to seeing their plans come to life and to what promises to be a brilliant SummerFest.

Poppy is kumite champion

Poppy recently competed in the National Amateur Martial Arts Competition, where she achieved outstanding success across three categories. She won one gold medal and two bronze medals, demonstrating her skill, determination, and dedication to the sport. Her gold medal was earned in Kumite, the full-contact fighting category, making her the National Amateur Martial Arts Champion in Kumite. This remarkable achievement reflects her hard work and commitment to excellence in martial arts.

George and Ethan Shine at Prestigious Torquay Golf Club Pro-Am

We are delighted to celebrate the success of George and Ethan, who recently represented their team at the renowned Torquay Golf Club Pro-Am.

Competing against strong opposition, the junior team delivered an outstanding performance, finishing 2nd overall. In a closely contested competition, they led the field for much of the event and were ultimately pipped to the top spot by just a single shot.

The Torquay Golf Club Pro-Am is regarded as one of the premier professional events on the South West PGA circuit and boasts a rich history dating back to the 1970s. The tournament is particularly notable as the venue where golfing legend Nick Faldo secured his first professional victory, making it a truly prestigious event to be part of.

Participating in such a high-profile competition was a fantastic experience for George and Ethan, providing them with the opportunity to test their skills, gain valuable experience and create lasting memories.

Congratulations to both boys on their fantastic achievement—we look forward to following their future successes on the golf course!

Torquay Academy Students Take to the Main Stage at Torbay Airshow

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of three talented Torquay Academy students who recently performed on the main stage at this year's Torbay Airshow.

Aliyah Smith, Zac Evans and Charlie Porter, alongside their bandmate Kirby Sharland, took to the stage as part of their band, Flare, delivering an impressive hour-long set to the crowds gathered for one of the region's biggest annual events.

Performing on the main stage at such a high-profile community event is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the dedication, talent and confidence of these young musicians. Their performance captivated the audience and showcased the incredible musical talent that exists within our school community.

Everyone at Torquay Academy is delighted to share in their success and celebrate this memorable experience. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Flare and wish them every success as they continue their musical journey.

Well done, Aliyah, Zac, Charlie and Kirby – you have done yourselves, your families and the Academy proud!

Isla-Mae Lands Exciting Role in Frozen

We are delighted to celebrate the success of Isla-Mae, who has recently been successful in auditioning for TOPS Musical Theatre Company's production of Frozen.

Following a highly competitive audition process, Isla-Mae has been cast as Young Elsa and will be performing at the Palace Theatre, Paignton, this October.

This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to Isla-Mae's talent, dedication and hard work. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and look forward to seeing her shine on stage in this much-loved production.

Congratulations, Isla-Mae, and best of luck for the performances – we know you will be amazing!

Sylvie Reaches the Summit in Support of Tourette's Action

We are incredibly proud of Sylvie, who recently completed an inspiring climb of Mount Snowdon alongside her sister and close friends.

Instead of taking part in her usual annual camping trip, Sylvie chose to take on this challenge to raise funds and awareness for Tourette's Action, a charity that supports people living with Tourette syndrome and their families.

Having received a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome in December 2025, the climb held special significance for Sylvie. Through her fundraising efforts, she aimed to increase understanding of the condition, raise awareness and support other young people who may be facing similar experiences.

Sylvie's determination to turn her own experiences into something positive for others is truly inspiring. Her courage, resilience and commitment to helping others have been evident throughout her fundraising journey and the challenge itself.

We are also delighted to see how well Sylvie has settled into life at Torquay Academy. She continues to embrace opportunities, contribute positively to our school community and thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Everyone at Torquay Academy congratulates Sylvie on this fantastic achievement. Reaching the summit of Snowdon is no small feat, and we are immensely proud of the difference she is making through her fundraising and advocacy.

Well done, Sylvie!

To read more about this please see https://www.leopardwithin.com/post/we-did-it-snowdon---yr-wyddfa

Fun Friday brings music, competition and sweet treats!

Another fantastic Fun Friday took place this week, with students across the school enjoying a range of fun activities during lunchtime.

Year 7 and Year 8 students took centre stage with Karaoke, showing plenty of confidence as they performed some of their favourite songs in front of their friends. There were some brilliant performances, lots of cheering from the audience, and plenty of smiles all round as students embraced the opportunity to showcase their talents.

Year 9 students put their decision-making skills to the test with a giant game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. The competition quickly became intense as students battled their way through the rounds, hoping to outwit their opponents and be crowned the overall champion.

For Year 10, it was time for a game of Higher or Lower. Students had to predict whether the next card would be higher or lower than the current one, creating plenty of suspense and excitement as the game progressed.

Meanwhile, Year 11 students took part in the ever-popular Sweets in the Jar challenge. Students carefully studied the jar and submitted their guesses, with the closest estimate winning the entire jar of sweets.

Fun Friday continues to be a highlight of the week, giving students the chance to relax, have fun with their friends, and enjoy a positive end to the school week. A huge thank you to all the staff who organised and supported the activities, and well done to everyone who took part.

Torquay Academy CCF Celebrates Another Successful Training Evening

This week's Cadet Force training evening was packed with activity, development, and achievement across both the Army and RAF sections.

The RAF Section continued to build on their core cadet skills through drill, leadership exercises, and fieldcraft training. Cadets demonstrated excellent teamwork and growing confidence as they developed the skills required to become the next generation of leaders within the contingent.

Meanwhile, the Army Section enjoyed a varied and exciting programme, continuing their drill training alongside paintball marker lessons, drone flying, and climbing wall activities. These sessions provided cadets with opportunities to develop confidence, coordination, problem-solving abilities, and resilience while having plenty of fun along the way.

The highlight of the evening was the final parade, where the hard work and dedication of our cadets were recognised and celebrated.

Our Year 8 cadets proudly received their CCF Basic Star Badge, marking the successful completion of their initial training syllabus. In addition, they were awarded the St John Youth First Aid Badge, recognising their commitment to learning essential lifesaving skills.

Year 9 and Year 10 cadets were presented with their 2 Star Badges, reflecting their continued progression and development within the Cadet Force. Several cadets also received the prestigious CFIT Badge, acknowledging the successful completion of their Cadet Forces Instructor Training and their ability to support the training of junior cadets.

We also recognised four senior cadets who recently completed the challenging Senior Cadet Instructors Course (SCIC) at Okehampton Camp. Their achievement was celebrated with the presentation of the SCIC Badge, signifying their commitment to leadership, instructional excellence, and personal development.

The evening concluded with a number of well-deserved promotions. Cadets were promoted to the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and Company Sergeant Major, while within the RAF Section, a cadet was promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant. These promotions reflect the hard work, dedication, leadership, and example that each individual has demonstrated throughout the year.

The parade provided a fitting end to another successful training evening and showcased the tremendous progress being made across the contingent. Congratulations to all those who received badges and promotions, and thank you to the staff and senior cadets who continue to make the Torquay Academy CCF such a rewarding and successful organisation.

Art club on-line

Our latest online Art Club competition, entitled 'Design a Poster for Torbay', was very well received by our art students, with some truly impressive entries across both KS3 and KS4.

Once again, we were delighted by the variety of approaches explored by the students, including painting, drawing, digital art, collage, and photography.

The winners were as follows:

1st Place: Niya Santhosh
2nd Place: Esme White
3rd Place: Katie Hornbrook

A special congratulations to Ava and Chloe for their collaborative entry.

We would also like to say a big thank you to Joel, Evie, Lauren, Matthew, Evie, and Jack for their wonderful designs and enthusiastic participation.

The presentation of prizes and certificates took place in Mrs Lynch's Art Room on Monday 1st June, our first day back at school!

Our next competition, which will run until just before the summer break, is entitled 'Under the Sea'. We look forward to seeing another fantastic collection of creative entries.

Students of the Week

Year 9 - Tyler Davis, Bradley Wright and Flo Botton

Learning legends

Year 9 - Tyler-Joseph Broadley, Zach Kittow and Xanthe Tyson

Principal’s Bronze certificates

Year 7 - Kyle Mercer

Year 8 - Ronnie Byrne

Year 9 - Freja-Mae Mcelkenny

Year 10 - Caleb Harford-Brown

Principal’s Silver certificates

Year 7 - Bryan Marshall, Amelia Garvey, Mason Lobb & Neekie Wilson

Year 8 - Tyler Moss, Max Bovey, Mia Kost & Oliver Beamish

Year 9 - Alfie Mackin, Madison Wood, Viktoria Simunkova, Lilly Shaw, Oliver Forsdyke, Billie-Jo Dolling, Mason Maxwell, Riley Gomes, Ella Jandara, Ted Lithgow, Ollie Humphreys & Maya Davis

Year 10 - Heston Hart

Year 11 -Nikkita Hookway

Principal’s Gold certificates

Year 7 -James Cooper-Darby, Elijah Rogers, Phoebe Herbert, Bobbie Shannon, Karolina Marsalkaite, Evie Wallis, David Ujj, Tyler Stacey, Ava Medway & Noah Harding

Year 8 - Finley Elliott, Gracie Ritson, Amelia Palla, Zenna Venter & Skye Beesley

Year 9 - Rosa Murray, William Schmiedinghofer, Annalise Little, Ellie Palmer, Maddie Smith, Mia Wilkins, Jake Richards & Jorgie-Jayne Barnett

Year 10 - Sophia Peryer & Alfie Spicer

Governors’ Bronze certificates

Year 7 -Libby Nolan, Joseph Spicer, Oscar Crofts, Jasmine Oakley, Jasmine Hartrey, Diana Pestana, Romeo Collins-Perry, Caleb Abbott, Oliver Evans, Coby Ingham Owens & Oscar Bowyer

Year 8 - Jessica Green, Libby Rycroft, Mollianne Potter, Jack O'Connor, Nicholas Robinson, Alex Skorzewski, Bailey Jones, Elliot Holmes-Inch & Darcy Gibbings

Year 9 - Bobby O'Regan, Elias Jeffery & Freya Brown

Governors’ Silver certificates

Year 7 - Toby Wright, Martha Wilcox, Alfie Bortoli, Archer Burton, Amelia Cony, Maddison Pearse, Alfie Thomas & Esme White

Year 8 - Teddy Shobbrook, Libby Pell, Evan Jones, Mason Beardsley, Alex Oleksy, Lexi Johnson, Ruben Tidball, Toby Roadnight, Macy Hickman, Riley Piercy, Isla-Mae Gale, Toby Young & Oscar Hall

Year 9 - Lily Hubbard, Elizabeth Francis, Maisy Hart, Layla Lock, Elena Bolton, Keeley-Mae Moran, Elissia Greenwood & Charlie O'Connor

Governors’ Gold certificates

Year 7 - Soraya Underhill, Joshua Randall, Marcus Feasey, Marlie Coussell, Rosie Taylor, Sienna Stanbury, Jaiden Wragg, Ruby Sambrook, Ollie Webster, Archie Faulkes, Frankie Wilson, Taylor Norgaard-Welsh & James Broom

Year 8 - Riley House, Poppy Cosh, Milly Skelly, Luca Guppy, Jude Brodie, Gergo Rammer & Finley Thompson

Year 9 - Keylan Hodgson, Jack Robinson, Morgan Fisher, Mya Pring, James Cosh, Wiktoria Aleksander & Haydon Coatesworth

Governors’ Platinum certificates

Year 7 - Echo Williams, Crystal Anning-Bragg, Lorenz Hodgson, Riley Holmes, Daisy Prior, Max Watkins, James Rackley, Freddie Bullions, Isaac Armitage, Mason Bond, Arthur Williams, Phoebe Smith, Max Newman, Isla Copping, Beau Luker-Hulme, Lilly Conley, Ludo Mudge & Elias Abbott

Year 8 -Rocco D'Alessandro, Georgina Morton, Jacob Hicks, Lucy Matthews, Fi Bellamy-Hall, Sophia Houghton, Sienna Frost, Zofia Bocianowska, Chloe Bastow, Ethan Halliday & Ryu Cutts