Parliament Visits, Festive Celebrations and Netball into last 16 in the country

economics trip to Parliament

Our Year 12 and Year 13 Economics students enjoyed an unforgettable visit to London this week, accompanied by Mr Shute and I. The day offered a rare opportunity to see economics, politics and government brought to life beyond the classroom.

We began the morning at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, where three government economists welcomed our students. All three were former colleagues of Mr Shute, who worked as a government economist before moving into teaching, and they shared valuable insights into the role economists play in shaping national policy. Students heard real examples of projects linked directly to the Year 12 and 13 curriculum, helping them see the practical application of their studies in areas such as decision-making, data analysis and public policy.

From there, we travelled to the Houses of Parliament for a guided tour of one of the most iconic institutions in the country. Students explored the historic chambers, learned about key moments in parliamentary history and gained a deeper understanding of how laws are made. A highlight of the visit was the chance to sit in the galleries of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords to observe live speeches and debates.

The afternoon continued with a political workshop, where students worked in groups to create their own proposals for a new political party standing in a snap general election. This session challenged them to think critically about policy priorities, messaging and the realities of democratic decision-making.

Before heading home, students enjoyed some free time to explore the festive sights of London, rounding off an inspiring and memorable day.

We are extremely grateful to the economists who welcomed us, and to the team at the Houses of Parliament for arranging such an enriching experience. Our students represented Torquay Academy superbly, and we hope the visit has sparked even greater enthusiasm for economics, politics and public service.

Get Ready to Sparkle, Christmas Concert Preparations Are in Full Swing!

The festive season is almost upon us, and here at TA, that means one thing: our annual Christmas Concert! We know how much joy and holiday spirit this event brings, and we're thrilled to announce that preparations are well underway for what promises to be our biggest and most spectacular show yet!

To get everyone in the mood and remind us of the incredible talent we have in our school, take a moment to relive the magic of last year's concert.

We still talk about some of those performances, and this year, our students are working even harder to put on a truly unforgettable evening for you all. From heart warming carols to energetic festive tunes, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

Save the date: This year's Christmas Concert will be held on Wednesday, December 17th.

Information regarding tickets and how to secure your seats for this highly anticipated event will be communicated to all performers at the beginning of next week. Please keep an eye out for those details.

We can't wait to share the incredible talent and festive cheer of our students with you. Get ready to celebrate the season in style.

Year 8 High Performance Academy

This week our Year 8 High Performance Academy students met to share presentations of the research they have been conducting this term and to celebrate their hard work by eating lots of Dominos pizza!.

Over the term, students have researched and written essays in a variety of disciplines such as economics, classical civilisation, history and media. Both their essays and presentations delivered this week have been of an exceptionally high standard, and we are incredibly proud of the hard work and effort they have put in.

Prizes for best essays went to Finley Thompson (Classics), Mabel Clatworthy (Economics), Jack O'Connor (History) and Lottie Forrester (Media), while prizes for best presentations went to Maddox Findlay-Peers (Media), Abigail Rayment (History), Evan Jones (Classics) and Jack O'Connor (History).

Well done to all our HPA students. It has been a fantastic start to the year!

learning legend

fun friday

There was a fantastic festive buzz around the school this afternoon as students enjoyed our Fun Friday. With Christmas just around the corner, each year group took part in a themed activity filled with music, competition and plenty of seasonal cheer.

Our Year 7 and Year 8 students took to the stage for Christmas Karaoke, filling The Platform with well-known favourites and plenty of enthusiastic performances. The atmosphere was brilliant, with students cheering each other on and joining in with the choruses.

Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11 put their knowledge to the test in our Christmas Quiz, competing in teams to solve a mix of festive trivia, quick-fire rounds and puzzle challenges. The competitive spirit was lively but good-natured throughout, with lots of laughter and a great sense of teamwork on display.

It was a lovely way to round off the week and bring everyone together as we head towards the end of term. A huge thank you to all staff who helped make it happen and to every student who took part with such enthusiasm.

We are already looking forward to the next Fun Friday.

crossfit

Over the last few weeks a selection of year 11 students have been attending a Crossfit class delivered by former student Pierce Gerring at West Country Crossfit. The group have loved the class and have learnt a great deal about a very popular fitness regime. The group had to overcome challenges and take themselves out of their comfort zones whilst doing this. The group have learnt many new skills and techniques that are required in this sport that are complex functional techniques.

maths with miss clarkson

9Q8 had a focused and engaging maths lesson this week, working on finding the midpoint of a line segment using coordinates. Students began by using a coordinate grid to plot pairs of points and visually identify the midpoint by counting equal steps along the horizontal and vertical axes. This helped them understand how the midpoint relates to the positions of the original points.

In the second part of the lesson, students moved on to using the midpoint formula to calculate the exact centre of a line segment. They applied the formula to increasingly challenging coordinate pairs and demonstrated growing confidence in linking the visual method to the algebraic one.

Christmas art mannequin

This year’s Christmas Art Mannequin has been designed and constructed by our very talented Year 10 art student, Tanya Neil. Tanya has cleverly manipulated a variety of fabrics to create an intriguing and striking textile ensemble. Additional Christmas baubles, ribbons, and fairy lights have been added for extra drama and effect.
Happy Christmas!

Students of the Week

Year 7 - Oliver Pell and Ellie Peters

Year 9 - Matilda Thorner, Ocean Brant and Alexa McCarthy

Year 11 - Frankie Skelly and Maisie Sandercock

u15 girls

Our U15 girls put in a gritty performance against a very strong Exmouth side in the National cup. With a couple of our starters not in school we were always going to have to dig deep with just one sub and a few girls playing their first match of the season after long term injuries. The girls never gave up and were a credit to themselves and the school. Exmouth progressed into the next round with a 4-0 victory.

year 11 Netball

The Year 11 squad travelled to Seaton for the next round of the national knockout competition on Monday. They started with strength and enthusiasm, with every player producing some fantastic netball across a range of positions. The team applied constant defensive pressure and created numerous turnovers throughout the match.

Despite their hard work, the opposition proved strong and capitalised on their opportunities to take the win.

A great effort and excellent teamwork from all the girls.

Opposition's Player: Chloe German

Coaches' Player: Lucy McMahon

Year 11 squad: Maisie Sandercock, Lucy McMahon, Frankie Skelly, Millie Swift, Matilda Steven’s, Connie Kinghorn, Chloe German, Phoebe Smith, Ashleigh Evans, Ellie Farthing

Year 9 Tournament

Two Year 9 squads were in action on Tuesday, with both teams performing brilliantly. Each squad secured a win and were narrowly edged out in a couple of close matches. Throughout the fixture, the players showed clear progression and improvement.

There was some excellent defensive pressure, followed by great effort to vary movement and maintain possession, allowing the shooters to convert their opportunities into goals.

Well done to everyone involved!

A huge thank you to some of our Year 8 netballers who stepped up to help out!

Opposition’s Players: Matilda Thorner, Maddy Wood, Heidi Milner, Milly Skelly

Players' Players: Maddy Wood & Mimi Skelly/Tia Woodward

Coaches' Players: Maddy Wood & Heidi Milner

sixth form netball

The Sixth Form squad delivered an outstanding performance down in Penzance on Wednesday. They started strongly, taking an early lead and immediately setting the pace for the match with their determined approach.

Their decisive defensive pressure proved too much for the opposition, winning turnover after turnover. This was followed by precise, controlled play through the court, feeding the shooters who converted confidently. Well-timed movement and excellent connections throughout made the team incredibly difficult to break down.

A fantastic display of teamwork and skill, finishing with an impressive 68–33 win.

Opposition's Player: Eve Cameron

Players' Player: Amara Phillips

Coaches' Player: Amara Phillips/Summer Connolly

Sixth form squad: Frankie Skelly, Maisie Sandercock, Elspeth Herring, Tammy Westacott(C), Summer Connolly, Ellie Stone, Millie Sneap, Amara Phillips, Jemimah Jones, Eve Cameron

U14 Netball Academy progress to the final 16 in a National Competition

Wow — what a match for the TA U14 squad!

It was goal-for-goal from the first whistle, with TA defending tightly through the court. The opposition matched that intensity, turning over the ball of their own , making it an incredibly nail-biting match!

The scores were level at quarter time, but by half time Devonport had pushed ahead to take a 2-goal lead. TA were determined not to let the game slip away, and their relentless effort paid off as they fought back to lead by 2 at the end of the third quarter.

The final quarter was a true battle, with Devonport initially regaining the lead. But TA dug deep and left every ounce of energy on court and it showed! Their tight defensive pressure forced some crucial turnovers, which the team then moved smoothly through the court. The shooters held their nerve superbly, converting under immense pressure.

In the final five minutes, TA pulled ahead by 4 and showed brilliant composure to maintain control and secure the 31-26 win, sending the squad through to the next round of the competition!

An absolutely outstanding performance from every player. Well done girls!

Opposition's Attacking Player of the Match: Matilda Thorner

Opposition's Defensive Player of the Match: Zenna Venter

Players' Player of the Match: Isla Bryant

Coaches' Player of the Match: Isla Bryant

Squad: Seren Chadwick, Matilda Thorner, Eva Thompson, Lily Langler, Elena Bolton, Abigail Harkin, Emilee Fenner, Isla Bryant, Madison Wood (C), Zenna Venter.

governor's bronze certificates

Year 7 - Dominik Mohacsi and Bonnie Beedle-Grigg

Principal's gold Certificates

Year 7 - Dominik Mohacsi, Mila O'Connell, Evie Voisey, Dolly Peart, Ayva Howell, Erin Cooper, Ruby Hand and Annabelle Mountstevens

Principal's silver Certificates

Year 7 - Lewis Tandy, Charlie Pearson, Scarlet Seton, Sid Walters, Lennon Head, Nathan Hooper, Maisy Sellick, Isaac Armitage, Heni Ujj, Aimee Byrne, Mylo Jury, Izzy Beer, Aisha Dunkley-Kennedy, Frankie Tait, Lucy-May Stevens, Damon Reen, Bogdan Piasta, Freddie Osborne, Oakley Johnson, Henri Jefferies, Daniel Ibell, Issac Churchill, James Rackley, George Bailey, Echo Williams, Madison Trott, Ellie Peters, Zara Isemede, Max Watkins, Sienna Thomas, Hugo Harding-Beattie, Max Dickerson, Freddie Bullions, Annie Reece, Kayleigh Norgaard-Welsh and Benjamin Kittow

Year 8 - Sophia Hill, Myles Anyon, Isla Parsons, Amaris Quennell, Karen Shaju, Liv Andrews, Karim Taha, Lilly-Ella Smith, Fi Bellamy-Hall, Charlie Williams-Powell and Lilah Dallow

Year 9 - George Garbett, Summer Reed, Oceana Furse, Emily Bowden. Charlotte Townsend and Immy Shaw

Principal's Bronze Certificates

Year 7 - Madison Trott, Scarlett Paton, Romeo Collins-Perry, Soraya Underhill, Jamie Smyth, Grace Sampson, Henri Jefferies, Joshua Randall, Lily Fitzgerald, Maddison Pearse, Corey Watt, Baran Sular, Macey Horsted, Holly Garbett, Luna Furse, Isaac Bond, Angelina Bassett, Rosie Taylor, Indie Kenyon, Harley Sims, Ella Austin, Meelie Harvey, Lucas Worrall, Phoebe Prior, Beau Luker-Hulme, Donatella Manyimo, Callan Woodward, Lilly Conley, Max Newman, Amelia Lyons, Nathan Cameron, Mason Bond, Elijah Benson, Oliver Simpson, Chloe Leese, Amelia Drew, Hope Briant, Crystal Anning-Bragg, Lorenz Hodgson, Awa Camara, Cody Aguilana, Charlie Cosslett, Logan Mansell, Freddie Gaggini, Marlie Coussell, Remy Beaumont Gray, Harry Barrett, Sienna Stanbury, Luke Drew-Stevenson, Luca Chadwick, Roni Bates, Phoebe Smith, Katie Hornbrook, James Broom, Jaiden Wragg, Lenon Villiers, Elyce Turner, Chloe Sanderson, April Corbett, Ayda Snell, Amelia Syms, Leo Green West, Luca Vaio, Aaleeah Craig, Tommy Stevens, Daisy Prior, Evie Allington, Gregori Masliakovas, Frankie Wilson and Josh Pitman

Year 8 - Laura Mercer, Sienna Frost, Kobe Laker, Jacob Hicks, Gabriele Stadalninkaite, Ethan Nichols, Oscar Anderson, Frederick Sintim, Ava Broughton, Finley Thompson, Sara Szewczuk, Olivia Fisher, Maya Campineanu, Zofia Bocianowska, Millie Beamish, Jude Brodie, Autumn Dakin, Gergo Rammer, Nevaeh Piri-Sadigh, Oliver Luscombe and Chloe Hornsby

Year 9 - Ben Walters, Jessica Stoyle, Catherine Ramesh Mani, Luke Moran, Seth McCann, Christopher Csapo, Immy Shaw, Jessica Ferguson, Aaron Pinto, Alba McKechan, Alexa McCarthy, Ava McArdle, Daisy Dorman, Florence Botten, Lucy French, Kobi Burness-Moakes, Charlie Berry, Mya Pring, Grace Gatting, Sofia Adamson, Harry Austin, Frederick Blagden, Morley Villiers, Jenson Tandy, Leo Shaw, Max Kapusta, Phoebe Grindling, Oktawian Siennicki, Riley Johnson and Rosie Bevan