Netball National Finals, Regional Battle of the Bands Finalists

Rocking the Region, Fluorescent State Heads to the Finals

The energy was electric at The Platform this past Tuesday night as Torquay Academy’s very own Fluorescent State performed and won their battle of bands heat to head to the finals at the Exeter Phoenix. TA played host to the Torbay regional heat, a venue packed with talent and our students rose to the occasion with a performance that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

It was a "Battle of the Bands" in the truest sense. Fluorescent State faced off against some incredibly tough competition from across the region, including bands from:

Teignmouth School
Dawlish College
Coombeshead Academy
Newton Abbot College
A.P. Mixed

Despite the high stakes and the caliber of the other acts, our band gave an incredible, energetic and technically brilliant performance to wow the judges.

With a lineup featuring the powerhouse talents of Oliver Jones, Aliyah Smith, Austin Howell, and Bartosz Mitula, Fluorescent State delivered a blistering cover of "Ignorance" by Paramore.

From the sharp, driving percussion to the soaring vocals and tight guitar work, the group captured the raw intensity of the track, the judges were clearly impressed by their stage presence and technical skill, ultimately naming them, along with Teignmouth School as one of the qualifying acts for the big finale.

Join Us at Exeter Phoenix!

The journey doesn’t end here as Fluorescent State head to the final to represent Torquay Academy

We would love to see a massive crowd of supporters there to cheer them on as they compete for the top spot.

When: 10th March
Where: Exeter Phoenix
Tickets: Available now via the link: Devon Music Education Hub Battle of the Bands Final.

Huge congratulations to Oliver, Aliyah, Austin, and Bartosz.

A Level Art & Photography Trip to Bristol

Our A Level Art and Photography students enjoyed an inspiring and action-packed trip to Bristol, filled with creative exploration and first-hand visual research.

We began at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA), where students explored a diverse range of contemporary and historical artworks. The Cosmic exhibition provided valuable insight into curatorial practice, presentation, and artistic processes, giving students plenty of ideas to develop within their Personal Investigations and exam projects.

Next, we visited Bristol Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG). The varied collections — from fine art and sculpture to historical artefacts — allowed students to make connections across disciplines and gather contextual research to strengthen their projects.

A boat trip around Bristol’s historic harbour offered fantastic photographic opportunities. Students captured reflections, industrial textures, SS Great Britain and striking architectural contrasts, using the waterfront environment to experiment with composition, framing, and light.

Our cultural exploration continued at M Shed, where exhibitions exploring Bristol’s social and industrial history inspired themes of identity, place, and storytelling. We also explored St Nicholas Market, where students documented colour, pattern, and candid moments through street photography as well buying from the food and drink vendors.

Bristol’s renowned street art scene including the works of Banksy was a particular highlight. Students studied large-scale murals, expressive mark-making, and bold typography, gaining insight into contemporary urban art. The reflective surfaces outside We The Curious provided further creative opportunities, with students experimenting with distortion and symmetrical compositions.

We rounded off the visit with time at Cabot Circus, where students observed architectural forms and the energy of a busy urban environment as well as time shopping and eating before heading home.

Throughout the day, students were exceptional ambassadors for Torquay Academy — punctual, enthusiastic, and fully engaged. They produced an impressive range of high-quality photographs and identified artists and ideas that will strongly support both their Personal Investigations and upcoming exam projects.

A hugely successful and inspiring day in one of the UK’s most vibrant creative cities.

A Fantastic Finale: Fun Friday Live Music Lunch

Our last Fun Friday of the half term closed with an incredible celebration of live music, the perfect way to end the week and head into the break.

The afternoon opened with James Lovell, who set the mood beautifully with a chilled mix of global beats, laid-back house, and electro. His set created the perfect atmosphere for the performances to come.

Next up, The Lykes Unplugged took things in a heartfelt direction with a soulful take on Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s “Rein Me In.” Their stripped-back sound showcased both emotion and musicianship, captivating everyone in attendance.

Following them, Double Echo delivered an inspired mash-up of The Cranberries’ “Zombie” and Amy Macdonald’s “Where You Gonna Sleep Tonight,” winning over the crowd with their creativity and energy.

Finally, our Battle of the Bands regional finalists Fluorescent State (formerly Fluorescent State) brought the house down with a powerful rendition of Paramore’s “Ignorance.” Their high-energy performance ended the event on a rapturous note, earning huge applause from the audience.

It was a wonderful afternoon filled with talent, enthusiasm, and community spirit, an amazing way to finish the half term and celebrate our musicians’ hard work.

Creativity in Music Technology at Torquay Academy

Cycle 2 has been an exciting and inspiring time in the Torquay Academy Music Technology department, with students across all year groups diving into creative projects that showcase their talent, imagination, and technical skills.

Our Year 9 students have been exploring Music for Media, developing original compositions and sound designs inspired by the Pixar short Lifted. This project has given them the chance to experiment with mood, timing, and cinematic sound, the results have been full of character and creativity.

Moving into Year 10, students have been focusing on Unit 2: Creating Music, composing original pieces in response to the stimulus “It’s Our Time.” From upbeat electronic tracks to reflective acoustic pieces, it’s been fantastic to see how each student interprets the theme in their own unique way.

The Year 11 students are currently in the middle of their controlled assessment, designing their own performances that celebrate the amazing aspects of our local area. Their task is to use music as a way of promoting and highlighting Torbay’s vibrant identity, creating work that could inspire tourism and community pride.

In the Sixth Form, students have been hard at work planning a Music in the Community workshop, while also delving into the rich history of popular music songwriting. This combination of creativity and outreach helps them develop both their artistic and professional skills.

Finally, our Year 13 students are embarking on their most ambitious final projects yet — entirely self-defined and student-led. Their ventures range from organising live music events and recording their own EPs to producing professional stage lighting portfolios designed to impress future employers.

We are incredibly proud of the creativity and dedication shown by every student in the department. The quality, originality, and passion evident in their projects continue to amaze us each cycle.

A Proud Week for Torquay Cadets

It has been another busy and successful period for Torquay Cadets, with plenty to celebrate across the contingent.

Firstly, well done to our RAF cadets who completed the RAST competition over the weekend. Their commitment, preparation, and teamwork were evident throughout, and they represented the contingent with professionalism and determination.

A special mention must also go to our Year 8 cadets, who paraded for the first time in uniform. This is always a significant milestone, marking the transition from recruit training to fully participating members of the contingent. They should be proud of the standards they displayed.

Training evenings have continued at pace, with activities including first aid training, map reading, drill, and paintballing. These varied sessions ensure cadets develop both practical skills and confidence, while continuing to build teamwork and resilience.

We also extend our congratulations to SSgt Stoyle and SSgt Thacker on their well-deserved promotion from Sergeant. Promotion within the CCF reflects sustained commitment, leadership, and the ability to set the standard for others. Both have earned this recognition through hard work and example.

Finally, we say farewell to Alex Green. Once a cadet at Torquay Academy, then a valued CFAV, Alex now moves on to join the Royal Air Force. He has been a true inspiration to many within the contingent, demonstrating enthusiasm, professionalism, and unwavering dedication. We wish him every success as he begins this next chapter.

A week of achievement, progression, and pride, well done to all involved.

Charlie and benji - our cubing stars!

Charlie and Benji have set up and are loyal members of the Cubing Club in year 7. They are both building up their skills weekly with Charlie even going to the Nationals last year! Charlie averages 12 seconds in solving his Rubix Cube!

On the weekend they were featured in BBC Spotlight after being in a Cubing Competition. We are so proud of them and are super excited to see how they perform in this year's National Cubing Competition.

Read the Spotlight article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c77k7ggl6x7o

student council

You may have read in our blog a couple of weeks ago that our amazing Student Leadership Team came and presented to our year 7s in assembly. Since then the year 7s have been writing up their application forms to become our year 7 Student Council and this week they were announced! Our Head Girl, Lyra, and Head Boy, Lewis, came to line up to inform those who had been chosen so well done to:

7B - Meelie H and Kayleigh N-W

7C - Freddie B and Sienna S

7D - Zara I and Remy B-G

7F - Maddison P and Brock L

7H - Amber D and William T

7K - Soraya U and Cody A

7N - Ayda-May S and Ethan B

7P - Lenon V and Izzy B

Their first meeting is Thursday 12th February! We are very excited to see how they work together to make our school an even better place to be!

Good luck!

grade 6 acting for louise

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Louise Porter in Year 10, who has just passed her Grade 6 LAMDA Acting exam, achieving a Bronze Medal with Merit. This is a fantastic accomplishment that reflects Louise’s dedication, confidence and growing skill as a performer.

Louise is a valued member of our Performing Arts Academy and currently studies Music Performance and Drama, where she consistently demonstrates commitment, creativity and a real passion for the stage. Her success in this nationally recognised qualification is a testament to her hard work and willingness to challenge herself beyond the classroom.

Well done, Louise. We look forward to seeing where your talent and determination take you next

Fun Friday

The final Fun Friday of the half term brought a great atmosphere across the academy, giving students a well-earned opportunity to relax and enjoy time with friends after a busy few weeks.

Year 7 and Year 8 enjoyed live music in the Platform, creating a brilliant lunchtime vibe as students gathered to listen and support their peers.

Year 9 put their knowledge to the test in a lively quiz, with teams competing to claim bragging rights before the break.

Year 10 students took part in a tense game of Higher or Lower, with plenty of excitement as each new card was revealed.

Meanwhile, Year 11 tried their luck in the ever-popular Sweets in the Jar challenge, guessing how many treats were packed inside for a chance to win.

A fantastic way to finish the half term, celebrating community, fun and the positive spirit across the school.

Students of the Week

Year 7 - Luke Drew-Stevenson, Cassia Harman and Hugo Beattie-Harding

Year 8 - Eva Thompson and Cody Butler

Year 9 - Kierra O'Neill, James Cosh and Rosco Biagott

Year 11 - Nick Heale and Emilee Payne

U14’s PROGRESS TO THE FINAL FOUR IN THE COUNTRY IN A NATIONAL COMPETITION!

Wow, wow, wow!! What an incredible performance!

An end-to-end battle from the first whistle to the last, with the lead changing hands time and time again right up until the final five minutes.

We started with real intent, turning over their first centre pass to take an early lead. However, they responded immediately and came back fighting. The pressure mounted, forcing a few uncharacteristic errors and moments of self-doubt, and we found ourselves trailing by one at the end of the first quarter.

A calm but purposeful team talk followed — a reminder not to be too hard on yourselves, to relax, play your own game, and most importantly to believe in yourselves (our belief in you has never wavered!). You stepped into the second quarter with renewed determination. Every player dug deep, supported one another, and produced some truly flawless netball. Turnover after turnover was won through relentless defensive pressure, seamlessly transitioned through court with perfectly timed drives and strong connections, delivering the ball confidently to our shooters who converted with composure.

By half time, we had built an eight-goal lead. But this opposition showed exactly why they are also South semi-finalists. They fought back with intensity and resilience, gradually closing the gap and drawing level as we entered the final quarter — despite the continued high quality of our play.

The last quarter demanded composure, smart possession, and bravery in the air. Momentum swung both ways in a gripping end-to-end contest, but the entire squad rose to the challenge, demonstrating just how composed, skilful, determined, and adaptable you are.

With five minutes remaining, the scores were level. Brave tactical and positional changes were made — and executed to perfection. The belief you showed in one another and the calm confidence you displayed proved too much for the opposition. You controlled the closing stages with maturity and precision, securing a remarkable 26-23 victory and earning your place in the FINAL 4 in Loughborough!

We could not be prouder of every single one of you. Each player has been integral to this achievement. Your versatility, resilience, teamwork, and determination are truly commendable — and this moment is thoroughly deserved.

Opposition's Players of the Match: Madison Wood & Matilda Thorner

Coach's Players of the Match: Isla Bryant & Eva Thompson

Diamond Award

Year 8 - Myles Anyon and Sophia Hill

Governor’s Platinum certificates

Year 7 - Dominik Mohacsi and Erin Cooper

Year 8 - Sophia Hill

Governor’s Gold certificates

Year 7 - Ayva Howell, Erin Cooper, Evie Voisey, Aisha Dunkley-Kennedy, Annabelle Mountstevens and Oakley Johnson

Governor’s Silver certificates

Year 7 - Lucy-May Stevens, Bogdan Piasta, Freddie Osborne, Issac Churchill, Benji Kittow, Aimee Byrne, Madison Trott, Lewis Tandy, Damon Reen, Baran Sular, Lincoln Weston, Scarlet Seton, Sienna Thomas, George Bailey, Scarlett Paton, Frankie Tait, Daniel Ibell and Annie Reece

Year 8 - Myla Thomas, Charlie Skinner and Isla Parsons

Year 9 - Oceana Furse, Christopher Csapo, Jessica Stoyle, Emily Bowden, Immy Shaw and George Garbett

Governor’s Bronze certificates

Year 7 - Lucas Worrall, Amelia Syms, Henri Jefferies, Corey Watt, Zara Isemede, Max Dickerson, Max Newman, Lennon Head, Grace Sampson, Lorenz Hodgson, Ruby Ward, Sienna Tucker, Holly Garbett, Max Watkins, Elijah Benson, Archie West, Macey Horsted, Angelina Bassett and Phoebe Smith

Year 8 - Charlie Williams-Powell, Lilah Dallow, Frederick Sintim, Amaris Quennell, Tyler Fudge, Fi Bellamy-Hall, Ajay Squires, Sara Szewczuk, Georgina Morton, Poppy Pope, Lucy Matthews and Ela Uven

Year 9 - Catherine Ramesh Mani, Daisy Dorman, Jesse Isemede, Ben Walters, Luke Moran, Alba McKechan, Max Kapusta, Kobi Burness-Moakes, Harry Rowlands, Florence Botten and Lily-Jo Prior

Principal’s Gold certificates

Year 7 - Luca Vaio, Daisy Prior, Fran Mildren, Jaiden Wragg, Awa Camara, Tommy Stevens, Isaac Bond, Harry Barrett, Evie Allington, Indie Kenyon, Harley Sims, Luke Drew-Stevenson, Luca Chadwick, Ella Austin, Alfie Clark, Elyce Turner, Oliver Simpson, Aaleeah Craig, Jordan Allington, Charles Hepburn, Lacey Dennett, Amelia Cony, Maddison Pearse, Ollie Webster, Riley Holmes, Isabella Hughes, Archie Faulkes, Sienna Stanbury, Donatella Manyimo and Layla Selley-Dillon

Year 8 - Chloe Bastow, Oscar Josey, Ethan Halliday, Emilie Cutmore, Ava Broughton, Emilia Hedgecock, Olivia Fisher, Maya Campineanu, Braxton Biggs, Gabriele Stadalninkaite, Cole Washington, Ela Uven, Finley Thompson, Sophia Houghton, Megan Bushell-Sneap, Freddy Bonner, Millie Beamish, Jude Brodie, Autumn Dakin, Nevaeh Piri-Sadigh and Zack Jeneway

Year 9 - Jenson Tandy, Aaron Pinto, Phoebe Grindling, Riley Johnson, Mya Pring, Oscar Deegan, Seren Chadwick, Rosie Bevan and Charlie Berry

Principal’s Silver certificates

Year 7 - Mia Carter, Charlie Cosslett, Martha Wilcox, Samuel Vesely, Alfie Bortoli, Joseph Spicer, Toby Siuchninski, Jazz Morris, Iris Blurton, Marek Piasta, Oakley Wise, Lexi Harper, Oscar Bowyer, Ella-Rose Woodgates, Finn McCaul, Themba Sibanda, Oscar Crofts, Alfie Passmore, Alfie Thomas, Asia Knight, Naomi Hering and Freddie Farrell

Year 8 - Anna Viediernikova, Freyja Mobbs, Hayley Steenkamp, George Ballance, Jude Storey, Libby Pell, Evan Jones, Luca Guppy, Zafirah Faryal, Brooke Dennett, Charlie Courtier, Kiera Chivers, Joel Cotton, Skyla-Rose Whitfield, Mollianne Potter, Kaiden Ilhan, Chloe Eales, Teddy Shobbrook, George Davies, Madison Stewart, Neave Heavens, Milly Skelly, Caleb Drein, Colby Craig, Zac Retter, Kai Cornish, Alex Oleksy, Sienna Hunter, Mimi Skelly, Harry Monro, Maddie Mack, Rhia Holding, Willow-Mae Calland, Riley Piercy, Caelan O'Gorman, Jacob Purdie, Lillyanna Edmonds, Jacob Caldwell, Mason Beardsley, Jack O'Connor, Elliot Holmes-Inch and Cole Barton

Year 9 - Olly Bell, Alana Houlihan, Haydon Coatesworth, Charlie O'Connor, Allen Burns-Muir, Layla Lock, Bella Hall, Elissia Greenwood, Calum Carpenter, Dion Maharjan, Dylan Drinkwater, Tia Woodward, Lily Hubbard, Elizabeth Francis, Gabriela Piasta, Keeley-Mae Moran, Andy Iftode, Jamie Hancox, Darcy Dainton, Luke Sandeman, Emily Redmond and Eric Montague

Year 10 - Ollie Martin

Year 11 - Liam Anthony and Kiel Mortimore

Principal’s Bronze certificates

Year 7 - Emelia Essiful, James Cooper-Darby, Evie Wallis, Riley Thompson, Jack Harris, Henry Corderoy, Oliver Pell, Seth Atkins, Jake Warner, Faith Jelley, Deanna Clarke, Wiki Bartoszewska, Riley Williams, Wendy-May Jones, Noah Harding, Elijah Rogers, Ivy Howell and Diana Pestana

Year 8 - Zac Austin, Alex Skorzewski, Harley Bayliss, Arya Kelly, Arthur Gaughan, Josiah Addai, Theo Eaton-Liley, Josh Cainey, Cian McHugh, Ava Wiggins, Ethan Eales, Cody Butler, Gracie Ritson, Poppy Tankielun, Joe McDonough, Poppy Hewings, Oliver Finley-Squires, Erin Ayres, Isobel Dowell, Libby Rycroft, Lexi Nicholson, Kayden Harper, Maddox Findlay-Peers, Nailah Barnett, Lydia Shetliffe, Skye Beesley, Gracie Harvey and Lilly Jones

Year 9 - Thalia Dunsmore, Esme Poole, William New, Tenisha Clarke, Marcus Findlay-Peers, Poppy Evely, Mason Dur, Ruby Turner, Jorgie-Jayne Barnett, Ethan Hindom, Tyler-Joseph Broadley, Maddie Smith, Alfie Williams, George Kasparis, Kaitlin Towell, Theo Slater, Alex Iftode and Treesa Telson

Year 10 - Cohen Andrews, Ed Rackley, Bella Hobbin-Mills, Alfie Spicer, Georgee Westhead, Dolly Gagg, Sophia Peryer, George Evans, Cohen Andrews and Olivia Pope

Year 11 - Lottie Roberts, Freya Coatesworth, Imogen Symonds, Aadhik Retheesh, Susie Lester, Gracie-May Tolley and Halayna Hussain