Girl guides, art work and a very successful sporting week

girl guides

The new year 7 girl guides are settling in well and pushed themselves out of their comfort zone this week on the climbing wall, continuing to achieve their objective to 'have adventures'. It was lovely to see our year 8s supporting and encouraging their younger peers.

CADET Training in Full Swing

This Wednesday’s cadet training saw both the Army and RAF sections at Torquay Academy in full stride, working together across a packed and rewarding afternoon of activities.

The RAF section took the lead on leadership development and drill, focusing on communication, teamwork, and precision. Cadets showed great discipline and focus as they refined their drill routines and explored what it means to lead by example.

Meanwhile, the Army section rolled up their sleeves for paintball fire and manoeuvre practice, working in pairs to develop tactical movement, teamwork under pressure, and effective communication — key skills for any aspiring leader.

Across both sections, cadets continued their progression on the Cadet Force Instructional Techniques (CFIT) course, building confidence in delivering lessons and taking command tasks designed to test their initiative and planning skills.

It was fantastic to see cadets from both services learning together, pushing their limits, and demonstrating the spirit and teamwork that make Torquay Academy Cadets so proud.

Well done to everyone for your commitment and enthusiasm – a brilliant effort all round!

year 11 geography field trip

The Year 11 Geographers enjoyed a day out on fieldwork on Tuesday of this week, exploring the regeneration that has occurred in Drake Circus in Plymouth. Students used a range of fieldwork data collection techniques to help them with their Paper 3 GCSE exam in June. They collected data using methods such as a land use survey, an environmental quality survey and a pedestrian count. Students worked hard and were a real credit to the school.

fun friday

There was a brilliant buzz around the school this afternoon as our students enjoyed another Fun Friday to celebrate the end of a busy week. Each year group had their own activity, with plenty of laughter, competition and teamwork on show.

Our Year 7 and Year 8 students went head-to-head on the PlayStation in Football Champs 25. The atmosphere in the Platform was electric as players battled it out for bragging rights and the title of FC25 Champion. There were some incredible goals, dramatic penalty shootouts and plenty of crowd noise from the spectators!

Year 9 put their brains to the test with a fast-paced Quiz, showing impressive knowledge across sport, music, films and general trivia. The competitive spirit was fierce but friendly as teams raced to hit the buzzer first.

Year 10 took over the hall for a round of Carnival Games, testing their accuracy, coordination and patience. From ring tosses to beanbag throws, the prizes and cheers added to the fun.

Meanwhile, our Year 11s had a sweet-toothed challenge of their own, the classic Sweets in the Jar competition. Guesses ranged wildly, but only one sharp-eyed student walked away with the jar and the glory.

It was a fantastic end to the week — thank you to all staff who made the afternoon possible and to every student who joined in with such enthusiasm. Roll on next week’s Fun Friday!

Year 10 Art – Self Portraits Inspired by Chuck Close

This week, our Year 10 art students completed a fantastic project focused on self-portraiture, inspired by the artist Chuck Close. Using his signature grid method, students carefully copied photographs of themselves, translating them into highly detailed pencil portraits.

Over the course of just two lessons, students demonstrated exceptional focus and dedication. They explored a wide tonal range, working with pencils from HB to 6B to create subtle gradations and develop depth in their work. The resulting portraits showcased impressive technical skill and a keen eye for detail.

Mrs Lynch was particularly impressed by the level of effort and concentration each student brought to the task. The class embraced the challenge with maturity and creativity, and the final results speak for themselves.

8T5 - Remembrance Day Art Dedications

This week, 8T5 completed a beautiful series of artworks in dedication to Remembrance Day. The class created striking sunset paintings, carefully mixing primary colours to capture the soft, changing hues of the sky at dusk. Their thoughtful use of colour created a powerful backdrop for the images and symbols they included — each one chosen to reflect the theme of remembrance and honour those who have fallen for our freedom.

The students showed great sensitivity and creativity throughout the task, and their finished pieces are both visually impactful and deeply meaningful.

Year 12 Musicians Deliver Exceptional Academic Research

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of our new Year 12 students enrolled in the UAL Diploma and Extended Diploma in Music Performance and Production. This week, they successfully completed and presented their Project One: Live Music Task—a major research undertaking.

Students chose two iconic musical ensembles or events and delivered brilliant, in-depth academic analyses. Their research went beyond basic performance, covering the artist and event context, musical analysis, stagecraft and production elements (such as lighting and sound design), and a critical personal reflection.

We were thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and high levels of academic rigour demonstrated by all our young musicians. Their ability to synthesise complex technical and theoretical information and present it engagingly is a huge credit to their hard work and preparation, setting a high bar for the year ahead.

Well done to all the Year 12 Music students!

LAMDA Distinction!

We are absolutely delighted to celebrate the phenomenal achievement of Allanna, who has earned the highest possible mark in her Grade 4 LAMDA Acting, achieving a Distinction.

This is a truly monumental accomplishment. LAMDA exams challenge pupils to develop exceptional vocal clarity, confidence, and interpretive skill. Earning a Distinction signifies a level of mastery that goes above and beyond, demonstrating Allanna's commitment and passion for the dramatic arts.

These advanced communication skills are invaluable, and we are incredibly proud of her dedication and success. Congratulations, Allanna!

gymnastics success

Lucy attended the South West Gymnastics Tumbling competition in Bristol at the weekend where she achieved Gold for her category. Well done, Lucy!

grappling

Esmie in 9C competed in the U15 South West Grappling competition on the weekend. Esmie competed in the 50kg category and won gold which is an amazing achievement. Well done, Esmie!

Students of the Week

Year 7 - Ruby and Archie

Year 9 - Mya

Year 11 - Oli and Blayre

football round up

Year 9 Football

On Monday, the Year 9s got their season up and running with a goal-filled win against Paignton. TA were irrepressible going forward, with Alfie, Gio and Calum causing all sorts of problems for the opposition defence. If not for some outstanding goalkeeping and at times, rushed finishing we would have been out of sight by half time. As it was, we went into the break 3-2 up.

The half time chat was all about making sure we were disciplined defensively and a little more ruthless in attacking situations. We were much more solid in the second half, conceding only one goal from range, whilst scoring 5 of our own. This was a competitive game against a good side, and we showed how far we can go this year if we can get it right at both ends of the pitch.

Final score: TA 8-3 Paignton

Scorers: Gio (4), Alfie, Harley, Oscar, Rudy

u15 girls

The U15 girls delivered an excellent performance to secure victory against a strong Churston side. From the first whistle, the team showed determination, organisation, and real attacking intent.

Goals from Evie and Poppy capped off a well-deserved win, with every player contributing to a confident display. It was a great team effort and a fitting reward for their hard work in training.

Well done to everyone involved and we look forward to the next round.

year 7

Our Year 7 boys began their football journey at Torquay Academy with a dominant performance in the National Cup against Isca. After a busy few weeks settling into a new school and taking part in the trials, the team showed just how much talent and potential they possess.

Goals came from Shia (3), Jaxson (2), Rupert, Frankie, and Leo in an excellent all-round display. The player of the match award went to Lennon for his outstanding contribution.

A fantastic start to their time at TA football, the team are now in the hat and ready for the next round.

u13 girls

The U13 girls recorded another impressive victory in the National Cup with a strong performance away to Launceston College. The team played with confidence and control throughout, showing real progress and togetherness.

Goals came from Izzie (2), Lottie, Dolly, and Sophia in a convincing team display. Izzie was named player of the match for her excellent all-round performance.

The girls now await their next opponents as they look to continue their fine cup run.

ESFA NATIONAL CUP - U13 boys

The U13 boys produced an excellent performance on the road against Westfield Academy. Despite playing on a tight pitch, their football was a joy to watch, combining composure, creativity, and teamwork throughout the match.

Goals came from Thatch (4), Teddy (2), and Archie, who rounded off the scoring with a well-taken header.

It was a performance full of quality and effort, and the team now look forward to discovering their opponents in the next round.

ESFA ELITE NATIONAL CUP

Year 10 produced an outstanding performance to beat Devon Cup holders Ivybridge and make it into the last 16. The game from the first whistle was frantic, competitive and end to end. Both teams were going at each other from the start but TA had too much spirit and togetherness as well as some individual brilliance for Ivybridge. TA took the lead on 23 minutes when a Lee Stevens free kick was headed home by Sonny Cayford. The scoreline was soon doubled when Keane O’Neill broke from midfield and rifled the ball in from 25 yards. Then an incredible double save from Oscar Spurle saw the TA go into halftime 2-0 up. The second was even more competitive than the first with TA throwing themselves in the way and blocking everything and winning every tackle. TA’s work rate and determination to keep Ivybridge out was incredible and Spurle again pulled off numerous outstanding saves.

TA will now face Milfield at home in the last sixteen with a chance to get revenge on the team that knocked them out of both cups last year. A huge well done has to be given to Alfie Vallance who made his debut for the team and put in a tremendous performance leading the line.

Year 11 ESFA National Cup

Year 11 edged a thriller on Thursday, knocking out Devonport High School for Boys. TA started well and went 1-0 up through a tremendous strike from Ben Jolly. TA, however, went into the break level and then early in the second half found themselves behind. TA continued to rally and eventually found themselves on level terms when Tom Ross smashed the ball home from close range. This was the end of the scoring throughout the normal time and extra time. The game ended up going to a dramatic penalty shootout and GK Olly Pyne eventually saved a second penalty and then slotted his own penalty home for TA to win 8-7.

u14 girls

6 a side champions

What a great start to our first tournament of the year and becoming champions of the South West at Coach Road! We did not lose one game at the tournament. We drew 2 games and won 4 games to get to the final, where we got a last-minute winner at the back post from Charlie Murray. We showed hard work, integrity and pride, which gained great confidence going into the next tournament.

Goals came from Kayden x5, Charlie x4 and Brogan x1.

house golf

U14 National Schools qualifiers

Year 9 competed in the National Schools Qualifiers, playing some fantastic netball and showcasing their hard work and determination throughout the day. Their faultless effort on court was rewarded with an outstanding record of five wins from seven matches. The team worked relentlessly in every game, producing some brilliant results against strong opposition.

Their defensive pressure through court was exceptional, winning countless turnovers that were swiftly converted into goals thanks to their speed and precision in attack. The movement and timing through court were on point, with excellent communication and encouragement from start to finish. It was a brilliant team performance that reflected their commitment, teamwork, and growing confidence on court. The girls were awesome, and finished in a strong 3rd position, qualifying for the next round. Well Done Girls!

Squad: Lily Langler, Eva Thompson, Elena Bolton, Madison Wood, Seren Chadwick, Emilee Fenner, Isla Bryant ©, Zenna Venter, Matilda Thorner

Opposition's Player: Emilee Fenner

Players' Player: Emilee Fenner

Coach's Player: Emilee Fenner

Sixth Form AOC Cup Knockout vs BTC

The Sixth Form team travelled on Wednesday for their first AoC Cup knockout match, coming away with an impressive 31-21 win to progress to the next round. Despite an eventful journey and over a two-hour delay, the girls started strongly, taking an early lead and maintaining it throughout. Their attacking unit showed great connections and patience in play, moving the ball with confidence and precision through the court.

Defensively, the team was relentless—applying constant pressure, forcing errors, and turning over numerous balls to regain possession. The opposition fought hard and began to close the gap, but our players remained composed and disciplined, responding with smart play and excellent teamwork. Their calmness under pressure and determination to see the game through secured a well-deserved victory and a place in the next stage of the competition.

Squad: Tammy Westacott ©, Ellie Stone, Elspeth Herring, Rosie Clarke, Millie Sneap, Eve Cameron, Ema Kestell, Amara Phillips, Jemimah Jones

Opposition's Player: Eve Cameron

Players' Player: Millie Sneap / Ellie Stone

Coach's Player: Millie Sneap

Year 11 Netball

Year 11 faced a tough match in the knockout competition, showing great effort and determination throughout. They made a strong start, matching their opponents goal for goal, with only two goals separating the sides at quarter time. The team challenged for every ball and demonstrated clear improvements in their play, using a variety of movements to get free and maintain possession.

As the game went on, the opposition’s superior fitness began to show, but our players continued to work tirelessly, transitioning quickly into defence and contesting every pass. Despite the scoreline, they put up a fantastic fight, showed real resilience, and never gave up until the final whistle. A performance full of spirit, teamwork, and visible progress.

Squad: Maisie Sandercock, Chloe German ©, Lucy McMahon, Frankie Skelly, Millie Swift, Ashleigh Evans, Matilda Stephens, Kelsey Drew, Ellie Farthing, Connie Kinghorn

Opposition's Player: Maisie Sandercock

Players' Player: Maisie Sandercock / Ellie Farthing

Coach's Player: Lucy McMahon

sparx reader certificates

Today we awarded our first Bronze Sparx Reader badges and certificates of the year, to those students who have achieved 5,000 SRP. Congratulations to them for earning their first Sparx Reader badge.