Year 11 Prom, shirt signing and the Girls' Project Adventure

Year 11 Prom

On Tuesday evening, our Year 11 students gathered at the Imperial Hotel for their annual Prom, bringing to a close what has been a memorable and successful exam season.

The celebrations actually began long before students stepped inside the venue. Over the course of almost two hours, families, friends and staff lined the entrance to watch an incredible procession of arrivals. Students arrived in a remarkable range of vehicles, including sports cars, luxury cars, a fire engine and even an ice cream van. Each arrival was met with cheers and applause, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

As you will see from the photographs, our students looked absolutely incredible. The effort that had gone into preparing for the evening was clear to see, with our young people embracing the occasion and celebrating in style with their friends and staff.

The evening itself provided a wonderful opportunity for students to relax and enjoy themselves after months of hard work, revision and examinations. It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces as students celebrated the end of their GCSEs together.

While Prom marks the end of the examination period, it is also a moment to reflect on the past five years. We are immensely proud of this year group, not only for the way they have conducted themselves throughout their GCSE examinations, but for the contribution they have made to our school community during their time at Torquay Academy. They have represented the school with pride, embraced opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, and shown resilience through the challenges that every year group inevitably faces.

A huge thank you goes to all of the staff who organised and supported the event, helping to create such a special evening for our students.

We now look forward to seeing our Year 11 students again on Results Day later this summer. For many, the next chapter of their journey will continue at Torquay Academy Sixth Form, and we are delighted that the vast majority of students will be returning in September to continue their studies with us.

For now, we hope they enjoy a well-earned summer break. Congratulations, Year 11. You have been a fantastic year group, and we are incredibly proud of everything you have achieved during your five years at Torquay Academy.

Year 11 sign off in the sunshine

Following their final GCSE examinations, our Year 11 students enjoyed one last afternoon together before beginning their well-earned summer break.

With the sun shining, students headed out onto the field for the traditional shirt signing, giving them the opportunity to share messages, memories and good wishes with friends they have spent the last five years alongside.

The afternoon was filled with smiles, laughter and plenty of photographs as students celebrated the end of their exams and collected their leavers' hoodies, a lasting reminder of their time at Torquay Academy.

It was wonderful to see students enjoying the occasion together and reflecting on everything they have achieved during their time with us.

We are incredibly proud of this year group and look forward to seeing them again on Results Day later this summer.

Our second girls' project adventure

This weekend, our Girls Outdoor Project headed back out onto Dartmoor with a brand-new group of students for their second overnight expedition. Following the rain and mist that greeted our first group, this time we were treated to perfect summer weather, creating the ideal setting for a weekend of hiking, camping and coasteering.

The adventure began on Saturday morning with a hike around the beautiful Fernworthy Reservoir. The group followed woodland trails and crossed open moorland under clear blue skies, taking in some of Dartmoor's most spectacular scenery.

While the first expedition had to contend with wet weather, this group faced a different challenge altogether. The soaring temperatures meant plenty of water breaks, regular stops in the shade and countless applications of suncream. Despite everyone's best efforts, a few sunburnt noses and cheeks suggested that the Devon sunshine had still won a few battles.

After a day of hiking, the group set up their wild camp on the moor. With barely a breath of wind, the infamous Dartmoor midges quickly made their presence known. Pitching tents while fending off swarms of insects proved to be a challenge in itself, but the girls tackled it with great humour and resilience.

On Sunday morning, the group packed up camp and headed to the coast for the final challenge of the weekend, coasteering. For many students, this was a completely new experience. Scrambling across rocks, exploring the coastline and jumping into the sea required courage, determination and trust in one another.

One of the most impressive aspects of the weekend was the way the girls supported each other throughout. Whether encouraging a friend on a difficult section of the hike, helping with camp tasks or cheering each other on during the coasteering session, they demonstrated teamwork, resilience and a willingness to step outside their comfort zones.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved. The students should be incredibly proud of how they approached every challenge, from the heat and the midges to the cliffs and open water.

My thanks go to Miss Stoyle for organising another fantastic expedition and creating these opportunities for our students. Thank you also to Miss Coull for supporting the hike and wild camp, and to Dr Jones for leading a superb coasteering session and ensuring the group had a safe and memorable experience on the coast.

The Girls Outdoor Project continues to provide students with opportunities to build confidence, develop resilience and create lasting memories through adventure. We look forward to seeing where the next expedition takes them.

Fun Friday Brings Sweet Success and Friendly Competition

Another fantastic Fun Friday saw students across Years 7, 8 and 9 enjoying a range of activities, prizes and plenty of friendly competition.

Year 7 students put their estimating skills to the test in the ever-popular Sweets in the Jar challenge. With eyes fixed firmly on the prize, students carefully studied the jar and submitted their best guesses. As always, there were some impressively close estimates, with the winner walking away with a jar full of sweets and plenty of bragging rights.

Meanwhile, students in Year 8 and Year 9 took part in exciting quiz competitions. The quizzes covered a wide range of topics and gave students the opportunity to showcase their knowledge, work together with friends and enjoy some healthy competition. From general knowledge to tricky brain teasers, there were plenty of challenging questions that kept everyone engaged throughout.

Fun Fridays continue to be a brilliant way to celebrate students' efforts, build positive relationships and create memorable experiences beyond the classroom. It was wonderful to see so many students taking part and enjoying the activities on offer.

A huge thank you to the staff who organised and ran the events, and congratulations to all of our winners.

Inspiring Day at Bovey Tracey Craft Festival and Make Southwest

Today, 44 Year 9 students and 8 Year 12 students enjoyed a fantastic Art and Photography trip to the Bovey Tracey Craft Festival and Make Southwest. Blessed with beautiful sunshine throughout the day, students immersed themselves in a vibrant celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and community.

Armed with mini sketchbooks and cameras, students explored the wide range of stalls and exhibitions, recording the names of makers, creating observational sketches, and capturing photographs to support and inspire their current and future projects. The opportunity to see professional artists and craftspeople at work provided invaluable insight into creative processes, materials, and techniques.

One of the highlights of the day was the enthusiasm shown by our students when engaging with artists and members of the local community. Many took the initiative to ask thoughtful questions about creative practice, career pathways, and artistic inspiration. These conversations demonstrated genuine curiosity and a willingness to learn beyond the classroom.

The festival atmosphere was enhanced by a wonderful selection of food stalls, giving everyone the chance to relax, refuel, and enjoy the lively surroundings. Students embraced the experience with maturity and positivity, making the most of every opportunity the day offered.

We were particularly impressed by the exemplary behaviour displayed by all students throughout the trip. They represented the school exceptionally well, showing respect, kindness, and enthusiasm at every venue we visited. Their conduct was impeccable, and they were a credit to themselves, their families, and the school community.

We are incredibly proud of our students for the way they engaged with the creative opportunities available to them and for the enthusiasm they showed throughout the day. We look forward to seeing how the ideas, sketches, photographs, and experiences gathered today will influence and enrich their upcoming art and photography projects.

Year 11s finish on a high with spanish

A massive congratulations to our Year 11s, who officially crossed the GCSE finish line on Tuesday - finishing in style with a Spanish writing exam. Miss Hammett is incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication everyone has shown throughout the exams, and we are already looking forward to welcoming some familiar faces back in September to take on A-level Spanish!

Colour Pencil Brings Characters to Life

8Q8 have created a fantastic series of colour pencil cartoon characters inspired by the playful style of Jon Burgerman. Bursting with bright colours, expressive faces and plenty of energy, the drawings capture a sense of fun and creativity.

The coloured pencil texture adds warmth and charm, giving each character a lively hand-drawn feel. The result is a collection of joyful, engaging characters that celebrate imagination and the simple pleasure of drawing.

Year 8 Maths with Mr Beattie

Mr. Beattie’s Year 8 Maths class, have been stepping into the shoes of architects and engineers. In the real world, before any skyscraper, house, or video game asset is built, it needs to be mapped out. Year 8 learned that plans and elevations are 2D, scale drawings used to accurately represent 3D objects from different perspectives.

Visualising a 3D object as a flat 2D shape can be tricky, but Year 8 rose to the challenge! To help bring the concepts to life, students used physical 3D cubes to build various structures right on their desks. By physically turning the models and looking at them from eye level, they were able to accurately sketch the plan, front, and side views of a range of different shapes. The teamwork and spatial awareness on display were fantastic, with students helping each other figure out exactly how many squares high or wide each view should be!

learning with Mr Brett

When I venture from my desk, I can be in the classroom covering English, as in this case, or teaching Maths which happens from time to time. More often I put on a Uniform and go out into the field to help facilitate the latest cadet activities. Occasionally I am further afield in the mountains either tracking the teams or in this case waiting for a Gold Duke of Edinburgh team who I was assessing. I was checking the team's tracker to make sure my rock was going to give a perfect interception. A really varied mixture of activities which help TA students develop in a wide variety ways as well as the classroom.

Students of the Week

Year 7 - Ava Medway, Baran Sular, Nathan Cameron and Isabella Hughes

Year 9 - Tiffany Eastley

prestigious diamond award

Year 7 - Callan Woodward, Nathan Hooper, Lucas Worrall, Echo Williams, Archie West, Ruby Ward, Annie Reece, Daisy Prior, Kayleigh Norgaard-Welsh, Henri Jefferies, Zara Isemede, Macey Horsted, Izzy Beer, Remy Beaumont Gray, Angelina Bassett, George Bailey, Crystal Anning-Bragg, Cody Aguilana, Sid Walters, Lennon Head, Logan Mansell, Isabella Hughes, Luna Furse, Max Watkins, Hugo Harding-Beattie, Max Dickerson, Arthur Williams, Max Newman, Ludo Mudge & Isla Copping

Year 8 - Sara Szewczuk, Lilah Dallow, Braxton Biggs, Rocco D'Alessandro, Georgina Morton, Kobe Laker, Jacob Hicks, Chloe Bastow, Lucy Matthews & Ela Uven

Year 9 - Ben Walters, Leo Shaw, Lily-Jo Prior, Ava McArdle, Max Kapusta, Grace Gatting, Jessica Ferguson, Florence Botten, Jax Biagott, Toryn Bond, Sofia Adamson & Seren Chadwick

governors' platinum certificates

Year 7 - Elyce Turner, Tommy Stevens, Jamie Smyth, Joshua Randall, Isabella Hughes, Katie Hornbrook, Freddie Gaggini, Luna Furse, Shia Davidson, Roni Bates, Harry Barrett, Chloe Leese, Malakye Harvey, Ollie Webster, Marcus Feasey, Marlie Coussell, Evie Allington, Rosie Taylor, Siva Renjith & Elijah Benson

Year 8 - Cole Washington, Ethan Nichols, Laura Mercer, Simeon Manners, Oscar Josey, Emilia Hedgecock, Olivia Fisher, Maya Campineanu, Owen Brown, Oscar Anderson, Joe Matthews, George Tonks, Jude Nwachukwu, Megan Bushell-Sneap, Freddy Bonner, Riley House, Dylan McDonald, Autumn Dakin, Gabriele Stadalninkaite & Nevaeh Piri-Sadigh

Year 9 - Jenson Tandy, Oktawian Siennicki, Aaron Pinto, Hydie Munday, Nanma John, Phoebe Grindling, Tyler Davis, Frederick Blagden, Keylan Hodgson, Oscar Deegan, James Cosh, Wiktoria Aleksander, Seren Panther-Glinn, Jack Robinson & Rosie Bevan

governors' gold certificates

Year 7 - Jordan Allington, Luca Vaio, Summer Young, Ella-Rose Woodgates, Samuel Vesely, Oliver Simpson, Layla Selley-Dillon, Chloe Sanderson, Josh Pitman, Fran Mildren, Amelia Lyons, Indie Kenyon, Naomi Hering, Charles Hepburn, Ethan Graham, Harley Sims, Freddie Farrell, Lacey Dennett, Orla Cutajar, Aaleeah Craig, Amelia Cony, Alfie Clark, Luca Chadwick, Awa Camara, Hope Briant, Isaac Bond, Svetlin Yordanov, Toby Wright, Martha Wilcox, Esme White, Lenon Villiers, Amelia Drew, Archer Burton, Florence Potter, Gregori Masliakovas, Donatella Manyimo, Luke Drew-Stevenson, Jaxon Bedford Laity & Ella Austin

Year 8 - Laila Stuttaford, Hayley Steenkamp, Oliver Luscombe, Brooke Harding, Nora Gordon, Fynlay Dever, Colby Craig, Millie Beamish, Freyja Mobbs, Achilles Richards, Caelan O'Gorman, Kiera Chivers & Skyla-Rose Whitfield

Year 9 - Katie Tonks, Bradley Wright, Jelani Ondo-Chamielec, Tyler Jackson, Ellie-Mae Burton, Ebany Fawkes, Flo Evans, Gabi Cobain, Mila Cairney, Harlow Bown, Charlie Berry & Alana Houlihan

governors' silver certificates

Year 7 - Leo Allington, Ayda Snell, Themba Sibanda, Marek Piasta, Asia Knight, April Corbett, Mia Carter, Iris Blurton, Kaitlyn Blades, Isaac Bell, Esther Munnangi, Millie Horrocks, Caleb Abbott, Oakley Wise & Toby Giles

Year 8 - Kayleb Yeo, Eve Truscott, Lincoln Trapp, Madison Stewart, Scarlett Slater, Zac Retter, Liv Reed, Beni Paplogo, Harry Monro, Jack Lennox-Statham, Archie Kershaw, Jaycie Kennedy-Taylor, Neave Heavens, Ava Harrison, Theo Mason, Lillyanna Edmonds, Bella Cassidy, Myles Bonnici, Cole Barton, Zac Austin, Pandora Ferguson, Anna Viediernikova, Blake Hawkes, Eryn Stafford-Summers, Libby Rycroft, Kai Parton, Jacob Caldwell, Kai Cornish, Grace Donnelly, Freddie Thatcher, Chloe Eales, Calvin Downer, Abigail Rayment & Mabel Clatworthy

Year 9 - Zachary Kittow, Lucas Vesely, Luke Sandeman, Esmie Riggs, Andy Iftode, Dylan Drinkwater, Darcy Dainton, Jack Crabb, Calum Carpenter, Rudy Abdulla, Jessica Munnangi, Ocean Brant, Olly Bell, Madeline Woodger, James Costello, Corey Davies, Gabriela Piasta, Seraphina Rozier, Khalid Al-Ajrami, Serenity Ward, Samuel Kuc, Jamie Hancox, Farah Davidson, Aaliyah Akpo & Emily Redmond

governors' bronze certificates

Year 7 - Elijah Rogers, Toby Siuchninski, Jazz Morris, Finn McCaul, Brock Last, Faith Jelley, Jack Harris, Lexi Harper, Cassia Harman, Freddie Drein, Heidi Downey, Amber Dillon, Charlie Cosslett, Ella Bindon, Evie Bache, Seth Atkins, Jake Anyon, Deanna Clarke, Evie Wallis, Ava Medway, Oliver Pell, Hugo Cowan & Charles Blocksage-Tomicek

Year 8 - Isobel Dowell, Amelia Woodland, Jasmine Roberts, Alex Nicholson, Rufus Kerslake, Arya Kelly, Jake Jolly, Rhia Holding, Erin Ayres, Willow Waugh, Ellis Palmer, Josie Cotton, Bella Stevenson, Corah Luscombe, Ethan Chapman, Sienna Hunter, Georgiana Elliott, Josiah Addai, Gracie Ritson, Poppy Tankielun & Poppy Hewings

Year 9 - Kaitlin Towell, Alfie Williams, Jacob Wakefield, Ruby Turner, Chloe Taylor, Myah Sellick, Eric Montague, Isaac Mccabe, Lily Langler, George Giles, Summer Dockrey, Benjamin Cowie, William New, William Schmiedinghofer, Tenisha Clarke, Emelia Wood, Ayden Quarshie, Archie Phillips, Theo Slater, Alex Iftode, Thalia Dunsmore, Xanthe Tyson & Daisy-Mae Rees

principal's gold certificates

Year 7 - Luna-Mai Williams, Jake Warner, Leila Wagstaffe, Riley Thompson, Ben Stone, Leo Limmer, Emelia Essiful, Jasper Dawson, Henry Corderoy, Wiki Bartoszewska, Neekie Wilson, Bryan Marshall, Sophie Brookes & Ivy Howell

Year 8 - Oliver Barkhuizen, Gracie Harvey, Eva Thompson, Kyle Squires, Joe McDonough, Oscar Manley, Cody Hunter, Oliver Finley-Squires, Theo Eaton-Liley, Cian McHugh, Arthur Gaughan & Lilly Jones

Year 9 - Hiba Zafar, Lyra Sully, Ollie Hallett, Kumar Hopton, Freddie Wallis, Niah Slowley, Lottie Knight, Olivier Kawula, George Kasparis, Poppy Haslett, Mason Dur, Isla Bryant, Thomas Zaple, Cooper Syms, Tate Reynolds, Lilly Shaw, Riley Page, Marcus Findlay-Peers, Laila Mills, Haddie Inturi, Treesa Telson, George Pitts & Izzie Mildren

Year 10 - Georgee Westhead, Cohen Andrews, Dolly Gagg, Ellie Simpson, Saket Raj & Imogen Clifford

principal's Silver certificates

Year 7 - Evelyn Mariam Roney, Leon Mclaren, Bella Froude, Ethan French, Ethan Botha, Lola Biggs & Heidi Chambers

Year 8 - Beau-Angel Talbot, Kallie Somerset & Heath Slater-Saunt

Year 9 - Sonny Wildy, Matilda Thorner, Olivier Szyszka, Seren Stephenson, Harley Smith, Frances Roberts, Mia Piewiszko, May McDonough, Tiffany Eastley, Heidi Milner, Shae Craig, Kierra O'Neill, Jackson Lane & Freddie Bowerbank

Year 10 - Sanije Hoxha, Ellie Bowden, Mollie Peters, Immy Pace & Scarlett Connolly