Learning Legends, Photography exhibition and Wimbledon

learning legends

This week marked the end of our first Teaching and Learning cycle and a brilliant celebration of the hard work happening across every classroom at Torquay Academy. Throughout the cycle, students in every year group earned Learning Legend tickets for their effort, focus, and commitment to learning. At the end of the cycle, every ticket from each year group was placed into a prize draw to select a grand winner.

We were delighted to award a pair of AirPods to one student in every year group. The excitement in the room as the winning names were drawn was fantastic and it was a pleasure to recognise students who show such consistency and pride in their learning.

Our students impress us every single day. Rewarding their effort through Learning Legends is something we value and enjoy and it is wonderful to see how much the system motivates and celebrates the very best of what our students can do.

We are already thinking ahead to the end of the next quarter and hope to introduce even more exciting prizes. Mr Chadwick will be writing to parents and local businesses in the coming weeks to explore opportunities for sponsorship so that we can continue to grow and enhance our Learning Legend awards throughout the year.

Well done to all of our Learning Legends and congratulations to the lucky winners. We look forward to celebrating many more achievements in the terms ahead.

Year 7 - Jaxon Bedford - Laity

Year 8 - Sophia Houghton

Year 9 - Jesse Isemede

Year 10 - Mason Findlay-Peers

Year 11 - Miley Sobey

Sixth Form - Jamie John Palmer

sixth form open evening

It was wonderful to welcome so many students, parents and carers to our Sixth Form Open Evening. The Platform was packed for both talks, where families heard about life in our Sixth Form, the opportunities available, and the outstanding support we provide to help every student take their next steps after Year 13.

After the talks, visitors moved into the main school to meet subject teachers and explore the wide range of A Level and Level 3 courses on offer. Each department shared information about their subjects, the skills students develop, and the pathways our students follow into university, apprenticeships and employment.

The atmosphere throughout the evening was warm, busy and full of enthusiasm. It was lovely to see so many thoughtful conversations taking place and to watch our visitors discover more about studying at TA. Our students who helped on the night were fantastic ambassadors for the Sixth Form, speaking confidently about their own experiences and the strong sense of community they value.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to all staff and students who helped to make the evening so successful.

Year 10 Celebrate 'Set for Success' at Wimbledon

Last Wednesday, six of our dedicated Year 10 students had a truly inspirational day celebrating the successful completion of their first year on the 'Set for Success' youth scheme.

This fantastic initiative, supported by the Wimbledon Foundation and Barclays Bank, uses the power of sport and mentorship to develop essential life and employability skills in our young people. The reward for their hard work was an unforgettable day trip to the historic grounds of The All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon).

The day was meticulously designed to expose our students to the vast array of careers that keep a world-class institution like Wimbledon running smoothly. They participated in a series of masterclasses led by top employees across various departments, demonstrating that success comes in many forms, both on and off the court.

Our students gained valuable insights into key operational areas, including:

Digital Commerce: Understanding the strategy behind Wimbledon's extensive e-commerce and retail operations.
Global Communication: Learning the complexities of media and commentary and how a global sporting event communicates with the world.
Estate Management: A fascinating look at facilities management, ensuring a seamless experience for millions of visitors.
Turf Science: Discovering the meticulous, year-round effort involved in the legendary lawn care that makes the courts iconic.
Guest Experience: Exploring the high standards of organisation and service required for elite hospitality.

The learning didn't stop there. The entire day was run with the support and inspiration of a series of top athletes, embodying the very resilience and leadership skills the programme seeks to instil.

The highlight for many was the opportunity to get active themselves, receiving a tennis coaching session from a professional player. This was a powerful reminder of how dedication and focus translate into achievement.

The 'Set for Success' programme is about much more than just tennis; it is about building confidence, developing communication skills, and raising aspirations. Seeing our Year 10s step into such a prestigious environment and engage so enthusiastically is a testament to the programme's value.

On behalf of the Academy, I would like to extend our thanks to the Wimbledon Foundation, Barclays, and the Youth Sport Trust for providing our students with such a powerful and formative experience. We look forward to seeing our students continue to grow into the confident, skilled leaders of tomorrow.

TA Students Selected for English Riviera “Winter Open 2025 Exhibition”

We are incredibly proud to announce that seven of our exceptionally talented Art and Photography students have been selected to exhibit their work in the renowned English Riviera Winter Open 2025 Exhibition. This annual celebration of Creativity and Innovation brings together both established and emerging artists and we are thrilled that our Sixth Form students will be part of this vibrant showcase.

The Winter Open is a much-anticipated event in the local arts calendar. Each year, it invites artists working across a wide range of disciplines to share their vision, resulting in an eclectic display that celebrates imagination, skill, and bold artistic expression.

As ever, the exhibition is guided by three core values:

• Diversity and Variety

The gallery welcomes an expansive spectrum of artistic practice, from traditional methods to contemporary experimentation. Visitors can expect a dynamic mix of media, themes, and personal styles, all contributing to a rich and engaging experience.

• Originality and Innovation

While honouring artistic heritage, the exhibition also seeks out work that pushes boundaries and offers something entirely new. Many of the pieces on display can be seen nowhere else, ensuring a unique and thought-provoking visit.

• Quality and Talent

Every artwork is selected for its exceptional merit. The exhibition provides audiences with the chance to enjoy—and even acquire—high-quality, collectible pieces created by outstanding artists at all stages of their careers.

This year, our school is proudly represented by the following students: Fearne Darby, Tayler Reynolds, Zac Evans, Tom Kowalski, Alex Hilton, Mel Piper and Michalina Javosz

big brothers and big sisters

Highlights from the week include:

Culinary Creations: One enthusiastic group successfully tackled the art of breakfast pancakes, learning to cook and share a delicious meal together.
Creative Chaos: Other groups got wonderfully messy with hands-on projects, from whipping up batches of vibrant slime and sculpting with air-dry clay to creating various colourful masterpieces.
Game Time: We saw Bigs and Littles enjoying valuable bonding time while taking some of our board games out for a relaxed and fun tutor session.

Every student involved showed outstanding commitment and truly embodied our core school values of Hardwork, Integrity, and Pride. We are immensely proud of their efforts and the strong relationships they are building!

sixth form rock bomba

This video captures some of the highlights from last week's 6th Form gig in Exeter.

Lydia shines at Plymouth Music Festival

Lydia performed across 6 categories and played piano, violin as well as sang Musical Theatre solo songs and a duet. She won silver and gold awards for 5 of her classes, but more importantly, gained performance experience across these genres. Lydia is preparing for more music exams this year, and these events provide an opportunity to learn and improve. Well done, Lydia!

Sparx Reader success

This week we handed out Sparx Reader badges for those hitting big milestones in their reading journey. Students receive Bronze badges at 5000 points, Silver at 8000 and Gold at 20000 points. 20000 points works out at around 2000 minutes of reading.

Malakye Harvey in 7K is our first Gold badge award this year and a huge well done to him!

Silver badges were awarded to Catherine Ramesh Mani in 9K and Dominik Mohasci in 7K.

Bronze badges went to Hope Briant (7P), Heidi Chambers (7N), Holly Garbett (7D), William Taylor (7H), Samuel Vesely (7P), Ruby Ward (7F), Evie Jewell (8B), Gabriel Talbot-Powner (8F), Jesse Isemede (9D) and Ed Rackley (10LEC).

Fun Friday

There was a brilliant atmosphere around the school this afternoon as students enjoyed another Fun Friday to celebrate the end of a busy week. Each year group took part in its own activity, and it was great to see so many students laughing, joining in and spending time together.

Year 7 put their guessing skills to the test with Sweets in the Jar. There were some very confident estimates and a few wild guesses, and one lucky student walked away with the prize.

Year 8 and Year 9 filled the Platform with music as they took on Karaoke. The energy was fantastic, with students cheering each other on and plenty of memorable performances. It was lovely to see students supporting their friends and having the confidence to get up and sing.

Year 10 took part in a World Flag Quiz that tested their geography knowledge. The competition was close, and there were some impressive scores from students who clearly know their way around a map.

Year 11 rounded off the week with a Quiz of their own. The questions covered a wide mix of topics and the students showed great teamwork throughout.

Thank you to all staff who helped run today’s activities. It was a lovely way to finish the week and we look forward to doing it all again next Friday.

Students of the Week

Year 7 - Hope Briant and Oliver Evans

Year 8 - Brixton Biggs and Emily Cutmore

Year 9 - Dylan Drinkwater, Emily Redmond, Maddie Smith and Jacob Wakefield

Year 11 - Oliver Cocker and Rebecca Quarshie

sixth form netball

The Sixth Form delivered a strong and confident performance. They took an early lead and maintained control throughout the match. Although the opposition fought back hard and narrowed the gap to just three goals in the third quarter, our team’s determination shone through.
They stepped up their defensive pressure, taking turnover after turnover and moving the ball safely through court with fantastic movement and control. Their shooting accuracy was impressive, consistently converting opportunities into goals.

Through hard work, communication, and outstanding teamwork, the Sixth Form secured an incredible 46–31 victory.

Squad: Tammy Westacott (C), Jemimah Jones, Eve Cameron, Summer Connolly, Ellie Stone, Rosie Clarke, Elspeth Herring, Millie Sneap

Players' Player of the Match: Summer Connolly
Opposition's Player of the Match: Eve Cameron
Coach's Player of the Match: Millie Sneap

year 7 netball

On Thursday, two of our Year 7 netball teams took part in a tournament against a range of local schools, and both teams represented Torquay Academy brilliantly. They played with real enthusiasm and showed impressive teamwork throughout each match.

The girls demonstrated some fantastic netball, highlighting just how much progress they’ve made thanks to their dedication and hard work in training. Their movement, communication, and determination on court were clear to see, and it’s exciting to witness the potential our young players already have at this early stage.

Both teams carried themselves to a high standard on and off the court, showing great sportsmanship and pride in their school. Well done, girls!

Squad:

A Team: Isabella Hughes (C), Lucy Stevens, Ayda Snell, Ava Medway, Izzy Beer, Dolly Peart, Maddison Pearse, Mia Carter

B Team: Zara Isemede(C), Amelia Lyons, Ella Austin, Amelia Garvey, Amelia Drew, Evie Voisey, Amelia Cony, Pixie Houlihan

Oppositions Player of the Day: Lucy Stevens, Ayda Snell, Izzy Beer, Zara Isemede, Ella Austin

Players Player of the Day: Lucy Stevens & Zara Isemede

Coaches Player of the Day: Mia Carter & Ella Austin

principal's gold certificates

Year 7 - Bonnie Beedle-Grigg

Year 9 - Allen Burns-Muir

principal's silver certificates

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

Year 8 - Charlie Skinner and Erin Gayton

Principal's Bronze certificates

Year 7 - Echo Williams, Immy Weeks, Sid Walters, Frankie Tait, Damon Reen, Daniel Ibell, Ruby Ward, Alya al Ali, Zara Isemede, Max Watkins, Sienna Thomas, Hugo Harding-Beattie, Max Dickerson, Shia Davidson, Freddie Bullions, Arthur Williams, Isla Copping, Svetlin Yordanov, Archie West, Mylo Jury, Ellie Peters, Malakye Harvey, Lincoln Weston, Sienna Tucker, Florence Potter, Kayleigh Norgaard-Welsh, Ludo Mudge and Elias Abbott

Year 8 - Karen Shaju, Owen Brown, Charlie Williams-Powell, Lilah Dallow, Lucy Matthews, Simeon Manners, Kamile Degutyte, Ryu Cutts, Ajay Squires and Rocco D'Alessandro