Greenpower World Finals, Navy trips and Campaign for Youth Wellbeing

Highlights of the Week

Greenpower World Finals at Goodwood

At the weekend, our incredible in-house motorsport team made its annual visit to Goodwood Circuit to compete alongside 132 other cars in the Greenpower International Finals. This event is always a highlight of the calendar, and this year 13 countries were represented, with thousands of spectators attending.

The team showed outstanding commitment. Students were on the bus by 3.20am on Sunday and did not return until 10.30pm. In between, they enjoyed an action-packed day of motorsport, pitting their skills against some of the best teams in the world.

As racing began, the team experienced what it is like to compete at this historic circuit, famous for its Formula 1 past and as the home of the Goodwood Revival and Festival of Speed.

The team faced some unfortunate setbacks. A strap broke on the trailer during the journey, causing some damage to the car before racing began, and the team then suffered a puncture during the main event. Despite this, Team Bindon achieved a very respectable 29th-place finish.

Off the track, the team won an award for its portfolio, which told the story of the journey from the team’s creation through to the international finals.

The students already have plenty of ideas about how they can return even stronger next year. Roll on 2027, and well done, Team Bindon!

Steve Darling MP Explores Our Extracurricular Opportunities

Steve Darling MP visiting Torquay Academy with students and staff

We were delighted to welcome our MP, Steve Darling, to Torquay Academy to see some of the fantastic opportunities our students enjoy beyond the classroom, including our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.

Our brilliant students, alongside Mr Adams, who leads DofE at the school, explained the different aspects of their involvement. From first aid and volunteering to our climbing wall and flight simulators, there was plenty to share about the skills and experiences students gain through our extracurricular activities.

A keen walker himself, Mr Darling was familiar with many of the places our students spoke about and enjoyed hearing about their adventures. He was particularly impressed with our Sixth Form students, who spoke with enthusiasm about what they do.

As always, our students were excellent ambassadors for Torquay Academy. Thank you to Mr Darling for taking the time to visit, and to Mr Adams and our students for sharing this part of school life with such pride.

Steve Darling MP learning about Torquay Academy’s extracurricular activities

Team TA

Team TA Football: A Week of Goals, Grit and Cup Drama

Matches from 12–21 October 2026

It has been a busy few days for our football teams, with a remarkable 16-goal win for Year 9, a hat-trick for Year 7 and a Year 8 cup tie decided by penalties. There have been tougher results as well, and plenty for every group to take into its next game.

Year 9 Boys: Sixteen Goals at Home

Monday 12 October · Torquay Academy 16–0 Worle School

What an afternoon for our Year 9 boys! They scored sixteen times against Worle School and kept a clean sheet at home. A brilliant result for the whole squad and one the boys will remember.

Year 7 Boys: Duke’s Hat-trick

Thursday 15 October · Torquay Academy 6–1 Launceston

Our Year 7 boys enjoyed a 6–1 home win over Launceston. Duke Davies led the way with a hat-trick, while Archie Snow, Ollie Chamberlain and William Cambray each added a goal. Well done to the whole team!

Year 11 Boys: Two Goals on the Road

Friday 16 October · Ivybridge 4–2 Torquay Academy

Year 11 scored twice away at Ivybridge, with Lee Stevens and Max Murphy on target. Ivybridge took the win, but the boys kept competing and will look to bounce back in their next fixture.

Year 8 Boys: Cup Tie Decided on Penalties

Tuesday 20 October · Torquay Academy 1–1 Coombeshead; Team TA won 6–5 on penalties

What a cup tie for our Year 8 boys! The teams were level at 1–1 after normal time, so it went to a shootout. The boys held their nerve and won 6–5 on penalties — a moment to celebrate together.

The successful penalties were credited to Harley Sims (two), Ronni Mcelkenny, Rupert Jones, Lennon Paul Head and Jaxon Bedford Laity.

Year 8 B Team: An Away Day to Learn From

Tuesday 20 October · Eggbuckland 8–1 Torquay Academy

It was a difficult away afternoon for our Year 8 B Team at Eggbuckland. The boys got on the scoresheet, but the home side won 8–1. They will take what they learned back into training and keep working together.

U14 Girls: Braunton Visit

Tuesday 20 October · Torquay Academy 0–4 Braunton

Our U14 girls welcomed a very strong Braunton team to Torquay Academy. The visitors won 4–0 on the day. The girls will regroup in training and look forward to their next game.

There were goals, a dramatic shootout and some hard lessons across the age groups. Well done to every player who represented Torquay Academy, and thank you to the staff and families who support them. Hard Work. Integrity. Pride.

Life at TA

Students enjoying Fun Friday activities

Fun Friday: Books, Bingo and Spooky Quizzes

Books, bingo and a little Halloween mystery made for a lively Fun Friday as our students rounded off the week together.

Year 7 enjoyed a book tombola led by Miss Daw, with lots of fantastic books to give away. It was a lovely opportunity for students to discover a new read and take home a story to enjoy.

Meanwhile, Year 8 joined Mr Chadwick for prize bingo. With cards at the ready and prizes to play for, there was plenty to keep everyone watching those numbers closely!

Years 9 and 10 put their knowledge to the test with a spooky Halloween quiz, while Year 11 also took on the Halloween challenge. A seasonal twist on Fun Friday gave our older students plenty to puzzle over.

Thank you to Miss Daw, Mr Chadwick and all the staff who helped organise the activities. Fun Friday is a chance to reward our students’ efforts, bring our school community together and finish the week on a positive note.

Students enjoying Fun Friday activities

Former Head Boy Kole Helps Our Students Make Their Voices Heard

Kole Gjikolaj with Torquay Academy students during a youth wellbeing discussion

It was a pleasure to welcome former student and Head Boy Kole Gjikolaj back to Torquay Academy this week. Kole is now studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he also works with the Centre for Economic Performance on the Campaign for Youth Wellbeing.

Kole returned to lead discussions with our students as part of a national consultation exploring what would make a positive difference to young people’s lives. The campaign covers areas including school, mental health, life skills, time online and opportunities for the future, with students’ views helping to inform proposals for national policymakers.

Kole was particularly keen to ensure that young people from coastal communities such as Torquay have a voice in this conversation. It was a valuable opportunity for our students to share their experiences and ideas, and to contribute to work reaching beyond our school.

We are very proud to see Kole making the most of his time at university and using his experience to create opportunities for others. Thank you, Kole, for giving back to your former school and helping our students make their voices heard.

A Week of Naval Adventures for Torquay Academy CCF!

Another fantastic week of training for Torquay Academy CCF, with plenty happening across the Army, Royal Navy and RAF sections. Each service continued working with our new Year 8 cadets, helping them settle in, learn new skills and become part of the contingent. Their uniform has now been ordered, and we are eagerly awaiting its arrival so we can get them kitted out!

Some of our Year 9 cadets from all three services enjoyed a visit to HMS Raleigh. The planned Damage Repair Instructional Unit (DRIU) activity could not go ahead due to a mechanical issue, so the staff arranged an exciting alternative: land sailing in single-sail buggies!

With the wind on our side, the cadets learnt the basics before putting their new skills into practice, completing lap after lap around the Royal Navy’s Phase 1 training pitch. There was plenty of wind-powered action as their confidence grew!

After lunch, several command tasks challenged their teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills. It was an early start, but a brilliant day out and a chance for cadets from across the contingent to work together.

The naval adventures continued with a visit to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Plymouth. The cadets toured the dockyard before stepping aboard HMS Portland for a guided tour of the ship—a fantastic opportunity to get a closer look at life on board a Royal Navy warship.

After lunch in the all-ranks mess, the cadets enjoyed a boat trip around Plymouth Sound, rounding off another memorable day with the Royal Navy.

Meanwhile, back at school, training continued across all three services, with our cadets building their skills and supporting our newest recruits.

A huge thank you to our Royal Navy hosts at HMS Raleigh, the dockyard and HMS Portland for making these visits possible, and to our own staff for delivering another busy week of opportunities.

Could you help inspire our cadets?

As our contingent continues to grow, we would love to hear from adults interested in joining our volunteer team. You do not need previous military experience—enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a desire to help young people develop are what matter. If you would like to find out more, please contact ccf@tqacademy.co.uk

Cole Secures Podium Finish at KeltX UK

Cole competed in the KeltX UK hybrid doubles fitness race on Sunday 18 October and secured an excellent second-place podium finish with his partner. Their time of 49:27 was three minutes faster than the time they achieved when they competed in July, giving Cole his first podium finish.

It was a very proud day for the Washington family. Cole’s younger brother, Max, won first place with his partner in the 9–11 category, while Cole’s dad, Craig Washington, secured third place with his KeltX partner in the 40–49 category.

Cole is continuing his training and is looking forward to competing in the Hyrox Young Stars 12–13 category at London ExCeL in December. He and his KeltX partner, Archie, will also compete at the Exeter KeltX event in March 2027. Congratulations, Cole!

Artist Development Sessions for Sixth Form Music

On Tuesday, our Sixth Form Music department hosted a unique artist development session led by Harry Morris from dBs University in Plymouth.

The workshop gave our Key Stage 5 music students the opportunity to learn directly from active industry professionals. Alongside Harry, the panel featured songwriter and vocal coach Eloise Simpson, as well as DJ and current dBs undergraduate Dylan Nock, whom we were especially proud to welcome back to the school as a former student.

During the session, students presented their original compositions and works in progress. Sharing unfinished material requires a great deal of confidence, and our musicians rose to the occasion by presenting their work to both the panel and their peers. In return, they received detailed feedback and constructive advice on songwriting, arrangement and production techniques.

The critique was followed by a networking session, allowing students to speak individually with the panel members about career pathways, higher education and the music industry. dBs University also generously provided a selection of giveaways for those attending.

We would like to thank Harry, Eloise and Dylan for volunteering their time and sharing their expertise with our students.

We are incredibly fortunate to have a cohort of more than thirty music students at Key Stage 5. The wide variety of talent and broad musical tastes within this group are precisely what allow us to run events of this nature, and we look forward to seeing how our students develop their tracks using the advice they received.

Learning at TA

An Excellent Start for 10Q5

Ms Wiltshire’s Year 10 class have made an excellent start to their GCSE studies. Their approach to and understanding of An Inspector Calls has been hugely impressive, with students tackling themes including socialism, capitalism and intellectual awakenings.

They have also started writing complex analytical paragraphs using new writing structures adapted for the class. The frames have been printed in pink and laminated so that each student can become more familiar with them over time and eventually aim to write a paragraph without one.

Everyone has tried their very hardest so far this term, and the outcome of this effort is regularly evident in their extended writing. Well done, 10Q5!

Reading Academy

Our students in the Reading Academy have made an excellent start this term. Working in small groups, students are being supported to improve their reading.

A particular shout-out goes to 7T5 and 7Q6, who have been learning new skills as they settle into secondary school and have just started developing their comprehension.

We are really excited to see the progress that our Reading Academy students can make this year!

This week, our Reading Academy students were delighted to be given a book of their choice to read for leisure. They have been working hard throughout the half term to improve their reading accuracy and fluency, and now each student has their own book to enjoy!

Pythagoras: Great at Triangles and Pretty Good at Cups!

Recently, Year 10 have been brushing up on their Pythagoras work and were surprised to learn that Pythagoras is not just about that ‘triangle thing’!

Imagine sitting at a banquet in ancient Greece. Your host hands you a chalice of wine. You pour a reasonable portion, take a sip and everything goes well. But then you decide to top it off to the brim out of sheer greed. Suddenly, the entire contents of your glass empty from the bottom, soaking your lap and leaving you empty-handed.

You have just fallen victim to the Pythagorean Cup — also known as the Greedy Cup or the Tantalus Cup.

Attributed to the famous Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras of Samos, who lived around the sixth century BCE, this clever drinking vessel is part physics trick, part philosophy lesson and 100% ancient trolling.

Legend has it that Pythagoras invented the cup to address wine consumption on the island of Samos during a water shortage or construction projects. He wanted to ensure that everyone received a fair share of wine and that no single worker drank too much.

The rule of the cup was simple: pour modestly and you get to drink; pour greedily and you lose every single drop.

In true ancient Greek fashion, the cup served as a physical reminder of the philosophical concept of sophrosyne — the practice of temperance, self-restraint and moderation.

Whether viewed as an early masterpiece of fluid mechanics, a philosophical teaching tool or the world’s oldest drinking-game prank, Pythagoras’ cup holds a unique place in history. It proves that even thousands of years ago, science and humour went hand in hand.

Year 9 Music Performance

Last week, the students reached their first major milestone of the term: solo performances. Standing up to perform entirely on your own is a significant challenge. It requires thorough preparation, focus and the confidence to manage pre-show nerves.

One by one, every student stepped up and delivered a fantastic performance, setting a brilliant standard for the months ahead. We are incredibly excited to watch their progress and see what they achieve over the next few years.

year 10 music performance

We would like to congratulate our Year 10 students, who have successfully completed their latest unit of work by recording their final practical performances.

Completing this coursework demands exceptional time management, creativity and resilience. Throughout the term, the class dedicated themselves to research and rehearsal. They balanced practical and written work, producing portfolios that carefully analyse and evaluate their rehearsal and performance process.

We are very proud of you all. Well done for all of your hard work!

Year 11 Music Performance

Year 11 have worked incredibly hard while preparing for their final unit of work. The class have achieved some exceptional results over the past two years, and this year is where everything comes together.

The Year 11 coursework demands an exceptional level of time management, creativity and resilience, and we could not be prouder of how this cohort has risen to the challenge.

Thank you for everything you have done, Year 11. Your focus, commitment and inspiring work ethic have made it a privilege to teach you. Keep pushing through this final stretch. You have earned every bit of your success!

UKMT Senior Maths Challenge

Our students recently participated in the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Senior Maths Challenge, a prestigious national competition designed to encourage mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using mathematical techniques to solve complex problems. The results are in, and the whole team showed fantastic dedication with some exceptional individual achievements to celebrate.Huge congratulations go to Joshua Kittow, who earned a Gold certificate and the "Best in School" title. Joshua's incredible performance has also earned him an exclusive invitation to the next round of the competition, the Silver Kangaroo. We also had stellar performances from Simon Drost and Alfie Jeneway, who both earned well-deserved Silver certificates.

To achieve a Bronze certificate, students needed to reach a challenging threshold of 41 marks. Congratulations to our Bronze certificate winners: Maks Adach (who was also awarded Best in Year 12), Harrison Davies, Madison Findlay-Peers, Olivia Hosking, Oscar Hughes, Joshua Sandeman, and Norbert Tomisa.

A special mention goes to our students who were agonisingly close to the Bronze threshold. Alex Nagy, Sonny Church, Connie Kinghorn, George O'Hanlon, Kelsey Drew, and Oliver Drinkwater all put in exceptionally strong efforts, with several missing out by just a single mark.

Well done to everyone who took part and represented the school so brilliantly!

A-Level Artists Study Jenny Saville

Our A-Level Fine Art students have blown us away with their latest portrait studies, inspired by contemporary painter Jenny Saville. Moving away from smooth, traditional blending, the class embraced Saville’s raw, sculptural style to capture the true weight and energy of the human form.

Using thick impasto brushstrokes and an expressive palette of bruised purples, deep crimsons and raw ochres, they built up incredible layers of texture. The resulting pieces are beautifully chaotic, deeply honest and monumentally bold.

We are incredibly proud of how courageously our students stepped outside their comfort zones to master these painting techniques. Congratulations to our Year 12 artists on a spectacular skills workshop.

Student Awards

Students of the week

Congratulations to Freddie Osbourne and Ayda Snell, who have been named as this week’s Year 8 Students of the Week. Ayda was unfortunately absent due to illness when the photograph was taken. Well done to both students!

Celebrating 100% Attendance

Congratulations to the students who achieved 100% attendance throughout the 2025–26 academic year. Maintaining perfect attendance across an entire school year demonstrates exceptional commitment to learning. We are very proud of every student listed below.

Current Year 8

Isla Copping, Max Dickerson, Hugo Harding-Beattie, Rupert Jones, Holly Garbett, Ruby Sambrook, Seth Atkins, Sophie Brookes, Erin Cooper, Jeorgio Jipin, Oakley Johnson, Ethan Botha, Izzy Beer and Lewis Tandy.

Current Year 9

Beni Paplogo, Ryu Cutts, Zack Jeneway, Frederick Sintim, Gabriele Stadalninkaite, Corah Luscombe, Dee Davies, Jude Nwachukwu, Liv Reed and Sylvie Ward.