Greenpower, Cadets and sports fixtures return

Greenpower update

Both of our teams, year 11 with Bindon and year 10 with Pugh set off during the thunder and lightning at 5 o’clock on Sunday morning to travel up to Castle Combe in Chippenham. This early start paid dividends as we were the first team in the queue for scrutineering, ultimately maximising our practice time; essential as we would be using 2 new drivers on the day.

The weather cleared up during practice, but at the start of race 1 we had torrential rain to contend with as well as a very bust grid; the entry list boasted 120 cars!

Both teams did brilliantly with Pugh finishing 5th and Bindon finishing an astonishing 2nd.

To try and improve further on Pugh’s first race result for the second race we changed the gear ratio. The second race was even wetter so the track was extremely slippery. Despite that Bindon managed to come first and Pugh made an improvement by finishing 4th. These standings meant that Bindon finished the day second overall with Pugh close behind in third. It was the first podium finish for the year 10 team, securing a qualification for the International Final to be held at Goodwood in October.

Written by Joe Taylor, race director for Pugh

DofE Silver: Moorland practice walk

Last Saturday eleven Duke of Edinburgh students from Year 11 undertook a training walk on Dartmoor. The aim of the walk was to practice map and compass navigation skills, prior to their expedition in a few weeks time
This training was essential as the students own routes they plan for the qualifying expedition may cross the southern edge of Dartmoor.

With an 8.30 meet at school the students were in good spirits and the weather didn’t seem too bad. However fairly soon into the minibus journey to South Brent the few drops of rain observed turned into a constant heavy drizzle! The forecast had said that it would be dry between 10 and 4 o’clock but on leaving the minibus it soon became apparent that rain was set in for a large part of the day.

With some map to ground skills practiced in the lanes from South Brent to Wrangaton Golf course, the route shortly entered open moorland. Here the wind and rain really picked up! Despite this the students practiced walking on a bearing and pacing skills and were successful in picking the moorland path from the golf course to Spurrells Cross.

They were all drenched but not one of the students complained! And they continued to get stuck into practicing their navigation skills. Mr Adams and Mr Cawood allowed their groups to take the lead in navigating their way back to South Brent on the 12km circular route. And all did a brilliant job! And showed great resilience walking in those conditions!
Next challenge the Practice Expedition – 29th September to 1st October, then on to the Qualifying Expedition – 13th to 15th October.

Well done to the following DofE Silver students: Elliott Lawton, Oliver Huxtable, Beatrice Corline, Jasmine Evans, Mia Weston, Megan Sellick, Daisy Gibbings, Nina Hocking, James Lovell, Aspen Keenan, Sam Stimpson

Heads of Houses

Our Heads of Houses have some new outfits this week! As they visited their house tutor groups on Friday morning, students were delighted/shocked/frightened by their new attire. Mr Gratton is wearing for his Teale suit. As soon as it arrives, there will be a new photoshoot…

Above Water

As the hub school for Above Water we were delighted to celebrate their partnership with Land Rover by welcoming founder and SUP explorer Brendan Prince back into school and a top of the range Range Rover.

Zebra crossing update

You can now see how the wider pavement will look as the trench for the new kerbs has been dug out.

Cadets

The thrill of adventure and the pursuit of discipline are at the heart of cadet training in the RAF and Army Cadets. This week, cadets embarked on a journey filled with challenges, camaraderie, and skill-building exercises. From scaling for the first time, the climbing wall to mastering the art of building a 2 person shelter.

The RAF cadets started the evening with a group working their way up the climbing wall and mastering the 2 person shelter. Cadets were harnessed up and guided through the intricacies of rock climbing. Scaling the wall not only tested their physical strength but also their mental resilience and trust in their fellow cadets. Teamwork and determination were key. Well done all.

In the field, shelter is a top priority. Cadets learned the art of constructing a 2-person shelter from available materials which include waterproof basha, poles and tent pegs. This exercise honed their survival skills, as well as their ability to adapt to different terrains and conditions. Building these shelters required precision and teamwork, highlighting the importance of communication and cooperation.

Every session wouldn’t be complete without drill. Discipline is a cornerstone of military training, and drill is where it all begins. Cadet drill sessions, focusing on marching. Drill fosters discipline, respect, and attention to detail – essential qualities for any cadet.

We continue with marksmanship training which is a skill that demands precision and concentration. Cadets received thorough training in air rifle shooting, learning how to handle firearms safely and accurately. This skill not only enhances their proficiency but also instils a sense of responsibility and respect for firearms.

Knots may seem simple, but they are crucial in various military scenarios. Cadets learned a variety of knots used in fieldcraft, rescue operations, and survival situations. Knot-tying is an art that requires practice and patience, and it’s an essential skill in their arsenal.

The Army cadets continue to progress through fieldcraft skills. Learning about what forms a section, roles and responsibilities.

The RAF and Army cadet training week was a whirlwind of challenges and accomplishments. Cadets emerged from this intensive program with newfound skills, friendships, and a deeper understanding of discipline and teamwork.

We look forward to, Ten Tors Training, D Of E Training, Water Sport, climbing and camps to name a few.

Cadet Training

A whirlwind week at Cadet Training, our RAF cadets soared to new heights jettisoned into the air in a cadet glider at Predannick, D of E training, cadet parade, indoor weapons training and Firing at Wyvern Barracks.

With the wind beneath their wings, cadets took flight in gliders, experiencing the thrill of aviation firsthand. It was a day of adrenaline, and learning. Rain or shine, 8 RAF cadets soared! They braved the elements at 0530 Saturday for a gliding adventure at Predannick Airfield. Battling challenging weather, they took control of gliders and faced strong winds. Rain gave them an unexpected lunch break, but they soared again at 1600. Thank you to the pilots and safety crew for ensuring safe flights. Despite the weather’s efforts, all cadets had a memorable experience.

On the same day other cadets set off to Dartmoor for their Duke of Edinburgh (D of E) training, as they navigated challenging landscapes, honed map reading skills and fostered teamwork. The moorland offered the perfect backdrop for personal growth and camaraderie.

Tuesday’s firing practice at the DCCT indoor electronic range, allowed the Army cadets to improve marksmanship principles. Some amazing results as the cadets produced small grouping sizes.

Back at school on Wednesday, cadets immersed themselves in an array of training modules. Cadet training began with fieldcraft, where they continued field craft training, drill, leadership, air rifle training and Flying principles.

Friday marked the culmination of an action-packed week, leaving our cadets with a profound sense of accomplishment and growth. Whether soaring above Predannick, conquering the challenges of Dartmoor, or engaging in school-based training, they demonstrated unwavering dedication and a thirst for knowledge.

In the world of cadet training, each day brings new experiences and opportunities for growth. This busy week exemplified the commitment and resilience of our RAF cadets, preparing them for the challenges and adventures that lie ahead in their journey towards becoming future leaders and aviators.

The Reading Pioneers

The Reading Pioneers (TA’s new bi-weekly book club) had their inaugural meeting this week.

They started off by discussing our Mission: “to encounter books with an open-mind, become (self) educated experts in YA fiction, and advisors to peers who may believe they ‘don’t like reading’, but who actually just haven’t found the right book for them yet.”

Next, they set some reading goals and finally they began to share their thoughts on their first group read; they have been asked by The Reading Agency to read the 25th anniversary edition of Louis Sacher’s Holes and share our reviews, which will be published on their website (in return for a free copy!)

The Reading Pioneers will meet on Monday and Thursday lunchtimes and the good news is, we still have room for new members; particularly any Y9s or any boys, as we are missing this demographic!

If you are interested, come and see Miss Jelbert in room H110 at break or lunch time for more information.

Thank- you to the current members for joining up and fearlessly committing to the challenge thrown at them, Gracie Gatting, Phoebe Grindling, (Y7) Hattie Gamble, Louise Porter, Annie Briggs-Aldous, Lily Thomas, Chloe-Mae Jones, Daisy Board, Robyn Higgins (Y8) Ivy Hodgson-Hunt and Agata Sadlik (Y10). I can’t wait to see what they can achieve together!

House News

George Giles, Emily Redmond and Poppy Anderson 7B.

Last week saw students at Torquay Academy achieving the highest ever number of house-points, a total of 19,423 as the new year 7 students entered the school displaying a real willingness to learn and the years 8-13 returned -resuming their desire for academic success.

The battle for the top house was very dramatic -with a never before seen tie between Brunel and Fawcett houses. It appears that this year, students and staff are even more competitive.

Miss Risk had the pleasure of interviewing three new year 7 students: George Giles, Emily Redmond and Poppy Anderson all who belong to 7B. All three have older siblings with us and were happy that they were following in their own family traditions. As Emily explained to me, ‘Brunel is like one big, happy family anyway.’

Poppy told her, ‘Brunel has a family community. Our tutor, Mrs Haines, really encourages us to be the best and when we are the best we are able to earn house-points.’

Emily added, ‘There is a different mix of people in 7B. we all come from different backgrounds and we all help each other out -particularly in the rows where we sit in class.’

Additionally, George stated, ‘Brunel is just a happy place to be Mrs Haines greets us at the door and although we all know we have to work hard, there is never any overwhelming pressure.’

Unsurprisingly, when she asked if Brunel was the best house in the school, her question was met with a resounding ‘Yes!’

Miss Daw’s Year 7s

Both new to the school, Miss Daw and her excellently studious band of wonderful year 7s are starting to study a novel. The text, which is likely memorable to parents and carers of children at Torquay Academy, is William Golding’s haunting and ever-relevant, Lord of the Flies. The children have started to explore key contextual elements of the 1950s classic, such as: democracy, utopia and society and have worked hard in implementing their TA way academic habits. Ask your Year 7s at home what a microcosm is!

Year 11 Art

Year 11 art students have started term with enthusiasm designing and producing soap carvings inspired by sculptor Henry Moore.

GCSE Dance

Miss Walklin has been very impressed by her new Year 9 GCSE Dance group. They have shown a great ability to learn new dances quickly and they have performed together brilliantly.

Hospitality and Catering

Mrs Haines has been very impressed with the focus and engagement shown by her Hospitality and Catering students in years 9, 10 and 11 this week. They have participated in creating numerous dishes from starters, mains to puddings, demonstrating their maturity and dedication to the subject. In the MasterChef Challenge, they were given a selection of ingredients and then had to create a dish from memory. The different array and production of tasks highlighted the TA Habits of Pride, Hard work and Integrity throughout. In addition ,the year 9s have shone in mastering the skills of dicing vegetables beautifully in soup making whilst making the most delicious cheese scones. Well done to all of you!

Students of the Week

Year 7 – Jack Parton and Lilly-Rose Haughton

Year 8 – Stanley Austin and Saphi Byers

Year 9 – Sam Bowden and Lexi Jessup

Year 10 – Harrison Davies and Caitlin Williams

Year 11 – Ollie Clarke and Jessica Taylorson

Round Up

It has been a blistering start back to sports clubs for Team TA and this week we got stuck straight back into our competitive games programme too.

Firstly, it has been amazing to see so many students attending our clubs this week. We have had lots of new faces at Table Tennis and huge numbers of students using the fitness suite each evening. We have also held trials for some of our sports teams and our squads are very much back into their training routines!

We have had some incredible success this week on the pitch and court, and as ever we are proud of everyone who has represented Team TA this week with Hard Work, Integrity and Pride. I hope you enjoy reading the reports below.

The Super-Curricular Timetable was shared with all parents, carers and guardians at the start of the term, but it has been included again as a reminder along with some changes.. Please encourage your child(ren) to come to at least of of the opportunities on offer, they will benefit socially, mentally and physically by coming along!

Pre-Season Table Tennis Tournament – open for all children from Torbay Schools

On the 16th of September, Torquay Academy ran a Pre-Season Table Tennis Tournament.

All students competed in a group stage to play as many matches as possible on the day.

The competition progressed to knockout stages that, eventually awarded the winners of the main and consolation finals.

Well done to all children who participated and congratulations to all medalists.

Main Final:
Gustaw, Oliver, Harrison and Olivia

Consolation Final:
Raphael, Archie, Finley and Ziggy

It was a very successful day of table tennis and, we are looking forward to hosting it on a more regular basis – watch this space – Table Tennis League for schools !!!

Year 11 Football

On Monday the year 11 football took on St Peters from Gloucester in the first round of the elite national cup.

St Peters are previous finalists in this competition and are blessed with a wealth of players all at professional clubs. We had a game plan and stuck that game plan well throughout the game. Unfortunately, we were beaten 4-1 in the end but the score line does not reflect the game at all. It was a lot tighter than the scoreline suggests.

Mr Grinsill and Mr Hebbes were very impressed with the boys and how hard they worked.

Man of the match – Ollie Clarke

U15 Netball Academy

The U15 Netball Academy competed in their first U16 Central Venue League Netball tournament on Tuesday. All of our academy players were competing a year above their age and impressively won 3 of their 4 games against Torquay Girls Grammar (7-1), Cuthbert Mayne (6-2) and Churston Grammar (8-1). Congratulations to our Players’ Player of the tournament, Amara Phillips and Coaches’ Player of the tournament, Ema Kestell and Ivy Hodgson-Hunt.

Year 8 Boys Rugby

The year 8 rugby squad travelled to Churston for their first game of the season on Wednesday. We had some outstanding performances from both the forwards and backs. TA had great possession for a large part of the match. Unfortunately we lost our defensive shape in the last quarter which cost us our 4 try lead with Churston winning in the last play of the game. Although Churston deserved the win, we have lots of positives to take from the game and lots to work on for the season. Well done all involved.