Regional champions, mindfulness and Brilliant Club
Regional Champions!
Our incredible students have won the regional finals of the Tomorrow’s Engineers competition again. This means that they qualify for the National Championships for the third year in a row. Last year saw our team crowned national champions and I know they will be continuing to work very hard to try and replicate this achievement.
They are an incredible team and many students take part regularly, in fact, there are so many students involved in the club that not everyone was able to travel to take part in the regional finals. Many congratulations to everyone involved.
Here you can see five frantic minutes condensed into one. This is the first go at the robotics mat challenge under competition conditions.
Fun Friday – Student Karaoke
Karaoke is definitely a crowd favourite! We had another great lunchtime in The Platform with some great performances and lots of crowd participation.
Year 11 preparing over half term
Year 11s have their pre-public examinations starting the first week back after half term. These mock exams will give them the opportunity to best prepare for this summer’s exams and help their teachers to identify areas that require further work. To help support them in their preparations for these exams we have set revision work for them to do over half term. I know that many students struggle to set a revision timetable and to identify which topics to study.
They have been set 5 days of 4 hours revision over the 9 day break. They have been given an envelope with booklets to be completed.
Mindfulness in preparation for exams
We are very aware that the exam season can be overwhelming for some students at times. Finding ways to relax and switch off is as important as finding study routines. To support our students we are going to put on a five week mindfulness course. This course will provide them with a variety of techniques that will help them to find ways to relax and promote their mental health. These sessions will take place after school from 3-4pm on Thursdays between half term and the Easter holiday. We are also inviting parents to come along to the first session so they are able to gain a better understanding of the techniques.
Further success for year 10 Brilliant Club students
I received a very nice email this week from Kathryn van der Wiel, the regional programme director of the Brilliant Club. She wrote: “The students’ assignments are supposed to be challenging, being pitched a level above where the pupils are currently working at in school. The results from Torquay Academy are particularly outstanding amongst the other South West schools – please pass on my sincere congratulations to them, and I hope they are aware of just how well they have done on both an individual level and as a cohort. Their achievements really are to be commended and it has been a real pleasure to hear about their progress from Ana (their PhD tutor) – she has expressed to me on several occasions just how impressed she is with the level of their thinking!”
Four of our year 10 students achieved 1st class grades, four achieved 2-1, and four achieved 2-2 grades. We are very proud of all the students, who have shown hard work and determination, and rose to the demands of the programme.
Aladdin Update
With just 9 weeks to go until our first major production in The Platform, our Performing Arts Academy is getting very excited! In the last night’s rehearsal, the final scene was for Aladdin was completed meaning the whole show has been set. Over the remaining weeks, the cast will turn their attention to costumes, set design, lighting, and fine-tuning. Miss Pappin told me that this year’s PAA cast has been absolutely exceptional. The commitment, enthusiasm, and camaraderie between the members shines through the production. They are a credit to our school. Included is a short movie of the big numbers from last night’s rehearsal.
Music Academy take Manchester
On Friday 7th February, a selection of talented Music Academy students were invited to perform at a unique event in Manchester. The event was held at the prestigious ‘Spirit Studios’ and was a special Musical Futures/Ableton workshop.
In true rock ‘n’ roll spirit, the students flew from Exeter airport to Manchester for their gig. Despite an early start, and the plane having to be evacuated due to a technical issue as it was taxiing onto the runway, the students did eventually make it to the city that is so iconic for music lovers.
They attended lectures & workshops on a variety of topics, such as; making a career in the music industry, recording & live sound engineering. However, the highlight of the event was most definitely the students’ performances, of which they should all be very proud.
American Pancakes
You can take a glimpse at our Year 7 students making some fruit-filled American pancakes. This was the first practical lesson of the new teaching and learning cycle where they are studying food technology.
Team TA Sports Roundup
First Sixth Form Rugby Match
The 6th form travelled to Churston Grammar School this week to play in their first-ever rugby game. Thirteen very keen boys boarding the bus and travelled with hearty songs being sung on the way to the game the boys were pumped and ready to take the field.
The game started with TA under immense pressure from the kickoff. Without the boys being unable to clear the pressure away, despite some great defensive work and in the muddiest, wettest part of the pitch, we conceded our first try. However, the team was playing some good rugby and although the structure was lacking at times the tackling, commitment and effort levels were huge.
The boys went into half time a few tries down but with a resurgence after half time we found an opening after Oly made a storming break through the heart of the defence allowing Cory into space and he duly dived over to score the first try. Finn kicked the points and we were off the mark.
Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to score again but in the last fifteen minutes, the team began to play with structure and were keeping the ball for multiple phases. The game ended and the boys shook hands and chatted to the opposition in the traditional tunnel. The game was played in exceptionally good spirits and with a rematch already on the cards after half term the boys have a few weeks to train hard and work on their game. Training continues on a Wednesday lunchtime and all are welcome regardless of playing ability or experience.
Year 8 Football
On Friday the year 8 football team took on Eggbuckland in the second round of the Devon Cup. We dominated the game from start to finish playing some great one and two touch football in very difficult conditions. We were far too strong for our opponents running out 4-1 winners with the goals coming from Jack Allcock x2, Josh Thompson and Will Green.
On Wednesday the year team then took on Coombeshead in the first round of the South Devon cup. The team put in an incredible performance winning 21-0 (twenty one). TA dominated from start to finish playing some incredible football and displaying a very respectful manner. Coombeshead battled away and continued to try their best from start to finish.
The goals came from every outfield player bar one.
Will Green x6
Charlie Stevens x3
Jack Allcock x2
Charlie Clarke x2
Charlie Pope
Aiden Bovey
Tommy Aldous
Danny Frankum
Reef Beer
Owen Woodcock
Stevie Wright
Pierce Gerring
House Duathlon
Last Friday TA ran its first-ever adapted house Duathlon at Paignton velopark. It consisted of a 4.5k cycle, a 1.5k run and finished with a 1.5k cycle. We opened it up to all year 7s with 57 students entering. The competition was fierce with the top 11 times being within 3 seconds of each other! Congratulations to all who participated and gained house points! Thank you to Mr Welsh, Mr Chadwick and all the sports leaders for their help with the day.
The next house event is the house cycling finals at Newport’s Olympic Velodrome followed by the years 8’s Duathlon after half term.
Boys
Gold- Bobby McCalister
Silver- Liam Cartwright
Bronze-Tyler Jay Stirling
Girls
Gold- Isabella Aguado
Silver- Mia Langley Doyle
Bronze Michaline Jarosz
Mindset for Learning
Well done to the students who have achieved a perfect 1 for their MIndset for Learning over Cycle 2
(Not all in photo) Nisha Cosslett, Merissa Farrington, Rebecca Glasson, Nina Hocking, Mia Keenan, Metylda Bednarska, Kole Gjikolaj, Evie Heron, Anya Page-Dove, Grace Povey, Coral Rogers, Abigail Taylor, Lucia Aguado-Georgian, Elizabeth Cameron, Finn Drew, Elisha Perrow, Katie Taylor, Amelia Bunce, Paige Godwin, Noah Nandford, Azize Isufi, Conner Lawrence, Ellie Mitchell, Alfie Sams, Antonia Standen, Jake Winstone, Georgia Davies,
Students of the Week
Students of the week this week are: Kieron Hill, Hayden Gibson-Roche, Daniel Flight
Principal Certificates
Bronze: (not in order) Rosie Mahoney-Billis, Tyrone Ross, Harry Lawler, May Treadaway, Summer Mack, Oliver Stevens, Isaac Jacobs, Coral Stewart, Oliver Huxtable, Jake Green, Joe Hosking, Megan Sellick, Poppy Wallace-Fisher, Alex McDowall, Bobbie Wright, Leo Murray, Ellie Denby, Sophie George, Evie Heron, Aj Sims, Mia Bewers, Evan Kinghorn, Grace Povey, Nikodem Piasecki, Hailie Windsor, Tommy Aldous, Cameron Sengupta, Lily-May Bruton, Corbyn Gardner, Sofia Evans, Euan Smith, Sam Foley, Riccards Iordache, Cody Furze, Mya Green, Katie Packer, Lottie Hodgson, Jaymie Smith, Troy Riley, Alfie Sams,Cain Lees, Azize Isufi , Paige Godwin, Nathan Wells
Silver: (not in order) Logan Churchward, Alex Thomas, Fearne Harby, Cameron Bolton-Caulfield, Merissa Farrington, Lewis Ralph, Mollie Stanion, Karl Burton, Melvin Page
Gold: Lexi Silvester, Daisy Gibbings
Governors Bronze: Sam Cooper
House Stars of the Week
Year 7
Brunel – Crystal Whiscombe
Christie – Abbie Dodd
Darwin – Megan Sellick
Fawcett – Logan Churchward
Harrison – Jack Butcher
Kitson – Tyler Jay Stirling
Nearne – Mitchell Watkins
Pengelly – Bobby McAllister
Year 8
Brunel –
Christie – Lily-Rae Hooper
Darwin – Brooke Mortimore
Fawcett – Lauren Major
Harrison – William Hilton
Kitson – Oliver Phillips
Nearne – Karolina Lagodzinska
Pengelly – William Reed
Year 9
Brunel – Elizabeth Cameron
Christie – Olivia Kenyon
Darwin – Lewis Vinson
Fawcett – Harry Bowden
Harrison – Lola Green
Kitson – Maggie Minty
Nearne – Oscar Yelland
Pengelly – Holly Smith
Homework Stars of the Week
Year 7
Brunel – Emily Miller
Christie – Libby Davies
Darwin – Matthew Oborn
Fawcett – Zak Roberts
Harrison – Kian George
Kitson – Lee Ross
Nearne – Immi Festorazzi
Pengelly –
Year 8
Brunel – Ewan Mclachlan
Christie – Katie Williams
Darwin – Mia Denby
Fawcett – Owen Greenwood
Harrison – Joshua Hawkings
Kitson – Charley Stevens
Nearne – Rowen Poulain
Pengelly – Hannah Carr
Year 9
Brunel –
Christie – Eliza Rumniece
Darwin –
Fawcett – Katie Bowyer
Harrison – Jade Taylor
Kitson – Darcie Baker
Nearne – Jessica Smith
Pengelly –
