World Crossfit Championships, dance and more hobbies
World Championship Material
Last weekend, Pierce took part in the first round of The World Crossfit Championships online. Pierce incredibly finished first in the UK and now progresses forward to the quarter-finals. The goal is to qualify for the finals which will be held in America in the summer. This is the promotional video Pierce has had made.
More Dance Success for Olivia
Olivia attends Totnes School of dance and during half term she spent every day travelling to Exeter to compete in Exeter Dance Festival. She competed in 11 groups dances and two solo in which she achieved 1st place in her Ballet solo.
Sienna’s Dance Success
Sienna attends Totnes School of Dance and she spent half term enjoying taking part in Exeter Dance festival with her dance friends, competing in 6 group dances and achieving a 3rd place for in her Tap solo.
Food Technology Exam highlights
Our students have continued to produce exceptional meals as they prepare for this summer’s exams.
Year 8 High Performance Academy
This week our Year 8 High Performance Academy students met to explore the use of technology in STEM subjects. Students opted for seminars in forensic science with Mrs Foster where they learned about the use of forensics in crime scene investigations, or robotics with Mr Hadley, where they worked on designing a robot to clear pollution in Brixham harbour. Students will also be meeting next week with Mr Broome to explore the use of physics in the attempt to colonise Mars. All students will also be completing a research project over the next 4 weeks that they will then present to each other at our next academic conference.
Year 10 Drama
In Mr Hills’ Year 10 Drama class, students have been working hard to prepare for the first section of their exam. In the module ‘Acting for Camera’ students prepare a scripted performance, which will be filmed as if it were being broadcast for television.
Students have to understand techniques for learning lines, developing character and ‘hitting their mark’. They are responsible for all aspects of this performance: Acting Directing, Costume and Props. This will be filmed later in the term.
A working rehearsal with students exploring character and understanding the character’s intentions.
Students have to ‘block’ out the movements, entrances and exits to establish the structure of the scene. The genre of the script is ‘Kitchen Sink Drama’ based upon a dysfunctional family trying to overcome difficulties.
Year 10 Sport Science
As part of their course, Mr Jones’ Year 10 Sport Science class have been working on a fitness training programme.
Initially, all of the students were required to conduct and assess their fitness in various different ways by undertaking tests for speed, strength, endurance, balance, power, and flexibility. They then had to evaluate their areas of strength and development and decide which of these fitness elements they wanted to work on improving.
They then had to design and undertake a 6 week training programme – this is their week 4 session! The students have had to decide what equipment they will use as well as how often, hard, and long they will train for (we call it the FITT Principle – frequency, intensity, time and type). Their programme must demonstrate progression (get more difficult each week) and after 6 sessions, they will re-take their initial fitness tests to see if their programme has been successful in improving their fitness.
In their classroom lessons, the class will summarise what they have done in an assessed coursework task which will contribute towards their end of Year 11 grade for sport science.
Year 9 Maths
Having completed their topic on Angle facts and Angles in Polygons Mr Hobbs’ year 9 completed a mid-cycle assessment on this topic. They then review their work and decide ‘What Went Well’ and ‘Even Better If.’ Then during a feedback lesson, they focused on the areas which need extra work, as well as embed and consolidated understanding.
Hegarty Maths is an online platform for personalised learning, which the students find engaging and enjoyable. Using Hegarty these areas for improvement can be set to the students or they can choose the particular topics they wish to improve on. Hegarty allows all the students to work on different topics and at different levels, so individualises the learning. Notes, modelled examples, and answers are completed in their books in purple pen as a useful reference for students to refer back to when necessary.
What do you call a dead parrot? Polygon
Christie Hobbies
Here is the second instalment of our new series which is looking at the extra-curricular hobbies, interests and achievements of our students; this week Christie is our featured house. When Miss Risk went to speak to 7C this morning, she was inundated with volunteers who wanted to share their hobbies and interests. Fortunately, Mr Hills, Christie house captain was on hand to help me select some students who have not previously featured in our blog.
Isabelle Kelly is passionate about art, particularly drawing in pencil and then going over the originals in ink. Her main interest is to draw mythical animals such as dragons which has been ongoing since Isabelle was eight. Isabelle uses a combination of imitation and imagination as she looks at a skeletal image of her subject and then transforms the picture by fleshing it out.
Anna Pearn has just started to learn to train parrots! She has her own parrot which she received at Christmas and has already taught Rosie-said parrot to perform tricks such as fetching a ball and shaking hands. Although Rosie is not yet able to speak, she is able to mimic Anna’s whistle. Anna has ambitions to become an animal trainer upon leaving school.
Amelia Lawton has many sporting interests, her two favourites being cricket and football. Amelia has been playing cricket for Kingskerswell Junior and Senior Cricket Club since the age of eight. Her speciality is batting and she once scored 90 runs! Since joining Torquay Academy, Amelia has also developed a strong interest in football and she is a member of the Year 7 Football Club.
Oli Neale is another animal lover who has been training his two dogs to perform tricks. He has been working on training his seven year old cocker-spaniel Luna to release a ball using the treat method. A new puppy has recently joined the family and Oli wants to be able to teach it to roll over and give paw. Oli does state that this interest is purely a hobby and he has other career inspirations.
Finally, Max Adach received an acoustic guitar as a present last Christmas and has managed to teach himself to play songs and chords. As a complete contrast, he also enjoys climbing ad frequently visits Boulder Bunker where there is a variety of climbing challenges. Max enjoys free climbing and is most proud of his developing upper-body strength when using the “swing and grab” technique.
Food Technology
Mrs Haines’ Year 10s were cooking pizza this week when I went into their class. Their pizzas smelled delicious!
Year 7 Maths
In Mr Henwood’s Year 7 Maths lesson this week the students have been continuing their work on fractions. They were looking at representing fractions pictorially by shading in parts of shapes, which encouraged some really insightful discussions. They then moved onto finding equivalent fractions, where they explored number lines and fraction walls to assist their understanding, before being able to identify them unaided.
The pictures show the class hard at work during the lesson, along with the excellent work produced by Alba Fogarty.
Lexonik
Our first group of students have successfully completed the Lexonik course. They have spent the last six weeks enjoying specialist lessons designed to help their understanding and decoding of the written word. These skills will help them in all their subjects across the curriculum, ensuring continued improvement in all areas. Pictured are Maks Adach, Maile Beavis and Corey Batten.
Literacy
Before half term the literacy department set the students a Valentine’s themed literacy challenge. Students were asked to read and review a book containing an element of love and to also write a romantic acrostic poem. A number of students rose to the challenge, impressing us with their work.
Pictured with their awards are some of the year 7 students – Freya Coatesworth, Kelsey Drew, Kallie Stewart, Imogen Symonds and Matilda Stevens.
World Book Day Fun Friday
Students were invited to take part in a World Book Day challenge to discover their teachers’ favourite books. For taking part they were rewarded with a doughnut and they could choose a free book! I tried to capture the doughnut eating on camera but foolishly I waited more than 10 minutes, so of course, the doughnuts had disappeared!
U15 Boys Indoor Cricket County Finals
The year 10 boys (plus a year 9) travelled to Exeter University on Tuesday for the Indoor cricket county finals competition. TA made a strong start by dispatching St Boniface well in their first game. High on confidence, the boys took on their next opponents, Holsworthy, and after a great display with the bat the boys then bowled and fielded extremely well but unfortunately ended up losing by just one run! Little did we know that one run would prove costly. The boys then took on Okehampton who were unbeaten and driven by the narrow loss in the previous game the boys played some outstanding cricket beating the likely favourites to win comfortably. Now, with that result, it put a cat amongst the pigeons meaning that TA and Okehampton were level on points, so tournament rules state the team to have scored more runs goes through. Okehampton scored 252 runs and TA scored 251! So the boys missed out on a place in the final by one measly run. One might question that if all teams were level then whoever won the head to head goes through-which would’ve been us. But we take it on the chin and move forward…
In the 3rd/4th place playoff match, unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as the opposition made the runs required with only two balls remaining. On any other day, we would have backed TA to make the final and take the crown. However, fourth in the county is a very strong result. The boys played some outstanding cricket all day and were a credit to themselves and the school. Well done to all involved.
Squad: Jack Alcock, Will Green, Josh Thompson, Gabriel Prior, Evan Kinghorn, Danny Frankum, Owen Woodcock, Will Hemus and Elliot Lawton (yr9)
Netball
Year 7 & 8 Netball vs Churston Grammar
The Year 7 and 8 Netball Academy played fixtures against Churston School before half term.
Year 7
The Year 7 Netball Academy played incredibly well and came away with one win and one loss. The defensive players had to fight hard in the first game and managed to make many good interceptions, but unfortunately lost by 16 goals.
In the second game, the offensive players worked much better around the circle and the shooters did a great job when the opportunities arose to shoot with only two missed shots on target. The second game was much closer, with Team TA winning by two goals.
Player of the match: Matilda Stevens, for making some fantastic interceptions and keeping defensive pressure on throughout the whole of both games. Well done Matilda.
Year 7 Team: Kelsey Drew, Ellie Farthing, Millie Swift, Rebecca Quarshie, Ellen Scott, Chloe German, Matilda Stevens
Year 8
The Year 8 Netball Academy also played two games against Churston Grammar, losing the first game 10-5 and winning the second 16-5.
Congratulations to Sophie Nicholson for winning player of the match, for her high percentage of shots on target and her impressive work rate around the netball court.
Year 8 team: Ema Kestell, Sophie Nicholson, Amara Phillips, Amber Dicken, Brooke Tully, Lydia Bevan, Millie Sneap, Katie Rowe
Year 8 Netball Academy Coached by Bath University
The Year 8 Netball Academy had the pleasure of welcoming Chantelle Cox, the U17 Bath Netball Head Coach in on Wednesday to lead their training session. The activities had an attacking focus, with the girls working on leading and re-leading towards the ball. This was a rewarding opportunity for the girls who have been training with determination and reaping the rewards in their recent performances.
Table Tennis
Well done to Kacper and Jakub Piwowar who are currently out in Portugal representing England at the World Table Tennis Tournament. Both boys have managed to get through their group stage and will be taking part in the knockout stage tomorrow.
National finals
We now know who we will be facing in the National School Team Championship final will be held on Sunday April 3 at WV Active Wolverhamptonand we now know that we will be facing Wallington County Grammar School (London), St Mary’s College, (Kingston upon Hull) and Charles Read Academy, (Lincolnshire).
Governor’s Bronze Certificates
Year 7 – Briony Pightling, William Kelly, Leah McClements, Grace Gibbings and Amelia Rose
Principal’s Gold Certificates
Year 7 – Oliver Cocker,Grace Halsey,Samuel Johns, Joe Boyce, Summer Holmes,Ben Jeffs, Malachi Morris, Ben Jeffs, Riley Calland, Hayden Halsey, Lora Cadman and Abigail Yau
Year 8 – Ruby Donaldson
Principal’s Silver Certificates
Year 7 – Oscar Mills, Grace Green, Nikkita Hookway, Harrison Harkin, Ashleigh Evans, Isabella Bentley, Emma Giles, Lauren Tanton, Isabelle Kelly, Connor Dean, Daisy Hellier, Eden Nelson-Minns, Alfie Connor, Kelsey Drew, Mihai Marin, Ayden Goldsbrough, Chlo German, Leonardo Marcheggiani, Orley Copeland, Thomas Ross, Mikolaj Piasecki, Florence Mills, Mason Bryant, Nya Bettridge, Farrah Ambrose, Lily Hawkings, Mason Mitchell, Leon O’Connor, Louis Tillen, Jade Cook, Caine Dickerson and Hope Bratcher
Year 8 – Harry Smith, Noah Butler, Tomasz Kowalski, Caitlin Cornish, Sophie Nicholson, Wojcjech Tabaczuk, Ollie Coleman, Daytona Vickers, Liam Trapp, Phoebe Denbowm, Aliyah Smith, George Peart, George Scrimgeour, Albie Baker, and Joshua Rogers
Principal’s Bronze Certificates
Year 7 – Freya Mealin, Aliviya Lawrence, Alba Fogarty, Felicity Adams, Halayna Hussain, Connie Kinghorn, Lottie Roberts, Lola-Grace Thomas, Anisha Kale, Callum Pile, Maisy-Mai Johnson, Hannah Brazier, Jasper Franklin, larna Waller, Eunan Campbell, Roxy Johnson, Jack Slater, Charlotte Little, James Bond, Carla Lawrence, Luke Horrocks, Aaron Saunders, Daisy Cosh, Ethan Lynch, Olly Payne, Bella Blatchford, Nancy Brown, Analais Biggs, Daniel Piper, Holly Mae Robinson, Millie Routledge, Libbie Grindling, Alana Livermore, Ollie Neale, Evie-May Howell, Vincent Leibrick and Lewis Phillips
Year 8 – Willow Kendal, Amelie Mccaul, Harry Marsden, Kirah Clee, Oliver Los, Erin Wiseall, Sara Mills, Dean Conway, Ben Charters, Norbert Tomsia, Amelia Rogers, Callum Cliff, Charlie Green, Jessica Nicholson, Jamie John Palmer, Lexi Weller, Christian Cornforth, Seth Margetts and Isaac Knowles
Students of the Week
Year 7 – Joselyn Full and Ben Jolly
Year 8 – Zac Evans and Saffron Kelsey
Year 9 – Jack Flay and Elspeth Herring
Year 10 – Sophie Caton and Pierce Gerring
Year 11 – Jonah Handford and Grace Cayford
Sixth Form – Nick Turner and Lolly Foulds
Students of the Week from last week
Year 10 – Aleasha Dunford and Harley Stevens
House Stars of the Week 04.03.2022
Year 7
Brunel – Ella Randall
Christie – Callum Pile
Darwin – Hope Bratcher
Fawcett – Lottie Roberts
Harrison – Ethan Anyon
Nearne – Nyla Wakefield
Pengelly – Mia Lawrence
Year 8
Brunel – Alfie Eccles
Christie – Charlie Grimley
Darwin – Henry Tregea
Harrison – Kowen Essiful
Nearne – Charlie Knight
Year 9
Brunel – Ivan Vaplak
Christie – Isabella Aguado-Georgian
Darwin – Thomas Harrison
Fawcett – Emily McCondichie
Pengelly – Amber Mercer
Homework Stars of the Week 04.03.2022
Year 7
Brunel – Charlie Guite
Christie – Hallie Davies
Darwin – Maisy-Mai Johnson
Fawcett – Chelsea Milton
Harrison – Shannon Clark
Nearne – Mason Bryant
Pengelly – Olivia Murr
Year 8
Christie – Poppii Marshall
Darwin – Jassica Nicholson
Harrison – Albie Baker
Nearne – Lenny Mugliston
Year 9
Brunel – Emily Graham
Christie – Charlie Slater
Darwin – Nina Hocking
Fawcett – Mia Langley-Doyle
Pengelly – Alex McDowall
House Stars of the Week 18.02.2022
Year 7
Brunel – Ashley Evans
Christie – Emma Provan
Fawcett – Kaiden McLaren
Harrison – Naphtali Phinehas
Kitson – James Northcott
Nearne – Mya Brown
Pengelly – Lucy McMahon
Year 8
Brunel – Finn Moncrieff
Christie – Isaac Knowles
Darwin – Marley Drew
Fawcett – Agata Sadlik
Harrison – Austin Howell
Nearne – Colby Britton
Pengelly – Sonny Paton
Year 9
Brunel – Emily Graham
Christie – Alfie Harnett
Darwin – Levi Grigg
Fawcett – Josh Kenneford
Harrison – Jarad Silk
Kitson – Syd Yarde
Homework Stars of the Week 18.02.2022
Year 7
Brunel – Ella Hylton
Christie – Isabelle Kelly
Fawcett – Rayan Shamim
Harrison – Larna Waller
Kitson – Daisy Cosh
Nearne – Daniel Piper
Pengelly – Alex Nagy
Year 8
Brunel – Charlie Dudley
Christie – Lydia Bevan
Darwin – Erin Giffard
Fawcett – Ryan Williams
Harrison – Zac Evans
Year 9
Christie – Coral Stewart
Darwin – Jude Snell
Fawcett – Daisy Gibbings
Harrison – Enrika Vasiliauskaite
Kitson – Joshua Walsh
University Offers this week
| Surname | Forename | Provider name | Course name |
| Denning | Charlotte | University of Bath | Architecture (with placement) |
| Hobson | Anna | University of Manchester | Mathematics and Philosophy |
| Tikuzyte | Milena | University of Wolverhampton | Paramedic Science |
| Denby | Harry | University of Liverpool | Business Management |
| Shirlow | Jack | Coventry University | Journalism |
| Collet-Evans | Jack | University of Birmingham | English and Film |
| Algar | Isaac | Manchester Metropolitan University | Biomedical Science |
| Foulds | Olivia | University of Exeter | Medical Imaging (Diagnostic Radiography) |
| Burt | Thomas | Bournemouth University | Sport and Exercise Science |
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