Music History Made, Farewell to Y13, Inductions and Awards

Year 13 Music students make history!

30.6.17 Y13 Music Students

The year got off to a really good start for Dan, Harvey, Tom, George and Chelsea with a full house of conditional offers to continue their music studies at their first choice universities. Although this was a fantastic achievement the pressure was then really on to secure the grades needed to make their offers of university places a reality.

Ever since beginning Y12, Dan, Harvey, Tom, George and Chelsea have had huge potential. They have always aimed for the top and never given anything less than 100%. They have worked incredibly hard, been pushed incredibly hard and had a real hunger for the top grades. But was that enough…?

The long wait was over and on Thursday, just before their leavers celebration, their final grades were revealed to them. Not only did they surpass what was needed for their respective university places, history was made with every student gaining a Distinction* in both the Music Performance and Music Technology courses.

Miss Pappin remarked, ‘It is difficult to express how remarkable and unusual this really is, it is extremely difficult for students to achieve a Distinction, let alone a Distinction* and in both courses! It’s a true reflection of the talent and hard work our students have put in. I couldn’t be more proud of them.’

 

Farewell Year 13!

30.6.17 6th Form Leavers30.6.17 6th Form Leavers 2
On Thursday evening, the Sixth Form held a party to say their goodbyes to the current Year 13 students. The event took place at the Grosvenor Hotel and was well attended by both staff and students. It was a wonderful evening, full of laughter, shared memories and a few tears. The students were a credit to the school by behaving impeccably and embracing the event with such high spirits. We wish them the very best for the future and look forward to sharing in their successes come results day in August!  All of the pictures will be uploaded onto our Facebook page on Monday.

 

Going back home to Denmark

30.6.17 Sandie 6th Form

It is with a heavy heart that we must say ‘Farewell’ to Year 12 student, Sandie Nielson.  Sandie joined us in September from Denmark for a year’s study programme. She has embraced all aspects of Sixth Form life and due to her remarkably positive presence, secured a role as Culture Ambassador. Sandie has been a real asset to the Sixth Form – one of the most cheerful and caring young ladies we have the privilege of teaching here at Torquay Academy. As a final gesture of farewell, we enjoyed a cream tea at break to present cards and gifts from all of her friends here. Her going will leave a hole in our Sixth Form, felt by so many. We all wish her the absolute best for the future.

 

 Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition

30.6.17 Gold DofE

Four of our Sixth Form reached 750m above sea level on the 24th whilst training for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award expedition in the Brecon Beacons. The team (from left to right Brandon Bridges, Ellie Piper, Abbie Hodgskins and Poppy Croucher) completed a challenging route designed to recreate the hardest day of their real expedition. Their route passed close to the summit of Pen y Fan, the mountain that is used as part of the first stage in special forces selection and they rose to the challenge. Thanks are due to Mr Cawood and Mr Jackson; two parents who helped staff run the weekend.

 

Sports Awards

The Sports Award Evening took place this week.  This was a very well attended and enjoyable evening with certificates and trophies being handed out.  Well done to all.

 

New Year 7

This week welcomed students who will be joining us in September.  Students and parents met with  tutors and others in their tutor groups to familiarise them with each other prior to starting.   We look forward to welcoming them all to the TA community.

 

Year 5 Parents Morning

30.6.17 Open Morning

I was very pleased to welcome prospective parents and students into school for our Open Mornings.  After having a tour of the school, I gave parents a presentation on life at Torquay Academy.  I hope to welcome many of the students into TA in the future.

 

Sixth Form Induction Day is a Success

30.6.17 6th Form Induction1 30.6.17 6th Form Induction2 30.6.17 6th Form Induction3

On Wednesday this week, our Sixth Form welcomed in nearly 100 students who wish to join our ever-expanding Sixth Form. Students got a real ‘taste’ as to what it means to be a Sixth Former. It was a jam-packed day! After being warmly welcomed into the Common Room, taster sessions for every course were delivered to the students; current sixth formers shared their experiences of the Sixth Form; information regarding all of the opportunities available were shared and team building exercises were performed to build in the understanding that in the Sixth Form we work together to achieve success.

The feedback from the students was exemplary with all stating that they are excited and keen to come back in September!

I would just like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to everyone who supported the day – this includes our amazing Student Leadership Group who were exemplary role models and completely instrumental in making the day run smoothly.

 

Science Experiment

30.6.17 Science

Miss Fenner in the Science department has come up with a clever way of teaching students about electricity, using play-dough. She showed students  her specially-constructed circuit, which uses the dough (with plenty of extra salt) as an electrical conductor. By changing the shape of the dough into a sausage, for example, the students were able to investigate changes in electrical resistance. They also realised that if the two pieces of dough touched each other, there was a short circuit, and all the LEDs went out.  It was a fascinating way to teach a tricky topic, and the students clearly enjoyed learning these difficult ideas this way.

 

 

Swimming Gala 2017


Torquay Academy held a House Swimming Gala on Wednesday for Years 7 and 8. They competed at Plainmoor pool in the back stroke, breast stroke, front crawl and freestyle relays. All competitors swam with excellent determination and spirit. TA’s Year 9 sports leaders helped run the event and did a fantastic job!
This is the last House event for the 2016-2017 season. Congratulations to all students who have been involved In the numerous events throughout the year.

Swimming Gala Results:

Back Stroke

Bronze – Reece Layton, Isobel Dickens, Mark Routledge, Daisy Poole-Crampton

Silver – Ben Aldous, Millie Partridge, Archie Farkins, Millie Ashby Rosie

Gold- Miles Hindom, Emma Harrison, Archie Bindon, Grace Parsons

Breast Stroke

Bronze-Luke Howard, Charlotte Skinner, Mark Routledge, Lizzie Harris

Silver- Reece Layton, Emma Harrison, Jack Manly, Millie Ashby-Rosie

Gold – Ben Aldous/Miles Hindom (joint), Millie Partridge, Archie Bindon, Daisy Poole-Crampton

Front Crawl

Bronze – Reece Layton, Isobel Dickens, Mark Routledge, Millie Ashby-Rosie

Silver – Ben Aldous, Emma Harrison, Reilly Steele, Lizzie Harris

Gold – Miles Hindom, Millie Partridge, Archie Bindon, Daisy Poole-Crampton

Free style relay

Gold – Fawcett
Silver – Christie
Bronze – Pengelly

 

 

Record Breaking Week for Lexia

30.6.17 Lexia Record week

This week has seen a record number of students completing the Lexia reading programme. Seven students from Years 7 and 8 have seen all their hard work and dedication of the past year pay off this week. They’ve worked their way through the five levels of Lexia, completing tasks about vowels, letter sounds, word formations and the origins of our language.  As the term comes to an end the challenge was on to finish the programme before the summer holidays, a challenge the students eagerly accepted.  The last week saw concentration and determination, which ultimately led to smiles and celebration of a record week.  Pictured are back row left to right – Jake Mitchell, Kory Koger, Owen Hearne, Tyler Kendall. Front row left to right – Olivia Bridgman, Ellie Bevan and Millie Boyd.

 

Principal Certificates

30.06.17-BRONZE

Principal Bronze : (not in order) Taylor Hughes, Rhys McPartland, Summer Driscoll, Millie Hope, Orla Baines, Alf Fyrth, Kayleigh Perrow, Sophie Kelly, Taylor Ellwood, Finn Mulready, Dom Bragg-Latremouille, Dan Baker,
Joseph Nuth, Sophie Cope, Grace Parsons, Molly Seaman, Sophie Jones, Joshua Watt, Bayley Croucher-Mudge, Jay Rich, Charlie Swiderski, Tia Dorling, William Heron, Lottie Prowse, Kieran Horton

 

30.06.17-SILVER

Principal Silver : Oskar Makuch, Krisjanis Rumnieks, Robbie Hartley, Hannah Vizcaino, Tyler Urch, Lauren Racher, Brajan Biegalski, Charlotte Skinner, Bruce Harby, Louie Mugliston, Molly Farley, Josh Haydock, Rebecca Willis, Neve Gourlay-Newman, Rory Dooley, Amy Langley, Lydia Langhorn, Gracie Bradbury, Jordan Saunders

 

30.06.17-GOLD

Principal Gold : Klaudia Krupska, Zane Sibiya, Oliver Palmer, Matthew Winyard, Ollie Mellitt, Olivia Bridgman, Alexander Roberts, Kelsey Cresser, Lauren Bowden, Molly Rose, 

Governor Certificates

30.06.17-GOV BRONZE

Governor Bronze : Paige Godwin, Sean Brown, Josh Shuttleworth

 

30.06.17-GOV SILVER

Governor Silver : Noah Handford

 

30.06.17-GOV GOLD

Governor Gold: Kimberly Taylor

 

Students of the Week

30.06.17 SOTW

Students of the week with me this week are :Sam Rees , Nathaniel Jones, Tyler Morgan, Millie Ashby-Rosie