Torquay Academy

dragon's den

Each year, we are invited to compete in Dragon’s Den - a competition for all schools in and around Torbay and hosted by the Council. This year we have 3 teams competing to represent the school at the finals day in February; their ideas include: 

Roamify - a tourist information QR code and app business which allows customers to scan in locations around Torbay and find nearby attractions, land marks and food outlets in a search radius.

Help123 - a first aid primary action and training app that guides you through first aid for different scenarios and helps you with basic first aid actions. 

TeenMentalHealth - a book designed to share feelings, good and bad, rather than having to talk directly to someone - and helps guide actions and off load thoughts. 

Each team met with Simon Beer (a parent and local business owner) to present their ideas and receive valuable feedback to help improve their presentation and share what the Dragons looked for last year. 

Simon is back in January along with a panel of TA staff to choose the winners to represent us at the finals. 

Torquay Academy Cadet Blog – Wednesday’s Training Highlights

This week’s cadet session was packed with energy and determination as both RAF and Army cadets continued to hone their skills in preparation for upcoming goals.

The RAF cadets have been working tirelessly as they gear up for the highly anticipated RAST (Royal Air Squadron Trophy) competition. Focused on teamwork, precision, and discipline, their efforts are sure to shine through as they aim for success in this challenging event.

Meanwhile, the Army cadets made excellent progress in various key areas of training. They focused on:

• Drill: Perfecting their marking time and marching with precision and unity.

• Map Reading: Developing essential navigation skills to tackle any terrain with confidence.

• Fieldcraft: Learning practical survival techniques and tactical movements in outdoor environments.

• First Aid: Building critical lifesaving skills, ensuring they’re ready to act in any situation.

Our Year 8 cadets are putting in impressive effort as they strive to earn their Basic Training Badge, the first step in their cadet journey. Their enthusiasm and hard work are laying a solid foundation for their cadet careers.

For the Year 9s and 10s, their training is pushing them closer to achieving their 2-Star qualification, a testament to their dedication and growing expertise in advanced cadet skills.

It’s inspiring to see the determination and teamwork displayed by all our cadets. Whether working on individual milestones or preparing for group competitions, their commitment is something we are incredibly proud of.

Well done to all our cadets, and we look forward to seeing your continued progress next week!

science with mr lennon

During cycle 2 the students have once again been busy conducting Science practical's alongside their theory work. 

In year 7, students have been trying to neutralise solutions using acids and alkalis to try and gain a pH7 neutral solution. This always produces lovely colours. 

In year 7 we have also been conducting dissections. Students have successfully dissected chicken wings to identify muscles, ligaments and tendons. They have also dissected flowers to find the reproductive organs associated with plant reproduction. Finally, they watched me butterfly a pig’s heart to identify the atria and ventricles and see the many vessels associated with carrying blood to and from the heart. 

In year 8, students have mastered filtration and crystallisation to make Copper Sulphate crystals from Copper Oxide. These turn out as vivid blue crystals after the water has been evaporated. 

In year 8 students also witnessed me dressed as an Elf just before Christmas demonstrating an exothermic reaction when burning a balloon containing hydrogen. The balloon certainly made a bang to show heat sound and light. 

Whilst revising hard for their GCSEs, year 11 took some time out to remember where all the glands are located in the human body and showed this using post it notes. The students were able to say what hormone is secreted and what effect this has on the body. 

Health and Social care

In Health and Social Care , both Year 9 and 10 pupils have been busy learning vital coursework and exam knowledge . 

Firstly Year 9 have been looking at factors affecting Health and Well being , particularly Lifestyle factors, those we have some control over such as Substance Misuse , Tobacco and Alcohol. Using case studies such as Amy Winehouse and putting recommended targets for her in place , also independent research on Chrome books into addictions.

Year 10 have been focussing on the barriers that exist in Health and Social Care settings , and how it impacts individuals who cannot get the care they need. They have been encouraged to think about their own lives , and how it would change if they had to use a wheelchair , or if they lived in a rural area. More importantly , the pupils have looked at different ways of overcoming these barriers.

year 9 physics with mr mellitt

These slow motion videos show year 9 physics students in Mr Mellitt's class exploring the concept of inertia. 

Newton's first law tells us that an object will resist motion unless there is a force acting upon it. In this experiment, the egg has no sideways force on it so it doesn't follow the tray, and simply falls into the waiting beaker instead.

As you can see from the still photo, it didn't always work!

year 8 options masterclasses

All this week in Period 1, the year 8s have had their options taster sessions to help them decide which subjects to take at GCSE before options evening takes place next week.

Lydia shetliffe

Congratulations to Lydia, who was awarded the Gavin Eden Trophy for taking part in all three festivals of Drama, Music and Dance in 2024 and achieving the highest average mark amongst those who qualified.

Year 7 - Riley House and Lydia Shetliffe

 Year 8 - Isla Bryant, Bonnie Stacey and Dion Maharjan

 Year 9 - Alexa Lyons and Blake Young

year 9 vs millfield

 The Year 9 boys bowed out of the national cup in a very hard fought game against Millfield.  They lost 1 - 0 to a goal that came from a very controversial corner.  The boys can hold their heads high as they competed all game and there was a very fine line between the two teams.

year 8 netball

The Year 8 Netball team travelled to Paignton on Tuesday for CVL with two very convincing wins; 15-0 and 10-1. Well done, girls!

Team: Lily Langler, Elena Bolton, Seren Chadwick (C), Maddy Wood, Poppi Jones, Matilda Thorner, Isla Bryant, Rosie Bevan

governor's gold certificates

Year 7 - Kyle Squires

governor's bronze certificates

Year 7 - Jack Lennox-Stathman

principal's gold certificates

Year 7 - Freya Mobbs, Kayleb Yeo, Amelia Woodland, Zanna Venter, Mollianne Potter, Archie Payne-Stanbury, Luna Mearns, Maddie Mack, Arthur Gaughan, Willow-Mae Calland, Myles Bonnici, Brooke Harding, Archie Kershaw, Emilie Hedgecock, Jack O'Connor, Alex Nicholson, Oliver Finley-Squires, Jack Parker and Zafirah Faryal

principal's silver certificates

Year 7 - Poppy Tankielun, Beni Paplogo, Mia Kost, Jack Jackson, Sophia Houghton, Elliot Holmes-Inch, Darcy Gibbings, Mia Fellows, Grace Donnelly, Oliver Luscombe, Bella Stevenson, Macie Gay, Isla-Mae Gale, Maddox Findlay-Peers, Samuel McDonald, Maja Kokoszka, Charlie Courtier, Rocco D'Alessandro, Teddy Shobbrook, Georgina Morton, Macy Hickman, Willow Waugh, Joe Matthews, Leo Watson, Ela Uven, Bailey Jones, Lottie Hutcheson, Dylan McDonald, Brooke Dennett, Mason Beardsley, Jacob Hicks, Lilah Dallow, Megan Bushall-Sneap and Zofia Bocianowska 

Year 9 - George Evans

principal's bronze certificates

Year 7 - Anna Viediernikova, Theo Eaton-Liley, Mabel Clatworthy, Erin Ayres, Tyler Fudge, Kamile Degutyte, Fi Bellamy-Hall, Ava Wiggins, Lexi Kenneford, Arya Kelly, Molly Caulfield, Jude Storey, Emilie Cutmore, Kiera Chivers, Ella Bayliss, Hayley Steenkamp, Eryn Stafford-Summers, Sienna Frost, Maya Campineanu, Ronnie Byrne, Jasmine Roberts, Liv Reed, Pandora Ferguson, Zack Jeneway, Sabrina Lewis, Luca Guppy and Zac Austin 

Year 9 - Samuel Sanders, Ollie Martin, Kiara Ujj, Will Wrathall, Bradley Harrison, Vaughan Heavens, Edi Ferencz Csibi and Naomi Szyszka 

House stars of the week

Year 7

Brunel - Ela Uven

Christie - Kayleb Yeo

Darwin -   Oliver Luscombe

Fawcett - Lexi Nicholson

Harrison -  Dee Davies

Kitson -  Neave Heavens

Nearne -  Liv Andrews

Pengelly - Connor Hampton-Brown

Year 8

Christie - Tyler Jackson

Darwin -  Kax Biagott

Fawcett - Ayden Quarshie

Harrison -  Gio Vaio

Kitson -  Wiktoria Aleksander

Nearne -  Oliver Forsdyke

Pengelly - Tia Woodward

Year 9

Brunel - Ruby Chamberlain

Darwin -  Charlotte Holmes-Vittles

Harrison -  Lee Stevens

Kitson -  Harry McCarthy

Nearne -  Daniel Manners

Pengelly - Lewis Collett

Homework Stars of the Week

Year 7

Brunel - Alex Nicholson

Christie - Freddie Thatcher

Darwin -  Gabrielle Stadalninkaite

Fawcett - Bailey Jones

Harrison -  Jude Storey

Kitson -  Ruby Crago-Gould

Nearne -  Laura Mercer

Pengelly - Liv Reed

Year 8

Christie - Jamie Hancox

Darwin -  Lily-Jo Prior

Fawcett - Isla Herbert

Harrison -  Emilee Fenner

Kitson -  Keylan Hodgson

Nearne -  Jacob Wakefield

Pengelly - Elizabeth Francis

Year 9

Brunel - Stella de Rose

Darwin -  Ashton Lynch

Harrison -  Brandon Callow

Kitson -  Vaughn Heavens

Nearne -  Lacey Redhead

Pengelly - Millie Russell

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