Barton Community Cafe, Chemistry trip and Open Evening

Open Evening

It is such a privilege to show hundreds of families around our incredible school.  I am so proud of how our students lead so many aspects of these open events.

 

Torbay Promise - Barton Community Cafe

On Friday, we opened the Barton Community Cafe.  This part of the umbrella of the Torbay Promise which we are very grateful to Barton Hill Academy to be working along on this project to support our local community.  I was delighted to welcome families along to the morning.

The cafe opens on Friday mornings 8.30-9.30 at St Martins Church Hall (next to Barton Hill Academy). It is for expectant mums, new mums and mums and dads who live in Barton, Hele, Watcombe and the Willows. There will be tea, coffee, cake and soft play all available free of charge.  Our Year 13 Health and Social Care students helped to support the cafe.

 

PSHE Day

On Monday we had our first PSHE day. Years 7-9 had a theatre production of ‘County Lines’, looking at the ways teenagers can get drawn into situations without realising the seriousness of that situation. It also looked at ways of getting help for someone in this situation.

In addition, the year 7s had sessions on mental and physical wellbeing. Students looked at the issues surrounding cyberbullying and finished the day with a session on finances. This looked at their money personality and how that affects our attitude to money and the differences between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’.

The year 8 day was quite varied; we had sessions on what we value in relationships, the meaning of ‘consent’. Continuing with the mental wellbeing theme students looked at unhealthy ways to cope and the impact of gambling and attitudes towards the use of alcohol and drugs. The final session was about strategies to keep safe online and how to get help if required.

The year 9 students also looked at ways to keep healthy online. Sessions linked to healthy lifestyles included the importance of sleep, issues linked to cannabis use and the prevention of STIs. We looked at relationships, with how to navigate a romantic relationship, the options around having a baby and the impact porn can have.

Relationships featured highly in the content for the year 10 students with sessions on the changes to our bodies, sexual harassment, and the impact of sending nudes. Some students had a session run by ‘The School of Sexuality’ on sexual violence and name-calling. (Other students will have this session in March). Students looked at how to keep a positive online presence and the reasons that this is important to their futures, especially related to employers and employment. In a similar theme students looked at the rights they have and the rights any future employers have. Students looked at the risks associated with substance misuse and finally, the reasons why young people get involved in gangs and the consequences of doing so.

The year 11s had a range of activities focussed on moving on from this school. Students looked at how to choose the right career, the post 18 options available to them and how to live independently. Students had the opportunity to update their CV. Each student also had an interview with an employer. Mrs Aplin has written a different comment about about this opportunity.

 

Year 11 Employer Interviews

We welcomed 27 employers and 240 Year 11 students to the Sports Hall on PSHE Day. 

Every student in Year 11 had an interview with a local employer in a variety of sectors, ranging from the Armed Forces, NHS, Torbay Council, Legal Firms, Colleges and the Care Sector. 

The Year 11 students did themselves proud and, I think, surprised themselves with how confident they were and how well they did in their interviews. It was a great experience for all involved. 

Well done Year 11 and thank you to all the employers involved.

Dragon's Den was launched in Y8 this week

 

 

 

Fun Friday

We ended the week with another amazing Fun Friday.  More Karaoke and carnival games pictures are shared here.  As you can see, we had lots of fun!

Art Club

The first art club of 2024-25 took place on Wednesday with students from years 7, 8 and 9.  Students are welcome to come along on Wednesdays in A week, 3.15 to 4.15 in F104.

 

Chemistry Trip

On Tuesday 17th September myself, Mr Gale and the year 13 chemists set off for Bath university to undertake a practical workshop. The students spent the afternoon in the undergraduate laboratory where they were given a sample of 'Bathenone', a compound made of aspirin and an unknown chemical. They separated the two chemicals and then analysed the unknown solid to identify which chemical it was. The students use various techniques such as vacuum filtration, gravity filtration, rotary evaporation and melting point analysis. They were even lucky enough to be able to use the brand new infrared spectrometers to analyse the compounds they had isolated.

The students were exceptional, and even the university staff commented that the students had excellent practical skills and good instincts in the lab. The students really enjoyed using the world class brand new equipment and being in a university environment. Myself and Mr Gale were astounded by the equipment and how much it has changed in the short years since we studied it ourselves.

 

Homework Update

Every week, TA students complete at least 6 hours of meaningful homework. Over the course of an academic year, this results in an extra 33 days of learning - it's equivalent to TA students attending school for a 7th half term! We do this because it makes a tangible difference to student outcomes. Our data from this summer shows that students that completed every bit of homework achieved at least 1 grade higher than those that did not.

 

This academic year, there has been a real push to drive written homework completion in all years. We are so proud of the statistics so far, with over 85% of students completing all of their written homework and revision mastery across the school - this is over 1000 students! The written homework we set is meaningful and relevant to the learning that takes place in the classroom. Whether it's the Read, Cover, Write, Check revision mastery homework, where every student from Y7 to Y11 deliberately practices the research informed technique that stores key information into our long term memory, to comprehensive questions assessing whether students really understand and can apply the word of the week that's been taught in English lessons - the written homework is worth completing to the best of your ability. It also builds the learning habit of ensuring you have a comfortable working environment at home before Y11 hits!

 

 

 

Over in English, Y8 students are now utilising their newly found knowledge on the genre of gothic fiction to create their own piece of creating writing. This week, their challenge has been to write a description of their character approaching a setting of their choice. Our Y8s have worked so hard to include the appropriate word classes and language that they've gathered in their Critics Journal's over the first 2 weeks of term to create some truly spooky and frightful descriptions - a few really did have me off my seat!

 

 

Food technology is such a popular subject at TA, with an incredibly diverse curriculum that exposes our students to flavours and recipes from all over the world! My stomach often rumbles a little louder at the end of the day on duty as different smells from around the world waft in my face! This week, our Y8s have had a crack at creating some classic asian dishes, including one of my favourites - chicken chow mein!

 

 

Mr Broome, Vice Principal.

 

Year 8 Maths with Mr Beattie

Mr Beattie's Y8 maths classes have been working on finding the lowest common multiple and highest common factor this week. They first used our knowledge of prime numbers to find the prime factors of numbers. Then, they used their mini whiteboards to draw a Venn Diagram to find the LCM and HCF. I am so proud of the start Year 8 has made, keep up the hard work!

 

 

Year 7 Maths with Miss Antcliff

In Year 7 maths, we use bar models as a visual tool for problem-solving. These models help students understand and represent numerical relationships clearly, making it easier to solve equations and word problems. For example, in a scenario where a student has 15 apples and gives away some, a bar model can illustrate the total, what remains, and what was given away. This approach enhances comprehension and builds a strong foundation for algebraic thinking.

In the photos, Year 7 students spent time drawing bar models to solve worded problems. Some students worked collaboratively, discussing how to represent different quantities while others focused on this individually. The bar models showcase their understanding of mathematical concepts.

 

Flute Success

Rosie Bevan proudly showing off her recently awarded Level 2 Distinction in her flute exam.

 

Students of the Week

Year 7 - Colby Craig

 

Year 8 - Archie Phillips and Isla Coish

 

Year 9 - Anastasiia Tukilush and Ivan Masliakovas

 

Year 11 - Nikkita Hookway and Lucas Quaintance

 

Year 11 - Gabrielle Buys and Norbert Tomsia

 

 

 

Year 9 start with dominant display

The year 9 boys football team started their season with an impressive performance in round 1 of the national cup.  The team dominated the game from the first whistle to the last with some outstanding football.  

TA ran out 11-0 winners in the end with goals from: Alex Moss x3, Brad Harrison x4, Lee stevens, Zak Haridi, Francis Downer, Own Goal.

Mr Grinsill was exceptionally happy with the work rate and togetherness the team showed.  Player of the match went to Brad Harrison on his debut with four goals. 

The team now play again next week with a game against Ivybridge.

 

Year 8/9 Netball

Scarlett Connolly, Emilee Fenner, Poppi Jones, Layla Lock, Rosie Bevan, Heidi Milner, Lily Langler, Seren Chadwick, Matilda Thorner, Emelia Wood, Isla Bryant, Maddy Wood, Lucy French, Lottie Knight

The Year 8/9 netballer’s had a fantastic performance on Tuesday, displaying excellent teamwork and court connections. With fab shooting and well timed moves, both teams gave strong performances. The mixed 8/9 team secured wins in both of their matches, while the Yr 8 team won one and narrowly lost the other. A great effort all round!

Coaches Players went to Maddy Wood and Lily Langler.
Players Player went to Matilda Thorner and Rosie Bevan

 

Sixth Form Netball

Tammy Westacott, Mia Denby ©, Ellie Stone, Ella McLachlan, Ellie Chammings, Ellie Denby, Maisy Green, Emily Graham, Elspeth Herring, Evie Sutton, Skye Warner, Summer Connolly

The sixth form netball academy played their first AOC league match against Richard Huish College on Wednesday and secured a well deserved win with a very strong performance.  They dominated the match from the first whistle,as they showcased amazing interceptions, powerful shooting and impressive speed through the court.  The fluidity of their play, combined with excellent tracking of oppositions, kept the pressure on throughout the game.  Demonstrating great teamwork and communication; a fantastic all round display by all resulted in a solid 54-22 victory.

Coaches Player: Ellie Denby

Players Player: Skye Warner

Oppositions Player: Tammy Westacott

 

Junior Gym

 

House Students of the Week

Year 7

Brunel - Alex Nicholson

Christie - Arthur Gaughan

Darwin - Ava Broughton

Fawcett - Kayden Harper

Harrison - Charlie Courtier

Kitson - Oscar Anderson

Nearne - Zofia Bocianowska

Pengelly - Freyja Mobbs

 

Year 8

Brunel - Brogan Holmes-Inch

Christie - Farah Davidson

Darwin - Lili-Jo Prior

Fawcett - Marcus Findlay-Peers

Harrison - Sophia Blake

Kitson - Ava McArdle

Nearne - Tiffany Eastley

Pengelly - Lyra Sully

 

Year 9

Christie - Emily Lucas

Darwin - Ella Lake

Fawcett - Daisy Humphreys

Kitson - Bradley Harrison

Nearne - Jonathan Oleksy

Pengelly - Gracie Sandercock

 

Homework Students of the Week

Year 7

Brunel - Evie Jewell

Christie - Willow-Mae Calland

Darwin - Lucy Matthews

Fawcett - Ava Wiggins

Harrison - Jude Brodie

Kitson - Bella Cassidy

Nearne - Liv Andrews

Pengelly - Ruben Tidball

 

Year 8

Brunel - Zachary Kittow

Christie - Haydon Coatesworth

Darwin - Harlow Bown

Fawcett - Anna Rozanska

Kitson - Daisy Dorman

Nearne - Olivier Kawula

Pengelly - Elizabeth Francis

 

Year 9

Christie - Cody Burton

Darwin - Ava Luker-Hulme

Kitson - Reef Whayman

Nearne - Emily Lock

Pengelly - Poppy Sanderson

 

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