Devon Champions and an amazing music performance
Music Academy Rock The Bronx
On Thursday last week, our Music Academy played an end of year gig to a capacity crowd at the Bronx Bar, Teignmouth. Three bands comprising the school’s elite musicians performed energetic sets with music from bands including Wolf Alice, Arctic Monkeys, James Brown, The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac.
The night kicked off with support from year 11 musicians, a welcome break ahead of their upcoming GCSE exams. Their professionalism and musicality have impressed us all year and this final gig a fitting end to the year, we’ll see many in our sixth form bands next year.
After such a powerful warm-up, The Music Academy really had to rise to the occasion and they did just that. Blitzing through a raucous one and a half hour set, a packed crowd cheered, sung and danced to the beat of our elite. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Dee at the Bronx Bar for hosting the evening and making it such a special occasion. The Music Academy will see you in the near future.
A huge well done to the following students that performed on the night; Luke Howard, Alfie Sams, Eloise Simpson, Sam Harris, Peter Holmes, Jack Manley, Silbury Peakman, Livv Davies, Alex Corbett, Ethan Tanner, Noah Johnson, Tom White, Roisin Payne, Ollie Mellitt, Sam Gourlay, Brit Carrington, George Swift, Evie Billing, Olly Cartwright-Lomax, Silke Von der Lieth, Charlotte Povey, Jess Mitchell, Emily Haddon, Charlie Gouldthorpe, Chelsea Bull, Lily O’Sullivan, Rocco Hamblin-Furse and Cameron Westwood.
Ten Tors
IT’S HERE AT LAST! Ten Tors is this weekend. Our staff were heading up to the moors at 5am on Thursday to set up base camp.
We’ll be posting updates on @OutdooredTA as the weekend progresses, but the mobile signal at Okehampton Camp is a little erratic so do bear with us. We’ll be trying to use our crystal ball to forecast teams arrival times on Sunday too so stay tuned if you’re intending to come up and see the teams finish. Updates as teams go through checkpoints will also be posted on the main Ten Tors website as the event progresses. Good luck to all of our teams!
Start of the motorsport season!
This Sunday the school’s motorsport team will be heading off to Glorious Goodwood, the iconic race circuit in Chichester to compete in their first Greenpower F24 race of the season. The team have been working extremely hard all year modifying and repairing the car, meeting every Wednesday and Friday evening.
A number of year 8s will join some more experienced year 10s taking turns competing against an astonishing 95 other cars around the historic circuit in one of the two 90 minute endurance races that the school will compete in. Regardless of the outcome, it is a tremendous achievement to prepare the car for such an event, coupled with the dedication required for the 4am departure from school that they will enjoy on the day!
Watch this space for the rundown of the event in next week’s blog.
Lexonik
Our new Lexonik program is going from strength to strength and the latest cohort of students to complete the course finished just before Easter. The students spend an hour a week working in a small teacher led group on activities that teach them how to read and decode words at speed, using a fun and fast-paced learning style. Over the course of the 6 week program the students made an average improvement in their reading ages of 5 years. This is a massive achievement and the skills they have learnt will enable them to access the curriculum with a greater level of understanding.
Pictured are – Jasmine Armour, Curtis Hancox, Matthew Oakden, Josi White, Maggie Minty, Sophie Wright and Harvey Bates.
Team TA Sports Roundup
Year 8 are Devon Champions!
This week, the Year 8 football team have competed in two finals – both against our neighbours from Torquay Boys Grammar School.
On Wednesday was the County Cup final. The boys have had a long and challenging run which has seen us take on, and defeat opponents from all over Devon – winning away games at Holsworthy (7-0) and Plymstock (5-0) as well as very tough home games against St Lukes (2-0) and Ivybridge (3-2). We went into the final having beaten (but also lost to) TBGS last season and also having lost earlier in the season in the National Cup so this was always going to be tight.
After a good warm-up and preparation, we started very brightly. A pinpoint delivery by Captain Harley Sneap was headed home (not for the first time this season) by Liam Poole (to quote the boys’ favourite minibus song “Pooley’s on fire, your defence is terrified” ) The game then ebbed and flowed with only some last ditch defending/goalkeeping preserving our lead. Soon after, an inch perfect delivery by the skipper again caused havoc in the TBGS box before the hard-working Finley Wood bundled it in. However, TBGS got a goal back just before half time (which they deserved) with a very good strike into the bottom corner.
In the second half the boys showed an incredible team spirit, dogged determination and outstanding work rate to hold on to their lead. There were chances at both ends, but good goalkeeping for both teams prevented any further goals and as such saw us run out 2-1 winners, and County Champions!
On Thursday we had a repeat of this match in the final of the South Devon cup. We were missing Harley Sneap as he was playing for Plymouth Argyle that evening and there were many weary legs after the previous day’s efforts. We went into half time at 1 – 1, but we eventually went down 3 – 1 as we tired.
It has been an amazing season for this very talented group of players.
Year 7 through to the South Devon Cup Final
On Wednesday the Year 7 football team took on TBGS in the semi-final of the South Devon Cup. Both teams started at a frantic pace with the game going end to end without either side creating chances. The tackles were flying in along with blocks. The deciding moment in the game came 10 minutes before the end when Josh Thompson latched on to a through a ball and slotted home past the TBGS keeper. TA manged to create a few more chances before the end of the game but it finished 1-0.
They play Churston Grammar today and I will have the result for you next week.
Year 11 fall at the semi final
On Thursday they Year 11 team took on TBGS in the semi final of the South Devon Cup. Unfortunately the squad was depleted due to injury and illness. This took its toll on the side. The first twenty five minutes were very competitive before TBGS scored three goals in a ten minute period just before half time. The second half saw TA having to chase the game and pulled a goal back through captain Josh Haydock. However as TA continued to press for more goals they were caught out with three late goals and the game finishing 6-1 to TBGS.
Year 9 Rounders
The year 9 rounders team made a promising start to the season at the CVL held at Churston Ferris Grammar School on Thursday 9th May. The team secured 3 victories out of 4 matches against Churston Ferris Grammar School, St Cuthbert Mayne and Dawlish only losing to Newton Abbot College in their first game. The girls fielded well throughout with some exceptional performances by Ellie Mitchell in deep field, supported by Emma Harrison and Olivia Foster on 2nd and 4th base to prevent their opponents from scoring. Taylor Ford controlled the game from the centre of the pitch and bowled consistently well throughout. With some well placed and consistent hitting from all players the team were able to score lots of rounders to help secure the wins. Well done to all involved.
Team:
Ellie Mitchell
Emma Harrison
Taylor Ford
Olivia Foster
Leah Harman
Caitlyn Graham
Tilly Skeffington
Triathlon
Angus Graham in Year 8 completed his first triathlon of the season, the Sportiva Torbay Triathlon at the Paignton Velopark, on Easter Sunday in his new age category, Tristar 3. Despite being at the bottom of the age category (13-14 years old) Angus came a very creditable second, picking up a Silver medal and an Easter egg for good measure. Well done Angus, have a good Triathlon season.
Maths Challenge
In February. 250 students in Years 9, 10 and 11 took part in the UK Maths Trust Intermediate Maths Challenge. They had to solve maths-based problems which have now be assessed and compared with thousands of other students across the UK. These Year 11 students all achieved a bronze, silver or gold certificate, with Noah and Jak both qualifying for the “Pink Kangaroo” round, which is an exceptional achievement!
Students of the Week
Students of the week with me are:
Yr 7 – Fin Gaisford
Yr 8 – Lewis Vinson
Yr 9 – Grace Hallett
Yr 10 – Patrick Handford
Yr 11 – Jordan Kuczmyjiw
Yr 12 – Sam Beer
Yr 13 – Jack Bell
Principal Certificates
Bronze: (not in order)Oakley Hayes, Ella Breheny, Lucas Washbrook, Lily Hammacott, Phoebe Asplen, Sam Kelly, Mia Church, Sonny Kerr, Jasmyn Hancox, Isabelle Clarke, Keianna Fone, Freya Hawkings, Sheldon Brown, Caleb Cossey, Jas Stone, Jess Roberts, Lottie Hogson, Dan Maw, Charlotte Bish, Amelia Barrett, Jack Howlett, Harry Bowden, Poppy Rogers, Kieran-Lei Flay, Kaytlyn Mortimore, Cody Wren, Kelan Stanners, Brandon Edwards, Beau Giles, Lula Walton, Jada Hogg, Ben Turton, Nafesha Nowshin, Lottie Denning, Lauryn Chalk, Sophie Jones, Courtney Richards, Jack Luscombe, Amy Langley, Sonny Harby, Finley Paull, Kyle Hickman, Orla Baines, Benjamin Arscott, Jess Medhurst, Miles Hindom, Sophie Milford-Caddick, Kaiden Edwards
Silver: (not in order) Alice Little, Xander Tostevin, Poppy Holloway, Dean Lynch, Ewan Zaple-Contreras, Mia Warren, Sonny Houlahan, Aimee Evans, Jasmine Armour, Ella Heasman-Knight, Bethany Coker, Jess Bradford, Ethan Phillips, Aiden Stapleton, Brooke Mortimore, Seren Williamson, Joshua Batham, Phoebe Staples, Amy Hoskin, Gabrielle Jeneway, Millie Randall, Mia Brewers, Sean Roddy, Rowen Griffiths-Stirzaker, Ellie Reshad, Ellie Bevan, Caitlin Holmes, Matthew Leighton, Milena Tikuzyte, Izabelle Pollard, Sian Burton, Keona Pather, Charlie Swiderski, Louis Mellitt, Jay Rich, Emily Johns, Oskar Makuch, Rhys Huxtable, Ellie Mitchell, Will Flood, Chloe Nickels
Gold (not in order) Olivia Walker, Sofia Evans, Leo Dunkley, Cody Mack, Jamie Nunn, Rachel Breach, Mia Denby, Sophie Bastow, Rowen Poulain, Aj Sims, Robin Pightling, Melissa Piper, Jemima Holt, Lauren Major, Lacee Kiff, Owen Woodcock, Jasmine Winterton, Jake Peters, Charlie Moore, Noah Handford, Jake Ellwood
Governor Certificates
Bronze: Adam Pac, Chloe Dance, Sophie George, Jab Whatley, Joe Lawrence, Charlotte Sweeney, Lily-May Bruton
Silver: Jemima Staples, Elizabeth Cameron, Riley Isaac, Shelby Astley-Rubin, Aleasha Dunford, Penny Richards, Evan Kinghorn, Ava Sams, Taylor-Ann Floyd, Hollie Hand,
Gold: Cody Furze, Phoebe Lown, Jasper Dommett
House Stars of the Week
Year 7
Brunel – Mathilda Bindon
Christie – Phoebe Staples
Darwin – Courtney Stevens
Fawcett – William Harrison
Harrison – Evan Kinghorn
Kitson – Faith Barnett
Nearne – Amy Wilson
Pengelly – Kiela Weaver
Year 8
Brunel – Jaymie Smith
Christie – Finley Wood
Darwin – Harvey Shaw
Fawcett – Lila-May Harrington
Harrison – Clayton Gagg
Kitson – Shay Connolly
Nearne – Cameron Wannell
Pengelly – Zoe Manley
Year 9
Brunel – Leah Chappell
Christie – Kimberley Taylor
Darwin – Monika Petrova
Fawcett – Declan Lewis
Harrison – Isabella Spurle
Kitson – Flynn Brown
Nearne – Liam Wallace
Pengelly – Madison Hole
Building Update
Great progress continues to be made inside the building. Externally, windows and doors continue to be added as well as the render panels being put up ready for the final render to be applied.
