Page 1 News for parents, carers, pupils, students of the Academy and the community of Paignton April 2013 News from the Principal Amazing Season For TUFC Development As Programme Draws To Close The Academy’s Torquay United Football Development Programme is enjoying the most successful season since the link was forged in 2007, with the squad on the verge of accomplishing an unprecedented ‘treble’. Already crowned South West College’s Champions, the squad requires just one point from their remaining two league games to clinch the British College’s Sport South West League title. The squad are all members of the 6th Form made up of made up from a combination of locally sourced players, in conjunction with players acquired from across the entire nation. They have bonded superbly and produced some fantastic performances which has seen them claim some notable victories against South Devon College, Ivybridge Community College and even current ‘League 1A’ Champions Merchants’ Sports Academy from Bristol who were defeated by an amazing 7 – 3 margin in the recent South West Area Cup Final. In pursuit of their third piece of silverware, the U18s Devon County Cup, Paignton must overcome Plymouth’s Plymstock School. The current squad have developed massively under the expert coaching of Nick Milton and have also benefitted from the input of former Premier League custodian Robbie Herrera. Players who impress are given the opportunity to train and in some cases play for Torquay United’s Youth Apprentices and even senior reserve squads. 2009 graduate Saul Halpin went all the way and became the initiative’s first full professional player. The programme is open to all Sixth Form applicants showing an interest in football. Enrolled players undertake daily lessons followed by 2 hours of professional football coaching. With all graduates enjoying a 100% BTEC pass rate, it is clear that lessons are being learned in the classroom as well as on the football pitch. Proud course leader Mr Clark beamed “over the past few years, it has been great to see so many students enrol in the programme and take such big strides in developing their education as well as their football ability. We have had graduates who have signed professional football contracts at home and abroad as well as many who have gained places at university or won football scholarships in the USA.” Positions for the 2013-14 season are still available and all interested students are encouraged to apply via the academy website.
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Page 1
News for parents, carers, pupils, students of the Academy and the community of Paignton
April 2013
News from the Principal
Amazing Season For TUFC Development As Programme Draws To Close
The Academy’s Torquay United Football Development Programme is enjoying the most successful
season since the link was forged in 2007, with the squad on the verge of accomplishing an
unprecedented ‘treble’.
Already crowned South West College’s Champions, the squad requires just one point from their
remaining two league games to clinch the British College’s Sport South West League title. The
squad are all members of the 6th Form made up of made up from a combination of locally sourced
players, in conjunction with players acquired from across the entire nation. They have bonded
superbly and produced some fantastic performances which has seen them claim some notable
victories against South Devon College, Ivybridge Community College and even current ‘League 1A’
Champions Merchants’ Sports Academy from Bristol who were defeated by an amazing 7 – 3
margin in the recent South West Area Cup Final. In pursuit of their third piece of silverware, the
U18s Devon County Cup, Paignton must overcome Plymouth’s Plymstock School.
The current squad have developed massively under the expert coaching of Nick Milton and have
also benefitted from the input of former Premier League custodian Robbie Herrera. Players who
impress are given the opportunity to train and in some cases play for Torquay United’s Youth
Apprentices and even senior reserve squads. 2009 graduate Saul Halpin went all the way and
became the initiative’s first full professional player.
The programme is open to all Sixth Form applicants showing an interest in football. Enrolled
players undertake daily lessons followed by 2 hours of professional football coaching. With all
graduates enjoying a 100% BTEC pass rate, it is clear that lessons are being learned in the
classroom as well as on the football pitch. Proud course leader Mr Clark beamed “over the past
few years, it has been great to see so many students enrol in the programme and take such big
strides in developing their education as well as their football ability. We have had graduates who
have signed professional football contracts at home and abroad as well as many who have gained
places at university or won football scholarships in the USA.”
Positions for the 2013-14 season are still available and all interested students are encouraged to
apply via the academy website.
Page 2
A Message from the Principal
We return from the Easter break with some excellent news
regarding GCSE results.
Exam Results
We have already secured 55% A*- C Grades in GCSE Maths
following recent exam results. English Language results
stand at 64% A* - C Grades providing the Examination
Board do not move the grade boundaries as they did last
year. This means our overall 5 or more A* - C grades stand at 49% which is
3% up on last year and very close to our target of 50%. However, we are still
very much on the case: staff and pupils are working hard and we are
anticipating further improvements and hope to exceed our target.
Leadership Team
We have recently recruited to the Leadership Team at the Academy. I am
delighted to report that Mr Jason Trevarthen has been promoted to Deputy
Principal and Mrs Vicki Rogers from Northfield School in Stockton-on-Tees has
been appointed Assistant Principal. Mr Trevarthen takes up his post as of 1st
June and Mrs Rogers from the 1st September.
Parental Views
We are always keen to know Parents’ views about how we do things in school
and would be pleased if you would complete the enclosed questionnaire and
return it to the Head of Year via your son or daughter, by the 8th May 2013.
Parent Governor Vacancy
There will soon be a vacancy for a Parent Governor at the Academy. Please
see the letter enclosed with this Newsletter for more information.
Newsletter on line
This newsletter looks much nicer in full colour. It is available on-line at:
www.paigntoncommunitycollege.com/latest-news/.
In future we will contact parents by Schoolcomms to advise you a new
publication is ready to view and give you the link.
If you have not signed up for Schoolcomms and would like to do so please let
us have your e-mail address or mobile telephone number which should be sent
to the appropriate Head of Year.
The Summer Term is always a busy, but enjoyable, term and we have a range
of celebration events during the next few weeks. It is always lovely to be able
to praise our pupils and share their success with their Parents and Carers.
M J English, Principal
Inside this issue ……..
Maximising Progress Page 3 Change to Uniform Ordering System Page 4
Academy Rock School Page 5 E-Safety Page 6 6th Form News page 7
Careers Page 8 Focus on Sport Page 10
Examination Timetables Page 14 Year 9 Poets to be Published! Page 15 Free School Meals Page 16
Information for your Notice Board Page 17
Page 3
Maximising Progress
A revised Marking Policy is now being used
across the Academy to support student progress
and learning. Teaching staff ensure all students
are aware of their current level in individual
subjects, their target level and most importantly,
what they have done well and how to improve.
Already we have had very positive feedback from
our young people. A year 8 student
commented, “ this is excellent, it is the same in
all subjects and I know exactly what to do to
improve.” If Parents or Guardians are able to
further support learning by looking at content
and presentation of workbooks, homework and
marking, it has also been proven to have very
beneficial impact.
The following stamp is used when work and
books are marked.
Effort grade
Attainment grade or level.
What has been done well.
What to do in order to progress -
next steps.
This is where students write a
response to the teacher. Eg
explaining they have understood
the feedback and how they will act
on it. If they have any questions
about the feedback or need any
additional explanation, it should be
included here.
‘Macbeth’ Performance and Workshop Trip On the 13th March, 46 students from Year 7 – 11 ventured to Studio 1, Dartington Hall for a
performance and workshop of Shakespeare’s famous play ‘Macbeth.’ This is what their teacher
said:
“Not quite knowing what to expect we were ushered in to a dark room with a raised stage in the
middle. We sat on mats around the stage and waited for it to begin…
This is what the pupils said, “It was awesome! It had lots of props to make it feel real and they
made fake blood for when Macbeth killed King Duncan, Banquo and Macduff’s children. It looked
really realistic and you could feel the blood come on you. All of the stuff they used for the lighting
made it feel really scary and on the part where the witches came in, it felt like they were creeping
around you but you could not see them.’
We were led through the story
by the Porter, who explained
what was going on throughout
the play. We witnessed fights
and betrayals, were splattered
with blood and had a ringside
seat to watch the madness and
mayhem. The performance was
followed by a workshop where
students could question the ac-
tors in character and then the
actors themselves. Some excel-
lent student questions ranged
from ‘How do you make the fake
blood?’ to ‘Macbeth, how do you
feel about Lady Macbeth after
the murder of King Duncan?’
The students thoroughly enjoyed
the day and took away from it
not just a better understanding of the play, but an awareness that Shakespeare can be fun, wild
and dangerous.”
Page 4
Change to Uniform Ordering System A reminder that the system for ordering your son/daughter’s uniform has changed.
Our supplier will now be embroidering items of both PE kit and uniform to order. This will mean that the turnaround time for your order to be ready for collection will increase to between two to three weeks.
We will continue to hold a small supply of uniform here at the Academy, but on a far small-er scale than in previous years. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee that we will have the item of clothing you require unless you have pre-ordered, either online or by handing in an order form to the Reception staff.
6th Form raise Money for Red Nose Day
6th Form students (pictured) promoted the
upcoming Travel and Tourism Trip to Disneyland,
Paris early in March and at the same time raised
money for Red Nose Day.
Man Utd Reward Trip
Fourteen pupils from the Academy were
rewarded for good attendance with an
opportunity of a 'life time', when they watched
their beloved team, Man Utd, take on Norwich
City at Old Trafford, at the beginning of March.
Sitting high in the Sir Alex Ferguson stand
among 76,000 fans, the pupils watched Man
Utd win 4-0 with Kagawa scoring a hat-trick,
and Rooney slotting a wonderful dig into the
net from outside the box.
Mr Thomas who was also in attendance said,
"Although I'm a Liverpool fan, you can not help
be impressed when you visit the 'Theatre of
Dreams'. Mrs Jones who runs these
attendance rewards trips, has yet again given
these young people a fantastic opportunity and
it has not disappointed. I noted all of them on
their mobiles after the game, phoning or texting
home to say what a marvellous day they had
had. They were buzzing and I think the long
journey up and back has been worth it:
memories that will last a long time!"
Pupils Bake for Marie Curie Cancer Care
Pupils Nicole Bartell, Bryony Whitehurst, Phoebe
McCaig and Leah Beattie baked a delicious
selection of cakes to sell to staff and pupils to
raise money for 'The Great Daffodil Appeal', a
focus in March for the Marie Curie Cancer Care
charity.
Pupils wrote to me for permission to host the
event and sourced the Daffodil's to sell
alongside the cakes. They were very mature
and organised throughout.
We are very proud of their efforts and they
raised £71 during the day. Well done girls!
Childs i Foundation Support
Kathryn Bowden and her Grandmother have
been busy producing some wonderful clothing
and quilts for the Malaika Babies’ home in
Kampala, Uganda. I know they will be greatly
appreciated.
Page 5
Academy Rock School
The Academy Rock School has been based in the
Academy for nearly a year now, offering a free
extracurricular activity on a Monday and
Wednesday after school from 3.00pm to 6.00pm.
All students are welcome as long as they have
the instrumental or vocal skills required, as the
idea is for young musicians to ‘jam’ together and
prepare for shows and concerts in the academy
and in venues around the Bay.
They are led by Mark Wilkins, who brings a
wealth of experience both as a performer and a
producer: Mark is also involved in Torbay Music
Services. Some of the Rock School members are
now involved in performing publicly in other
bands on a regular basis.
Theory of Music Classes
During Key Stage 3 classes, the students are
beginning to read musical notation and have
asked for a new club where they can begin to
learn music theory. They are working through
the Associated Board of Music Grade 1 Theory
Syllabus with a view to taking the exam in the
autumn. These exams can count towards their
overall exam score.
The sessions are free after school on a Tuesday
from 3.15pm to 4.45pm in Room 44 with Mrs
Garner.
Academy Stars raise cash for
Rowcroft Hospice
On the 26 March 2013, an audience of very lucky
people watched in awe as over thirty very
talented Academy pupils performed to raise
money for Rowcroft Hospice. The Concert was
the brainchild of Ryan Harlin and was organised
by the students themselves, who were supported
by the Academy’s Performing Arts Faculty.
The audience were treated to a great programme
of singing and dancing by various performers,
including Ryan himself. Our Key Stage 3
successful Performing Arts Group, also
performed the numbers they sang at the Mixed
Performer's Night as part of the Schools’ Festival