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  • Devon students take part in Ten Tors Challenge

    Published 16/05/24

    Students from West Exe School, St James School, Isca, Queen Elizabeth’s and Sidmouth College, all part of the Ted Wragg Trust, took part in the annual Ten Tors Challenge this weekend. The event takes place during National Walking Month, a time to promote the benefits of walking for physical health, mental well-being, and enjoying the fresh air outdoors. 

    The Ted Wragg Trust has a special link to the Ten Tors as the Trust Lead for Safeguarding and Attendance, Aimee Mitchell sits on the Ten Tors Committee. She also acts as an Assistant Commandant for the Devon Army Cadet Force, and as such represents both the cadets and education on the Policy Committee.  Aimee offered her unique perspective on the challenge by writing a piece for this year’s Ten Tors brochure which explained why Ten Tors is important as part of the personal development offer for schools.

    The Ten Tors Challenge is attempted by 2,400 teenagers in 400 teams of six. The teams navigate routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles (depending on age) over the Northern half of Dartmoor, visiting ten nominated tors/check points in under two days. Teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight safely.

    Ten Tors stands alone in its scale, its ambition and the fact that it is aimed solely at young people. Training for the event is the responsibility of the participants’ establishments and often starts months in advance. Completing Ten Tors is not easy with the terrain, distances and often the climate all conspiring against success. With the right commitment, training, endurance and grit, it is achievable! 

    The Sidmouth College Ten Tors teams started training at the start of September 2023. Since then they have all put in an incredible amount of effort both in school and on the moor throughout the tough winter months to prepare mentally and physically for the challenge. Across twelve weekends students trained together for the event, working on physical fitness, mental resilience and honing the skills required to be successful including navigation, route planning, map reading and wild camping.

    The Isca team even managed to snap some brilliant photos of the Northern Lights which were on display over the weekend whilst camping!

    The teams ended the weekend tired but elated with their achievement. Students commented that Ten Tors was an amazing challenge, pushing you mentally and physically to the max and that Ten Tors pushes you to your limit, but the reward of completing it is well worth it. 

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “Despite living in a rural county, many of our students reside in cities, so participating in Ten Tors is a brilliant way for them to get out on to the wilds of Dartmoor! 

    “Ten Tors stands out amongst other outdoor challenges for its sheer scale, and young people who complete it will come out the other end with more grit and determination than they had before, which can only serve them well in all other areas of their life.

    “We know that undertaking challenges like the Ten Tors, helps to boost students’ self-confidence and allows them to develop their leadership, problem solving skills, alongside furthering their teamwork capabilities. 

    “At the Ted Wragg Trust we believe that education doesn’t just happen in the classroom.  We are so fortunate to have the Dartmoor National Park on our doorstep and encouraging young people to get out and enjoy and learn about the history and nature of the environment around them is exactly the sort of thing educators should be doing.”

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  • Pickleball fever grips West Exe School!

    Published 14/05/24

    Students at West Exe School, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, have been picking up their paddles and taking part in the pickleball craze that has been sweeping the country!

    Pickleball, once a niche sport, has exploded into a nationwide craze in recent years, captivating players, regardless of their age or skill level. The game first emerged in the 1960s and is a mixture of tennis, badminton and ping pong, it has gained momentum in recent years as the ultimate social sport, bringing people together to take part in a fun and accessible form of exercise. 

    Pickleball has now been introduced into the PE curriculum at West Exe School and they also run a weekly pickleball club at lunchtime which is well attended.  The school also runs an electives programme, where students pick from a number of enrichment courses every term, pickleball has been added to the menu with lots of children selecting to undertake the elective, which is now supported by external coaches from Exeter Pickleball. 

    Bruno a Year 9 student at West Exe had the following to say about the game:

    “I really really enjoy pickleball because it keeps me active and it's great fun. I get to play with my friends, it’s opened up more opportunities and allowed me to try new things”. 

    West Exe students have also completed coaching courses in pickleball to develop their own leadership skills.  Not only do students enjoy the game, several members of staff have now also become keen players!

    Its smaller court size, lightweight paddles, and perforated balls mean the game is also suitable for older people looking for a low impact activity that still provides a decent workout.  The fact that it’s easy to pick up and has a quick learning curve also attracts younger players, which has led to a diverse and inclusive pickleball community that thrives on friendly competition and camaraderie.

    Pickleball is now evolving into a serious sport with professional players and international competitions, as well as the development of coaching programs aimed at refining players' skills and strategies. The sport also has many health benefits from improved cardiovascular endurance, to helping  to strengthen muscles and developing hand-eye coordination.  

    In Devon pickleball is offered at Mid Devon Leisure Centre and Exeter Leisure Centre.  You can find your local pickleball club here.

    Harry Chambers, Teacher of Sport, Health and Nutrition at West Exe School said:

    “Pickleball has been a welcome addition to our curriculum and extra-curricular offer at West Exe School.  The inclusivity of the sport and the speed at which you can make progress has seen it become very popular with both students and staff. 

    “As an emerging sport in the UK, it is really important that we increase students’ awareness of the different modalities of physical activity that they can adopt throughout their life and pickleball is certainly one that we are promoting!”

    Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

    “Whether played casually for recreation or pursued competitively, pickleball's rise in popularity shows no signs of slowing down!  I am delighted that we have embraced pickleball at West Exe. We want our students to enjoy being active and it’s clear how much fun they have when they pick up a paddle!”

     

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  • West Exe students mark Shakespeare’s birthday with script writing contest

    Published 07/05/24

    West Exe School, part of our Trust, celebrated Shakespeare’s birthday this week.

    William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in April 1564. The exact date of his birth is not recorded, but it is most often celebrated around the world on the 23rd of April. Shakespeare also died on 23 April; in 1616, when he was 52 years of age.

    The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust states that: 

    Shakespeare’s baptism is recorded in the Parish Register at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon on Wednesday 26 April 1564. Baptisms typically took place within three days of a new arrival, and parents were instructed by the Prayer Book to ensure that their children were baptised no later than the first Sunday after birth. This means that it’s unlikely that Shakespeare was born any earlier than the previous Sunday, 23 April. Given that three days would be a reasonable interval between birth and baptism, 23 April has therefore come to be celebrated as his birthday. 

    To mark the day, Year 8 students at West Exe School explored some of the most memorable scenes from Shakespeare’s most famous plays. The school is also holding a creative writing script competition to discover any budding playwrights!

    At West Exe they explicitly teach in depth social and literary contexts to ensure that students have the cultural capital to appreciate how the written word can be used to bring about social change and, more importantly, social justice. The English curriculum is deliberately academic and covers a broad range of contexts that are designed to inform students’ interpretation of texts and ideas, this allows students to explore perspectives outside of their own, to promotes a greater understanding and appreciation of difference and diversity.

     Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

    “It was great to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday this week, his plays remain such a core part of young people’s literary journey and I am excited to see the submissions for the creative writing competition.” 

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “I was delighted to hear that West Exe School marked Shakespeare’s birthday in appropriate dramatic fashion by exploring some of his most memorable scenes.  Learning more about the author is such a helpful way of bringing texts to life for students and helps everything they learn to really stick with them.”

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  • St James School hosts Devon Physical Disability Super Sports Event

    Published 07/05/24

    St James School in Exeter, part of the Ted Wragg Trust family, recently hosted the Devon Physical Disability Super Sports Event alongside Devon’s Physical Disability Team.

    Twenty five students from across Devon attended the event and the school’s Year 9 Sports Leaders were on hand to help out on the day.

    On the menu for the day was inclusive tennis, wheelchair basketball and a multi-sports skills session. There were also games of boccia, a game where athletes throw, kick or use a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a 'jack' ball.  It was designed specifically for athletes with a disability affecting locomotor function.

    St James School is housed within a purpose-built modern building with very attractive school grounds and sports areas. Their external sports areas include an all-weather pitch, athletics field, tennis courts and also a rugby pitch.  This is in addition to their sports hall and dedicated dance studio.  

    Emily Harper, Head Teacher at St James School said:

    “It was brilliant to host the Devon Physical Disability Super Sports Event at St James this term.  Meeting the young people from across Devon was so lovely and it was great to have our Year 9 Sports Leader on hand, they were a real help and credit to the school.”

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “Everyone at the trust is so pleased that St James was able to host this important event for young people across Devon.  It sounds like it was an amazing day and I am glad that St James could share their excellent sporting facilities for the benefit of others.”

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  • Whipton Barton Federation pupils win ‘Proud to Be’ postcard competition

    Published 07/05/24

    Mrs Moretta, the headteacher at Whipton Barton Federation, part of our Trust was pleased to attend the ‘Proud to Be’ community event held at The Beacon Centre, along with Mrs Williams the assistant headteacher.

    The staff were in attendance on behalf of four pupils from the school who were winners in the postcard competition. The children's entries celebrated the places in their local community that they are proud of.

    Evie in Year 3 drew lots of aspects of the school; Logan in Year 3 drew his house, park, and church; Kiarna in Year 1 drew her special people and Laurence in Year 1 drew his house, the shops and his special tree. Each winner was presented with a book voucher, bookmarks, and chocolate!

    Those attending the event were also treated to the premier of the new community film and song. The film was about people living and working in the community talking about the parts which are important to them such as the community centre, church, and pub.

     Louise Moretta. Executive Headteacher at Whipton Barton Federation said:

    “I am delighted that four of our pupils were winners in the postcard competition. It was lovely to see their submissions and all the places they value in the community. The whole school is looking forward to continuing to build new connections with the community members that were part of the project.”

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “Everyone at the trust wants to offer their congratulations to the four superstar Whipton Barton pupils who took part in the postcard competition. Being part of, and supporting, the local community is a key part of the Ted Wragg ethos and it’s brilliant to see this being exemplified so well at the Whipton Barton Federation.”

     

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  • Exwick Heights Primary School celebrate Earth Day

    Published 25/04/24

    Pupils and staff at Exwick Heights Primary School, part of our Ted Wragg Trust family, have been celebrating Earth Day this week.

    Earth Day is an annual event held on the 22nd of April encouraging people to demonstrate support for environmental protections. The first Earth Day was held back in 1970 and it has grown to include a wide range of events coordinated globally by Earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics" and the organisation is calling for a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040. 

    After completing a successful project last summer at the school, staff were pleased to recently welcome back Arque Ltd employees to help get the nature area ready for its grand reopening. The nature area has long been a key feature of the school and it creates a great connection between pupils, staff, and the environment. 

    Richard Boyter, the caretaker of the school, has been the driving force behind this project and under his direction two wooden structures were worked on, rotten wood was replaced, and additional support columns were added.  The damaged roofing felt was also replaced and rainwater goods were added to allow for water harvesting.

    Mrs Gemma Wills, Headteacher at Exwick Heights Primary School said:

    “At Exwick Heights we believe it’s imperative that children learn about the importance of environmental conservation and looking after the planet. I am delighted that our nature area has reopened in time for Earth Day, which was a brilliant reminder to encourage us all to work together to create a brighter future for young people and the earth.”

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “Everyone at the Ted Wragg Trust is so grateful to Arque Ltd for giving their time to support the improvements in the nature area at Exwick Heights. It is such a beautiful space and I know how excited the children there are to use it again.”

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  • Exeter students learn about bright futures in the solar industry

    Published 25/04/24

    Students from West Exe School, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, attended a solar careers fair this month.

    Year 8 and 9 students went along to Exeter College and met with representatives from a number of companies involved in the solar industry.

    The students also played a highly competitive game of giant Jenga, took part in a quiz, which one of the Year 9 teams won, and attended talks on the ‘Future of Solar’.

    As the world shifts towards a low-carbon future, the demand for clean energy sources is increasing. One of the fastest-growing areas of renewable energy is solar power, which has seen tremendous growth in recent years.  

    By 2035, the solar industry is expected to support around 60,000 jobs in the UK, that’s up from around 7,000 in 2020 – representing a significant increase in demand for skilled workers in the sector. 

     Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

    “It was great for some of our students to go along to the fayre and learn all about an industry they might not have considered working in before. At West Exe we want young people to leave us ready for the jobs of the future, so examining careers in the renewable energy sector makes total sense.  

    “It was also lovely to hear that one of the exhibitors commented that our students asked the best, most insightful and challenging questions of any of the schools in attendance!”

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “At the Ted Wragg Trust we are keen for all local educational institutions to come together for the benefit of young people, as such I am delighted that some West Exe students attended this event at Exeter College. It’s brilliant to hear they were asking some really thought-provoking questions of industry professionals.”

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  • Marine Academy Primary celebrates national award for pupil performance

    Published 17/04/24

    Pupils at Marine Academy Primary, in St Budeaux in Plymouth, are celebrating after being recognised by SSAT (The Schools, Students and Teachers Network) in this year’s Educational Outcomes Awards. The award recognises that Marine Academy Primary, with its motto “where stars shine brighter”, is among the highest performing primary schools in the country, based on 2023 performance data and information from Ofsted.

    The School was recognised in two categories, receiving awards for being in the top 10% of schools nationally for pupil progress and for being in the top 20% of schools nationally for pupil attainment in the 2023 KS2 tests.

    The SSAT Educational Outcomes database compares all state-funded schools in England. To be recognised with an Educational Outcomes Award is a significant achievement and a testament to the work of the whole school community. 

    Nicola Keeler and Georgie Reid, Co-Headteachers, Marine Academy Primary said:

    “This award reflects the exceptional efforts of everyone in our Marine Academy Primary community. We are so proud of the love of learning we have created within our school community and the lasting impact we are able to make for every child. Thank you to our staff team, our wonderful pupils and their families. We are so proud of you all.”

    Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT said:

    “Congratulations to Marine Academy Primary on winning two SSAT Educational Outcomes awards. This success is down to the superb learning and teaching, outstanding support and inspirational leadership of students, staff, parents and governors. You have made a huge difference to the lives of the young people in your school. Thank you.”

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  • GCSE Business students surprised to learn how income tax affects your salary

    Published 26/03/24

    West Exe School, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, welcomed members of the economics department from the University of Exeter to the school this month as part of a joint initiative from the university and the ‘Discover Economics’ programme.

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  • West Exe School staff help fundraise for Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival

    Published 25/03/24

    Staff from West Exe School and the Ted Wragg Trust attended a fundraising quiz for the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival this month.

    The festival this year will run from the 18th to the 22nd of September. As a registered charity, their mission is to celebrate books and their authors and promote the art of writing and the enjoyment of reading in the East Devon community and in other local schools.

    Chloe Fox, a Senior Leader at West Exe School and Carrie McMillan, Director at South West Teacher Training and the Ted Wragg Trust Professional Development Lead were invited to attend the fundraiser quiz at the new cricket club to raise funds to facilitate the festival's target of reaching over 2000 children this year with their talks and workshops.

    Last year West Exe School hosted author Manjeet Mann to talk about her book as part of the Budleigh Literary Festival schools outreach program. Her debut novel RUN, REBEL for young adults was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2021 and won the CILIP Carnegie Shadowers Choice Award, The UKLA Award, Diverse Book Award and Sheffield Children's Book Award. It was also a Guardian best book of 2020. Manjeet’s second novel The Crossing, won the Costa Book Award for a Children’s Book in 2021 and was also named the Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week. She also founded Run The World, a not for profit organisation that uses sport and theatre as a means to empower women and girls. 

    Sue Briggs Chairperson of the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival said that she was thrilled to have Ted Wragg Trust schools as part of the programme and that she is looking forward to working more closely with the trust in the coming years.

    Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

    “Developing a lifelong love of reading makes all other forms of learning easier and at West Exe we will continue to put literacy at the heart of our curriculum. I am looking forward to working closely with the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival team again this year; it’s clear how much benefit their outreach programme brings to students. We have taken part in their poetry slam competition several times too (even winning it once!). These events bring the written word to life for our students and we are very proud to be associated with the festival.”

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “I am delighted that West Exe and Ted Wragg staff took the time to go and help fundraise for the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival.  It’s such a brilliant event and brings so much to the South West in terms of cultural capital.”

     

       

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  • It’s checkmate for Matford Brook in chess competition with West Exe

    Published 13/03/24

    West Exe School, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, recently hosted their first inter-school chess competition with 9 of the school’s Year 7 students who attend a lunchtime Chess Club taking on their counterparts from Matford Brook Academy.

    There were a few nerves alongside a lot of excitement amongst the students who were proud to represent their schools. Both sets of students played some excellent chess over the course of the afternoon, with a lot of incredibly close games as students got to grips with the pressure of playing under timed conditions for the first time. 

    The West Exe students ultimately won the majority of the games played, claiming an overall victory on the day!  Overall, it was a fantastic afternoon with students from both schools showing both a competitive spirit, as well as fantastic sportsmanship all round.

    Texts referencing the origins of chess date from the start of the seventh century. The game received a surge in popularity in recent years following the TV show The Queen’s Gambit which centres on a woman trying to become a chess champion.

    Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

    “I am delighted that West Exe students won our very first inter-school chess tournament and want to offer everyone who took part a big congratulations! Watching our year 7s take such joy not just in their chess, but in hosting students from Matford Brook Academy was the highlight of my week. I am incredibly proud of them all.”

    Emily Simpson-Horne, Headteacher at Matford Brook Academy said:

    “Participating in an inter-school chess competition was a wonderful highlight in our half-term so far. One of our school values is Community and our pupils appreciated the opportunity to network with their wider Ted Wragg community and peers from West Exe. Thank you to the staff at West Exe for hosting us; we look forward to welcoming you to us in the future.”

          

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  • Tor Bridge High marks World Book Day

    Published 11/03/24

    Tor Bridge High celebrated World Book Day last week (7th March) by putting on a range of crafts, quizzes, games, and competitions! 

    Years 7, 8 and 9 were able to choose a free World Book Day book from school during the week and World Book Day tokens were available to students so that they are able to choose another book for free from venues such as Tesco, Asda, The Works, Sainsbury's and Waterstones!

    The school also organised a book swap and a treasure hunt of Carnegie Medal winning books around the site, as well as transforming the library into a Starbooks cafe - to help students find the perfect blend of book. Displays and activities were on offer to help students pick a book that is right for them; a 'tall' short story, a regular-sized 'grande', or a lengthy 'venti!’ 

    The school library is often a hub of literary action hosting four massive events a year, Harry Potter Week, Book Week, Sci-Fi Week and Marvel Week. Harry Potter Week held earlier in the year saw themed activities arranged from enabling Year 7 students to be ‘sorted’, to making their own wands, taking part in quidditch, experimenting with alchemy and much more. Little Hogwarts was also opened up so that family members and the wider community could come along and join in the magic.

    As part of Book Week earlier in the week, Tor Bridge was delighted to welcome author and actor Joseph Elliott into the school to speak to Year 7 and 8 students about what life is like as an actor and author.  

    Alongside starring in CBBC’s Swashbuckle and writing for programmes such as Horrible Histories, Joseph wrote in secret for years. His debut novel, The Good Hawk, released in 2020, was nominated for several awards and was The Times' Book of the Year. The sequels – The Broken Raven, and The Burning Swift – were released to similar critical acclaim.

    Tracy Stephenson, Headteacher at Tor Bridge High said:

    “I am so grateful to the staff members who work so hard to put our library at the heart of the student and wider community. Getting children to enjoy reading is central to them getting the most out of their education and it’s clear how much fun our students have had this World Book Day.”

        

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