Skip to content ↓
Twitter LinkLinked inFacebook

Our Trust of Schools

News

Page 2

Archive

  • Local students mentored by paralympian David Hill ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Published 05/06/24

    Year 9 students Zack, Daisy and Maisie from West Exe School, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, cooked a hot homemade meal for the homeless clients of St Petrocks this month.

    Originating as a community project providing humanitarian response to rough sleepers in Exeter, St Petrocks officially opened its doors in December 1994, having been given permission by the Central Parish of Exeter to adapt two thirds of St Petrock’s church for use as a homeless centre.  Over 600 people every year face homelessness and multiple disadvantages in Exeter and the surrounding areas.  

    Many of those who use St Petrock’s are people often viewed as being on the fringes of, or outside of, society. They include rough sleepers, those being supported in accommodation subsequent to homelessness, those facing imminent homelessness, those released from prison and those discharged from hospital, mental health facilities/specialist accommodation.  

    The students have been mentored by the paralympian David Hill as part of his work with the Dame Kelly's Trust. The four Year 9s are all taking part in AQA’s Unlocking Potential Programme which is run by the trust and donating the meals was part of the project’s social action component. 

    The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust was set up in 2008 by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes. It supports retired athletes as they transition from sport and uses their skills and experience to transform the lives of young people through mentoring programmes. The AQA Unlocking Potential programme, run jointly with the Trust aims to bring out the best in young people so that they can achieve their goals.  

    The mentors know what it takes to overcome adversity and have the will to succeed not only in sport, but in life too.  Paralympic swimmer and triathlete David Hill grew up by the sea where he learnt to swim at a young age. Despite being born with no left forearm; David was earning swimming badges by the age of 3! His talent was nurtured until David qualified for the 2004 Paralympic Games. He was world silver medalist in swimming in 2006 and took bronze medals in 2009 in both European and World competitions.

    The group from West Exe also went along to visit St Petrocks, along with their mentor David, and they were given a guided tour and told more about the charity’s work. Zack, Daisy and Maisie are now partnering with St Petrocks for a ‘sock collection’, they are asking their fellow students to consider donating a new pair of socks for a rough sleeper. The ‘give a pair to show you care’ drive is another part of the students’ social action work to impact the local community. 

     Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

    “I am so proud of Zack, Daisy, and Maisie for the work they have done on their social action project. They all really wanted to do something that would benefit the local community and I know they took a lot away from their visit to St Petrocks. I hope the sock drive will be a big success!”

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “Being part of and contributing to the local community is a key part of the Ted Wragg ethos and I am delighted that these West Exe students have given their time to help those less fortunate than themselves. I also want to say a big thank you to the staff and volunteers at St Petrocks, not only for everything they do to help the homeless, but for taking the time to show these students around and help them learn more about social issues.”

     

     

    Read More

  • Devon students taking part in Empowering Girls programme

    Published 03/06/24

    Girls across Devon are taking part in an Empowering Girls programme organised by the Devon, Plymouth & Torbay Careers Hub.

    Students from St Luke’s Church of England School, St James School, Queen Elizabeth’s, Isca, West Exe School, Cranbrook Education Campus, Sidmouth College and All Saints Academy Plymouth, which are all part of the Ted Wragg Trust family of schools, are benefitting from the programme. 

    The Careers Hub works with 117 schools and colleges across the country to help every young person find their best next step. They do this by working closely with careers leads in schools,  connecting them with employers and encouraging them to create world class careers education programmes for their young people. 

    The Empowering Girls programme has been designed to support girls with their confidence, raise aspirations and provide students with positive female role models. Participants take part in a 6 week mentor programme alongside a workshop that is held at different business premises. These include a tour around the business to demonstrate what different workplaces look and feel like and so students can gather information about different sectors, the skills required to work in them, and the pathways available.

    The Communication and Confidence workshop covers topics such as first impressions, personal branding, confidence in communication, fear, and our comfort zone. The workshop is conducted by Judy Salmon, a business coach, and personal development consultant. 

    The programme lasts for six weeks and at the end there is an end of year celebration event that brings together mentors and mentees who have been part of the Empowering Girls programme throughout the year. This year the event will be in July at Winslade Manor in Exeter and every young person will receive a certificate to recognise their participation and effort, the celebration event last summer saw over 40 girls in attendance.

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “I am delighted that so many Ted Wragg schools are taking part in the Empowering Girls programme. I want to say a big thank you to everyone at the Devon, Plymouth & Torbay Careers Hub for the hard work they have put into this valuable programme.  

    “Not only are they providing girls with the tools they need to thrive in the workplace and their lives, they are also giving them a valuable insight into different career paths.”

    Jo Skeel from the Devon, Plymouth & Torbay Careers Hub said:

    “It’s brilliant to be able to support so many girls from across the county with their career aspirations. It’s so important that girls know there are a wide range of opportunities out there for them and that they should never feel like a certain career path or sector isn’t for them.  I hope the girls really enjoy taking part in the programme and that it inspires them to reach for the stars when it come to their future.”

    Sarah Abrahams who founded the Empowering Girls Programme said:

    “‘You can’t be what you can’t see’ Marian Wright Edelman.

    “We continue to strive for gender balance and equity in our society and although there have been big strides in the right direction over the last 50 years, there is still much to do.

    “Empowering Girls aim is to give young girls tools and inspiration to enable them to broaden their aspirations. With the generosity of female business women across many sectors who give their time to share their own stories and experiences, we are helping the women of tomorrow have brighter futures.

    “The girls have told us they feel more confident, more informed of choices they can make and we’ve also had parents share their delight as they see their daughters grow in their own beliefs and self worth.

    “I have been delighted to see the expansion of the Empowering Girls initiative over the last 5 years, growing the number of girls we can empower across the South West. This wouldn’t be able to be achieved without the Careers Hub and vital school support.”

       

    Read More

  • Young people from Plymouth to sail from Brisbane to Bali!

    Published 21/05/24

    Students and staff at Lipson Co-operative Academy, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, are celebrating as two pupils who left the school last summer have secured a place on the Stad Amsterdam sailing from Brisbane to Bali in August this year on the Clipper World Tour.

    Lucy Lewis and Abi Thorn will be taking part in the all expenses paid trip made possible by the charity Seas Your Future. The school co-ordinated their applications to take part in the trip and they had to supply a personal statement about why they wanted to go on the voyage, an explanation of a challenge or difficulty they have faced, and how they overcame it, a CV and references.  

    Not only were Lucy and Abi successful, but a current Year 13 student, Eli Butler will also be offered a place on another voyage on the Pelican of London this summer.

    Seas Your Future (SYF) is the operating name of Adventure Under Sail (AUS), which was formed in 2008 initially as a small charity managing funds to provide bursaries for young people undertaking sail related activities, and in 2012 took ownership of the tall ship Pelican of London. 

    Its principle strategic aims are to educate young people, through the provision of sailing or sailing related activities and other training and so as to develop their physical, mental, and social capabilities so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society and their conditions of life may be improved.

    The charity operates the ships primarily as sail training vessels for young people, in the northern hemisphere during the spring and summer months mainly around the UK and Europe, and during the autumn and winter months on a six-month transatlantic educational voyage. 

    They provide sailing experience and an alternative form of learning for all young people, encouraging equality, inclusiveness, and passion, through adventure and challenge. Their programmes promote personal growth through Sail Training, Maritime Career options and offer hands-on Ocean Science and environmental conservation activities. 

    Mr Martin Brook, Headteacher at Lipson Co-operative Academy said:

    “I am over the moon for the young people that will get to take part in these life changing voyages.  I wish them all the very best for their adventure and am just delighted that Lipson could help them to succeed when it came to co-ordinating and supporting them with the application process.” 

    Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

    “Everyone at the trust is so excited for Lucy, Abi and Eli and so proud that staff at Lipson helped them to secure these fantastic opportunities.  Not only does Plymouth have a rich marine heritage, but also a lot of the local jobs of the future will be in this sector, so not only do these young people get a once in a lifetime trip, they also get to learn valuable skills that could help them in the future.”

    Read More

  • 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.”

    Read More

  • 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!”

     

    Read More

  • 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.”

    Read More

  • 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.”

    Read More

  • 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.”

     

    Read More

  • 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.”

    Read More

  • 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.”

    Read More

  • 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.”

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More

Page 2

Archive
Cookie Policy