Students at Sidmouth College made a splash for a great cause this term with their “Sponge the Teacher” fundraiser, brilliantly organised by Mr Jackson’s tutor group.

The event saw brave staff members volunteering to face a barrage of wet sponges, all in the name of charity. With laughter, cheers, and plenty of water flying, the event raised £60 for Suicide Prevention UK, a charity dedicated to supporting those struggling with their mental health.

Sidmouth College, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, would like to extend a big thank you to the courageous teachers who volunteered as targets and to everyone who donated to support this important cause.

Suicide Prevention UK is dedicated to supporting individuals who are struggling with their mental health and may be at risk of suicide. The charity offers emotional support through outreach work, crisis intervention, and awareness campaigns aimed at breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. 

Their mission is to ensure that no one faces their darkest moments alone, providing hope and connection when it’s needed most. By working closely with communities and promoting open conversations about mental wellbeing, Suicide Prevention UK plays a vital role in saving lives. 

Mrs Lisa Whitworth, Headteacher at Sidmouth College said:

“A massive well done to Mr Jackson’s tutor group for taking the lead and putting on such a fun, well-organised event. It’s fantastic to see our students so engaged in supporting important causes.”

Moria Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“I am incredibly proud of the compassion and initiative shown by the students at Sidmouth College. Fundraising events like this not only bring joy and laughter, but also raise awareness of vital issues. Supporting mental health charities like Suicide Prevention UK reflects the values we strive to nurture across all our schools, kindness, community, and the courage to make a difference.”

 

To mark International Women in Engineering Day, eleven students from All Saints Academy Plymouth (ASAP) took part in the Engineering Her Future event at the iconic Tamar Bridge. International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), organised by Women’s Engineering Society (WES), promotes the amazing work that women engineers across the globe are doing. 

Engineering Her Future is a free annual event hosted at the Tamar Bridge, promoting amazing opportunities in STEM (science, technology, maths and engineering) fields for young women, as currently only 16.5% of engineers are female. In particular, the event focuses on opportunities for women and girls within engineering and related sectors working locally. The event is organised by YMCA Plymouth in partnership with local schools and hosted across the incredible Tamar Bridge visitor centre.

The day offered a unique opportunity for students to explore the world of engineering first-hand. Highlights included an engaging talk from a female engineer at Babcock, who shared her journey into the industry and the exciting challenges of her role. Students also connected with a range of local employers, learning more about the diverse career pathways within engineering.

The girls also donned hard hats and safety gear to step beneath the bridge onto a platform below the road surface, getting a rare, close-up view of the engineering marvel that links Plymouth and Cornwall.

The students from ASAP, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, impressed everyone with their curiosity, confidence, and insightful questions. They represented their school with pride, showing just how bright the future of engineering can be.

 Lacey Tombs, Acting Headteacher at All Saints Academy Plymouth said:

"Our students were absolutely inspired by this experience - seeing real-life engineering in action and meeting female role models in the field was truly eye-opening. Opportunities like this help spark ambition and show our young people that there’s no limit to what they can achieve in STEM careers."

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said: 

"At the Ted Wragg Trust, we are committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring every young person sees themselves reflected in exciting careers like engineering. It’s brilliant to see All Saints students engaging so confidently in a sector where their voices and talents are so needed."

A massive congratulations is in order for the incredible GreenPower engineering and racing team at All Saints Academy Plymouth (ASAP) who achieved record-breaking success at a race day event in West Cornwall.

The talented team of Year 7 and 8 students, who have worked tirelessly over the winter to develop and refine their two electric race cars, Interceptor and Slimer, competed against 22 other teams, delivering their best-ever performance on the track.

In the first race, the team secured an impressive 3rd and 7th place, but it was the second race that saw them truly shine, claiming both 2nd and 3rd place finishes, a remarkable achievement for such young competitors.

Beyond the track, the team also impressed the judges during their pitch for the Ford Engineering Award, showcasing their technical innovations and engineering knowledge with passion and professionalism. Their efforts were rewarded with a win for the second time this season, reinforcing their reputation for engineering excellence.

The team is now hopeful that their performance has earned them a place in the International Finals at Goodwood, a fitting stage for their talent and ambition.

The school, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, would like to thank their generous sponsors, CityBus, Babcock, Murray Group, and Storm Force Roofing, without whom the team’s achievements would not have been possible.

Lacey Tombs, Acting Headteacher at All Saints Academy Plymouth said:

“We are immensely proud of our GreenPower team. Their hard work, innovation, and teamwork are truly inspiring, and this result is a testament to what young people can achieve when they are given the opportunity to shine. We’ll be cheering them on all the way to Goodwood!”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said: 

“This is an extraordinary accomplishment showcasing the talent and commitment of a remarkable group of students. Their dedication to engineering, collaboration, and excellence perfectly reflects the values we uphold across our trust. Congratulations to every member of the team, the future of engineering is bright.”

  

  

  

  

Marine Academy Primary is proud to announce that the school has been selected to take part in a landmark music project set in one of Devon’s most iconic buildings, Exeter Cathedral.

This unique initiative unites children from across the county to form one powerful, collective choir that will perform live in the heart of the historic cathedral. As part of the programme, the Marine Academy Primary pupils will take part in three specialist music sessions in school, leading up to a moving and unforgettable final performance.

The first session took place this term, where pupils were introduced to the majesty of Exeter Cathedral through imagery and a short history lesson. They also got their first look at the three beautiful songs they will perform, including one newly commissioned piece created just for this project.

At Marine Academy Primary which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, they believe every child is musical. From weekly lessons and whole-class instrument tuition,  to after-school clubs like choir, orchestra and musical theatre, their music curriculum is broad, inclusive, and designed to inspire a lifelong love of music. 

Children explore composing, performing, and listening, with regular opportunities to sing, play, and even perform in public events like the Big Sing and seasonal showcases. The school works closely with the Plymouth Youth Music Service and Exeter Music Hub to provide expert teaching and exciting live music experiences. 

Georgina Reid Headteacher at Marine Academy Primary said:

 “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our children, not just to perform in such a breath-taking venue, but to be part of something that connects them with others across the region through the power of music.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust said:

“Opportunities like this spark creativity, confidence and collaboration. Singing in Exeter Cathedral will be a memory these children carry for life and a shining example of the magic that can happen when schools come together.”

A group of Year 9 girls from Isca Academy have taken major steps towards shaping their futures this year through the Empowering Girls mentoring programme, working with inspirational female mentors from across the business and public sectors.

The scheme pairs students with successful women from a range of industries, including the NHS, Met Office, and local enterprises, who volunteer their time to offer one-to-one guidance. Over a six-week period, mentors have helped students boost their confidence, explore career pathways, and build the skills needed to thrive in education and beyond.

This term, students joined fellow mentees and mentors from across Exeter and Plymouth for a celebration event at Winslade Manor, where they were treated to a celebratory lunch, certificate presentations, and an inspiring keynote speech from international makeup artist Zakiyah Shani.

Zakiyah spoke candidly about her nonlinear journey, encouraging the students to stay true to themselves as their paths evolve. She shared how tools like vision boarding and journaling helped her stay focused, and how she continues to work through self-doubt, even now in her successful career. The message landed powerfully with the students, who left the event feeling motivated and empowered.

The Empowering Girls initiative is one of many enriching experiences built into Isca Academy’s careers programme. The school, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, integrates ambition and aspiration into daily learning while challenging stereotypes and promoting equality of opportunity. 

Mrs Vicki Joyce, Headteacher at Isca Academy said:

"The Empowering Girls programme has been transformational for our Year 9 students. Seeing them grow in confidence and begin to define their ambitions has been truly rewarding. We are so grateful to the incredible mentors who’ve given their time and wisdom. This experience has lit a spark in our girls and I can’t wait to see where it takes them."

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

"This programme perfectly reflects what we stand for at the Ted Wragg Trust, raising aspirations, breaking down barriers, and creating meaningful opportunities for every young person. I want to thank all the mentors who have inspired our students and helped them see that the future is wide open. I’m sure that Zakiyah’s words will stay with them for years to come."

  

The red carpet was well and truly rolled out at the Devonport Market Hall on Thursday 26th June, as students from across the Ted Wragg Trust took centre stage for their first ever ‘School Oscars’, the Ted Wragg Moving Image Competition Awards. 

Held in the state-of-the-art ‘Real Immersive’ space, the evening celebrated the outstanding creativity, technical skill and storytelling power of young filmmakers from schools across the Ted Wragg Trust including Sidmouth College, Cranbrook Education Campus and Lipson Co-Operative Academy.

With 26 short films entered, the event saw a range of genres and themes, from gripping horror thrillers and slick adverts to powerful informational films exploring mental health and caring. 

Categories included Best Animation, Best Script, Best Cinematography, Best Short Film (Junior and Senior) and Most Original Concept, with industry professionals Gerard Williams, a BAFTA-nominated producer; Sam Hatton Brown, creative director at her own media business; and Jay Stone, a filmmaker, judging the entries.

Each category featured a showreel of nominees, culminating in the winning film being screened in full to a packed audience of proud families, staff and supporters.

The full list of winners is below:

• BEST ANIMATION - Una Cox - ‘Tongues and Teeth’ (Sidmouth College)
• BEST ADVERT - Scarlett-Leigh Winter - ‘SWS Dance Studio’ (Lipson Academy)
• BEST MUSIC VIDEO - Ed Roles - ‘Funny Thing’ (Sidmouth College)
• BEST INFORMATIONAL VIDEO - Matty Hancock - ‘The Unspoken Stories’ (Lipson Academy)
• BEST PERFORMANCE -  Ellie May Sargeant - ‘ Intruder’ (Lipson Academy)
• MOST ORIGINAL CONCEPT - Max Tong - ‘The Last Shift’ (Cranbrook School)
• BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN - Madison Badock - ‘The Echo’ (Lipson Academy)
• BEST POST PRODUCTION - Dylan Woods - ‘Lurking’ (Lipson Academy)
• BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - Milena Leisinschi - ‘The Guessing Game’ (Lipson Academy
• BEST SCRIPT - Consuela Catilou - ‘Who is it?’ (Lipson Academy)
• BEST SHORT FILM JUNIOR - Bethany, Riley & Jonathan - ‘Alexa’s Dimension’ (Cranbrook Primary)
• BEST SHORT FILM SENIOR - Violet Jackson - ‘Martyr’ (Lipson Academy)

The Moving Image Competition was created to give young people a professional platform to explore the power of film, celebrating collaboration, self-expression and creative risk-taking. Inspired by the legacy of Young Motion Plymouth (2008–2013), the Ted Wragg Trust hopes this new annual event will become a cornerstone of its creative arts offer, and organisers are already looking ahead to next year’s event, with plans to grow and secure sponsorship.

Siobhan Meredith, Executive Director of Education at the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“This has been such a joyful celebration of our students – their creativity, their voices, and their brilliant ideas. The films they’ve produced are full of passion and imagination and it’s been a real privilege to see their hard work brought to life on the big screen. Events like this are what the Ted Wragg Trust is all about: giving young people opportunities to shine, to be heard and to take centre stage. We’re so proud of what they’ve achieved and we can’t wait to build on this next year.”

Rhys Phillips, Head of Media Studies & Event Organiser, Lipson Academy, Plymouth said:

“The standard of all the entries has been staggering with such high-quality creativity in every production from Primary through to Secondary. The depth of planning and imagination that filmmakers and producers put into the final films and videos takes real dedication. All the filmmakers can take a bow because they have truly impressed the audience and judges. It was a very proud moment seeing our students receiving their awards and celebrating all of their achievements in such an iconic venue and I'm already looking forward to next year.”