Academy News

On Friday 12th June, our students and staff will set off on an adventure as we embark on our annual Sponsored Walk and Trek across the Mendips.

To ensure students are fully prepared for the day, we’ve outlined all the vital information, including the timings, what students need to wear, and what they should bring, below! 

Sponsored Walk: For students in Years 7 and 8 

Click here to read more information about the Sponsored Walk

Trek: For students in Years 9 and 10 

Click here to read more information about the Trek

Essentials for Everyone

View the full kit list here

The weather is looking very promising for the walk, so please make sure you have the following essentials: 

• Sun cream

• Hat

• Plenty of water, there are no refill stations along the way

• Packed lunch and plenty of snacks

There will also be a chance to buy an ice lolly at the end of the sponsored walk, so please bring cash if you wish to buy one! 

And remember - this is not a race, so students should take their time, and they can opt out of some sections if they find them difficult.

Returning home

Students will return to the Academy at the end of the school day; coaches will operate as normal. 

Donations 

This is a really fun and adventurous day for students, but it can present challenges for our students to overcome. Please help spur them on and support the Academy and our chosen charities by donating. 

Last Friday, we welcomed Tessa Munt, MP, to the Academy for a youth surgery, where students shared their views on important local issues. There was great enthusiasm from students across the school, with discussions focusing on transport, healthcare, the voting system, and cycle paths.

Students from Years 7–12 spoke confidently and passionately, demonstrating the importance of young people using their political voice within the community. Year 12 students also learned about exciting opportunities to become more involved in youth politics.

We are already looking forward to Tessa’s next visit in the autumn term, with further details to follow. In July, Year 10 and Year 12 students will also visit Parliament, where Tessa will lead a workshop and provide a tour, further inspiring students’ interest in politics and public speaking.

Any students interested in becoming more involved in politics at the Academy are encouraged to speak to Miss Hockin, Leader of Learning for History and Politics.

Flo brings so much positivity and enthusiasm to her dance lessons, making her a pleasure to teach. She regularly asks for feedback and shows excellent leadership qualities with her peers. We hope Flo continues with dance as she moves up the years at the Academy.

A huge thank you to the Fish Heroes programme for generously providing and delivering free Alaskan salmon to the Academy this week. The donation gave our Year 10 students a fantastic opportunity to work with high-quality ingredients as part of their preparation for their NEA2 practical assessment.

During their trial practical, our Year 10 Food & Nutrition students demonstrated impressive culinary skills by making fresh pasta and creating ravioli and tortellini dishes. The experience allowed them to develop their confidence, refine their techniques and explore creative flavour combinations while working to an excellent standard.

We are incredibly grateful for the support from the Fish Heroes programme and look forward to seeing our Year 10 students continue to build on these valuable skills.

Last weekend, students from Years 9–12 proudly represented their Scouting groups in the annual Army Ten Tors Challenge on Dartmoor.

Ten Tors is one of the UK’s most demanding youth endurance events, challenging teams of six to navigate routes across Dartmoor while visiting at least ten tors along the way. Depending on age category, students completed either the Bronze (35 miles), Silver (45 miles), or Gold (55 miles) challenge between 7:00am on Saturday and 5:00pm on Sunday.

Participants are required to be fully self-sufficient throughout the event, carrying all of their equipment and supplies while navigating Dartmoor’s remote and often challenging terrain. Months of winter training in difficult weather conditions helped prepare students for this remarkable experience.

The event began at Okehampton Camp with the spectacular Army Red Devils parachute display before the traditional cannon fire signalled the start of the challenge. More than 2,500 young people gathered on the starting hill, creating an atmosphere filled with excitement, anticipation, and determination.

Throughout the weekend, supporters were able to follow the progress of teams using satellite tracking devices carried by participants. On Sunday afternoon, thousands of spectators lined “Victory Road” to welcome teams across the finish line with applause and encouragement.

Taking part in Ten Tors requires resilience, teamwork, navigation skills, determination, and perseverance. We are incredibly proud of all the students who completed this inspiring challenge and represented their groups so positively throughout the weekend.

Jas is a recent addition to our Dance class and has joined us with enthusiasm and determination.  She puts her all into every task we set and has created a lovely piece of choreography in preparation for her assessment.  

We are excited to see how she progresses through Term 6.