Sidmouth College’s cheerleading team has been crowned regional champions at the South West Cheerleading Championships, held at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay.

Competing in the South West Schools Division, the Sidmouth team placed first after their routine was judged against entries from across the region.

The team take part in after-school cheerleading sessions as part of the college’s wider enrichment and extracurricular PE programme.

Part of the Ted Wragg Trust, Sidmouth College offers a range of enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom, including sport, performance and creative activities.

The South West Cheerleading Championships, originally launched in 2013 as the Exeter Cheer Festival, was rebranded in 2021 and now takes place at the Riviera International Centre. The event brings together teams from across the South West to compete and showcase cheerleading.

Well done to the Sidmouth College cheerleading team: Kiana, Tessa, Mary-Bess, Ashlee, Lyla, Ella, Edie, Bethany, Nola, Evie, Poppy, Emily, Chloe, Scarlett, Ava, Florence, Phoebe, Sienna, Tilly, Mailea, Megan, Imogen, Flossie, India and Paige.

Mr Alex Evans, Headteacher at Sidmouth College, said:

“This is a brilliant achievement for the cheerleading team, who represented the college strongly against tough opposition from across the region. Their commitment to training and teamwork has been evident throughout the season, and their success is fully deserved."

Moira Marder, CEO, Ted Wragg Trust, said: “It’s wonderful to see the enrichment programme provided by the college supporting students to have this opportunity to compete. A huge congratulations to the Sidmouth College cheerleading team on this fantastic achievement.”

 

 

Exmouth Community College (ECC) welcomed the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) into school this term to deliver a series of ‘Water Smart’ assemblies for students, helping them develop essential knowledge to stay safe around water.

The sessions form part of the college’s ongoing commitment to student safety and wellbeing, particularly given its close proximity to the coast and the increased independence young people develop as they get older.

Research shows that as young people grow in confidence and independence, their risk around water can increase. With Exmouth’s strong coastal location, the college places a high priority on ensuring students understand how to enjoy their environment safely and responsibly.

During the interactive presentations, students learned key water safety skills including how to “float to survive”, the meaning of different beach safety flags, and how to respond if caught in a rip current, a particularly important risk along the local coastline.

The sessions were designed to be practical, memorable and empowering, giving pupils the knowledge and confidence to make safer decisions when near water, whether at the beach or in other open water environments.

Exmouth Community College, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, extended its thanks to the RNLI team for their time, expertise and continued commitment to water safety education.

Tom Inman, Headteacher at Exmouth Community College, said: 

“We were delighted to welcome the RNLI into college to deliver these important Water Smart sessions. Living so close to the sea is a real privilege for our community, but it also comes with responsibilities.

“It is essential that our young people understand how to stay safe in and around water, and these sessions provided them with vital life skills that could make a real difference.

“We hope students will share what they have learned with their families and friends, helping to spread these important safety messages across our wider community.”

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

“Ensuring our young people are safe, confident and well-prepared is at the heart of everything we do across the Ted Wragg Trust.

“These Water Smart sessions are a brilliant example of how schools can work with expert partners like the RNLI to deliver meaningful, practical learning that has a real impact beyond the classroom.”

 

 

 

 

Students and staff at Sidmouth College are celebrating after the school was found to have met the ‘expected standard’ across all areas following a visit from Ofsted, with inspectors highlighting positive relationships, an ambitious curriculum and strong foundations for learning.

Ofsted inspectors visited the Primley Road school in March, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, to assess achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing, along with post-16 provision.

Ofsted now uses a new reporting system with a five-point scale rather than the previous single-word grades. ‘Expected standard’ is the new benchmark used to indicate a high performing school that is doing everything it should be.

In their report, inspectors noted strong learning across the ambitious curriculum, stating that students “progress well through the curriculum”. At GCSE level, students were found to be building strong foundations in English and maths, with outcomes in these subjects “significantly above the national average”.

The wider school experience was also praised, with inspectors stating that students “have positive, respectful relationships with staff, who provide appropriate support and care”. They also highlighted the range of opportunities available, noting how extracurricular activities develop students’ talents and interests, such as sport, music or drama. These strengthen social and teamwork skills and “foster a feeling of belonging to the school”.

Leadership and governance were recognised as effective, with inspectors noting that leaders understand the school’s priorities and take appropriate action to drive improvement.

Post-16 provision was also noted as having improved, with students now achieving well and being better prepared for their next steps in education, employment or training.

Other comments in the report included:

• Pupils feel safe and have trusted members of staff with whom they can share concerns
• Pupils generally have positive attitudes to learning and to the wider opportunities on offer 
• Leaders ensure that teachers receive effective professional learning opportunities
• Pupils learn how to be positive members of the community through demonstrating kindness

Mr Alex Evans, Headteacher at Sidmouth College, said:

“We are delighted with this outcome and very grateful to our students, staff, families and wider school community for all their hard work and support.

“We are proud that Ofsted has recognised the many strengths across the college, particularly the positive relationships between staff and students, the ambition of our curriculum, and the strong foundations in place for learning.

“It is especially pleasing that inspectors highlighted the strong progress students make through the curriculum.

“While this provides a strong foundation, we remain ambitious for every student. We’re now focused on continuing to ensure our students love coming to school and strengthening consistency in the classroom, improving outcomes further, and making sure every young person benefits from high-quality teaching every day.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust, said:

“I would like to congratulate everyone at Sidmouth College on this Ofsted outcome, which reflects the progress being made across the school and the hard work of staff, students and families working together.

“At Ted Wragg Trust our focus is on transforming lives through education and this report shows that in action, from strong teaching and positive relationships to the support in place for every young person.

“We are pleased with the recognition of the school’s strengths and excited to work together to build on these even further, ensuring every student can achieve their best and go on to live a life full of opportunity."

Year 5 pupils at Exwick Heights Primary School in Exeter enjoyed an immersive journey through space after welcoming the Space Odyssey mobile planetarium to the school.

Inside the giant inflatable dome, pupils explored the planets in the solar system and learned fascinating facts about how they differ in size, temperature and distance from the Sun.

One of the highlights of the session saw pupils learning about the phases of the Moon and discovering how its changing appearance is caused by its position in relation to the Earth and Sun.

The interactive experience also introduced children to a range of exciting astronomy facts, helping to spark curiosity and encouraging pupils to ask questions about the world around them.

Space Odyssey’s presentations are led by experienced science educator and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society Simon Ould, using immersive projections and simulations to bring science learning to life.

Exwick Heights Primary School, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, places a strong emphasis on developing children’s curiosity and understanding of the world through hands-on science learning. The school’s science curriculum encourages pupils to ask questions, investigate ideas and develop scientific enquiry skills from an early age.

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

“The space dome visit was a fantastic experience for our Year 5 pupils and brought their science learning to life in a really memorable way. The children were fascinated by the different planets and loved learning more about the Moon and the wider universe. Experiences like this help inspire curiosity and excitement about science.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust, said:

“Across our family of schools, we want children to experience learning in ways that spark curiosity and encourage them to ask questions about the world around them. It’s wonderful to see students enjoying an opportunity like this, helping to broaden horizons and show pupils how exciting and engaging science can be beyond the classroom.”

Students and staff at St James School in Exeter have recently held their ‘Culture Day’, an engaging event that celebrated the rich diversity within the school community.

Students showcased their heritage by wearing traditional clothing representing a wide range of cultures. Countries including Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Portugal, China and India were represented, creating a meaningful opportunity for students to share and learn more about each other’s backgrounds.

Food played a central role in the celebrations, with the school’s catering team preparing a special menu inspired by global cuisine. Students were able to experience dishes from different cultures, adding another dimension to the day. 

Throughout the event, students also took part in an interactive cultural quiz, made up of nine engaging rounds. The quiz tested their knowledge of languages, food, art and geography from around the world, encouraging curiosity and teamwork.

The event reflected the commitment of the school, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, to celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion. 

Emily Harper, Headteacher at St James School, said:

“Culture Day is one of the highlights of our school year. It gives our students a chance to take pride in their own heritage while learning more about the diverse backgrounds of others. Seeing the enthusiasm, respect and curiosity shown throughout the day was fantastic, and it really reflects the inclusive ethos we are so proud of at St James.” 

Moira Marder, Chief Executive Officer of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“Events like Culture Day are a brilliant example of what makes our schools so special. We are proud to see students embracing diversity, celebrating identity and learning from one another. This is exactly the kind of inclusive, values-driven education we are committed to across our family of schools.” 

 

Tor Bridge High is celebrating a remarkable basketball season after both its year 7 and year 8 teams went undefeated for a second consecutive year.

The year 7 team played eight games this season and claimed the PSSP (Plymouth Schools Sports Partnership) annual tournament. Meanwhile, the Year 8 squad also maintained their perfect record, winning all their central venue fixtures across four evenings at the Life Centre.

Across both teams, led by PE teacher Mr Dann, staff say the success has been driven by commitment to training, strong team spirit, and a shared ambition to improve.

Strong links with local clubs and the Plymouth Patriots Academy have also played a key role, giving students exposure to elite-level basketball and coaching support. Combined with role models from older year groups, this helps create a clear pathway for aspiring players to progress to higher levels of the sport.

Part of the Ted Wragg Trust, Tor Bridge High is building on its success in the sport with the launch of its Year 7 Basketball Academy in September, offering enhanced training, nutrition support, and development opportunities for future players.

Following in the footsteps of the school’s sixth form Patriots Academy students, the programme is led by Paul James, Director of Basketball at Plymouth Patriots, and links into the Patriots Pathway, giving talented year 7 players the chance to progress under elite coaching alongside the school’s top performers.

Anyone interested in being considered for the Patriots Pathway at Year 7 should contact Scott Williams on [email protected] for more information.

Mr Dann, PE teacher at Tor Bridge High, said:

“This has been another brilliant season for both our year 7 and Year 8 basketball teams. The students’ commitment to training, their teamwork, and their determination to improve week after week has been outstanding. Going unbeaten for a second consecutive year is a fantastic achievement, and I couldn’t be prouder of every player for the way they’ve represented Tor Bridge High on and off the court.”

 Tracy Stephenson, Headteacher at Tor Bridge High, said:

“Our basketball programme continues to grow from strength to strength, and our teams’ success shows what can be achieved when talent is combined with dedication and support. Launching the Year 7 Basketball Academy allows students to start developing their skills earlier, giving them the best possible foundation to progress through the Patriots Pathway and achieve their full potential.”