Exwick Heights Primary School has been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM), a prestigious national recognition of excellence in science teaching and leadership.

This award celebrates the school’s commitment to delivering high-quality science education and encouraging a love of learning through curiosity, investigation, and discovery. The awarding team were particularly impressed by the strength of the school’s curriculum design, the impact on teaching and learning, and the dedication shown by staff to continually improve science provision.

Led by the University of Hertfordshire, the PSQM is awarded following a rigorous year-long professional development process, which includes an initial audit, targeted action, and evidence-based reflection. 

At Exwick Heights, which is part of Ted Wragg Trust, the science curriculum aims to give children an understanding of the world around them from the moment they join the school community. Children are natural scientists and so the school has adopted a curriculum which ensures that scientific enquiry skills are embedded in their learning. This helps children to ask and answer questions about the world around them and recognise how and why science plays an important part in our world.

Gemma Wills, Headteacher at Exwick Heights Primary School said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Primary Science Quality Mark. It reflects the hard work and passion of our staff and pupils, and our commitment to making science exciting, inclusive, and meaningful for every child.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said: “This award is a testament to the incredible work happening at Exwick Heights and their delivery of a high-quality science curriculum that is empowering pupils to explore the world around them. I’m delighted to see the school’s commitment to excellence recognised nationally, it’s a proud moment for the whole Ted Wragg community.”

  

 

The music department at Honiton Community College (HCC) now has two new recording studio facilities thanks to ‘The Beehive’, an award winning community and entertainment centre in Honiton. 

The college and The Beehive have been exploring ways to work together to provide the young people of Honiton with the best creative and performing arts opportunities.

When Victoria Davis, Programme and Events Manager of the Beehive, heard that the integral recording system in the HCC music department was no longer working and required a mixing desk to make it function again, she jumped into action. The Beehive team then kindly offered to loan a mixing desk to school and even came along to install it.

Thanks to the work of David Turner, the Head of CreATE and Music Teacher at HCC and the Beehive team, the integral recording system is now back up and running and students can record music from any room in the music department.

HCC’s newly introduced student music ambassadors were present to welcome the new equipment, which also included a drum kit donated by The Beehive, meaning that there is now a drum kit in every music practice room for students to use.

At Honiton Community College, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, the music department has undergone a real revival in recent months including through the introduction of a GCSE music course and the launch of a new music curriculum this academic year. There are now a wide range of enrichment opportunities for students including a house band, a taiko drumming group, a singing group, a balalaika ensemble, a song writing group and a rock school.

The college has also opened the Honiton Music Centre this term which allows primary and secondary aged children in the Honiton community to learn an orchestral instrument for just £4 a week. This initiative has been supported by the Devon Music Education Hub, the Department of Education and Arts Council England. 

Caroline Brothwood, Headteacher at Honiton Community College said: “We are so grateful to the Beehive team for their generosity and encouragement, from the loan of the mixing desk and drum kit to their continued support of our students. Their help has been a huge part of the recent revival in music at Honiton Community College. The take-up of instrumental lessons has already more than doubled since January, and we look forward to building on this momentum by hopefully hosting college concerts at the Beehive in the future.”

Victoria Davis, Programme and Events Manager at The Beehive said: “At The Beehive, we’re passionate about supporting creativity and giving young people the chance to shine. When we heard the music department at HCC needed help, we were more than happy to step in with a mixing desk and a drum kit. It’s fantastic to see the students making full use of the new facilities and we’re really excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring in the future.”

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Pupils from Exwick Heights Primary School enjoyed an unforgettable day of discovery at Kents Cavern, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe. 

The trip brought their classroom learning about prehistoric Britain vividly to life as the children explored the fascinating underground caves and the scenic woodland trail above.

During the visit, pupils learned how the caves were formed and later discovered, as well as who once lived inside them. They became real-life archaeologists for the day, searching for clues about how people lived in the Stone Age and even holding a genuine Stone Age handaxe.

Kents Cavern is formed from Devonian limestone, originally created over 3,000 miles away beneath the sea. Over millions of years, tiny sea organisms extracted calcium carbonate from seawater to build their shells and bones, which settled on the seabed after they died. These remains were gradually compressed and hardened to form the limestone we see today.

Around 300 million years ago, massive tectonic movements during the Variscan Orogeny caused continents to collide, forming the supercontinent Pangea and pushing, cracking, and crumpling the rocks all the way toward the Torbay area, a journey spanning 3,000 miles.

The trip was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to deepen their understanding of early human history through hands on, immersive learning. It sparked their curiosity about life thousands of years ago and helped them connect their classroom studies with real-world discoveries.

At Exwick Heights, which is part of Ted Wragg Trust, history is brought to life through an engaging and thought provoking curriculum that helps pupils explore Britain’s past and the wider world. The subject is designed to spark curiosity and fascination, encouraging children to ask questions, think critically and make meaningful connections between the past and the present. 

Mrs Gemma Wills, Headteacher at Exwick Heights Primary School said: “Our trip to Kents Cavern was an incredible experience for our pupils. They loved exploring the caves, learning about prehistoric life, and even handling a real Stone Age handaxe. It’s moments like these that make history come alive and inspire curiosity and critical thinking in our children.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said: “At the Ted Wragg Trust, we are committed to providing immersive learning experiences that connect pupils with the wider world. The visit to Kents Cavern gave students a tangible connection to history, sparking their imagination and helping them see the relevance of the past in today’s world.”

  

Cranbrook Education Campus (CEC) has marked its tenth birthday this month with a celebration for the whole school community. Families, pupils, staff and members of the Cranbrook community all came together on Friday the 3rd of October to hear speeches from school leaders, as well as representatives from the Ted Wragg Trust which the school is a part of. 

Pupils also shared some of their own reflections on the school’s journey over the last decade and CEC’s amazing choir put on an array of musical performances, as did some individual performers and pupils who were part of the cast of the school’s production of Shrek the Musical. The celebration was live streamed into classrooms as part of the school day, so that all pupils could take part. Following this, pupils then enjoyed a ‘10 Year Birthday Party’ in their tutor base or classroom for the remainder of the day, with party packs supplied by the PTA and sponsored by local businesses.

The party didn’t end with the school day, as CEC’s PTA kindly put on a bake sale after school during which parents were also encouraged to come and peruse a special photo exhibition which had been curated to celebrate the milestone. As part of the celebrations, every pupil wrote a letter to be buried in a time capsule on the school grounds ready for the next generation of pupils to open. 

At Cranbrook Education Campus, they celebrate every success and encourage learners to live by their five PERKS values: Proud, Engaged, Ready, Kind and Safe. Pupils are rewarded for demonstrating these values both in lessons and around campus, helping them to thrive academically and personally. 

Alongside this, they ensure every pupil enjoys a wide range of opportunities, from reading widely and building cultural capital to volunteering, engaging in extra-curricular activities, and gaining meaningful work experience. By encouraging ambition, resilience and responsibility, staff empower learners to fulfil their potential and contribute positively to their community and beyond.

CEC pupils are regularly rewarded with house points for demonstrating one of their five PERKS, which are - we are proud by following all lesson expectations and reasonable requests. We are engaged by taking ownership of our progress, being self-reflective, and actively participating in all lessons. We are ready by being punctual, wearing the correct uniform, and bringing the right equipment at all times. We are kind by supporting our peers in the best way possible. And we are safe by following all health and safety rules on site and keeping ourselves safe online.

 Stephen Farmer, Head of Campus at Cranbrook Education Campus said:

“This term we celebrated 10 years of Cranbrook Education Campus, a school, a community and a family that I am so proud to be part of. From our humble beginnings with just 52 pupils to now over 1,000, CEC has always been about more than buildings or results; it’s about people. Our pupils inspire us every day, our dedicated staff give their all, our families put their trust in us, and our wider community makes CEC truly #Crantastic. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey so far, here’s to the next 10 years of transforming lives, strengthening our community and making the world a better place."

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

"We are proud to see Cranbrook Education Campus reach its tenth anniversary, a testament to the dedication of its staff and the ambition of its pupils and their families. It was such a joy to listen to the performances during the celebration event and hear from pupils about their hopes for the future as part of their time capsule letters. This celebration highlights the strong sense of community at CEC and the positive impact the school has had over the past ten years, shaping learners who are proud, engaged, and ready to succeed."

  

  

Students at Sidmouth College have had the exciting opportunity to take part in a writers’ workshop led by local author Jane Corry this term. 

Jane Corry is a Sunday Times best-selling author, a Washington Post best-seller, with over 1.5 million books sold worldwide across more than 20 countries. In addition to writing, Jane has taught creative writing at Oxford University, served as writer-in-residence at a high-security male prison, and held a Royal Literary Fund Fellowship at Exeter University. Her work has been recognised with awards including the Elizabeth Goudge Trophy and the Vera Brittain Cup for short stories.

During the session, students developed imaginative story ideas and asked insightful questions about Jane’s experiences as a published writer. The workshop left students feeling inspired and enthusiastic about their own writing, with Jane herself commenting on how impressed she was by their creativity and imagination.

At Sidmouth College, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, the English curriculum is designed to develop reading, writing, and speaking abilities. Students explore a wide range of literature, including poetry, drama, and prose, both fiction and non-fiction, encouraging a love of English while engaging with the themes, ideas, and emotions that have shaped human experience.

Alex Evans, Headteacher at Sidmouth College said:

“It was fantastic to see our students so engaged and inspired by Jane Corry’s workshop. Opportunities like this bring our English curriculum to life, showing students how creativity, imagination, and hard work can lead to real success in writing and beyond.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“Workshops with accomplished authors like Jane Corry provide invaluable experiences for our students. They not only learn about the craft of writing but also gain insight into the dedication and creativity needed to succeed, inspiring them to develop their own skills and pursue their ambitions.”