Students at two Exeter schools have begun a new science and research internship, starting with a hands-on trip to the Eden Project in Cornwall.

Students from St James School and West Exe School came together to explore the biomes, studied different types of leaves, and collected samples to investigate back at school. The activities gave students a chance to learn through experience, ask questions, and spark their curiosity about the natural world.

Back at school, students will continue their research in the lab, observing, recording, and analysing the samples they collected. This follow-up work gives them real experience in scientific investigation while building skills in observation, teamwork, and problem-solving.

The internship is run in partnership with B-HUGs, which supports Black students in Exeter by providing role models, real-world research experience, and collaborative learning opportunities.

St James School and West Exe School are part of the Ted Wragg Trust, which works to transform lives and strengthen communities, giving students opportunities to learn, grow, and make a positive impact.

Emily Harper, Headteacher at St James School, said: "The students really threw themselves into their research and it was lovely to see. They were excited to explore, ask questions, and get hands-on with their learning. Experiences like this really bring science to life, and we are very grateful to B-HUGs for making it possible.”

Moira Marder, Chief Executive Officer of the Ted Wragg Trust said: "This trip is a fantastic example of the opportunities we strive to create for young people across our family of schools. Experiences like this help students spark ambition, build confidence and discover what they can achieve.”

Whipton Barton Federation has been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM), a national accolade awarded for exceptional science teaching and strong subject leadership.

The award recognises the school’s strong focus on high quality science teaching and its success in sparking pupils’ curiosity through hands-on investigation and exploration. The assessment team highlighted that the school has shaped an effective development plan that ensures science teaching is engaging, challenging and accessible for all pupils, including those with special educational needs. They also noted that staff have benefited from targeted professional development, which has strengthened curriculum design, boosted teacher confidence and encouraged rich scientific discussion in the classroom. 

Run by the University of Hertfordshire, the PSQM is granted after a demanding year-long programme of professional development involving a full audit, targeted improvements and detailed evidence gathering.

At Whipton Barton Federation, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, staff are committed to nurturing children’s curiosity about the world from the moment they join the school, developing every pupil as a confident young scientist through a rich and carefully sequenced science curriculum. 

Scientific enquiry skills are introduced in Reception and steadily developed throughout each primary year, with pupils exploring questions about materials, plants, animals, forces, space, sustainability and more. Across the school, children learn to observe closely, record findings, plan investigations, use scientific vocabulary and explain their thinking with increasing precision. 

Louise Moretta, Executive Headteacher at Whipton Barton Federation said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Primary Science Quality Mark. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, who are passionate about giving every child the chance to explore, question and understand the world around them. Our pupils show such enthusiasm for science and this award celebrates the strong culture of curiosity that runs throughout our school.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said: “This is a fantastic accomplishment for Whipton Barton Federation and a clear example of the school’s commitment to delivering an exceptional education for every child. High quality science teaching opens doors to future opportunities and inspires lifelong learning and I am delighted to see the school recognised nationally for its ambition, innovation and unwavering dedication to its pupils.”

The Ted Wragg Trust is delighted to announce that several of its schools have been recognised in the 2025 Edurio Awards, celebrating excellence in school performance and engagement across the country. These awards are particularly meaningful because they’re based directly on feedback from students, staff and parents.

Each year, Ted Wragg Trust schools gather valuable insights from their nationally benchmarked parent, student and staff surveys, ensuring that every voice is heard. The awards are based on these survey results and national survey data from the 2024/25 academic year. National awards highlight the top 10 performing schools in the country and regional awards celebrate the top performing school in a region based on a key question for the award category. 

Whipton Barton Infants and Nursery School has been recognised nationally with the ‘Career Development Award’, celebrating its commitment to supporting staff growth and professional progression. The school also received the ‘Regional Staff Choice Award’, reflecting the strong sense of teamwork, support and belonging felt by staff across the community.

Marine Academy Plymouth Primary and Nursery achieved remarkable success receiving both national and regional recognition across multiple categories. Nationally, the school won the ‘Career Development Award’, ‘Pupil Choice Award’, and ‘Listening & Acting Award – Pupil Feedback’, demonstrating its strong commitment to nurturing staff development and listening closely to its pupils’ voices. 

The school also shared the ‘National Listening & Acting Award – Staff Feedback’ alongside its secondary phase and Lipson Co-operative Academy. Regionally, Marine Academy Plymouth  Primary and Nursery replicated this success, securing the ‘Career Development Award’, ‘Pupil Choice Award’, ‘Listening & Acting Award – Pupil Feedback’, and ‘Listening & Acting Award – Staff Feedback’, highlighting a culture of collaboration, reflection and continuous improvement across the school community.

Lipson Co-operative Academy also celebrated multiple wins at both national and regional levels. The school received the ‘National Staff Choice Award’ and the ‘National Listening & Acting Awards’ for both parental feedback and staff feedback, recognising its commitment to valuing and responding to the voices of its community. Regionally, Lipson earned the ‘Trusted Leadership Award’, ‘Staff Choice Award’, and ‘Listening & Acting Awards for Parental and Staff Feedback’, underscoring its reputation for responsive and transparent leadership.

Marine Academy Secondary was also recognised nationally, sharing the ‘Listening & Acting Award – Staff Feedback’ with its primary phase and Lipson Co-operative Academy. This award highlights the strength of the school’s internal communication and its dedication to creating a supportive environment where staff feel valued and heard.

Whipton Barton Federation received both national and regional recognition for its dedication to listening and responding to families. The school won the ‘National Listening & Acting Award – Parental Feedback’ and the ‘National Listening & Acting Award – Pupil Feedback’, as well as the’ Regional Listening & Acting Award – Parental Feedback’, highlighting its proactive approach to engaging parents and making meaningful improvements based on their input.

Exwick Heights Primary School was honoured with the ‘National Listening & Acting Award – Pupil Feedback’,  showcasing its commitment to hearing pupils’ voices and acting on their feedback to create an even more positive and inclusive school experience.

To celebrate these achievements schools were presented with certificates at the Confederation of Schools Trust conference. This recognition reflects the Trust’s ongoing commitment to listening to communities across Devon and acting on their voices to create positive change, as they work to transform lives through education.

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said: “We’re incredibly proud of our schools for securing these Edurio awards. At the heart of the Ted Wragg Trust is our strategic priority to nurture belonging and brilliance for every child and these awards highlight this commitment, and recognise the way we listen to students, staff and families, value their voices, and use their feedback to drive meaningful improvements. A huge thank you to all our schools, their amazing students, families and staff for helping to build communities where every young person can shine.”

Isca Academy is proud to be working once again with community organisation The Big Step to deliver festive Christmas hampers to families across its school community.

The partnership, now in its second year, supports students and families as they transition from primary school into secondary education. This Christmas, the collaboration has focused on spreading warmth, joy and a strong sense of belonging during the festive season.

Thanks to funding secured by Dan Leverton of The Big Step, the hampers were provided at no cost to families. Each hamper was thoughtfully prepared and filled with gifts designed to bring festive cheer and comfort to households at what can be a challenging time of year.

Isca Academy, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, extends its sincere thanks to The Big Step for their generosity and ongoing partnership, which continues to strengthen the Isca community and support families throughout the year.

The Big Step Transition Programme is a year 6 to 7 summer programme designed to help students move confidently from primary to secondary school. Delivered by passionate teachers during a week in the summer holidays, the programme combines fun, curiosity led learning with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy, ensuring students arrive at secondary school excited, supported and ready to succeed.

Mrs Vicki Joyce, Headteacher at Isca Academy said: “We are incredibly grateful to The Big Step for their continued support. These hampers represent more than practical help, they create moments of celebration, connection and care for our families when it matters most.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said: “Strong community partnerships like this reflect our shared commitment to supporting students and families beyond the classroom. The generosity shown by The Big Step makes a real difference and demonstrates the power of kindness and collaboration.”

Big-hearted students in Exeter brought Christmas cheer to dozens of local families after hosting a festive community dinner filled with music, laughter and generosity.

Students at St James School in Exeter, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, welcomed families from across the city for their annual Christmas community celebration, spreading festive spirit through song, food and warm hospitality.

Performing Arts students set the tone for the evening by singing seasonal favourites such as ‘Last Christmas’ and ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ as guests arrived. And as the 85 guests took their seats, the school’s prefect team delivered a warm welcome.

Guests included families from St James School, Willowbrook Primary School and Whipton Barton Federation, as well as members of the wider community supported by The Beacon Centre.

Students were involved in every part of the evening – cooking a two-course meal, serving at tables and providing live entertainment – before a surprise visit from Father Christmas delighted guests just before dessert was served.

Emily Harper, Headteacher at St James, said: “We love welcoming the community into our school at Christmas and this year’s celebration was a truly joyful event. This has become such a highlight of our calendar, and I look forward to it ever year. I’m so proud of our students, who made every guest feel welcome, and our choir who performed beautifully. Moments like this truly reflect our ethos – strengthening our community and helping our students grow into kind, confident young people.”

The event was made possible thanks to the commitment of students, staff and generous local supporters. Tesco, Educatering and Waitrose donated food and supplies, while Bouygues supported fundraising efforts, including a £200 supermarket voucher.

St James’ School champions four core values for its students: kindness, equity for all through high standards, community at the heart, and celebrating diversity. The school keeps their community at the heart of everything they do, building strong partnerships with other schools and working closely with Educatering by Goosemoor to provide weekly food hampers to families.

Moira Marder, Chief Executive of the Ted Wragg Trust added: “Events like this show the power of schools at the heart of their communities. St James has created something truly special, bringing joy and connection to families, students and staff. Well done to all the students who showed incredible kindness and leadership, their efforts truly reflect our Trust values - collaboration, selflessness and ambition, creating opportunities for everyone to thrive.”

Two Sidmouth College students have been selected to represent Devon Scouts at the 2027 World Scout Jamboree in Gdańsk, Poland.

Grace and Lucy completed a challenging selection weekend at Watcombe over half term and have earned a place in the UK contingent. The pair will join a unit of 36 Scouts from across the county and begin training together in preparation for the international event.

The World Scout Jamboree, held every four years, brings together young people from around the world for cultural exchange, adventure, and personal development.

Grace and Lucy’s achievement is a proud moment for Sidmouth College. The school supports students in pursuing a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, helping them develop resilience, responsibility and leadership skills. As part of the Ted Wragg Trust, Sidmouth College encourages learners to engage with the wider community and take an active role in contributing positively to society.

Alex Evans, Headteacher at Sidmouth College said: “We’re so proud of Grace and Lucy for being selected to join the UK contingent for the 2027 World Scout Jamboree. This is a fantastic achievement and shows the dedication and resilience they bring to everything they do. We’re excited to support them as they prepare for this amazing experience.”

Moria Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said: “Well done to Grace and Lucy on this wonderful achievement. Across our schools we encourage students to take on challenges, explore new opportunities, and make a positive difference in their communities. Their selection for the World Scout Jamboree is a brilliant example of that in action.”