Children from Exwick Heights Primary School enjoyed a hands-on visit to Powderham Castle, exploring the historic building and taking part in practical activities inspired by life in the past.

During the visit, Year 2 pupils baked traditional griddle cakes, helped with household tasks such as dusting the chapel and beating carpets, and explored the castle’s rooms and hidden doors. 

They also practised bows and curtseys, giving them a glimpse into everyday customs from earlier times.

At Exwick Heights, which is part of Ted Wragg Trust, the history curriculum aims to develop curiosity about the past and help pupils build understanding through exploration, discussion and first-hand experiences.

Powderham Castle, a Grade I listed fortified manor house near Exeter, provided a memorable local setting for the visit. Despite the wet weather, pupils remained engaged throughout the day and returned to school with plenty to talk about.

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

“It was wonderful to see the children so engaged and curious throughout the visit. Experiences like this help bring learning to life and give pupils a real sense of the past.”

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

“Visits like this show how learning can be enriched through exploration and first-hand experiences. It’s great to see pupils engaging so positively and thoughtfully with local history and heritage.”

Students at Sidmouth College have been recognised for their strong performances in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge, a national competition designed to stretch and challenge mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

Bronze and Silver awards are given to high-scoring participants, placing sixth formers among the stronger performers nationally.

Staff at Sidmouth College praised the students for their success, noting that it reflects the school’s maths curriculum, which develops fluency, creativity and confidence in problem solving. 

The achievement also reflects the school’s focus, as part of the Ted Wragg Trust, on preparing students for further study, work and everyday life while supporting high aspirations and academic excellence.

Mr Alex Evans, Headteacher at Sidmouth College, said:

“Our students did brilliantly in the UKMT Challenge. It’s fantastic to see their hard work recognised on a national level.”

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

“Opportunities like the UKMT Challenge allow students to test their skills and gain confidence in their learning. We are proud to see Sidmouth students excelling and embracing challenges that prepare them for the future.”

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.”