The school community at St James School in Exeter is very proud of student Olivia who has generously donated 15 inches of her hair to The Little Princess Trust, supporting children and young people facing hair loss due to illness. 

To complement her donation, Olivia also held a cake sale, raising £117 from the school community. Combined with other fundraising efforts, she has raised a fantastic £232 for the charity. 

The Little Princess Trust is one of the largest funders of childhood cancer research in the UK.  The charity relies solely on the generosity of its wonderful supporters who help them give hair and hope to so many children and young people with cancer each year.

At St James School, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, they empower their students to use their education to be kind and community minded and to go onto lead happy and healthy lives.

Emily Harper, Headteacher at St James School, said:

"We are incredibly proud of Olivia’s selflessness and determination. Her generosity and initiative show exactly the kind of values we nurture at St James, caring, thoughtful, and community-minded. She has made a real difference to young people who need it most."

Olivia said:

“I gave my hair to help someone smile through pain and worry."

All Saints Academy Plymouth hosted its annual Futures and Next Steps Fair this term, welcoming over 70 exhibitors from 33 organisations.

Students had dedicated time to visit the fair, speaking with local employers, colleges, sixth forms, and apprenticeship providers. From the Royal Navy and defence specialists Babcock to EE, accountants PKF Francis Clark, and the University of Plymouth, the day gave students the chance to explore a wide range of potential futures and hear directly from industry professionals.

The event forms part of the school’s focus on helping students make informed choices about their future pathways. They also recently hosted a year 11 Mock Interview Day, welcoming 12 employers to give students a taste of real recruitment experiences. Students impressed with their confidence and eagerness, with one, Toby, saying, “The interview was great, I felt confident and the employer said I was really eager,” while a representative from Kier described it as “a fantastic initiative for students to gain valuable life skills.”

Later in the term, a large group of year 10 students took part in a separate employability event organised by the YMCA. They interviewed employers to learn about career routes, job responsibilities, and workplace essentials, while also practising interview techniques to develop their communication and employability skills.

Students reflected positively on the experience. “I really enjoyed learning about the world of work and made some great contacts,” said Clover. Briannah added: “The employers were really helpful and helped me understand my future work commitments.”

At All Saints Academy Plymouth, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, students are encouraged to explore different futures, develop relevant skills, and plan proactively for life beyond the classroom. This approach means that more All Saints students now go on to education, employment, or training than the Plymouth, Devon, and national averages, according to 2025 NEET statistics.

Scott Simpson-Horne, Headteacher at All Saints Academy, said:

“We would like to thank all the employers, colleges and training providers who joined us for these events. They gave our students a priceless opportunity to explore their future options in more detail. With so many post-16 providers linked to All Saints, students build skills and connections that can take them anywhere.”

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

“At the Ted Wragg Trust, we are committed to ensuring every student is well prepared for life beyond the classroom. Events like these give young people the opportunity to explore a wide range of futures, develop key skills, and make informed choices, setting them up for success in whatever path they choose.”

    

    

Students at Sidmouth College have raised money to support a brave eight-year-old girl battling a rare and aggressive form of liver cancer who urgently needs a liver transplant.

Members of the school’s Student Council organised a bake sale in support of Phoebe Clarke, the cousin of year 11 student Hattie. Pupils donated and bought homemade cakes and treats, raising £200 to help Phoebe’s family in their search for a transplant and specialist treatment overseas.

Phoebe, from Altrincham in Greater Manchester, was diagnosed in February last year. She has already undergone major surgery to remove more than 80% of her liver in an attempt to remove the tumours.

Sadly, the cancer returned and she is now undergoing her third round of intensive chemotherapy. Her family say a liver transplant could offer her the best chance of survival, and they are exploring possible treatment options abroad.

Students at Sidmouth, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, said they wanted to do something practical to support their classmate and her family during an incredibly difficult time. A Student Council spokesperson said: “Phoebe is an incredibly brave little girl and an inspiration to us all. We wanted to show our support for Hattie and help raise funds for Phoebe’s treatment.”

Anyone wishing to support Phoebe’s Challengecan donate via the family’s fundraising page:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/phoebeschallenge

 Mr Matt Clarke, Phoebe’s father, said:

“We are incredibly grateful for what has become an army of support across the country. It has blown us away to see the kindness and generosity of so many people, including many who have never met Phoebe but still want to help her.”

Mr Alex Evans, Headteacher at Sidmouth College, said:

“We are incredibly proud of our students for organising this fundraiser and for showing such kindness and support for one of their own. It’s a powerful reminder of how a school community can come together to help a family facing an unimaginable challenge. We are all thinking of Phoebe and wishing her strength in the next stage of her treatment.”

  

Students at Isca Academy in Exeter explored a wide range of career opportunities during the school’s third annual Careers Fair, held as part of National Careers Week.

Employers, further education providers and training organisations spoke with students about different industries, career pathways and the skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

All students from years 7 to 11 attended during the day, giving them the chance to ask questions, discover new career ideas and learn more about the options available after school, including further education, apprenticeships and employment.

Organisations supporting the event included Exeter College, Gleeds, NHS Medical Imaging, the Ministry of Justice, Willmott Dixon, the Met Office, Vistry Group, Kier Group, the Royal Air Force, the British Army, Devon Youth Service, Devon County Council, the University of Plymouth, Next Steps South West, Puffins Childcare, Devon and Cornwall Police, Bicton College and Service Design Solutions.

Part of the Ted Wragg Trust, Isca Academy places a strong focus on helping students plan for life after school, with events like the careers fair giving them the chance to explore different pathways and feel informed about their future.

Marie Knights, Careers Leader at Isca Academy, said:

“We were proud of the way our students were ready to engage with employers and training providers about their futures. Our careers programme ensures our young people build the knowledge and skills needed to make positive choices in an ever-changing labour market. Working with businesses is essential to giving students these opportunities, and we are incredibly grateful to those that gave their time to work with us.”

Ben Hobbs, from the Ministry of Justice, said:

“The highlight for me was the chance to talk to students about the Civil Service and its broad range of responsibilities, as well as conversations with a few who were already thinking about careers in the Civil Service and political aspirations.”

Joseph Nicholls, from Exeter College, said:

“We thoroughly enjoyed chatting with all the year groups. We were impressed with the questions and conversations that were had across the board regarding careers and post-16.”

  

  

Students at Isca Academy in Exeter have returned home from their first-ever ski trip in Masella, Spain.

After settling into their resort in the Catalan Pyrenees, students took lessons, improved their technique, and embraced the challenges of skiing, including first-time experiences on the chairlift and tackling longer runs.

The group made impressive progress on the slopes, and ski instructors praised the students for their politeness and positive attitude.

Away from the slopes, students enjoyed a range of activities including snow games, competitions, and evening entertainment such as Zumba lessons and karaoke.

Part of the Ted Wragg Trust, Isca Academy prides itself on offering a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities, from sports and arts to outdoor education, helping students build confidence, teamwork, and life skills alongside their academic studies.

Mrs Vicki Joyce, Headteacher at Isca Academy, said:

“Our students had a brilliant time on the trip. They threw themselves into every lesson and activity, showed great determination, and supported each other along the way. It was wonderful to see them grow in confidence and make memories that will last a lifetime."

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

“It’s fantastic to see our students embracing new experiences and enjoying what the world has to offer. Opportunities like this are exactly what we want for every young person in our Trust - moments that broaden horizons, build confidence, and create lifelong memories.”

    

Exmouth Community College (ECC) recently welcomed more than 80 members of the local community to its first ever community Iftar, marking a special moment of togetherness during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Organised by the College’s Diversity Ambassadors and the Religious, Philosophy and Ethics (RPE) team, the event brought students, families, staff and community members together to share in the evening meal that breaks the daily fast during Ramadan.

Guests were welcomed with speeches and music as the sun set, before coming together to share the Iftar meal. During the evening, several guests also took part in Muslim prayer and spoke to those attending about their beliefs and the significance of Ramadan, offering an opportunity for learning, reflection and cultural exchange.

The meal itself was prepared by the College’s Diversity Ambassadors with support from assistant headteacher Mr Green. A wide variety of dishes were enjoyed, including food generously brought along by many of the guests.

The college also extends its thanks to Tesco for providing ingredients and supporting the event.

Following the positive response from students, families and guests, ECC, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, hopes the community Iftar will become an annual event in the school calendar.

Tom Inman, Headteacher at Exmouth Community College, said: 

“The evening really showed what community and belonging means. We were immensely proud of our students and of the wider Exmouth community who came together to make the event such a success.”

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

“This event shows the real power of schools to bring people together. It was wonderful to see students, families and members of the wider community sharing food, learning from one another and celebrating the values of respect and inclusion that are so important across our trust.”