Academy News

Last weekend, Rosie headed to Salisbury with her cycling club to compete in a competition. She came first place in her race and followed it up with a strong performance in a triathlon on Sunday—part of the South West Series—where she earned a fantastic 5th place.

Rosie currently ranks 2nd in the region for her age group and an impressive 4th in the series. With three more races still to go, we could see her take that top spot! 

Good luck Rosie! 

This week, we’d like to give a special shout-out to Megan for her outstanding efforts in Food & Nutrition. Although she was away at an athletics competition during the class assessment, Megan didn’t let that stop her—she completed the practical task at home, showing true determination and dedication.

Megan impressed us with a beautifully prepared Parma ham and pineapple calzone, finished with a honey chipotle glaze. She served it alongside a vibrant mango coleslaw, with rocket and cherry tomatoes on the side—a creative and delicious combination that reflects both skill and flair.

Well done, Megan!

Last weekend saw many of our students in Years 9 to 12 take on the legendary Ten Tors Challenge. A South West tradition, Ten Tors Challenge, tests the endurance, resilience, and teamwork of young people through either 35, 45, or 55 mile treks across the demanding Dartmoor landscape.

This year’s challenge saw around 2,500 young people from schools, scouts, and explorer groups take part, cheered on by an estimated 10,000 supporters at the finish line.

Our students have been training since November 2024, preparing to be fully self-sufficient in navigating, wild camping, and carrying their own equipment across Dartmoor. With the challenge kicking off at 7am on Saturday, and finishing by 5pm on Sunday, every mile was hard-earned.

A special mention goes to Adam and Louie, our two Year 12 students who completed the 55-mile challenge, though their GPS trackers suggested they actually walked closer to 62–64 miles! They crossed the finish line at 12:37pm on Sunday, having carried full kits and demonstrated exceptional grit and determination.

We’ve heard powerful stories from across the event—one student performing blister surgery at 3:30am, and another describing crossing the finish line as one of the most emotional and proud moments of her life.

We are incredibly proud of every single student who took part in this monumental challenge. You are an inspiration.

Well done to all involved—you’ve done the Academy proud!

Last week, four of our Year 12 students represented the Academy and our Year 12 Executive Council at the LSP Sixth Form Student Leadership Conference.

Student leaders from across the LSP gathered to share ideas for exciting projects they would like to lead in the next academic year.  

It was wonderful to see the community these students have created from across the Trust and we are excited to see their ideas come to life!

We’re excited to share that some of our talented Year 7 students have been involved in a fantastic art project that will leave a lasting mark on our local community.

Visiting artists, Soap Soup Theatre CIC (soon to become Soap Soup Arts) and the wonderful sculptor, Alice Cunningham, joined us to run a fun and engaging session, which allowed our students to contribute their ideas and creativity in developing imagery for a mural that the duo are working on. 

The Strawberry Line Society has commissioned the artists to create a stunning 100-foot mural along The Strawberry Line between Sandford and Winscombe. 

The themes for the mural are broad and inspiring, touching on crucial topics such as sustainability, climate change, the remarkable biodiversity of our region, and the rich local heritage that makes our community so special. 

We saw some truly imaginative creations as students created their own paper collages, bringing their unique perspectives to these important themes.

This engaging project is being made possible thanks to the generous funding from North Somerset Council, Weston and Burnham Energy Board's Sunshine Fund, Crown Paint and Wickes. 

This was a fantastic opportunity for our young people to contribute their ideas and creativity to a piece of public art that celebrates our area, as well as collaborate with professional artists and contribute to such a meaningful community project. 

There'll be a 'Family Paint Day' later this month when children from local schools, along with their families, will help paint and bring the mural to life.Stay tuned for more updates on the mural's progress!

Check out the students' creations from the workshop below. 

Anya has made incredible progress in Dance this year, showing real dedication to her coursework with the time and effort she has poured into her studies. She has used feedback from the Dance team to improve her skills. 

In her practical lessons, Anya’s confidence has impressed us all, as it continues to grow every week. She has demonstrated massive improvement in her technique since the start of the year. 

Well done Anya, keep it up!