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Teign Sixth Form College are looking forward to welcoming all post-16 applicants to our welcome morning on Wednesday 16th July - further information will be shared shortly.

Devon Family Hubs update 7th April 2025 We are still offering Single sessions via the Parent request for contact , and our Advice and Guidance line will still be active for parents to make contact Devon Family HUBS - Parent Carer Request for Contact Advice and guidance Line 0800 538 5458 (Mon-Fri 10am- 4pm)     TRANSITION TO NEW FAMILY HUBS SERVICE FOR DEVON From 1 April 2025, the Family Hubs service for Devon will be transitioning to a new service which will provide increased, targeted help to support families in the community. Last year, Devon County Council announced that like many authorities across the country, it would follow Government guidance in developing the previous Children's Centres into Family Hubs which provided open access to all families without the need for referrals. Since then, the council has conducted consultations with families, to gauge opinion and develop a plan which will now see support for families provided in village halls, community centres, and other existing places that parents and carers will already be familiar with in their local communities. The purpose behind Family Hubs is to provide support to families with children from 0 to 19, or to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The help families receive is to prevent them from needing more targeted help later on. "Why should a parent with a young child or children, who might rely on public transport to get around, have to travel miles to their nearest Children's Centre building in order to get the help his or her family needs? Providing support to families, in their communities, at the right time can prevent them from needing more targeted support in future. I wish to thank Action for Children for their dedication and contribution to Children’s Services over the last 20 years” says Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, the Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for children's services. From April, families will begin to see a new community-focused service developing that will continue to improve access to support, bringing together education, public health, NHS, early years, community and voluntary sector groups. Parents will be directed to them in settings closer to home in their own communities. Some group sessions that are currently delivered in Family Hub locations will change, with families who have complex needs being referred to other community-based services through the new system from April. Devon County Council would sincerely like to thank Action for Children for all their hard work and contribution to the running of Devon’s Children’s Centres and the Family Hubs for the last 20 years.

Boxing Champion Rachel Mackenzie Inspires Teign Students to Become Mental Health Ambassadors 4th April 2025 A group of 20 students from across Education South West’s secondary schools recently took part in an inspiring training day at Teign School as part of the Youth Sport Trust's Active in Mind initiative.    Led by Rachel Mackenzie, former World Number 1 Thai Boxer and British Boxing Champion, the day equipped the students with the tools and techniques needed to support their peers with mental health challenges.   The training, which combined physical games and strategies, aimed to show the ambassadors how to use sport and physical activity as a means to engage and support other young people facing mental health difficulties. Through hands-on activities, students learned how to connect with others and provide helpful, healthy ways to manage mental health.   The day concluded with the ambassadors preparing to create and lead their own mental health support programmes in their respective schools. Working closely with a lead member of staff, the students will have the responsibility of organising and managing these initiatives, ensuring that they are student-led and designed to support those who may benefit the most.   The Active in Mind project, which has been successfully running at Teign School for several years, continues to make a positive impact on young people’s mental health. The students involved in the training are now set to carry the torch forward, creating new initiatives that will benefit their peers in the months ahead.   The Youth Sport Trust’s Active in Mind initiative aims to support young people’s mental health by using sport and physical exercise as tools to engage and uplift. By training young ambassadors, the project empowers students to take an active role in supporting their peers through mental health challenges.   Lucie Wagner, Head of School at Teign School said:   “This training day has been a powerful experience for all involved. Our students are already leaders in their communities, and now they are equipped with the skills to make a real difference to the mental wellbeing of their peers. I am so proud of their enthusiasm and dedication to supporting one another.”   Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said:   “It’s inspiring to see these young ambassadors step up and take on such a crucial role in supporting mental health within their schools. The Active in Mind project has had a positive impact on many students over the years, and we’re excited to see these ambassadors continue the legacy, helping others thrive both mentally and physically.”

Building Bridges: Teign School’s Inspiring Partnership with Ukrainian School 20th February 2025   Teign School  is thrilled to continue its flourishing partnership with Zalishchyky State Gimnasia, a school in Ukraine, as both schools recently came together to commemorate World Holocaust Day and celebrate European Day of Languages. These joint events, though held remotely due to the ongoing situation, highlight the deep connection and shared commitment to education between the two schools. The collaboration between Teign School and Zalishchyky State Gimnasia has already proven to be a great success. Last October, both school leaders presented together at the OECD Education Committee meeting, showcasing their shared work and educational innovation. As part of their commitment to ongoing educational excellence, Teign School has enjoyed the reciprocal support of their Ukrainian colleagues, exploring key topics such as being a Microsoft Showcase School and Post-16 options, while also giving students the opportunity to engage in meaningful cross-cultural exchanges. The schools are excited to continue their partnership and look forward to future opportunities for deeper collaboration and shared learning. Lucie Wagner, Head of School at Teign Academy, said: “It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience working alongside headteacher,  Oleksandra Voychyshyn and her team at Zalishchyky State Gimnasia. Through these exchanges, our students have gained so much insight, and we have identified many areas where we can mutually benefit. The collaboration is helping to broaden our students’ horizons and we’re hopeful that one day we will be able to host them here in Devon for an in-person visit.” Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: “Last year I had the privilege of visiting Ukraine to address an education conference where I witnessed firsthand the resilience and determination of Ukraine’s education system amidst the ongoing conflict. Despite the challenges, Ukrainian educators remain committed to ensuring students continue learning. Our collaboration with Ukrainian schools, alongside other international partners, helps share practical insights and support their ambitious educational reforms, creating an interconnected global education community.”

Teign School Year 11 Drama students impressed visiting Examiner 18th February 2025 Teign School Year 11 GCSE Drama students impressed the visiting examiner with a variety of 7 different performances. The students supported each other and worked extremely hard to ensure they all reached their potential. A big congratulations to all students involved! Mr and Mrs Churchill are extremely proud of your work ethic and the extra time you put into your performances.

Congratulations to Teign School Year 12 Drama Students 14th February 2025 Teign School A Level Drama and Theatre Studies A hugely dramatic congratulations to our year 12 Drama students. Their positive attitude and work ethic has been outstanding and this has led to them completing their Component 1 practical exam work last Thursday. They performed their Berkovian version of Two by Jim Cartwright to year 10 and 11 Drama students who said they were blown away by the performance. It really inspired them as the creativity and standard of performance was excellent. So, a big thank you to the year 12 for being inspirational and congratulations on a wonderful performance. Also thank you to year 12 parents who overcome the weather to get them into school for their exam – it is appreciated.

Teign School Launches Eco-Committee in the Fight for a Greener Future 11th February 2025 Teign School  is taking bold steps towards a greener future with the formation of its new Eco-Committee, a passionate group of students who are committed to securing the school’s Eco-Schools Green Flag Accreditation. This initiative is led by a dedicated group of students from Years 7 to Year 13, who are deeply concerned about global environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the unsustainable use of resources. The Eco-Committee is following the Eco-Schools Programme, a seven-step framework designed to guide schools in their efforts to improve their environmental impact.  With biodiversity, healthy living, and waste management as the committee’s key action areas, Teign students have embraced their new leadership roles, with senior members mentoring younger pupils as they work towards positive change. Ethan R, Chair of the Eco-Committee and Year 11 student, explained some of the committee’s work: “At the moment we are fundraising by selling merchandise of our mascot of the committee who the whole school calls Fred (our outdoor recycling bin!). The Fred Campaign has been a school wide movement where we are fighting against waste. Fred is the school’s first official outside recycling bin and through our fundraising we are planning on getting similar bins to increase the amount of recycling in our school as we combat general waste. “We have created social media accounts, Help Feed Fred, so we can not only share our ideas and progress to students but so that we can share our strive and ambition for change towards the local people and parents. “We also decided to make a bug hotel which we have almost finished and plan to put it into the sixth form garden. Discussions are in place about increasing pollinator corridors and biodiversity around the school site. Additionally, the Eco-Committee is planning a fruit exchange initiative to promote healthy eating and reduce food waste, creating a more sustainable school environment. On Wednesday the 29th of January,  the Eco-Committee hosted its first workshop with Resource Futures from Devon County Council.  Students learned valuable lessons about the waste hierarchy and the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.  As part of the workshop, the students collected data for their first waste audit, scheduled for April. The day included a special treat of fruit platters and smoothies, providing the students with a chance to celebrate their progress so far. Lucie Wagner, Head of School at Teign Academy, said: “With exceptional student leaders driving the effort, Teign School’s Eco Committee is well on its way to making a significant difference. The students’ hard work and dedication are setting an example for their peers, and the school is proud to be part of the global push for sustainability and environmental protection.” Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said: “We are incredibly proud of the leadership and dedication shown by the students at Teign School. The Eco Committee is not only addressing local environmental issues but also contributing to a more sustainable future for everyone.  Initiatives like these empower students to make a real difference in their community and beyond.”

Newton Abbot Rugby club coaching sessions for Teign students 20th December 2024 What a brilliant opportunity our year 7 and 8s had on Monday! They were lucky enough to have Newton Abbot Rugby club come in with some incredible coaches to deliver to our girls. They did some fun team building exercises, some basic skills and learnt how to tackle. Each girl gave it there all and the amount that came away saying how much fun they had was credit to the coaches!   Don’t forget, every Tuesday after school we have rugby club and we have also been given some leaflets for newton abbot rugby club. If you are interested, come up to PE for a leaflet!

Kingsteignton Students Win Inspirational Female Leader Award 18th December 2024 Teign School is celebrating after two of their students took home the Inspirational Female Leader Award at the Youth Sport Trust Young Changemaker Awards 2024. National children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust hosted their Young Changemaker Awards 2024 at Tobacco Dock in London, where sporting stars in attendance included the organisation’s National School Sport Champion Sir Mo Farah CBE, Olympic medal winner swimmer Luke Greenbank and world record holding wheelchair racer and TV prester The awards celebrated young people who, working alongside the Youth Sport Trust (in the UK and overseas), have changed their life and the lives of others through sport over the past year. The Inspirational Female Leader Award was presented by former captain of the England Roses Netball team, Ama Agbeze and the award recognises an inspirational young female who is leading the charge to close the gender enjoyment and participation gap in sport. The joint winners were Tegan and Madeleine from Teign School for their exceptional commitment to promoting girls’ participation in sport through the Girls Active programme.  Through their innovative volunteering, they organised a Primary School Flight and Gymnastics Festival, ran a self-made dance club, and led campaigns to improve canteen food and boost active lifestyles at Teign School. Lucie Wagner, Head of School at Teign Academy, said: “Everyone at Teign School is immensely proud of Tegan and Madeleine, not only for receiving this prestigious award, but also for the work they have done inspiring students across the school, including SEND pupils, showing that sport and leadership are for everyone, regardless of background or ability.” Speaking on the awards, Youth Sport Trust National School Sport Champion, Sir Mo Farah CBE said: “Working with Youth Sport Trust and the Young Changemaker Awards has truly reinforced my belief in the power of sports. The young changemakers that we celebrated today are at the forefront of creating change within their communities and it’s been such an honour to celebrate them today. Alongside Youth Sport Trust, I want to continue to make a personal difference and give children the chance and opportunities they deserve. If we don’t start now, then when do we start?” Earlier in the day,  Sir Mo Farah attended 10 Downing Street to hand deliver an open letter to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, urging the Government to create a new national plan that ensures every child has the opportunity to be physically active every day. The multi-Olympic, World and European champion has united leading figures from British sport to support his call for change. Co-signatories include triple Olympic champions Max Whitlock OBE and Adam Peaty OBE, the most successful British Paralympian of all time, Dame Sarah Storey, and Paris 2024 800m gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson. You can read more about Mo’s message for the Government here.