Coombeshead Academy Aspire Spring 2017

ACHIEVEMENT
AWARDS EVENING 2016
Friends, parents, staff and students gathered for a special evening towards the end of last term to celebrate the success of
the 2016 leavers. The students received their GCSE and A Level certificates.
To the splendid accompaniment of our talented musicians and a fine display of Taiko drumming the scene was set for an
enjoyable evening.
Alumni Gordon Stevenson, Tamsin Putt and Kerrie Spicer were guests of honour giving some sound advice to the students.
Tamsin Putt
Tamsin recounted how, when choosing her A Levels
she was advised to go with those subjects she enjoyed.
Disappointed with her grades at the end of the Sixth
Form, she took a gap year and approached her former
teachers for help. The staff were amazing even marking
essays although she was no longer a student at the
academy – going that extra mile.
A Levels are not easy! After retaking some examinations,
she gained a place at York St John University to study
Physiotherapy. She was awarded the highest mark
for her dissertation and achieved a First Class Honours
degree.
She described how Coombeshead also inspired her
to have the confidence to travel after a school trip to
Africa.
At university she started playing netball and rugby, the
latter saw her competing at premiership level. Again
Coombeshead staff 'kick started' this passion.
She advised the students to take opportunities as they
come along. Tamsin is now working full time at York
Hospital as a Physiotherapist.
Gordon Stevenson
Gordon recommended that students follow their passion as he
is now doing.
Having graduated from Bath Spa University Food Technology, he
is now in the second term of teacher training and has placements
at Coombeshead Academy and Teign School.
4 Aspire Magazine | January 2017