Coombeshead Academy Newsletter - Issue 57

CHRISTOW 

Coombeshead Newsletter 

website: www.coombeshead.com Issue 57: 31 th March 2017 

CONTINUED SUCCESS 

Welcome to this week's edition of the Coombeshead Academy newsletter. 

It is incredible to think that we have arrived at the end of the Spring Term and on our return, we will be 

entering the summer term for 16/17! 

Once again this term has seen significant achievements, through the hard work and dedication of students, 

staff and parents alike. 

As Headteacher, it is always a proud moment to congratulate students on their Sporting, Musical or 

Academic successes and each week, when reading our newsletter, I am delighted to catch up on the 

outstanding opportunities available at the school. 

This week is no different and as you can see, hard work and dedication has continued right up until the end of 

this very busy term. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your ongoing support in everything we continue to do 

at Coombeshead Academy and we very much look forward to welcoming the students back on Wednesday 

19 th April to begin the Summer Term. 

In the meantime I would like to wish you all a very peaceful and enjoyable Easter break. 

Andrew Hulbert, 

Headteacher 

Coombeshead Academy, Coombeshead Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 1PT Tel: 01626 201800 Email: welcome@coombeshead.com

MASTERCLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER 

MATHEMATICS 

CHRISTOW 

Four Year 9 students; Ella Sampson, Kim Carter, 

Hannah Joint and Faith Barnes, took part in a 

Maths Masterclass at the University of Exeter 

where they got the opportunity to extend their 

mathematical knowledge and skills to help them 

see how maths can be used beyond GCSE to A 

level and beyond. They looked at how to tackle 

‘Problem Solving’ within maths – something that is 

now even more important to be able to deal 

with due to the changes in the new GCSE. To 

solve problems the students considered multiple approaches to help them such as drawing diagrams and 

simplifying the problem to something they are more familiar with. 

They considered how objects move under gravity 

by generating the fundamental equations of 

motion which they used to solve problems such as 

“How quick do your reactions need to be to catch 

a falling £20 note!” (you have approximately 0.18 

seconds). Faith experienced first-hand how the 

mathematics of mechanics affects how objects 

move under gravity! 

The students also learnt how to do a card trick by 

using maths, which they then used algebra to 

understand why the trick works and how they can 

then adapt it to make different tricks of their own 

to wow people with the magic of maths! 

The students all enjoyed the opportunity to consider maths in more depth in a university setting and will see 

the benefit of the masterclass within their lessons and beyond. 

GREEN TEAM VISIT RYDON ECO COUNCIL 

ENRICHMENT 

On Wednesday 22 nd March we visited Rydon Primary School and their 

Eco Council as part of the school’s ‘Waste Week’. We thought that 

Rydon Primary School was amazing. We were very inspired by the Eco 

Council, they were very good. 

We learnt a lot of facts and information about what the Eco Council do. 

All the staff were very friendly and helpful and we enjoyed the school’s 

garden , it looks mysterious! 

What we liked about 

the garden were the 

compost bins, raised 

beds and the bug 

hotel. 

We also enjoyed 

helping the Eco Council start building their plastic bottle 

shelter for the playground. 

The visit has given us lots of ideas to create our own Eco 

Garden here at Coombeshead. 

Mohima (Year 9), Hannah (Year 9) and Freya (Year 7) 


MEDIEVAL MURDER MYSTERY AT EXETER CATHEDRAL 

The History Department took 65 Year 7 students to 

Exeter Cathedral as part of their studies of Medieval 

England. We gained an insight into the long history of 

Exeter Cathedral, including when it was bombed 

during the Blitz during World War Two. 

HISTORY 

CHRISTOW 

The students worked in teams to solve a Medieval 

Murder Mystery that happened just outside the 

Cathedral; a feud between the Dean of the 

cathedral, John Pycot and the Bishop of Exeter, Peter 

Quinil was the background to the murder. In 1282 

Quinil took the opportunity of elevating one of his supporters, Walter Lechlade, to the office of Precentor. On 

the night of the 9 th November 1283, Lechlade left his house at the Chantry to fulfil his duties at the midnight 

Matins. Following the end of Matins, at about 1.30am, Lechlade left the Cathedral and walked down Palace 

Gate right towards the Chantry. A group of assailants, who had entered the city through the South Gate, 

sprung out of the shadows and attacked Lechlade. In the words of Bishop Quinil, the attackers dragged 

Lechlade "here and thither in the mire until at dawn their horrible outrage was seen by many - his canonical 

robe soiled with blood and his brains issuing from two ghastly wounds." Lechlade lay dead and his attackers 

had fled back through the South Gate. 

The students were keen and confident with their questioning and 

interrogated all the suspects inside the Cathedral. They were also 

able to decide what type of Medieval punishment the perpetrator 

should receive!! We stopped 

for lunch in the sunshine in the 

Cathedral gardens. In the 

afternoon, the students 

designed and made clay 

gargoyles and completed an 

activity trail around the 

Cathedral spotting all the key 

points of interest. 

The students were fantastic 

and their behaviour was 

impeccable. 

Well done! 


NETBALL SUCCESS 

SPORT & PE 

CHRISTOW 

What an End to the Season it has been for the Year 10 

Netball team! 

On Wednesday 22 nd March, the Year 10 Netball team 

went to Paignton Sports Hub to play in their Regional 

Netball Tournament. 

The team, captained by Jessie Dendy were very 

excited about going to compete there, as it was the 

furthest position a netball team from Coombeshead 

has got in the last two years. 

The standard of Netball was very high and our girls 

definitely deserved their place. 

Over the course of the afternoon the girls played five 

games; won three, and drew one. 

Their winning games were against; Paignton Sports Academy, Hele’s School Plymouth and Kingsbridge 

Community College. 

The star shooters were Lauren Scott and Jessie Dendy, with Ellen Ellis as centre for the day, being excellent in 

attack and defence. Beth Eyre, who was 

back from injury, also had a great game. 

The day finished on a massive high with the 

girls coming third overall. 

On Monday 27 th March the same team also 

competed in their end of Season Tournament 

against teams from schools in the local area. 

There was a total of nine teams competing in 

the afternoon. 

The team were on a roll and won their games 

against; Trinity School, Teign School, 

Kingsbridge Community College, Cuthbert 

Mayne School, Teignmouth Community 

College and Brixham College, again another 

amazing achievement. 

With the team playing their best netball they achieved third place. An absolutely fantastic end to the season. 

Miss Hardingham said, "It has been an absolute pleasure to train these girls every week and take them to their 

matches and tournaments. They all give 100% commitment and it has been lovely to see them grow since 

Year 7. 

They have made me a very proud netball coach this year 

and I look forward to Year 11 with them, with more victories 

to be had. 

Well done Girls." 

Team: 

Jessie Dendy (c) 

Lauren Scott 

Rosie Hilliard 

Dani Tyson 

Caitlin Ward 

Ellen Ellis 

Tess Rainbow 

Beth Eyre 


BYCO SPRING SHOWCASE 

On Tuesday 28 th March, we ran the 

Spring Showcase from the Bushell Youth 

Community Orchestra here at 

Coombeshead Academy. 

EXPRESSIVE ARTS 

CHRISTOW 

This was an opportunity for our local 

young musicians to perform the music 

we had been working on for the past 

three months. The performance was at 

2.00pm and involved over 150 local 

young musicians from various local 

schools including: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coombeshead Academy 

Teign School 

Chudleigh Primary 

Ipplepen Primary 

Canada Hill Primary 

Rydon Primary 

Blackpool School 

St. Joseph’s Primary 

Decoy Primary 

Our overall aim is to have as many young people learning and 

developing on orchestral instruments. 

We currently have over sixty young musicians who join us every 

week to develop their instrumental skills by working with our visiting 

teachers. 

These instrumental group lessons are free and we have just been 

awarded our second year of funding so we can keep developing 

and building on what is already a successful project. 


WHAT A WE DAY WE HAD! 

On Wednesday 22 nd March, over 36 students 

from across the school travelled to Wembley 

Arena to the UKs fourth We Day UK. Leaving at 

3.00am was a big ask, especially in the pouring 

rain, but what a great day we had! 

SIXTH FORM 

CHRISTOW 

Run by the charity ‘Free the Children’, We Day is 

a reward and celebration of young people who 

do good for others, through random acts of 

kindness, volunteering and charity fund raising 

for at least one local and one global issue. At 

Coombeshead we call them WeActers and 

every student had earned their ticket through 

their actions for others and was nominated by 

their Head of Year. 

WeDay is a five hour extravaganza of 

inspirational speakers and performers. Key 

speakers included Kate Winslett, Paula Abdul, 

Spencer West and the Malik twins who all spoke 

passionately about never giving up, ignoring the 

doubters and persevering to make things 

happen. Other speakers told their personal 

stories relating to LGBTQ, homelessness, 

displacement and mental health issues. 

Performers who had us out of our seats and 

dancing in the aisles included Connor Maynard, 

Jessie J, Fleur East and the DJ collective, 

Celebrity Marauders. 

We Act is a global movement of students and 

educators who believe that some of the most 

powerful learning experiences happen when 

you make a meaningful difference in your 

communities and for the world by working 

together. A clear message and pledge from 

those who attended is ‘I am We’. 

When asked what they had learnt from 

attending the event students said that; ‘even 

small actions can help people near and far’, 

‘spend less time on social media and take 

moments as and when to speak to people’, 

‘the only you can be is yourself’, ‘to live in the 

moment’. 

So lets all keep being WeActers, keep our 

actions for others across the school going and 

look forward to taking more inspirational 

students to WeDay 2018. 

I am We. 


CHRISTOW 

Inspiring Excellence Inspiring Excellence Inspiring Excellence 

FOLLOW US: 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 

3r d -19 th April - Easter Holidays 

*PLEASE NOTE: NON-PUPIL DAY TUES 18 TH APRIL 

6 th - 7 th May - Ten Tors Weekend 

Thurs 11 th May - Year 7 Parents’ Evening 


EPRAISE LRC 

TOP 10 TUTOR GROUPS 

1. 7RCS (3019) 

2. 7LEB (2737) 

3. 7CMW (2620) 

4. 7HED (2611) 

5. 7DJK (2605) 

6. 7BMA (2555) 

7. 8BRP (2447) 

8. 7JWI (2444) 

9. 8CHO (2354) 

10.8NEM (2246) 

TOP 3 STUDENTS IN EACH YEAR 

PIXL EDGE 

LETTERS: please follow the link below: 

http://www.coombeshead.com/parents/Letters.aspx

Coombeshead Academy Newsletter - Issue 57

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