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Aspire Summer 2018

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Coombeshead<br />

Academy<br />

ASPIRE<br />

Inspiring Excellence<br />

<strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


CONTENT<br />

01<br />

02<br />

03<br />

04<br />

09<br />

10<br />

11<br />

13<br />

INSPIRING EXCELLENCE<br />

Welcome from the Headteacher<br />

ACHIEVEMENT<br />

Ten Tors<br />

ENGLISH<br />

Devon County Show / London Trip<br />

EXPRESSIVE ARTS<br />

Devon County Show / London Trip<br />

PRIMARY LIAISON<br />

Aesops Fables<br />

TECHNOLOGY<br />

Coursework Projects<br />

HISTORY/SOCIOLOGY<br />

In-class Debates<br />

DINING HALL<br />

Culinary Experiences


Welcome to the summer edition of the<br />

<strong>Aspire</strong> magazine, I very much hope that<br />

you enjoy reading about all the wonderful<br />

opportunities available at Coombeshead<br />

Academy and the incredible success that<br />

takes place at the school on a daily basis.<br />

As Headteacher at the school, I am<br />

immensely proud of the comprehensive<br />

education that our children receive<br />

through the support of our outstanding<br />

teachers, support staff, our parents and<br />

the children themselves. We continue to<br />

inspire excellence.<br />

Inspiring excellence is not simply a<br />

strapline, it is not simply something that<br />

is seen in aspects of the school, inspiring<br />

excellence is something that is demanded<br />

of each and every one of us in every<br />

corner of this great academy.<br />

We continue to demand high<br />

expectations of everybody to ensure that<br />

not only academic outcomes continue<br />

to rise but as students develop within our<br />

school system, they can ultimately leave<br />

with confidence and with experiences<br />

behind them that have shaped them<br />

and their personality allowing them to be<br />

successful contributors to society in the future. Embedded within our values of academic achievement, positive attitude, community,<br />

enrichment and endeavour, students at Coombeshead Academy not only experience outstanding teaching but invest hugely in<br />

the school community and our local community ensuring a positive contribution takes place from the minute they walk through the<br />

school doors as an 11 year old in Year 7.<br />

I believe passionately in the comprehensive state school system and believe that the education and opportunities on offer here<br />

easily rival that of any school from any sector in our local community and nationally.<br />

I use a quote with our students that sums up the ethos and aspiration that we hold for every child at our school “Success is never<br />

final, failure is never fatal, its courage that counts”.<br />

Should you wish to take the opportunity to visit the school and see for yourself and share in the daily successes and see the courage<br />

and resilience developed within our students then please do not hesitate to contact us at the school to arrange a tour at your<br />

convenience.<br />

Thank you for taking the time to read our <strong>Aspire</strong> magazine and I hope you enjoy sharing in the excellence that we stand for at<br />

Coombeshead Academy.<br />

Andrew Hulbert<br />

Headteacher<br />

WELCOME<br />

1


Ten Tors <strong>2018</strong><br />

Coombeshead Academy students started training for the Ten<br />

Tors Challenge in October 2017, completing one walk a month<br />

up until Christmas to give the students as much experience as<br />

possible of walking in the tough terrain on Dartmoor.<br />

As a school we encourage students to do the challenge as it is<br />

an opportunity to develop invaluable life skills for the students<br />

and helps them to learn that they are able to achieve far more<br />

than what they first thought, especially by working as part of a<br />

team.<br />

By February <strong>2018</strong> Coombeshead students started camping<br />

and learning about their camp craft. In preparation for the<br />

challenge they aimed to do five day-walks and five weekend<br />

camps, although this was challenging due to the adverse<br />

weather conditions. The students overcame the freezing winter<br />

temperatures and snow, showing resilience and dedication by<br />

completing a hike on one Sunday, despite the previous evening<br />

temperatures being below zero with fierce wind chill.<br />

Coombeshead students continued to learn valuable lessons<br />

throughout the months of training and successfully completed<br />

a 35 mile hike whilst also preparing for summers exams. Their<br />

remarkable commitment ensured that they completed this<br />

incredible challenge.<br />

Well done to the 3 Year 10 and 3 Year 9 students for their<br />

incredible hard work throughout the months of preparation<br />

and successfully completed Ten Tors at 16.40pm on Sunday. The<br />

team work and determination of the Coombeshead students<br />

really shone through. The whole school is extremely proud of<br />

the team and they look forward to the event again next year.<br />

ACHIEVEMENT<br />

2


ENGLISH<br />

A Level Theatre Trip<br />

Twenty Sixth Form English students enjoyed a<br />

modern production of their set text ‘A Streetcar<br />

Named Desire’ by Tennessee Williams.<br />

For those who were due to take their final A<br />

level exams, this was a fantastic opportunity to<br />

approach the production with a critical view<br />

to apply in the summer exams.<br />

We even managed to take a Year 11 student<br />

who will be joining the course next year.<br />

A highlight of our annual theatre trip to The<br />

Bristol Old Vic was a visit to our favourite<br />

restaurant for lunch to make sure we all<br />

had enough energy to take us through the<br />

performance!<br />

Many thanks to Ms Faull for organising the trip.<br />

Carnegie Shadowing Winners!<br />

A selection of Year 10 students had the opportunity to<br />

attend the Carnegie Shadowing day at Stover School<br />

on the 14th June.<br />

Each school was allocated a Carnegie shortlisted book<br />

which they interpreted and performed in The Jubilee<br />

Hall at Stover.<br />

Students had the exciting opportunity to meet Mitch<br />

Johnson, author of ‘Kick’, and were given some advice<br />

about how to fulfil a career as a writer.<br />

After the performances, each school from surrounding<br />

areas voted for the performance, which most made<br />

them want to read the book. Coombeshead Academy’s<br />

dramatic performance achieved the most amount of<br />

votes and won the shadowing event.<br />

A fantastic achievement for the students involved.<br />

Well done Year 10!<br />

SPORT, CONFERENCE & FACILITY HIRE<br />

@ COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY<br />

SPACES TO HIRE FOR ALL OCCASIONS<br />

PLEASE PHONE: 01548 855261<br />

Email: reservations@educationsouthwest.org.uk<br />

3


Rocking the Devon County Show!<br />

The Coombeshead Academy Soul Band and<br />

Folk Group wowed the crowd at one of Devon’s<br />

highest profile events on Thursday 17 th May.<br />

The ensembles were invited to play at the<br />

prestigious event by the Devon Music Education<br />

Hub and managed to fit the event into their<br />

already packed performance diaries.<br />

Upon arriving at the Exeter Westpoint Arena,<br />

the students were thrilled to discover that they<br />

were due to perform on the big main stage to a<br />

large audience.<br />

As the time ticked just passed lunchtime the<br />

food court was already busy just as the Soul<br />

Band started their performance.<br />

As they started to play even more people<br />

gathered to enjoy their lunch and more<br />

importantly, to enjoy the music.<br />

The Soul Band performed a 25 minute set which included some old soul classics and also soul versions of current pieces of<br />

contemporary music.<br />

The Coombeshead Academy Folk Group<br />

followed on from the Soul Band and continued<br />

to impress and amaze the Devon County Show<br />

audience. Performing original renditions of<br />

contemporary classics, the seven folk musicians<br />

filled the stage with great live music.<br />

Many members of the public commented on<br />

how professional, talented, and pleasing to the<br />

ear both bands were, with some even making<br />

the mistake in thinking they were listening to a<br />

recording!<br />

The students were a credit to Coombeshead<br />

Academy and really enjoyed the experience of<br />

performing for such a large audience.<br />

The talented young musicians at Coombeshead<br />

continue to challenge the distinction between<br />

‘school group’ and ‘professional working<br />

bands’.<br />

EXPRESSIVE ARTS<br />

4


Dazzling Music and Drama Trip to London<br />

Expressive Arts students at Coombeshead Academy had a fun<br />

filled and educational two day trip to London. They started<br />

their adventure by seeing the breath-taking 42nd Street at<br />

the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Students were amazed by the<br />

precise routines and sceptical set design.<br />

Meanwhile, Music BTEC students saw a live performance of Les<br />

Miserables, commenting that they were speechless because it<br />

took them on a real ‘emotional roller-coaster’. The BTEC music<br />

students were then mesmerised by Phantom Thread at The<br />

Royal Festival Hall, experiencing the power of what London<br />

Contemporary Orchestra can bring to cinematography. The<br />

film has been nominated for 6 Oscars, including director Paul<br />

Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood, the<br />

guitarist from Radiohead.<br />

Afterwards, the Coombeshead students were fortunate enough<br />

to witness the incredible talent and vocal performance of the<br />

Dream Girls cast, drawing most students to tears. One student<br />

commented that ‘Dreams girls was moving and powerful, it<br />

was extremely hard hitting and made us all cry.’<br />

The next day the Coombeshead Drama students attended<br />

a fantastic Commercial Dance Workshop at the famous<br />

Pineapple Dance Studios with Jessica Mason, an ex<br />

Coombeshead student who now performances on Celebrity<br />

Cruises.<br />

Meanwhile the Music students composed their own scores<br />

using the latest Apple Mac software, in a music tech workshop,<br />

at the St Luke’s Centre which is part of the London Symphony<br />

Orchestra. One Music student said that the workshop was<br />

‘interesting and informative.’<br />

To end their career inspiring trip, they visited The New London<br />

Theatre and were dazzled by talented young performers<br />

playing live Rock and Roll music, including an electric guitar<br />

backwards! A Coombeshead student commented that ‘It<br />

was the best child cast I have ever seen, they were insanely<br />

talented and made us all wish we were in a rock band’.<br />

All pupils felt extremely privileged to have the opportunity to<br />

take part in this wonderful experience which allowed them<br />

to witness the workings of the professional performing arts<br />

industry. The trip inspired, motivated and enthused students to<br />

follow their dreams.<br />

Year 13<br />

Performance<br />

Exam<br />

The year 13 Component<br />

two performance exam<br />

took place on 7 th March.<br />

The students worked<br />

endless hours to perform<br />

their own interpretation of<br />

‘Dancing at the Lughnasa’<br />

by Brian Friel.<br />

57


DMEH Ten Pieces Orchestral Extravaganza<br />

On Friday 9 th March at the Great Hall Exeter University, members<br />

of our Bushell Youth Community Orchestra were involved in a new<br />

initiative ran by Devon Music Education Hub. We spent the afternoon<br />

rehearsing alongside another 300 local Devon young musicians to<br />

produce a mass orchestra where we performed three pieces of<br />

music together. This was supported by professional musicians from<br />

the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.<br />

We began preparing for this project after Christmas and we were<br />

visited in early February by the BSO associate conductor, Will<br />

Goodchild who ran one of our rehearsals as part of the project.<br />

The performance started at 7.00pm to a packed audience in the<br />

Great Hall, Exeter University and involved performances from the<br />

huge mass orchestra as well as the Devon Youth Symphony Orchestra<br />

and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.<br />

The Bushell Youth Community Orchestra is an independent<br />

orchestra that is funded by the Devon Music Education Hub. We run<br />

development groups to help young people improve their practical<br />

skills and eventually progress onto our orchestra. We currently have<br />

over 50 young local musicians who are involved in the orchestra and<br />

they are from various different schools in the local area, including –<br />

Coombeshead Academy, Teign School, Blackpool Primary School,<br />

Ipplepen Primary School, Moretonhampstead Primary School,<br />

Doddiscombsleigh Primary School, Chudleigh Primary School, Rydon<br />

Primary School, Canada Hill Primary School and Abbotskerswell<br />

Primary School.<br />

We rehearse every Tuesday evening between 3.45pm – 5.15pm at<br />

the Bushell Theatre, Coombeshead Academy.<br />

If you are interesting in joining our orchestra or development groups,<br />

please contact: andrew.tyner@coombesheadacademy.org.uk<br />

Folk Group at Abbotskerswell Fireworks Display<br />

In November, Coombeshead Academy Folk Band were invited to perform at the Abbotskerswell Fireworks Display. The pupils<br />

performed two 30-minute sets of old classic and contemporary folk songs to a very large crowd. They were very well received<br />

with members of the public saying what a great performance they had produced. The organisers also expressed a huge<br />

amount of gratitude to our pupils and commented on how well they performed.<br />

A big thank you to the performers from the folk group and the commitment they continue to show.<br />

86


GCSE Blast Event<br />

with the Bournemouth Symphony<br />

Orchestra<br />

Our year 11 GCSE Music group were very lucky to be offered free tickets to a GCSE Music<br />

presentation by a chamber ensemble from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The<br />

event was presented by leading conductor and music educator, Patrick Bailey. We listened<br />

to performances of GCSE Music set works and Patrick gave an insightful and important<br />

discussion on each piece of music. We travelled by mini bus to Tor Bridge High School in<br />

Plymouth to watch a variety of pieces which were composed by:<br />

Bach Haydn, Dvorak, Copland and The Beatles<br />

The aim of the visit was for our pupils to experience live performances and in-depth discussions<br />

over the pieces of music they have to analyse and understand for their GCSE Music course.<br />

They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were taken aback by the style and technique<br />

shown from the performers and the informative and laidback approach from Patrick Bailey.<br />

Some of the comments made by our pupils included:<br />

Learning the historical context as well as listening to the music helped to develop my musical<br />

knowledge.<br />

It was really interesting to hear different styles of music, ones that I am not that familiar with.<br />

Orchestra for All!<br />

On Thursday 24 th of May, Coombeshead Academy musicians were invited to an Orchestra workshop day at KEVICC. The workshop<br />

was led by an organisation called Orchestra for All who focus on developing both young musicians and helping new teachers to<br />

improve their ensemble direction skills.<br />

Eight students from Coombeshead Academy attended with Music teaching staff, Mr Procter and Miss Hignett (from Teign School)<br />

who spent time developing their conducting skills.<br />

The day itself was led by Bob Pepper MBE, who is an Associate Head teacher at Dame Alice Owen’s School and has been a music<br />

educator for 40 years. The day was extremely great fun and educational.<br />

7


BTEC Music Performance<br />

On Wednesday the 23rd May, Coombeshead Academy held a wonderful Post 16 BTEC Music Performance Concert<br />

in the Bushell Theatre.<br />

This was an opportunity for all Year 12 and 13 BTEC Music students to perform their music coursework they had been<br />

working on for their assessments. The standard of the performances were excellent and the audience were very<br />

impressed with how professional the student’s were. There was a great turn out from parents and fellow students<br />

helping to support and encourage the students involved.<br />

8


Aesops Fables<br />

The Year 8 Coombeshead Academy Theatre in<br />

Education company has toured around local Primary<br />

schools with the production of ‘Aesop’s Fables II.’ We<br />

visited St Catherine’s, Bovey Tracey, Abbotskerswell,<br />

Ipplepen, All Saints Marsh, St Joseph’s and Highweek<br />

primary schools between 12th to 15th June.<br />

The play focused on four of Aesop’s fables, which<br />

included Belling the Cat, The Lion in Love, The Boy<br />

Who Cried Wolf and The Fox Without a Tail. The<br />

students played a variety of extravagant characters.<br />

The performance included songs, adapted by the<br />

students, and exciting dances, as well as lots of<br />

audience interaction.<br />

The Primary school children were extremely<br />

enthusiastic to be involved in the performance,<br />

making decisions and informing the cast on what<br />

to do on stage, with lots of them calling out, ‘he’s<br />

behind you!’<br />

At the end of the performances the Primary school<br />

children’s responses were extremely positive, with one<br />

student not wanting us to leave, and the suggestions<br />

for improvement from many were to ‘add another<br />

fable’.<br />

The Coombeshead students have been extremely<br />

committed, bringing imaginative ideas and<br />

energy to the making of the performance. The<br />

students produced a very polished and enjoyable<br />

performance, which was of a high standard and one<br />

of which they should be very proud!<br />

Meriel Hughes (Drama Teacher)<br />

The touring show has been an amazing experience.<br />

One of my favourite parts was when we had just<br />

had a great show, we were on our way back in<br />

the mini-bus and we were all singing ‘the wheels<br />

on the bus’. I really enjoyed was seeing all of the<br />

children’s faces in the shows.<br />

In the show I played two characters; my first<br />

character is an ‘Auntie’, I really enjoyed playing<br />

her because she is very bossy. My second<br />

character is ‘Vickie is Snicky and Sly’ and at the<br />

end I was the one who found the tail.<br />

So, if you go to Coombeshead then do the touring<br />

show because it will make your year.<br />

Rosie<br />

PRIMARY LIAISON<br />

I have really enjoyed my experience of the<br />

touring show because not a lot of schools have<br />

this opportunity. I really recommend coming<br />

to Coombeshead Academy because of the<br />

opportunities teachers give you. I played the ‘Lion’<br />

part in the ‘Lion in Love’. I really loved my part<br />

because it was challenging but also really fun! The<br />

audience was really engaging when we wanted<br />

them to be. Overall, I would do it all over again!<br />

Olivia<br />

I am part of the Coombeshead touring show. I think that<br />

the touring show is a really good experience and a great<br />

way to build your confidence, because you are performing<br />

in front of crowds of students every day of the week.<br />

My favourite part about the show are the children’s<br />

reactions when they get asked a question or we<br />

go down to the audience in one of the songs.<br />

Charlie<br />

The touring show was an incredible experience. I had one of<br />

the best weeks of my entire 13 years, everyone was kind and<br />

we all thoroughly enjoyed every second. This performance<br />

gave me a lot of life experience and made me appreciate<br />

things a lot more. Thank you so much Coombeshead for<br />

giving me this amazing opportunity, it was a completely<br />

phenomenal and unique experience.<br />

Hollie 9


Coursework Projects<br />

From last September, all pupils studying<br />

GCSE Resistant Materials or Graphic products,<br />

worked hard to complete the coursework element<br />

of their exam. They had to produce an in-depth<br />

design portfolio and a finished artefact. Projects<br />

were many and varied, including a toy trolley,<br />

childs’ DVD rack, Serpents Twist roller coaster<br />

entrance, tractor tools accessory box, horse<br />

accessory box, games console and DVD holder,<br />

Samurai roller coaster ride entrance, Pirate ship<br />

play area and many more. The outcomes were high<br />

quality and displayed a wide range of skills and<br />

knowledge.<br />

Special mention must go to the students who<br />

attended all the after school workshops and<br />

lunchtime sessions and worked especially hard<br />

to ensure their product was made to the highest<br />

quality possible.<br />

A fantastic collection of well made and interesting<br />

products. Well done Year 11 Design and Technology<br />

students!<br />

TECHNOLOGY<br />

10


In-Class Debates<br />

Year 8 History students studying World War I carry out a<br />

class debate (Boys verses Girls), considering whether Field<br />

Marshal Douglas Haig was a butcher or a hero at the Battle<br />

of the Somme?<br />

HISTORY & SOCIOLOGY<br />

Battle of Hastings<br />

re-enactment<br />

Who should be King?


WWI Trenches<br />

Year 8 History students studying World War I<br />

carry out a class debate (Boys verses Girls),<br />

considering whether Field Marshal Douglas<br />

Haig was a butcher or a hero at the Battle of<br />

the Somme?<br />

Many thanks to parents and family for any<br />

help given.<br />

Sixth Form Sociology<br />

Year 12 students presenting summaries of Phenomenology<br />

and Ethnomethodology; two approaches to understanding<br />

arguments about how society is socially constructed.<br />

Year 13 pupils preparing an essay plan examining the impact<br />

of new media technologies such as social media, virtual<br />

reality and computer games on individual behaviour and<br />

societal institutions.


Culinary Experiences<br />

This is my fourth year at Coombeshead Academy and I am always<br />

looking at ways to move the catering forward.<br />

Having come from a mainly hotel background where I achieved AA<br />

rosette standard, before moving to the care sector and achieving<br />

‘fame’ as a competition winner, I came to school catering. And I am<br />

glad I did, I love this job! It is a great opportunity to educate young<br />

people in the vastness of culinary delights.<br />

I am always looking at what new culinary experiences I can bring to<br />

the students.<br />

In the past three years we have tried many different things, from<br />

themed days to speciality taster days. These have included:<br />

• Chinese New Year week – Chow mein, Duck and Hoi Sin sauce<br />

Wraps, Beef in Black Bean sauce<br />

• Spanish day – Paella, Artichokes, Chorizo<br />

• American day – Jumbalaya, Gumbo, Grits<br />

• Mexican day – Fajita, Burritos<br />

• Curry weeks – Australian Red Crocodile Curry, Thai Red and Green<br />

Curries, Brazilian Chicken and Spinach Curry, Malaysian Rendang<br />

and Massaman Curries, Moroccan Lamb and Lentil Curry,<br />

Japanese Katsu Curry, Caribbean Goat Curry<br />

• International day – Escargot, Sushi, Caviar and Halloumi<br />

• Burns night – Haggis (this was piped around the dining-room before<br />

being ‘addressed’ and served)<br />

What’s next ?<br />

It always amazes me what our students will try.<br />

When we had the snails I thought a few dozen would be enough…..boy was I wrong! Long after they had all gone I still had<br />

students asking me if they could try one. We should have ordered ten dozen!<br />

Obviously I cannot do all of this alone and it would only be possible with the fantastic team of catering staff I have. Two of my<br />

team are training to become qualified chefs and we have a kitchen culture of learning all the time. How school catering has<br />

changed!<br />

So, the Coombeshead catering team welcomes new cuisine and what it may bring in terms of culinary excitement.<br />

PAUL EVANS<br />

E.S.W. CATERING OPERATIONS MANAGER (NORTH HUB)<br />

CHEF MANAGER COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY<br />

DINING HALL<br />

13


Coombeshead Academy<br />

Coombeshead Road<br />

Newton Abbot<br />

TQ12 1PT<br />

Tel: 01626 <strong>2018</strong>00<br />

Email: welcome@coombeshead.com<br />

www.coombeshead.com

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