TGGS

30 Shiphay Lane, Torquay TQ2 7DY
E: sixthformadmin@tggsacademy.org
T: 01803 653756

Sixth Form Absence: 01803 653 761

30 Shiphay Lane, Torquay TQ2 7DY
E: sixthformadmin@tggsacademy.org
T: 01803 653756
Sixth Form Absence Line: 01803 653 761

Head Girl Hustings

The new head girl is Megan Beasley and deputy is Ami Halliwell!

The four candidates did superbly well campaigning and speaking in front of the whole school on the morning of the 20th October and we are very proud them! They will all go on to be part of the Head Girl Team.

We now look forward to electing our Heads of House very soon.

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Record breaking A level examination results!

There were smiles all around as A level students opened their envelopes to the best set of A and A* exam results EVER for the school, with over half of the Sixth Form achieving 2 or more A/A*. A record breaking 16% of pupils achieved 3 or more A* grades and a staggering 40% of students were awarded 3 or more A and A* grades.

Headteacher, Ms Sarah Forster, said “we are so proud of our students, they have worked really hard and they deserve to celebrate this excellent set of results today.  We are fortunate to have such a dedicated family of staff that have worked tirelessly to support our students.  It is a great day for all at TGGS”

The number of A* and A grades awarded in external examinations is the highest in the school’s history and some of the highest in the country for a state school. In total, almost 60% of the grades achieved were A or A* and nearly 80% were A* to B. Of those applying to university this year, 81% will take up places at their 1st choice option, and 70% of applicants will attend prestigious Russell Group universities.

A Level students celebrating

Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Tania Grigg, paid tribute to the approach of all the students in the ‘Class of 2022’ saying “despite all the challenges of education through the pandemic, this cohort of students have simply excelled themselves. Some of our students had to overcome immense personal issues during the past two years and I am so very pleased that they have been able to achieve their dreams. We are pleased for all who achieved what they needed, from the Oxbridge students, the medics and the vets - all of whom got places – to those pursuing degrees in humanities and the arts”.

As a former Head of Geography, Mrs Grigg is particularly pleased for Georgie Scoot, who is going to Princeton University to study Social Sciences. She found out she had won a scholarship during a geography fieldtrip. Despite competing in athletics at a national event the weekend before her A levels began, Georgie has achieved 3 A* grades.

With the record-breaking examination results achieved this year, there are too many amazing achievements to list them all, but Mrs Grigg would like to make special mention of Erin Snape who achieved an incredible five A* grades and is going to study Robotic Engineering at Bath University. Emily Rosser scored four A* grades, in French, German, Geography and Maths. Emily is hoping to take up a place at Freiburg University to study Liberal Arts. Amy Bell, a talented dancer and performer, achieved three A* and is going to study Sports & Exercise Science at Bath University, where she is also hoping to be selected for the GB Rowing Start programme.

“We are just so privileged to have such an array of talented students” Mrs Grigg continued “Despite the media reports about the problems of students accessing medicine courses, we have had huge success with all of our medical applicants offered places to study and achieving the necessary grades. Maddie Hooker gained four A*s and will read medicine at Oxford. During her A level studies she found the time to run our Medsoc group, preparing not just herself but other students as well for the rigorous medicine application procedure.”

Mrs Grigg also commented that it was wonderful to see so many female students pursuing Engineering and Mathematics at university. Lauren Ramsey, for example, is using her three A*s to study Mathematics at Southampton University, whilst Isobel Grafton is using her two As and two Bs to study aerospace engineering at Birmingham University. 51% of this year’s university applicants are taking up STEM related courses.

“It is also really pleasing that so many students have chosen to study degrees so they can make a real difference to our planet” she said. “Leilah Poulain, who joined us for the sixth form, is using her A and two Bs to study Conservation Ecology at Exeter University after a gap year, where she has secured a role with a local conservation charity. Rose Ryder is going to use her three A*s to study global development at Bath University. Chloe Stone gave so much to the community of TGGS as PHSE lead, working with younger students at TGGS and Torquay Boys School. She has achieved three A* and one A grade and will study Social Sciences and Politics at Durham. We really hope we have set our young people on a path where they can not only secure their own futures but also make a difference in the lives of others.”

Harvard Book Prize awarded to Katie Swann

This year Harvard University has selected TGGS to award their annual book prize to a Year 12 student. For many years the Harvard Club of the UK, a non-profit alumni organization affiliated with Harvard University, has provided a Book Prize to 180 high performing, state funded schools across the country, for the schools to award to an outstanding Year 12 student. 

The chosen book is always a recently published volume by a Harvard professor or prominent graduate on a topic of general interest. Each school is responsible for selecting a suitable recipient for the prize, who must be: “An outstanding student in the penultimate year, academically excellent, with exceptional personal qualities, who makes a significant contribution to school or community.”

In consultation with the whole sixth form team and teaching staff, we have selected Katie Swann. Katie has excelled academically this year and shows outstanding personal qualities. As Hub co-ordinator, staff cannot give her enough praise. She has been 100% committed and reliable showing fantastic leadership skills and organisation. She always supports her team, covering others when necessary. Many younger students have benefitted from Katie’s dedication and support. Well done to Katie!

Book Prize Recipient

Geoscientists of the Future at 'Girls into Geoscience 2022'

A number of TGGS students from years 10 and 12 were fortunate enough to be able to attend the "Girls into Geoscience 2022" Careers Event at the University of Plymouth,  accompanied by Subject lead for Geology and TGGS Careers Leader, Gordon Neighbour, and Work Experience Coordinator, Sandy Rolfe.

After an inspirational welcome and introduction from Dr Sarah Boulton, University of Plymouth, students were treated to an exciting and varied programme from the following young women professionals who are trail-blazing this vital sector for the UK economy as we move towards a greener and more sustainable future:

  • Hydrogeology –a varied life! - Helen Robinson, CGG
  • Geology and resources: my career journey - Chrisha Calunod, Sibelco
  • Mining –a man’s world? - Amy Everton, British Gypsum

Students were also able to participate in two of the following workshops to get an idea of what varied skills are required in this exciting area of science.

Workshop 1: Palaeoecology, Landscapes, People and Climate – Dr Jessie Woodbridge

Students explored how the fossil remains of plants (pollen) and algae (diatoms) preserved in lake and peat bogs for thousands of years are used to investigate past human-environment interactions and changes in global climate. Getting hands-on experience of examining microfossils using light microscopes and reconstruct 10,000 years of environmental change in just 30 minutes!

Workshop 2: Active faults and GIS– Dr Sarah J Boulton

In this workshop students used a geographic information system (GIS) to investigate digital elevation models (DEMs) of active faults. They got to use some common tools to visualise the tectonic geomorphology of the study areas (e.g., New Zealand) and make measurements of displacement along the fault zone, deepening your knowledge and understanding of structural geology but also how modern techniques can be used in the Earth Sciences.

Workshop 3: Planetary geology & Interplanetary Fieldwork – Dr Natasha Stephen

Geologists don’t just study the Earth! There are other planets and bodies throughout our Solar System that share geological similarities to Earth as well as some very dramatic differences. Volcanoes on Mars are bigger than Mt Everest, they’re much hotter on Venus and even frozen on Jupiter’s moons! Marsquakes are a real thing and we really do have rovers, landers and satellites on planets, moons, comets and asteroids, as well as space rocks here on Earth to study. Students undertook an interplanetary fieldtrip exploring the geology of the Solar System from the luxury of a classroom – no space travel required!

Workshop 4: Discovering the rocks beneath the seafloor: Live Report from a scientist at sea – Dr Michelle Harris

Forming new seafloor at mid-ocean ridges is the start of the plate tectonic cycle and defines much of the Earth’s surface. In this session students were introduced to scientific ocean drilling, one of our key tools for understanding the seafloor. Linking up live with Dr Michelle Harris who is on-board the drillship JOIDES Resolution, the lucky participants ere introduced to how the ship works, life at sea and the scientific objectives of IODP Expedition 393. 

Additionally, there was the opportunity to attend two speaker panels (one about Geoscience courses in particular and one about more general university life). The students came away motivated, excited and buzzing from what they had learnt! Having the opportunity to handle a piece of the Moon and a piece of Mars was such a privilege for our keen and interested scientists!

To find out more about future editions of the workshops, please visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/earth-sciences/girls-into-geoscience

Students at conference

Lesson from Auschwitz

Recently, a group of Sixth Formers from TGGS had the opportunity to take part in the Lessons from Auschwitz scheme, an educational programme to commemorate and spread information about the Holocaust. One aspect of the programme is tasking those involved with spreading information about the legacy of the Holocaust in their local communicites, and Olivia Boote and Matilda Roddy have written this very informative article as part of the project.

Read Lessons from Auschwitz article

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