Latest News

Howmet Aerospace and Careers Southwest Group Visit

Mon 13 Nov 2023 Louise Leonard

On Thursday, 9th November Great Torrington School welcomed in Howmet Aerospace and Careers Southwest Group to deliver the Howmet Aerospace Robot Innovation Challenge with over 80 Year 10 Computer Science and/or Design Technology pupils taking part.

The day started off with presentations from Theo Beech and Jess Morris (Assoc CIPD) of Howmet Aerospace about their job roles, and the industry that they work in. They explained the manufacturing processes involved in making their products and where robots are used and how it is a growing part of modern manufacturing.

Sam Ansell from CSW Group launched the First Lego League Robot Challenge that the pupils can take part in through the enrichment programme at GTS.

Pupils were then split into small working groups; they were challenged to think up innovative ideas of what a robot could do and what problems it might solve. They had to build a business plan and identify their customers and stakeholders, identify any competitors, and present their solution. Some creative and innovative ideas to solutions were pitched to an audience of STEM Ambassadors, teachers, and peers. Some pupils described the challenge like being in Dragon's Den, with pupils responding well to being asked some tough questions!

Each team was complimented on their excellent presentations.

Congratulations to our overall winners, 'Esago Robotics', who came up with a robotic care machine. They were presented with certificate and a goody bag from Howmet.

Winning Team members are Ophelia Latham, Sadie Curtis, Erin Queen, Ashlan White, and Grace Barker.

GTS are looking forward to working more with Theo and Jess from Howmet and CSW group as we launch our first team in the First Lego League Robotics Competition this academic year.

Exam Certificates - Summer 2023

Fri 10 Nov 2023 Gary Young

Certificates from the Summer 2023 exams are now available for collection.

If you are unable to collect your certificates in person you can nominate someone to collect them on your behalf. Any nominated person must bring a signed authorization letter/permission slip and their ID.

Collection times will be Mon-Fri during term time
8.30am - 4.00pm from reception.

Any questions, please contact the exams officer; exams@gts.devon.sch.uk

Artsmark Gold Award

Mon 06 Nov 2023

Pupils and staff at Great Torrington School are celebrating after receiving a prestigious Artsmark Gold Award.

Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England. It supports them to develop and celebrate arts and cultural education across the whole curriculum, bringing learning to life for children and young people.

We are thrilled to share the feedback we received from our assessors with you:

'During your second Artsmark journey, stakeholders at Great Torrington School have sustained and developed your strong arts provision. You have sought to create opportunity, where previously there has been paucity of experience for some students; and have increased cultural capital, particularly for those young people who are disadvantaged. The expressive arts have been an important vehicle for your ethos of personal development, supporting the emotional wellbeing of the whole school community, especially as part of your post-pandemic recovery curriculum.

Targeted interventions such as art therapy via an Art Intervention Mentoring (AIM) project have had positive effects on vulnerable pupils, affording them space to explore and process feelings and to develop resilience and good mental health.

Students' learning is being enriched through the provision and increased uptake of an enhanced array of interesting arts clubs (such as choir, GTS Rocks and your musical theatre production of Legally Blonde), and your offer of education visits and residentials to arts and culture venues.

The wider participation of staff with various roles and responsibilities across the school has enabled students to see the importance of the arts and has further enhanced positive relationships between staff and students.

Your young people enjoy regular opportunities to showcase their work in productions, exhibitions, recitals, competitions, in local publications and through your longstanding partnership with National Theatre Connections, resulting in increased engagement; boosting students' self-confidence; and raising their profile of the arts with parents and the community'.

Our thanks to Mark Pluckrose and all the teachers and staff who are committed to making the learning opportunities so varied here at Great Torrington School.

SCHOOL CLOSURE - 2nd November

Wed 01 Nov 2023 Mr Buss

Unfortunately, due to the Met Office amber weather warning we are being advised by Devon County Council that all non-essential travel should not take place tomorrow.

Devon County Council have issued the following advice:

‘RE: AMBER WEATHER WARNING – RISK TO LIFE

As you are aware there is currently an amber weather warning in place as storm Ciaran moves towards Devon. An amber warning presents a risk to life, but there is also a large amount of uncertainty about this weather front which means it could increase to a red warning overnight. The combination of wind, rain, and the storm moving over warm sea waters increases risk of very high wind speeds, flooding and trees falling.

An emergency strategy meeting has taken place today and it was agreed that we need to ensure school leaders fully appreciate that the current weather warning presents a risk to life and could worsen.

Based on the information we have; Devon County Council have taken the decision today to ask all staff where possible to work from home. We are asking all schools to consider the high level of risk presented by this storm and make a decision today about their operations tomorrow.’

In line with most other schools, and the potential risk to life, we have taken the regrettable decision to close the school tomorrow. We do not do this lightly. The school will be shut to all pupils and staff.

Pupils will be able to access their work remotely via Class Charts and staff will be available via their school email addresses should further advice be required. All information on how to access the work in this way is available on the school website.

The school will be open as normal on Friday 3^rd November.

New Build

Mon 04 Sep 2023

We’re excited to announce tomorrow is the official opening of our new building!

This project has been jointly funded by GTS and DCC, it provides us with much needed additional space. There are three new classrooms, a new library, and several offices / small work areas. It also makes far better use of an old internal quad area, and as such has created more usable external space. Part of this project includes a new dining facility for KS4 pupils in the old library, which in turn provides more space for KS3 pupils in the original dining hall. It has also enabled additional space in the Hardy Centre, so they can provide even more support for our pupils.

There is still some final work to be completed, which should be largely complete tomorrow, but it certainly looks good.

Many other projects have been completed over the summer, including air conditioning in the Hardy Centre, a new sports hall floor and improved facilities in our kitchen. Many thanks to all the staff involved in making this all possible.

We’re excited to welcome our pupils back on Wednesday to make the most of our new facilities.

GTS pupils celebrate a fantastic set of GCSE results once again.

Thu 24 Aug 2023

GTS has enjoyed a hugely positive morning celebrating the culmination of five years of hard work and commitment. Pupils and staff have worked incredibly hard, not only through the Covid years but also throughout the rest of their tenure at GTS.

Once again GTS has bucked the national trend, which has seen grades reduced to levels last seen in 2019, prior to the pandemic. Results across the school have continued an upward trend, with 76% of exams being graded at the equivalent of grade 4, or above, which is significantly higher than the national average.

GCSEs at grade 5 and above have shown notable improvement, with 53% of pupils achieving strong passes in both English and Math’s, with over two thirds of the pupils gaining grade 4 or above in both these subjects.

Pupils, staff, and parents/carers at GTS should all be incredibly proud of all the hard work that has gone into achieving these grades.

It was a joy for staff and parents to watch pupils open their results, seeing the happiness on their faces, knowing they’re confident that they are able to move forward with the next step in their journey.

21% of pupils gained at least two grade 9 qualifications, with 44% gaining grades 7 to 9. Amelia Hammersley should be incredibly proud of her results, as she gained eight grade 9 and one grade 8 qualification.

GTS would like to congratulate all pupils on their personal achievements and wish them the best for their future. We hope you keep in touch, and that many of you will join our growing alumni.

GCSE Results Day 2023

Tue 22 Aug 2023

Just a reminder that GCSE results day is on Thursday 24th August. Results will be available for collection from the Drama Studio between 10am and 12pm, on Thursday 24th August. We will be using the entrance on the ATP side, on the roadway.

Not going to be around for results day? - Results can be collected on behalf of pupils; but we will need to have a signed letter giving permission from the pupil or we will be unable to give them to you. Please bring this letter with you when collecting results.

Please see the exams section of the website for more information about post results services. Please make sure all forms are signed and completed and submitted with payment. Teachers will be available on the day to discuss any queries with you.

Leavers Prom

Wed 19 Jul 2023 Jon Buss

On Friday 14th July our Year 11 pupils celebrated in style at their Leavers Prom at RHS Rosemoor.

It was a fantastic event to mark the end of a five-year journey at GTS. The Year 11s looked fantastic and made us all very proud. As part of the event, we presented a number of prestigious awards to pupils, which are listed below.

We’d like to take this opportunity to all our Year 11s the very best for the future.

DISCOVERY HOUSE AWARD - Matthew Hogg
ENDEAVOUR HOUSE AWARD - Amelia Hammersley
ENDURANCE HOUSE AWARD - Stacey Poole
RESOLUTION HOUSE AWARD - Lexi Reeves
LISA ROKER AWARD (given for caring service, personality and willingness to give time) - Elle-Adele Harvey
DARTINGTON AWARD (given for academic excellence) - Finley Naylor H.M.
THE QUEEN’S GOLDEN JUBILEE “ICEBERG” AWARD (given for contribution to Music and time given in the school community) - Michael Yeo
DALZELL AWARD FOR HUMANITIES (given for excellence in Humanities) - Hannah Bowen
SCIENCE AWARD - Milton Tetley
DAYLIN BROWN AWARD (given for overcoming challenges and achieving success) - Ezzie Edwards
GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARD (given for being an outstanding leader within the school community) - Archie Noseda-Lewis
INKER AWARD FOR ART - Jacob Blease & Isabel Sylvester
MODERN LANGUAGES AWARD - Amelia Hammersley
HEADTEACHERS AWARD - Andrew Dawson