Issue 20: JULY 2017

ISCAMATTERS

OPEN EVENING 2017Thursday 21st September

from 6:30 pm

Open Morning ToursMonday 25th to Friday 29th September at 9:30 am and

Monday 2nd to Friday 6th October at 9:30 am

Dear Parents and Carers,It is hard to believe that we are already coming to the end of this academic year. So much has happened, including, of course, the fantastic outcome of our Ofsted Inspection. We are so proud and delighted with the findings of the inspection team and I feel this is recognition for the dedication of staff, students and parents in making Isca Academy the vibrant and inclusive school that it is.The academic year opened with the introduction of our Ready to Learn (RLT) approach, which students, parents and staff unanimously feel has made a significant difference to students’ learning and enjoyment of school life. Isca Academy has since been leading the way in behaviour for learning and our practices are now being emulated in schools across the region. Under the leadership of our new Deputy Headteacher for Inclusion, Mrs Julie Scotting, we will continue to refine the system in the coming year to provide the most conducive environment for our students to learn and thrive.Over the past twelve months, the school has also begun to build great momentum around innovation in Teaching and Learning. A renewed focus on marking and assessment, homework, student voice and engagement, differentiation for individual learning, and recognition of success have all contributed to a new energy within the school. We will build on this next year, with the introduction of new initiatives such as ClassCharts and Provision Map, which will bring together in one place all the knowledge about our students to allow staff to effectively meet their needs. Fundamentally our aim remains steady: to ensure that every child in our school fulfils their potential and succeeds. This success is, of course, largely dependent on working closely with you as parents/guardians and I very much hope that this collaboration will remain at the heart of what we do. As part of this, we are keen to hear parents/carers’ views on what we do well and what we could improve, and you will shortly receive the details of an on-line survey. I would really appreciate it if you could spare the time to complete it.I would like to close by wishing our Year 11 students all the very best in their next step. It has been such a pleasure having them with us, and we will be here on Results Day to celebrate their success.To everyone else, I hope you have a fabulous summer and we all look forward to welcoming you back in September.Aimee Mitchell, Headteacher

We say farewell to:Simon Weir - Simon has been instrumental to Isca Academy’s success for many years as Deputy Headteacher for Inclusion and has now taken up a new post in West Exe School’s senior team.

Carrie McMillan – Our energetic and talented Assistant Headteacher will be starting a 12 month secondment to work with SWITT in September. We look forward to welcoming her back in a year’s time.

Richard Toomer – Richard joined the school in January 2014, heading up the Creative Arts Department, and has done brilliant work in putting Isca Academy on the local and national map in terms of our creative arts provision and showcases. Richard will be moving on to pursue his musical interests.

Kelly Collins – Kelly joined the team as a Textiles Teacher in 2008 and has held leadership roles within the school to develop the textiles and creative arts provision. Kelly has elected to take some time off to be with her young family.

Ellie Elphick – Ellie has been a bright young star in our Science Department since joining in 2014 and will be moving to West Exe School to take up a promotional post from September.

Sam Watts – Sam, a man of many talents, joined the school in 1993, initially as a Teacher of Art, then transferring to the Technology department to enthuse students within this subject. It is with sadness that we will be saying goodbye to Sam at the end of the Summer Term.

Debbie Carter – Debbie has been a valued member of the Science Team since 2011, working as both a Teaching Assistant and Science Teacher. She will be moving on to teach abroad.

Diane Burch – Diane joined the school in 2005 as Headteacher’s PA and subsequently Cover Manager and has been key to the life and success of the school. She will be leaving to enjoy her much deserved retirement.

Sarah King – Sarah has been our fantastic Librarian since 2014 and will be moving to Andover with her fiancé and to get married –many congratulations!

Kim Marchant – Kim joined us last year as a teaching assistant and will be leaving to start her teacher training course in September.

Sasha Kershaw – Sasha also joined in the course of last year and will be leaving to start her university course in September.

Louise Monaghan – Louise joined as an apprentice TA in 2014 and will also be leaving to pursue her university studies.

Welcome to:

Julie Scotting, who will be joining us from Tor Bridge School in Plymouth, taking over as Deputy Headteacher for Inclusion.Joanne Vallance, who will be joining us from Teignmouth Community School to take over as Head of Performing Arts.Tyler Page and Symone Lucas, who will be joining the teaching team within the English Department.Steven Callow and Darianne Sherwin, who will be joining the teaching team within the Science Department (some of you may have already met Steven, who was a student teacher with us this year).Luke Skorka-Brown, who will be joining the teaching team within the Design and Technology Department.Grahame Wormersley-Westlake, joining us as part-time Cover Supervisor Leanne Palmer and Emma Genroy, joining us as Teaching Assistants

Staff changes for Autumn 2017The end of the academic year is always a time of change. Some members of our team will be moving on to pastures new and there will also be some new faces around the school in September:

We are very proud of our Year 8 scientists who travelled to Truro and Penwith College in June and won the Salters Institute Festival of Chemistry Competition! The festival provides the opportunity for enthusiastic young students to spend a day in a university department and to take part in fun practical chemistry activities.

Eating Homework

Forest School at Isca AcademyIsca Academy in partnership with the Wonford & St Pauls Project (WASP) were out and about this term making the most of the school grounds, each Friday they could be found in all kinds of places and predicaments. We knew they were safe so were not alarmed to see some year 7’s dangling on a rope swing, building a shelter or cooking themselves a big sausage sandwich behind a hedge!The idea behind this group is not just about fun, it’s about learning some new practical skills, sensible and balanced risk taking and teamwork, sharing ideas and leadership development. So if you do happen to see them when you’re running around the field or the smell of wood smoke or bacon wafts over, do say hello.

Students cooking with Andy Shiach -Youth and Children’s Worker with WASP

Primary ScienceOne of our Year 7 French homework tasks this term was to make crêpes. Michelle Tear took a group of boys to make them in school, they had to read and follow all the French instructions, and of course had to eat everything they had made! Many thanks from the French department for all of Michelle’s hard work in supporting students this year in French!

This term our Science staff have been working with classes of Year 5 children from local primary schools exploring the differences between Physics, Chemistry and Biology. There have been plenty of whizzes, bangs, screaming Jelly Babies, rocket launches, amazing colours and a few funny smells!

Isca Underground 2017

Another awesome year of Isca Underground celebrating the talents and creativity of our

students, staff and local community.

A huge special mention for Mr Toomer who has pioneered this event over the last 4 years. We will very much miss his energy

and passion!

Art, Textiles and Photography Exhibition

Wonderful Art Day at RAMMOn the 6th June a group of 15 Year 10 Art, Photography and Textiles students took part in a ‘Double Elephant’ Dry Point Etching workshop at the RAMM in Exeter. The workshop was inspired by the ‘Glimpses of The Wonderful’ exhibition currently on show, which they enjoyed looking around and then drawing inspiration from the exhibit for their own work.Students worked really hard and each produced a number of fantastic and exciting etchings and developments which they should all be very proud of – so much so, the Museum even said that their results were far better than their adult class results!It was an excellent day and great to see the smiles on their faces when they received such positive feedback of their work from the Museum staff. We particularly enjoyed witnessing their increased confidence in having achieved what they thought would not be possible.Well done to all involved and we look forward to more in the future.

Congratulations to the Year 11 Art, Textiles and Photography students for your amazing exhibition - a gallery of pictures from this event will be online via our website.

A Welcome ArtworkYear 9 Art and Design students have designed and produced a painting for Devon County Council Contact Service Centre at Rifford Road. The contact service provides court ordered, family contacts for children and young people, who are in the care of the local authority. Carol Barwell, a long term friend of Isca Academy, was looking for a large, colourful piece of Art which could be hung in the lobby area to welcome everyone in to their building, including the wording ‘welcome’ written in different languages. The art work was presented to Ms Barwell during Isca Underground. She was delighted with the piece and thanked all of our Year 9 students for their hard work using their art skills to support other children in the community. Well done, Year 9 artists!

EVC ExtremeThe annual EVC Extreme event saw the usual scary-but-not-impossible tasks set by the Outdoor Education staff with the help of staff and facilities at Haven Banks. Congratulations to all students that faced the challenge of the 20ft drop from the Tower at Haven Banks, canoed blindfolded on the river, or took the slack line challenge - you were always going to end up wet!The following teams were the top three teams in this years Exe Valley Extreme event:Chloe O’Brien, Karina Hobbs, Caitlin Hobbs, Izzy Newbery (MINERVA)Maya Fielding, Jenna Groves, Olivia Pinhorn, Faith Fielder (APOLLO)Dan Brooks, Tate Harrison-Curtis, Barney Conridge, Michael Bowley (MINERVA) - the winning team!

Exe Valley Challenge 2017

It was a record breaking year for Exe Valley Challenge as 160 teams took part in the event this year - that’s 640 children with the youngest this year being just 6 years old! The winners were:

Minis: Bickleigh 4 and Ladysmith 11Juniors: Clyst Heath 15 (Boys) Bickleigh 8 (Girls) Brampford Speke (mixed)Seniors: Isca 2 (Boys), St Leonards 4 (Girls), Isca 14 (mixed)

The overall winners were the Isca 2 team with a winning tally of 370 points.Well done to all the participants this year. Thanks also to Moira Marder and Rob Bosworth from the Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust for presenting the medals, Isca Friends for refreshments, Haven Banks for the Archery and the Devon Army Cadet Force for coordinatoing the parking and fundraising.Next years event will be held on Sunday 1st July 2018.

Ten Tors 2017Event report from Mr J Miller Ten Tors is not a race or a competition – it is a challenge to complete with your full team of six by 1700 on the Sunday.So no-one “wins” TT, and we have spent an awful lot of time trying to drum that into our very competitive Year 9 boys this year and show them how to be team players.Isca Academy had students in 7 teams involved in Ten Tors this year. Here are their final times:Isca B 35 milers (AH) arrived at 11:12 with Ted McDermott (capt), Francis Ibbotson, Theo Meller, Asher Rutherford, Reuben Thompson and Alf Worth.

Breath had barely been drawn before Exe Valley Ramblers B 35 (BF) were in at 11:16, featuring Ewan Warren (capt), George Caton-Pike, Joli Knowles, Zak Haggar, Sean Laws and Ezmee Wyatt.

11:29 then saw Isca A 35 (PG) crossing the line led by their captain Maya Fielding, with Ollie Banwell, Faith Bingham, Faith Fielder, Nathan Garrett and Rory Malloch.

At 12:32 Exe Valley Ramblers A 35 rolled in with captain Lottie Olney, Nell Bennett, Joseph Gray, Nathan Phillips, Cameron Sloman and Teoni Ware. Team Teoni were out in force with huge white and pink banner with hearts – it was a joy to behold.

And to complete the set for us, Elliot Smith brought home his full team of six on Isca 45 mile route SM at 1:54, with Chris Butterworth, Amalia Clements, Grace Fielder, Sacha Ford-Attia and Alexis Jouan, and some baguettes.

Another Isca finisher was Richard Benney on route CF with Exeter District Scouts and Oscar Western walked the 35 mile event with Lipson Cooperative Academy (route DK) and they completed at 10:49.

So 32 started and 32 came home, and most of these have now walked 208 miles this season with full kit in all conditions and deserve any congratulations people see fit to give them. Well done everyone!

Outdoor Education Awards EveningThursday 29th June 2017

This term we held our first ever Outdoor Education Awards Evening to present awards for the many activities that students at Isca Academy are involved in including Ten Tors, Duke of Edinburgh Awards and the Exmoor Challenge.We were pleased to be joined by some special guests to present the awards. Duke of Edinbugh Awards were presented by The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Lesley Robson. Exmoor Challenge Shields were presented by the President of Exmoor Rotary Club, Jane Wilson and Alan Woolley. Earlier this year Isca Academy became a Duke of Edinburgh Award Centre, an acknowledgement of the work we do every year in preparing and supporting students to achieve their bronze and silver DofE awards. Miss Mitchell travelled to London to receive our award accreditation certificate at a special event held at Buckingham Palace. All students at Isca Academy in Year 9 are able to complete the Bronze Award and we look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards were presented to:Abi Fisk, Jamie McEneny, Lily Tompkins, Lottie Olney, Izzy Hubbard, Taylor Lawson, Sophie Knight, Alyssa Hillier, Lawrence Rushbrook, Bel Anderson, Joshua Maxwell, Adrian Perez, Jessie BowenSara Ford, Isobel Jasper, Lola Wood, Korben Moss-Jones, Blythe Metcalfe-Wood, Alex Byron, Gabriel Williamson, Jasmine Worth, Rhyanon Gower, Spike Eveleigh, Jane Kearns, Harrison Ewart, Millie KellyAmalia Clements, Jude Byron, Catherine Mountford, Charlotte Frew, Evie Drew, Maisy Belfield, Daniel Groves, Isobel Wooster, Alice Hodgson, Kia Davey, Rosa Jamieson, Maddy Thomas, Millie Garman, Harris Montgomery, Ben Dack, Harry Brooks, Ella Carter-Howes, Lily McDermott, Scott Richards, Poppy Morgan, Barney Conridge

Duke of Edinburgh Silver Awards were presented to:Annie McShane, James Ford, Tom Veale, Katherine Doyle, Hannah Dewsbury, Ruby Morgan, Meaghan Perry, Katie Kamara, Alice Tomkins, Harry Atton, Grace Fielder, Brock Banfield, Catherine Mountford

Exmoor Challenge Awards were presented to:Winners Junior Girls: Amber Barker, Anna Boulton, Eliza Squire, Greta SquireWinners Junior Mixed: Mylie Freestone, Rhys Norman, Joel Anderson, Tyler DowdallWinners Senior Mixed: Lottie Olney, Ewan Warren, Alfie Worth, George Caton-Pike

A special award for outstanding contribution to expeditions was awarded to Andy Pike.

Outdoor Education Awards

Book Club

Enrichment week at Isca Academy is an opportunity for our Year 7, 8 and 9 students to take part in activities that are not accessible in the usual day to day curriculum. For some this was an intensive week of a physical activity - cycling, sports, walking and camping. For others it was the chance to go on a residential visit with independence skills gained from staying away from home. Whether it was an arts week, a theme park visit, or horseriding experience we hope that all of our students enjoyed their visits. More pictures will be posted onto our Facebook page over the summer.

Enrichment Week

Magic Monday, a Harry Potter themed event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the publication of J K Rowling’s magical first book, was celebrated in the library. Students took part in a Diagon Alley treasure hunt by searching the aisles of books for Hedwig, a wand, a broomstick, the Daily Prophet and some wizard money. They got sorted into Hogwarts houses and completed a quiz: Jack, Henry, Maggie, Mabel, Emily, Mary, Mya, Eliza, Anna and Kate all got an astonishing 6450 out of 6450 points!

Isca Academy wins again!Our Book Club members excelled themselves performing at West Exe in front of other Devon schools. After excellent commitment to rehearsals, learning lines and cues, Isca’s book club came joint first in the Carnegie Shadowing Awards. Huge thanks go to Miss Hobbs for writing the script and directing our fantastic students to this victory!

Robot ChallengeA team of year 7 Isca Academy students took their new robot ‘Grom IT’ to take part in their first Scrimmage at Colyton Grammar School on Thursday 6th July 2017. It was the first time they had seen the playing arena and they were given an opportunity in the morning to refine their robots.

VEX Competitions bring STEM skills to life by tasking teams of students with designing and building a robot to play against other teams in a game-based engineering challenge. Classroom STEM concepts are put to the test as students learn lifelong skills in teamwork, leadership, communications, and more.

The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing Alliance by Stacking Cones on Goals, by Scoring Mobile Goals in Goal Zones, by having the Highest Stacks, and by Parking Robots.

The students involved were:Douglas Malloch - who built brilliant tank treads which help stabilise the robotSid McDermott and Felia Ie - who controlled the robot during the competitionTallulah Henshaw, Mya Stevens and Isaac Lawrence - who help strengthen the arm, redesign sections and generally make sure it didn't fall apart between games.Mary Scorer - voted Team Captain, and helped on everything.India Newton and Alice Holden - took on the role of keeping everyone entertained for the whole day.Holly Gillett - whose Mum was amazing in helping to get the students to the venue.

Out of the Teams who attended the scrimmage, our students were the youngest (Year 7) and they were absolutely amazing securing first place! Budmouth (Years 8/9) came second, All Saints (Year 10's) in third and the hosts, Colyton Grammar (who competed last year as well) finished with both their teams in the bottom two (Year 10 and Year 12).

I am so proud of them, the Regional Championships should be in January and the ideas the students have come up with to improve our robot are brilliant. I honestly think we have a real chance of getting to the UK championships in March if the students continue to do as well as they have.

Wayne Doidge, Teacher of ICT

Y11 Leavers Day and PromAt the end of June we gathered together both to say goodbye to a super group of young people who have challenged (in a good way!) and inspired us in their five years at Isca Academy. A truly delightful evening at Exeter Castle was their reward for months of study, revision, exam sitting and project completions, and what a wonderful evening it was.

Our very own Isca Academy Sports Day in early July was very exciting. With Minerva having won the Sports Day trophy for the past 7 years, all four houses were in competitive sprits in an attempt to rise as newly crowned champions. With the whole of Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 competing on what was a brilliant summer’s day the event could not have been better. Most importantly, well done to Apollo who are the new Isca Academy 2017 Sports Day Champions! There were also an amazing 25 Isca athletics records broken on the day , demonstrating the quality of sportsmen and women that Isca currently have.

Isca Academy Sports Day 2017

This academic year has proven to be yet another fantastic year for Isca Academy sport across all year groups with some amazing individual and team achievements. Isca has also recently received confirmation that, for the second year running, we have achieved the Silver School Games Mark. This is a nationally recognised award for schools with outstanding PE and extra-curricular sporting opportunities on offer.

Futsal has proven very successful this year with year 7 and 9, boys and girls teams making the county championship finals. Isca’s mixed table tennis team were also runners up at the South West schools games earlier in the year. To coincide with all of the other sports, there has been over 60 football fixtures for boys and girls this year, weekly netball matches for all age girls and our annual netball tour.

Basketball has really taken off this year with the help of our new club link with the Plymouth Raiders who have visited as part of their roadshow as well as Exeter Eagles club coaches coming in to do specialist extra-curricular sessions every Monday. We will look forward to another visit next year from the Raiders and to competing in more basketball fixtures at all ages.

Rounders: Summer kicked off with a wealth of rounders fixtures for girls and cricket for the boys in the central venue league with some fantastic results from both sports.

The Exeter and East Devon Athletics Championships was a brilliant spectacle, hosted at Exeter Arena, with over 70 Isca Academy students competing against 14 other schools. Isca’s Year 9 Girls won the overall trophy – awesome work girls! There were also many excellent individual performances across all of the athletics disciplines, well done to all who competed!

Well done to everyone who has represented Isca Academy this year or even if you have just come along to one of our many after-school clubs. Have a great summer and we look forward to seeing you next year.

Barton Hall Netball Tour 2017This year we took the Year 7,8 and 9 netball teams to compete in a weekend tournament at Barton Hall. The teams were all very excited about the prospect of competing against teams from all over the country, but possibly equally excited about wearing their new netball dresses.The Year 7’s started the weekend off well, they were a squad of 10 all keen to play and try out new positions. Over the weekend they won 4 games and lost 2, finishing 7th overall. A great achievement for a team that was newly formed. Player of the tournament went to Felia Ie, who has only recently started playing but has quickly picked up the game and made some superb interceptions. The Year 8’s were so close to reaching the semi-finals, they finished 5th overall. This was a brilliant achievement as they only had the minimum of seven players and had to be versatile in terms of positions. It was a great team effort. Player of the tournament went to Izzy Newberry, for her consistent play and leadership on court.The year 9’s went with a strong squad of 9, who played some fantastic netball. So fantastic that they got to the final! They were losing 6-3 at half time, playing a team that had previously beaten them in the group stages. At full time it was 8-8, which meant extra time. Isca won 2-0! The students did themselves proud and played as a team to the very end. Player of the tournament went to Ezmee Wyatt with some amazing interceptions and solid play that broke down attacking play on numerous occasions. A great weekend was had by all!

Isca Academy Sports News

Contact Us

Isca Academy Earl Richards Road South,Exeter EX2 6APTel: 01392 204082 Email: adminoffice@iscaexeter.co.uk

Keep up to date with the latestnews and information at www.iscaexeter.co.uk

Parents, it is essential that we have your current mobile phone number and an email address, please ensure we are notified of any changes.

Calendar 2017/18The first day of the Autumn Term for all students will be Tuesday 5th September 2017.Arrival and registration will take place as normal. Students need to arrive by 8.45am.

Autumn Term 1st half term Tuesday 5th September - Friday 20th OctoberHalf term holiday Monday 23rd - Friday 27th October 2nd half term Monday 30th October - Friday 15th December

Christmas holiday Monday 18th December - Tuesday 2nd January 2018

Spring Term1st half term Wednesday 3rd Jan - Friday 9th February 2018Half term holiday Monday 12th - Friday 16th February2nd half term Monday 19th February - Thursday 29th March

Easter holiday Friday 30th March - Friday 13th April

Summer Term1st half term Monday 16th April - Friday 25th MayHalf term holiday Monday 28th May - Friday 1st June2nd half term Monday 4th June - Friday 20th July

Key dates for your calendars in the Autumn Term:15th-17th September: Silver DofE Award Practice ExpeditionWeek beginning 18th September: Year 7 CAT Tests21st September: Open Evening24th-29th September: Year 7 Bude Residential / Year 8/9 French Trip12th-14th October: Silver DofE Award Qualifying Expedition14th November: Year 7 Parent Consultation Evening

Calendar dates for the 2017/18 Academic Year and term dates for 2018/19 and 2019/20 are available on the Isca Academy website.

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