Torquay Academy has launched a new scheme called Learning Legends to reward students who demonstrate exceptional effort, creativity and determination.
Vice Principal Ben Chadwick, who is responsible for Culture and Expectations, described it as “a school-wide programme running in every class, every day.”
He explained that in each lesson teachers select a Learning Legend, a student who has gone above and beyond, which might be for effort, discipline, hard work or creativity. “Each Learning Legend receives a voucher that allows them to skip the lunch queue, which is extremely popular,” he said.
“Their names are also entered into a prize draw at the end of each learning cycle (every 8 weeks), with prizes ranging from small treats to much bigger items.”
Assistant Principal Sarah Pappin, who was also instrumental in introducing the scheme, stressed that it is not just about rewarding academic performance. “We want every student to know that their attitude and determination are valued, not just the final result,” she said.
“It’s already been fantastic to see how motivating it is across the school.”
A core element of the scheme's success is the immediate parental engagement: parents and carers receive an instant notification the very minute the Learning Legend is awarded. Parental/carer feedback has been so positive and the school has received a number of emails from delighted parents/carers who rightly so are immensely proud of their children.
Mr Chadwick is now inviting local businesses to get involved. “We would love to hear from firms who could support us with prizes that students really aspire to, like AirPods, iPads, vouchers, or anything that young people value and aspire to own,” he explained. “
This initiative is typical of the imaginative way Principal Steve Margetts, together with his leadership team and the wider staff, has brought huge improvements to what was previously a struggling school.
When the current team began, just 28% of students achieved passes in English and maths. Today, that figure stands at 74%. The school is now heavily oversubscribed, with 240 Year 7 places and more than 600 applicants this year. The sixth form has also grown significantly, offering a wide range of A levels and vocational courses and supporting dozens of local students into university each year.
“Our main aim is to continue to raise aspirations,” Mr Chadwick said. “We want students to understand what is possible, both here in Torbay and beyond, and to see futures for themselves that perhaps they hadn’t thought were open to them.”
Assistant Principal Katie Aplin, who oversees careers, reinforced this message, explaining that programmes like Learning Legends link directly to careers education. “Through Unifrog, our online careersplatform, every student can build a personalised library of career options suited to their skills and interests,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see them making connections between their daily effort in lessons and the futures they are starting to imagine for themselves.”
Torquay Academy has also invested heavily in enrichment. Every student is expected to take part in at least one of more than 80 after-school clubs, ranging from robotics and gaming to music, drama and sport.
The school’s football teams have excelled, with boys’ and girls’ teams in every year group reaching the last 32 of national competitions out of over 3,600 schools last year.
Staff retention has also improved dramatically. When Mr Chadwick first joined 11 years ago, more than 40 teachers moved on in a single year; last year, only four did so, and a number of former students have now returned to work at the academy.
Reflecting on the Learning Legends initiative, Mr Chadwick concluded: “This scheme is the next step in raising aspirations, but to make it truly successful we need the support of local businesses. This is about preparing the workforce of tomorrow: young people who are disciplined, motivated and ambitious.”
To find out more about how to get involved, or arrange a meeting or tour please contact Ben
Chadwick at
bchadwick@tqacademy.co.uk.
