South Dartmoor Community College News Feed - News

Mud, Newts and a Hidden Pool

Thu, 2 Apr 2026 15:53:14 GMT

This week’s Trail Trotters run returned to Haytor, where the group finally uncovered the small quarry pool hidden within the landscape. After missing it on their previous visit, it was satisfying to at last stand at its edge and take it in.

Easter Concert 2026

Wed, 1 Apr 2026 13:18:45 GMT

Thank you to everyone for making our Easter Concert such a wonderful event!

Inspired at Make Southwest

Wed, 1 Apr 2026 13:13:10 GMT

Following their inspiring sessions at MAKE Southwest, Year 10 Art and Design students took time to reflect on their visit, the skills they developed and the creative inspiration they gained. The following account has been written by the students in their own words:

Let's Dance

Wed, 1 Apr 2026 13:09:53 GMT

As part of Body Language Week, this year’s Let’s Dance shows were a truly wonderful celebration of creativity, confidence and community.

A Day on the Water

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:49:48 GMT

Year 13 Health, Fitness and Sports Science students took part in an Outdoor Adventurous Activities (OAA) kayaking trip at Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre, enjoying a fantastic day on the water in Exeter.

Dartmoor's Dynamic Landscapes

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:20:51 GMT

South Dartmoor Community College is proud to be recognised as a Dartmoor’s Dynamic Landscapes Champion School.

Sunshine, Coastlines and Fieldwork

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:17:31 GMT

Glorious sunshine welcomed our Year 12 geographers to Chesil Beach in Dorset, where they immersed themselves in a range of fieldwork techniques and investigated the coastal processes shaping this incredible landscape. Everything they practised will feed directly into their Non‑Examined Assessment (NEA), with Chesil Beach providing the perfect natural classroom to build confidence, test ideas and deepen understanding — a brilliant start to their coastal fieldwork adventure.

Body Language Week 2026

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:13:03 GMT

Following the excitement and anticipation of Body Language 2026, we are delighted to celebrate the tremendous success of this year’s college dance production, alongside the equally inspiring Primary Body Language 2026 event.

Forest School

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:02:29 GMT

This term, students have shown impressive growth during their Forest School sessions. With brighter days and new life emerging around them, they’ve explored woodland and pond habitats, identified plants and insects and developed valuable outdoor skills. Their confidence has flourished—whether navigating tricky terrain, leading group tasks or trying new techniques like tree-climbing, shelter-building, tool use and fire-lighting.

A Coastal Challenge

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:40:15 GMT

Two members of the Ten Tors team, Drew and Ros, recently tackled a challenging and varied section of the South West Coast Path. Drew has written an account of their adventure, capturing both the highlights and the challenges they encountered:

Ten Tors Training

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:15:14 GMT

There are few classrooms quite like Dartmoor; wind across the tors, mud underfoot, maps flapping in the breeze and the occasional bog lying in wait. This is where the South Dartmoor Community College Ten Tors and Walking Group teams have been learning their craft since October. What began as a group of enthusiastic walkers has quickly grown into a determined, resilient and adventurous cohort preparing for one of Dartmoor’s most iconic challenges.

Floating Garden Challenge

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:11:39 GMT

HPA STEM students took part in a “Floating Garden” challenge to design a floodproof garden capable of growing plants and keeping chickens. They were inspired by discussions about the risk of flooding in Bangladesh and its impact on families, particularly on crop growing.

Science Week

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:04:05 GMT

This year we joined the national celebration of Science Week, embracing curiosity — the starting point of every great discovery! Curiosity sits at the heart of scientific investigation; every discovery begins with a simple question that drives us to explore, test and push the boundaries of what we know.

U13 Girls Cricket

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:28:29 GMT

Congratulations to the U13 girls’ cricket team, who achieved an impressive third place at the Chance to Shine County Finals. The team secured wins against Torquay Girls’ Grammar School, St James School and Ivybridge Community College, narrowly missing out on a place in the final against eventual winners Blundell’s School.

Year 9 Football

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:24:17 GMT

Our Year 9 footballers travelled to KEVICC earlier this week to take part in the annual Football CVL tournament. Entering two teams, they worked through a busy round-robin schedule, with each side playing four matches against other local schools. Both SDCC A and B enjoyed great success on the pitch. The A team finished with one win and three draws, while the B team earned three wins and one draw. The most remarkable achievement, however, was that neither team conceded a single goal across the entire tournament—a fantastic reflection of their teamwork and determination.

Grant Boost for Science

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:21:57 GMT

We are incredibly grateful to the Norman Family Trust for awarding FOSDA a £1,500 grant to purchase 15 new power supplies for our classrooms.

World Book Day

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:15:43 GMT

To celebrate World Book Day, our Year 7 students enjoyed a special Harry Potter‑inspired Potions lesson in Science. After reading the extract where Professor Snape introduces his first class, the room was set for a magical session.

Foggy Fieldwork

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:04 GMT

A foggy start for our Year 11 geographers at Dawlish Warren — a real contrast to the sunshine of previous years! Despite the limited visibility, students showed brilliant resilience as they completed their compulsory GCSE fieldwork.

Art on the Moor

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:57:23 GMT

The HPA Creative Arts team headed out to Haytor and the surrounding area for a grey and windy walk. The purpose of the visit was for students to capture their own images for our HPA project, which will inspire their paintings in the coming sessions.

A Visit from Skye

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:55:00 GMT

South Dartmoor have been working in partnership with Ashburton and Newton Abbot’s Neighbourhood Policing Team on a number of projects that have benefited our students in college and young people across our local community.

Trail Trotters

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:52:03 GMT

A recent Trail Trotters outing brought together a brilliant mix of new and returning students, all eager to take on a long circular route from near Cold East Cross up to Top Tor. The weather set an atmospheric scene: misty but dry, with a gentle chill in the air — perfect running conditions once everyone warmed up. Spirits were high from the start, and the group set off at a confident, steady pace.

Dartmoor Lodge Visit

Thu, 5 Mar 2026 10:00:35 GMT

Hospitality and Catering students visited Dartmoor Lodge and worked with staff across both front and back of house. They were able to see a business in action and learnt about key kitchen and service processes to support their course.

Students gained experience in service, health and safety, stock control, table settings, taking orders and a range of professional hospitality skills. They were fantastic ambassadors for the college throughout the visit.

Y10 Artistic Exploration

Wed, 4 Mar 2026 12:30:37 GMT

Year 10 Art and Design students have been immersing themselves in hands‑on creativity through inspiring sessions at MAKE Southwest. During their first visit, students took part in a pottery workshop led by the immensely talented Joss Hibbs from Powdermills Pottery. They learned how to throw a pot and had the chance to explore and document the KINETIC exhibition currently on display.

Sixth Form Rewilding Talk

Wed, 4 Mar 2026 10:55:49 GMT

As part of a constant programme of guest speakers, our Sixth Form students enjoyed an engaging and insightful talk from Jack, who works on the Sharpham Estate’s rewilding project along the River Dart. Jack shared how he and his team are transforming the 50‑acre site through rewilding—allowing the land to recover naturally, restoring ecological processes and encouraging the return of diverse plant and animal species.

Y11 Masterclass Programme

Wed, 4 Mar 2026 10:52:20 GMT

The Year 11 Masterclass programme has made a strong start, with the History and Science departments delivering additional after‑college sessions designed to support students as they prepare for their GCSE examinations.

Live Sessions 2026

Wed, 4 Mar 2026 09:47:49 GMT

Live Sessions 2026 was a great success! Our talented performers brought energy, dedication and confidence to the stage, and we are incredibly proud of everyone involved.

Creative Arts HPA

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:57:23 GMT

The Year 7 High Performing Academy (HPA) programme got off to a colourful start as our Creative Arts group explored the work of local artists and drew inspiration from the beautiful place we call home - Dartmoor. Using these ideas, students began creating expressive collages.

U13 Girls Cricket Success

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:08:59 GMT

Congratulations to our U13 Girls Cricket Team, who have qualified for the Chance to Shine County Finals in March!

Ten Tors: Back on the Moor

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:04:44 GMT

Ten Tors training is off to a flying (and chilly) start this year! Participants in the 35, 45 and 55 mile challenges trekked across the North Moor at the weekend, enjoying the last traces of snow.

Carols on Tour

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:31:59 GMT

We enjoyed a truly wonderful day as our musicians prepared for the festive season and our Christmas celebrations. Our choir and orchestras travelled to Exeter, Newton Abbot, Ashburton Primary School and Buckfast Abbey, delighting audiences with outdoor performances of carols in readiness for our Annual Carol Service.

SDCC in UK Top 25 for Cricket

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:26:20 GMT

South Dartmoor is proud to announce that it has been recognised as one of the top 25 state schools for cricket in the UK by The Cricketer magazine. This accolade highlights the exceptional quality and enjoyment of cricket across our school community.

Oliver

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:27:29 GMT

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent performances of Oliver!

Your enthusiasm and heartfelt support meant the world to us. Bringing this classic musical to life takes dedication and love, and seeing audiences respond with such warmth made every moment worthwhile.