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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.