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Chris Nicholls ‹ EF Academy Blog - 4

Students from Torbay visited the ancient and mysterious Stonehenge at the weekend and had the privilege of a special educational tour around the new visitor’s center. The trip was by far the most popular we have run this year. So popular that we are going to run a second visit. 
It was an incredibly cold day especially on the high ground of Stonehenge but it was very sunny so it was a great day to visit. Stonehenge is an amazing site but I think that it wasn’t until we got there that we realized what a strange place it is. Its so shrouded in mystery and there is so much speculation about its use and origin that you cant help but wonder what the world was like when it was constructed. 
We also found out that the area around it is full of similar monuments and that it was one huge area and we loved the thought that this was built during a period of history that we know almost nothing about. 
Archaeologists believe it was constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. Radiocarbon dating suggests that the first bluestones were raised between 2400 and 2200 BC, although they may have been at the site as early as 3000 BC. 
The site and its surroundings were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 and it is a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument. Stonehenge could have been a burial ground from its earliest beginnings. Deposits containing human bone date from as early as 3000 BC, when the ditch and bank were first dug, and continued for at least another five hundred years. 
Because so little is known myth has grown up around it most interestingly the myth around King Arthur. In the twelfth century, Geoffrey of Monmouth included a fanciful story in his Historia Regum Britanniae that attributed the monument’s construction to Merlin. Geoffrey’s story spread widely, appearing in more and less elaborate form in adaptations of his work such as Wace’s Norman French Roman de Brut, Layamon’s Middle English Brut, and the Welsh Brut y Brenhinedd. 
According to Geoffrey the rocks of Stonehenge were healing rocks, called the Giant’s dance, which Giants had brought from Africa to Ireland for their healing properties. The fifth-century king Aurelius Ambrosius wished to erect a memorial to 3,000 nobles slain in battle against the Saxons and buried at Salisbury, and at Merlin’s advice chose Stonehenge. The king sent Merlin, Uther Pendragon (Arthur’s father), and 15,000 knights, to remove it from Ireland, where it had been constructed on Mount Killaraus by the Giants. They slew 7,000 Irish but, as the knights tried to move the rocks with ropes and force, they failed. Then Merlin, using “gear” and skill, easily dismantled the stones and sent them over to Britain, where Stonehenge was dedicated. After it had been rebuilt near Amesbury, Geoffrey further narrates how first Ambrosius Aurelianus, then Uther Pendragon, and finally Constantine III, were buried inside the “Giants’ Ring of Stonehenge”. 
The place has a very strange feel to it and it feels like a real link to some mysterious time and we were thrilled to have visited the place. After that we jumped forward in time to Salisbury which is one of England’s finest Medieval cities with one of the largest cathedrals in England. This is a beautiful city and if it wasn’t for the modern shops you could be in the 16th century. The cathedral which is huge is also absolutely stunning and visible from every point of the city. 
Fantastic day full of facts, mystery and shopping but with a cold wind!

Students from Torbay visited the ancient and mysterious Stonehenge and had the privilege of a special educational tour around the new visitor’s center.

EF Academy Torbay trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury

Ef academ torbay trip stonehenge salisbury

Such a complex and intricate web of relationships have been formed in the years of belonging to this school, one that is impossible to fully capture and wrap up in a graduation ceremony.
Nevertheless, we can try.
We introduced our friends to our family, the first time for many of us, during the dinner we had Friday evening. We sat around the table and shared memories, laughter, and hugs, trying to explain to our parents how our friends were the greatest form of support we had during our time away from home. We cannot sing our praises loud enough!
We dressed up in our gowns and suits on Saturday morning and made our way to the Riviera Centre to hug and kiss each other and tell ourselves how amazing we looked. We cheered for our headmaster, who did a brilliant job of dedicating the day to us. We cheered for our head girls, one of whom (Peri Damirova) was a graduating student. We celebrated them and the work that they had done for our school, whilst balancing their academic life and excelling in it.
We watched the performances happily, captivated by the talent of the singers and the skill of the handpan drummer, Kevin Cho. Our memories of many of these performers consist of their initial shyness and the tremendous growth that has taken place during their time here.
My friend, Stephanie Chan, whispered to me, “It seems like just yesterday I was graduating IGCSE.” As they and the preparation course students marched up to the stage, “How amazing is it, that these people are so excited and have their own individual journeys to continue?” I agree with her. I can imagine that all the parents and teachers in the room were thinking the same.
We cheered for those who were named Outstanding Students of the Year so loudly I thought that our lungs would collectively burst. We all knew in our hearts how much they deserved the recognition given to them, and perhaps that the word “outstanding” wasn’t enough. The award they received is an honest effort at honoring them, but it seems almost shallow in comparison to how much they mean to us. However, I’ll try again – to Agatha Limonso, Angelina Yang, Nibras Sakkir, and Roberto Vento: thank you so much for filling our school with your spirit.
Many more awards were given to students across the school to reward them for their hard work in academics and co-curricular activities. We clapped and clapped and clapped, but it didn’t show how hard these students have worked, or how much time they have given up and how much of their knowledge they used to help others.
Finally, the nominated valedictorian, Gabrielle Isa, gave a heartwarming speech that put the feelings of many people into words before finally ending the ceremony by collecting our certificates with pride. It was the moment we had been waiting for, and in my opinion it felt almost anticlimactic. But nevertheless, it was wonderful.

Such a complex web of relationships have been formed in the years, one that is impossible to fully capture and wrap up in a graduation ceremony.

A celebration of excellence: EF Academy Torbay’s Class of 2017 graduation - EF Academy Blog

A celebration of excellence: EF Academy Torbay’s Class of 2017 graduation ‹ EF Academy Blog

A celebration of excellence: EF Academy Torbay’s Class of 2017 graduation

Celebration excellence ef academy torbays class 2017 graduation

So, the second whole school assembly was definitely one that more than a few of our students had been eagerly waiting for. Finally, the announcement of EF Academy Torbay’s very own student leaders. As well as that, we at Torbay decided that it was only right to showcase the efforts of some of our hardest working students.
This year we began by revealing our Top performers from both lower school and upper school, this is actually an amazing accomplishment at this point in the term. These students are already doing what they need to be doing but also going above and beyond to ensure their path to success. For that we want them to know they are well on their way to success and we at school are extremely proud of them! And of course we want to shout out to those who are well on their way to achieving the same. Well done to our star performers!
Here are our top performers:
 
Lower School
1st Place (2.25) – William D (Prep)
– Angelina Y (IG2)
2nd Place (2.50) – Amanda P (Prep)
– Djawad (Prep)
3rd Place (2.60) – Carla G (IGACC)
– Agatha L (IGACC)
– Elizabeth F (IG1)
Upper School
1st Place (2.00) – Paulinka L (AL2)
– Annie A (AL2)
– Nick S (IB2)
2nd Place (2.20) –   Tiril T (IB1)
– Roberto V (IB2)
– Daniela M (AL1)
3rd Place (2.30) – Juan F P (IB1)
So now, what everyone is waiting for. The appointment of our new student leaders! This year we had a huge increase in numbers of our students applying for these coveted positions, almost twice the amount of students last year (which is incredible). We now have 36 student leaders as well as 24 ambassadors that’s an astounding amount of 60 student leaders!!Having our students in these positions will allow us to help make the right changes and move the school in the right direction using our student’s voices.
Ian Mills, our CAS Coordinator will be running the Charity Committee alongside the newly appointed Chair, Amina Kadri and the rest of the Charity Committee team. The benefit of having such a team is that now as a school we have a focused area where our students can really give back and they can brainstorm ideas and new ways we at EF Academy can give back to our local community.
We also now have our very own Boarding Captains. They can be the voice of our students in residence. This is really wonderful because through the use of the boarding captains we can also find ways to continuously improve and give the students (within reason!) what they need to have an enjoyable time whilst they are in residence.
And finally, our new head students! We welcome Peri and Samantha this year to represent their student body. Both girls are extremely well-deserving of this position. Their desire to help grow and improve the school, not for themselves, but for their fellow students really reflects on how deserving these two young women are. We look forward to seeing what the year has to bring!
Congratulations again!

The second whole school assembly, the announcement of EF Academy Torbay’s very own student leaders.

Student leaders assemble - EF Academy Blog

Student leaders assemble ‹ EF Academy Blog

Student leaders assemble

Towns and cities across the Southwest have Christmas markets in the run up and over the Christmas period and this year we went to the Christmas Market in Plymouth.
Plymouth is not the regional capital but it is the largest city in Devon and it is arguably the most famous because of its importance in American history. Plymouth is a sailing city even to this day and is home to one of the country’s largest ship yards and naval bases.
During the 16th century locally produced wool was the major export commodity. Plymouth was the home port for successful maritime traders, among them Sir John Hawkins, and Sir Francis Drake, Mayor of Plymouth in 1581 and 1593. According to legend, Drake insisted on completing his game of bowls on the Hoe before engaging the Spanish Armada in 1588. In 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for the New World from Plymouth, establishing Plymouth Colony – the second English colony in what is now the United States of America.
The Christmas market in Plymouth was amazing with the entire city center alight with beautiful lights and the main Christmas tree was stunning. The Market and an amazing selection of foods from all over the world including Italian Biscuits, French pastries and German sausages as well as British classics like mince pies. Plymouth has a great selection of shops so we all managed to treat ourselves but the market was a great place to buy presents to take home and for each other.
The trip was a little later so many of us met up and had dinner together and afterwards we had a go on the ice skating rink which was hilarious especially because so many of us couldn’t stand up for more than five minutes. We still had a little time so we went for a walk along the Hoe which overlooks the sea and has the famous lighthouse looking out to sea.

Towns and cities across the Southwest have Christmas markets in the Christmas period and this year we went to the Christmas Market in Plymouth.

Festive fun at the Plymouth Christmas Market - EF Academy Blog

Festive fun at the Plymouth Christmas Market ‹ EF Academy Blog

Festive fun at the Plymouth Christmas Market

Festive fun plymouth christmas market

EF Academy Torbays students were lucky enough to be given a chance to visit the famous city of Bristol It is the United Kingdom’s eighth most populous city, and the most populous city in Southern England after London. Bristol is one of the eight largest regional English cities that make up the Core Cities Group, and is ranked as a gamma world city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, the fourth highest ranked English city. People from the city are known as Bristolians.
Bristol’s prosperity has been linked with the sea since its earliest days. It was the base for the early voyages of exploration to the New World: on a ship out of Bristol in 1497 John Cabot was the first European since the Vikings to land in North America; and in 1499 William Weston, a Bristol merchant, was the first Englishman to lead an exploration to North America. The Port of Bristol has since moved from Bristol Harbour in the city centre to the Severn Estuary at Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Dock.
Bristol is one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations. It was selected in 2009 as one of the world’s top-ten cities by international travel publishers Dorling Kindersley in their Eyewitness guides for young adults, was named the best city to live in Britain in 2014 by The Sunday Times, and won the EU’s European Green Capital Award in 2015.
Bristol has a thriving current and historical arts scene. Some of these have merged with modern venues and digital production companies being based in old buildings around the city. In 2008 the city was a finalist for the 2008 European Capital of Culture; however the title was awarded to Liverpool.
Bristol has a great street art culture including music with bands like Portishead and Massive Attack creating a whole new genre of music and of course the infamous street artist Banksy who has reached global acclaim.
Students were able to visit the university, go shopping in the huge new shopping center cabots circus as well as getting to see lots of amazing historical land marks such as SS Great Britain the museum ship and former passenger steamship, which was advanced for her time. She was the longest passenger ship in the world from 1845 to 1854. On top of this some of our outstanding art students managed to spot some famous banksy art work around the city. Students enjoyed Banksy spotting and wondering around the giant science museum.

EF Academy Torbays students visited the famous city of Bristol. It is the United Kingdom’s eighth most populous city.

Exploring the city of Bristol - EF Academy Blog

Exploring the city of Bristol ‹ EF Academy Blog

Exploring the city of Bristol

Exploring city bristol

Students from across the school took part in a <a href="https://www.dofe.org/">Duke of Edinburgh (DofE)</a> practice expedition on Dartmoor this weekend braving a very cold wind and some challenging conditions but they all came out of it with a smile and a sense of achievement.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programs take between one to four years to complete, and they must be completed by the participant’s twenty-fifth birthday. There are around 300,000 participants annually. The programs are at three progressive levels which, if successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
With assistance from adult Leaders, participants select and set objectives in each of the following areas:
Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community. 
Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities. 
Skill: developing practical and social skills and personal interests. 
Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad.
At Gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section. The <a href="https://www.ef.co.uk/pg/dofe-gold-residential/">DofE Gold Residential</a> section involves staying and working away from home for five days, doing a shared activity.
This weekends camp and hike which involved nearly 50 students from across the courses in school acted as a practice expedition for some and an intro to the great outdoors for others. 
We hired a large bunk house near Hay Tor and left school on Friday night after a final kit check and meeting to go over the plans for the evening. Friday night camping was for the students enrolled on the Bronze award because they will have to complete their expedition at the end of this academic year. While the students that joined us on Saturday are taking their expedition in their second year.
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in southern Devon, England. Protected by National Park status as <a href="https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/">Dartmoor National Park</a>, it covers 954 square kilometres (368 sq mi). The granite which forms the uplands dates from the Carboniferous Period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The highest point is High Willhays, 621 m (2,037 ft) above sea level. The entire area is rich in antiquities and archaeology.
We reached our bunk house and immediately set up tents and sorted our kit out. We then took the students on a night hike around the Hay Tor area which was a real experience for some of the students but it really helps them understand the difficulty of walking and navigating with low visibility.
Tired and in need of food we got back to the camp site and cooked our dinners which again is practice for the students because they have to use the camp cooking equipment. The great thing about a night hike is the fact that it makes you tired so it wasn’t long before students started heads for their tents to sleep.
The following day we set off early after explain the route to the students and setting them group solo hikes. We met up with the group that left Torquay in the morning and expedition leader Bob East took them for a hike while Ian Mills took the other group on the pre-planned hike. The wind was very strong and it was bitterly cold at times but moral was high and we made good progress stopping for lunch on top of Rippon Tor with amazing views over Dartmoor. Into the final stretch and although tired the students really felt impressed with themselves showing why the Duke of Edinburgh Award is so valuable to young people.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programs take between one to four years to complete, and they must be completed by the participant’s twenty-fifth birthday.

EF Academy Torbay Duke of Edinburgh hike - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay Duke of Edinburgh hike ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay Duke of Edinburgh hike

Ef academy torbay duke edinburgh hike

The EF Academy Torbay Student Council began to meet in their committees this week after carefully considering which areas of the school needed particular representation and deciding on the key members required within their particular committees.
Each committee has elected a Chairman and a Secretary and they have been carefully considering how those roles work and exactly how they intend to make the school committee program work. To help them with this our University specialist Katherine Lloyd Clark gave the students the benefit of her considerable experience working in committees both professional and non-professional.
She brilliantly explained the role of the Chairman as the leading role within the committee and the person who sets the agenda and keeps order. The Secretary is the person that organizes business and the minutes and ensures that everyone in the committee is well prepared and kept on task.
Our school council is very important and has a central role in the running and organization of the student experience and it is something that we take very seriously. The committees are split into very important areas covering everything from activities and enrichment to academic matters and student welfare. The aim is for them to act as a bridge between the Senior Leadership, teachers and the students so that the school is for students by students. Power to the people!!!!!
We are also aiming to make sure that our Houses and our House Captains also work closely with the school committees so that the Houses are also able to play a central role in delivering on the students requests.

The EF Academy Torbay Student Council began to meet in their committees after considering which areas of the school needed particular representation.

Student council: Power to the people - EF Academy Blog

Student council: Power to the people ‹ EF Academy Blog

Student council: Power to the people

Student council power people

First year A Level and IB students from EF Academy Torbay visited Bath University for a tour of the campus and mini taster lectures from key professors. This was followed by a visit to the historic and world heritage site city of Bath.
After the early start and the coach ride up to Bath we had a chance to get a coffee in one of the many onsite coffee shops. As with many British Uni campuses it’s a bit like a small town with shops, bars restaurants and bath has a great feel to it.
The University of Bath is a public university located in Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966 and can trace its roots to a technical school established in Bristol in 1856.
According to The Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2015 the University of Bath is the best university in the UK for student experience. In The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2014 the university was awarded the title of “Best Campus University in Britain”. Bath was awarded the title of ‘University of the Year 2011/12’. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, 32% of Bath’s submitted research activity achieved the highest possible classification of 4*, defined as world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. 87% was graded 4*/3*, defined as world-leading/internationally excellent.
The university is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Association of MBAs, the European Quality Improvement System, the European University Association, Universities UK and GW4, a grouping which brings together the South West and Wales’ four leading, research-intensive universities (Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter). Until 30 October 2012, it was also a member of the 1994 Group.
Bath is a new Uni compared to many others like Bristol, Oxford or Cambridge and it certainly has that feel. It excels in a number of subjects but it’s most famous as a sport uni having helped Britain achieve such a high ranking in the medals table at the last Olympics. Its sport facilities are impressive to say the very least.
After our tour by final year students who took time out from revision and dissertations we met in one of the large lecture theatres where we had mini lectures from a professor from the economics department and the physics department as a taster of what to expect. The economics lecturer gave us a basic lesson in supply and demand with a bit of economic trickery. He even set a challenge and gave his email address so we could spend some time thinking about it.
Afterwards we took the coach into Bath city and spread out to explore this world famous city and its stunning architecture. Bath is like stepping back in time to an England of the past!
Bath is a town set in the rolling countryside of southwest England, known for its natural hot springs and 18th-century Georgian architecture. The museum at the site of its original Roman Baths includes The Great Bath, statues and a temple; the facility’s Pump Room serves a popular afternoon tea. Today’s visitors can soak in the waters at the contemporary
After a long day we made our way back to Devon more informed and perhaps a little more cultured.

First year A Level and IB students from EF Academy Torbay visited Bath University for a tour of the campus and mini taster lectures from key professors.

EF Academy Torbay UCAS trip to Bath Uni and city - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay UCAS trip to Bath Uni and city ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay UCAS trip to Bath Uni and city

Ef academy torbay ucas trip bath uni city

Chris Nicholls, the Enrichment and Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Manager at EF Academy Torbay, was invited to Buckingham Palace on Monday where he represented EF Academy at an event celebrating the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in its 60th year. EF Academy was recognized by the award scheme and by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh for it’s consistent participation and outstanding performance in the <a href="https://www.dofe.org/">DofE</a> award, which sees students compete in volunteering and physical activities, go on expeditions and <a href="https://www.ef.co.uk/pg/dofe-gold-residential/">residential stays</a>, and develop life skills. EF Academy Torbay is a unique school within the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme being one of only a couple of international schools that are directly licensed to run the award and this fact has been recognized. This year, EF Academy Torbay’ s top performers were Phol Porto an A level second year student from Spain, and Alex Po Ki Peng a second year IB student from Taiwan.  Both students have developed skills in music throughout their time with us and have shown their independence and determination in their expedition preparation.
This was an amazing experience as an invitation to ‘The Palace’ is a recognition of the value of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and EF Academies contribution. The Award scheme was established 60 years ago by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Philip,_Duke_of_Edinburgh">His Royal Highness</a> to encourage young people to develop skills, help in their communities and to challenge themselves physically. It began with a few schools around the UK but has grown to be common place in all parts of the UK and beyond.
It was such an honor, if not a little strange, to be in the Royal Palace because it is such a well-known place and such a beautiful building with amazing grounds. Having the opportunity to meet his Royal Highness was a once in a lifetime thing.

Chris Nicholls was invited to Buckingham Palace where he represented EF Academy at an event celebrating the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in its 60th year.

Duke of Edinburgh Award 2016 - EF Academy Blog

Duke of Edinburgh Award 2016 ‹ EF Academy Blog

Duke of Edinburgh Award 2016

Duke edinburgh award 2016

EF Academy Eagles football team have turned the tables on rivals Torquay Academy. We have been playing competitive matches against Torquay Academy for two years now but have only managed a draw against them and have at times been outmatched and have lost on more than one occasion.
The team has however really stepped up their training and we have also strengthened the team with a new bunch of great players. This has allowed us to be able to rely on a lot more substitutes and to have much more choice about who plays depending on the type of opposition. The drive to improve the quality of our sport provision has also included an attempt to improve the overall fitness of our team players and we are seeing the benefits across all of our teams.
We went into the game feeling confident but we have not played many this season and this particular team have always been a difficult opposition. The game however got off to a great start with us scoring early on. They immediately put us under pressure and really tested both our defense and our goal keeper. Eventually this was too much for us to handle and we let one in.
It was at this point where those involved with the training of the team and all the substitutes on the bench thought the match would follow a familiar pattern with the games ending in a draw or close win for them.
Not today though. We moved things around and changed a couple of players to give us strength in a couple of key areas and the reaction was immediate with us scoring two goals before the break. Could this game be a little different?
Sure enough we came back stronger than ever and seemed to take them by surprise scoring a further 3 goals and only letting in one. The score finishing five goals to two.
The players were ecstatic and so proud of themselves as were the rest of the school. A great example of how the schools sporting prowess is on the up and up.

EF Academy Eagles football team have turned the tables on rivals Torquay Academy.

EF Academy Eagles have turned the tables - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Eagles have turned the tables ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Eagles have turned the tables

Ef academy eagles turned tables

One of the most hotly contested House competitions of the year was held before the Easter break the House football competition. The competition took part over two legs with a boys and a girl’s football competition.
Football is one of the most popular team sports here in Torbay, particularly for the boys, so there was a great deal of hype about the matches and a great deal of excitement during them.
The tournament ran for both girls and boys much like a world cup table with each team, or house, playing every other team with points awarded for the winners of matches that built up a table.
Our four houses, Anstey, Oyster, Saltern and Elberry, all eagerly waited to see who was up first. The supporters cheered, loudly, and waived their house flags from the side lines and the competition got underway. The quality of the football was amazing considering the teams had not played together very much and it didn’t take long in any of the matches before we had goals. One in particular stood out and amazed everyone scored by William De Santos of Saltern House. Despite this amazing goal Oyster won the boys tournament
<img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-9032" height="169" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20180307_161628-300x169.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20180307_161628-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20180307_161628.jpg 560w" width="300">
The overall winning house is the house awarded the most points over both girls and boys competitions so much to the boy’s frustration they had to wait for the final result from the girl’s competition before they knew which house won.
So the excitement was so high for the girl’s football matches and we had a big group of boy’s supporters who came along to cheer on the girls so loudly it sounded like a premiership football match.
The girl’s matches were amazing with some great play and some hard fought matches but it became clear that Elberry were taking the lead on the table. Saltern tried a strong comeback in their final match but it was not enough to take victory.
But it’s a contest of two halves and the overall winner was Saltern because they came second in the boys and first in the girls.
The overall table of events is really heating up now as we approach the end of the year but its still too close to call!
<img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-9033" height="169" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20180307_161507-300x169.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20180307_161507-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20180307_161507-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20180307_161507.jpg 995w" width="300">

One of the most hotly contested House competitions of the year was held before the Easter break the House football competition. The competition took part over two legs with a boys and a girl’s football competition. Football is one of the most popular team sports here in Torbay, particularly for the boys, so there was …

EF Academy Torbay House Football Cup - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay House Football Cup ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay House Football Cup

Ef academy torbay house football cup

All EF Academy Torbay students came together today to begin our yearlong Model United Nations schedule. Today we began to  consider our issue of global importance, which is climate change. The school houses were split into countries of a similar economic condition and then the tutor groups were all assigned a country within that type. Some were advanced nations like the US and the UK. Others were ‘newly industrialized’ nations like China and India while others made up countries that are affected by climate change on a huge scale. Students were given information packs about their country, its economy and its carbon emissions both present and historic. The aim of today’s MUN was for our international students to consider other peoples place and impact in the world to promote understanding between nations. It was also an opportunity to understand the role of the United Nations and how our young adults can begin to understand and shape the future.
The day started with students being put into sections of the school that related to their type of country. So, for example, we had developing nations on one corridor and advanced nations on another. This allowed countries to move around to discuss isssues with each other. Each was given an information pack about their country and a task pack taken from the MUN website. After watching a short film about climate change students began to look through their countries information pack and to research their countries economic conditions and industrial output, their carbon emissions and the effect that climate change has on their country.
Students were given clear targets for the presentation that involved considering their emissions targets and the targets of the other countries if a country was affected by climate change as many of the less developed countries are they were asked to tell the other delegates about this in order to help convince them of the need to cut emissions. Students gave fantastic presentation at our nearby town hall in front of the entire school. The quality of the analysis and the passion and commitment shown by students was brilliant.
This is stage one of our MUN plan and the next stage is to join smaller groups from different areas of the issue for a debate so that by the end of the year we will be able to create a proposal for international agreement on carbon emissions.

Our students at EF Academy Torbay came together to begin their year long Model United Nations schedule held by the MUN Club.

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Chris Nicholls

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