News & Events

1968 400m hurdles Olympian and gold medallist, David Hemery, visited Tavistock College to train all staff, teaching and non teaching, on the aspirational programme he leads: “Be the Best You Can Be.”

The programme was established after the London 2012 Olympics and forms part of the promised legacy that the Games will inspire a generation.

The programme does not just focus on sport, however, but encourages and challenges young people to follow their dreams. The programme aims to help young people take more control of their lives by increasing their self-awareness and self-responsibility, so that they can establish what steps they should take to reach their goals. They will also learn how to look after themselves and how to support and coach each other.

Year 7 students will be the first to be introduced to the programme, although David’s message of taking responsibility and realising how to achieve goals will be embraced throughout the College.

On Oct 24th another Olympian, Craig Figes, will start the Year 7s on their journey to “be the best you can be”, when he visits them and shows them how to transfer inspiration into action.

Principal Helen Salmon said, “This programme will help us unlock the potential of every child.”

Tavistock College student, Tate Budge, has become a world champion for his age and class in Takwon-do.
Tate, who trains with South Coast Martial Arts, started Taekwon-do at the age of 4. He gained his first degree black belt at the age of 9, followed by his second degree at the age of 11. Over the last few years he has been entering competitions all over the country, winning medals at nearly every stage.

Over the last 12 months Tate has become the Taekwon-do champion for Cornwall, Britain and the UK in the male under 16 second degree patterns. This made Tate eligible to train with Team UK ahead of selection for the World Championships in Rome this July.

Tate travelled to Bristol for squad training as many weekends as he could and was picked to be part of Team UK and compete in Rome this summer.

Tate competed in male 2nd degree patterns at the world championships ……and won, beating competitors from around the world including Canada and Argentina.

Tate was also selected to make up part of the six man junior team for the team events and as part of that won a further two bronze medals for special technique and patterns and one silver for sparring, making his tally four medals in total! However, it’s the gold in his individual event that means the most.

Tate plans to continue to represent his country again at the European Championships next summer in Moldova , followed by the next world championships in London in 2016.

[youtube height=”360″ width=”640″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnERQvJ1Tqs[/youtube]

“I had the good fortune to accompany the Year 9 trip to the Great War Grave yards, Flanders Fields and ceremonies at the Menin Gate (http://www.greatwar.co.uk/events/menin-gate-last-post-ceremony.htm) in July.

I am a School Governor and university lecturer, not a teacher and went along in my capacity as a governor to support the trip. Well, what an eye opener. Forty four children, organised by the History dept. coaches, accommodation and numerous trips and expert guides (http://www.westernfrontassociation.com). Being France there was a lot of cheese along with good pack lunches (made fresh each morning at 8am by the kids) and good facilities generally. The staff were outstanding; the combination of teaching, counselling, managing interpersonal issues, support and listening made me tired just to watch it all, and when I did my early morning duty (with Mr Wilson and Stuart the Techie), the kids were polite, well organised and yes, highly efficient in their getting up and getting sorted.

Matthew Lucas, the guide from the Western Front Assoc. (totally worth a Google), said the questions from our children were amongst the most thoughtful and intelligent had he ever encountered and the feedback from the coach drivers and the staff at the residence was equally outstanding.

The battlefields and the trenches and the sheer loss of life the children encountered on this trip was very moving. Children found names of long lost relatives, sent texts to parents with information, wrote their thoughts down and even the most uncertain of them were clearly affected by what is after all the greatest loss of life before the Nazis came to power.

Would I go again on other trips? Yes straight away. I made friends, learnt a lot and above all saw how clever, interested and committed to learning the young people at Tavistock College are.”

Nigel Larcombe-Williams