Chulmleigh College

14/10/2026

We are recruiting! Peripatetic Woodwind Teacher

Chulmleigh College is looking for a dynamic and inspirational Peripatetic Woodwind Teacher to join our thriving Expressive Arts Department from November 2026.

This is a fantastic opportunity to support young musicians, inspire beginner instrumentalists and contribute to a school with a strong commitment to music education.

Please follow this link to find out more: https://tinyurl.com/4vsw45sd

14/10/2026

From Chulmleigh College to the World Championships!

A huge congratulations to Year 11 pupil Sophie Casavieille-Lacaze, who has achieved an incredible sporting milestone by qualifying to represent Great Britain at the World Duathlon Championships in Edmonton, Canada, next summer!

On Sunday 4 October, Sophie set herself a very special birthday challenge by competing in the Thruxton Mass Attack Duathlon Sprint British Age-Group Qualifier. Despite an early start and a very foggy drive, she took on the demanding course with determination and grit, tackling a 4km run, a 20km cycle and a final 4km run.

Sophie dug deep throughout the race to secure an outstanding fourth place in the under-20 category, earning her well-deserved qualification for the World Championships. She also finished strongly in the overall women's field.

With her GCSE exams completed before the championships next summer, Sophie is already looking forward to her training and the incredible opportunity to pull on the Great Britain blue trisuit and compete on the world stage.

Everyone at Chulmleigh College is immensely proud of Sophie's dedication, resilience and achievement. She is a fantastic example of what can be accomplished through hard work, determination and a willingness to challenge yourself.

Congratulations, Sophie! We wish you the very best of luck with your training and cannot wait to cheer you on as you take on the world!

13/10/2026

Making young voices heard in local democracy!

Four pupils from Chulmleigh College recently attended Devon Youth Council Day at County Hall in Exeter, where they joined young people from across Devon to debate the issues that matter most to their generation.

Deputy Head Boy Alfie Jones, Head Girl Matilda Langrill, Deputy Head Girl Daisie and Head Boy Max El-Marazki all spoke in the Council Chamber, sharing thoughtful ideas on teenage wellbeing, mental health support, social connections and access to affordable leisure facilities.

Our pupils also contributed to wider discussions about education, employment and preparing young people for adult life, including the role schools and local authorities can play in providing meaningful work experience opportunities.

The event offered a valuable insight into local government and gave our pupils the opportunity to listen to different perspectives, challenge ideas and represent the views of their peers.

We are incredibly proud of all four pupils for their confidence, maturity and excellent contributions. Their participation is a fantastic example of young people engaging with democracy and helping to shape the conversations that affect their futures.

09/10/2026

It has been another busy and rewarding week at Chulmleigh College!

Our latest newsletter celebrates a wide range of learning, experiences and achievements across the College, including our Harvest Festival, LEGO robotics, a Shabbat meal and Year 10 Drama pupils performing DNA by Dennis Kelly.

We also celebrate some fantastic extracurricular success, with Ella winning silver at the British Trampolining Championships and Sophie qualifying to represent Great Britain at the Duathlon World Championships in Canada next summer!

There’s plenty more to discover in this week’s newsletter. Read all about it here: https://tinyurl.com/vpvvhyb7

09/10/2026

A fantastic first outing for our Year 7 football team!

The Year 7 boys proudly pulled on the famous yellow and black of Chulmleigh Community College for the very first time as they began their school footballing journeys against a strong Bideford side.

The boys made an excellent start, with Tom Finney scoring twice, including a stunning effort into the top corner! Rupert Nichols also found the net as Chulmleigh battled hard in an exciting first half that ended 3–3.

The second half was a closely fought contest, with Bideford eventually edging ahead to secure a narrow 4–3 victory. Despite some excellent saves from goalkeeper Finley Redstone and a determined defensive display from Alfie Matthews, the boys just missed out on a result.

However, the scoreline tells only part of the story. For their first-ever match together, the team showed fantastic determination, teamwork, discipline and commitment. They listened, supported one another and came agonisingly close to earning a well-deserved point - or even all three!

Player of the Match: Tom Finney for his two excellent goals and tireless battling performance.

Special mentions also go to Finley Redstone for his heroics in goal and Alfie Matthews for his strong defensive display. Well done to every member of the squad for representing Chulmleigh College so positively.

We look forward to seeing the boys build on this promising start!

A brilliant first step in their school football careers. Well done, boys!

07/10/2026

Harvest Festival 2026 – Farming Through the Ages

This week, we gathered at St Mary Magdalene Church for our annual Harvest Festival, with this year’s theme of “Farming Through the Ages.”

It was a particularly special service, celebrating the vital role farming plays in our community and giving us an opportunity to hear directly from some of our pupils who live and work on local farms. Heidi Burdge (Year 7), Oliver D**e (Year 8), Will James (Year 9) and Riley Down (Year 11) each shared their experiences of farming and harvest.

Their reflections highlighted both the rewards and challenges of farming today – from harvesting grass, maize, barley and wheat, to the impact of this year’s extreme heat on crops and animal feed. They also shared some wonderful personal memories, including working alongside family members and the enjoyment of machinery and traditional farming methods.

We were also delighted to welcome Nigel Skinner, a local farmer from Eggesford, who shared fascinating stories from his own farming life and reflected on how agriculture has changed over the years. His memories brought the theme of Farming Through the Ages to life, from the increasing mechanisation and efficiency of farming to the changing social side of agricultural life. He also shared stories from his own time as a pupil at Chulmleigh, when the College had around 250 pupils, many of whom were involved in agriculture.

A special mention must go to Riley Down, who highlighted the important work of RABI – The Farmers’ Charity, which provides financial, practical and mental health support to farming communities. It was a valuable reminder that behind the machinery, crops and livestock are people who can sometimes need support too.

We would also like to thank the Yendell, James, Shaw and Elson families and Beaford Arts for kindly contributing photographs to the service. These wonderful family photographs helped us to celebrate the farming heritage of our community and connect the experiences of previous generations with those of our pupils today. The Harvest Festival programme includes photographs spanning family farming history, including images of previous generations working in the fields.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to such a meaningful celebration of harvest, farming and our local community. 🌾

07/10/2026

Secondary School Admissions for September 2027 are now open!

The deadline is midnight on 31 October 2026.

Is your child in Year 6 this term? If you are considering Chulmleigh College for their secondary education, now is the time to apply.

Live outside our catchment area? Please don’t let that put you off!

Around 40% of our pupils in 2026 come from outside our catchment area, so families from across the wider area are very much part of our College community.

Applying on time is important. Late applications are considered after those received by the deadline and may reduce your chances of being offered your preferred school.

Apply online through the Devon County Council Citizens Portal:
https://oneonline.devon.gov.uk/CCSCitizenPortal_LIVE/en

Need help with your application? Devon County Council's step-by-step guidance and admissions information is available here:
https://www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/school-admissions/apply-for-a-secondary-school-place/

We look forward to welcoming the next generation of Chulmleigh College pupils! 🎓

Apply for your child to start in year 7 at secondary school, year 10 at a studio school or UTC or a middle or high school

07/10/2026

Two Places Available on Our Paris Trip!

This is a fantastic opportunity for any Year 10 or Year 11 pupil to experience some of the most iconic sights in Paris, including:

The Eiffel Tower
Musée d’Orsay
A boat cruise along the Seine
Les Invalides
The Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe
La Défense & shopping
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
A cinema trip (subject to availability of a suitable subtitled film)

Plus plenty of time to experience the atmosphere, culture and excitement of Paris!

23rd–26th October

If you’re in Year 10 or 11 and would love to take up this opportunity, please contact Mrs C Payne as soon as possible.

Only 2 places available – don’t miss out!

06/10/2026

We are recruiting: Head of Estates and Compliance

Chulmleigh Academy Trust is seeking an experienced and proactive Head of Estates and Compliance to join our Executive Leadership Team from December 2026.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an estates, facilities, premises or project management professional to take a strategic role across our family of schools, with responsibility for estates and facilities, health & safety, compliance, catering, site maintenance and project management.

If you’re passionate about delivering excellent services and making a positive difference to the environments in which children and young people learn, we would love to hear from you.

Full details, including the Candidate Pack and application process, are available here: https://tinyurl.com/2rm8dsds

02/10/2026

Another industrious week at Chulmleigh College! Please follow the link to read the latest edition of Optime: https://tinyurl.com/ypf2ad45