Rydon Primary Pupils Crowned Winners of Rotary Young Apprentice Challenge 

Pupils at Rydon Primary are celebrating after being named winners of the Rotary Newton Abbot Young Apprentice Challenge 2025–2026.

Just before Christmas, year 3 children took part in the enterprise initiative, organised by the Rotary Club of Newton Abbot. The challenge saw pupils given £50 to invest in a small business project with the goal of generating profit.

Using their investment creatively, the children designed and produced a range of items to sell at their stall during the school’s ‘Winter Wonderland Christmas Fair’. They also organised a Christmas colouring competition to help boost their fundraising efforts. Their hard work paid off, with the class finishing in the top three for overall funds raised and securing a place in the final.

On Sunday 22nd February, a selection of year 3 pupils proudly represented their year group at the finals, held at Teign School. Accompanied by their teachers, Miss Thomas and Miss Barker, the children confidently presented their project to members of Rotary and a representative from ShelterBox. They explained how they had planned, organised and successfully run their stall, showcasing both their financial understanding and entrepreneurial skills. 

The pupils were awarded first place in the competition and received a £50 Amazon voucher in recognition of their outstanding achievement.

Danny Brown, Headteacher at Rydon Primary, said: 

“Throughout the project, the children demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm and commitment. Alongside strengthening their mathematical knowledge, they developed valuable life skills including teamwork, communication, problem solving and perseverance.

“This fantastic accomplishment highlights the creativity, determination and collaborative spirit of Rydon Primary’s young learners. A huge congratulations to all involved on a truly well deserved success.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO at Education South West, said:

“This is a tremendous achievement for the pupils at Rydon Primary. Opportunities like the Rotary Young Apprentice Challenge allow children to apply their learning in meaningful, real world contexts.  To see Year 3 pupils planning, budgeting and presenting in this way is inspiring.”

Rydon Primary Celebrates Outstanding Progress in School Waste Reduction

Rydon Primary is celebrating a remarkable improvement in its recycling and waste‑reduction efforts following a second whole‑school waste audit carried out by Devon’s Resource Futures, led by sustainability specialist Alex Mack.

The audit, completed last month, showed dramatic progress since the school’s initial audit in April last year, demonstrating the commitment of pupils, staff and the wider school community to making meaningful environmental change.

In the first audit the school was sending 6.76 tonnes of general waste each year to the Energy from Waste plant and had a recycling rate of just 25%. By the second audit general waste had been reduced to 3.5 tonnes per year and the recycling rate had risen dramatically to 62%. This represents a 47% improvement overall. These impressive figures reflect a whole‑school effort to reduce waste contamination, recycle more effectively, and understand the environmental impact of everyday choices.

At the heart of this success were the Rydon Pupil Ambassadors, led by teacher Ellie Thomas, who were praised as “fantastic” by Resource Futures for their energy, leadership and passion for improving sustainability at school. Their work has inspired pupils across all year groups to rethink their waste habits and embrace recycling with enthusiasm.

Danny Brown, Headteacher at Rydon Primary, said: 

“We are incredibly proud of the whole school community for achieving such a significant improvement in such a short space of time. The children have truly embraced the challenge, and their enthusiasm for looking after the environment has been inspiring. This project has shown our pupils that small changes really do add up to a big difference.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO at Education South West, said:

“This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when pupils are empowered to take the lead. Rydon Primary’s progress demonstrates the impact of education in shaping responsible global citizens. We are delighted to see such impressive results and proud of the staff and pupils for their commitment to sustainability.”