In the past few months, all schools in West Sussex campaigned to secure interim funding for the academic year 2016-17. This campaign took place against a wider context of securing fairer funding arrangements for all schools nationally.
This March, 60 Oathall students showcased their dancing and performance talents by competing in 2016 Be your Best Rock Challenge. The event, held at The Hawth Theatre in Crawley takes place in front of a large audience and involves schools from across the region competing against each other in a dance contest. (more…)
Students at Oathall had plenty of questions for Oscar-nominated screenwriter and novelist William Nicholson when he visited Oathall this week. The visit, by William Nicholson, was part of a regular initiative inviting authors to meet students during a school day. The visit included a Q&A lunch and a special assembly for Year 7.
At lunch, older students with an interest in writing and media met with the acclaimed author. Students had researched Nicholson’s background beforehand and so came prepared to ask him about his career. Students asked him about the controversy over racial diversity at this year’s Oscars, what inspired and motivated him when writing as well as chatting with him about current affairs.
After lunch, William Nicholson hosted a special assembly for Year 7 students. He talked about his book ‘The Wind Singer’ and how his experience of the exam system had influenced his ideas for the book. He spoke about his career in TV, books and films, why he writes and why students should write as well.
Charlie Wallbank, Year 7 student, said,
“I found it fascinating because you got to understand what life was like as an author and what dedication you have to put into writing a film and books.”
And, Abbi Neale, Year 7 student, said,
“To be able to tell people I met William Nicholson, the script writer for films like Gladiator and the Long Walk to Freedom is amazing! The whole experience has inspired me to write, work hard and follow my dreams.”
This article was written using contributions from Oathall students in Year 7.
The school Library was buzzing on this year’s World Book Day. Students in years 7 and 8 were invited to take part in a literary treasure hunt. Students had to follow clues hidden in books around the library with each answer leading them to the next clue and finally to the hidden treasure of book tokens.
And at our first ever Open Mic Poetry session, students and teachers, including Headteacher, Mr Rodriguez read a selection of inspirational, amusing and thought-provoking poems. Mr Rodriguez read ‘Dulci et Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen followed by the comical poem ‘Head Teacher Flips Her Lid’ by Charles Thomson. Library Prefect Annabel Goldsmith, read ‘I Built a Fabulous Machine’ by Jack Prelutsky and English teacher Mrs Sullivan, read ‘Let No one Steal Your Dreams’ by Paul Cookson.
Some of our talented students also recited their own compositions with one student even translating part of his poem into Russian. For some students, it was the first time that they had ever read in public. Librarian Mrs Fogarasi, said:
“It was a warm and eloquent occasion. It was inspirational listening to our talented students reciting their own original poetry compositions. Thank you to all who got involved and made the day so exciting.”
Following the success of World Book Day now is the perfect opportunity to update you on some of our recent and upcoming literary events.
Fifteen students in years 7-9 are currently involved in the Stan Lee Excelsior Book Award, the only nationwide book award for manga and graphic novels. This involves reading the short-listed novels and rating them. We have joined about 200 other schools and libraries for this event and will be sending off our results in April.
And later this month, we are very excited to be hosting a visit by screenwriter, playwright and novelist William Nicholson . He will be having lunch in the LRC with some students and talking to all year 7s about his books in a special assembly.
Renata Sawa, a teacher from Zespol Szkol Specjalnych in Poland has won a European Award for her report on her experiences job shadowing at Oathall.
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Thinking about teaching as a career? Why not go along to the Train to Teach open evening on Tuesday 1 March at the University of Brighton to find out more. Oathall is a strategic partner with the Millais Alliance and every year we host a number of trainee teacher placements and support them in their journey to become successful teachers.
The Worth Less? Campaign, set up by schools across West Sussex, is working to change the unfair funding model that means that West Sussex pupils receive less funding towards their education. The campaign is also seeking to gain interim funding from Central Government to help schools in West Sussex cope with current funding inequalities.
On 13 January, we reinforced our campaign with our £200 for £20million message.
Please support our campaign for fairer funding. You can do this by:
- Contacting your local MP and maintain the pressure for reform and interim transitional funding. Please use or adapt this letter to write to your MP
- Spread the word and ‘like us’ on Facebook
- Follow our campaign news on Twitter
To find out more, please have a look at this recent ITV news report.
The staff and students at Oathall wish you all a very Merry Christmas and would like to share with you this message of Hope from our Christmas School Assembly.
Rehearsing for the concert performance
Since last summer students at Oathall & pupils from 6 Mid-Sussex Primary schools have been feverishly practising and rehearsing in preparation to take part in the BBC Ten Pieces performance. Ten Pieces is an exciting initiative for schools, led by BBC Learning and the BBC Performing Groups that aims to open up the world of classical music to a generation of children and inspire them to develop their own creative responses to ten pieces of music. The project culminates today with a concert at the Kings Church in Burgess Hill.
Listen here to a BBC Sussex radio interview about the project.
