Category : News and Information
Latest news & updates about college life
Rock Challenge 2019 ‘Black Swan’
On Monday 25th March, around 50 students from Oathall took part in the 2019 Rock Challenge Competition. This was the culmination of 7 months hard work and dedication from the performers, stage crew and lighting team. The achievement from each and every student was outstanding.
Oathall’s performance this year was titled ‘Black Swan’. This was a contemporary, street dance fusion piece that explored the physiological and psychological struggles of a mentally delicate dancer and her strive for perfection, only to find herself struggling to maintain her sanity as she descends into madness from the pressure of perfection. To succeed, she will have to transform herself into something she has never been.
The Rock Challenge was established in order to combine the benefits of taking part in a large scale dance production with involvement in a positive ‘ drug-free’ activity.
Although Oathall did not win, the students’ performance was recognised with awards gained in the following categories
• Award of Excellence in Lighting
• Award of Excellence for Entertainment
• Award of Excellence for Visual Enhancement
• Award of Excellence for Stage Use
• Award of Excellence for Costuming and Character
• Award of Excellence for Soundtrack
Performance faculty enrichment leader, Mrs Avery said
I am proud that at Oathall the Rock Challenge event brings students of all ages, backgrounds and gender together in order to work collaboratively on a brilliant production. The students take charge not only of choreography but costumes, sound, lighting and scenery.
I would like to thank every student who took part in and contributed to this year’s production, you were all a pleasure to work with. Finally, thank you to all the parents & staff who kindly support dance at Oathall and help to encourage our students to achieve amazing things.
Oathall’s Sporting Superstars
It has been a fabulous sporting start to 2019 for Oathall’s PE teams. We have been successful against local schools in Football, Futsal, Indoor Athletics, Indoor Cricket and Hockey to name but a few.
Here’s a quick summary of some of the highlights
The U12 boys’ hockey team (pictured above) played in the annual tournament in Crawley with 5 other schools, with a combination of U13 and U12 teams. Despite being the youngest team present they finished unbeaten with 4 wins and 1 draw.
Our Indoor Athletics teams were successful in the Mid-Sussex round of the Countywide indoor athletics competition with the Year 7 Girls & Year 8 boys winning their rounds.
The Under 12 Girls Football team have completed all of their West Sussex league fixtures and have finished the season unbeaten.
Keep up the good work everybody!
If you need a reminder of our Autumn successes in the performance faculty catch up with their newsletter here.
Year 8 athletics success
Congratulations to the Oathall year 8 boys athletics team who won the Mid-Sussex indoor athletics round at Sackville on Monday 14 January. This is the first round of the Sussex School games and the boys will now go on to represent Mid-Sussex schools at the County finals at the Triangle in Burgess Hill.
Speed dating for career inspiration
How do you get over 200 Year 9 students to find out about a wide range of careers? Get them to go along to a Careers speed dating event!
Students in Year 9 have just taken part in our annual Careers Speed Dating event, during which they had the opportunity to speak to a wide range of professionals and representatives from the world of work.
This event is organised to inspire our future workforce about real jobs; practise those all-important communication skills, and hopefully dispel some myths and challenge gender stereotypes. Small groups of students were given 5 minutes to meet and learn about the occupations of each of our 26 visiting professional guests representing a wide range of employment sectors including banking, engineering, surveying, medicine, hairdressing, publishing, veterinary, medicine, uniformed services, scientific research, sport, nursing, physiotherapy and more. Feedback from the employers has been extremely positive. All our year 9 students were enthusiastic and made a good effort to ask lots of interesting questions.
One of the many positive comments from attending guests was: ‘The pupils were an absolute pleasure and without exception friendly, polite and chatty.’
Hairdresser Jade Laker from Pruners commented that refreshingly it was the boys that seemed more interested in hearing about her career than the girls!
Dr Sarah Bruce reported how impressed she was at how engaged and well behaved our students were during the session.
Thank you to all the business volunteers for giving up their time so generously to support our students.
Lest we forget
Oathall students & staff have marked the end of the First World War and remembered and honoured those who have paid the price for our freedom.
Students in year 9 spent the morning watching Peter Jackson’s First World War film ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’ after which the whole school gathered around the Oathall Field of Remembrance for a period of reflection and silence. The last post was played on the bugle by one of our students.
In recognition of the centenary of the end of the First World War, 100 crosses provided by the Lindfield branch of the Royal British Legion have been placed out in a field of remembrance. Each cross will be dedicated to an individual who has been nominated by members of the school staff and student body and a donation will be made to the Royal British Legion.
DRONE 500 Challenge
Oathall students and staff have attended the launch of this year’s Mid Sussex STEM Challenge. The event took place at Mid Sussex District Council offices and was officially launched by the High Sheriff of West Sussex Caroline Nicholls. The Drone 500 challenge has been developed to encourage an interest in STEM subjects amongst young people and to help them understand how these subjects will be applied in industry in the future.
In the first year, the challenge was won by Year 9 students from Oathall. In this, the second year of the competition, more schools from across Sussex have entered for the chance to win. Over the next six months, each school is being tasked to build a drone for £500. The drone will be required to meet a number of very specific requirements which will be tested at the final next March. As well as this each team will be required to produce a business case which they will pitch to a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style panel. Each team will be supported and mentored along the way by members of the local business community.
Head of Art and Design Technology, Pete Robinson said,
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain an insight into the world of engineering and design. Not only does it encourage an interest in STEM but it develops team building and a work ethic at an early age. We will, of course be working hard to retain our title!”
Processing of Further Education Applications
Following attendance at the further education colleges’ open evenings in October and November, Year 11 students will be completing their application forms.
Please note the following:
- It is advisable to make applications to at least two colleges.
- Students considering an apprenticeship should also make a college application as a back-up measure.
- MONDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2018 – The deadline for all paper application forms to be given to Mrs Ferros in Reception, as grades and references need to be attached before they are sent to the various colleges.
- FRIDAY 7 DECEMBER 2018 – The deadline for all online applications to be submitted.
Please find attached a booklet that has been produced to help guide you through the post 16 transition. It includes information on the processing of applications and dates of all the colleges’ open evenings and detailed information on the wide range of qualifications and options available to you when you leave Oathall, including work-based learning and Apprenticeships.
Post 16 Opportunities Booklet 2018-19
Post 16 Opportunities Evening Presentation 2018
Careers Drop-In Service
If you require any help with completing application forms or have queries regarding which subjects or courses to take etc, you are very welcome to attend our drop-in service in the Careers Office on Wednesdays after school throughout October and November.
In addition to these sessions, Mrs Ferros is always available in Reception if you have any general queries.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: If you are planning a summer holiday, please be aware that students are required to be available soon after the GCSE exam results are issued on 22 August 2019 as colleges hold taster days, interviews and enrolment sessions before the beginning of the autumn term.