Getting creative in the great outdoors

15th January 2021J Godbolt

Students at Oathall have recently benefited from a generous donation from the Fairfax “Building Young Futures” education support programme. The programme has helped to fund a new outdoor learning hub on Oathall’s farm where students will be taught to develop skills using the Forest Schools ethos of learning. The new hub and resources will be used by students across all year groups helping them to develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on activities and experiences gained in an outdoor setting.

An activity week is also being planned for summer 2021 where young people will be able to enjoy a week of fun and challenging activities, all provided by Fairfax.

Mr Blackholly, Head of Farm, said,

“I would like to thank the ‘Building Young Futures’ initiative for their generous support of Oathall students. We are especially grateful to Mr Peter Chisholm MBE for his help and support for this project. We are looking forward to inviting him and Fairfax representatives back to Oathall to see how their support has helped to transform young lives”.

 

Autumn into Winter 2020

17th December 2020J Godbolt

Welcome to our final Teaching & Learning bulletin of the year. At the end of what might be considered, a long and arduous autumn term, it is so important to remind ourselves of the many positive events that have been taking place. Not least, the excellent news below of the school’s success in being selected to name the first operational turbine situated off the coast of Brighton. Well done to Mrs Lindsley and the EcOathall group.

Like others, the school has clearly faced many challenges this year. Regardless, it has been so good to see our students back at school, engaging with their learning so positively and interacting in person once again with their teachers and friends. The Oathall school community has demonstrated resilience, patience and optimism. Please explore, via the links at the top, examples of such positive experiences across the school.

As always, thank you for your continued support.

On behalf of the staff anf governors of the college, may I wish you and your families the very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

Edward Rodriguez
Headteacher

 

Christmas Jumper Day 2020

14th December 2020J Godbolt

Staff and students entered into the Christmas spirit in the run-up to the end of term by wearing a Christmas Jumper to raise money for the NSPCC. Everyone was asked to make a small donation in exchange for wearing a Christmas outfit.

Top marks went to Mr Parry for his Christmas tree outfit and to Mrs Parry for her homemade ensemble featuring Christmas lights and crocheted Christmas puddings.

We expect to raise over £1000 for this very worthy cause.

Oathall wins competition to name wind turbine!

8th December 2020J Godbolt

Rampion Offshore Wind Farm’s first operational turbine in the array off the Sussex coast will be named Veranzio Turbine.

Veranzio Turbine was the name put forward by Oathall’s Year 7 eco-club, EcOathall and which went on to win a public vote.

“We are delighted to have a really worthy name for the first operational turbine at Rampion and would like to thank everyone who suggested some fantastic names and all those who voted this week,” said Katie Scanlan, Rampion Visitor Centre Manager.

The team at Rampion Offshore Wind Farm’s Visitor Centre shortlisted 5 names for turbine F04, the first operational turbine installed in the array off the Sussex coast.  Oathall’s year 7 Eco club had its entry to name the turbine chosen & shortlisted for a public vote.

Fausto Veranzio was a Croatian inventor interested in science and engineering. He described one of the first-ever wind turbine designs in his book Machinae Novae published in 1616. He also wrote about solar and water energy; truly ahead of his time.

Geography teacher Mrs Lindsley said

“It’s fantastic that Oathall students have named Brighton’s first operational wind turbine in the array offshore. 953 votes were cast and ECOathall secured 70% of the vote. The wind farm technicians will put the name on the actual turbine in the spring when the weather conditions and accessibility is better. The students also are invited for a visit to the visitor centre and will each get a goody bag!

Thank you to everyone for supporting us, ECOathall members are over the moon – such a lovely end to a tumultuous year for them.”

Odd Socks Day

18th November 2020J Godbolt

On Monday 16th November students and staff at Oathall wore odd socks as part of anti-bullying week. This was to raise awareness that we stand together against bullying and to promote difference. The money raised from this day goes towards The Diana Award a charity set up in memory of Princess Diana who believed that young people have the power to change the world. One of the areas that the charity helps with is providing training and resources to schools to tackle any bullying and to raise awareness.

We are proud at Oathall to support this very important charity and even prouder to be uniting together and standing up against any form of bullying.

So far, we have raised £855 for the charity. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so via the School Gateway.

Announcing the 2020-2021 Senior prefect team

19th October 2020J Godbolt

Left to right: Oscar, Molly, Nicole, Isla, Lola, Katie and Wahi.

We are especially pleased to announce our 2020-2021 Senior Prefect team. Our selection process was delayed by several months after the school closure and restrictions arising from COVID.

The normal process of applications, interviews and voting took place this term and we are pleased to announce that our school captains are Isla and Lola.  Our team of vice-captains are Katie, Molly, Nicole, Oscar and Wahi. They have already begun to contribute by assisting with Zoom Q&A sessions for families of students in Y6 who are thinking of joining Oathall next September. Congratulations to all of them.

Watch last year’s Open Day film

16th September 2020J Godbolt

In 2019, some of our talented students produced a film of our Open Day event.  We hope this gives you a flavour of what you have missed.

And alongside that, why don’t you have a look at the presentation we put together for our students who joined us this September. We hope these two short films begin to give you an insight into what Oathall is all about.

Battle of Britain Memorial Day

15th September 2020J Godbolt

Tuesday 15 September is Battle of Britain Day.  To commemorate this day, on Monday 14 September, students from Oathall remembered a local Battle of Britain pilot by laying a wreath and holding a small ceremony at his graveside in Western Road Cemetery in Haywards Heath.

Flying Officer Richard Plummer was born in Haywards Heath in 1912. Joining the RAF in 1937, he was shot down over Thameshaven in Essex on 4th September 1940. He later died of his injuries and is buried here in his hometown.

2020 sees the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and while a larger commemoration of the event is of course not possible this year, students and staff at Oathall Community College were keen to mark this occasion. History teacher Mr Jim Hastings and two Year 11 students, led the tribute by laying a wreath on behalf of the College.

Mr Hastings said of the event,

We as a school are keen to embrace the actions of local people in the past. Richard Plummer fought at the height of the Battle of Britain but sadly died never knowing that he had helped secure victory for his nation. Our history students paid their respects in a manner which epitomises the best of their generation, at the graveside of a man who epitomised the very best of his. They were eager to hear Richard Plummer’s story, from Haywards Heath to joining the RAF, fighting in Norway to his Hurricane being hit over Thameshaven. We feel honoured to have been able to remember a local war hero and share his story with our school community.