Latest news & updates about college life
Howard Wood, won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual TES School’s Awards on Friday 4 July.
“A man of great gentleness but with a powerful belief in the children in his care” is how one person who has worked with Howard Wood describes him. Others call him “outstanding”, “exceptional” and “selfless”, but the word that crops up more than any other is “dedicated”.
Mr Wood with his wife Mary and daughter Sarah at the award ceremony in London on Friday.
Mr Howard Wood has been awarded the TES Schools Award for Lifetime achievement at a gala luncheon ceremony held today at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.
Warmest congratulations to Mr Wood for this well-deserved award from all of the school community.
Mr Wood ‘Woody’ and Headteacher, Mr Rodriguez at the award ceremony today.
Students at Oathall have taken part in choosing names for the new house system that the college is introducing this summer. The house system will provide an extra platform for competition, an additional focus around events and an opportunity for younger and older students to meet and work together in joint enterprises. Following a whole school online vote the theme of Exploration came first in the student poll. Within this theme four names emerged as winners. We are pleased to announce that the new house names are
Assistant Headteacher, Mr Willer with students from the Student Voice Community Group
The house titles originate from spacecraft and ships of exploration. The titles represent the human spirit of challenge and determination to cross boundaries in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. In this context we hope our four house titles will stand as an inspiration to students to strive for success in all aspects of college life.
Between now and the end of term tutor groups will be allocated to a House and our Games Day on 11th July 2014 will have the additional excitement of competition for a House Cup. The autumn term will see further work to develop the House system including the design of house emblems, agreement of colours, the identification of House Captains and other student leaders within the system and the planning for House assemblies and further events. An exciting time lies ahead!
Howard Wood and students take delivery of the new Massey Ferguson tractor.
The farm unit is now the proud owner of a new 75hp Massey Ferguson MF 5410 tractor. The tractor has been purchased as a result of generous donations made by farm sponsors and benefactors and replaces the 24 year old tractor that the college used on a daily basis.
Howard Wood, Head of the Farm, said
“We use a tractor regularly for typical farm operations and without it we would struggle to provide the farm educational facilities that we offer to students. Our old tractor had been a real workhorse for the farm but had come to the end of its useful life as a machine that could be used on a school farm. So we are very lucky and thankful for all the support and donations from our friends and sponsors from the farming community allowing us to make this much needed purchase.”
We are grateful to all of the following sponsors and benefactors who helped us to raise funds for the tractor.
Greenwood Trust
NFU West Sussex Old Scheme Funds
Garfield Weston Foundation
Coin Co International PLC
Educational Trust Fund of the West Sussex Branch of the NFU
Hurstpierpoint Ploughing Society
Mrs Maggie Chamberlain
Oathall’s performers having a quick break in the summer sunshine at Ardingly.
Oathall’s choir joined over 500 hundred singers at Ardingly College last Wednesday for an epic performance of British composer Alexander L’Estrange’s African-Jazz choral masterpiece Zimbe!
Zimbe! is a fusion of traditional African song and jazz, in a format which is already drawing together singers of all ages, ability and nationalities across the globe. The music is accessible, instantly likeable and fun to learn as well as to perform.
The event was part of the Ardingly Arts Festival in support of Ardingly in Africa, staged in conjunction with West Sussex Music.
Oathall has once again played host to some fantastically gifted and talented artists from some of our local Primary schools. Pupils in Year 4 and 5 have attended 5 workshops at Oathall this year and have worked with Oathall’s art department developing their skills in drawing, painting, ceramics, mixed media and printing.
Primary pupils attend Oathall’s gifted and talented art master class.
The primary school pupils attended their final art workshop this month. Using a range of printmaking techniques inspired by the illustrator Carol Barker, students created artworks on the theme of owls and peacocks,
Art teacher Mrs Jo Smith-Hashim said:
“I’m really impressed with the standard of work that the students have produced, they have been really enthusiastic throughout the course and have produced some excellent and creative pieces of art.”
Year 7 are raising money for their chosen charity by staging an ‘Oathall’s Got Talent’ show. The show is being held on 18 June in the drama studio between 4.30 and 6.30pm. Tickets are on sale now for £1 from room 84 at tutor time. All proceeds raised will go to Chailey Heritage School.
Students in Year 7 and 8 are being encouraged to develop a habit of reading for pleasure by coming into the library and reading to ‘Tilly’ a seven month old, miniature Schnauzer dog belonging to Mr Blackholly, head of vocational learning at Oathall.
Reading to Tilly works with readers of all abilities, creating positive associations with reading and the library. The difference in achievement between children who read for half an hour a day in their spare time and those who do not is huge – as much as a year’s education by the time they are 15.
Mrs Evans, English faculty leader said:
“Having a dog in the library encourages students to relax and feel less self-conscious, dogs provide comfort, are perfect listeners and importantly they are non-judgemental, inspiring even the most reluctant readers to have fun and enjoy reading.”
