Certificates and Awards Galore!

15th November 2013Oathall
Pippa with her award on the night

Pippa with her award on the night

Former students and their families gathered in the school hall on the evening of Thursday 14 November for our annual GCSE certificate and award presentation evening.

Special guest Sir David Davies CBE presented the certificates and afterwards he gave a potted history of his varied career and an overview of his roles as President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and as a special advisor to the Ministry of Defence.

He finished with some words of advice about the future saying: “Think broadly and think long term about your futures.  In all likelihood you will be working for the next 50 years, perhaps even longer.  Things will change in your career and if you have the right skills and an open mind who knows where life will take you next.”

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Ofsted Rate Oathall as ‘Good’

11th November 2013J Godbolt

ofsted logoFollowing a two day Ofsted inspection in October, Oathall has been rated as ‘Good’ in every area.

Inspectors observed 52 lessons, met with students, teachers, senior leaders, the governing body and representatives from the local authority.

The final report published on Friday 8 November praised teaching standards, pupil behaviour and the school’s leadership and management.

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Super Swanage Trip

9th October 2013Mrs L BRUCE

In September a group of Y11 Geographers went on a residential field trip to West Lulworth and Swanage, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast.  The students designed surveys and collected data for their Controlled Assessment about the impact of tourism on West Lulworth.  They also studied the coastal landforms and processes which attract the tourists to the area.  This included a walk to Durdle Door along the Dorset Coastal Path.

They enjoyed an overnight stay at the Swanage Youth Hostel, relaxing with an evening of ten pin bowling.

 

London Philharmonic Workshop

5th October 2013Oathall

Oathall music students were once again invited to participate in the fabulous orchestral day at Ardingly College. Music students joined up with other schools in the area to take part in workshops with members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This was a unique opportunity for our young musicians to learn from and play with top professional orchestral musicians. The day culminated in a public performance of the works studied during the day in the beautiful chapel at Ardingly College.

German Exchange 2013 Traunstein in July and Haywards Heath in September

2nd October 2013Oathall

ge exchange 2 

Once again an intrepid band of Y9 and Y10 students headed to Traunstein for the last 9 days of the Summer Term, accompanied by Mr Powell and Mrs Wells.

Students had got to know their partners over the previous 6 months via e-mail, text, Skype, Facebook and even real letters with photographs!  This enabled them to hit the ground running as they settled into their partners’ families in and around Traunstein.

We spent one morning visiting lessons in our partner school.  Then there were sightseeing visits to Munich, Salzburg and BerchtesgadenNational Park, including the salt mine and boat trip and swim in the Königsee.  The weekend was spent with host families with boat trips to King Ludwig’s Chiemsee castle and cable car rides in the mountains.

The Traunstein Quiz was completed very successfully, so it was ice creams all round! The reception in the Town Hall was another highlight, with our students all asking questions in German and showing great interest in the mayor’s replies.

Several students commented on how much they felt their German improved during the trip.  Some have organised private visits back to their host families.  Certainly there were many panda eyes on the bus as we left, cheered only by the knowledge that we would soon see our families again and that our friends would be back with us in September.

While in Haywards Heath our German guests visited London, Brighton and Eastbourne.  They were also hosted by the mayor, town councillors and members of the twinning association at a very informative session at the Town Hall.

Recruitment is now underway for the 2014 exchange.  See me if interested!

D Powell

Teaching and Learning Manager

 

Student has a great showing at Edenbridge and Oxted

29th August 2013Oathall
Katie and Pylon Ambo at the show

Katie and Pylon Ambo at the show

Oathall Community College student and Young Farmer, Katie Russell, has had a brilliant few days, displaying both her academic prowess and her livestock showmanship skills.

At the Edenbridge and Oxted show held over the bank holiday weekend, an Ayrshire calf, “Pylon Ambo” trained and shown by Katie and loaned by David and Jeanne Heasman from Lane End Farm Sheffield Park was the Champion Ayrshire in the calf classes.

In addition Katie, aged 16, won the DSC trophy for the champion handler in the showmanship classes. Katie is a volunteer on the school farm and chairs the young farmers club.

The previous week Katie recorded outstanding grades in her GCSE examinations finishing with 11 GCSEs, four of which were A grades including her Environmental and Landbased studies course based on the farm which counts as 4 GCSE equivalents.

Head of Farm Howard Wood said: “These results demonstrate the all-round and balanced education we offer to students of all abilities at Oathall.  Congratulations to Katie.”

From Oathall to John O’Groats to Lands End!

22nd August 2013Oathall
Holly and her Dad at the end of their two week trip!

Holly and her Dad at the end of their two week trip!

Some people might take the opportunity to sit back and relax after taking their GCSE exams but Oathall Community College student and former chair of our Young Farmer’s Club Holly Farrage decided to do just the opposite.

Over the summer Holly and her father participated in a charity bike ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End raising a good sum of money in the process.

Holly has been a brilliant club chairman and member of Oathall Farm and we will all miss her as she goes off to Sixth Form College in Brighton.