We are proud to be awarded the South and South East in Bloom 2014 Blooming Schools Competition Gold Award! Students in all years of the school who were involved with maintaining the farm gardens were happy to accept the award, presented by TV gardener Chris Collins. The award celebrates 50 years of the annual RHS Britain in Bloom competition.
Katy Gardner beside her portrait at the Mall Galleries
Congratulations to Katy Gardner, whose GCSE artwork was selected by the Royal Society of British Artists judging panel to be exhibited at this year’s National Students Art Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London. This is an incredible achievement, particularly as both large scale pieces made the final selection.
Congratulations also to Zakiyra Begum, Kieran Ross, Hassana Akther-Tuhra, Freya Way and Marjana Akther-Bushra whose submitted artwork was highly commended.
Students in Year 10 have just completed a range of work related activities aimed at broadening their experiences and helping to inform future career choices.
Students visit Sainsburys in Haywards Heath
During the week students participated in visits to local businesses, trips to colleges and universities and workshop activities led by employees from Barclays Bank. This included a formal mock job interview which was subsequently graded. One senior Barclays advisor said of the experience “I would happily employ any of the students I’ve interviewed today”
As well as these activities, two former Oathall students, Dr Daisy Moffatt who is training to be a GP and Ben Higgins, Director of HR at the Societe Generale Bank returned to talk to students about their experience of work. Daisy and Ben are both members of the Oathall Alumni Association which is set up to keep in touch with former Oathall students. A short movie of the week’s activities was collated and shown to students at the end of the week.
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.
Following on from the successful Year 6 induction day we will be holding a Y6 Parents’ Evening on Tuesday 8 July at 6.30pm in the hall. The evening includes an introductory talk by Headteacher, Mr Edward Rodriguez followed by an opportunity to meet group tutors and Year 7 Year Leader, Mr Andrew Wright.
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!
