There is no doubt that our website is the best place to keep you up-to-date with all that is happening at Oathall. This news thread, replacing our former Teaching and Learning Bulletin, aims to collect items specifically related to learning and teaching. I am sure that you find it an interesting and informative read.
As we approach the end of the Spring term, I am very pleased to report that the project to fully refurbish our Science and Mathematics (SAM) block is well underway and progressing well. The contractors, WL Stirlands have been appointed and are due to commence work on site shortly after the Easter break. Initially, their focus will be on the ‘enabling works’ undertaken to ensure that we are able to function effectively next year whilst the ‘SAM’ block is closed. Whilst we look forward to moving into our very much enhanced facilities in September 2018, it is critical that these substantial site improvements do not negatively impact on the learning of the students next year; we are very much focused on ensuring that this is the case.
The architects are finalising plans for the block at the moment and I will share these with you as soon as I am able. In the meantime, we look forward to various enhancements being undertaken to the main school site. This will include the refurbishment of a number of classrooms, the relocation of our Heads of Houses so that they can work more effectively together as well as re-siting our Special Education Needs and Inclusion facilities to the ground floor.
E. Rodriguez, Headteacher 
Ten Pounds, Four Weeks, One Goal.
Oathall students have participated for the first time in the Young Enterprise national “Tenner Challenge”. The Tenner Challenge has provided an opportunity for students to set up a business for one month. Over 40 year 7-9 students participated selling a wide range of goods (see below). Each company was pledged £10 which enabled them to set up their business. They had four weeks to make as much profit as they could. Their products were showcased at lunchtimes in our school sports hall and at the Orchards shopping centre in Haywards Heath on Saturday 11 March.
At the end of the four weeks, the companies returned their initial £10 and paid £1 as a legacy donation to Young Enterprise to support next year’s event. We are pleased to report that every company made a profit. The participants are free to keep any hard earned profits but special mention should go to Modern Upcycles who have donated their profits of over £400 to Chestnut Tree House, Professional Handmade Cards who have donated £156.50 to Cancer Research, Colour Collison who have donated £100 to Woodlands Meed School and Kawaii who have donated £25 to Macmillan Cancer Research. Well done to all involved.
Colour Collison – Salt dough shapes and letters (Abigail Cooper, Kitty Underhill, Luke Derrick, Felicity Moore, Molly Atkinson)
Doodle Notes – Decorated notebooks and handmade bookmarks (Amy Vaughan, Katie Reed, Ella Middle)
Heart Decker – Clothing and accessories (Daisy Southerton, Keira Harris)
Kawaii – Mother’s day cards, bookmarks and knitted purses (Nicole Crockford, Rose Worsley, Olivia Morley, Ciara Ryan, Jessica Kettle)
Melodies – Plectrums (Jude Silk, Will Hagger, Henry Forrest, Sebastian Williamson)
Modern Upcycles – Upcycled a range of products (Molly Hord, Zoe Downey, Martha Sansom)
OCC – Handmade lino cut cards (Jessica Ruddock, Leane Roy, Hannah Hill)
OCCS – Staff car washing services (Harry Russell, Felix Carter, James Simpson)
Professional Handmade Cards – Greetings cards (Jessica Sams, Zoe Nelson, Seren Billson)
Pure – Handmade cards, candles and jewellery (Kira Ashworth, Jamie Figurera)
The Crafters – Stress balls (Fionnuala Lingard, Katie Rimmer, Fatou Colley, Amy Taylor)
Revive – Wooden hearts (Scarlett James, Thandi Sibandi, Holly Hughes)
Year 8 Future First Workshop
Some of our Year 8 students were lucky enough to attend a workshop run by Future First, the charity that co-ordinates Oathall’s Alumni Association, around the themes ‘building motivation and overcoming barriers’. We were thrilled to welcome back eight alumni to Oathall, who kindly gave up their time to talk to our students about their education and career paths, and in doing so provided valuable guidance and inspiration to the students. We have received very positive feedback from the current and former students who took part, but of particular note:
70% of the students said they are now more confident or much more confident about being successful in the future now they have heard from former students;
82% of the students said they will now work harder or much harder at school as a result of having spoken to the former students;
76% of the students agreed that ‘the session improved my knowledge of courses and jobs that I could do in the future’;
77% of the students agreed that the session helped them understand how their school work might help them get a job in the future.
Yo Yo project at Oathall (You Own Your Opportunities)
An exciting new pilot project has been launched to all of the Year 8 students in a special assembly. It is a work skills programme called Project YoYo (You Own Your Opportunities) delivered by Lloyds Banking Group volunteers. The focus of the project is to develop a range of key skills including communication, leadership and self-confidence. It will provide students with an awareness of the opportunities available to them and ensure they have the knowledge to achieve their full potential in the work environment.
A small group of students will be identified to be representatives for the year group. The selected Year 8 students will participate in six tailor-made sessions held at Oathall and the Haywards Heath branch of Lloyds. Finally, the group will feedback their work to the year group at the end of the project in a special assembly.
Pianoman Master Class – Scholarship awarded to three Oathall students
Our young musicians were privileged to be able to take part in a piano master class with concert pianist Richard Meyrick on Monday 27th March 2017. Hana Konig, Ted Maslin, Andrew Galt, Hayden Newnham, Jess Ruddock and Molly Hord were selected by audition to perform a piece for Richard, parents and guests. Richard then provided feedback to each student to help them improve their interpretation, technique and help them set goals for the preparation and presentation of their pieces.
The programme has been running for eleven years and is sponsored by Sir and Lady Harvey McGrath. It has enabled Richard to visit a number of schools to present his inspiring piano master classes and as a result, dozens of promising young pianists have been awarded scholarships. We are delighted that three of our students were selected to receive a scholarship and look forward to hearing the results of Richard’s tuition in future concerts at the school.
You can hear Richard Meyrick in concert playing Liszt transcribed by Vladimir Horowitz at the following link http://www.pianomanscholarships.co.uk/
It was a stimulating and informative afternoon for all pianists and musicians who attended the event. Congratulations to Hana, Molly and Jess who are the recipients of the scholarship.
Library news
It’s been a busy term in the library. We celebrated World Book Day with the Big Book Swap, where students brought in unwanted books from home and swapped them with each other. We had 62 books brought in and only 4 were left at the end; our students were thrilled with their “new” books.
For the first time ever, Oathall ran DEAR time. This stands for Drop Everything And Read and we quite literally, did just that. The bell rang and the whole school stopped what it was doing, picked up a book and read for 20 minutes, staff and students alike. It was wonderful, you could hardly hear a pin drop.
We have formed Graphic novels and Manga club for Years 8 students which meets every Thursday. We are currently reading and reviewing books for the Excelsior Award and next term, we hope to write our own graphic novel. As this generation read in a very different way to previous generations, the library is rising to the challenge and encouraging reading in all its forms. This is a fascinating article by former Comics Laureate for Great Britain, recently featured in the Times Educational Supplement.
However, the highlight of this term as been last week’s visit by author C. J. Daugherty who spoke to our Year 7 students, they were enthralled as she regaled them with tales of her life and what inspired her to become an author. She took lots of questions and really engaged our students; they are still coming into the library talking about her visit and borrowing her books. Here are some photos from her visit.
Maths Super Hero Day
Our students were treated to a Super Hero Maths day yesterday (6th April) and they were so inspired. Here is a glimpse of the department in full costume.
Creativity in Design Technology
Mrs Kirkpatrick and Mrs Lamb have been very impressed with the outcome of the new Year 9 smart materials project in Textiles. The students have worked hard on their light-up key-rings and here are two of the results so far, from Matilda Pardoe (9EFH) and Charlie Kneller (9EFH).”
House news
Click here to see the latest House Championship table. “It is not the going out of port, but the coming in, that determines the success of a voyage.” Henry Ward Beecher
Voyager gain the most credits this term…still in it!
Attendance is something our students have been working hard on; click here and here to see the latest tables.
Year 7 football report
The game started quickly, both teams fighting for the ball. It went tackle to tackle, throw in to throw in, but finally, the first goal was scored by Erica, 1-0 Oathall! Sackville started with the ball but soon got tackled with a quick pass to Erica and a second goal scored. Sophie tackled hard but two goals from Sackville went in and that made it 2-2. Oathall scored once more and then Sackville equalised. With minutes left, both teams desperate to win, Emily scored the winner, 4-3 to Oathall! Well done everyone! Josie Milson was awarded ‘players’ player’ of the match.
Team front row L to R
Maitland Delaney, Emily Jury Carmichael (2 goals), Liv Jury Carmichael, Erica Marriott-Tremlett (2 goals) and Sophia Taylor
Middle row L to R
Lucy Bland, Anna Piper, Sophie Hammans, Molly Aplin (vice-captain) & Ella Greenslade (captain).
Back row L to R
Hannah Taylor, Josie Milson, Zoe Nye and Ashleigh Davies-Fletcher.
