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.
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- Dorset YHA Swanage Youth Hostel
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- Lulworth Cove
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- Walking down slumped steps to the beach
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- Lunch at Durdle Door
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- Lesson on coastal processes and landforms
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- Gathering evidence of tourist activity
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- Visitor survey in progress
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.”
Well, we all made it home safely after our fun-filled, musical, Spanish experience! Sorry that we weren’t able to post much whilst we were away but here are a few photographic memories of our trip. Thanks to Emma, Gemma, Miss Driscoll and Mrs Godbolt for their photographs.
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- We’ve arrived!
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- Look we’re famous!
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- Rehearsing at the hotel
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- Spanish lessons with Mr Wright
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- Plaza Major Panorama
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- Santillana performance
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- Chocolate, donuts and ‘Bison con Bison’
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- “Protest’ Live in Santander
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- Chameleon – Herbie Hancock
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- The full line up in Santander
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- We learnt how to cook (& eat) Paella.
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- We did a risk assessment – honest!
UPDATE! See more photos in our Flickr gallery here
Year 7 students participated in 8 different activities during their weekend stay at Windmill Hill.
Every student was given the opportunity to test their nerve in the challenging tasks on offer.
Good team work and encouragement together, with lots of fun, ensured that all students achieved things that they didn’t think possible.
- Zip Wire
- Giant Swing
- BMX
- Archery
- Trapeze
- Climbing
Students in Year 7 have had a fantastic weekend of adventurous outdoor activities at Windmill Hill in East Sussex. If you want to see how they got on check out their Windmill Hill blog.
86 Students and 14 adult volunteers have just completed a weekend of hiking & camping on the South Downs and Ashdown Forest in preparation for the Duke Of Edinburgh Bronze Award Expedition taking place later this year. Apart from a small amount of rain, the weather held out, and aside from being a bit footsore and tired everyone survived the experience !
Oathall students at the Heathfield Show with Rusty 10!
Oathall students were thrilled when their four-year-old Ayrshire dairy cow Oathall Rusty 10 was judged to be Ayrshire champion and reserve dairy champion at the recent Heathfield show, for the second year in succession. Rusty won three trophies including:
- The Dinah Bridge Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the champion Ayrshire
- The Blockfield Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best recorded heifer or cow
- The Agrifactors Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the Reserve Dairy Champion.
- Oathall students also showed the best Ayrshire dairy calf for Mr and Mrs Dr Heasman, winning the Ayrshire cattle club Perpetual Tankard.
They are now looking forward to the South of England show when they will be displaying their cattle and pigs together with a show garden.
Successful winners of Bronze and Silver D of E Awards and their families joined together on Wednesday evening to celebrate their achievements at the annual Award Presentation Evening . Students were congratulated on their achievements and presented with their award by Mrs Elizabeth Bennet DL, Chairman of West Sussex County Committee Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Over 50 students successfully completed their Bronze award with a further 19 students completing their Silver Award and returning to Oathall to collect their certificates.
Bronze & Silver Award Winners
Oathall’s centre, coordinated by Mr Trevor Dore and his dedicated team of adult volunteers, proudly boasts a conversion rate higher than both the county and the national average for students completing this award.
This annual show is a real highlight in our calendar
It was a wet and windy South of England Show in Ardingly this year but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the 35 Oathall students who helped out each day.
Supported by staff and six ex-students the group from Oathall were involved in showing and stewarding and also led the famous cattle parade each day.
We brought home a number of rosettes, winning the best pair of pigs out of ten pairs on display and winning the best pair of calves too. Our students showed champion commercial pigs on behalf of Andrew Strong of Field Place Farm and the champion and reserve champion Lleyn Sheep on behalf of Peter Sutton of Rout Farm.
The show was rounded off nicely with not only a sunny day but with Oathall Farm students receiving the Richard Dean Trophy for tidiest cattle lines and best turned out cattle.
Well done everyone!
