Alasdair MacPherson, academic head of sixth form at d'Overbroeck's College, looks back on a successful year — and forward to the next...
This summer's A-Level results were outstanding. With 62 per cent of all our students’ A-Level entries receiving the top grade and 42 students — more than a third — gaining three or more As, it was a record year. But results were not the only area in which our students excelled.
We have seen George Meagher selected as one of just 100, nationwide, to represent the UK in Brazil as a Prime Minister's Global Fellow, and Timur Tankayev winning one of three International Boarder of the Year awards.
Marina Lawson-Smith has competed for the country in international eventing; Gidon Fineman has written music for a national touring show.
We have witnessed onstage excellence in the year's major drama performance, Guys and Dolls (pictured) played out in style at Keble College's excellent O'Reilly Theatre, and a vibrant carnival of visual art in hosting and sponsorship the Oxford Artweeks festival.
Our exhibition featured outstanding work not only by students, but also by parents, teachers and local artists — as well as showcasing the winners of an art competition we ran for local primary schools.
Outside the classroom, then, our students are active, whether as sportspeople or dancers, photographers or budding entrepreneurs. And this kind of breadth and diversity is a key feature of the sixth form at d'Overbroeck's.
Which was one reason behind our decision to pioneer the new AQA Baccalaureate qualification (AQA Bacc for short). An addition to (and expansion of) standard A-Levels, it not only encourages and rewards extra-curricular achievement, it also involves students carrying out an independent research project on a subject of their choice, and taking an additional AS-Lvel in critical thinking.
Our experience of the AQA Bacc this year has been extremely positive and feedback from students has been strong. For the coming year, we've seen a 200 per cent increase in demand: over a quarter of our new lower sixth have chosen the AQA Bacc.
2008-9 also saw the arrival of our first ever environmental scholars, Danielle Greenspan and Timea Suli, and the formation of an environmental action group, whose members have organised fundraising initiatives, weekly 'green tip' e-mails and environmental collaboration with other Oxfordshire schools.
So that was last year. What about 2009-10?
Our new lower sixth have only been with us for a matter of days, and already they are settling in and making the place their own. The college is abuzz once again with energy and activity.
This year, we are planning to pack even more trips and events into the sixth form schedule. History students will be delving into Soviet history at first hand on a visit to Russia; while those studying business are off to France.
Our burgeoning activities programme has expanded yet further, now offering a range of over 30 options — from yoga to our PPE society; ladies' football to actor coaching.
On the subject of drama, we are excited at the prospect of furthering our new partnership with Creation Theatre, who are helping us run acting workshops and secure work experience for budding thespians.
Creation is just one of several Oxford organisations with whom we continue to work closely in order to offer the best possible range of opportunities and expertise to our students — whether it is our sportspeople making the most of Oxford Brookes' excellent facilities, or our musicians playing at St Hilda's College's Jacqueline du Pre Music Building — or the popular summer creativity courses we run for younger children at our Leckford Place, with the help of local artists and jazz musicians.
As the autumn term begins we have much to look forward to.
With our highest ever student numbers, and a busy and exciting agenda inside and outside the classroom, it looks set to be another great year.
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