www.cokethorpe.org.uk

HMC and IAPS Indepenent Day School for 660 girls and boys

aged 4-18 near Witney, Oxfordshire

January 2015

Brought to you by the Oxfordshire Guardian

Start your degree in 2015 with Swindon College.

SwindonCollege

Degrees, closer than you think!

Courses include: Graphic Design, Media, Photography, Fashion, Computing, Business, Early Years, Health & Care,Teaching, Engineering, Construction and much more.

Contact us TODAY to discuss your future...

Email: headmissions@swindon.ac.uk Tel: (01793) 491591 Visit: www.swindon.ac.uk

S w i n d o n C o l l e g e , N o r t h S t a r A v e n u e , S w i n d o n W i l t s h i r e , S N 2 1 D Y

The Henry Box School warmly invites prospective students and their families to attend its Sixth Form Open Evening on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, from 6pm to 8pm, to learn more about the range of opportunities available.

The Henry Box School continues to be a centre of educational excellence, serving the local com-munity and attracting students from many different schools across Oxfordshire. Students in The Henry Box School Sixth Form are part of a vibrant and hard-working community who consistently achieve outstanding A-level results and develop key skills such as leadership and teamwork. The large majority of the school’s Sixth Form students go on to study at university, including Russell Group

universities and Oxbridge, and the school is proud of its academic success. With very high academic standards, quality care, guidance and support, as well as the opportunity to take part in a wide range of extracurricular and sporting activities, there are a number of reasons why so many students choose to join The Henry Box School Sixth Form.

Cokethorpe School is set in over 150 acres of beautiful Oxfordshire parkland, yet the idyllic grounds provide more than just a pretty back-drop. Taking education beyond the classroom is something that runs throughout the heart of the whole school.

Cokethorpe Junior School is no exception, and the younger children eagerly take part in the Pre-Prep Adventurers programme that uses an area of the school’s own woodland, specifi cally developed for outdoor learning. It is all too easy with the modern day curriculum for learning to be very prescriptive and classroom based. The Adventurers programme allows the children to take risks and explore the outdoors by completing

challenging and exciting activities that are directly related to the topic-based curriculum.

It is not just about mud pies and campfi res (although these are always fun). The children use outdoor learning to develop fundamental subject skills including mathematics and science, often without even knowing it.

Open evening this month for sixth form candidates

New beginningsJulian Richings - Associate Director01235 516926 / 07788 211644julian@taylornewspapers.co.uk

AdvertisingChristine King - Education Development Manager01235 516937 / 07436 539778christine@taylornewspapers.co.uk

EditorialAdam Flinn - Education Editor01235 516933adam@taylornewspapers.co.uk

Published by Taylor Newspapers Ltd, Newspaper House, 4A Hawksworth, Didcot, Oxfordshire

OX11 7HR.

Telephone 01235 511700 (Head Offi ce). Printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge, Milton,

Cambridge CB24 6PP

W J Hemmingsley MA - Headteacher

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www.henrybox.oxon.sch.uk

The Henry Box SchoolFounded 1660

Cokethorpe SchoolCokethorpe School, Witney, Oxon01993 703 921www.cokethorpe.org.uk admin@cokethorpe.org

The Henry Box School The Henry Box School, Oxfordshire01993 703 955www.henrybox.oxon.sch.ukoffi ce.4050@henrybox.oxon.sch.uk

Welcome to the Oxfordshire Guardian’s brand new education supplement, a monthly insert included in your free

newspaper packed with school-related information from across the county.

This new feature has been designed to give schools, colleges and nurseries across Oxfordshire and beyond a platform to promote themselves to parents looking at the education offering in the area.

There are hundreds of educational institutions within the county and even more in the surround-ing area, all of which have something different to offer your children.

As a result it can sometimes prove diffi cult to decide which one is the most suitable for your child.

So to help you make the all-important choice, this new supplement will provide information about open days, available courses and news from a range of institutions over the course of the year.

And it comes after a busy year for education in Oxfordshire, with a number of initiatives and campaigns across the sector in 2014.

The annual GCSE and A-Level results were published in August, which saw many schools celebrating their best ever fi gures.

Last year also saw a number of ‘walking bus’

schemes set up in the county, including to Witney Community School, as part of the new School Travel and Road Safety (STARS) initiative.

The Oxfordshire Reading Campaign, launched by the county council in 2012 and due to end last July, was extended until January 2017 after proving popular with schoolchildren.

More than 1,200 primary school pupils took part in the campaign, leading to their reading age being raised by an average of 13 months.

It is set to be another bumper year for education in 2015, with GCSE exams in English and Maths set to be overhauled for students moving into year 10 this autumn.

The schools will also be publishing their annual results in August, with high hopes for yet another record-breaking year.

And your new education supplement will bring you all the news and updates throughout 2015, so make sure you pick up a copy.

Enjoy the read!

Adam FlinnEducation editor

Bringing education to the outdoors at Cokethorpe

Swindon College is the biggest provider of Higher Education in Swindon, with over 500 students studying on 25 courses.

These include Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Art and Design, Business, Health and Social Care, Early Years and Teacher Training.

The college’s degrees and founda-tion degrees are awarded by its university partner Oxford Brookes, allowing students to obtain their qualifi cations whilst studying in Swindon. The college also works with Edexcel, the Association of Accounting Tech-nicians and VTCT as awarding bodies.

At Swindon College, course fees are considerably lower than those you would pay at a university. Its Higher Education programmes entitle you to a tuition fee student loan, which you only start to pay back when you are earning over a specifi c fi gure per year - this fi gure currently stands at £21,000.

As well as lower fees, you could benefi t

from smaller class sizes with dedicated

tutors, allowing more individual support. All

of Swindon College’s programmes are designed with employment in

mind and link directly back to the workplace, whether you are already in employment or

through placement opportunities.In February 2014, Swindon College

was proud to announce that The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher

Education (QAA) had confi rmed the quality and standards of its

provision following a review of its Higher Education offer.

A team of QAA review-ers visited the college and judged that the academic standards, the quality and enhancement of the student learning oppor-tunities and the quality of information about learning opportunities all meet UK expecta-tions.

The review identifi ed a number of examples

of good practice. These included strong support for student progression into Higher Education and a commitment to the employability of students, including the comprehensive links the college has already developed with a range of local employers.

On successful completion of their course, all Higher Education students at Swindon College have the opportunity to don a gown and mortar board for the Graduation ceremony, with their family and friends looking on as they receive their scrolls.

Higher Education student numbers at Swindon College have increased by 8.5 per cent this year and more students are seeing the benefi ts of studying at a

local college that fi ts in with their work and family commitments. For example, Michelle (pictured) recently completed a Level 5 course in Education.

She said: “I really love the course, it is hard work and does take a lot of commitment but I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone; it’s been really enjoy-able, everybody else on the course is so friendly and I couldn’t ask for more support from tutors, they are available to email at all times. I have to plan carefully as I do work full time and have my own family but my tutors have really helped me to plan a study timetable, which works really well.

“There’s a lovely atmosphere in college, I was afraid that there may be a lot of younger learn-ers here but it’s so mixed and everybody really gets along. I have already recommended Swindon College to other people; I’ve had such a posi-tive experience here which I think is down to the support that I’ve been given and the great atmos-phere on campus.”

For more information about Higher Education courses at Swindon College or to view its Higher Education Prospectus and case studies, you can visit the college website.

Everybody on the course is so friendly“

”

Swindon CollegeSwindon College, Swindon01793 491 591www.swindon.ac.ukheadmissions@swindon.ac.uk

Why choose Swindon

College for a degree?

2014 has been an extraordinary year for Larkmead secondary school. Three aspects in particular have helped to pave the way for future success.

The exceptional academic progress, which has seen Larkmead’s results increase year on year, is proof that partnership learning is an inherent way of life for the school. Larkmead would like to thank all of its students, staff and parents for their continued support and commitment.

Larkmead has once again been awarded ArtsMark Gold for its school specialism of Visual and Performing Arts. This recognition is particularly outstanding as Larkmead is one of only two schools in Oxfordshire to achieve Gold accreditation.

Finally, the school’s superb facilities continue to be improved. A new multi-use games area is now available for both student and community use.

One Community I Individual Minds I Creating FuturesFaringdon Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 1RF

Website: www.larkmead-school.comTelephone: 01235 520141

This year Cirencester Sixth Form College celebrated a record 99.5 per cent pass rate. With an excellent 133 A*s, the option of a specialist sixth form with a strong pastoral culture is proving popular for school leavers. This year, a record number of students have chosen the Cirencester Sixth Form College. With 24 brand new classrooms and a new Sports Hall due to be completed in September 2015, the college is able to give its students an even better experience.

A pronounced trend towards traditional academic and business-related subjects has caused the marked rise in numbers, and across the extensive range of A-levels and 25 Professional Vocational programmes the college has increased recruitment.

Catering beyond the academic, the sixth form has fantastic enrichment with its many clubs and societies. The college provides the perfect sixth form ethos,

combining success and a journey to independence that students aged 16-plus want and travel from all over the region to access.

You can fi nd out for yourself by attending the col-lege’s Open Evening on Thursday, January 22 from 5pm to 8pm. All academic staff will be available for subject specifi c consultation and will be extending a very warm welcome to prospective students and their families.

Cirencester proving popularOpenEveeningThursday 22 January5 - 8pm

Making your aspirations a reality

www.cirencester.ac.uk

Cirencester Sixth Form College

�Outstanding Sixth Form Education�A Level �Vocational�Apprenticeships�University Level�Business & Professional Courses�Teacher Training

Don’t forget we also offer

University Level courses!

Cirencester Sixth Form College, Gloucestershire01285 640 994www.cirencester.ac.ukstudent.journeyteam@cirencester.ac.uk

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The sixth form college for South Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley, The Henley College attracts students from more than 100 schools across

Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, thanks to its reputation, the quality of its courses and excellent transport links. With over 60 high-achieving A-level and vocational diploma courses, apprenticeships and other opportunities, students are guided towards choosing the route that is right for them, taking into account their individual needs, aspirations and potential.

The college received a strong OFSTED report which praised its emphasis on student success, very strong examination results, highly effective student support and an outstanding range of enrichment activities. Supporting students to succeed is something all staff are fi rmly committed to and incredibly passionate about. Personal tutors and a caring, professional student services team offer guidance and help with all aspects of

college life. There is specialist support for students with identifi ed learning support needs or a disability, or those who feel they are experiencing any problems with their studies. Facilities include a dedicated library, student learning centres and a state-of-the-art sports hall.

Prospective students and their families can visit the college’s Information Event on February 3, 2015 from 6pm to 8.30pm. College tours take place on Tuesday mornings during February, March and April. You can also visit the college’s website for further details.

How about a paid job where you learn a trade that will always stay with you? Ace Training is Oxford-shire’s only specialist training centre in Brickwork, Site Carpentry and Bench Joinery, and the school wants new students to fi ll its 20-plus apprenticeship vacancies, plus introductory and full-time courses, all with immediate starts in January 2015.

Demand for skilled construction workers is as high as ever, and the training centre has new employers coming to it regularly looking to recruit young people. Unlike other providers, Ace Training has a roll-on/roll-off training programme, meaning you can start at any time, and the centre does not have any specifi c entry qualifi cation requirements. Interested students can email Ace Training with their CV and contact details, or give the centre a call to arrange an appointment.

• ACE students and Tutor after replacing a set of steps at a charity shop in Witney as part of our ‘Community Works’ programme. Pictured with shop staff.

The Henley CollegeThe Henley College, Oxfordshire01491 579 988www.henleycol.ac.ukinfo@henleycol.ac.uk

Ace TrainingAce Training, Kidlington, Oxfordshire01865 370 040www.a-c-e-training.cominfo@acetraining.co.uk

An outstanding sixth form college for all

Vacancies at county’s brickwork training site

Oxford University masterclasses put Burford’s musicians ahead

Burford School received its fi rst Ofsted Inspec-tion as an Academy this term and was judged to be ‘Outstanding’ for both Leadership and

Management, as well as for Behaviour and Safety of Pupils. The inspectors found the students were ‘hungry to learn and ambitious to do very well’, resulting in ‘high standards, including in English and Mathematics’. They described the achievement of the most able students as ‘very strong in both Key Stages 3 and 4’, reinforcing the outstanding results that were achieved this summer at GCSE.

The Sixth Form too, which offers 25 A-level courses, received equally high praise with ‘consist-ently good teaching’, ensuring that students at Key Stage 5 also ‘reach standards well above the national average’. This year the majority of students were able to take up a place at their fi rst choice university having achieved top grades in their subjects.

This is a school where ‘students take pride in their work’ and ‘as a result the standards of pres-entation are high’. Students are respectful of those who do well and support others’ successes. With ‘equal opportunities to succeed’ and a ‘vast range of thriving extra-curricular activities, including high-quality opportunities in sport, music, drama, art and travel’, Burford is maintaining its deservedly high reputation to ‘Unlock potential’ and ‘Inspire futures’.

The dream starts hereHow often can you boast a real American Foot-baller in your school? This was the case for the students at Burford who were privileged to have John Smith, a former New England Patriots player, visit them to present the prizes at the school’s 443rd Annual Charter Day. A former deputy Head Boy, John is just one of a number of great sportsmen who began their sporting careers at Burford - and today the next generation are on the up.

Life skills day a huge successWith so much store set by exams results these days, it’s easy to lose sight of the wider range of skills that take youngsters from student to employee, so when Burford School invited a range of employers to interview every student in Year 11 the year group jumped at the chance. All the students will soon be facing interviews for entry to the Sixth Form, places at college, jobs or apprenticeships so it was the perfect way to gain some useful pointers.

“The employers thought it was a great idea,” said Kathy Haig, the headteacher. “All of them were more than willing to take part in the day.” Every student put together a CV and ‘applied’ for a prospective job. Following the interview they received individual feedback and went away with some clear ideas on how to do even better when they face an interview for real.

“It was a great success,” said Mrs Haig, “and is defi nitely set to be a regular event in our calendar.”

Burford School’s musicians are returning from a well-earned rest over Christmas following an extensive range of musical events last term. The 14 students are part of the Burford Institute of Music, a newly established elite musicians’ programme in which they are invited to attend masterclasses at St Anne’s College, in Oxford. These regular sessions, which take place throughout the year, are extending their knowledge, understanding and experience of music alongside current undergraduates.

Having completed a varied series of musical events before Christmas, including the X Factor-style singing competition Star for a Night, an evening of All that Jazz and Miscellany, a compilation

of Christmas music and readings, students’ sights are now fi rmly fi xed on their next project - the Broadway musical, Sunshine on Leith.

This production, like its predecessors, is set to be a huge success and enthusiasm is already running high. Performances will take place every evening at 7.30pm from March 24 to 28, with an extra matinee performance at 2.30pm on the Saturday.

It looks like it’s going to be a busy term.

Burford SchoolBurford School, Oxfordshire01993 823303www.burford.oxon.sch.ukadmin.4040@burford.oxon.sch.uk

Burford School thriving under its outstanding leadership

Cheltenham Road, Burford, Oxon OX18 4PL01993 823303 email: admin.4040@burford.oxon.sch.uk www.burford.oxon.sch.uk

Burford SchoolFounded 1571

An outstanding day and boarding school for students aged 11-18

‘Students are hungry to learn and ambitious to do very well.’

‘The achievement of the most able students is very strong in both Key Stages 3 and 4.’

‘By the end of Year 13 students reach standards that are well above the national average.’

Unlocking potential | Inspiring futures

Ofsted October 2014