Oxted School Prospectus

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“ Students have positive attitudes to learning and develop high aspirations for their futures. They enjoy learning, especially when carrying out practical, challenging tasks.�

OFSTED March 2013

WELCOME Welcome to Oxted School. Established in 1929 with 22 students, the School today has nearly 2,000 students; making it one of the country’s largest secondary schools.

Our size allows us to provide a very broad curriculum and an extensive range of opportunities for our students. However, we work very hard to make a large school ‘feel’ small and ensure our students have a clear sense of belonging.

Consequently, we believe that students get the best of both worlds: all the diversity and opportunity a large school brings with the personalised care, guidance and support a small school offers.

Mrs N Euridge, Headteacher

As a comprehensive school committed to providing opportunities for all, we set ambitious and challenging targets for all students and work together with them and their parents to meet, or exceed them.

Our staff employ a range of teaching styles to challenge students, encourage independence and develop the broader skillset they will need in life.

However, a young person’s time in the classroom provides only a part of what they learn at school and we are committed to ensuring that students benefit from a huge variety of exciting, enrichment experiences.

Oxted School is integrated into the town and local Tandridge area, with many students volunteering their time and skills to help local organisations.

Our strong School community is underpinned by our five Houses and also the Sixth Form, which plays a vital role in leading the School and supporting younger students. We are particularly proud of the support we offer to our students, allowing them to grow into confident role models.

Since September 2013 Oxted School has benefitted from working closely with The Howard Partnership Trust (THPT), a small Surrey based Multi-Academy chain. From September 2015, this relationship was formalised when Oxted School Governors decided to join THPT. This innovation in high quality partnership work has already enabled us to accelerate our school improvement journey and realise our aims for the young people we serve:

Aim High, Seize Opportunities and Work Together for Success

Oxted School

Working Together For Excellence

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The Best From

Everyone We have a strong School community created by our five Houses; Detillens, Foyles, Grants, Stocketts and Tenchleys. Our dedicated pastoral teams are responsible for the wellbeing and care of students.

Each team is supported by committed tutors and support staff who work with students on a daily basis, providing the support and guidance needed to develop healthy, happy students who are equipped to succeed in all aspects of school and their life outside.

We place great importance on students’ academic progress which is carefully monitored by class teachers, Form Tutors and year Progress Leaders. A tutor will mentor the students in their form over all of their subjects and work with parents to ensure each student has the best opportunities to succeed. This pastoral structure underpins our intervention programme, which ensures students are constantly challenged and supported so that they can make continuous improvement across all their subjects.

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“ The school’s emphasis on equality of opportunity is demonstrated well by the care it takes to make sure that students make good progress.”

Year 11 Parent

Oxted School

Working Together For Excellence

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High

Aspirations The first thing students are told when they arrive at Oxted School is to Aim High – we believe that high aspirations are one of the key components for success.

As a comprehensive school, we know that the challenges we set our students need to be personalised, whether in the classroom or in the enrichment opportunities that we offer. We do this by setting demanding academic targets for all students and then working collaboratively with them and their families to ensure these targets are either met or exceeded. We work hard to ensure students are guided towards the opportunities which will enable them to achieve to the best of their ability.

From the moment a student enters Oxted School, he or she is encouraged to think independently, engage in teamwork and ask questions when faced with a problem. An Oxted student does not ‘give up’ when faced with a challenge but instead embraces it.

Creativity, resourcefulness and resilience are keys to success in the world we live in today and we expect all our students to achieve – not because we tell them what to think, but because we teach them how to think.

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“Teachers take an interest in your views and encourage participation and questions. Modern resources encourage us to work independently but teachers offer support as well.�

Year 11 Student

Oxted School

Working Together For Excellence

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A Supportive

Community The greatest positive influence on our student community is the rest of our student body. That is why we encourage mixed-age activities across the School.

We have a strong and well established peer-mentoring programme led by senior students, and many of our Sixth Formers take on roles to support their House or within subject areas to encourage younger students and assist them in their learning.

Students at Oxted are always encouraged to express their views. Our School Council discusses and shapes the future of the School and students are regularly asked for their input on our School Improvement Priorities. All members of the School community are committed to ensuring that we provide the best opportunities possible. We know that success is not down to one individual, that it is a team effort, and that as a team:

We are Working Together for Success

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“ I’m so pleased with Oxted School's commitment and great support.

I wish my school had been like that!”

Year 11 Parent

Oxted School

Working Together For Excellence

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“ Teachers establish a positive atmosphere for learning in lessons and students are challenged to do their best.�

OFSTED March 2013

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The Best

Facilities The facilities on offer at Oxted School are second to none. As the School has grown, we have been able to create dedicated facilities which are well suited to the learning of each subject.

Our buildings housing English, Science, Maths, Languages, Art, Design Technology and Creative Arts facilities have been purpose-built. In addition, many areas of the School are specialist hubs; the Music department has practice rooms and specialist classrooms, each big enough to rehearse large ensembles, while Dance students have use of a large and airy dance studio with a sprung floor.

Extensive ICT facilities include 12 dedicated teaching rooms equipped with a mix of Windows PCs and Apple Macs, featuring the latest software for video editing and computer programming, in addition to subject-specific specialist software. For sport and PE we have extensive fields, an all-weather pitch, nine hard tennis courts, a high-quality sports hall and a swimming pool, all on site.

These resources enable our students to excel in all aspects of School life. Accepting nothing less than students’ best efforts, we utilise these facilities to ensure students are able to work efficiently, safely and innovatively in order to produce outstanding performances and results.

Oxted School

Working Together For Excellence

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A Bespoke

Curriculum The world is changing constantly and young people today need a curriculum that will prepare them effectively for life beyond Oxted.

We are very proud to offer our extensive, broad curriculum designed to develop a students’ understanding and insights into a wide range of subjects.

All staff at the School are committed to providing a dynamic curriculum based on the skills and knowledge our students will need when they leave the School as young adults. Whether they choose to go on to higher education or directly into training or employment, we have a range of curriculum pathways that will prepare students for Sixth Form and beyond.

All students follow our broad and engaging curriculum when they join the School. When they make their option choices during Year 9, they are guided onto learning pathways that have been carefully designed to respond to students’ needs and abilities, ensuring that each individual has the best chance of success.

Whatever choices they make, we are dedicated to ensuring that students choose subjects they both enjoy and will succeed in.

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“ Teachers at Oxted are always looking out for students and how they can help them in their work.”

Year 9 Student

Oxted School

Working Together For Excellence

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“ Opportunities in lunchtime and after-school activities give pupils the chance to develop musical, dramatic, scientific and sporting skills.

Activities such as The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme help pupils to develop self-confidence, resilience and leadership skills.�

OFSTED March 2013

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Fantastic Life

Experiences Whilst academic success is vital, we believe success is about more, so we encourage students to seize opportunities beyond the classroom.

Our students take part in regular Inter-House competitions in PE, Science, Music, Maths and other subject areas. We aim for every student to go on our Year 8 camp, as it develops many of the team-building and leadership skills required both in School and life beyond. The majority of our students also undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award and many go on to complete international voluntary expeditions, with recent destinations including Borneo, India, Uganda, Costa Rica and Indonesia. Other opportunities include day visits, field trips, and collaborative workshops with our feeder primary schools. Residential trip opportunities include our annual ski trip, language exchanges, food and culture expeditions and visits to places of historical interest.

There is something for everyone at Oxted School. Knowing that our most successful students are those who engage fully with school life, we encourage all students to take advantage of the fantastic opportunities on offer.

For further details of the activities on offer, please see our website.

We offer an extensive range of enrichment activities. Our Drama department produces an annual School show or musical, which invariably involves a cast of over 100. Our Music department boasts a full orchestra, several choirs and bands, as well as a number of smaller, specialist groups.

The PE department runs a wide range of sports clubs at lunch time and after school and we take our thriving sports teams to neighbouring schools for competitive fixtures. Many of our students compete at county level and even at a national level.

Oxted School

Working Together For Excellence

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Bluehouse Lane, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0AB Tel: 01883 712425 Fax: 01883 723973 Email: frontdesk@oxtedschool.co.uk www.oxtedschool.org

Part of THPT

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