Omnia Brochure

From September 2023, Saturday mornings will be transformed for our First and Second Formers.

We are excited to introduce Omnia, our new enrichment programme which has been carefully crafted by our teachers to benefit our youngest pupils in both their academic progression and their wider development as they move up through Oundle. From encouraging exploration to fostering climate champions and critical thinkers, pupils will be presented with a myriad of activities to whet every appetite. Omnia will be delivered on Saturday mornings throughout the two years, supplementing our current academic and cocurricular provision and offering the perfect stepping stone towards Third Form where all pupils have Saturday morning academic lessons.

"OMNIA REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT OUR YOUNGEST PUPILS DEVELOP A WIDE RANGE OF SKILLS AND CHARACTER TRAITS BEYOND THE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM."

EMMA BYATT, OMNIA CREATOR

SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE FIELD OF WORK EACH BOY OR GIRL MAY FIND HIS OWN PART, AND SO TAKE PART IN THE CREATIVE LIFE, AND GROW BY DOING IT, AND BE ‘BITTEN’ WITH THE DESIRE TO DO, AND GAIN IN PURPOSE, IN DETERMINATION, IN SELF-DETERMINATION, IN CONFIDENCE AND IN OUTLOOK.”

Frederick William Sanderson, Headmaster of Oundle School

– 1922, The Service of Schools,

1892

1920

FIRST FORMERS

Omnia is all about enabling our youngest pupils not only to pursue current passions but to develop new interests, igniting sparks and opening up new opportunities. First Formers will benefit from a bespoke programme over the first four weeks to support their induction process. The emphasis will be on fun and team building to foster familiarity with each other, staff and the environment of Oundle. This will be followed by a carousel of activities in small groups, with each four-week rotation focusing on a particular skill-set or character trait.

SECOND FORMERS

Second Formers will rotate through four key themes across four weeks: Global Citizens, Team Players, Critical Thinkers and Climate Champions. Either side of Christmas, there will be a pause on the main carousel, with the pupils changing groups, completing a First Aid course and working towards the InterQuarter competition.

WHERE AND WHEN?

Omnia will consist of two 90 minute sessions on a Saturday morning, with a half hour break in between. Pupils from both our day House and boarding House will take part together in a team-based structure. Oundle specialist teachers will lead the sessions, with additional expertise drawn in from further afield when required. Most sessions take place within Oundle, but we will also be making the most of the inspiring places on our doorstep to add diversity to the programme.

Session 1: 08.45 - 10.15

Session 2: 10.45 - 12.15

Lunch is then provided for all, followed by an optional sports session for both year groups in the early afternoon.

One Saturday per term will be devoted to a whole year group competitive event and social occasion, to which parents will be invited. In keeping with our aim to create a softer transition to Oundle at 11+, there will be a degree of flexibililty around Saturday provision for those in First Form who might need a little more time to adjust.

A FOCUS ON CHARACTER TRAITS

INTELLECTUAL

Necessary for discernment, right action and the pursuit of knowledge, truth and understanding.

Traits: Critical Thinking, Curiosity, Resourcefulness.

MORAL

Necessary for acting well in situations that require an ethical response.

Traits: Compassion, Courage, Respect.

Necessary for engaged and responsible citizenship, contributing to the common good.

Traits: Citizenship, Responsibility, Volunteering

PERFORMANCE

Necessary for enabling the intellectual, moral and civic virtues.

Traits: Teamwork , Resilience, Leadership

THE FOUR PILLARS OF CHARACTER EDUCATION, EACH SEEKING TO DEVELOP DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER TRAITS, UNDERPIN EACH ROTATION.

FIRST FORM

FIND A FULL GLOSSARY OF ACTIVITIES ON PAGE 12

INDUCTION

The first few weeks at a new school are full of new faces, new names and new information. In order to support this, we have created a bespoke set of activities during the first half of the Michaelmas Term to complement the existing induction programme. The aim will be further to familiarise the pupils with the environment of Oundle and create opportunities for new friendships to be formed. The final session will be a whole year group trip to provide a shared experience.

TEAM BUILDING

Compassion, Respect, Citizenship and Teamwork.

WINTER

This theme will be undertaken by the whole year group during the winter months. The sessions will be based around building confidence to perform in a supportive environment, achieved through the three media of poetry, public speaking and singing. The latter of these will take place in Quarters alongside the Second Form, in preparation for the Inter-Quarter Singing competition in the Lent Term. Each choir will be co-ordinated by a Sixth Form Music Scholar.

WEEK 1

Critical thinking, Respect, Citizenship, Courage, Teamwork, Resourcefulness, Volunteering, Compassion.

CODEBREAKERS

What do a polyglot and a robot have in common? They both understand how to manipulate the mechanics of language to achieve an objective, whether that be ordering two coffees in Croatian or ordering wooden blocks according to their colour. Pupils will have sessions in both linguistics and robotics to build their skills of logic and problem solving.

WEEK

SESSION 1

Critical thinking, Curiosity, Teamwork, Respect.

YOUNG EXPLORERS

Exploration can be both theoretical and practical. The main activity in this theme will combine both while linking to Science teaching across the curriculum, with pupils tasked to investigate how they would travel to Mars, and what it would take to survive there should the journey be successful. The practical element will come in the construction and launch of a prototype rocket, as well as the development of a solar-powered oven. Running concurrently to this project will be instructor-led sessions in Cycling and Climbing.

SESSION

SESSION

ROBOTICS LINGUISTICS CLIMBING

Courage, Responsibility, Resilience, Compassion, Leadership, Teamwork, Critical thinking, Curiosity, Resourcefulness

PUPILS WILL LAUNCH A ROCKET TO MARS... HOPEFULLY!

FARM TO FORK

A rising human population is placing unprecedented strain on Earth’s available land. Cities are growing, reducing the space available for agriculture, while farmers are under pressure to meet increasing stringent environmental targets. In this climate, it is crucial that the pupils are educated in the importance of provenance and sourcing so that they are able to make their own informed choices. Pupils will spend two mornings at a local farm where they will learn about crop plants and livestock before spending two mornings at a Cookery School where the recipes will all be based around locally sourced ingredients.

Curiosity, Resourcefulness, Respect, Citizenship.

COOKERY SCHOOL FARM VISIT

SECOND FORM

FIND A FULL GLOSSARY OF ACTIVITIES

ON PAGE 14

GLOBAL CITIZENS

The world is becoming increasingly globalised and this theme is designed to broaden pupils' knowledge of different societies. There will be sessions with the MFL department to look at different cultures, including language as well as historical context and famous figures. This will be complemented by two mornings at a Cookery School where they will have the opportunity to try their hand at producing the local specialities. Intertwined through the theme will be cycling sessions focussing on how to be a considerate road user; a key aspect of any society.

Curiosity, Resourcefulness, Citizenship, Critical thinking, Respect, Courage, Responsibility, Resilience.

WINTER

This theme will be completed by the whole year group during the winter months. Every pupil will complete a total of six hours of First Aid training, developing age-appropriate skills. Pupils will also start rehearsing for the Inter-Quarter Singing competition, with each Quarter forming a choir of combined First and Second Form, under the guidance of a Sixth Form Music Scholar.

Compassion, Resourcefulness, Citizenship, Responsibility, Teamwork, Critical thinking, Respect.

TEAM PLAYERS

The combined action of a group to achieve a common goal is one of the most powerful lessons to be learnt. In these formative activities, pupils will learn to recognise their own strengths and weaknesses as well as how to get the best out of their peers. They will be stretched on the climbing wall and learn to manoeuver a kayak. With their feet back on the ground, they will rotate through the key backstage skills at the Stahl Theatre, with sessions led by specialist technicians.

WEEK 1 WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

SESSION 1

SESSION 2

KAYAKING CLIMBING

Compassion, Courage, Resilience, Leadership, Teamwork, Curiosity, Resourcefulness.

STAHL BACKSTAGE

CRITICAL THINKERS

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. In a digital world, we are all subjected to a constant stream of information. The activities running throughout this theme will focus on the persuasive power of advertising, with pupils creating their own campaign to sell a product. In other sessions they will learn how to approach a cryptic crossword and attempt to break out of an escape room.

WEEK

Critical thinking, Resourcefulness, Leadership, Teamwork, Courage, Respect, Resilience, Curiosity.

CLIMATE CHAMPIONS

The influence of humans on our planet runs widely and deeply. Small changes can, however, make a significant difference and pupils will be challenged to give a new lease of life to unwanted items. They will learn about textiles, reinventing items of clothes that are too small, too broken or too out of fashion. In the Patrick Engineering Centre, they will upcycle an item of ‘junk’ and they will explore the potential of artificial intelligence to meet the UN sustainable development goals.

Critical thinking, resourcefulness, citizenship, responsibility, curiosity, teamwork

PUPILS WILL LEARN HOW THEIR ACTIONS CAN IMPACT OUR PLANET

COMMAND TASK PUZZLERS COMMAND TASK ESCAPE ROOM

05 QUARTERS AND COMPETITIONS

Omnia is part of our broader commitment to bring pupils across our two youngest year groups closer together, regardless of whether they board in The Berrystead or are day pupils in Scott House.

As well as their House, all First and Second Formers will belong to a Quarter for certain competitive events, including those in Omnia. Using constellations as our inspiration, each Quarter will be named after a grouping of stars which can be seen from the northern hemisphere. Within the Omnia programme will be a termly competitive event and social occasion for both year groups, to which parents will be invited.

Working with our Head of Charities, pupils will design, create and run stalls in support of their chosen charity. From acting out human fruit machines or opting for the ever-popular ‘soak the teacher’, pupils’ ingenuity, leadership and creativity will be put to the test for a good cause.

LENT TERM: OMNIA ON STAGE

Pupils will take to the stage in all manner of guises, from public speaking and debating to Inter-Quarter singing. The event will dovetail with the annual Second Form Shakespeare Day while also providing a fabulous opening act for Senior House Singing on Sunday.

SUMMER TERM: SPORTS DAY

The last Saturday of the first half of term is the perfect opportunity for a bespoke Inter-Quarter Sports Day, with pupils competing across a wide range of events.

MICHAELMAS TERM: JUNIOR CHARITIES FAIR

GLOSSARY: FIRST FORM ACTIVITIES

IT ISSUES

A troubleshooting session for pupils after using their surfaces for a couple of weeks. A chance to introduce some more advanced skills if pupils are ready.

INTRO TO HEALTH CENTRE AND EWT

Pupils will meet the school nurses and members of the Emotional and Wellbeing Team (EWT).

CHAPLAINS

A session in the School Chaplaincy.

GETTING TO KNOW OUNDLE

A chance to play games to familiarise the pupils with their teachers and the geography of Oundle.

SCAVENGER HUNT

Pupils will have to work together and use their ingenuity to work out where various objects are located around Oundle.

TEAM BUILDING

A series of carefully designed challenges which will create situations requiring communication, leadership and teamwork.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Pupils will be guided through the skills required for successful public speaking. They will learn to declaim a poem as well as write their own speech.

MUSIC

Dedicated time for the Quarters to rehearse their entries for Inter-Quarter Singing.

CRAFTS

Pupils will develop their creativity by making various items that can will be donated as part of the Community Action programme, eg donating Christmas decorations.

LINGUISTICS

Led by the MFL department, pupils will learn how different languages are constructed and the common threads that connect them.

ROBOTICS

An opportunity for pupils to get hands on with some Vex robots and learn the foundations of coding.

CLIMBING

Led by an external climbing coach. Pupils will learn how to tie into a harness and safely belay each other.

CYCLING

Led by an external cycling coach. Pupils will learn how to handle a bicycle and, when ready, progress to riding safely on a road.

MISSION TO MARS MISSION TO MARS

Led by the DET department, pupils will construct and fire a rocket before considering what might be needed to survive if they did manage to reach Mars.

COOKING

Pupils will learn to cook both savoury and sweet dishes as part of the theme of Farm to Fork.

FARM VISIT

A trip to a local farm. The first session focuses on crop plants and the importance of seasonal vegetables. The second session looks at livestock and flour.

07

GLOSSARY: SECOND FORM ACTIVITIES

FIRST AID

The sessions will be led by the Nurses from the Health centre and focus on age-appropriate First Aid skills such as bleeding, CPR and choking/head injuries.

MUSIC

Dedicated time for the Quarters to rehearse their entries for Inter-Quarter Singing.

DEBATING

Pupils will learn how to take part in a balloon debate.

COOKING

Pupils will learn to cook international dishes as part of the theme of Global Citizens.

CYCLING

Led by an external cycling coach. Pupils will learn how to handle a bicycle and, when ready, progress to riding safely on a road.

MFL

Led by the MFL department, with sessions exploring cultures and history as well as langauge.

CLIMBING

Led by an external climbing coach. Pupils will learn how to tie into a harness and safely belay each other.

STAHL BACKSTAGE

Each session will focus on one of the main Backstage areas: set design, lighting, sound and stage managaement.

KAYAKING

Led by an external kayaking coach. Pupils will learn how to handle a kayak, as well as how to be safe on the River Nene.

ESCAPE ROOM

A trip to a local escape room which will require logical thinking and teamwork.

MISSION TO MARS PUZZLERS

Pupils will need to think on their feet to tackle a series of challenging puzzles.

MARKETING TASK

Pupils will explore how advertising can be used to manipulate our thinking and will then design their own marketing campaign before delivering a final pitch.

COMMAND TASKS

A mainstay of military leadership, Command Tasks present a problem that must be tackled as a team.

AI CHALLENGE

Pupils will explore how technology can be used to reduce energy consumption.

UPCYCLING

Based in the Patrick Engineering Centre, pupils will take an item of scrap/clothing and give it a new lease of life.

TRASHION

Pupils will learn about textiles, reinventing items of clothes that are too small, too broken or too out of fashion.