St. Olave's Prospectus

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G R A M M A R

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B Y ROYA L C H A RT E R O F Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I , 1 5 7 1

We look forward to welcoming you to...

“One of the finest schools in the country and a testament to the grammar school system. A superb, inspirational place.”

Good Schools’ Guide

Her Majesty The Queen talking to St. Olave’s choristers at The Queen’s Chapel of The Savoy

(Image by kind permission of the Duchy of Lancaster)

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St. Olave’s Grammar School is a supportive community where excellence is both celebrated and sought after. ere is a broad focus on scholarship and cultural enrichment, underpinned by clear personal values.

Our philosophy is that when young people feel happy and secure then success will follow. We combine the best traditions of English education with a dynamic, forward-looking approach. We hope to fire our students’ imaginations, challenging them to chase their dreams and aim for the very top.

We admit boys, as well as girls in the 6th Form, to a school that is widely regarded as one of the nation’s finest. is prospectus will give you a flavour of life at St. Olave’s but to find out more please visit us, look around the campus and talk to students and staff. You will be assured of a warm welcome and I shall be happy to answer any of your questions.

Aydin Önaç Headmaster

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i nspiration “An outstandingly effective school that deserves its high reputation.”

Ofsted

Over 450 years of distinguished history date back to the legacy of a Southwark brewer, Henry Leeke in 1561, and the subsequent Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1571. ey had the foresight to see the value of education and to make it freely available – a tradition we are proud to continue to this day. As Shakespeare described our students in one of his plays and as founder John Harvard’s son went off to America to give his name to the great university, the seeds of St. Olave’s began to grow.

We retain our links with Southwark and these inspirational figures through our annual Commemoration service in Southwark Cathedral and by providing choristers for e Queen’s Chapel of e Savoy, part of the Duchy of Lancaster. We continue to champion the concept of social mobility by providing a first class education for bright students regardless of background.

More recently the Anglican Foundation of St. Olave’s and St. Saviour’s became a beneficiary of the Dulwich Estate, helping to enrich our resources with a new 6th Form/Music block, two excellent libraries and the newly converted Sports/Drama Hall.

In addition to these 21st century facilities we are able to retain small class sizes with inspirational teachers who can challenge and create a vibrant learning environment.

Education for the 21st century in a vibrant learning environment.

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sch ol arsh ip

Sunday Times State School of the Year 2009.

As a leading Grammar School we have the highest expectations of academic excellence to which our examination results are testament. Our 2012 results were the best in the school’s history and performance tables in e Times and e Telegraph confirmed our national position as the top state school with mixed 6th Form for A levels, and the best state school in the South East at GCSE. 96% of A levels were at A*-B grade and 96% of our students qualified for the English Baccalaureate.

However, in keeping with the holistic approach to education at St. Olave’s, we locate academic excellence within the broader concept of true scholarship, encouraging all our students to become independent thinkers. ey are engaged critically in the learning process by teaching that goes well beyond the confines of examination syllabuses, fuelling their intellectual curiosity.

Here you will find students who have translated German text books, others who give weekly lectures to the Natural Sciences Society or write articles for the History Magazine, alongside those invited to training camps in Budapest, or at an Oxford College, with members of the National Mathematics Olympiad team.

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aspir ation

We believe in challenging young people to develop their abilities to the fullest possible extent.

Our 6th Formers are highly ambitious with all aspiring to a place at a Russell Group university. Oxbridge successes average thirty each year with students reading the whole range of subjects. In fact, our top two leavers’ destinations are the universities of Cambridge and Oxford where Young Olavians can regularly be found winning prizes, scholarships, gaining sporting Blues or representing their college in BBC2’s University Challenge.

A range of field trips help to inspire a genuine thirst for knowledge, whether taking research measurements in the spectacular ords, glaciers or volcanoes of Iceland, working with experts on elephant conservation in South African game reserves or exploring the exotic coral reefs off Mozambique.

Investment through specialisms in Mathematics, Computing and Science has resulted in state-of-the-art computing facilities and a highly developed VLE to support personalisation in learning.

We want each of our students to aim for the top and to chase their dreams.

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cult ure

Olavians are interesting people who enjoy a variety of extra-curricular experiences alongside their academic pursuits. We provide opportunities for every student to nurture and develop their talents so that their lives are culturally enriched.

Music is thriving with a full Symphony Orchestra and Choir whose recent repertoire has included Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and the Fauré Requiem. e Senior Jazz Band is a popular element in our many concerts as well as being in great demand from the community. Individual tuition is available for those who wish it and recent successes have included 1st prizes in the Woodard Young Musician and Young Composer of the Year. e Wakeham Choristers of e Queen’s Chapel fulfill a programme of professional commitments and include the BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2012.

A busy calendar of dramatic productions has recently included Macbeth and Our Country’s Good as well as a student script which was performed by professionals at the National eatre. Music and Drama come together each year in a dazzling autumn Cabaret and a full scale summer musical.

Other students compete in the finals of the Cambridge Union Debating competition, run Amnesty International groups, make their own films, organise lectures for the Medics, Classics, History, Languages or Political Economy Societies.

In short, there is something for everyone!

Life changing experiences at home and abroad.

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Internationalism A culture of opportunities for true adventure.

At St. Olave’s there is a sense of pride and loyalty in being part of a multi-cultural community. In Europe, this international outlook is supported by trips to Paris and Bordeaux, exchanges with Heidelberg and Berlin, and work experience and travel in Segovia and Murcia. Such opportunities open up new outlooks on international culture and underscore the importance of foreign language.

Further afield we have annual visits to Washington and New York where Economists and Historians learn about the World Bank and the US political system. Others go to Athens or Florence, where students of Classics or Art can absorb the wonders of ancient Greece or study the masterworks of the Renaissance.

For those with an appetite for true adventure, recent World Challenge summer expeditions to the Andes, Namibia, Botswana and Ecuador have seen students return energised by some life-changing experiences. e annual Cultural Evening is an opportunity to bring together parents and students to celebrate and embrace all the diverse cultures that exist within our school.

Students showcase exotic displays of music and dance, offer culinary delights from around the world and entertain with a dazzling fashion show.

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oppor t un it y “If the list of extra-curricular activities were a menu St. Olave’s would receive three Michelin Stars.”

- A Parent

Students are encouraged to get involved in a wide range of sports. ere are opportunities to develop not only their skills and talents but also those important wider qualities of leadership, teamwork and reliability.

Ample grounds encompass five rugby pitches, cricket squares, tennis, netball and squash courts.

Our own fives courts enable large numbers of students to compete at national championship level.

Specialist coaches support rugby, cricket, football and fives. A full season of competitive fixtures sees up to twelve rugby teams turn out each Saturday in the autumn and spring. Similar opportunities occur in the summer for athletics and cricket, with added stimulus from the cricket Academy. e international programme provides a highlight with recent rugby tours to Australia and Argentina, cricket tours to South Africa and ski trips to Europe and the USA. Chess operates at a stunningly high level, also supported by specialist coaching. Our teams consistently win one of the top three places at the Millfield International tournament, with several recent national champions and a number of students also playing for senior county teams.

Around 250 students participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme with challenging Gold expeditions in the Black Mountains, Dartmoor and the Lake District. is can be a demanding but character-building experience that has seen students draw praise from the assessors for their teamwork, leadership and potential for the future.

Central to our school is the belief that every student is unique and valued.

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valu es

Important traditions provide a strong framework of values.

St. Olave’s retains a small school ethos where staff know the students well and address their individual needs.

Heads of Year and Tutor teams, supported by the Chaplain and School Counsellor, oversee the Pastoral Care system. ey provide for each student a framework of induction, guidance, monitoring and support.

A strong Prefects system, led by the School Captain, supports the smooth running of the school. Senior students take on significant responsibilities including mentoring and caring for younger pupils, acting as ambassadors, helping with duties, organising sports competitions or running societies.

We believe that every student has a unique and valued part to play in our community, taking responsibility for their own development and behaviour whilst being respectful for the needs of others.

Important traditions that date back over 450 years provide a moral framework that is informed by Christian values. is underpins the work ethic and corporate spirit, welcoming individuals from all faiths or none, and openly encouraging understanding, diversity and tolerance for all.

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co m mu nity Caring, respectful, independent young adults, ready to play a full and positive role in society.

We want all of our students to leave St. Olave’s as caring, self-disciplined, independent young adults with an appreciation of moral and social responsibility and the skills necessary to play a full and positive role in society.

Our links with the community are plentiful both at home and abroad. e school’s ‘Le Chavetois Society’ has carried out voluntary work in the local community, in Primary schools and in hospices, since the First World War. Recently our students raised and donated £10,000 to the Kariandusi Trust to support the Woodard Foundation in the construction of a brand new school in rural Kenya, giving hope and opportunity to generations of students who, hitherto, never had the chance of education beyond the age of 12. e Old Olavians’ Society and a thriving Parents’ Association provide both social events and valued additional financial support. Alongside these there are local and national business links, providing specialist opportunities for our students and input into conferences from leading academics, businessmen, writers and musicians.

St. Olave’s is a very special place; we hope that you will come along to see for yourselves just why we are so proud of our school and our students.

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S C H O O L

Goddington Lane Orpington Kent BR6 9SH Tel: 01689 820101 www.saintolaves.net Email: office@saintolaves.net

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