A Career in Law

On Wednesday 25 January we were delighted to welcome Marc Howe back to d’Overbroeck’s to speak to a group of Lower Sixth students interested in studying Law at university or pursuing a career in Law. Some years back, Marc worked for the College as a teacher of A Level English, before leaving to take a Law conversion course and qualify as a practising solicitor. He is currently Senior Lecturer in Law and University Teaching Fellow at Oxford Brookes University.

Marc Howe, talking to Lower Sixth students

Marc gave a lively and wide-ranging talk in which he introduced students to the range of careers and areas of legal specialism that they might consider. He also covered the various stages of education and professional training and discussed the options of either studying Law as an undergraduate degree, or taking a first degree in another subject, followed by the Graduate Diploma in Law (Law conversion course). Students’ appetite for the cut and thrust of the legal profession was whetted by watching an extract from a mock criminal trial organised by Oxford Brookes, which introduced to them the complexities of handling legal evidence. We are grateful to Marc for providing such a helpful and interesting introduction to students thinking of a degree or career in law and in due course we will be organising further activities to help prepare those who decide to apply to study Law as their first degree.

An African Adventure

Further to news regarding the forthcoming trip to Namibia (see Namibia 2012), the story has been featured in today's Oxford Mail (see below).

As reported in today's Oxford Mail. Click on the image to view a PDF of the original story.

A transcript of the story is as follows: 

Most children get a week abroad in Europe for their school trips. Not so for a group of pupils at an Oxford college who will be travelling to Africa to help revamp a deprived school.

A group of 20 sixth form and Year 11 pupils from d'Overbroeck's College in Banbury Road, will spend two weeks in Namibia in July including a week refurbishing classrooms and a playground. It is the kind of activity usually associated with pre-university gap years, but trip leader Johny Richards said there had been no shortage of interest

Mr Richards said: "The primary focus is a school in a deprived area of Namibia. We want our students to get more cultural awareness, find out a bit about themselves and find out what it's like for children in other parts of the world – and hopefully give something back."

The pupils at the fee-paying independent school have paid about £2,500 each to go on the trip, and are fundraising to collect about £5,000 between them to pay for building materials for the work.

In Africa, they will spend the first day sourcing materials before moving to the school they are helping for a week.

Mr Richards said: "It will be all hands to the pump to try and get as much as we possibly can done in a week. While we are there, we will be cooking for ourselves every night and camping all the time. They will be roughing it 24/7. It will be hard work both physically and mentally."

The youngsters have been split into different fundraising teams. One is approaching organisations to seek sponsorship and items which can be auctioned off in aid of the cause. Another will organise supermarket bagpacking, and other fundraising events in the pipeline including a school safari dress-up day and a cake sale.

Mr Richards said: "This is about giving back to a less fortunate community, and that is why most of them wanted to go."

The school organised a similar trip to Zambia in 2009.

Jackie D Williams

Some of you may remember a former student of ours, Jack Williams, who studied at d'Overbroeck's between 2006-08. Jack (known professionally as Jackie D Williams) has since graduated from the prestigious Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and will be performing his 'distinctive fusion of soul, funk, rhythm and blues' this Saturday at The Jericho Tavern in Oxford, supporting Lindi Ortega.

"Music is something that we are never pushed into, we simply discover and grow with it. It's the one thing that holds us together but makes us so different." Jackie D Williams.

You can read more about Jack and follow his career by visiting his website: http://www.jackiedwilliams.com/.

Enrichment Programme

Our enrichment programme for the Lower Sixth takes place on Monday afternoons and aims to provide a mix of stimulating talks and workshops to inform and engage our students.

This term our programme includes:

• A Motorsport F1 presentation from GoMotorsports.
• Sue Bennett Head of Careers and Skills at the University of Warwick who will be giving students an introduction to the university admissions process. University applications may seem a long way off but students need to start their research early to ensure they make the right choices.
• Antony Jinman who will be describing his experiences on polar expeditions. Antony has been involved with the centenary celebrations of Captain Scott and his expedition to the South Pole. He is a motivational speaker who encourages students to aim high in order to achieve their own personal goals.
• Doulla Croft is the Business Development Director for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She will be discussing the way this exciting project has developed and changed over the years/months, giving an insight into this huge event as it rapidly approaches.
• Emma Lee Potter, a novelist and freelance journalist will be discussing the opportunities and challenges of these careers.
• Filda Mary Abelkex-Lukoyomoi lived for many years in Uganda and was forced to leave the country. Her talk will be on her personal experiences whilst in this country during its civil unrest, what the situation is now and on her plans to return for a visit to see her family.

Polar explorer, Antony Jinman

 Later in the term, the Oxfordshire Fire Service will lead a workshop on 'Safe Driving'-a topic that is seen by the emergency services as a subject all young people should take on board whether they are drivers at the present time or not.

Reports on each these talks will follow.

Namibia 2012

Later this year, 20 of our Sixth Form and Year 11 students will be going to Namibia to work on improving the facilities of a local school by refurbishing classrooms and building playground areas. Our students will also help with activities and teaching whilst working with local pupils.

"Education is a high priority for Namibians, especially in the more remote regions where schools are more isolated. By working alongside communities to upgrade recreation and education facilities so to assist the daily education of Namibian pupils our education projects are intended to provide a meaningful and sustainable exchange for groups who wish to get closer to a rural community." according to 'Schools Worldwide'. The College organised a similar trip two years ago to Zambia which is featured in the photos.

To raise money for the materials to be used in Namibia, students have organised several events over the next few weeks, including two cake sales, a 'Safari Day' and Quiz Night. More information on these will be posted in due course.

Alongside these, a number of other social events have been planned for the term ahead, including:

• a trip to the Oxford University v The Army rugby match at the University sports ground on 7th February
• an ice skating disco at the Oxford Ice Rink on 24 February
• d'Overbroeck's Got Talent in March