Activities fair 2012

Tuesday afternoon of week 1 and its time for the annual activities fair. This is the chance for students to select the activities that they want to take part in during the term. This year there is an even bigger programme than usual including aerobics, art, basketball, the book club, the bridge club, chess,cycling, dance, debating, Duke of Edinburgh, First Aid, football, gym, hockey, Maths olympiad, music technology, netball, orchestra, role play, rock climbing, role play, events club, squash, swimming, Target 2.0, trampolining, tennis, vocal group, yoga and Young Enterprise . Last year's Young Enterpise team who developed a website to help students make the right choices for Higher Education are featured above.

Aiming high

As we prepare for the new academic year we wish all of our leavers every success in the future. Amongst those finishing this year is George Rose who started with us in Year 7. In 2005 d’Overbroeck’s grew downwards in terms of its age range, enabling students to join us at age 11. George was the very first student enrolled in that year group.

After doing well in his GCSEs George has gone on to achieve a grade A* in Business Studies, an A in Geography and an A Economics. He hopes to become a pilot in the future and is taking the next year out to work to help finance his future training.

The best thing about d'Overbroeck's, he said, are the teachers as well as the small classes, both of which have been the key to his success. And then there are the many friendships made too;  friends who, no doubt, will join with us to wish George the very best as he continues to aim high!

 

A level results day

Congratulations to all of our students who have done so well at AS and A level this year- it is a tribute to their hard work.

Overall , 52% of the exam entries achieved grade A* or A at A level, and 25% of our students achieved 3 grade As or more in their subjects.

Pictured below are some of the students who came in to collect their results yesterday:


Flora McGivan (left) - who achieved A*A*A (Maths, Sociology, History)

Isobel Nicolson - who achieved A*A*A* (English Literature, Art, Drama)

Imogen Kerr – A*A*A (English Literature, Business Studies, Psychology)

George Rose – A*AA (Business Studies, Geography, Economics)

Sam Barton – AAAA (Biology, Economics, Politics, Drama)


Best wishes to our leavers- we wish them every success in the future and look forward to following their progress in the years to come.

Experiments in Psychology

By Patricia Dass, Head of Psychology

Sixth Form students recently had the opportunity to be a part of two psychological experiments conducted by a PhD candidate and a post doctoral candidate from Oxford Brookes University and Oxford University respectively.

The first experiment was on differences in walking patterns in children with and without movement difficulty which was conducted by Ms. Judith Gentle from Oxford Brookes University. The aim was to collect data so to inform much needed intervention programmes. In these sessions students had 45 minutes to complete a short motor assessment followed by a series of short walks in four different conditions.

Another group of students participated in an experiment on cognitive abilities development in adolescence conducted by Dr. Stephanie Burnett-Heyes (pictured below) from Oxford University.

Students had to spend 60 minutes completing questionnaires and taking part in computer based activities.

The opportunity to participate in these experiments was appreciated by the students as they gained good first hand experience of a scientific research study. Moreover, it enabled them to be exposed to the concepts and procedures involved in research methods which are crucial areas in psychology.

The experience not only allowed students to be a part of a scientific study but also to experience a piece of university life.

Alumni Profile: Sophie Stanek

Culinary entrepreneur, Sophie Stanek was a student at d'Overbroeck's from 1999 to 2003, a time she remembers fondly. Whilst she was with us she successfully completed her GCSEs before studying Politics, Economics and Business Studies at A level.

Having read Law at university she then changed direction and attended Leiths School of Food and Wine. After graduating from there Sophie set up 'Sophie Stanek Food & Events,' a catering business based in Oxfordshire. Sophie had always harboured a desire to start her own business but like many thought it was beyond her - something only other people did. But nevertheless she took the plunge. "Simply starting it," she says, "has been a huge achievement." And now, less than a year later, things are going really well. Sophie's focus right from the start has been, "to produce wonderful food using the best seasonal, local produce possible, along with meat that is high welfare and locally bred."And judging by her success, it seems that her focus is paying off.

So what has been the most rewarding aspect of starting the business? "Seeing people enjoying my food. Whether it's friends or clients it's very rewarding." And how did her time at d'Overbroeck's help her in achieving what she has so far? "I think I learnt to see the wider picture," she says. "Instead of being solely restricted to the curriculum we were taught to think outside the box.

To find out more about Sophie Stanek Food & Events, visit her website.

Golf to the Fore!

Oxfordshire Schools Golf Association, Individual Tournament
May 2nd 2012 (North Oxford Golf Course)

Well done to Pan Leenutaphong who came 3rd in the Counties Individual Golf Tournament just one shot behind the first two players. Pan scored 72, a handicap equalling 5 over par. However, after a solid front nine (+1), Pan was disappointed with his play at the turn, dropping 3 shots over holes 10 and 11. He regrouped excellently though to push the leaders all the way, and has now been selected in the team of four to represent Oxfordshire Schools in the South of England Championship. 

The tournament will be played over 36 holes at the Hadden Hill golf course in Didcot, Oxfordshire on June 7th. We all wish Pan the best of luck in his attempt to qualify for the National Championships!

Sports Sponsorship Award 2012

d'Overbroeck's Principal Sami Cohen congratulates Francesca Baillieu on her award

Congratulations to Francesca Baillieu on receiving the d'Overbroeck's Sports Sponsorship Award 2012. This is a new award offered to students with outstanding sporting talent to help with their training programmes.

Upper Sixth student Francesca is a successful horse rider with numerous achievements to her name, including coming 5th (out of 80 riders) at the Novice National U18 Championships in October last year. She has also qualified for the Badminton Grassroots Championships and went clear in the Show Jumping round of her first Intermediate competition. More recently she came first in her section at Gatcombe Park where she received her prize from HRH The Princess Royal.

Francesca receiving her prize from The Princess Royal at Gatcombe Park

In 2012 and with sponsorship from d’Overbroeck’s her main goal is to get a place on the British Junior Team. Francesca is currently applying for university where she hopes to study Biological Sciences. Last year, she was a winner at the Oxfordshire School Biologist of the Year Awards 2011.