Skiing in La Thuile

Back in the Easter holidays, a group of Sixth Form and ISC students and staff headed to La Thuile in Italy for the annual d'Overbroeck's ski trip.

As ever, the group consisted of a wide range of experience levels – from beginners through to advanced skiers and snowboarders. So while the less confident received introductory lessons and guidance, the more experienced members of the group were able to polish their skills under the tuition of and expert Interski instructor.

The week began and ended with excellent weather – fresh snow and sunshine – marred only by a two-day lapse during which conditions were less favourable. But spirits were high throughout the week, with everyone's skills improving markedly.


Of course, daytime skiing was not the trip's only entertainment: as well as discos (enlivened by costumes ranging from togas to 80s all-in-one ski suits), activities included ice skating, a quiz night and the presentation of ski awards.

In the last of these, six of our students were presented with a 5-star merit award by their instructors – only one level from the rarely-achieved highest grade.

Overall, a fantastic trip ... Here's to next year's ...

Improving our email bulletins

In a few days' time, those of you who have subscribed to receive email updates from the Sixth Form newsfeed will notice a few changes to the emails we send out.

We're moving our email delivery service to a superior system, which will allow us greater control over the appearance of the messages. We hope this will result in more attractive news emails.


I'm already subscribed – do I need to do anything?

If you already receive email updates from us, your subscription will automatically switch to the new system, so you won't have to sign up a second time.

We do recommend, though, that you add the address feedblitz@mail.feedblitz.com to your address book or email whitelist – to ensure that your mail system does not trap our news emails as spam!


I'm not currently subscribed – how do I sign up?

If you'd like to receive the news items we post on this page direct to your inbox (rather than having to check our website for updates), why not subscribe?

Come along to our art exhibition

by Emmie van Biervliet

This weekend, Leckford Place School will metamorphose into an art gallery containing an exciting, diverse array of work by Sixth Form and Leckford Place students, as well as parents, staff and local artists.

We'll also be showing the winning entries to our Primary School Art Competition.

Having already seen some of the work that'll be on show, we're eagerly anticipating a superb exhibition. And we'd be delighted if you'd come along.

The show will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May – and entry is, of course, free to all. See location on Google Maps.

We hope to see you there!

by Paul Amey

Summertown Carnival: Art, Music and Juggling

On Saturday, Summertown in North Oxford was alive with colour and sound – thanks to the street festival organised as part of Artweeks.

The joint d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form and Leckford Place School stand offered younger children the opportunity to contribute to a giant collaborative piece of art:







... Whilst Sixth Former Steve Litherland entertained onlookers with an impressive display of juggling.




Musical accompaniment, meanwhile, was provided by Evie Oswald, Sarah Pearson and Kathryn Poon.



Many thanks to the students and staff who gave up their time to help make the street festival such a great success – and to those friends of the College who came along to visit our stall.

Below, a slideshow of photos of the event:

BBC Radio Oxford Artweeks Interview

Earlier today, d'Overbroeck's Principal Sami Cohen was a guest on Jo Thoenes' BBC Radio Oxford show.

Sami and Jo discussed Artweeks and the College's links with the festival – which kicked off on 30 April with a very successful launch party hosted at Leckford Place School. Sami also spoke about developments at d'Overbroeck's, and how the College has changed since he first joined as a languages teacher.


You can listen again to Sami's interview via iPlayer.
(The interview starts at around 20 minutes in)


As Sami mentioned, Saturday's street festival in Summertown will feature performances and workshops given by d'Overbroeck's students ... so if you find yourself in North Oxford tomorrow morning, do come along and join in the carnival atmosphere!

Finally, we reiterate our open invitation to come along to the d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form and Leckford Place exhibition.

Lower Sixth globalisation essay wins UK award

Lower Sixth student Timur Tankayev has been selected as one of three finalists in the International Boarder of the Year contest.

Having stood out amongst a field of entries from international boarders across the UK – and with a total of 30 nationalities represented – it's a superb achievement to make it through to the final.

To earn his award, Timur had to write a 1,250 word essay on the subject of globalisation ... Which he opened in provocative fashion:

'What is the truest definition of globalization? According to the joke it's Princess Diana's death - 'An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, while in a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was drunk on Scottish whisky, followed closely by Italian Paparazzi on Japanese motorcycles, etc.' The process of integration of the global economy has affected all aspects of human life.'

Timur has been invited to collect his award at a ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe in May.

Diving into Artweeks

Detail from 'The Diver' by Flo Amey, Upper Sixth

Oxfordshire's largest visual arts festival, Artweeks consists of around 400 stunning exhibitions. We’re delighted once again to be main sponsors of the festival.

For three weeks each year, Oxfordshire's artists and craftspeople throw open their homes and studios, and a vast array of work in every style and medium imaginable is put on show.

Artweeks enables us to catch a glimpse of the creative process itself: to smell the fresh paint and the drying clay; and to meet the artists in their own space, surrounded by their tools and materials, and often also by their own favourite sources of inspiration.

Preparations are well underway for summer's festival. As well as being main sponsors, we are also hosting our own show, which will feature work by current students, parents and staff alike. As with all Artweeks shows, entry will be free to all.

Our exhibition will be at Leckford Place School on 16-17 May – and we'd love you to come along. Entry is free to all, and the exhibition will be open 10am to 4pm. Please contact us for details.