Information for Entry to Years 7 to 11 2020 “A School That Really Cares About and Fosters the Talents of Every Individual Student”
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Information for entry to Years 7 to 11 2020 “ A school that really cares about and fosters the talents of every individual student” Parent WELCOME TO D’OVERBROECK’S YEARS 7-11 Back in 2005 I helped to found a brand new part of d’Overbroeck’s College (as it then was) catering initially for 70 young people from 11-16 and designed to be a refreshing change from the traditionally large, driven, single gender schools to be found in Oxford and environs. Since then, we have grown and developed in all kinds of ways - in facilities, in numbers, in academic success and in reputation, and yet we have always endeavoured to stay true to our founding principles. What remains constant is our commitment to secure for each and every child in d’Overbroeck’s 7-11 the best possible education in an encouraging and fulfilling environment and to ensure that our parents’ faith in entrusting us with the responsibility for just about the most important part of their children’s development – their education - is fully justified. We intended from the first to build a school that was happy and stimulating; a school with a strong sense of community but also a place with room - and time - for individuals; a school where all children were valued, whatever their talents, and where they were nurtured and encouraged to make the most of those talents without being subjected to excessive pressure; a school of high standards and wide opportunities, designed around its students, in which they could – above all - enjoy the educational process and attain real academic and personal fulfilment. Mark Olejnik And I believe that is exactly what we have achieved over the past 14 years. Head of Years 7-11 We are still different because we are still small enough for every teacher to know every single child as an individual; because we educate boys and girls together; because we believe in inspiring students towards academic success rather than pressuring them into it and because we aim to strike a balance between freedom and regulation, between informality and rigour, and between happiness and results. We are still a place where boundaries are clear but rules do not stifle and where students, staff and parents are an integral part of a distinctive family atmosphere. We will, indeed, continue to be a school characterised by humour and humanity, by informal yet respectful relationships, by a strong sense of community and by a clear common purpose and clear common goals. My vision was always that of a family school, at ease with itself, characterised by enthusiasm, humour, individuality and achievement. 3 ADMISSIONS INFORMATION Our Years 7 to 11 site has space for 198 students in total, with the majority applying to join us in either Year 7 or Year 9. It is sometimes possible for students to join us in Year 8 or Year 10 providing we have space in the year group. Our students come to us from a wide range of schools locally, nationally and sometimes internationally. If you would like to explore the possibility of applying for your child to join our Years 7 to 11 section, the first step is to give our Registrar, Rob Barker, a call for an initial conversation. Rob can be reached on 01865 688731. We would then strongly encourage you to come and visit. Many parents like to come to an Open Day first and then follow this up with an individual visit on a school day, though you can just as easily do this the other way around. Open Mornings Entrance assessment We have three Open Mornings each year, one per term. Joining If the taster day goes well, both from our side and yours, we us on an Open Morning will give you a relaxed and informal way would then arrange for your child to sit our entrance exam. This to meet students and staff and to glean a lot of information consists of papers in Maths and English. For entry into Year 9 about all aspects of life at d’Overbroeck’s Years 7 to 11. or 10, students will also be asked to sit a Non-Verbal Reasoning For information about our next Open Morning, please visit paper. Each test is designed to gauge a student’s academic www.doverbroecks.com/openday. potential and no specific preparation or revision is required. The tests are not curriculum-linked and so your child’s educational Individual visits background should not be a factor. It is important that prospective students and their parents come for an individual visit on a school day. This provides a chance to Students applying to join Year 7 will most likely attend one of our see the school in action and get a feel for d’Overbroeck’s life. group assessment mornings during the Autumn term of Year 6. Your visit will include a meeting with Mark Olejnik, the Head of Students for Years 8, 9 or 10 sit entrance exams on an ad hoc Years 7 to 11. We normally expect your child to come with you basis throughout the year. The tests take around two and a half although we can arrange an initial parent-only visit if you prefer. hours to complete. If you are looking at entry into Year 7, we recommend coming Decision-making for this individual visit when your child is in Year 5 or early in Before making a decision on your child’s application, we will Year 6. For entry into Year 9, we suggest you visit when your contact their school to request a reference. Our offer letter will child is in Year 6 or 7. include a deadline for acceptance, usually around four weeks from the date of the letter. If you need more time to decide then Registration you can contact our Registrar, Rob Barker, to discuss this. Once you have visited we would ask you to register your child by completing our online Application Form. Open Day Dates Taster day Every child applying to join Years 7 to 11 will be asked to join us for a taster day. This gives your child a chance to experience Saturday 5 October 2019 10am-1pm life as a d’Overbroeck’s student – without doubt the best way to get to know the school. We assign a student ‘buddy’ in the Saturday 8 February 2020 10am-1pm relevant year group (students in Year 6 are looked after by our Saturday 16 May 2020 10am-1pm Year 7s) who will act as a guide throughout the day. We only have one visitor per class at any one time, so each teacher will have time to get to know your child during their visit. 4 APPLICATION DATES AT A GLANCE For entry into Year 7 What? When? Open Morning October, February and May Individual visit During Year 5 or early in Year 6 Application Form Following your individual visit Taster day October/November of Year 6 Reference November of Year 6 Entrance exams Late November/early December of Year 6 Offers made Just before the end of the Autumn term For entry into Year 9 What? When? Open Morning October, February and May Individual visit During Year 6 or Year 7 Application Form Following your individual visit Taster day Flexible – usually sometime during Year 7 Reference Following taster day and before entrance exams Entrance exams Flexible – usually sometime during Year 7 Offers made Flexible - once the steps above have been completed 5 FEES 2019-20* *Please note all fees are correct at time of printing (September 2019) and are subject to change. INITIAL CHARGES Registration fee £100 Acceptance fee and deposit £1200 Please note that the registration and acceptance fees are not refundable if the student is withdrawn after a place has been accepted. The supplemental charges deposit will be refunded at the end of the academic year, less any supplemental charges or any other fees still outstanding. TUITION FEES Termly fee £6,050 OTHER CHARGES Lunch £320 per term (equivalent to around £5 a day) Instrumental / voice £34 per 35 minute session Details of other charges, including trips and visits, special exam arrangements, optional insurance cover and any supplemetary one-to-one teaching (that may have been agreed in advance with parents) are available on our website. TERM DATES 2019-20 2020-21 (provisional) AUTUMN TERM AUTUMN TERM Term Starts - Tuesday 3 September 2019 Term Starts - Monday 7 September 2020 Half Term - Friday 18 October to Monday 28 October 2019 Half Term - Friday 23 October to Monday 2 November 2020 Term Ends - Friday 13 December 2019 Term Ends - Wednesday 16 December 2020 SPRING TERM SPRING TERM Term Starts - Monday 6 January 2020 Term Starts - Thursday 7 January 2021 Half Term - Friday 14 February to Sunday 23 February 2020 Half Term - Friday 12 February to Sunday 21 February 2021 Term Ends - Friday 3 April 2020 Term Ends - Friday 26 March 2021 SUMMER TERM SUMMER TERM Term Starts - Monday 27 April 2020 Term Starts - Monday 19 April 2021 Bank Holiday - Friday 8 May 2020 Bank Holiday - Monday 3 May 2021 Half Term - Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2020 Half Term - Saturday 29 May to Sunday 6 June 2021 Term Ends - Friday 3 July 2020 Term Ends - Friday 2 July 2021 6 MAP Oxfor arkway on Spor ties oundabout Wolvercote North Oxford Si 333 y Summertown Y 711 Marston Jericho Oxfor on Spor for ook ersity Oxford City Centre Headington Spor for ersity East Oxford 7 OXFORD SCHOOLS BUS PARTNERSHIP The Oxford Schools Bus Partnership is a collaboration between seven Oxford schools – d’Overbroeck’s, Dragon School, Headington School, Magdalen College School, Oxford High School, Rye St Antony and Wychwood School – set up to provide a safe, reliable transport solution for parents whose children attend the seven schools comprising the partnership.