D'Overbroeck's College
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| d'Overbroeck's College, Oxford | |
|---|---|
 Leckford Place site | |
| Address | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent School |
| Established | 1977 |
| Founder | Malcolm van Biervliet |
| Chairman of Governors | James Noel |
| Principal | Sami Cohen |
| Gender | co-educational |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Website | http://www.doverbroecks.com |
d’Overbroeck’s College is a co-educational independent school in Oxford, England, for pupils aged 11–18. The College has three main parts, each based on a different site in North Oxford:
- Leckford Place — the pupils section of the College on Leckford Road, taking boys and girls aged 11–16. This section of the College is for day pupils only this part of the school allows the pupils mind to be free, allowing the pupils to explore life.
- The Sixth Form — teaching A levels to sixth form pupils (both day and boarding) aged 16+ in the Swan Building at 111 Banbury Road.
- The International Study Centre — delivering academic English courses to prepare international pupils for their A level/International Baccalaureate studies in the UK. Pupils are typically 14–17 years old.
The Good Schools Guide describes d’Overbroeck’s College as a place of energy and laughter, of single-minded determination among pupils to do the best they can. And d'Overbroeck's doesn't let them down.[1]
The Sixth Form
The Sixth Form is the oldest part of d'Overbroeck's College. Unlike many independent schools, d'Overbroeck's College Sixth Form is on a separate site, meaning that its facilities and teaching are entirely geared towards sixth form pupils.
The Sixth Form is in North Oxford, with the main teaching centre being The Swan Building, 111 Banbury Road, Oxford.
Pupils
The Sixth Form has a total of about 250 pupils, with an even mix of boys and girls. About 50% of pupils are boarders and 50% are day pupils.
The majority of pupils at d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form are from the UK, but international pupils are also integral. The Sixth Form has pupils from a large range of countries (30 different nationalities at present).
Of the 250 pupils in the Sixth Form, around 40 will have stayed on from Leckford Place or the International Study Centre. The vast majority, however, join from other schools after taking their GCSEs.
Results and comments
A level results achieved by pupils at d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form are consistently strong. In 2010 27% of grades were A* 59% A/A*, placing the College at number 106 in the national league table for independent schools[2]
In the academic year 2009-10, the Sixth Form achieved a contextual value added score of 1,102.[3] This was the highest score achieved by any school nationwide.[citation needed]
The Good Schools Guide describes d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form as quite possibly the leading independent sixth form in the UK.[1]
Entry
The Sixth Form is selective, and entry is typically by application, reference and interview. Entry requires at least 8 GCSEs at grade A* to C, normally including Maths and English, or equivalent. A number of Sixth Form scholarships and awards are available.
Curriculum
Pupils at the Sixth Form study A levels, choosing their subjects from a list of nearly 40. Because these are not organised in option blocks, practically any combination of subjects is possible. d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form was one of the first schools to introduce the AQA Baccalaureate, a qualification that supplements A/AS level study.[citation needed] Pupils choosing to study the AQA Baccalaureate do so in addition to their A-levels. The AQA Baccalaureate has proved popular amongst pupils, with 25% of Lower Sixth choosing to take the qualification in 2010.[citation needed]
Pastoral system
Pastoral care and academic monitoring at the Sixth Form are carried out by a system of Directors of Studies. Each pupil is supervised by a Director of Studies — one of a team of senior staff. Each Director of Studies supervises a small number of pupils for whom they have pastoral and academic responsibility. In many cases a pupil will also be taught by their Director of Studies.
The vast majority of Sixth Form pupils go on to study at UK universities.
Leckford Place (11–16)
Leckford Place is in Leckford Road, Oxford. Its main entry points are at 11+ (Year 7) and 13+ (Year 9). Unlike the other two parts of the College, Leckford Place is for day pupils only.
Of the three parts, Leckford Place was the most recently opened. It took its first pupils in September 2005, since which time pupil numbers have grown steadily.
Pupils
As is the case throughout d'Overbroeck's College, Leckford Place is coeducational. The vast majority of pupils at Leckford Place are UK residents local to Oxford, in keeping with its day school status. Pupil numbers are about 150.
Leckford Place is a selective school, with entry by assessment. A number of scholarships are available at 11 and 13, including academic, art and performing arts scholarships. Academic results are strong, with 41% A/A* grades at GCSE in 2010.
Results and comments
In 2010, 41% of GCSE grades were A/A* (69% A* to B), and 100% of pupils gained five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C.
The Good Schools Guide commends teachers [who] make good use of state-of-the-art facilities and vibrant teaching methods, clever design, superb use of space, modern and extremely well equipped [science labs] and value added features in spades, declaring, [missing word] have yet to meet a dissatisfied parent.[4]
The International Study Centre
The International Study Centre (hereafter referred to as ISC) is on St Giles, close to the centre of Oxford. The ISC takes international pupils aged 15+, and is a boarding school.
Pupils at the ISC study the College's GCSE Programme, designed specifically for international pupils as a preparation to study A levels or the International Baccalaureate at a UK school.
Pupils
The ISC takes around 40 pupils each year, with a broad mix of nationalities. As is the case throughout d'Overbroeck's College, the ISC is coeducational.
Pupils are required to have at least a Lower intermediate (B1) level of English language for entry into the ISC.
Results and comments
In the ISC's most recent British Council inspection, it was awarded points of excellence in six separate areas:
- Teaching
- Pastoral care
- Learner training
- Leisure programme
- Aspects of course design
- Aspects of administration of pupils
No other UK international study centre scored more points of excellence, according to a summary of organisations' results published in the EL Gazette.[5][clarification needed]
The GCSE Programme
The GCSE Programme at the ISC is a 1-2 year course in which pupils study a range of GCSE subjects and take examinations at the end of the course. Alongside their academic studies, pupils receive expert tuition in English. Pupils are grouped according to ability, and the programme is designed to be flexible enough to fit pupils' various aptitudes and aims.
Accreditation
d'Overbroeck's College is affiliated to the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and in membership of both the Independent Schools Association (ISA) and the Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent Schools (SHMIS).[citation needed]
The International Study Centre is Accredited by the British Council as an international study centre, and is a member of the British Association of International Study Centres (BAISC).
References
- ^ a b The Good Schools Guide 2008, p. 304.
- ^ "Independent schools' A-level results". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Key Stage 4 to 5 Value Added". London: Department for Education.
- ^ The Good Schools Guide 2008, pp. 302–304.
- ^ EL Gazette. April 2010.
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Sources
- The Good Schools Guide (13th ed.). Lucas Publications. 2008. pp. 302–304.
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