North Oxfordshire Academy
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (October 2011) |
| North Oxfordshire Academy | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
Drayton Road , , OX16 0UD | |
| Information | |
| Type | Academy |
| Established | 2007 |
| Local authority | Oxfordshire |
| Department for Education URN | 135365 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Principal | Ms Sara Billins |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 11 to 21 |
| Enrollment | 800 (approx.) |
| Website | http://www.northoxfordshire-academy.org |
North Oxfordshire Academy is a coeducational academy school located in north west Banbury, Oxfordshire. It opened in September 2007, replacing the former local comprehensive, Drayton School. It caters for children and young adults between the ages of 11 and 21. The Principal of North Oxfordshire Academy is Sara Billins.
The Academy
North Oxfordshire Academy is run by United Learning and sponsored by Vodafone. Students officially started learning at the academy on Monday 10 September 2007. Students had an opening ceremony on Thursday 13 September 2007 to commemorate them as the foundation (First) Students to be in the academy. They were presented with a certificate and a badge. At the end of the Summer Term 2007, two of the school’s four main blocks, A Block and C block, were cleared and sealed off ready for refurbishment work that was due to start in September 2007. Its sixth form opened in September 2008. In a recent Ofsted/HMI report the officials advised that the academy had innovative strategies to improve the teaching and learning and confirmed that the academy was continuing to move in a positive direction. Its uniform is now a navy blue blazer, a grey jumper with a blue stripe, with a white shirt, along with the usual black trousers and shoes or trainers, no fabric pumps or UGG boots, as long as they are plain black with no logos. There is also a ban on all make-up but mascara.
When the Academy was established a new block was built with a new hall, reception, canteen and student support classrooms. School meals are provided by The Brookwood Partnership Limited. In 2010 the vertical tutoring system started which introduced the five new sections of the school named after leading universities/colleges: University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Warwick, Kings College London, and Imperial College. Now in addition to the normal uniform students are also required to wear a tie with the corresponding college colours: red, blue, green, purple, and yellow.[citation needed]
It was originally to be called Banbury Academy but due to opposition from Banbury School, the name was changed to North Oxfordshire Academy. The cost of the academy is estimated to be around £20 million.[citation needed]
The school day
The academy day starts at 08:30 and finishes at 15:20 each day. The exception to this is Thursdays, when the students are expected to participate in a range of PEP activities, which change the school day to finish at 15:30. The timetable consists of four 1 Hour & 20 minute periods each day, and this includes one 20 minute break and one 35 minute lunch break.
Principals
- Ruth Robinson (2007 - 2011)
- Sara Billins (2011 - present)