Sixth Form Guide 2022-3

SIXTH

FORM

WELCOME SIXTH FORM GUIDE 2022 Learning and friendship are what St Edward’s is all about, and we look forward to seeing you in September. Most of this guide was written by Sixth Form pupils. Find out more: Teddies TV via the website @stedwardsoxford

@Teddiessport @Teddies_apsley @Teddies_avenue @Teddies_cooperlodge @Teddies_corfe @Teddies_cowells @Teddiesfieldhouse @Teddies_jubilee @Teddies_kendall @Teddies_macs @Teddies_oakthorpe

@Teddies_segars @Teddies_sings @Teddies_tillys @TeddiesOxford @TeddiesSport

St Edward’s School, Oxford www.stedwardsoxford.org

“Before I arrived at Teddies, I wish I had

known more about the general school routines, such as times for callovers, break, lunch and assembly. I would have loved to be more informed about the different extra-curriculars, such as FemSoc.” OLIVIA OLISAGU Find out more inside!

EDITORS Elena Azais Tatistscheff

Lucas Challis Olivia Olisagu Grace Read Josh Richardson

St Edward’s School Woodstock Road Oxford OX2 7NN www.stedwardsoxford.org t: +44 (0)1865 319200 registrar@stedwardsoxford.org

FROM THE WARDEN

Welcome to St Edward’s! You are joining us at a very exciting time. We have recently opened our new academic centre, with its libraries, reading rooms, spaces for collaboration and the Sixth Form café. We have turned up the volume on pupil voice with new forums and committees. We have set aside time for you to volunteer every week in the community beyond Teddies. We are also launching a new wellbeing programme to ensure that you thrive and make the most of your time here. Happiness and opportunity have always been at the heart of a Teddies education. You will be encouraged by your subject teachers, guided by your HM and your Tutor, and helped by our careers advisers to make the very most of your time here. You will leave with all the knowledge and skills that you need for your next step. Above all, you will make friends and memories for life. We look forward to having you here with us at Teddies.

A MODERN APPROACH TO LEARNING

At Teddies, we have a superb modern academic hub – the Christie Centre – with classrooms specially designed to help pupils collaborate, and breakout areas and spaces for individual study. Sixth Formers have sole access to the Roe Reading Room, a university-style library overlooking the Quad, which is perfect as a tranquil place to work. In the Sixth Form, we usually have an even split in pupils taking A Levels or their IB Diploma. At Teddies, there are also countless opportunities for extending your knowledge beyond the classroom. Most academic departments run subject-based societies, such as the Lyne Society (Classics), or Dissection Club for future medics and vets, which meet regularly to explore particular topics or to hear from invited speakers, often from Oxford University. Equally, Oxford offers an exceptional range of lectures and talks, either at the University or at one of the many

cultural venues across the city. Visits and trips to Oxford and

beyond are organised to bring subjects to life and Academic Forum is a lively series of talks and events designed to extend knowledge and to stimulate debate.

CO-EDUCATION AND INCLUSION AT TEDDIES

As you join St Edward’s, we celebrate 40 years since the first girls were welcomed to the Sixth Form and our 25-year anniversary of becoming fully co-ed. We are very proud of our history and success in providing first class education equally to girls and boys, with mixed Houses, mixed sport and above all an environment where girls and boys learn how to live and work together and make friends for life. Inclusion is a fundamental part of the ethos of St Edward’s where all people are valued and diversity is celebrated. We teach pupils the benefits of welcoming diference and do not tolerate unkindness or prejudice in any form. Pupil voice is really important.

Pupils bring their views and passion to this area through the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, through FemSoc and other fora, such as assemblies and within Houses.

HOUSES

There are 13 Houses at Teddies divided between Quad Side and Field Side, five for boys, five for girls and three co-ed Houses – Apsley, Sing’s and Cooper Lodge (where there are boys and girls in the Sixth Form). Each House is also known by a letter. There are between 50 and 70 pupils from all year groups in each House so you instantly get to know people from other years. Housemistresses and Housemasters are abbreviated to HMs. Quad Side HMs Cowell’s (A): Mr Palferman (Mr Reid from Spring 2023) Macnamara’s (D): Ms Bray Apsley (E): Mr Thomas Tilly’s (F): Mr Grounds Segar’s (G): Mr Roche Oakthorpe ( J): Mr Waring Field Side HMs Sing’s (B): Dr Burbidge Field House (C): Mr Hanslip Kendall (H): Mr Bunch Corfe (K): Ms Hamblin-Rooke Cooper Lodge (L): Mrs Singfield Avenue (M): Miss Ramadharsingh Jubilee (N): Mr Davies

HOUSE LIFE

Whether you are a boarder or a day pupil, your boarding house is like your family. With pupils from all year groups in House, from our youngest pupils aged 13 to the Upper Sixth, life is never dull. There are many different activities taking place throughout the year: socials, cake nights, house singing, performances, charity events, dinners, BBQs and more. The most important people in House are your HM (Housemaster or Housemistress) who runs the House and will be very involved in your day-to-day school activities and your Matron who is responsible for your wellbeing. Sixth Formers may share a room with a day pupil, or have a room to themselves – it is great preparation for university life! The best thing about your House is that it’s a home away from home – somewhere warm and comfortable to come back to after lessons and this is often where your strongest friendships are forged.

GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT

At the start of the year everyone is assigned a Tutor who is in charge of making sure you are on track with your schoolwork and that you are achieving your targets. Tutors are extremely helpful as they guide you through your time at Teddies. This includes everything from reviewing your report, to discussing your extra- curricular activities, to applying to university. You can talk to your Tutor whenever you have a problem or if you need advice on things such as how to manage your time. Careers and Higher Education advice at Teddies is exceptionally strong. Our Head of Careers has extensive experience across a whole range of industries and strong links with former Teddies pupils and industry leaders enable regular careers talks in school covering a variety of career paths. We have advisors for UK, US and European university applications to guide you and advise you through the process and alongside our Oxford University links, we have connections with higher education institutions across the globe.

SETTLING IN

The idea of settling in as a new Sixth Former can seem daunting at first but there are so many activities you can sign up to which will really help you to enjoy your time at Teddies right from the start – whether it is sport, arts, choirs or other societies. It will enable you to meet people outside the classroom and your House, people in different year groups and all with common interests. Teddies gives pupils so many opportunities beyond the classroom, so you can join in and learn new skills and experience something new! As part of our Beyond Teddies programme, Sixth Formers work closely with our partners in the North Oxford community, such as local primary and specialist schools, community and garden centres, care homes and charities. This not only supports the local community and

gives you the opportunity to gain additional skills, but also the chance to make friends and feel connected.

WHAT HELPED YOU TO SETTLE IN AS A NEW SIXTH FORMER?

"People in House and also around the School, who are always there to help, enabled me to settle into the environment quickly. I think getting involved in sporting activities really helped me too." JOSH RICHARDSON “You will get out of Teddies as much as you put in, be kind, be friendly, be approachable and so will others be to you” ELENA AZAIS TATISTSCHEFF “I believe that the girls in my boarding house, whether that be in Sixth Form or under, helped me to settle very well as a new pupil. The warm smiles, big hugs and homely ambience has always been so present from the minute I entered into Corfe.” OLIVIA OLISAGU “The best thing to do to get to know new people is to just get involved in a variety of different activities.” LUCAS CHALLIS

CO- CURRICULAR

The range of activities at Teddies is absolutely extraordinary and taking part ensures that you meet a wide variety of people. There are opportunities in Music, Drama and Dance, and societies and clubs available for almost any topic you can think of: chess, beekeeping, diplomacy and international relations, Teddies on Camera (the pupil-run media crew), debating, the environment, theatre tech and many, many more! There are so many new things to discover to stretch and inspire you and it’s a great way to make new friends. And if you think a club is missing, you can create your own!

WELLBEING

‘At Teddies, you will be making new friends, living in new spaces, getting to know new teachers and subjects, and undertaking all kinds of new activities. We want you to feel that you belong and are supported as you take this exciting step and begin your journey with us. We want you to know that our absolute priority is your wellbeing. All the way through the Sixth Form, you will have wellbeing lessons. These are a chance for you to talk openly with your peers and your teachers about some of the most interesting and sometimes difficult aspects of being human. We’ll talk about what good relationships look like, how we can understand our emotions and use them to help us succeed, about how to find a sense of meaning and purpose in what we do both at school and beyond Teddies, about how we can serve our wider community and develop a sense of global responsibility and how to take good care of our bodies too. I’ll be keen to hear from you about how we can improve your wellbeing

and the wellbeing of everyone at Teddies. I hope that you’ll

join that conversation.’ Virginia Macgregor , Director of Wellbeing

PACKING

It’s a really good idea to bring posters, family photos and decorations to make your room your own, along with whiteboard markers, edible treats, a mug from home and hard-soled slippers – as well as all the obvious things (full uniform and equipment lists are on the website and in the joining information). Streamline your wardrobe and only bring what you need: there is limited storage space in Sixth Form rooms. Don’t bring many designer clothes, jewellery, valuables or cash as it’s easy to lose things in the hustle and bustle of the busy school day. There are banks, chemists, stationers and a good range of amenities in our local shopping area, Summertown, so it’s easy to stock up on essentials. Important: if you bring medication it must be handed in to your Matron when you arrive and all prescriptions must be in your name and printed in English. Please also ensure that all clothes and belongings are named.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

7.15am I wake up and go to breakfast with my friends (pancakes? toast? Too much choice). A delicious start to get the brain cells working! 8.05am Callover (registration) in House, then I go to my room to make sure that everything’s prepared for periods 1 and 2 – and to ensure that, with the Week A/Week B system, I’m going to the right place! 8.30-10.05 Periods 1 and 2– 45 minutes in Maths and in History (I made Historian of the Month!) 10.10–10.55 Period 3 is a study period for me this week. I head to the blissfully quiet Roe Reading Room to make a start on my History coursework essay. 10.55 am A short break in House and I pick up stuff I need for the next two lessons. 11.25am–1.00pm Periods 4 and 5… 1.00pm Lunch in Willows Café today (mmm Paninis), as I’m meeting some of my History classmates to discuss a presentation! 2.00pm Afternoon callover in House and catch up with my friends(School Assembly on Mondays). 2.45pm–4.20pm I head to the last two lessons of the day (except on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, which are for sport).

4.20pm-5.30pm I make a quick trip to our local shops in Summertown, before supper, prep and evening activities!

OXFORD AND SUMMERTOWN

Summertown is a highlight for pupils, especially in the Sixth Form when you will have free time to spend in the area, it is a great place to be. A lively urban village, so nearby it feels as if it’s part of the School. It has many big stores such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and M&S, and lots of great local shops – including the fantastic Daunt Books, as well as restaurants (Burnout BBQ, Mamma Mia) and coffee shops galore. Oxford City Centre is a short bus ride away. It is a vibrant university city with shops, cinemas and plenty of places to eat, really useful shops like Boots, WH Smith, the famous Blackwell’s bookshop – and the new Westgate Centre, with its many retail and restaurant options. If art and culture are your thing, you will enjoy the Ashmolean, Modern Art Oxford, the Pitt Rivers and the Natural History Museum. And of course, the beautiful, historic University buildings

are well worth a visit and offer excellent inspiration for your future studies!

BEST THING ABOUT BEING IN OXFORD?

The best

thing about being in Oxford is feeling the buzz of the city in everyday school life, whilst also having the campus feel. Being able to go into Summertown and Oxford is such a nice break and freedom from the busy school day. GRACE READ

SPORT AND FITNESS

In the Sixth Form at Teddies you are able to choose from a variety of sports. These change every term so it allows you to step out of your comfort zone and to try something new, or make use of our high-quality coaching and facilities that will assist in the development of your sporting ability. The School o ers a wide range of options including hockey, rowing, rugby, cricket, football, tennis, netball, swimming, squash, athletics, running, sailing and badminton. We have sport at least three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, when you head o to sport after lunch. One of the great things is that you do not need to have prior experience, so get stuck in and try new things. A huge perk of being a Sixth Former is that you are allowed to use the Nu eld Gym in the mornings and evenings, which is part of the School grounds. It has first-class facilities, a wide range of fitness classes

(perfect for Sundays) and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.

MUSIC

Music is a big part of life at Teddies. The amazing Ogston Music School, with its many practice rooms, the Fenton Recording Studio, the Ferguson Sixth Form Music Library and the magnificent Weston Recital Room, enables all pupils to have access to everything an aspiring musician could wish for. There are so many opportunities for co-curricular music at Teddies too. You can be involved in a huge range of music and ensembles – from the Brass Bands, to Orchestras, Chapel Choir to the auditioned Chamber Choir and jazz and swing groups, rock and pop bands (the Battle of the Bands competition is a fantastic night)! There is a chance to be involved in weekly performance opportunities, as well as termly concerts and an annual Gaudy Week of performances. The sky is the limit!

ART

The Art Department has outstanding facilities, and all the tools and materials you need to be creative. All the art teachers are practising artists and makers and they look to encourage and inspire – Teddies even has an Artist in Residence to connect pupils to the work of a professional artist in their medium. Teddies is proud to have an arts centre, The North Wall, on site, which features a public art gallery hosting regular exhibitions of pupils’ work alongside a broader exhibition programme of work by visiting artists. The Sixth Form have a dedicated art studio, which feels more like an art college than a school – and take regular trips to galleries in Oxford, London and New York to help pupils discover inspiration for their own work.

DRAMA

Teddies gives pupils many chances to perform on stage in a professional setting. The North Wall Arts Centre is a 200-seat theatre on the edge of the school grounds, which we share with the local community – a fantastic asset for those looking to experience being on stage, or behind the scenes, in a theatre. The Olivier Hall is a stunning venue in which to perform – a purpose built school hall with fantastic acoustics and options for staging and, with the opportunity for anyone to audition for and take part in our school musicals, plays and performances, you can experience treading the boards in a 1000 capacity venue! Getting involved in theatre at Teddies is a great way to meet diferent people and make new friends.

DANCE

Dance at this School is a great and popular activity for all pupils and you can try almost any kind of dance style you can think of. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or someone with more experience or expertise. St Edward’s ofers the classical RAD Ballet syllabus as well as less formal, non-examined ballet and also ofers hip-hop and break dance at the other end of the scale. In between these two extremes you can take part in contemporary, modern jazz, tap, street jazz, Latin American, freestyle, acro or cheerleading classes - whichever you prefer. Every term there is a phenomenal dance show. Everyone loves to get involved - whether it’s dancing on stage, or supporting your friends.

FAVOURITE THREE THINGS ABOUT TEDDIES?

I really enjoy the sense of community at Teddies, the range of diferent activities - all the House and school events and the option for input

into how the School is run. LUCAS CHALLIS

CHAPEL

Chapel is an important part of the rhythm of life at Teddies. There is a good mix of weekday and Sunday services that combine beautiful liturgy, great singing, and thoughtful sermons and pupils of any faith are welcome. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions, explore the Christian faith and think about the values we hold as a community. It’s also a place for quiet reflection and everyone can enjoy the stillness and tranquility. There are lots of ways to get involved in Chapel – from reading to singing to ringing the bells - and the Chaplains are always happy to discuss questions of faith or just help with a problem.

FOOD

Food at Teddies is full of variety. There’s always a good selection of salads, a Deli Bar (which tends to have lighter options), a range of main meals, plus soup, dessert and fruit. The menu varies week to week so there will always be something di erent. If you have dietary requirements the Catering Team are always ready to prepare something else for you. The great thing about being a Sixth Former is that we are allowed to stay in House for breakfast but of course you can still go to the Dining Hall if you prefer. For lunch you can choose between the Dining Hall and Willows Café – which is a fantastic modern café serving made-to-order paninis and hot meals. As well as eating in Willows, the many tables and booths make it a great place to study or to have a coffee and a chat with your friends. There’s an outdoor seating area which is lovely in the summer. For supper, you will eat in the Dining Hall.

WEEKENDS

Saturdays at Teddies are school days. You will have normal lessons in the morning and sports practice or fixtures in the afternoon. If you’re a boarder, you can choose how to spend your weekends. You can go home after sport or other commitments on Saturday; you can go on Sunday morning; or you can stay in School to enjoy the lively weekend programme, which is what around half our boarders choose to do each week. If you go home at any stage, you must be back in House by 9pm on Sunday. On Saturday nights, Cooper’s is open to the Lower Sixth for food, limited alcohol and a chance to relax and make friends with pupils in other Houses. Occasionally, the Lower Sixth are allowed into Oxford for a meal on Saturday evenings. On Sundays, the day is usually free and you can go into Oxford in the afternoon to enjoy the many cafés, cinemas, shops, restaurants, museums and galleries.