SCHOOL NEWS
Ukraine Fundraiser
All the Lower School pupils came together to hold a bonanza fundraiser for those affected by the war in Ukraine. The creativity and compassion on display was astounding, and Upper 3 and Lower 4 form groups created a fundraising stall raising over £700 towards medical aid in Ukraine.
Ukraine Fundraiser
All the Lower School pupils came together to hold a bonanza fundraiser for those affected by the war in Ukraine. The creativity and compassion on display was astounding, and U3 and L4 form groups created a fundraising stall raising over £700 towards medical aid in Ukraine.
Charity Shop Textiles Challenge
As part of Headington's Festival of Creativity, Textiles pupils were challenged to combine budgeting, sartorial knowhow and sewing techniques, when they were each given a £20 budget to peruse Headington’s charity shops and create a whole new piece of clothing in a day. The charity shop challenge tested their skills by limiting their choice to what they could find on the day and their ability to adapt and alter garments. While pupils spent their day ‘upcycling’, the exercise highlighted many current issues in the fashion industry including sustainability, fast fashion and diminishing pleasure. The students created some amazing pieces which they displayed during an impromptu catwalk at the end of the day.
Oxford Town & Gown
In May, Team Headington gathered at Oxford University Parks for the Oxford Town and Gown 10k run. We were delighted to have so many runners, including many Prep School pupils taking part in the Junior 3k run. It was a beautifully sunny day and Team Headington were cheered on by lots of supporters, including friends, family and a large group from our boarding community.
All Headingtonians are invited to run for Team Headington at this year's Oxford Town & Gown on Sunday 14th May! You can secure our school discount using the code headington23.
Oxford Town & Gown
In May, Team Headington gathered at Oxford University Parks for the Oxford Town and Gown 10k run. We were delighted to have so many runners, including many Prep School pupils taking part in the Junior 3k run. It was a beautifully sunny day and Team Headington were cheered on by lots of supporters, including friends, family and a large group from our boarding community.
All Headingtonians are invited to run for Team Headington at this year's Oxford Town & Gown on Sunday 14th May! You can secure our school discount using the code headington23.
Ella Podmore - McLaren visit
The School was a hive of activity as pupils of all ages took part in a day dedicated to Automotive Engineering. Ella Podmore, McLaren Materials Engineer and Headingtonian (2014) arrived in a McLaren supercar to kick off a host of activities, inspiring pupils to explore a career in this fascinating area. Soon after her visit to Headington, Ella was awarded an MBE for her services to Engineering, Innovation and Diversity, which is a fantastic achievement.
A Visit from Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Headington’s Science Faculty hosted an open-community STEM event in June, coordinated by Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT), an internationally renowned biotech company. The high-tech scientists created an enriching and informative experience for Lower 5 and Lower 6 students including flash-talks, breakout discussions and hands-on activities. Students were also given the opportunity to question several early career scientists, who shared their journey into biotechnology as developers, scientists, technical support, operations and biomathematicians.
A Visit from Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Headington’s Science Faculty hosted an open-community STEM event in June, coordinated by Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT), an internationally renowned biotech company. The high-tech scientists created an enriching and informative experience for L5 and L6 pupils including flash-talks, breakout discussions and hands-on activities. Pupils were also given the opportunity to question several early career scientists, who shared their journey into biotechnology as developers, scientists, technical support, operations and biomathematicians.
Memorial Service Queen Elizabeth
At the end of the first day of term, we received the sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The next morning, the whole School community gathered in the Sports Hall to mourn the Queen's passing at a special assembly led by Caroline Jordan and Rev Tom Howell and sang 'God Save the King' for the first time. Pupils and staff were also able to leave messages in a book of condolence.
Memorial Service Queen Elizabeth
At the end of the first day of term, we received the sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The next morning, the whole School community gathered in the Sports Hall to mourn the Queen's passing at a special assembly led by Caroline Jordan and Rev Tom Howell and sang 'God Save the King' for the first time. Pupils and staff were also able to leave messages in a book of condolence.
Chelsea Flower Show
A thought-provoking and inspiring garden, contributed to by Headington’s Eco Textiles students, won a silver medal at Chelsea Flower Show and has since been moved to Headington School.
Led by Headington’s Head of Fashion Textiles Mrs Kate Turnbull, A Level students joined forces with garden designer Lottie Delamain and Fashion Revolution to create the first ever garden at the world-famous flower show to feature solely plants which can be used to make or dye clothes.
Chelsea Flower Show
A thought-provoking and inspiring garden, contributed to by Headington’s Eco Textiles students, won a silver medal at Chelsea Flower Show and has since been moved to Headington School.
Led by Headington’s Head of Fashion Textiles Mrs Kate Turnbull, A Level students joined forces with garden designer Lottie Delamain and Fashion Revolution to create the first ever garden at the world-famous flower show to feature solely plants which can be used to make or dye clothes.
Switzerland Rowing Camp
Over October half term, thirty J16 and senior rowers travelled to Switzerland for a rowing camp on Lake Sarnen. After flying from Heathrow to Zurich and travelling by train to Lucerne, they explored Lucerne and stayed overnight in a converted prison, before heading to the Swiss Rowing Centre at Lake Sarnen. Surrounded by mountains, the rowers trained for three sessions each day, starting with a surprise 30-minute erg test which set the tone for the week. On the last day, the rowers took part in a 5k sculling time trial, with a large number of singles, two quads and a double all competing for the top spot in the percentages. It was a great week of strengthening and improving on the water prior to the start of winter training.
Holland Hockey Tour
During October half term, Headington School’s Hockey Club went on tour to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The trip included a training session at Rotterdam Hockey Club, fixtures against HV Spijkenisse and HC De Ijssel, where matches were played at a high standard and a chance to watch Rotterdam Hockey Club Men’s first team. In between fixtures, pupils had the opportunity to explore the cities and visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. The tour was highly educational and great fun, with a mix of sightseeing, shopping and sampling local delicacies as well as having the opportunity to play hockey.
Holland Hockey Tour
During October half term, Headington School’s Hockey Club went on tour to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The trip included a training session at Rotterdam Hockey Club, fixtures against HV Spijkenisse and HC De Ijssel, where matches were played at a high standard and a chance to watch Rotterdam Hockey Club Men’s first team. In between fixtures, pupils had the opportunity to explore the cities and visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. The tour was highly educational and great fun, with a mix of sightseeing, shopping and sampling local delicacies as well as having the opportunity to play hockey.
Senior School 'Lunch'
In November, Senior School parents came together for a ‘school lunch’ in the Dining room at Headington Senior School to experience what a typical lunch is like for our pupils, along with a glass of wine. Parents from U3 to U6 attended and queued up with their lunch trays as their daughters do every day.
Remembrance
In November, a series of events were held to mark Remembrance Day at Headington. As well as a whole school service in the Sports Hall, over 40 members of our CCF contingent joined the parade at St Giles in Oxford on Remembrance Sunday, together with other cadet units from Oxford City.
Remembrance
In November, a series of events were held to mark Remembrance Day at Headington. As well as a whole school service in the Sports Hall, over 40 members of our CCF contingent joined the parade at St Giles in Oxford on Remembrance Sunday, together with other cadet units from Oxford City.
Academic Presentation Evening
In November, 37 U6 students took part in Academic Presentation Evening, presenting the findings of the year-long research projects they conducted as part of their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). It was a fantastic evening with a huge range of research projects presented, from exploring attitudes and behaviours on mask wearing during COVID-19, to examining the sociology of the French Revolution, the impact of Portuguese colonial agriculture on Brazil and the restoration of the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.
Dinner with Radley College
In November, students from Headington and Radley’s Sixth Form took part in an evening of collaborative cooking and dining in Headington’s new Food and Nutrition Centre. After a general introduction and briefing on the six-course menu they were soon to create, the group divided into pairs to prepare inventive dishes including quails' eggs croustades, palmiers and duck rolls, before getting back together to enjoy their culinary masterpiece at the dining table.
Dinner with Radley College
In November, students from Headington and Radley’s Sixth Form took part in an evening of collaborative cooking and dining in Headington’s new Food and Nutrition Centre. After a general introduction and briefing on the six-course menu they were soon to create, the group divided into pairs to prepare inventive dishes including quails' eggs croustades, palmiers and duck rolls, before getting back together to enjoy their culinary masterpiece at the dining table.
HSOBC’s 30th Anniversary
Headington School hosted a special lunch to celebrate the Boat Club’s 30th Anniversary, welcoming back to School Headingtonians and parents who have played an integral part in shaping the Club over the last 30 years. This was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends and learn how rowing first started at Headington and how it's developed over the years to become one of the largest and most successful school Boat Clubs in the UK.
As we look forward to the next 30 years, Headington is building our very own Boathouse at Long Wittenham, aiming to row there from September 2023. For an update on the Boathouse progress please go to page 7 and to read more about our 30th year anniversary celebration please take a look at our 30 years of HSOBC site.
The Taming of the Shrew
The Autumn Term ended with the Senior School production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and John Fletcher’s protofeminist sequel, The Tamer Tamed. It was incredibly impressive to see such an ambitious project led by such a young cast, most of whom were Lower 5 pupils. Live music was performed by the cast and the costumes were designed and made by Upper 5 and Lower 6 pupils.
The Taming of the Shrew
The Autumn Term ended with the Senior School production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and John Fletcher’s protofeminist sequel, The Tamer Tamed. It was incredibly impressive to see such an ambitious project led by such a young cast, most of whom were L5 pupils. Live music was performed by the cast and the costumes were designed and made by U5 and L6 pupils.
Christmas Carol Service
At the end of the Autumn Term, we enjoyed a magical Carol Service at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. A string quartet played as the congregation assembled and the singing was led by the Chamber Choir and the Headingtones. For those who were unable to join us in person, you can watch a recording of the service here.
The Nutcracker
In January, Headington School's Royal Academy of Dance students took to the stage to perform a stunning rendition of Tchaikovsky's timeless masterpiece, The Nutcracker. This special event marked a significant milestone for the school as it was their first-ever dedicated ballet show. Dancers from both Headington Prep and Senior Schools (Year 1 – Sixth Form) collaborated together to perform this iconic work. The performance of The Nutcracker was a testament to the dedication and hard work of both the students and their teachers, who had poured countless hours into perfecting every detail of the production.
The Nutcracker
In January, Headington School's Royal Academy of Dance students took to the stage to perform a stunning rendition of Tchaikovsky's timeless masterpiece, The Nutcracker. This special event marked a significant milestone for the school as it was their first-ever dedicated ballet show. Dancers from both Headington Prep and Senior Schools (Year 1 – Sixth Form) collaborated together to perform this iconic work. The performance of The Nutcracker was a testament to the dedication and hard work of both the students and their teachers, who had poured countless hours into perfecting every detail of the production.
Chinese New Year
In January, Headington School celebrated the Lunar New Year with families from Year 1 to U6 for a special evening of dance, songs and music prepared especially for Chinese New Year followed by a delicious dinner that included a variety of traditional dishes. The event brought together pupils from both the Prep and Senior School to showcase their talents and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of China, Hong Kong and other regions.
Mind, Body & Soul Dance Show
Over 130 dancers took part in the annual Mind, Body & Soul performance, performing to sell-out crowds over two nights in February.
The show included dance performances from students in Upper 3 - Upper 6, showcasing a variety of styles. It comprised solos, duets and small groups as well as whole class performances and featured dances from the youngest dancers as well as Dance Scholars throughout the School and those preparing for GCSE and A Level Dance this year. A spellbound audience was captivated by a mixture of quieter, more meditative performances alongside high octane energetic numbers.
Director of Dance Miss Faith Jackson said: “The dancers worked exceptionally well preparing for the show and their performances were outstanding! We are so proud of all of the dancers, they are all so very talented”.
Mind, Body & Soul Dance Show
Over 130 dancers took part in the annual Mind, Body & Soul performance, performing to sell-out crowds over two nights in February.
The show included dance performances from students in U3 - U6, showcasing a variety of styles. It comprised solos, duets and small groups as well as whole class performances and featured dances from the youngest dancers as well as Dance Scholars throughout the School and those preparing for GCSE and A Level Dance this year. A spellbound audience was captivated by a mixture of quieter, more meditative performances alongside high octane energetic numbers.
Director of Dance Miss Faith Jackson said: “The dancers worked exceptionally well preparing for the show and their performances were outstanding! We are so proud of all of the dancers, they are all so very talented”.
Slapton Sands Geography Trip
As well as being an extremely picturesque and popular beach, Slapton Sands plays an important part in the survival of some of the UK’s rarest flora and fauna and the perfect location for Headington’s Upper 5 Geography pupils to develop their fieldwork skills. The residential trip in March included a human investigation looking at the quality of life in rural areas and a 13km hike along the coast measuring beach profiles and collecting data.
The students learnt valuable skills including how to use a clinometer to measure beach angles and on the final morning, they spent time consolidating their investigation material before evaluating methods used to gather data. After a tough few days of fieldwork, they stopped for a special meal on the way home.
Reflecting on their trip, they said “Our experience at Slapton definitely reminded us of the privileges that come with our urban lifestyle – especially the fast food we enjoyed on the return!”
Slapton Sands Geography Trip
As well as being an extremely picturesque and popular beach, Slapton Sands plays an important part in the survival of some of the UK’s rarest flora and fauna and the perfect location for Headington’s Upper 5 Geography pupils to develop their fieldwork skills. The residential trip in March included a human investigation looking at the quality of life in rural areas and a 13km hike along the coast measuring beach profiles and collecting data.
The pupils learnt valuable skills including how to use a clinometer to measure beach angles and on the final morning, they spent time consolidating their investigation material before evaluating methods used to gather data. After a tough few days of fieldwork, they stopped for a special meal on the way home.
Reflecting on their trip, they said “Our experience at Slapton definitely reminded us of the privileges that come with our urban lifestyle – especially the fast food we enjoyed on the return!”
2023 British Physics Olympiad Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenges
In March, our Lower 6 and Upper 5 Physicists participated in the 2023 British Physics Olympiad Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenges. The annual competitions aim to encourage the study of Physics and recognise excellence in young physicists, which are designed to stretch and challenge the top young physicists in the country through real-world, open-ended and unstructured problems requiring tenacity and rigour.
This year there were more than 5000 entries from the very best students in over 200 schools, and we were delighted with the successes of our own competitors, which included 6 x Gold, 22 x Silver and 11 x Bronze medals in the Intermediate Physics Challenge (IPC), awarded to our Upper 5 students. For the Lower 6 students, who took part in the Senior Physics Challenge (SPC), Headington came away with 4 x Gold, 8 x Silver and 10 x Bronze medals.
Mr Jason Morris, Head of Physics and the Science Faculty at Headington School, said: “We’re very proud of them all and the Physics Department would like to congratulate all those who took part!”
2023 British Physics Olympiad Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenges
In March, our L6 and U5 Physicists participated in the 2023 British Physics Olympiad Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenges. The annual competitions aim to encourage the study of Physics and recognise excellence in young physicists, which are designed to stretch and challenge the top young physicists in the country through real-world, open-ended and unstructured problems requiring tenacity and rigour.
This year there were more than 5,000 entries from the very best students in over 200 schools, and we were delighted with the successes of our own competitors, which included six Gold, 22 Silver and 11 Bronze medals in the Intermediate Physics Challenge (IPC), awarded to our U5 pupils. For the L6 pupils, who took part in the Senior Physics Challenge (SPC), Headington came away with four Gold, eight Silver and 10 Bronze medals.
Mr Jason Morris, Head of Physics and the Science Faculty at Headington School, said: “We’re very proud of them all and the Physics Department would like to congratulate all those who took part!”