Competitions and Show Gardens

We have entered the show garden competition at the South of England Show on five separate occasions and we have won four times (in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011) which is an outstanding achievement for a 11 – 16 secondary school.

Read more about our winning entires below:

'A Guiding Hand'
‘A Guiding Hand’

South of England Show 2011 – ‘A Guiding Hand Garden’ by Oathall wins first place

The design aims to symbolically represent the nurturing and supporting hand that is given to young people by their parents, teachers and many others as they make their journey through life.

Our hope is that this nurturing garden provides a safe haven for young people; a place to sit and enjoy, a place to relax and reflect, but most of all a place to feel a sense of reassurance, a Guiding hand from those around us who care.

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Super Swanage Trip

In September a group of Y11 Geographers went on a residential field trip to West Lulworth and Swanage, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast.  The students designed surveys and collected data for their Controlled Assessment about the impact of tourism on West Lulworth.  They also studied the coastal landforms and processes which attract the tourists to the area.  This included a walk to Durdle Door along the Dorset Coastal Path.

They enjoyed an overnight stay at the Swanage Youth Hostel, relaxing with an evening of ten pin bowling.

 

Student has a great showing at Edenbridge and Oxted

Katie and Pylon Ambo at the show
Katie and Pylon Ambo at the show

Oathall Community College student and Young Farmer, Katie Russell, has had a brilliant few days, displaying both her academic prowess and her livestock showmanship skills.

At the Edenbridge and Oxted show held over the bank holiday weekend, an Ayrshire calf, “Pylon Ambo” trained and shown by Katie and loaned by David and Jeanne Heasman from Lane End Farm Sheffield Park was the Champion Ayrshire in the calf classes.

In addition Katie, aged 16, won the DSC trophy for the champion handler in the showmanship classes. Katie is a volunteer on the school farm and chairs the young farmers club.

The previous week Katie recorded outstanding grades in her GCSE examinations finishing with 11 GCSEs, four of which were A grades including her Environmental and Landbased studies course based on the farm which counts as 4 GCSE equivalents.

Head of Farm Howard Wood said: “These results demonstrate the all-round and balanced education we offer to students of all abilities at Oathall.  Congratulations to Katie.”

Cantabria Gallery

Well, we all made it home safely after our fun-filled, musical, Spanish experience! Sorry that we weren’t able to post much whilst we were away but here are a few photographic memories of our trip. Thanks to Emma, Gemma, Miss Driscoll and Mrs Godbolt for their photographs.

UPDATE! See more photos in our Flickr gallery here

Activities at Windmill Hill

Year 7 students participated in 8 different activities during their weekend stay at Windmill Hill.

Every student was given the opportunity to test their nerve in the challenging tasks on offer.

Good team work and encouragement together, with lots of fun, ensured that all students achieved things that they didn’t think possible.

 

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Bronze D of E Practice Expedition

86 Students and 14 adult volunteers have just completed a weekend of hiking & camping on the South Downs and Ashdown Forest in preparation for the Duke Of Edinburgh Bronze Award Expedition taking place later this year.  Apart from a small amount of rain, the weather held out, and aside from being a bit footsore and tired everyone survived the experience !

Bronze D of E Hikers

Oathall Rusty 10 Ayrshire Champion and Reserve Dairy Champion

Oathall students at the Heathfield Show with Rusty 10!
Oathall students at the Heathfield Show with Rusty 10!

Oathall students were thrilled when their four-year-old  Ayrshire dairy cow Oathall Rusty 10 was judged to be Ayrshire champion and reserve dairy champion at the recent Heathfield show, for the second year in succession. Rusty won three trophies including:

  • The Dinah Bridge Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the champion Ayrshire
  • The Blockfield Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best recorded heifer or cow
  • The Agrifactors Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the Reserve Dairy Champion.
  • Oathall students also showed the best Ayrshire dairy calf for Mr and Mrs Dr Heasman, winning the Ayrshire cattle club Perpetual Tankard.

They are now looking forward to the South of England show when they will be displaying their cattle and pigs together with a show garden. 

DoE Award Presentation Evening

Successful winners of Bronze and Silver D of E Awards and their families joined together on Wednesday evening to celebrate their achievements at the annual Award Presentation Evening . Students were congratulated on their achievements and presented with their award by Mrs Elizabeth Bennet DL, Chairman of  West Sussex County Committee Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.  Over 50 students successfully completed their Bronze award with a further 19 students completing their Silver Award and returning to Oathall to collect their certificates.

Bronze & Silver Award Winners
Bronze & Silver Award Winners

Oathall’s centre, coordinated by Mr Trevor Dore and his dedicated team of adult volunteers, proudly boasts a conversion rate higher than both the county and the national average for students completing this award.