HEADTEACHER’S NEWSLETTER
December 2016
Dear Parents
The Michaelmas term is always a busy and productive time in schools and Oakwood is certainly no exception. There
has been excellent focus and determination in all aspects of school life since September with much to be proud of
across academics, sport, art and music; above all the children’s desire to learn more and develop both personally and
as a community has shone through.
The Pre-Prep ‘Fly to Christmas’ Pantomime this week has certainly entertained and transported us to the land of
Christmas with sprinklings of magic pixie dust and even a pantomime cow! I must congratulate all the children for a
truly exceptional production; as an audience it is all too easy to forget that the oldest children on the stage are still
only 7 while our youngest performers are only 2½. As always, our wholehearted thanks go to all the staff who have
supported and encouraged behind the scenes; to Jo Wardroper for the musical elements of the pantomime; and of
course to the ‘Ugly Sisters’, Mini Elliot and Ellie Richardson-Fowler, for their energy and enthusiasm in directing this
year’s production. Thank you.
The festive time also brings many opportunities for our choirs and musicians to perform. Over the first 2 weeks of
December the choirs have once again made Oakwood proud singing at 3 Goodwood Balls, several local care homes
and St Wilfrid’s Hospice, as well as leading our Carol Service tomorrow. I am delighted to introduce a new award to
recognise the hard work and contribution of our choristers; to this end, the first winner of the trophy ‘Chorister of the
Month’, has been awarded to Olivia Dickens. Future winners will be announced in the Friday Flyer at the end of the
month. We have also been treated to a Prep School Drama Assembly with all the Year 3-6 children performing,
culminating with a powerful performance from the Year 6 pupils on the struggles currently taking place in the Middle
East. Finally, children participating in the Christmas Cracker Concert delighted all those who attended with their
enthusiastic and talented performances. Once more, my thanks go to all the staff for their creativity and guidance in
music and drama at Oakwood.
Curriculum
Throughout this term my office has consistently been a hub of activity as I celebrate individual achievements; credits
have been abundant recognising both personal excellence and an array of independent projects completed at home
or out of lessons, reflecting the children’s true love of learning and the pride they have in their own achievements.
There is no doubt that the opportunities Oakwood offers to extend learning are well received and popular with our
children; to this end, this term’s Creative Arts and Funky Physics Saturday workshops have been extremely well
attended and enjoyed by all participants. Next term we look forward to more scientific fun with a Saturday Chemistry
Workshop and many performing arts events within the Chichester Festival of Music, Speech and Drama and LAMDA
examinations all in the diary. Good luck to all our performers as you prepare for these events.
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As we reach the end of term we look to recognise selected pupils from each class for their hard work and progress;
this year we have added an award to recognise the politeness and courtesy shown by our pupils. I am thrilled to
announce this term’s Effort, Achievement and Courtesy winners across the whole school. The winners are:
Class
RM
RT
1S
1E
2Z
2RF
3H
3M
4H
4B
5Q
5B
6W
6P
Personal Achievement
Kate Pointer
Tabitha Malec
Jonathan Roe dos Santos
Felix Glanfield
William Whittaker
Elsa Gotheridge
Oliver Hume
Charlie Stevenson
Bertie Payne
Joshua Crick
Oscar de Lacy
Noah Wharton
Freya Stevens
Henry Harris
Effort
Maisie Jenkins
Sebastian King
Henry Aspinall Nessling
Lola Colleran-Brown
George Fairhead
Mia Uccelli
Ashley Hang
Lilly Adams
Ava Hampson
Emily Helyer
Evie Burton
Beth Evans
Charlie Moss
Evie Kell
Courtesy
Callum Fox
Spencer Sellers
Valentina Rollason
Fleur Else
Amber Large
Coby Hall
Alexander Smirnov
Thomas Dempsey
Sophia Chidwick
Maria Gotheridge
Lily Hume
Oliver Davidson
Ben Bradpiece
Bethan Potts
Oakwood activity and success does not happen just within the classroom; we have had a considerable number of
sporting events and fixtures taking place across the Prep School since September, involving all pupils, in football,
rugby, netball, hockey and swimming. Our games sessions have included regular use of the Chichester College astroturf to allow further hockey training for our senior pupils. The training has been hugely beneficial in giving our older
pupils more opportunity to develop their hockey skills with the U10 and U11 girls competing in the first ever Oakwood
hockey matches against Seaford College recently. Oakwood girls in Years 3-6 have participated in a total of 30 netball
matches with the U11A team leading the way having lost only one game so far this season – an impressive feat. The
Oakwood boys in Years 3-6 have also been busy competing in 46 football matches and 15 tournaments this term as
well as starting the rugby season in the last few weeks of term. Our U8 and U9 Netball and Football Festivals held at
Oakwood were incredibly successful, with 8 visiting schools joining us for a busy sporting afternoon.
As we reach the end of the football season I am delighted to announce Football Colour awards to the following Year 5
and 6 boys. These are given in recognition of achievement, sporting ability, consistency in game play and attitude in
football this season:
Gold
James Potts
Ben Blair
Cameron Sutherland
Hugo Francis-Braconi
Red
Toby Jackson
Hugh Willing
Bevan Morrison
Oliver Lancaster
Archie Elliot
Josh Ellis
Stanley Walker
Jamie Holligon
Dan Betsworth
Oscar de Lacy
Oliver Davidson
Rocco Callander
Harvey Wallage
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Blue
Charlie Moss
Alec Bradpiece
Jack Mitchell
Henry Harris
Henry Ball
Jack English
Ben Bradpiece
Ben Nader
Sam Adams
Rufus Knight
Oliver Barden
Theo Bennett
Adam Brumder
James Strudwick
Thomas Greenhouse
Noah Wharton
Sebastian Cunningham
Alexander McBride
Community
I believe that our school community thrives on the active involvement of our pupils. Opportunities for leadership and
responsibility are key to developing our children’s confidence and self-esteem, and I am delighted to announce the
positions of responsibility for this academic year.
House
Avenue
House Captains
Sport Captains
Junior House Captains
Milly Orr and
Ben Bradpiece
Freya Stevens and
Hugh Willing
Maia Middleton and
Angus Strike
Saskia Fawcett and
Bevan Morrison
Isabella Rose and
Cameron Sutherland
Sephorah Walsh and
Harry Barden
Bethan Potts and
Henry Harris
Ruby Chandler and
James Potts
Sophie Malec and
Samuel Crick
Katie Mason and
Archie Elliot
Isla Solly and
Hugo Francis-Braconi
Mia Uccelli and
Coby Hall
School
Summersdale
Wilsey Down
The following pupils have been elected by their class to stand as members of the School Council:
Pre-Prep School Council:
Owls
Squirrels
1E
1S
2RF
2Z
Prep School Council:
3M
3H
4H
4B
5Q
5B
6W
6P
Lara Almashta
Callum Fox
Oliver Ford and Katelyn Richer
Jonathan Roe Dos Santos and Fen Todd
Coby Hall and Lucy Coles
William Whittaker and Sophie Malec
Charlie Stevenson and Sophie Ball
Toby Bennett and Ashley Hang
Freddie Foyle and Lexi Cotterel
Thomas Firth and Emily Helyer
Oscar de Lacy and Alice Waterworth
Josh Ellis and Chloe Mackley
Saskia Fawcett and Freya Stevens
Jack English and Cameron Sutherland
The following Year 5 and Year 6 pupils hold these positions of responsibility:
Peer Mentors - Thomas Greenhouse, Daniel Betsworth, Oliver Barden, Rocco Callander, Oscar de Lacy, Rufus Knight,
James Strudwick, Catherine Tupper, Harvey Wallage, Stanley Walker, Alice Waterworth, Henry Harris, Jack Mitchell,
Amber Street, Ruby Chandler, James Potts and Iris Randell
Librarians - Oliver Barden, Rufus Knight, Jack Mitchell, Beth Evans, Evie Burton, Jules Gaudion, Lily Hume,
Theo Bennett, Chloe Mackley, Henry Ball, Samuel Adams, Alice Waterworth and Isabelle Warnes
Eco Monitors - Piya Jones, Isabelle Warnes, Benjamin Blair, Jack English, Isla Solly, Henry Ball, Oliver Lancaster,
Katie Mason, Charlie Moss, Milly Orr, Freya Stevens, Maddie Styles and Hugh Willing
Office Assistants – Adam Brumder, Beth Evans, Minh Nguyen, Evie Burton, Jules Gaudion, Jamie Holligon, Lily Hume,
Holly Colston, Evie Kell, Benjamin Nader, Bethan Potts, Isabella Rose and Saskia Fawcett
Computer Monitors – Sebastian Cunningham, Joshua Ellis, Alexander McBride, Serena Thompson, Noah Wharton,
Samuel Adams, Emison Cotterel, Alec Bradpiece, Toby Jackson, Cameron Sutherland, Benjamin Bradpiece,
Hugo Francis-Braconi and Bevan Morrison
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Choir Leaders – Maia Middleton and Amber Large, Freddie Malec, Olivia Dickens, Ruby Chandler, Cameron Sutherland
and Archie Elliot
As always, the house competition has been hotly contested with great excitement
each week as the results are announced; it has been close this term with Wilsey
Down taking home the end of term trophy and celebrating with the winning house
tea. Congratulations Wilsey Down!
Wilsey Down
Summersdale
Avenue
School
135.23
131.02
129.02
120.58
Remembrance is always a poignant time in school as we reflect on our good fortune and take time to remember those
who sacrificed their lives for us or who continue to strive for peace in the world. Returning to an old school tradition,
the Prep School pupils walked through the woods to Sennicotts on Remembrance day for a short service of
Remembrance in Sennicotts Chapel and to lay a wreath on the gravestone of Captain Fenn, the first Headmaster of
Oakwood School. We were incredibly lucky to have the most beautiful sunny autumn day to share in this experience
and I would like to thank both Father Charles for leading the service and Sergeant Sutton for helping us safely across
the busy Funtington Road. We certainly plan to do this event again in the future.
Just after half term we held a fun-filled Groovy Grandparents’ Morning and were delighted to host over 100
grandparents and extended family members at Oakwood. The morning started with 3M’s assembly, sharing some
hilarious anecdotes of what grandparents mean to them, followed by the opportunity for our visitors to go to lessons
with their grandchildren. It was without doubt an enjoyable morning for children and grandparents alike.
The Oakwood community has been as active as ever in helping to raise money and support those less fortunate than
ourselves. As a school this term we have supported a variety of national charitable events, raising considerable totals:
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£380 for Macmillan Cancer
£949 for the National Readathon Campaign
£130 for Save the Children on Christmas Jumper Day & £30 from the ‘Build a Den Competition’
£385 for the school to spend on books from the Travelling Book Fair
£76 towards the Poppy Appeal
In addition to this fundraising, work has started in earnest to raise money for our selected school charities for this
academic year, Canine Partners and Cancer Research. The children have entered into the spirit enthusiastically and
can be pleased with their efforts so far:
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The Whole School Space Day raised £186
The Children’s Christmas Charity Celebrations proved incredibly popular with
Oakwood families raising £536
The Oakwood ‘Onesie Dog Fun Run’ raised £160
Our Oakwood Junior and Senior Choirs sang at a number of Goodwood House
events raising £1345
Pre-Prep Christmas production donations raised £320
Winter wear sale raised £71
Our total fundraising for Canine Partners and Cancer Research is an impressive
£2,619. Thank you to all our Oakwood families for your support; I now encourage
the children to put their thinking caps on over the holidays for yet more fundraising
opportunities next term!
FOO & Future Events
The involvement of parents through FOO and our class representatives is an important aspect of Oakwood life and we
have had some very well attended and successful social events this term. Our annual FOO Fireworks Night was
extremely well supported by current Oakwood families and ‘Old Oakwoodians’ raising £1,500 for our FOO funds and
the Festive Drinks early in December welcomed Christmas to Oakwood raising another £1,570 for FOO. Thank you to
all the parents involved in helping to organise these events and the many contributions to the wonderful ‘Festive
Hampers’.
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I would like to make mention and a special thank you to both Anna Fawcett and Kerrie Potts for
their tireless work over the years in organising the fireworks night; as their children leave at the
end of this year they ‘pass on the baton’. Thank you ladies for the years of impeccable
organisation to make the fireworks a truly wonderful annual event for us all. We hope you will be
back to enjoy the celebrations next year!
I am thrilled that some FOO funding for the school was confirmed earlier this term to give support to the following
projects:
 £30,000 (50% of total cost) towards the Dining Room extension, due for completion over the Christmas
holidays
 £8,000 to develop a Food Technology Room
 £800 for new House Flags (using the winning children’s designs from the house emblem competition)
 £8,000 (50% of total cost) to extend the IT provision in the Prep school
The dining room development has really gathered pace in recent weeks, due entirely to the long hours and hard work
our maintenance team has given to this project. We will be planning a ‘grand opening’ in the new year as well as the
opportunity for parents to come along and enjoy this new space. Thank you to Nathan Cobden, Eric Cobden, Jeremy
Coleman and Andy Simcox.
We are delighted to have a newly formed FOO Committee, led by Katia Callander who have volunteered their time to
work alongside our current class representatives to help in organising future FOO events throughout the year. There
will be regular FOO and Class Rep meetings each term. It has been agreed the school will manage the finances of FOO
bringing this into the school and no longer operating as its own charity. I would of course like to extend my sincere
gratitude to the retiring FOO committee from last academic year; thank you to Amanda Tupper, Jo Burton and Jo
Crane for all their hard work. In the new year, you are invited to the coffee morning hosted by FOO and Class Reps on
Friday 13th January at 8.45am in the Library and the FOO Quiz Night on Friday 3rd March at 7.30pm in the Lyne Hall.
Please put these dates in your diary and we hope to see many families at these events.
You will have received your Spring term calendar, alongside your End of Term Reports
and Curriculum Overviews earlier this week. I encourage you to study the calendar
and put a few key dates into your diaries. We have an Internet Safety Talk for
Year 3-6 parents on Tuesday 17th January in the Lyne Hall at 5.30pm. The Curriculum
Overview is a concise programme of study for the Spring term; please do encourage
your child to engage with these topics at home.
I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight some slight amendments to the published provisional dates:
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Summer Term 2017 finishes on Thursday 13th July at 12.30pm after our morning Speech Day
Michaelmas Term 2017 will now finish on Wednesday 13th December (previously published as Friday 15th
December)
Spring Term 2018 begins on Monday 8th January.
Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you all refreshed and ready for
another action packed term at Oakwood.
Kind regards
Clare Bradbury
Headteacher
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