d’Overbroeck’s
d'Overbroeck's
d'Overbroeck's is an independent coeducational day and boarding school serving students between the ages of 11 and 18, and is located in Oxford, England. The school is owned by Nord Anglia Education. It consists of the Years 7–11 School, The International School, and the Sixth Form.
Malcolm van Biervliet D'Overbroeck established the sixth form that is now known as d'Overbroeck's in 1977. Up until his retirement in 2007, he spent 30 years at the school as a French and Spanish teacher. Van Biervliet's residence served as the college's original location.
In Years 7 through 11, there were about 200 students enrolled in 2020. The Sixth Form has over 375 students, while the International School has over 90 pupils.
About 50% of the students in the Sixth Form are from the United Kingdom, and 50% come from other countries. Sixth Form students at the institution are split evenly between boarding and day students.
Programs
The curriculum at d'Overbroeck's is created to help students grow in their knowledge, abilities, and talents in a welcoming environment that challenges and supports each individual. This aids kids in realizing their full potential and developing into self-assured, autonomous individuals.
Except for math, which is typically taught in classes based on individuals' needs and learning styles, d'Overbroeck's teachers in Years 7 and 8 educate all students in mixed ability groups. This gives people the freedom to work at their own pace and the flexibility to be encouraged and challenged as necessary. Math, English (including literature), Geography, History, Latin, French, Spanish, Computing, Art and Design, Music, Drama, Sport, Personal Development, Classical Civilization, and Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy are all included in the students' broad curriculum. In Years 7 and 8, experts instruct a general science course.
Students continue with the general curriculum by choosing two out of three languages. But other people opt to study Classical Civilization rather than a second language. From Year 9 onwards, students study Biology, Chemistry, and Physics as independent topics.
The majority of pupils take ten GCSEs, and to provide them as much flexibility and choice as possible, d'Overbroeck's creates alternative groups. The curriculum that students follow is well-rounded and includes the required disciplines of math, English language and literature, a modern foreign language, and humanities. All pupils prepare for the Triple Award Science. All GCSE students at d'Overbroeck's receive help on how to get ready for public exams, careers, and alternatives for future education, as well as preparation for starting their studies at d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form. In order to maximize their time at school, many students add extracurricular and academic enrichment activities to their course load.
35 A-Level disciplines are offered by d'Overbroeck's, which gives students the freedom to select the combination of subjects that best suits their strengths, interests, and long-term goals. Below is a list of the topics that d'Overbroeck's has to offer.
d'Overbroeck's does not use fixed option blocks, unlike the majority of schools. This implies that you can combine whatever subjects you desire to study. A large majority of the topic combinations that d'Overbroeck's are asked for each year can typically be accommodated by the timetable framework, which is meant to allow an exceptional level of flexibility.
Even if you have quite firm ideas about what you want to do, d'Overbroeck's advises you to start by thinking broadly and conducting extensive study. Making the appropriate topic choice is essential to academic achievement; d'Overbroeck's takes this responsibility very seriously and urges you to follow suit.
When it comes to the teaching it provides in the Sixth Form, d'Overbroeck's likes to go above and beyond in everything it does. All students should be given the knowledge, abilities, and attitudes necessary to succeed in life, according to d'Overbroeck's. We take great pride in being able to provide a wide range of options to support students in becoming the greatest versions of themselves and realizing their academic goals.
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and other broader learning opportunities, including competitions, challenges, conferences, lectures, themed learning days, and more, are available to students in the Sixth Form.
The International School's curriculum places a high priority on EAL. d'Overbroeck's understands that the goal of EAL is to support students in all of their mainstream classes across the school when English is not their first language. This goal goes beyond simply preparing pupils to take an English language certification. Before being given a spot, the English proficiency of all overseas students for whom English is not their first language is evaluated. Password exams are used by the school to help in admission. Additionally, each student is given a test when they first arrive using the proper test materials for their entry level. Following that, the setting is informed by the test data. The EAL support is incorporated into the 9i-11i curriculum at the International School.
The Discovery Years program includes four main lesson kinds (Trinity, Language, Reading, and Skills) that are designed to help pupils develop the language skills and leadership qualities needed to succeed in the world. In the summer semester, 9i students will either take the Level I or Level II Trinity exam, depending on their English proficiency. Depending on their original language and language skills, students enrolling in the One and Two Year IGCSE courses are assigned to either the Second Language IGCSE or the English GCSE. The 10i students study a carefully designed curriculum that includes courses on Academic Skills and Reading as well as test preparation. Grammar and lexis are incorporated into a topic-based syllabus that is followed in exam classes. Along with their preparation for the IGCSE in English Second Language, the highest ability English set(s) also finish their GCSE English Language coursework.
In addition, literary reading is the focus of one class per week in year 11. Shakespeare and contemporary literature from the 21st century are just a few of the texts that 11i students learn to analyze and assess critically. The 11i English sets with the highest ability successfully finish GCSE English Language and Literature. English clinics and language clubs are also available to pupils at The International School to help them improve their language skills. As of September 2022, the "Wider Reading Programme," directed and maintained by the EAL Department, is a part of the EAL provision. Students are told suitable novels to read for their level of English and are urged to read at least one book each month.
School Life
The co-curricular program is built on the same principles of choice, involvement, and enjoyment as the academic program. Students have the opportunity to explore new options and further their knowledge outside of the classroom thanks to the program. With more than 80 co-curricular options, the school wants to ensure that every student can find something that suits them and is encouraged to "have a try," regardless of their skill level. Most of these extracurricular activities are offered without charge.
Every department in Years 7–11 organizes at least one excursion every year to see how their subject is applied in a larger context, whether it be in the neighborhood or abroad. There are lots of activities at school, including game shows, school council gatherings, musical performances, and theatrical productions. Additionally, a variety of activities are available, including building rockets, manufacturing jewelry, and computer problems. The Duke of Edinburgh Award, available to all students at d'Overbroeck's from all campuses, is one of the most well-liked extracurricular activities.
One of the busiest departments at d'Overbroeck's is the music department. Whether you want to pursue A-Level Music or A-Level Music Technology, start or continue instrumental lessons, participate in the annual school play, compose for fun, or play your instrument frequently with like-minded people, d'Overbroeck's has something for you!
Future Prospects
At d'Overbroeck's, students begin receiving university and career counseling almost as soon as they enter the Sixth Form. For instance, discussions about potential career paths might help students choose the right subjects: some students may already know what they want to do and require certain courses to get there, while others may not know what they want to do and need courses to keep doors open. Whatever they intend to do after their A-Levels, what students accomplish in the sixth form can have an impact, thus d'Overbroeck's encourages them to participate in contests, volunteer work, extra reading and study, and job experience. All of these things work to both get students ready for the next step and offer them an advantage on the way there.
Beginning in the first term and reaching its peak in the spring term, the university preparation program includes seminars for students and informational evenings for parents. Both a trip to the USA College Day in London and a visit from London universities like Imperial College, UCL, King's College, and the LSE are customary events. There is a very full schedule of events during the summer term, including personal statement workshops, trips to university open houses, and seminars about applying to universities from internal and foreign speakers.
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