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Joining Oakthorpe, whether in the Shells, the Sixth Form
or at any other stage, is the start of a great few years.
It is a vibrant and cohesive House, with a strong House
ethos. Members of Oakthorpe are very busy and have a wide
range of talents. We hope that everyone will use theirs
to the full, and enjoy themselves while they do so. Of
course, it is a fast learning curve, especially at the
beginning, but there is always plenty of success, even
if there are some ups and downs on the way (after all,
no one ever said being a teenager was easy!).
When they leave, we hope that all members of Oakthorpe
look back on us and their years here with a sense of pride
and great affection – as we do on them.
What we believe
We believe that everyone in our House has the right to
enjoy living and working here and to feel valued in a
community of which they are proud to be a member.
To achieve this we believe that:
- It is important to respect others and that to do
this we must respect not only their views and feelings
but also their personal space, their property and
their time.
- We should support each other and be particularly
aware when others are unhappy, tired or lonely.
- We should try to set a good example ourselves We
should appreciate that we are all living in one building
and that we need to share its space and care for it
- We should remember that we are also part of other
wider communities, and in particular the rest of the
school, and that our actions may also affect and reflect
on them.
- We shall succeed if we treat others as we would
wish to be treated ourselves
Who’s Who in Oakthorpe?
Oakthorpe House is home this year to seventy-one girls,
of whom fifty four are boarders. The girls are spread
evenly through the year groups from 13 -18 years old,
and their pastoral, academic and extra-curricular welfare
is looked after by the House Team. Most of the time everything
goes well, but sooner or later everyone needs sympathy
and support and with a large and experienced House Team,
three of whom are resident, there is always someone around
to give it.
The House Team consists of a resident Housemistress, who
has overall responsibility for the pastoral and academic
welfare of all members of the House, a resident House
Tutor and House matron, and five other tutors who are
members of the teaching staff. We are incredibly lucky
in Oakthorpe to have such an energetic and committed team
of people. Each tutor oversees the academic progress of
a year group and between them they cover a wide range
of subjects and interests, as well as being heavily involved
in extra-curricular activities.
Housemistress: Judy Young joined Oakthorpe as Housemistress
in 1999. Judy has taught at St. Helen’s and St Katharine’s,
Wycombe Abbey, Lancing College, and at Westfield School,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She teaches Physics as well as running
the House. She is also in charge of girls’ squash,
helps with the RAF section of the CCF and is learning
the trumpet.
House Matron: Mrs Ursula Isgar-Phillips, a fully
qualified nurse, manages all the domestic side of the
House, first port of call for anything medical, and very
important on the pastoral side.
Tutors:
U6th: Ms Maycock, Miss Brookes
L6th: Miss Holmes, Miss Buchan
5th: Mr Baker, Mrs Palmer
4th: Mr Creed
Shells: Mrs Young
School Prefect:
Head of House:
Building and Facilities
Oakthorpe House is on the main school site and lies just
behind the science block. It is close to almost all the
classroom areas of the school and, more importantly for
its members, it’s close to the quad, the hub of school
life.
The House is an interesting mixture of two converted Edwardian
houses at one end, and a newer, 1980’s block with
twenty-six single rooms in it at the other. The Lower
School end has fourteen rooms, each for two, three of
four pupils. Every room has its own wash basin and a full
range of bedroom furniture, with plenty of sockets.
Most Shells and Fourths share three boarders and one day
girl to a room, and most Fifths share double rooms. Sixth
former boarders all have their own single rooms, with
wash basins. There are numerous showers and bathrooms,
with a seemingly never-ending supply of hot water.
The main entrance to the House is through a large downstairs
Common Room, with a television and plenty of chairs. Boys
are allowed to visit here (and often find it so comfortable
that they do so without a girl in sight!), but they may
not enter the rest of the House. There is also an upstairs
Common Room with two large, comfortable sofas – good
for crashing out in and snuggling up to friends to watch
a video. The networked House computers are here, so that
girls’ can e-mail, use the web or produce coursework
in relative comfort. This Common Room is next door to
the main kitchen, and there are five more kitchens scattered
throughout the House, all equipped with a fridge, micro-wave,
kettle and toaster. |
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