D'Overbroeck's College

d’Overbroeck’s is a co-educational independent school in Oxford, England, for pupils aged 11–18. The school has three main parts, each based on a different site in North Oxford:

• Years 7-11 — the students' section of the school on Leckford Road, taking boys and girls aged 11–16. This section of the school is for day students only.
• The Sixth Form — teaching A levels to sixth form students (both day and boarding) aged 16+ in the Swan Building at 111 Banbury Road.
• The International Section — delivering one year and two year IGCSE courses to prepare international students for their A level studies in the UK. Students are typically 14–17 years old.

The Swan Building, 111 Banbury Road, Oxford.

The Good Schools Guide describes d’Overbroeck’s as a place of energy and laughter, of single-minded determination among students to do the best they can. And d'Overbroeck's doesn't let them down.^[1]

The Sixth Form

The Sixth Form is the oldest part of d'Overbroeck's. Unlike many independent schools, d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form is on a separate site, meaning that its facilities and teaching are entirely geared towards sixth form students.

The Sixth Form is in North Oxford, with the main teaching centre being The Swan Building, 111 Banbury Road, Oxford.

Students

The Sixth Form has a total of about 250 students, with an even mix of boys and girls. About 50% of students are boarders and 50% are day students.

The majority of students at d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form are from the UK, but international students are also integral. The Sixth Form has students from a large range of countries (30 different nationalities at present).

Of the 250 students in the Sixth Form, around 40 will have stayed on from Years 7-11 or the International Section. The vast majority, however, join from other schools after taking their GCSEs.

Results and comments

A level results achieved by students at d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form are consistently strong. In 2010 27% of grades were A* 59% A/A*, placing the school at number 106 in the national league table for independent schools^[2]

In the academic year 2009-10, the Sixth Form achieved a contextual value added score of 1,102.^[3] This was the highest score achieved by any school nationwide.

The Good Schools Guide describes d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form as quite possibly the leading independent sixth form in the UK.^[1]

Entry

The Sixth Form is selective, and entry is typically by application, reference and interview. Entry requires at least 8 GCSEs at grade A* to C, normally including Maths and English, or equivalent. A number of Sixth Form scholarships and awards are available.

Curriculum

Students at the Sixth Form study A levels, choosing their subjects from a list of nearly 40. Because these are not organised in option blocks, practically any combination of subjects is possible. d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form was one of the first schools to introduce the Extended Project Qualification, which supplements A/AS level study. Pupils choosing to undertake an EPQ do so in addition to their A-levels.

Pastoral system

Pastoral care and academic monitoring at the Sixth Form are carried out by a system of Directors of Studies. Each student is supervised by a Director of Studies — one of a team of senior staff. Each Director of Studies supervises a small number of students for whom they have pastoral and academic responsibility. In many cases a student will also be taught by their Director of Studies.

The vast majority of Sixth Form students go on to study at UK universities.

Years 7-11 (11–16)

Years 7-11 are located on Leckford Road, Oxford. Its main entry points are at 11+ (Year 7) and 13+ (Year 9). Unlike the other two parts of the College, this part of the school is for day pupils only.

Of the three parts, Leckford Place was the most recently opened. It took its first pupils in September 2005, since which time pupil numbers have grown steadily.

Students

As is the case throughout d'Overbroeck's, Years 7-11 is coeducational. The vast majority of students are UK residents local to Oxford, in keeping with its day school status. Student numbers are about 150.

Years 7-11 is a selective school, with entry by assessment. A number of scholarships are available at 11 and 13, including academic, art and performing arts scholarships. Academic results are strong, with 41% A/A* grades at GCSE in 2010.

Results and comments

In 2010, 41% of GCSE grades were A/A* (69% A* to B), and 100% of pupils gained five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C.

The Good Schools Guide commends teachers [who] make good use of state-of-the-art facilities and vibrant teaching methods, clever design, superb use of space, modern and extremely well equipped [science labs] and value added features in spades, declaring, [missing word] have yet to meet a dissatisfied parent.^[4]

The International Section

The International Section (hereafter referred to as 11i) is on St Giles, close to the centre of Oxford. 11i takes international students aged 15+, and is a boarding school.

Pupils at 11i study the College's IGCSE Programme, designed specifically for international pupils as a preparation to study A levels at a UK school.

Students

11i takes around 40 students each year, with a broad mix of nationalities. As is the case throughout d'Overbroeck's, the International Section is coeducational.

Students are required to have at least a Lower intermediate (B1) level of English language for entry into the International Section.

Results and comments

In 11i's most recent British Council inspection, it was awarded points of excellence in six separate areas:

• Teaching
• Pastoral care
• Learner training
• Leisure programme
• Aspects of course design
• Aspects of administration of pupils

No other UK international study centre scored more points of excellence, according to a summary of organisations' results published in the EL Gazette.^[5]

The IGCSE Programme

The IGCSE Programme at 11i is a 1-2 year course in which pupils study a range of GCSE subjects and take examinations at the end of the course. Alongside their academic studies, students receive expert tuition in English. Students are grouped according to ability, and the programme is designed to be flexible enough to fit students' various aptitudes and aims.

Accreditation

d'Overbroeck's is affiliated to the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and in membership of both the Independent Schools Association (ISA) and the Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent Schools (SHMIS).

The International Study Centre is Accredited by the British Council as an international study centre, and is a member of the British Association of International Study Centres (BAISC).

References

Sources

• The Good Schools Guide (13th ed.). Lucas Publications. 2008. pp. 302–304. 

External links

• Official website