Enrichment

Trips and Exchanges

There are many opportunities for you to travel abroad. The modern languages departments organise trips and exchanges to France, Germany, Russia and Italy and a trip to Spain will take place in 2009. The Classics Department has visited Greece, Turkey and Sicily over the last two years and will visit Rome in October 2010. Biology and Geography students enjoy residential field-trips in the south of England and in August 2009 the Geography department visited Iceland. The Art and Textiles departments have taken groups to Paris, Barcelona, Venice and Amsterdam. The Economics and Politics Department organises an annual trip to Brussels and Strasbourg. The English Department organises a study weekend for Year 13 English students and also arranges trips to Oxford theatres and to Stratford and London. Sixth Form students have enjoyed successful World Challenge trips to Bolivia (2005) and Chile (2007).

You can participate in conferences and events closer to home. Our students attend Oxford University’s annual High Sheriff’s Law Lecture and are invited to participate in many interesting conferences. Recent examples include Common Purpose’s tenth anniversary conference for tomorrow’s leaders and the annual Blake Lapthorn Sixth Form Challenge. Our Sixth Formers have also undertaken internships at global companies such as Goldman Sachs and Deloitte, and GDST sponsored internships at HSBC and Nomura Bank.

Activities and Community Involvement

Our Sixth Form students are fully involved in the life of the school and of the community beyond. As a Sixth Form student you will undoubtedly play an important role in helping with the day-to-day running of the school and take the lead in organising and running numerous school based societies and activities, such as Amnesty International, People and Planet, Magazine, Bridge, Choir, coaching Sports Clubs, Literary Societies, Film Club, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, Biology Society, Debating Society, Young Enterprise, CCF, Creative Writing and Drama. Many of these activities involve other schools in the area. Many Sixth Form students are involved in voluntary organisations in and around Oxford and take part in summer camps for disabled teenagers and voluntary work in local hospitals and schools.

Sport

Sixth Formers are the leading players in all the senior sports teams, representing the school locally, in county tournaments and in the GDST rallies. The senior Hockey squad undertakes regular summer tours to Barbados. Many students pursue individual sports with their clubs and compete nationally and internationally. Many sports can be chosen as General Studies’ options and the NVQ Community and Sports Leadership Award can be followed to achieve a qualification in coaching and leadership.

Music

The orchestras, ensembles, and choirs at Oxford High School benefit from your talents, skill and hard work. Sixth Formers play an important and extremely valued role in this creative and highly enjoyable aspect of school life.

Drama

There are lots of opportunities for you to get involved in Drama — as a director, performer or behind the scenes. There are frequent Senior Drama productions (some with Magdalen College School) and opportunities to help with Lower School productions. Recent Sixth Form productions include Duchess of Malfi, Hamlet, The Importance of Being Earnest, Antony and Cleopatra, Under Milkwood and a choreographed version of Cinderella.

Magazine

Sixth Form students make up the editorial committee of the school magazine, designing the layout, choosing the content, overseeing its production and publication. This is your chance to make your mark on an important school publication!

Young Enterprise

The opportunity to set up and run a company for a year is hugely popular and will help you to understand business and to develop valuable transferable skills.