Scholar’s Guides – Cycle 3

March 25th, 2024

Book Bunting Competition

March 25th, 2024

After 5 years it was felt the book bunting needed up dating across the library. We ran the competition for all year groups across a 6-week period.

What it has shown us, is that we have a lot of very talented artist at OSA. With over 350 entries from all year groups, we had a diverse range of ideas and books drawn. From the traditional front covers such as Holes, to the outside the box thinking such as the winner of Year 7 who had ideas spilling out of a book on the stage to reimagined front covers of books by popular author Alice Osman.

Mrs Cowley was the final judge and she had quite a hard time in picking winners, 2nd places and runners up. In her words “they could all win, they are all so good”. Congratulations to all students who took part, your bunting will be hanging up in the library in due course.

Year 7
Winner – Tallulah (7B)
2nd Places – Nathan (7T), Sanjeev (7B2) & Nandana (7B)
Runners up – Kitty (7EH2), Maisie (7S2), Emilie (7EH), Mason (7EH2) & Ayan (7T)

Year 8
Winner – Greta (8T2)
2nd Places – Laila (8B2) & Mim (8S2)
Runners up – Hosna (8EH2), Adiba (8B) & Ava (8T)

Year 9
Winner – Miri (9S)
2nd Places – Clara (9B2) & Zoe (9B)
Runners up – Zoe (9B), Goda (9B) & Emily (9T2)

Year 10
Winner – Katie (10EH2)
2nd Places – Alicja (10B) & Khadija (10S)
Runners up – Alice (10EH), Willow (10T2) & Ace (10EH)
 

National Reading Championship Quiz

March 25th, 2024

The National Reading Championship Quiz is a competition that pits teams from schools across the country against each other in a test of their book knowledge and it is run by the National Literacy Trust. It is 8 rounds of questions based on all aspects of books.

It is open from ages 10-14, which in our case is Years 7-9. We enter 2 teams every year of a mixture of students from those year groups. This year our 2 teams and reserve were made up of 2 Year 7s, 5 Year 8s and 2 Year 9s.

For our heat this year it was made up of 18 schools and 26 teams from the Oxfordshire and Berkshire region, a mix of private and state schools and primary and secondary. Some of the rounds included “match the blurb to the book”, “Child Laureates”, “Sports Books” and “Dingbats”.

Both of our teams gave their all and gained very respectable scores with both in the top 10. However, our Team A achieved 2 perfect rounds of 10 out of 10 and 2 more 9 out of 10, meaning their overall score was a very high 63 out of 75.

In fact, this was the highest score in our heat and has meant that Oxford Spires represented by Seth, Nathan, Martha and Kitty will be representing Oxfordshire and Berkshire in the national final in June.

This is a phenomenal achievement by the students and deserves huge amounts of recognition – well done to all of them who have taken part and good luck to Seth, Nathan, Martha and Kitty in the national final.
 

Year 8 INTO University Buddy Trip

March 25th, 2024

On Thursday 21st March 2024 and continuing with our partnership with INTO University, we took a group of Year 8 students to St Hilda’s college for a buddy experience day.

The day was to look at what University life would be like and to raise the aspirations of our students who would not ordinarily choose to go to University. Ben, Phoebe and Sarah from INTO University led the trip and they will continue with our students until Year 11 and should they decide to attend OSA Sixth Form, until Year 13.

St Hildas researchers and ambassadors worked with our students on language and linguistics. The new language they learnt about was Catalan, Basque & Mauritian Creole.
It was a very interactive day with teams,quizzes,tours and lunch, provided by St. Hilda’s.

We are super proud of the Year 8 students who represented OSA respectfully.
 


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Pro Excel – Dance Performance

March 25th, 2024

A proud moment for Oxford Spires Academy! We are thrilled to share that Year 9 students had an amazing opportunity to showcase their dance skills at the Harlequins vs Saracens rugby game at Tottenham Stadium. As part of the Pro Excels Dance programme, our students joined other Anthem schools for this exciting event. It was truly inspiring to see the level of enthusiasm and active participation displayed by our Year 9 students. Students brought an incredible energy and passion to their routines, captivating the 65,000 strong audience with their talent and dedication.

Every student showed great commitment and determination, showcasing their skills with confidence and a true sense of joy. Their enthusiasm was contagious, creating an electric atmosphere that added to the overall excitement of the event. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and the way they represented our school with such enthusiasm and spirit.
 


World Book Day 2024

March 21st, 2024

This year we welcomed Graham Scott to Oxford Spires for World Book Day. Graham has published a variety of fiction and non-fiction books raging from a biography of stuntman Jim Dowell to his fiction series – Treelogy.

Graham started the day with a workshop for a select group of Year 7 students focusing on how to build characters for a story. The session ended with a group character being built and going around the room to encourage students to add characteristics to this group character. It ended with their character being 15-year-old girl, who was dark and malevolent and liked to hunt the dreams of others. Several students who took part have since told me they have used his methods in their own creative writing.

Graham then held talks with Year 7 and 8 in the theatre, he talked about his life and how it has influenced his writing. Some of this involved his adventure travel such as getting away from armed muggers in a Brazilian gold-mining town or a charging yak in Outer Mongolia. How he rode a motorbike in Africa, where one person gave him the last of their food, and another person threatened to cut his head off. Thankfully as he said, those incidents didn’t happen at the same time.

He talked about deciding it would be safer riding high-powered motorbikes, driving cars and steering offshore powerboats than writing about them for a living. These parts of his life probably brought the most students to the library at lunchtime to talk to him.

As usual with Spires students, we had many varied and interesting questions asked, including “what was your favourite bike to ride” – Suzuki RGV 500, “were you good at English in school” – no, I failed that and most subjects, “Who was the most interesting person you have met recently” – Howard Schutlz, a former CEO of Starbucks and of course, the ever present “how much money do you earn” – not as much as I used to, I was previously paid £1 a word when writing for magazines.

He ended his talk with the message that you need to go out and get what you want, that life won’t just make it happen for you. A message that students have hopefully taken to heart.

Made in Oxford Final – Winners

March 21st, 2024

Congratulations to the winning team of Made in Oxford 2024; Maisie, Humera, Eliza, Hafsah, Rosie, and Grace.

Our winning team represented Oxford Spires Academy exceptionally well with their networking and communication skills earlier this year when the Made in Oxford Challenge was launched. Their confidence shone through as the team were tasked with networking and communicating with industry specialists from Landsec and Ahead Partnership.

The team then worked tirelessly to create a pitch and idea that fit the assignment brief of “A sustainable community initiative to fill a vacant unit in The Westgate Shopping Centre”. The team created “Down to Earth” a sustainable kitchen/restaurant in the heart of the Westgate, targeted to teens and young adults offering a safe and comfortable space to spend time, eat and hopefully bring more custom to the Westgate! The judges loved the idea and were really blown away with the level of effort and determination that the team showed.

Congratulations also go to Sol, Lamari and Sahil who were also Made in Oxford finalists! The boys were exceptionally professional and represented the school wonderfully! Despite not being chosen as the winning idea, the esteemed panel of judges from The Westgate and Landsec were extremely complementary of the idea itself, the marketing and market research and the way the pitch was delivered too!

The EBIT faculty are extremely proud of all students who took part in The Made in Oxford challenge, you have been nothing short of exceptional throughout this process and we hope you have learnt a lot from it!

Please wish the winning team luck as they progress through to the national finals where they go head to head with winners from other “Made In” challenged around the country!

Uniform Consultation Outcome

March 6th, 2024

Please see the attached letter for details of the recent uniform consultation.

Uniform Consultation Outcome

BAE Systems Roadshow

March 4th, 2024

MGA worked in collaboration with BAE Systems, The Royal Air Force, and The Royal Navy to deliver an engaging theatre roadshow celebrating STEM last week to our Year 8 students.

The theme for the 50-minute performance was electricity and involved student and teacher participation. This highly interactive show explored what electricity is and how we generate it. Students and teachers were inspired, engaged and amazed by some of the ‘shocking’ demonstrations. They were literally ‘breathless’ by the end of the show!

Thank you to Sarah Bhatti, Year 8 teachers and students who represented our school to the highest of standards which was duly noted by the visiting company.

Quote from Matt BAE SYSTEMS


“We visit many schools but never have we had such a smooth get in and get out for the roadshow or seen teachers so passionate and invested in their students. It was very well organised and we look forward to visiting OSA again.”

Thank you to everyone for the support in making this a success
 

Barclay’s Lifeskills Workshops

February 27th, 2024

We are so thrilled to have the opportunity for every student in Year 10 to attend the Barclay’s Lifeskills Workshops. These sessions are delivered by expert guest speakers who support our students in thinking about their futures. They will have three more sessions from now until June where they will explore their personal strengths, professional behaviours and interview techniques.

Training day at Oxford Spires Academy

February 26th, 2024

In a dynamic collaboration aimed at enhancing pedagogical inclusivity, over 30 PGCE Oxford University science students converged for a half-day session at Oxford Spires.

The participants began their visit by hearing from our Designated Teacher for Children We Care For, Sarah Bhatti, and another staff member shared their firsthand experience of what it was like for them as a former ELL student. With a focused objective of fostering accessibility for English language learners (ELLs), the group then delved into a tailored workshop led by the Head of the EAL department, Irena Gwiazda, and experienced science teacher, Alice Icely. Participants engaged in lively discussions and interactive activities and gained invaluable insights into effective EAL strategies tailored for science instruction.

Following the workshop, participants observed a KS3 or KS4 science lesson, witnessing firsthand the seamless integration of EAL strategies into the curriculum. This immersive experience not only equipped aspiring educators with practical tools but also inspired them to proactively consider ways to cultivate inclusive learning environments where all students thrive.

Inspires Monthly Magazine

February 20th, 2024

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Monthly Magazine is led and created by students. We hope you enjoy the read.

Inpires Magazine 3 Human Rights

Made In Oxford 2024

January 29th, 2024

On the 15th of January, 14 Year 10 Oxford Spires Students visited The Westgate Shopping Centre to attend the launch of Made in Oxford 2024. Students took part in vitally important workshops with industry professionals and took a tour of the centre, before receiving the brief of this year’s challenge! All students represented the school excellently with their impeccable behaviour and excellent communication skills (Especially during their networking lunch!)

The teams are hard at work now preparing to build their brand and idea for the shopping centre in preparation for the final in March. Please keep an eye out on ClassCharts for their market research that will be pivotal to their success!

Spires Spotlight #7 – Ofsted Report Published

January 10th, 2024

We are delighted to share our latest Spires Spotlight #7. The remarkable strengths and achievements of our wonderful school are highlighted in the recent Ofsted report which has been published today.

E-Scooters Christmas warning

December 17th, 2023

Dear Parents,

We would like to wish all those looking to celebrate Christmas this year a happy festive season. With a view to ensure everyone’s safety and wellbeing, I do have to point out an issue that is growing in concern in many communities around our local areas. This issue is the use of illegal e-scooters.

E-scooters and powered transporters seem like a great Christmas present, but are you aware of the legislation? There are NO circumstances in which personal e-scooters can be used on roads, pavements, cycle ways and any other public place.

At the moment e-scooters are covered by the same legislation as motor vehicles and are subject to all the same legal requirements – MOT, tax, licensing and specific construction regulations. A privately owned e-scooter can only be legally used on private land and with the permission of the land owner. Rental e-scooters run by the council and operated by Voi in Oxfordshire are permitted on the road as they are registered, taxed, and insured.

If you are asked by your child or family member to purchase an e-scooter, please consider that the person riding the scooter is liable for prosecution for offences such as driving without a valid licence and driving without insurance. The Police will be dealing with offences robustly, and the e-scooter could be seized and scrapped.

Please don’t waste your money purchasing an e-scooter unless you have private land to use it.

Further information can be found on: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/powered-transporters/information-sheet-guidance-on-powered-transporters

Yours sincerely,

Inspector James Pither
Oxford Neighbourhood Policing Team

Spires Spotlight #6

December 6th, 2023

How does Oxford Spires track and communicate student attainment and progress? Read our Spires Spotlight #6 to find out more.

Spires Spotlight #6

Spires Spotlight #5

December 2nd, 2023

Mock Bar Trial

November 29th, 2023

OSA’s Mock Bar Society (15 students from Years 11 to 13) met at Oxford Crown Court to compete against five other schools in a series of mock trials. This is the very same venue where real defendants are charged with a variety of crimes by a team of prosecutors. The rules for the day were as follows; every school took turns prosecuting and defending two individuals in two fictionalised cases – while the people and scenarios were involved were hypothetical, they reflected contemporary issues, such as privacy online and climate change protests.

The OSA team spent weeks preparing for the trials, the details of which had been given out beforehand, and were impressively organised and confident. Opening speeches, questions for the witness and more were drafted, redrafted, and rehearsed thoroughly. The team was excited and slightly nervous, but knew they had put the hard work in to do really well.

The organisers of the event, Young Citizens, arranged for full-time professional judges to come in an evaluate the competitors in an effort to better simulate genuine courtroom conditions and proceedings. Under the dignified wig-wearing judge’s gaze, the OSA team were calm, purposeful and quick-witted throughout the day. In the end, they were awarded 2nd place! The students’ conduct and debating was outstanding throughout the day, and they should be incredibly proud of their achievement, and the way they represented Oxford Spires Academy.

Year 8 Debate Society

November 29th, 2023

On Wednesday 23rd November, the newly formed Year 8 Debate Society took part in its first competition against New College School. Nine students met at the grounds of Oxford University’s New College in order to debate two separate motions of equal importance – The Dangers of Artificial Intelligence, and Whether Pineapple Belongs on Pizza. The first motion was given to the students in advance, the second revealed on the day of the competition.

Despite having limited time to prepare their arguments and speeches, the OSA team brought a fiery energy and determination (coupled with appropriate manners and respect for the opposition) that thoroughly impressed the debate moderators. In the end, as a school, OSA presented equally convincing arguments compared to New College School, and were judged even by the moderators.

However, the best individual debaters were judged to be Anas and Milton, for which OSA was awarded with the Inter-School Debating Club Trophy! This was a fully deserved moment for Anas and Milton, but every member of the team acquitted themselves honourably on the day – a performance that everyone involved should be proud of.

Y10 and Y11 GCSE Photography Drop Down Days

November 20th, 2023

Artist and Photographer Hugh Pryor led Year 10 students in a workshop that experimented with long exposure. Working hard throughout the day, students worked in small groups, they used LED lights, lasers, fabric and balloons to achieve some beautiful abstract images.

Experimental photographer John Blythe led Year 11 students through a light workshop. Students engaged with prior physics knowledge of the properties of light. Each student made their own pin-hole camera from a Pringles pack and experimented with exposure to take a photograph of the school site.

Well done to everyone involved.
 










Spires Spotlight #4 – Society Day

November 17th, 2023

The Elephant Group

November 16th, 2023

Ms Gray – Head of Sixth Form took 24 Year 12 students to Senate House, University of London, for the launch of The Elephant Group (htpps://www.theelephantgroup.org).

The aim of the morning was to get students talking about their future and to start preparing them to make choices and apply for university courses through UCAS.

Students heard from Admissions Tutors and Undergraduate students from Exeter University, Kings College London, Sheffield University, Newcastle University, Oxford University and Cambridge University.

They also heard talks from P&G and Zero Gravity who talked about opportunities for students.
https://www.zerogravity.co.uk/ and https://www.pgcareers.com/global/en/uk-internships
 

Students shared some inciteful feedback about what they took away from the day:

  • A lot about top universities and the opportunities available with the Elephant Group!
  • How to choose the correct uni and course, eg based on modules and distance from home.
  • There are many opportunities open, the top universities want us to go, some are even offering financial support.
  • Going to uni far away from home is good if you are particular about the course.
  • Choosing the right uni for me – how far away is it, what courses it offers, how they teach, student accommodations etc, and the Oxbridge application process.
  • It’s going to take quite a bit of independent research in order to choose the right uni and course for me but there are people here to guide me in doing so.
  • I hadn’t thought about dual honours before, so I want to look into that

What they would like to do after Sixth Form?:

  • I want to study Natural Sciences at university.
  • I would like to go to Oxford University to study Medicine
  • Go to university for physics with astrophysics or something with chemistry
  • University, Kings College London, Dentistry
  • Degree level apprenticeship
  • I would like to study aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering as many university’s only offer this. I am interested in applying for Oxford to do just engineering but most likely bath as they have a very good and interesting aerospace engineering course.
  • A literature and history course, I’m considering applying to Cambridge and UCL
  • I would like to study Pure Maths at Oxbridge


Royal Literacy Funds Academic Writing Bridge Course

November 16th, 2023

12 Year 13 English Literature students attended the Royal Literary Funds Academic Writing Bridge course at the Bodleian on Tuesday 7th November. They had the opportunity to explore different modes of academic writing; to practise their drafting and editing skills; and to evaluate effective pieces of writing. After lunch we also had a tour of the Weston Library and its special collections, including visiting the reading rooms, conservation department and the roof with beautiful views across Oxford. The students had a valuable experience that will set them up for extended academic writing at school and beyond. A great opportunity for OSA students. Thank you to all involved.

Year 10 Drop-down day – Ceramics Workshop

November 16th, 2023

Clay Heads with Artist Jane Bowen – Nov 23

Year 10 Art students took part in an all day workshop as part of their Portraiture unit for their GCSE Art coursework. Visiting Artist Jane Bowen shared her work and experience with students and took them through the process of making a life-size clay head. They worked from photographs of themselves to create a 3D self-portrait. This ambitious workshop was a great experience for all students to develop their knowledge of clay techniques and work for a sustained period on a piece of 3D work.

We were so proud of their work ethic and positivity. Students were focused and resilient and created some amazing clay pieces.

ARTiculation Discovery Day

November 16th, 2023

Milton Keynes Gallery November 2023

ARTiculation is an annual public speaking competition for students aged between 14 and 23, organised through The National Gallery. The programme has been developed to encourage young people to communicate confidently and to express their ideas and opinions on art and promote the appreciation and discussion of visual culture. It is a nationally acclaimed competition between schools and highly regarded within the artworld.

Our Year 12 & 13 Art and Photography students took part in a Discovery Day workshop at MK Gallery in Milton Keynes. The aim of the workshop is to help students develop their critical analysis, research and public speaking skills.

Activities included exploring art works through personal observation, discussion and primary research. Students were encouraged to think independently, analyse information, and ask informed questions. There was a focus on how to conquer nerves, physically prepare, and successfully deliver a presentation to large audiences.
Students worked in groups with others from different schools to prepare a presentation on a particular artwork within the current exhibition at the MK Gallery. Each student delivered their research and personal responses to the workshop leaders and their fellow students as well as members of the public that were visiting the gallery.
ARTiculation is a great experience and opportunity in itself, involving many transferrable skills, but it will also enhance their CV and UCAS personal statements. The work undertaken will be considered as part of their Personal Portfolio (coursework). The programme will also help students springboard their Personal Study which accounts for 20% of Component 1 of their A level course.

We were struck how students developed in confidence during the day. We were impressed by their teamwork, hard work and focus during the day and incredibly proud of the way they presented to a large group within the gallery setting. Some students were incredibly nervous at the prospect of this trip and ARTiculation as a whole, but they left the workshop full of confidence and pride in what they had achieved together. A brilliant day!

School Open As Normal – Thursday 16th November 2023

November 15th, 2023

Thank you for your support today following the emergency closure of Oxford Spires Academy. I am pleased to confirm that the issues with the power outage in the local area has now been resolved and the school is back in full operating order.

We look forward to seeing all of our students return to school tomorrow morning.

Emergency School Closure

November 15th, 2023

Following on from our communication yesterday regarding a power outage, due to circumstances beyond our control, the physical school site is closed today.

Like our neighbours, we have no electricity therefore unable to safely have students on site. The electricity company have informed us that this could take up to 6 to 8 hours to rectify.

Work will be set by teachers online and further communication will be sent shortly following this urgent announcement.

We will keep parents informed by classcharts and the school website throughout the day.
We did not take this decision lightly and apologise for any inconvenience.

Power Outage – Local Area

November 14th, 2023

I am writing to make you aware that Oxford Spires Academy has suffered a power outage this afternoon due to an issue in the local area. This resulted in the school losing all power for a very short time. The power is back on now, but we have been advised the situation is not completely fixed and the outage may happen again.
If we lose power again today, we may need to consider sending home students from Yrs 10-13 to ensure we can safely supervise the younger years.
We will keep you informed via a ClassCharts announcement when we have any further information.
If you have any concerns, please contact me via email on spoyser@spires.anthemtrust.uk

Kind Regards
Sandra Poyser – Marketing, Communication and Events Manager

All school correspondence is now via ClassCharts. If you have not yet accessed your account, please contact spoyser@spires.anthemtrust.uk for your log in code.

Inspires EDI Student Magazine Vol. 1

November 9th, 2023

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team are please to share volume 1 of their monthly magazine created by students at Oxford Spires to inspire others.

Inpires Magazine 1 Black And British

Supporting Our Neighbourhood

November 3rd, 2023

Please can we remind all parents, carers and visitors to the academy to be considerate to our local community when approaching/leaving the academy.
We have received notification from a few residents that live close to Oxford Spires Academy regarding parents leaving engines running and parking on double yellow lines making obstructions at school drop off/pick up times.

Outside of school gets very busy and the health and safety of our students, staff and residents is of the upmost importance to us.

OSA Newsletter Oct 2023

October 23rd, 2023

Berlin Trip October 2023

October 20th, 2023

Mrs Constantine, Mrs Key, Ms May and Mr Wyatt had the pleasure of taking 34 Year 11 students, who are currently studying History and/or German to Berlin in Germany. The students were a real credit to the school as they made use of every minute to explore the history and culture of the city. Their enthusiasm and curiosity led them to practice their German language even if they had never spoken German before! When asked for their favourite thing of the trip, every single activity was someone’s favourite – a success all around! Even when they got drenched in rain on the second day, this did not stop them from singing and dancing after having walked 15km all day! All teachers were very proud of them.

Despite visiting many sites of horrific atrocities, the students stayed in high spirits and understood how important democracy is for any society. They made a deep connection with Germany’s past by learning about two dictatorships and what it meant for those people who spoke up against the regimes or were persecuted for just belonging to the ‘wrong’ group of people.

Rayyan: ‘Germany was way better than I thought it would be and I would definitely do this again. 100% recommend this trip to all people.’

Rayya: ‘The festival of lights was amazing – it was amazing to see all the buildings lit up and it was fun despite the weather.’

Issabel: ‘I found the Stasi (secret East German police) prison the most interesting and emotional. It was very important and special.’

Ruth: ‘I loved the grey stone (Holocaust) memorial and the way teachers let us explore before explaining their interpretations.’


Jess: ‘The Berlin trip taught me to connect with others and how inspiring and interesting learning about how others lived is, being where they stood deepened my understanding.’

Great Sport Results From The PE Department – Term 1

October 12th, 2023

Another great set of results once again from the Sports Teams at OSA.

Football Results

  • U16 Girls vs. Wallingford County Cup Competition 5 – 0
  • U15 Boys vs. Cherwell County Cup Competition 3 – 1
  • U13 Girls vs. Matthew Arnold 5-0
  • U13 Girls vs. Cherwell 1-0
  • U16 Boys County Cup first round vs. Warriner 3-1
  • U16 Boys Football vs. Cherwell in National Cup 2-2
  • U12 vs. St Brinus National Cup 6-6

Following our first Year 7 match vs. Headington Girls. Tallulah scored 2 goals and was awarded player of the match.

U13 girls beat Matthew Arnold 5-0, the goal scorers were: Tallulah, Luka, Isla, Charlotte, Barbara. The player of the match was awarded to Charlotte.

A very competitive and close game against Cherwell as always. However, OSA came away with a narrow 1-0 win! Tallulah scored the lone goal, a brilliant 15 yard finish! Our goal keeper Hannah was awarded with player of the match, which was thoroughly deserved as she made fantastic saves and decisions!

The U16 girls exit the County Cup against Wallingford after losing 5-0. The score does not reflect the performance, OSA worked extremely hard in difficult conditions and were resilient throughout. Kimora was awarded player of the match.

OSA Loss vs. St Brinus after penalties. 6-6 in full time. Goal scorers are: Tallulah x2, Finn, Amrit, Eison, Tayiab.

The U14 boys exit the county cup against a very competitive and strong Warriner team. Junaid was awarded player of the match, he even scored a free kick from a good range.

OSA won 3-1 against a strong Cherwell side. The goal scorers were Ivan and Oscar (x2). Oscar was awarded player of the match.

3-1 win against Warriner. Martin scored 2 and Oscar scored 1. Player of the match was given to Elijah.

A fantastic display of football between two exceptional sides in the u16 boys v Cherwell in the National Cup. The game finished 2-2 after extra-time. Goal scorers were Martin and Farhan. The game finished with penalties and OSA won 3-2. Well done to the penalty takers who were: Tyreek, John, Oscar, Martin, Farhan. John saved 3 out of 5 penalties. Player of the match was awarded to Martin.

Well done to everyone that gives up their time to train and play in the matches and a thank you to Andoni (Yr 11), Caiden (Yr 11), Ivan and Charlie (Yr 10) for support with refereeing and running the line.

BASKETBALL RESULTS

A very good display of basketball from both teams in the Double Header against Cheney. The game finished 64-56 to OSA! Well done.

Piers Torday Visit

October 12th, 2023

We were lucky enough to host Piers Torday – visiting author to host a workshop with 25 students from Year 7, all about stories and how we make them. It was fascinating workshop made even better by the sheer amount of involvement by the students and their obvious joy in taking part.

Chosen by their English teachers, Piers first asked the students to pick a book from the library. It was a hugely varied choice from Jacqueline Wilson to David Almond to a biography of legendary basketball player Michael Jordan. Once students had chosen their books, Piers asked them to close their eyes and imagine the world was coming to an end.

They were told all their loves ones were safe and they could save one other thing, again, a huge amount of choice in what students would save from “the amazing sunsets we see on the hill near my house”, “mine and my cousins dog . . . because it’s the same breed so it’s ok” to “my Pokémon cards”. They were also asked to write 3 reasons why and there were some truly moving ones, as well as the more practical such as “it’ll provide us all with entertainment” (that was a chess board).

Piers then had students open their chosen book and go to the 30th page, 3rd paragraph, 3rd line and chose the 3rd word. This, was to be the villain of their story and we had some truly interesting villains – Perched, Miracle, Oh, Almond and Scare amongst others. Encouraging discussion within the group, Piers asked students to come up with some points about their villains: What were they like? What had caused them to be this way?

Students came up with more and more imaginative and darker reasons why their character had become a villain. Scare – wanted revenge and to make everyone die. Almond – is allergic to nuts and is lonely. Perched – hates light and colours. For the last part of the workshop, Piers wanted students to say how their villain could be defeated, the catch was it had to be an item within the library they used. Again, the imagination of OSA students was in top form and there were some amazing ideas of how villains could be defeated. One could only be defeated by the happiness in people, one could be defeated by a chair and Piers favourite, the crest of Oxford and the bull would come alive to take down the villain.

Piers ended by telling them, they had all made stories and that anyone could do, stories didn’t have to be the big books. It could be one they make up with their friends, it could be one they make up themselves and write down for themselves. It was a fantastic session, and you could see that students really understood what Piers said. One thing we can conclude is that Mr. Ogden’s creative writing club will have some new members very soon.

#HelloYellow

October 11th, 2023

Oxford Spires Academy took part in #HelloYellow on Tuesday 10th of October 2023 to show support for young people’s mental health on World Mental Health Day 2023.
The number of young people in need of mental health support is growing faster than ever – with a record breaking 420,000 young people being treated for mental health problems every month. We need to make sure young people know that how they feel matters and they deserve to feel supported.

Students were given the opportunity to make a voluntary £1 donation to YoungMinds at the school gates and were given yellow ribbons to wear to show their support.
Fund raising activities also took place at break and lunch including a bake sale and the very popular game of Hook a Duck. Friendship bracelets were sold and we also received a donation of a wonderful tasting bright yellow chickpea curry. Proceeds raised will be donated to YoungMinds

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team have also created a #HelloYellow playlist just scan the QR code to enjoy listening.



We are confident that taking part in #HelloYellow shows our young people that they’re not alone with their mental health.

You can donate to YoungMinds at the following link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/helloyellow2023

OSA Launches Partnership with Oxford Community Emergency Food Bank

October 11th, 2023

Oxford Spires Academy has established a new partnership with the Oxford Community Emergency Food Bank.

This partnership is aimed at promoting community engagement and supporting those in need within our local area. We will be actively working with the Oxford Community Emergency Food Bank to collect donations for families and individuals facing food insecurity. This initiative aligns with our school’s commitment to instilling empathy and a sense of responsibility in our students towards the broader community.

To ensure the donated food items remain fresh, we kindly request that donations be brought in on Fridays. This will enable us to promptly deliver the items to the food bank and ensure they reach those who need them in a timely manner.

Please see the list of accepted items that the food bank is currently in most need of. Students can drop donations off outside room EN09.

We understand that many families are facing financial challenges due to the current cost of living crisis. We want to assure you that participation in this initiative is entirely voluntary. We appreciate any contributions made. Students can also use their ClassCharts points to purchase a food bank donation, allowing them to contribute in a way that aligns with their own resources.

National Teaching Assistants’ Day

October 9th, 2023



Oxford Spires Academy recently celebrated National Teaching Assistants’ Day which took place on Friday the 29th of September.

244,000 teaching assistants (TAs) work in schools across the UK and National Teaching Assistants’ Day was created to show thanks for the long hours they work in classrooms and the vital work they do to support children’s education.

Teaching assistants undertake a variety of roles in the classroom, from providing small groups of children with extra support in a specific area, to working with a child one on one, or helping those with special educational needs.

On the day, Oxford Spires students shared their thoughts on what makes their team of teaching assistants so special:

• You always know when I’m not myself and how to help me. Thank you!
• You always help me calm down. Academic Support is a peaceful and calm place.
• You always help me out with questions I don’t understand. Thank you – you are the best.
• Thank you for pushing me to do better in lessons. Now I’m doing better in lessons and my mock results were better than anyone expected.

One of the teachers also added:
There is nothing more uplifting than when a TA walks into your room and knowing that your most vulnerable students will make so much more progress that lesson as a result of their expertise. Couple that with the look of delight and relief on the students faces and it becomes a magical moment.

Louise Cowley, Headteacher at Oxford Spires said:

“I want to say a huge thank you to all our wonderful teaching assistants here at Oxford Spires. Their hard work and dedication is undoubtedly a massive part of why our students thrive here and it was lovely to see all the touching messages staff and students put together to celebrate them on National Teaching Assistants’ Day.”

Mohsen Ojja, CEO of Anthem Schools Trust said:

“It was great to see staff and students at Oxford Spires make such an effort to ensure their teaching assistants know how much they are appreciated. Their efforts in the classroom certainly deserve more recognition and I hope they went home knowing how much they are valued.”

Record numbers sign up for the DofE

October 9th, 2023

Record numbers of intrepid students at Oxford Spires Academy, part of the Anthem Schools Trust, have signed up to take part in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award this year.

Students kicked off the programme earlier this month by taking part in some expedition training where they learned about map reading and orienteering. Going forward they will navigate their way through outdoor expeditions, acquire teamwork and leadership abilities, and contribute to their communities through volunteering.

The students are thousands of young people who take part in the prestigious awards scheme each year. Earlier this year, His Majesty The King conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon Prince Edward who as the new Duke of Edinburgh, also takes on the patronage held by his father, Prince Philip, who founded the Award in 1956.

Louise Cowley, headteacher at Oxford Spires said:
“I am incredibly proud that so many students have signed up for DofE this year. They are throwing themselves into the challenge with courage and determination that will serve them well in the future. The DofE is just one of a number of opportunities available at Oxford Spires to enrich learning outside of the classroom and as a school we remain committed to equipping our students with the knowledge, skills, and character traits needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.”

Mohsen Ojja, CEO of Anthem Schools Trust said:
“I was delighted to hear about the record numbers taking part in DofE at Oxford Spires. I know the programme can transform students and hope that it will empower current participants to step out of their comfort zones, embrace challenges, and develop essential life skills.”

European Languages Day

October 9th, 2023

Oxford Spires Academy, celebrated the European Day of Languages on 26th of September

Oxford Spires students marked the day by taking part in a variety of events run by the Modern Foreign Languages department and the English as an Additional Language (EAL) team. There was a languages quiz, a multi-language tongue twister challenge, a book grab, An Arabic calligraphy workshop and some children also watched a German film.

The school also ran a baking competition with students bringing in their European inspired cakes for judging. The overall winners were Miriam for the tastiest bake and Radhwa, Priyanka and Ruby for the best-looking bake!

Spires Spotlight

September 22nd, 2023

Headteacher’s Update

September 8th, 2023

Please find the latest update from Mrs Cowley – Headteacher here: Parent Update 08 09 23

Reporting Absence

September 7th, 2023

The best way to report an absence for your child (including Illness, Late Arrivals and Absences) is via ClassCharts

ClassCharts will enable you to report your child’s absence, future appointments, upload medical documentation and receive an acknowledgement from school, via your App or logging on to the ClassCharts website.
 

OSA Scholar Guides have arrived

September 5th, 2023

At OSA the intent of our curriculum is very clear; we want to prepare all of our students to have successful and happy futures. In order to achieve this we have developed challenging, knowledge intensive curriculums.


For more information please click here

Sixth Form Exam Results – 17th August 2023

August 17th, 2023

Sixth Form Press Release

Oxford Spires Academy Sixth Form Results 2023

Thursday 17th August 2023

 

Oxford Spires Academy Sixth Form Students excel with higher grades than pre-covid years.

Oxford Spires Academy Sixth Form students did not have an opportunity to sit formal GCSE exams in 2021 but they have worked hard and met our expectation to “Be The Best You Can Be” by achieving better results than pre-covid students. The number of results among the highest grades A*-B has also increased significantly. We are particularly proud of their achievements as it has been suggested that nationally grades would be lower this year.

Our highest performing subject was Further Maths with 60% of grades at A*-A and 80% at A*-B. In addition, more than 60% of students achieved the highest grades A*-B in Physics, History, Maths, Philosophy & Ethics, French, Chemistry and Design technology. In 2019 the national averages for these subjects were approximately 50%.

We congratulate all our students and particularly those with exceptional grades such as:

  • Callum Young: A* in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. (Oxford, Mathematics)
  • Jemima Webster: A* in Psychology & French, A in Philosophy & Ethics and B in Classical Civilisation. (Cambridge, Modern & Mediaeval Languages)
  • Flora Pizey: A* in Art, History, Religious Studies (Cambridge, History)
  • Tristan Dupret: A* in Maths and Chemistry, A in Biology and Further Maths. (Imperial College London, Molecular Bioengineering)
  • Aisha Lawal: A* in Psychology and Geography, A in History (Bristol, Law)
  • Hazel Blanchard: A* in Geography and French, A in Chemistry (Bristol, Geography)
  • Jake Read: A* in Philosophy & Ethics, A in English Literature and B in History (Birmingham, Philosophy)
  • Sofia Brand-Whitehead: A* in Art, A in Psychology and B in Maths. (Falmouth, Fine Art)

The vast majority of our students got their first or second choice of university and we wish them the very best of luck for the future.
We are a school that takes pride in our community ethos and also thank and congratulate the parents and carers who have supported students through everything as well as the teachers who have worked tirelessly to help students succeed.

Head of Sixth Form, Mike Loftus said, “This is a highly impressive set of results from our students, in what, it must be remembered, is their first set of public exams. They have shown themselves and the wider world what they are capable of and should be immensely proud of themselves. I wish them all every success at university, in apprenticeships and in their future careers.”

OSA Newsletter July 23

July 14th, 2023

Please enjoy reading our latest school newsletter.

April Newsletter

April 26th, 2023

NEU Strike Action 27th April & 2nd May 2023

April 19th, 2023

Thursday 27th April – Years 11, 12 & 13 should come to school as normal.
Tuesday 2nd May – Years 10, 11, 12 & 13 should come to school as normal.

Parents of children who are particularly vulnerable, please complete the form previously linked in the recent ParentMail if your child needs to attend school on these days.

Friday 31st March 2023 – Last Day of Term

March 15th, 2023

All students will depart at 12.05pm on Friday 31st March 2023. We look forward to seeing all students return on Monday 17th April 2023

NEU Strike Action 15th & 16th March 2023

March 8th, 2023

School will be closed for Years 7-10 but will be open for Years 11 and Sixth Form plus any children who are particularly vulnerable.

Please complete the form previously linked in the recent ParentMail if your child needs to attend school on this day.

NEU Strike Action – Thursday 2nd March 2023

February 23rd, 2023

School will be closed for Years 8-11 but will be open for Years 7 and Sixth Form plus any children who are particularly vulnerable.

Please complete the form previously linked in the recent ParentMail if your child needs to attend school on this day.

February 2023 Newsletter

February 10th, 2023

NEU Strike Action – Wednesday 1st February 2023

January 27th, 2023

School will be closed for Years 7-10 and 12 but will be open for Year 11 and 13 plus any children who are particularly vulnerable.

Please complete the form previously linked in the recent ParentMail if your child needs to attend school on this day.

OSA Newsletter December 2022

December 20th, 2022

Partial Closure – Tuesday 20th December 2022

December 19th, 2022

Unfortunately, we are still facing difficulties with the heating system within the Reuben Business Centre, therefore we have made the decision to close the school to the following year groups on Tuesday 20th December 2022.

Year 10
Year 11

Students in Years 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13 will be relocated to different buildings within Oxford Spires Academy should they have lessons in the Reuben Business Centre.

Work will be set for all students in Year 10, and Year 11 using Microsoft Teams, the system we have put in place for remote learning.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

Partial School Closure – Monday 19th December 2022

December 18th, 2022

Unfortunately, we have made the decision to close the school to the following year groups on Monday 19th December 2022.

Year 8
Year 9
Year 12

Due to a failure with the boiler, we have no heating in the Reuben Business Centre, one of the main buildings within the school.

The facilities team and specialists have been working on site today and while investigations continue we have no alternative option other than to reduce the number of students in school. Students in Year 7, 10, 11 and 13 will be relocated to different buildings within Oxford Spires Academy should they have lessons in the Reuben Business Centre.

Work will be set for all students in Year 8, Year 9 and Year 12 using Microsoft Teams, the system we have put in place for remote learning.

A further update will be issued tomorrow afternoon via the school website and ParentMail.

Parent Update

December 1st, 2022

Please find our latest Parent/Carer Update here Parent Update Edition 2 Nov 2022

Rags to Riches

November 21st, 2022

A reminder about Rags to Riches, our new fundraising venture. We’re asking parents and carers to donate any unwanted clothes, shoes and accessories. For every kilo donated, Rags to Riches will pay the school 40p. Rags to Riches is not a charity, but it directs donations to people in need and at the moment donations are going to Ukraine. Rags to Riches will be collecting the clothes from Oxford Spires on Wednesday 30th November. You can donate clothes any time from now until the 29th November – please drop them off at reception labelled ‘Rags to Riches/FOSA’. If you need bags, they are available at reception.

We ask that you only donate items that someone else would be able to use – good quality, clean clothes and accessories. Please, no worn out shoes and clothes, bric a brac or uniform.

Latest OSA Newsletter

October 21st, 2022

Recommended Reading at OSA

October 12th, 2022

This term, in our English lessons, we have enjoyed reading The Bone Sparrow in Year 7, A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in Year 8, Of Mice and Men in Year 9, An Inspector Calls in Year 10, Romeo and Juliet in Year 11, The Handmaid’s Tale in Year 12 and Othello in Year 13. 

We thoroughly recommend reading for pleasure to our students and to support with this we are sharing reading lists for KS3-5. Many of these books can be found in our excellent library and if the one you want isn’t there, speak to Mr Sheppard who will happily look into ordering it.

As well as improving your literacy skills, reading is beneficial for your mental health. There’s no better way to warm the winter months then a good book in our opinion.

Parent Update 30th September 2022

September 30th, 2022

Please see the latest Parent Update – 30th September 2022 which also includes a safeguarding update

Parent Update Edition 1 Sept 2022
Dealing With Grief

Oracy Culture Award

September 20th, 2022

Oxford Spires is delighted to announce that we have won the English-Speaking Union’s Oracy Culture Award, 2022. This is the only national award which recognises and celebrates those schools placing oracy at the heart of their curriculum and each year one school is chosen as the secondary school winner. The ESU said that our range of oracy opportunities and the commitment to expanding the reach of programmes was “inspiring”.

External competitions are a big part of Spires, of course, and in the last five years, we have reached the regional final of the Mock Trial three times and the national final of the ESU Churchill competition twice. Year 7 and 8 students have an unbeaten record in the local New College Debate. Importantly, as students have witnessed and heard about each other’s successes, more and more have become involved, creating a virtuous cycle of widening participation. Last year, over half of the school participated in extra-curricular oracy events.

But it’s not just about extra-curricular work. Oracy is at the heart of what Spires does. From debates and “Dance Card” discussions in History, to using speaking frames and sentence builders in MFL to encourage students to use humour and express personal and unusual ideas, we put articulate speaking at the centre of our learning.

Ms Morris, Mr Hart and Dr Watson, who work in enrichment, are all keen to meet students who would like to participate in this year’s extra-curricular speaking. If your child would like to be involved, please encourage them to go along to one of the clubs, check their Outlook email or with their tutor for information, or talk to one of the enrichment staff.

Dr Jackie Watson – Head of Sixth Form, Careers and Enrichment

Monday 19th September 2022 – Bank Holiday

September 12th, 2022

Following the announcement of the Queen’s State Funeral date over the weekend, this is just to confirm that Oxford Spires Academy will be observing Monday 19th September as a Bank Holiday.  The school will be closed to all staff and students on this day.

Uniform Collection

August 31st, 2022

Uniform ordered via the Price and Buckland website for the start of the September term will be available to collect from school reception on Thursday 1st September 12:00noon – 3:00pm and Friday 2nd September between 9:00am – 12:00noon.

GCSE Results 2022

August 25th, 2022

We are absolutely delighted to report our exceptional 2022 GCSE results, the first set of results since 2019 for which students took a full complement of examinations. Improvements have been made this year against the last set of formal examinations and have continued the impressive results gained over the last few years.

We are tremendously proud of all our students’ excellent results. They have worked hard through the most difficult of times. Despite this, the numbers of students gaining passes and strong passes has continued to rise. The number of grades 7 to 9 has also increased and students have achieved the necessary levels for the next stage in their education. We are delighted to be able to congratulate them in person today. We also want to thank parents and staff who have supported them throughout their exam years.

The percentage of students achieving a Grade 4 in English and Maths is to 71% and those achieving a Grade 5 in English and Maths is a tremendous 52%
In English, 79% of students achieved the Grade 4 and above, with 67% achieving the Grade 5 or above. In Maths, 76% gained a Grade 4 or above, and 55% gained a Grade 5 or above. Well done to all the students and teaching staff for their hard work and dedication in making this possible.

Due to the changing nature of qualifications, no school is able to publish an accurate and official progress 8 figure until the Department for Education releases this later in the Autumn term. However, we have seen an excellent initial figure that has been calculated on the 2019 data. This gives us a positive score again showing that students who study at Oxford Spires Academy make more progress than other students do from similar starting points nationally.

These results are a testament of the impact that Oxford Spires Academy has on the outcomes and life chances of its students.

In addition there have been some exceptional individual student outcomes. We are absolutely delighted that hard work, dedication and fantastic teaching has enabled our students to achieve the very best grades across the board. The students below have achieved a fantastic array of top grades across their GCSE and BTec subjects.

• Nora Jepson: 10x Grade 9s and 3x Grade 8s
• Herbie Austin-Baker: 8x Grade 9s, 3x Grade 8s and a Grade 7
• Freya Hull: 7x Grade 9s, 4x Grade 8s & 1x Grade 7
• George Schwebel: 6x Grade 9s, 3 Grade 8s & 2 Grade 7s
• Anton Zebisch: 10 Grade 9s, 3 x Grade 8s
• Charlotte Olley: 6 Grade 9s, 4x Grade 8s & 2 Grade 7s
• Ayesha Chorley: 5 Grade 9s, 6x Grade 8s & 1x Grade 7

Our GCSE results along with our A Level results clearly show the sustained progress that Oxford Spires Academy continues to make, despite the challenges over the last three academic years. We would like to congratulate all our students on their well-deserved success and thank the teaching staff, the governors and of course the parents, who have guided and supported them. I am incredibly proud to be the incoming Principal of such a progressive, positive and successful school.

Rich Corry
Principal

A Level Results 2022

August 18th, 2022

Sixth Form Press Release

A-LEVEL RESULTS AT OXFORD SPIRES ACADEMY

Thursday 18th August 2022

 

 

Oxford Spires Academy’s Sixth Formers continue to go from strength to strength!

Once again, Oxford Spires is delighted with another set of excellent A level results. Despite a difficult year nationally, and the legacy of Covid, Year 13 students showed that hard work and determination lead to success.

Oxford Spires is a school that prides itself on education for the community it serves in East Oxford. The vast majority of the year group go to university, and have met their UCAS offers. We are pleased to see three heading to Oxford University this year: Martyn Conmy going to Queen’s College to read History and Politics; Alex Dunn to Trinity to read Modern Languages; and Gaby Reynolds to Worcester College for Mathematics and Computer Science.

We congratulate all students, and particularly those with top grades, in a year group where A level results have hit the headlines. Our top performers this year, and their university courses, are:

• Martin Conmy – English Literature A*; Politics A*; History A*; Extended Project A (University of Oxford: History and Politics)
• Alex Dunn – French A*; Maths A*; Music B; Extended Project A (University of Oxford: Modern Languages)
• Flora Pizey – Art A*; History A*; Philosophy and Ethics A* (Art Foundation)
• Kai Mattinson – Chemistry A; Computing A*; Maths A*; Further Maths A (University of Bath: Computer Science)
• Erin Reynolds – Maths A*; Further Maths A; German A*; English Literature A (Gap Year)
• Gaby Reynolds – Maths A*; Further Maths A*; Physics A; History B (University of Oxford: Maths and Computer Science)
• Rani Khanafer – Chemistry A; Maths A*; Further Maths A; Physics A (Imperial College, University of London: Physics)
• Buster Van der Geest – Drama A*; German A; History A; Extended Project A (University of St Andrews: History)
• Cian Anderson – Art A*; Computing A; Music A (University of Buckinghamshire: 3D Games Art)
• Shannon Ghee – Biology A; History A; Extended Certificate Sport Distinction* (University of Bath: Health and Exercise Science)

Head of Sixth Form, Dr Jackie Watson, comments, “I am delighted to see so many of our Year 13 doing so well in a year that has been tough for everyone. These were their first external exams, because of Covid, and they proved to themselves that they could do it! I wish them all every success at university, in apprenticeships and in their future careers.”

Oxford Spires Academy – Newsletter

July 15th, 2022

Here is our latest school newsletter. Please enjoy the read.

Changes to the timings of the school day – Sept 2022

June 20th, 2022

From September 2022 we shall be changing the timings of the school day. This will be five days a week.

The new timings will be as follows:

08:30 – 09:00 – Tutor time
09:00 – 10:00 – Period 1
10-00 – 11:00 – Period 2
11:00 – 11:20 – Break
11:20 – 12:20 – Period 3
12:20 – 13:20 – Period 4
13:20 – 14:00 – Lunch
14:00 – 15:00 – Period 5

Pride Month at OSA including a non-uniform day

June 17th, 2022

At OSA, we are supporting Pride Month. Pride Month is about acceptance, equality, celebrating the work of LGBTQ+ people, education in LGBTQ+ history and raising awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. It also calls for people to remember how damaging homophobia was and still can be. Pride is all about being proud of who you are no matter who you love.

To celebrate this, the school will be looking at the History of LGBTQ+ to educate and raise awareness during tutor time; and running a ‘Design a Postcard’ competition based on the theme ‘Kindness’.

As well as this, we are having a non-uniform day on Friday 24 June. The theme will be ‘bright colours’. All money raised will be split between;The Proud Trust–a organisation that supports LGBT+ young people through youth groups, peer support, mentoring programs; and; MindOut– a mental health service working to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all LGBTQ communities and to make mental health a community concern.

We ask all students to donate a minimum of £1 on the day. Money will be collected at the entrance to the school at the start of the day so please make sure your child has some cash on them!

Regarding what to wear, there are a few rules. Please make sure that there are no items of clothing with offensive words or images on them, footwear needs to be safe for school, so no ‘slides’, sandals or other open toed shoes, and no high heels. For the safeguarding of all students, clothing must not be revealing or see through.

We ask that all outdoor coats are removed in classrooms and that hoods, hats/caps are not to be worn inside. Head coverings such as scarfs/bandanas/durags are allowed to be worn inside and in lessons on this day. Please note that flags are not items of clothing and are not permitted as part of this day. 

We encourage students to wear bright colours!

All students must bring in their normal school bag and be equipped for learning. Regular school kit must be worn for PE lessons.

 

OSA Newsletter

May 27th, 2022

Achievements and Success Sept 21 – May 22

May 18th, 2022

Oxford Spires Academy is delighted to present to you a summary of our achievements and success throughout this academic year to date. With Years 11-13 now in formal exams, many for the first time, it is important to recognise and showcase many of the different enrichment opportunities students receive along their journey through the school. Having had three years of disruption to school trips, tours, enrichment activities, and a restriction of visiting speakers being able to attend the school site, we are now expanding the number of opportunities that students are able to engage with.

May 2022 Achievements Newsletter

OSA Newsletter April 8th

April 8th, 2022

Non Uniform Day

March 30th, 2022

As you may have read in the last newsletter, we are planning a non-uniform day this coming Friday, and it is not an April Fool’s joke! We are looking to raise as much money as possible, split equally between three excellent charities:

1. British Red Cross
2. Women’s Aid
3. Greggs Foundation

We ask all students to donate a minimum of £1 on the day. Money will be collected at the entrance to the school at the start of the day so please make sure your child has some cash on them!

Regarding what to wear, there are a few rules. Please make sure that there are no items of clothing with offensive words or images on them. Footwear needs to be safe for school, so no ‘sliders’, sandals or other open toed shoes, and no high heels. For the safeguarding of all students, clothing must not be revealing or see through.

We welcome students coming to school in their ethnic/cultural dress if they so wish. We ask that all outdoor coats are removed in classrooms and that hoods, hats/caps are not to be worn inside. Head coverings such as scarfs/bandanas/durags are allowed to be worn inside and in lessons on this day.

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

March 28th, 2022

The booking system for Year 12 Parents’ Evening is open now and closes Wednesday 6th April (4.00pm).

How to book:
Please visit: https://oxfordspiresacademy.schoolcloud.co.uk

To log in you will need to use the information that we hold on our school data base (e.g. the same email address as your ParentMail account).

If you need any further assistance booking your appointments, please see the attached booking guide or feel free to contact Sandra Poyser.

Parent Guide - School Cloud Booking System

School Closure – Year 8 students only – Friday 25th March 2022

March 24th, 2022

Dear Parent/ Carer of Year 8

The school has seen a rise in the number of staff Covid-19 cases over the last 48 hours with new cases being reported today.  We have reviewed the cover needs for tomorrow, and the number of lessons that require cover and we have tried to secure external supply staff as well. Unfortunately, it has become clear that we will not be able to safely run the school at full capacity with the projected number of absent staff.  We are therefore going to close the school tomorrow for Year 8 students. 

Work for Year 8 will consist of live streamed lessons at their normal lesson time. Students will access these by opening Teams and clicking the blue “Join” button on the Year 8 Team when the lesson starts. They should have their exercise books or some paper and a pen available at the start of the lesson.

If you experience any ICT problems please email ictsupport@spires.anthemtrust.uk

If you have any other questions or concerns about the work please email mdixon@spires.anthemtrust.uk

Kind Regards

Maurice Dixon – Senior Vice Principal