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    From the Headmaster's Desk

    Thank you for your interest in Oswestry School.  Within our website I trust you will find the information that will answer a few of your questions and allow you to discover something of the heart and soul of the School, its warmth and purpose.

    As befits our status as one of the oldest, non-denominational schools in the country, we cherish our distinctive ethos, developed and evolved over the centuries, which allows us to give much individual care and attention to our pupils and to monitor and motivate them as they make academic and personal progress.  

     

    Our new Sixth Form boys’ boarding house, Holbache House, has recently been completed.  Those who have had the opportunity to see it, or the good fortune to be shown around, need no further persuasion to be convinced that it is a fitting addition to our facilities, providing as it does, wonderful accommodation for our senior boy boarders.  Construction has also been completed on a new maintenance facility and storeroom which has had the added advantage of increasing the size of our Design and Technology department by around 33%.

     

    In the autumn of 2008 six new classrooms were completed, providing a suite of rooms for the maths' department and dedicated facilities for the teaching of EAL and physical education (a subject offered at both GCSE and A level).  All the new rooms have access to the internet and are equipped with the latest interactive whiteboards (IWBs) and digital projectors.

     

    All the above work is in addition to that which has taken place recently to improve other facilities within the school, including a major refreshing of the ICT equipment, extension of the internet (including WiFi to all the boarding houses and other areas of the school) and the installation of IWBs into the majority of classrooms, as well as CAD and CAM machinery.

     

    This year a major refurbishment of the School House senior dormitories has been completed, creating nine new bedrooms (each housing between 2-4 boys).

     

    At the end of 2009 the school opened two flood-lit, all-weather tennis courts (which will also be used for netball).  This fine addition to the school’s sports’ facilities will also be available to the pupils at Bellan, increasing their play area some twenty fold.  The courts will be used extensively by Oswestry Tennis Club, highlighting the school’s desire to work with the community by sharing our facilities.

     

    To realise ambitious plans requires a mixture of vision, faith and boldness, tempered by business and commercial nous, pragmatism and a good dose of common sense.  That our plans are being fulfilled in a prudent manner indicates that the governors of the school are striking the right balance and we look forward as the next stage of development unfolds.

     

    Important though facilities are, at the heart of any school should be the quality of education it offers.  If our results in public examinations are a measure of the same then I think we can safely say we are in good heart.  Over the past few years we have had eight top five marks in the country at GCSE and A level, in four different subjects.  Key statistics for our 2009 results are as follows:

     

    ·         A level

    o        100% pass rate

    o        71.8% of all passes grade A or B

    o        Based on the above statistic the school was placed 216th in the country (amongst independent schools) a jump of 129 places since last year 

     

    ·         GCSE

    o        Pass rate 86.1% (19% higher than the national average)

    o        31.3% of all passes grade A* or A (21.6% nationally)

    o        91.1% of pupils gained 5 or more passes (C and above)

    o        62% of pupils gained 8 or more passes (C and above)

    o        35.6% of the cohort obtained at least one A* and 60% at least one A grade

     

    Hidden amongst the statistics are the results of many students who have produced grades which represent, for them, a personal best.  Can we ask any more of a pupil?

     

    We are justifiably proud of our ranking at both A level and GCSE relative to other co-educational non-selective schools like ourselves.   To view how we were placed please visit: www.telegraph.co.uk/education/leaguetables.

     

    Laudable though such achievements are in the life of Oswestry School they are just one aspect of what this school is about.  Our pupils are involved in a huge breadth of activity.  It is involvement in these activities which does much to shape the character and nurture the personalities of those youngsters privileged to be here.  As you look through the web site I hope you will be impressed by their enthusiasm and energy, commitment and drive and marvel at their apparently never-ending willingness to uphold the name of Oswestry School.

     

    Tradition and innovation; a long history and a bright future; a school large enough to offer a wide range of facilities but small enough to care; a modern outlook but a respect for 'old fashioned' values.  Such are some of the merits of our school.  Above all else we pride ourselves in nurturing a warm, family, community school where pupils believe they matter because they do.  It is an environment in which youngsters can develop and grow and where we trust, in time, each can fully develop his or her potential.

     

    I extend a very warm invitation to you to visit our School and experience, at first hand, the supportive, co-operative, caring and friendly atmosphere here.  You will be made most welcome and I look forward to meeting you.

     

    P D Stockdale
    Headmaster