D'Overbroeck's College

d’Overbroeck’s is a co-educational independent school in Oxford, England, for students aged 11–18. The school is owned by the Oxford International Education Group and is made up of three different sites, one for years 7–11, another as a sixth form college and the other to prepare international students for sixth form.

d'Overbroeck's, Oxford
Leckford Place site
Address
Banbury Road

Oxford

United Kingdom
Coordinates51.769°N 1.262°W / 51.769; -1.262
Information
Typeindependent school
Established1977
FounderMalcolm van Biervliet D'Overbroeck
Chairman of GovernorsChristopher Spanoudakis
PrincipalJonathan Cuff
Genderco-educational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment475[1]
Websitehttp://www.doverbroecks.com

History

D'Overbroeck's College was founded in 1977 as a sixth form college by Malcolm van Biervliet D'Overbroeck.[2] He taught French and Spanish at the school for 30 years until 2007 when he retired.[3] It first premises was at van Biervliets house.[4]

In March 2016, during renovations of the sixth form college, it was targeted in a suspected arson attack. It took 50 fire fighters to tackle the blaze.[5]

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. From September 2017, the Sixth Form will move to a new site at 333 Banbury Road.

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.

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 2016, 54% of grades were A/A*, placing the school at number 102 in the national league table for independent schools[6]

In the academic year 2009–10, the Sixth Form achieved a contextual value added score of 1,102.[7] 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.[8]

Entry

The Sixth Form is selective, and entry is typically by application, reference and interview. Entry requires at least 6 GCSEs at grade A* to B, 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.

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 school, Years 7–11 is for day pupils only. 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 co-educational. The vast majority of students are UK residents local to Oxford, in keeping with its day school status. Student numbers are about 160.

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

In 2016, 59% of GCSE grades were A/A* (80% A* to B), and 98% of entries were between grades 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.[8]

The International Section

The International Section (hereafter referred to as TIS) is on St Giles, close to the centre of Oxford but will be relocating to The Swan Building (when the Sixth Form moves out) in September 2017. TIS takes international students aged 15+, and is a boarding school.

Pupils at TIS study either on the School's 1 year IGCSE Programme, designed specifically for international pupils as a preparation to study A levels at a UK school, or on a 2-year programme, the second year of which is the IGCSE course. There is also now an option for students to take just 1 or 2 terms of the first year of this course as a 'UK Study Abroad' experience, as each term is structured to stand as a complete educational block.

Students

TIS currently takes around 50 students each year, with a broad mix of nationalities. This number will increase slightly after the move to The Swan Building later in 2017. As is the case throughout d'Overbroeck's, the International Section is co-educational.

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 TIS's most recent British Council inspection, it was awarded points of excellence in eleven separate areas:

  • Teaching
  • Staff Management
  • Quality Assurance
  • Academic Staff Profile
  • Academic Management
  • Course Design
  • Learner Management
  • Care of Students
  • Accommodation
  • Leisure Opportunities
  • Care of under 18s.

No other UK international study centre scored more points of excellence, according to a summary of organisations' results published in the EL Gazette.[9]

The IGCSE Programme

The IGCSE Programme at TIS 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 Section at d'Overbroeck's is Accredited by the British Council as an international study centre, and is a member of the British Association of International Study Centres (BAISC).

Alumni
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References
  1. "Find a school – d'Overbroeck's". Independent Schools Council. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  2. D'Overbroek College – Integrated Inspection – October 2013. Independent Schools Inspectorate. 2013. p. 1. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  3. International Prospectus 2016–17 (PDF). d'Overbroecks College. 2016. p. 4. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  4. Grubb, Sophie (30 September 2017). "Private school unveils swish new home on site of Masonic Lodge". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  5. Keown, Callum (27 June 2016). "Work under way on private school sixth form centre after arson attack". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  6. "Independent schools' A-level results". The Daily Telegraph.
  7. "Key Stage 4 to 5 Value Added". London: Department for Education.
  8. The Good Schools Guide (13th ed.). Lucas Publications. 2008. pp. 302–304.
  9. EL Gazette April 2010
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