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WIlberforce House Handbook2018-19
C Welcome 3
Meet the Team 4
Boarding at Bloxham 6
Advice from Peers 7
Life at Bloxham School 8
Photos 9
Upper Sixth Students 10
Notes From Matron 12
Life in Wilberforce 13
Beginning Your First Term 14
Timings of the Day 16
Weekly Timetable 17
Academic Information 18
School Rules 19
Help and Advice 22
Map 23
ONT
ENTS
A message from
Ms. McCaffreyI would like to wish a warm welcome to all those joining
Wilberforce House. I am Christine McCaffrey, Housemistress
of Wilberforce House, and it is a pleasure to have you with
us.This handbook is designed to help you prepare fo
r your
move to Bloxham, giving you and your parents something
to refer to for any questions about the running of the
house or what Bloxham School life is all about. Of
course, any member of our house staff will be happy
to help you and their contact information is included
in this booklet. You could also contact your assigned
buddy, who will be able to share their personal
experiences with you. My own contact information is
given on page 4.
Once the new term has begun, your parents will
have lots of ways of keeping up-to-date, including
our house newsletter; the website; the school’s
Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube profiles;
the Parents’ Area of the website; and the app.
Wilberforce has its own Twitter profile, @
BloxhamWilbo, which your parents can follow
for regular updates on life in the house itself.
The Wilberforce House StoryWilberforce House is named after an Oxford Bishop who worked closely with the school’s founder, Philip Egerton, in the 1860s. Whilst it is now a girls house, when it opened 100 years ago it housed only boys. It moved to its current building in the 1960s, and is centrally located and overlooks Jubilee Court, which opened in 2012. Wilberforce is home to about 60 girls, split between five year groups. The Third Form girls share two dormitory bedrooms and some double rooms. The Fourth Formers either share a double room or are in a room of four. Most Fifth Formers have a shared study bedroom and, by Upper Sixth, the girls have single study bedrooms. The room allocations are decided each term, ensuring everyone experiences different types of rooms, and has different roommates each academic year.This year the house has again enjoyed success in numerous house competitions, including a victory in the House Music Competition, winning the devised group section of the House Drama Competition and successes in Senior Sports Day, house tennis, cross-country, hockey and netball.Ms McCaffrey has a house attached to the girls’ accommodation and Miss Woodward, Assistant Housemistress, has accommodation on the ground and first floor at the other end of the house.3
Welcome from everyone in
Wilberforce House
Let’s Meet the TeamMs McCaffrey (CMM) – HousemistressI have been at Bloxham School since 2005 and teach languages; French, Latin and Spanish. This is my seventh year as Wilberforce Housemistress and I’m really looking forward to yet another exciting year. I live with my family in one wing of the house. My husband, Michael, works in the film industry (which is very useful for keeping our house DVD collection stocked up!) and we have two young adults Euan, who is 20 and at art school in London, and Sophie, 17. You’ll no doubt see them around and about. I love running, cycling, walking, tending my garden and cooking. I keep resolving to play the piano and violin better—I live in hope!
[email protected] 01295 724312
Miss Woodward (HEW)- Assistant HousemistressI’m Harriet Woodward and this is my first year as the Assistant Housemistress. I have been a maths teacher at Bloxham since September 2015, having previously worked as an accountant in London. I am also a Sixth Form tutor in house. I love seeing the world and travelling. My hobbies include skiing, scuba diving, theatre, art and of course walking Eric. I am also very enthusiastic about sports (taking part and watching) and have had a season ticket at Old Trafford to watch Manchester United for most of my life. I’m really looking forward to moving in.
[email protected] 01295 724378
Jennie Wilby (JW) – Wilberforce House MatronMy name is Jennie and I live with my husband, Matthew, and two daughters, Bethany, 13, and Eleanor, 10. I love getting to know the girls and staff in the house and I’m always ready to listen and help in anyway I can. My interests include reading - I love both contemporary fiction and Scandinavian crime— as well as long walks in the countryside with my mischievous Westie, Hugo.
[email protected] 01295 724359
Sarah Goodman – Assistant MatronI’m Sarah Goodman, Assistant Matron, and I work alongside Jennie. We’re here to listen and help in any way we can. I enjoy baking cakes for our girls to enjoy, as well as doing lots of sewing for the house - curtains, cushions and bunting to name a few! I’m available in house from 8.00am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday and 8.00am to 11.30am on Saturdays - come and say hello!
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Tutor System in Wilberforce HouseAll of the houses at Bloxham are run in a similar way—the housemaster/mistress leads, with lots of support from their assistant housemaster/mistress. At each stage of your life at Bloxham you are assigned a tutor from the house, a member of the teaching staff, who provides support and guidance. Recognising specific educational and pastoral needs at these stages, you are assigned a tutor for your time between Third and Fifth Form and another when you get to Sixth Form. As a member of Wilberforce House, your tutor supports Ms McCaffrey and Miss Woodward within the house and will help you to monitor your progress, both academic and personal. You will have weekly meetings with them and they will offer you advice. Each tutor is on duty in Wilberforce House on a fixed night each week from 6.30pm until 10.30pm. We encourage day boarders to stay late on the day their tutor is working in the house as it is a very good opportunity to discuss all pastoral and academic concerns with them.
Ms Swann
I’m Sara Swann, the Bloxham School Librarian, a post I have held
since October 2003. I was appointed to prepare the library and the school for the opening of the Vallance building in 2006. I joined Wilberforce as a tutor in January 2004 and I’m now a Sixth Form tutor here. When I’m not at work I enjoy walking, swimming, reading and spending time with friends and family.
Miss Tucker
My name is Samantha Tucker and I recently joined Bloxham
as an English teacher, having studied English and Poetry at Birmingham and Edinburgh Universities. I’m a Third to Fifth Form tutor here in Wilberforce. I’ve taught yoga in India and creative writing in prisons. In my spare time, I love running in the hills, wild camping, swimming in rivers, travelling and writing. Tea, fruit and cake fuel my adventures.
Mrs Britnell
I’m Fern Britnell and I joined Bloxham as a chemistry teacher
in 2011, having studied biochemistry at university. I was married at Bloxham School chapel two years later and now have two children, Charlie (3) and Lyra (1), and teach part time as well as being a Third to Fifth Form tutor in house. I enjoy running, cycling and reading, when I can find the time!
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Mrs Lehmann
I’m Rachel Lehmann and I have been an art teacher at
Bloxham School since 2002. I am very excited about my sixth year in Wilberforce House, now as a Third to Fifth Form tutor, and continuing as a full-time art teacher. My husband and I have two children, Carys, aged 13, and Edward, aged 9, and we enjoy spending quality time together as a family, walking and going to the beach when possible.
Dr. Evans
I am Claire Evans, I have been a geography teacher at Bloxham School
since 2004, and I am also Head of Careers and a Sixth Form tutor in house. I live locally with my husband, Adrian, and our three boys. I work closely with the Sixth Form students and enjoy helping them with their UCAS applications to aid them on their first steps in life after Bloxham.
Boarding at Bloxham SchoolAs one of the six senior boarding houses at Bloxham School, we in Wilberforce House work hard to try and make you feel as comfortable as possible during your life here at Bloxham. Using the boarding principles as our guide, we strive to help each student, whether a boarder or a day boarder, to:
• Settle, develop and grow
• Embrace fun, friendships and challenges
• Inspire each other to be ambitious about who we are and what we can achieve.
Before a student arrives at Bloxham we seek full and detailed information about their background, identified learning needs, family situation and health. This information is distributed efficiently to those who need to know.
Each student will attend a new student event to begin the familiarisation process.
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Be yourself! Bloxham is such a welcoming school so don’t ever be afraid to embrace your talents! Talking to older years or new people may seem a little daunting, but remember we all joined the school at some point so understand the anxieties. Don’t be afraid to say hello or ask for advice.
“Make sure you work hard and throw yourself into everything on offer, but most of
all have fun!”
Do everything you enjoy, whether your friends
are doing it too or not. Make the most of every
experience and opportunity you have here.
“Be friendly and work hard.”
“Your time at Bloxham will fly by so make the make the most of it and have fun!”
Make the most of being in a boarding house, socialise and get to know everyone. Your house will become like a family! Get
stuck in and make a real effort to help matron and do chores. Get to know people in your year and your tutor group- doing this will really broaden your friendship groups.
Advice from Peers
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• A full and proper induction, particularly for any pupil joining the school at an unusual time
• Leadership and ‘parenting’ from the housemaster/mistress• Guidance, support, encouragement and advocacy from their tutor• Leadership opportunities within the house and school• Accommodation in well maintained and cared for boarding house• An understanding of the variety of people who they can talk to if they wish to seek
help• A PSHE course which is relevant to their age and experience• Advice on keeping safe, with particular reference to cyber-safety• The opportunity to have their voice heard in the house and school• Healthy meals and snacks• Advice and guidance on leading a healthy lifestyle • A warm and friendly environment in which to feel secure and happy • Support in personal spiritual development• Help to develop respect for others both locally and in a diverse world• Help to develop respect for the property of others• Encouragement to have an inquiring mind, to read and to think• Opportunities to take part in structured and safe social activities appropriate to
their age• Opportunities to explore careers and prepare for life after Bloxham• Instruction as to how to improve their communication skills• Support, guidance and help to form positive relationships• Instruction to develop listening skills• Nurturing to build and develop self-esteem and that of others• A regular communication between school and parents• Encouragement to develop their talents to the full – both academic and non-
academic• Help to become emotionally robust• Fair and transparent disciplinary procedures• Recognition for their success and effort in every area of school life• Access to the school counsellor...
...so that they may leave Bloxham as engaging, respectful, caring and confident individuals who are ready to live happily, contributing positively to the ever-changing world in which they live.
Whilst at the School Every Student Will Receive:
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Upper Sixth
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Emily HutsbySubjects: Art, DT, physics
Interests: Clay pigeon shooting, playing drumsHopes to: Be a designer or do something I enjoy!
Lauren ManningSubjects: Chemistry, geography, biology
Interests: Music, politics, filmAspirations: To travel and live abroad
Hannah LeeSubjects: Politics, history, theology
Interests: Politics, debating, instagram, dogs, highlighter, my friends
Hopes to go into: Journalism and business
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Siena RobbinsSubjects: English literature, psychology, geography
Interests: Hockey, storytelling, memesHopes to go into: Play international hockey
Ella-Mae SmithSubjects: Theology, history, English
Interests: Dogs, memes, religion, politicsHopes to go into: Law or politics
Anna Riddington-GaleSubjects: Psychology, biology, textiles
Interests: CCF, hockeyHopes to be: Pilot
Students
(House Captain)
Notes From Matron:
• All clothes (and shoes) are
clearly
marked with name tapes, including
casual clothes, making them easier
to return if lost.
• All items of uniform conform to the
lists on the school website.
• You bring spare name labels in case
any are lost over the yea
r.
• Don’t forget to bring your
own duvet, cover and pillow
case!
• All clothes are machine washable and tumble drier
safe. • You bring personal crockery
and cutlery (to be kept in
your room). • Your hair is regulation length
and colour.
Matron would like to offer a few pointers regarding your belongings and appearance. Please ensure:
Laundry and Matron’s RoomDirty laundry goes to the locker room before breakfast on Mondays. You also collect clean bedding from here. Your clean washing is returned to your shelf in matron’s room each Wednesday.
The Running of Wilberforce House:Cleaning— Wilberforce House is cleaned every morning from Monday to Friday. The cleaners do a fine job but it is essential that all girls keep their rooms tidy to help the cleaners to do their job. Once a week, desks and floors are cleared to allow a thorough clean (aka Room Clean).Rotas and duties—All girls in the house are expected to help with the smooth running of the community by carrying out various duties and rotas are published around the house. Students should ensure they know when their duties are and how to carry them out properly. Duties include:
Third Form Cleaning lower kitchen and shared dormsFourth Form Bread and milk collectionFifth Form Newspaper, fruit, cheese and marmite collectionLower Sixth Cleaning upstairs kitchens, collecting evening snacks, Third Form prep duty and helping Upper Sixth girls with dutiesUpper Sixth Prefect duties (incl. prep supervision), tidying
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Visiting Other HousesGirls may visit other houses during allotted times. Girls may only enter the common rooms in other houses and at set times, between 6.00pm and 6.30pm on weekdays. On Saturdays, students can visit other houses after 4.00pm until bedtime/10.00pm, and after brunch until bedtime/10.00pm (but not during quiet time) on Sundays.
After evening tick-in on weekdays (6.30pm) students remain in house for prep until 7.45pm. During this time various clubs and groups will take place and students may attend these, as long as they sign out, and back in again. Between 7.45pm and 8.15pm there is evening break during which students may have free time in house or in the designated central area. Between 8.15pm and 9.15pm there is quiet time / second prep session. Sixth Form students may attend various clubs during this time but must sign out and in if they leave the house.
Non-members of the school may only visit the house with permission from the duty tutor or housemistress– who must also be consulted before a student visits a private residence. All visitors to Wilberforce must sign in on entering the house.
Parental Access Parents have full access to Wilberforce House at the beginning and end of each term in order to deliver and collect their daughter. However, in accordance with the school’s Safeguarding Policy, they may not visit Wilberforce unsupervised during term time. If parents wish to visit, they should contact either the housemistress or matron in advance, and sign in with the staff member on duty on arrival. There may be some occasions during the week when it is not appropriate for parents to enter the house.
Wilberforce House KitchensThe three Wilberforce House kitchens are stocked with milk, fruit, cheese, bread and spreads each day. Each kitchen also has a kettle, microwave, toaster and fridge. Girls may store their own provisions in a lockable tuck box and it is essential that everyone respects that personal provisions are not for general consumption. Snacks are available for boarders at 9.00pm.
Signing OutStudents must log the time they leave the house on the sign in sheet. This is stored in matron’s room during the day and in the duty tutor room. All students must also sign out when returning home.
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Beginning Your First TermThere will be various induction day activities taking place throughout Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th September. Please check the timetable below to ensure you know when you need to be in school. House staff and prefects will be in the house to greet you on arrival. Please arrive wearing your school uniform but ensure your games kit is accessible for activities later in the day. Day boarders should put their belongings in the day room on arrival. Lessons begin on Friday 7th September.
Induction Week Timetable
Coloured text = overseas studentsBold text = arrival time for each year group
DATE Third Form Fourth Form Fifth Form Lower Sixth Upper Sixth
Tuesday 4th September
5pm New overseas students’ arrival,
induction & fire drill
5pm Boarders return & induction
tasks
Wednesday 5th
September
9.30am Arrive in houses & welcome
10:15am Head of Year10:15am HM talk to
parents10:30am Parent coffee in
large dining room11:30am Computers in library – collection in
rooms 1-51pm Assembly in GH
1:10pm Lunch1:45pm Bag collection
from houses2pm Leave for camp
12pm New overseas
students’ arrival & induction
5.30pm Boarders return
6.00pm Tea 7pm House drills
7:30pm Safeguarding
8pm Social (games)
12pm New overseas
students’ arrival & induction
5.30pm New & current students
arrive7pm House fire
drills7.30pm
Safeguarding8pm Social
9am Day boarders’ arrival in houses
9.30am Leadership & induction tasks
7pm House fire drills
7.30pm Safeguarding
8pm Social
Thursday 6th
September
6pm Return from camp, tea & induction
activities
8am Day boarders return
Study skills & activities
5.30pm Boarders
return & tea7pm Talk -
Kevin Sinfield
8.30am Assembly & study skills
7pm Talk - Kevin Sinfield
Leadership, induction tasks & UCAS statements 7pm Talk - Kevin
Sinfield
Friday 7th September
8.30am School assembly8.45am Lessons &
medicals (boys)11.05am Midyis &
medicals 5pm Eucharist
8.30am School assembly8.45am Lessons
2.05pm Sport5pm Eucharist
Saturday 8th
September
Normal timetable6pm Community charity event
Sunday 9th September
10.30 Boarders’ brunch11.30am House day
5.30pm Boarders’ supper
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Bold text in the induction week timetable shows the arrival time for each year group -
make sure you know when you need to arrive!
Parents, be sure to check the
timetable for when you are invited
to hear from the Headmaster,
Paul Sanderson.
Normal timetable starts on
Friday 7th September.
Third Form, don’t forget to bring all
your gear for camp!
Bed Lights Out
Third Form 9.30pm 9.45pm
Fourth Form 9.45pm 10.00pmFifth Form 10.00pm 10.15pmLower Sixth 10.15pm 10.45pmUpper SIxth 10.45pm 11.00pm
Timings of the dayTime Activity Place8.15am Registration Wilberforce House common room1.45pm Registration Wilberforce House locker room 8.30am (Wednesdays only) Whole school assembly Great Hall8.30am (Saturdays only) Week A: Year group assemblies
Week B: House assemblies2.00pm (Mondays only) Whole school assembly Great Hall
5.45pm (Monday to Friday) Registration Wilberforce House common room6.30pm Tick-in (all years) Wilberforce House common room6.30pm (Saturdays) Tick-in (all years)6.30pm - 7.45pm Prep In house or students may sign out to
use the library or to attend events or school activities with permission from the duty tutor.
7.45pm - 8.15pm Evening break8.15pm - 9.15pm Quiet time
10.00pm Tick-in (Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Form) Wilberforce House common room10.00pm (Saturdays) Tick-in (all years) Wilberforce House common room
Day Boarders
Day boarders register at 8.15am each day and their day ends at 9.00pm (unless parents have agreed a 6.00pm finish with Ms McCaffrey by email). The Wilberforce House staff work hard to accommodate everyone, but is inevitable that girls will miss out on activities, prep time and opportunities to see tutors if they aren’t able to stay until 9.00pm.
Every effort must be made for students to stay at school until 9.00pm on their tutor’s duty night and there are a number of compulsory activities that take place after 6.00pm throughout the year.
Senior day boarders will receive two nights boarding within their school fee. Any additional overnight stays will be charged at a rate of £55 per night. Should a day boarder stay for four nights a week, on six or more occasions in one term, then they will be deemed a boarder and will be charged the full boarding fee upgrade retrospectively.
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Weekly timetableMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
7.30am - 8.00am Boarders’ breakfast
8.15am Registration
8.30am - 8.45am Whole school
assembly
8.30am - 8.45amA week: Year
group assemblyB week: House
assembly
8.30am - 9.30am P1 P1 8.50am - 9.30am P1 Fourth to
Sixth Form PSHE
P1 P1 8.50am - 9.50am P1
9.35am - 10.35am P2 P2 P2 P2 P2 9.55am - 10.55am P2
10.35am - 11.05am Break 10.55am - 11.25am Break
11.05am - 12.05pm P3 P3 P3 P3 P3 11.25am - 12.25pm P3
12.10pm - 1.10pm P4 P4Third and Fourth
Form games
P4 P4 P4 12.25pm - 1.25pm Lunch
1.10pm - 2.05pm Lunch
Registration
2.05pm Whole school assembly
Third and Fourth Form lunch
Fifth and Sixth Form games
Games SSR SSR
2.25pm - 3.25pm P5 P5 Third and Fourth Form
Fifth and Sixth Form Games
Games P5 P5
3.25pm - 3.50pm Break Activities CCF/service Activities
3.50pm - 4.50pm P6 Activities P6 Activities P6 Drop-in classes/assisted
prep
P6 CCF/service P6 Music/team practice/drama
5.00pm - 6.00pm P7 Tutor time and house assemblies
P7 Drop-in clinics/prep
P7Third Form head
of year time
5.15pm Chapel (Fifth and
Sixth Form)
P7 Sixth Form lecture
programme5.15pm Chapel (First to Fourth
Form)
5.30pm - 6.00pm Registration
6.00pm - 6.30pm Boarders’ supper
6.30pm - 7.45pm Evening prep
7.45pm - 8.15 pm Evening break
8.15pm - 9.15pm Quiet time in houses
Sundays follow a different format, with a typical structure of brunch at 10.30am, followed by a trip or gym and swim sessions on the campus. Supper is at 5.00pm, with quiet time in houses at 6.30pm. We offer football at 7.30pm for those who wish to participate.
Internal Assessment ReportsAssessment Reports are written every half term by teachers to comment on your aca-demic progress within each subject.
You will receive three grades:
Your AtL - Your attitude to learningYour CWT - Your current attainment level (currently working towards)Target Grade - Self explanatory!
Your teachers will also give you advice on how to improve. On occasions, you and your tutor might agree to write a Student Improvement Plan (SIP) to highlight key areas for improvement over the next half term. During the week immediately following the report, your tutor will discuss the comments with you. Your parents will receive an email from the school after this point, including log on details so they can access your report themselves. This makes it essential that the school has the most up-to-date email address for your parents, so if they get a new email, please ask them to alert the Admissions Department at [email protected].
Students are required to write their own ‘self-reflection’ reports at the end of each term. These allow students to look critically at their own performance and judge for themselves how they are progressing.
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•Fountain pen or good quality roller
ball pen
•Spare ink cartridges (blue or
black ink)
•2 spare roller ball style pe
ns (blue or black)
•2 sharp HB pencils
•Coloured pencils (at least 6 colours)
•Scientific calculator - Casio Fx 83
•Green biro
•Red biro
•Purple biro
•Pencil sharpener•Pritt Stick or similar glue•Pair of scissors•Protractor•Set square•15cm or 30 cm ruler
•Pair of compasses•Rubber
Students should have a clear plastic pencil case containing the following items:
School Rules
Term Dates and Holidays Beginning and end of term. The dates, start and finish times of each half term are listed on the school calendar and the app. As a guide, boarders are usually expected to return between 8.00pm and 9.00pm on the evening before lessons restart. If students are not able to return at the publicised time, parents need to contact their housemaster/mistress in good time to organise alternative arrangements. This is essential to make sure that a member of staff can be present to meet them.
Exeats and HolidaysTerm dates are available on the Parents’ Information pages of the school website. There are three terms each school year and each is broken up by a half term holiday. This year’s Exeat weekends (when the school is closed and all students leave) are 28th to 30th September and 24th to 26th November. Parents or guardians are responsible for their child during the breaks and holiday periods.
Absence from SchoolStudents are expected to attend school for the whole term and any leave of absence (except medical or dental appointments) during this time must be approved by the headmaster (he can be emailed at [email protected]).
MealsAll school meals are compulsory for boarders. All day boarders must go to lunch and those staying after 6.00pm should also attend dinner. Eating in public is contrary to good manners and is against the school rules, as is chewing gum.
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For a full list of regulations, please see the ‘School Regulations’ list available in the house.
Weekend LeaveBoarders may take advantage of weekend or Sunday leave to visit their families if it is agreed with Ms McCaffrey (and confirmed by email) by the end of the previous Thursday. On the first weekend of the school year, we arrange induction activities from which the students greatly benefit and all are expected to attend. Weekend leave begins after Saturday sport commitments and runs until 6.00pm on Sunday (or 8.00am on Monday). It is subject to students having no other school commitments during that time.
Mobile PhonesMobile phones are useful for students to keep in contact with home and their housemaster/mistress. Use of mobile phones is subject to our Phones Policy. We recommend insuring expensive phones as they can easily get lost or damaged. Please attempt to name phones in some way.
ComputersStudents from First to Fifth Form are provided with a device, to be used as a learning tool. Each is pre-loaded with all the necessary academic software and the latest version of Microsoft Office. New Sixth Formers provide their own devices and connect to the Bloxham School network whilst on site.
House BankThe housemaster/mistress looks after students’ pocket money in the ‘House Bank’- £3-5 a week should be plenty. Deposits need to be made via bank transfer or cash (please email Ms McCaffrey for more information). If students choose to open a bank account, there is a cashpoint outside the village shops; however, the security of a bank account is the student’s own responsibility.
Uniform and Casual ClothesThird to Fifth Form must wear their school uniform throughout the day until after dinner, and also at formal school events. Sixth Formers wear suits instead of a uniform. More uniform advice is available on the school website.
SecurityEach student has access to at least one lockable locker for their valuables, and Fourth Formers and above have their own room key. Keys are issued by matron and girls will be charged £10 for lost/non-returned keys. The houses themselves are secured by digilocks and the codes are changed regularly. Students must not let people into the house who they don’t know and should store their valuables safely.
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ShopsStudents may visit the village shops at allotted times of the day. Student access is via the swimming pool gate and using the pelican crossing.
IT and E-safetyStudents of Bloxham School using Bloxham Computer Network and the remote web portal are required to follow all the conditions laid down in the Acceptable Usage Policy that they sign at the beginning of the year. Any breach of these conditions may lead to withdrawal of the user’s access to the Bloxham Computer Network and remote web portal and in some instances could lead to criminal prosecution.
Students should be mindful of the fact that anything they put on social media sites can be seen by teachers, universities and future employers.
FireAll students need to familiarise themselves with the escape routes in the house and congregation points in case of fire. Wilberforce girls congregate on checkpoint A (signposted) outside the cricket pavillion on Main Field. There is at least one fire drill per term, which students should treat as a real fire. The alarm system is checked weekly.
Cars and Driving LessonsNo students may drive cars nor be driven by any person under the age of 25, unless the headmaster gives permission, as set out in the Driving to and from School Policy. Once parental permission has been requested, Sixth Formers may book driving lessons as long as they do not coincide with school commitments. Upper Sixth students may book driving lessons in study periods, Lower Sixth may not.
Out of BoundsAll students need to acquaint themselves with a definitive list of the areas in the village that are out of bounds. Pubs are out of bounds for students but for the following exception: housemasters/mistresses and the deputy head (pastoral) together can give permissions for school and pastoral prefects to visit The Elephant and Castle pub between 9.00pm and 10.00pm, or 10.30pm with housemaster/mistress permission.
Offensive WeaponsAny non-fixed blade knives, BB guns, air guns and replica guns are considered to be offensive weapons and must not be brought to school.
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Help and AdvicePalmer Health CentreThe school’s health centre is based on the main site and is staffed by registered nurses and a visiting school medical officer. They look after students’ health and wellbeing whilst at school, including: general ill health; support for physical or psychological health conditions; emergency ill health or first aid; health education; support or administration of medication; and general health advice. Parents should notify the health centre about any prescription medication their child takes.
If a student feels unwell they should attend the health centre for advice and support. If the sister decides a student is unfit to re-main at school, they will contact parents/ guardians to discuss appropriate action. Students must not arrange to be collected by parents without visiting the health centre for assessment.
All boarders are expected to register with the school GP, whilst day boarders can choose to stay with their family GP. The school’s doctor holds two surgeries each week (times above) and students can book an appointment via the Palmer staff:Palmer Health Centre can be contacted during the day on 01295 724306 or in an emergency on 01295 720441. To get in contact via email, use [email protected].
Don’t forget that if you have any worries or need advice, there is a long list of people who can help: Your own familyYour house team A house captain or prefectThe ChaplainA peer listener (they can be contacted by emailing [email protected])
The school’s counsellor, Steve Thorpe, is here to help students with any worries or problems they would like to share, whether it’s school work, friendship difficulties or issues at home. He is in school on Mondays and Tuesdays and can be emailed directly using [email protected], or an appointment can be booked for a student, by a member of staff.
Other useful numbers that are available include:Childline: 0800 1111Ofsted: 08456 404045Children’s commissioner: 0800 5280731 Bloxham School independent listeners: Becky Horton on [email protected] or 01295 721152Mike Tydeman on [email protected] or 01295 721525
Surgery Opening TimesMonday to Friday8.00am—8.45am 1.15pm—2.00pm 6.00pm—7.00pm Saturday 8.00am—8.45am 1.00pm—1.30pm 5.00pm—6.00pm
Sunday 10.30am—11.30am 5.00pm—6.00pm
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