- Oakwood Technology College
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Oakwood Technology College Motto Growing Excellence Type Community Headteacher Mr David Naisbitt Specialism Technology Location Moorgate Road
Rotherham
South Yorkshire
S60 2UH
EnglandLocal authority Rotherham Students 1070 Ages 11–16 Houses Aspen, Beech, Larch, Rowan, Willow Website www.new.oakwood-tc.org Coordinates: 53°24′59″N 1°20′45″W / 53.41634°N 1.34572°W
Oakwood Technology College (OTC) is a secondary school in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. It is situated on Moorgate Road, almost in the centre of Rotherham, and receives children from a number of primary schools throughout Rotherham.
In 2004, 1071 students attended the school in Year 7 to Year 11.[1]
Contents
History
Opening in 1952 before it became a comprehensive, it was known as Oakwood Technical High School (a Secondary Technical School). It was separated into a boys' and girls' school. Students would have to pass the Eleven-Plus examination to gain entry to the school.
The new Science Department which looks out onto the main road was completed in 2002. The rest of the school was set to be re-built and for construction to begin in the summer of 2011, unfortunately this was abandoned after government spending cuts.
Curriculum
From year seven to eleven, students can study English, Mathematics, Science, Art, IT, PE, Geography, Technology, Music, History, Drama and Foreign Languages.
Foundation studies
Foundation studies are taught to year 7 students in one room with a singular teacher. These lessons include Geography, History, RE, IT, PSHE, Music and English.
The idea of this is to ease students into the secondary education system by keeping students with one familiar teacher, the same students in the same classes, and a consistent environment.
Languages
The school actively encourages students to study languages for at least the first three years of their schooling. In year seven one language only is taught, in year eight a second language is picked up.
Until 2006, the language taught in the first year would be German and French, depending on which 'half' of the year the student was in. In the second year, either the alternative language or Urdu would be picked up. Recently, Spanish has offered to year sevens.
At GCSE level, high achieving students are given the opportunity to study two languages in the time of one GCSE. This is known as the 'Dual Languages' course. In year ten the students 'first language' will be studied intensively and the exams will be taken, and in year eleven the 'second language' will be concentrated on.
Options
In Year 9, students select one of three study 'Pathways'
- Pathway A is the vocational path; in this path a student learns through job placement and gains experience in a workplace setting.
- Pathway B is the diploma path; subjects studied on this path provide qualifications such as the BTEC diploma or DIDA qualifications.
- Pathway C is the standard path; qualifications gained from this path are AQA/Edexcel GCSEs. Up to 3 can be chosen.
'Core subjects' are compulsory for each path. These are English, Mathematics, Science, RE, PSHE and PE. English and Mathematics provide full GCSE qualifications along with Technology. RE is a compulsory half (Occasionally full) GCSE. PE is a compulsory subject to study, although the final exam is optional for students.
In Year 8, students choose which Technology subject they would like to study in full for the following years. Due to the College's specialism a full technology qualification must be studied.
Students have a choice about whether or not to take IT; although lessons must be attended, students can chose which qualification they wish to gain. The ECDL course leads to a basic qualification proving competence in IT, whilst the CIDA course forms a small part of the DIDA course (both subjects in their own right) and is taken primarily in the student's spare time.
Charitable events
Children In Need
For the several years OTC has raised funds for the BBC charity Children In Need (CIN). For its efforts, the school has been featured on regional news broadcasts and the BBC Children In Need show itself.
The school hosts an annual CIN Concert, in which students from years seven to eleven, teachers and even ex-students, showcase their talents, whether they lie in music, singing, dance or drama. Recently, performances have included Rotherham Ethinc Drumming (RED), which originated from OTC's own African drumming group, the GCSE Drama and BTEC Performing Arts groups, and the 'Bondathon', arranged and performed in 2007 by year 11 students.
In addition to this, the school holds an afternoon of fund raising activities which include sponsorship, jumble sales, coffee mornings and cake sales.
Each year, the school raises several thousands of pounds, which all goes to CIN.
Real ale festival
From 1992 to 2010, the school was home to the Oakwood Real Ale and Music Festival, which took place in February each year. Money raised from the festival went directly to the school. From 2011, the festival will be moving to the Magna Centre and be renamed the Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival.
Notable alumni
- Dean Andrews, actor, Life on Mars
- Nick Banks, drummer, Pulp
- Nigel Croft, Chairman of the ISO Technical Committee, TC 176
- Justine Greening, Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Putney and Secretary of State for Transport
- John Hampshire, England and Yorkshire cricketer
- James May, co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear, journalist and writer
- Sir Mike Tomlinson, former Chief Inspector of Schools in England from 2000-02
References
External links
Video clips
Categories:- Schools in Rotherham
- Technology Colleges in England
- Comprehensive schools in South Yorkshire
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