Philosophy, Policy and Practice

The educational philosophy of Oxley College is presented in the booklet A Statement of Purpose & Principle, included in this Prospectus. It is the point of departure from which all policy and practice flow.

We believe that every child is unique and the responsibility of parents and educators is to encourage everyone to discover and develop the individual nature to the fullest. This implies high expectations in all that students undertake - in work and at play, in relationship and personal presentation and involvement in College activities. These expectations are not to establish conformity but to explore personal gifts and to recognise that discovery of one's identity occurs best in relationships where there are both freedoms and limits.

The College provides opportunities for every student to achieve at their highest level, and the greatest achievement of all - a noble quality of person - is believed to be in reach of everyone.

Breadth and Depth - The Learning Programme

At Oxley, we recognise that opportunities for learning extend beyond the core of our educational programme, the academic curriculum. All activities are intended to be a part of the conscious learning programme. Together, they enable students to develop body, mind and spirit.

Staffing

Oxley College has benefited from outstanding staff, appointed for their specialist knowledge, their skill in teaching and their commitment to the ideals of the College.

Staff development and appraisal serve to keep staff fresh and in touch with developments in curriculum, teaching strategies, information technology and specialist subject areas. The teaching staff is capably supported by ancillary, administrative and support staff and by a management team with great experience and skill in their particular areas of responsibility and in professional leadership.

The Academic Curriculum

Oxley's academic curriculum supports its aim to educate in the liberal tradition, that is, students are encouraged to enjoy their learning and to apply it to their understanding of the world in all its complexity and of their individual place within it.

The curriculum conforms to the requirements of the Board of Studies of New South Wales, with which it is both registered and accredited.  The College also seeks to add its own emphasis and educational priorities to those required by the Board of Studies.  The academic programme offers a combination of compulsory studies and elective subjects.  The opportunity for choice grows as students progress towards their senior years.

The structure of the academic programme reflects the three stages of the secondary curriculum.

Years Seven and Eight (Stage Four)

Here, a broad range of studies provides students with the opportunity to explore specialist disciplines across the spectrum.  Some of these core subjects build upon the work done in the primary years.  Others are new.  There is very little choice other than in Languages, where students select the language they wish to study until the end of Year Eight.

All students take the following subjects:

Years Nine and Ten (Stage Five)

At this point, students begin to refine the learning programme, choosing subjects that reflect their particular interests and aptitude.  A substantial, but smaller programme of compulsory studies maintains the breadth and balance.  The School Certificate marks the end of compulsory schooling and is completed at the end of Year Ten, a combination of internal assessment and external examination. 

The following subjects are compulsory for all students:

Students choose two elective subjects from the following:

A student who has a particular interest or background in other areas of study can apply to take a subject by distance learning.  Approval for this will consider the individual's capacity for independent study as a major factor.

Years Eleven and Twelve (Stage Six)

The majority of students stay at school to complete the Higher School Certificate, a credential which prepares students for higher education at universities and colleges, or for direct entry into further training in the workplace.

In Year Eleven, the satisfactory completion of Preliminary courses qualifies students to proceed to the Higher School Certificate.  Students must study a minimum of twelve units, usually six subjects.

English, Advanced or Standard, is the only compulsory study.

Other subjects offered are:

These subjects are eligible for inclusion in the University Admissions Index (UAI).

Students may seek approval for study by distance learning and each case will be considered on its merits. Individual students may benefit, too, from the study of a vocational (VET) subject, but these may not be included in the UAI.

For the Higher School Certificate, the College requires students to continue a programme of twelve units.  Extension courses are available in the following subjects:

At all points where decisions must be made, the College offers comprehensive advice, both personal and general.

Streaming

The College adopts a formal policy of streaming according to a child's abilities and aptitudes.  Upon enrolment, students are only streamed when we have a clear understanding of their capability and learning style.  Formal streaming gradually takes place throughout Year Seven and, by the beginning of Year Eight; streams are established according to the particular profile of the year group.

Students entering other years are placed after personal discussion and a review of their academic record.

From time to time students are moved from one stream to another, where their learning demonstrates a need for change.  Our experience is that all children benefit from appropriate placement based on comprehensive knowledge of individuals.

Students with specific learning needs are evaluated and, often, discussion with parents and learning support specialists will take place before admission.

The Co-Curriculum

At Oxley, our commitment to learning in breadth recognises that activities beyond the classroom are very much a part of our conscious programme of learning. Abundant opportunities exist for students to explore their gifts in cultural, sporting, community service and outdoor activities. As well as acquiring particular skills, students test and develop their sense of self, their commitment to a group exercise and teamwork in all its complexity.

Some of these activities are compulsory, others are a matter of choice. All students are encouraged to explore these offerings and to find something that suits their abilities and interests.

Cultural Activities

Students at Oxley enjoy the Creative and Performing Arts which are wide in choice and high in standard. In Visual Arts and Design & Technology, students exhibit their course work and often submit works for external exhibitions and competition. Similarly, Music and Drama students perform as an integral part of their learning.

Wider opportunities for performance are not limited to students of Drama or Music. There are regular dramatic productions exploring a wide range of style, idiom and performance dynamic. The College has maintained its interest in the Shakespeare Festival, a state-wide competition where actors, musicians, set and costume designers can be involved.

In Music, a great variety of ensembles perform across the musical spectrum. The Choir, the Oxley Voices, the Orchestra, the Jazz and Stage Bands, the String Ensemble and Vocal Group often combine to perform larger works as well as more intimate musical evenings. Ensembles and drama groups have travelled interstate to perform in a variety of festivals and educational settings.

Teams compete regularly in the Mock Trial competition, the Commonwealth Bank Debating competition and in Public Speaking events such as the Youth of the Year competition and the Model United Nations Assembly.

Sport

Alongside the regular physical activity in class, a comprehensive range of team and individual sports reflects Oxley's commitment to developing the physical growth of students and those personal and affective aspects of human development.

In the junior school (Years Seven to Ten), skills and fitness are taught within the Physical Education and Health programmes and all students participate in sports lessons every week.

From their team sports, students learn loyalty, co-operation and responsibility. As a founding member of the Independent Sporting Association (ISA) competition, the College has sought to uphold the principle of healthy competition where games are played in the spirit which reflects a positive and healthy approach to sport among schools of similar culture.

The College organises transport for away games and hospitality complements the sporting competition at home.

Boys can join teams to play Cricket, Basketball, Football (Soccer), Rugby Union and Tennis. Girls compete in Hockey, Softball, Netball, Basketball and Tennis. Annual competitions in Athletics, Swimming and Cross-Country are part of the ISA programme.

The College also trains students to compete in Kayaking and Fencing, often at a very high level. There are College teams in Equestrian competitions and in Snow Sports. Informal teams often compete locally in Water Polo, Basketball and Touch Football.

Outdoor Education

The Outdoor Education Programme is designed to foster an awareness in students of the beauty of the natural world. It also exposes them to personal challenge. With the assistance of highly trained professionals, this programme offers a wide variety of activities including bush walking, abseiling, navigation and remote survival skills.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme offered at three levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold - includes a major outdoor component, community service and personal growth.

Pastoral Care and the House System

The House System at Oxley underpins everything for which the College stands. It aims to ensure that every boy and girl is known in depth by at least one adult. It fosters loyalty, commitment and a sense of belonging.

The personal nature of the College is reflected in the close relationships within Houses. The structures enable the head of House and Tutor to know and support a student throughout College life.

Heads of House are encouraged to know the students in their care and to provide a primary contact point for parents. Through the House structure, relationships develop between junior and senior members of the College which encourages students to nurture a bond through mutual care.

Many of the activities conducted in the wider sporting and cultural programmes are part of the House programme. The emphasis is on participation rather than competition and enables a great number of students to be involved. In Swimming, Athletics, Cross-Country and Music, the entire House participates. Debating, Public Speaking and Drama are voluntary House activities.

The Houses are named after significant pioneers in a variety of fields of endeavour:

Careers

Guidance for career choices is provided by the Careers Adviser. A comprehensive careers library and online facilities provide students with information on all post-school options, including Universities, the TAFE system, apprenticeships and other training schemes.

Facilities

The physical setting of the College provides students with space and beauty. A master plan has been developed to make the best use of the space available and to exploit the openness of the grounds.

Specialist facilities enhance opportunities for learning in Science, Visual Art, Design & Technology, Food Technology, Technical Drawing and Computing. An extensive Physical Education Centre complements the playing fields and the Parents & Friends Courts. Oxley students use an integrated ICT network which runs throughout the College, linking classrooms with the David Wright Library, teaching and administrative staff. There is ready access to online resources and a speedy connection enables students to transport their work electronically between the home and the school.

The Hoskins Hall, named after the Founding Chairman of the College, can accommodate the entire student body for assemblies, presentations and performance and is used extensively as a theatre space, both for teaching and productions. The David Wright Library, which bears the name of the founding Headmaster, is a modern facility housing the book and periodical collection, all visual and electronic resources and reader services. The Library is a focal point for learning, providing for class work as well as private study. This facility is open and supervised until 6.00pm from Monday to Thursday each week.

Specialist accommodation for Music includes purpose-designed teaching spaces, instrumental rooms for personal lessons, practice and ensemble work. There is a senior workspace equipped for composition and study and the Orchestra Room, where large ensembles rehearse and small recitals are held, is in constant use.

All facilities are developed and upgraded constantly, as funds permit.

The Sports grounds include two full-sized ovals, the Founders and Governors fields. There is a 400 metre running track, netball and tennis courts and pitches for Hockey, Rugby Union and Cricket as well as the indoor facilities in the PE Centre. The Bray Fields, four hectares of land across the Wingecarribee River, have been earmarked for future development as sporting fields. They presently accommodate the canoe shed, the pontoon and also include a major award- winning Landcare programme.

Uniform

The uniform is regarded by the College as an expression of a student's loyalty and commitment to the principles of the College. Students are expected to wear it fully, properly and proudly according to College regulations. All uniforms are available through the Oxley Shop which supplies both new garments and second-hand uniforms of good quality.

Enrolment Procedures                                              

Following initial enquiry, parents and carers seeking admission for their child(ren) are required to complete the application form included in this package.

In the year preceding entry, or as soon as possible in the event of any casual vacancy, students and their parents are invited to an interview at the College. Following this, offers of enrolment are made in accordance with the Business Notices.

Places at the College are offered on the following criteria:

• Preferences to brothers and sisters of present or past students
• A capacity and a willingness to benefit from the broad educational programme which the College offers
• The maintenance of a fair balance of gender in the College population, as far as is possible
• Following the application of the previous criteria, the date of application becomes a primary factor.

Governance of the College

As a company limited by guarantee, Oxley College Limited is a non-profit organisation.  Membership of the Company is open, upon application, to parents, staff and friends of Oxley. The membership elects the Board of Governors which is constituted to have equal representation of parents, non-parents and members elected for a specific expertise they might bring to the Board. Elections to the Board are held annually and members retire by rotation.

The Board is responsible for determining the overall policy of the College, for exercising financial control and for the appointment of the Head of College. Management of the College and appointment of the staff is delegated to the Head of College.

Parents & Friends of Oxley College

Parents are automatically members of the P & F and are encouraged to join in the activities of this Association and support the work of the College. Regular P & F meetings are held throughout the year. Parents will be well advised of social and other functions and kept up to date with school news through the Weekly Record. Parents are encouraged to become a member of the P & F Executive.

The Oxley Foundation

Established in 2001, the Foundation receives donations and bequests for investment. The income from the Foundation will support specific educational programmes in the years ahead.

The Alumni - The Old Oxleyans Association (OOA)

Students who have left the College stay in contact through the Old Oxleyans Association. Regular reunions, social and sporting contact keep Old Oxleyans in touch with the wider College family.