The Bartholomew Bulletin

Term 1 - October 2026

Welcome to The Bartholomew Bulletin, a termly round up of news and highlights for the school community.

We hope you enjoy reading about some of the many trips, events and activities that have taken place within the school community over the past few weeks and this gives a flavour of life at Bartholomew.

Contents

Welcome to The Bartholomew Bulletin, a termly round up of news and highlights for the school community.

Foreword from the Headteacher

From the Bartholomew Academy Committee Chair

Foreword from the Headteacher

From Mr Adam Wood, Head of School

As we begin a new academic year, I am delighted to welcome both new and returning students, families and staff to Bartholomew School. The start of September always brings a sense of excitement and optimism, and it has been wonderful to see our school once again filled with energy, ambition and enthusiasm for the year ahead.

A particularly warm welcome goes to our new Year 7 students and to those joining us in other year groups and the Sixth Form. Starting a new school, meeting new people and finding your way around can be both exciting and daunting, but I have been enormously impressed by the confidence, kindness and positivity with which our newest students have embraced life at Bartholomew. They have quickly become valued members of our school community.

The beginning of a new academic year offers an opportunity for fresh starts and new ambitions. Whether students are settling into secondary school for the first time, preparing for important examination years, taking on leadership responsibilities, or exploring new interests through clubs, trips and enrichment activities, there are countless opportunities for personal growth and achievement in the months ahead. We encourage every student to make the most of these opportunities and to approach each day with curiosity, determination and a willingness to challenge themselves.

One of the things that makes Bartholomew such a special place is the strength of our community. Success in school is about far more than academic outcomes alone. It is about developing confidence, resilience, character and a sense of belonging. Every day, our students demonstrate these qualities through their learning, their relationships and their contributions to school life, and we look forward to seeing them continue to flourish throughout the year.

This edition of the Bartholomew Bulletin provides a glimpse into what has already been a busy and positive start to the year. I hope you enjoy reading about the many activities, achievements and opportunities that are helping to shape another exciting chapter in the life of our school.

I wish all our students every success for the year ahead and look forward to celebrating their achievements, both large and small, in the months to come.

From the Bartholomew Academy Committee Chair

From Bernard Auton, Chair of the Bartholomew Academy Committee

As Term 1 draws to a close, I suspect we are all looking forward to a change of pace over the half-term break, and with good reason, given how much has happened in the last eight weeks.

In September we welcomed new students and their families into the Bartholomew community: 210 new students joined Year 7, it’s great to have you with us! There was no better sign of how well our newest students have settled in than the fantastic Year 7 concert, a showcase of real musical talent.

Learning has extended well beyond the classroom. Travel & Tourism students visited Thorpe Park, Geography students explored Oxwich Bay, Biology students toured the Ardley Waste Management Centre, Science students visited the Oxford Botanic Garden, and Modern Foreign Languages students travelled all the way to Paris! The term also included several drama trips and a visit into school by the Paperbird Theatre Company.

Our older students have stepped up as leaders. In Year 13, the Student Presidents and Student Senior Team have taken on leadership roles within school, while in Year 12 students have been appointed to the roles of Numeracy, Literacy and Modern Foreign Languages Ambassadors, and in Year 13 as School Counsellors. The student leadership applications have taken place for the roles of Subject Leaders, Ambassadors and School Council roles have also been confirmed and work gets underway in earnest from next term! It has also been a pleasure to see students, families and teachers working together to prepare thoughtfully for study, revision and mock exams, laying strong foundations for the summer.

This term has also seen a slight change in how the school is governed. The Bartholomew Academy Committee has taken on the responsibilities previously held by the School Governors. We continue to work closely with the Bartholomew School Senior Leadership Team and the EPA Trust Board of Directors, providing local insight and challenge on the “4 S’s”: Standards, Safeguarding, SEND and Stakeholder management. We meet with the Senior Leadership Team four times a year and visit the school regularly to see these priorities in action.

Finally, on behalf of the whole Bartholomew community, I would like to recognise the dedication and commitment of Dr Lucy Dickinson, who served for many years as a Parent Governor and then as Chair of Governors. Lucy led the Board of Governors and supported the school’s leadership over many years and the recent ‘Outstanding' Ofsted inspection, always ensuring that “We are Ready, We are Respectful, and We are Safe.” Thank you, Lucy!

I wish everyone an enjoyable break.

Trips

Bonjour from Paris!

From Mme Joye, MFL Department

Our GCSE and A Level French students had a wonderful time putting their language skills into practice while discovering the art, history and culture of Paris during a three-day trip during the penultimate week of Term 1.

Their visit has included the magnificent Palace of Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, a river cruise and time exploring Montmartre, where the group were photographed with the Sacré-Cœur in the background. We all had a fantastic time. Other highlights included dinner at Bouillon Chartier, free time in Quartier Latin and around Notre Dame, and a guided tour of the folming locations of 'le Fabuleux destin d'Amelie Poulin'.

Experiences like these bring classroom learning to life, giving students opportunities to use French in everyday situations and deepen their understanding of the cultures they study. They are also a wonderful way to build confidence and enjoy learning together.

"We were particularly impressed with how our students behaved and engaged with all the activities. Their positivity and eagerness to discover was the driving force throughout - bravo la classe de Paris 2026"

A Level Theatre Studies trip to see Fences

From Mrs Lambourne, Head of Drama

On Thursday 1st October, our A Level Theatre Studies students visited Oxford Playhouse to see August Wilson’s acclaimed play Fences.

Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, the play explored family, ambition, identity and racial inequality, giving students rich material to consider from both a dramatic and historical perspective. Seeing the production live also enabled them to analyse the choices made by the actors, director and creative team across performance, staging, lighting, sound and design.

Live theatre is an essential part of the A Level Theatre Studies course, and students will draw directly on this production when analysing and evaluating performance in their written examination.

We had a fantastic evening at the Oxford Playhouse watching a brilliant production of Fences. The acting was phenomenal, with a particularly superb and moving performance from the actor Simon-Anthony Rhoden who played Gabe. A powerful production and a wonderful experience for our students!

Inspiring Future Careers in STEM

From Mr Auterson, Science Department

Students interested in science and engineering visited Oxfordshire Advanced Skills at Culham this term for a hands-on introduction to the exciting range of careers available across STEM industries.

Bartholomew students joined young women from five Oxfordshire schools for a special STEM event at the Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) training centre, based at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Culham Campus near Abingdon.

The day was designed to encourage students to explore where further study in science and STEM subjects could take them. An interactive carousel of activities gave them the opportunity to engage directly with leading employers and organisations including Siemens, Williams Jet Tenders, UKAEA, Tokamak Energy and Oxford Sigma.

Based at one of Oxfordshire’s major science and technology sites, OAS provides high-tech training for the next generation of engineers and technicians, making the visit an opportunity for students to see some of the pathways into engineering and advanced manufacturing first-hand.

The students particularly enjoyed learning about the current developments in nuclear fusion and having a go at using robots similar to those used in the maintenance of fusion reactors.

Travel & Tourism Comes to Life at Thorpe Park

From Mrs Keeping, Geography Department

Seven Year 13 Travel & Tourism students swapped the classroom for one of the UK’s best-known visitor attractions this term, putting their course learning into practice during a day at Thorpe Park.

The visit formed part of students’ BTEC Level 3 Travel & Tourism course and supported their study of visitor attractions. Throughout the day, students were able to consider first-hand how a major theme park operates and attracts visitors, exploring some of the factors they have been studying in class, from its appeal and facilities to pricing, development and the wider visitor experience.

As well as bringing their learning to life, the visit provided valuable first-hand research that students can draw upon in their Year 13 assessed assignments, whether or not they ultimately choose Thorpe Park as one of their detailed case studies.

Studying a theme park in person offered one considerable advantage over studying one in the classroom: there was also time to experience the attractions themselves!

Year 12 Biology – Bringing Biology to Life at Oxford Botanic Garden

From Mrs Daniels, Head of Biology

More than 400 years after Oxford Botanic Garden was founded to grow medicinal plants for the teaching of medicine, our Year 12 biologists visited to explore how plants continue to play a vital role in science today.

Established in 1621, Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in the UK and is now home to around 5,000 different plant species. Its internationally important collections form a ‘living library’ used for teaching, scientific research and conservation – making it an ideal setting for students to take their A Level Biology studies beyond the classroom.

Students began their visit with a guided tour, exploring themes closely linked to the OCR Biology curriculum, including plants and medicines, biodiversity and conservation. The Garden’s collections provide fascinating real-world examples: its medicinal plant beds include plants connected with treatments for conditions ranging from heart disease to cancer and infectious diseases, while its conservation work helps to protect rare flora both locally and from biodiversity hotspots around the world.

Following the tour, students had the opportunity to explore the Garden together, making connections between the plants and collections around them and topics encountered during their A Level course.

The visit was a valuable opportunity to see how the biology studied in the classroom connects with centuries of scientific discovery – and with important questions about medicine, biodiversity and conservation today.

Biology in Action at Ardley

From Mrs Daniels, Head of Biology

Our Sixth Form biologists visited Ardley Waste Management Centre (Viridor) on Friday 16th October, taking their studies of ecosystems beyond the classroom. The visit brought their learning about carbon cycling and the scale of human impact on the planet into focus through a real-world example of large-scale waste management.

Events

Creative Storytelling with Paper Birds

From Mrs Lambourne, Head of Drama

On Thursday of the final week of term, 30 GCSE and A Level Drama students took part in a two-hour practical workshop led by Paper Birds Theatre Company, exploring its innovative and collaborative approaches to storytelling and performance.

Working in pairs, students created movement sequences using chairs, experimenting with pauses, slow motion and rewinding actions. A writing exercise beginning “I want to live in a world where…” provided inspiration for spoken phrases, which they then layered over their movements.

The workshop supported both GCSE and A Level Drama by giving students practical techniques to draw on when devising original theatre. Combining their own words and ideas with physical performance, students explored how to shape material together and communicate meaning to an audience.

From Mrs Almgill, Head of Music

A huge well done to all students who performed expertly in the Year 7 Concert on Wednesday 21st October - you dazzled the audience with your musical talents and it was a lovely way to mark the end of the first term.

There will be plenty more opportunities to get involved in musical events, with the Recital at St Denys Church, Northmoor and the Christmas Carol Concert next term. Please speak to your music teacher if you would like to be involved.

PE Fixtures

Sixth Form

Year 13 EPQ Marketplace 2026

Approximately 90 students completed the presentations and the standard of work - with a huge range of interesting topics chosen - was excellent.

Shout out to our new MFL Ambassadors!

From Mr Scott, MFL Department

A big thank you to all our wonderful Sixth Form MFL Ambassadors, who have already started working with Key Stage 3 students in French, German and Spanish.

We are so struck by the maturity, leadership and care that they have been showing - as well as their brilliant language skills! Our younger students are enjoying the chance to work with excellent linguist role models too.

A huge danke sehr - muchas gracias - merci bien to: Abi W, Charlie C, Dominic S, Fred O, Freja C, Hope L, Justin C, Karley L, Libby M, Luxe E, Marcus A, Megan M and Persephone T (some of whom are pictured)

Pictured are some of our Year 12 MFL Ambassadors, who are making a valuable contribution by supporting younger students in their language learning.

Meet Our Sixth Form Student Counsellors

From Mrs Palmer, School Counsellor

Our Sixth Form School Counsellors have been helping our youngest students settle into life at Bartholomew.

Recruited through an application process in Year 12, they began by supporting the summer transition days, receiving excellent feedback for their engaging and professional approach.

Since September, they have supported Year 7’s first day, joined Tuesday morning tutor time and progressed to working with small groups as students have grown familiar with them. They meet weekly with our School Counsellor in The Room to reflect on their sessions and receive guidance.

This valuable role gives our Sixth Formers opportunities to develop leadership, communication and teamwork skills while making a positive difference to younger students. Thank you to the whole team for their care, enthusiasm and commitment.

Pictured are some of our Year 12 Student Counsellors, who have been working with Year 7 student

Careers

Year 10 Work Experience

This term, Year 10 students have been introduced to our Work Experience programme through an assembly, ahead of placements taking place from Monday 26th to Friday 30th April 2027.

This is a valuable opportunity to explore the world of work, develop new skills and discover potential career interests.

Students are encouraged to find their own placements, drawing on contacts through family and friends where possible. Please check with the Careers Team before approaching an employer, as the school may already have contacted them. Support is available for students who need help securing a placement.

Key deadlines:

Tuesday 10th November 2026: application form for students requesting a school-arranged placement.
Friday 13th November 2026: Work Experience Agreement Form, required from all parents/carers.
Friday 5th February 2027: employer application form for placements arranged by students.

All placements require checks for Employers’ Liability Insurance and health and safety, so early submissions are encouraged. Please refer to the letter from Mr Baker and Mrs Lowdon for full details and form links, or contact the Careers Team with any questions.

House News

FOBS

Friends of Bartholomew School (FOBS)

Hello everyone!

We’re the Friends of Bartholomew School (FOBS), a volunteer group made up of parents, carers, staff and friends of the school who work together to raise funds and support projects that enhance the experience of all our students.

We’re always looking for new members and volunteers to join us. Whether you’d like to be more involved, help out occasionally, or simply share a fundraising idea, we’d love to hear from you!

We were proud to support the school by funding new rugby kits following the qualification of Bartholomew sixth form students for the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens Tournament. This is a fantastic achievement for the students, and we look forward to sharing photographs of the team in their new kits soon.

We also supported the Year 7 Parents' Information Evening, where we provided refreshments and the sale of pre-loved uniform. We feel this is an important initiative as it helps families manage the cost of school uniform, promotes sustainability through the reuse of good-quality clothing and ensures that outgrown items continue to benefit the wider school community.

One of the highlights of the term has been contacting the winners of our 300 Club draw. It's always a pleasure to share some good news and celebrate our lucky winners! The 300 Club is a fantastic way to support FOBS for just £2 a month, helping us raise vital funds for the school whilst giving members the chance to win monthly cash prizes. 🍀🎉

There are lots of ways to get involved and support the School. We always welcome new ideas and need volunteers to support our fundraising initiatives.

Our Current Project: The Great Outdoors Initiative

FOBS are excited to be fundraising for our new Great Outdoors Initiative. Our goal is to help students enjoy more time outside, learning, relaxing and socialising in comfort and in all weathers. We have been working with the School Council, who shared our enthusiasm for creating additional outdoor spaces for students. Their feedback and ideas will help shape the project, ensuring the improvements meet the needs of those who will use them most.

Our vision includes a replacement canopy to provide shelter and shade throughout the year, together with additional seating and social spaces where students can learn, collaborate and flourish outdoors.

If you own a business, work for an organisation that offers community grants, or know of a local company that may be interested in supporting this initiative, we would love to hear from you. As a registered charity, FOBS may be able to claim Gift Aid on eligible donations, helping contributions go even further.

We look forward to sharing further updates as the project develops and thank you for your continued support in helping us create a lasting legacy for current and future students at Bartholomew School. 🌳☀️🍃

We look forward to sharing further updates with you and thank you for your continued support.

Join the 300 Club and Be in with a Chance to Win!

A huge thank you to everyone who already supports Bartholomew School through the 300 Club. Every membership helps us raise valuable funds for the school and supports projects that benefit our students.

💷 Monthly Cash Prizes

Each month, members are entered into our prize draw to win:

🥇 £100 First Prize
🥈 £25 Second Prize
🥉 £25 Third Prize

The more members we have, the bigger the impact we can make. We’re aiming to grow the Club so that we can increase the prize fund back to our previous levels of:

🎉 £200 First Prize
🎉 £50 Second Prize
🎉 £50 Third Prize

For just £2 per month per number, it’s a simple and affordable way to support the school while having a chance to win cash prizes.

⭐ Not a Member Yet?

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, former parent, member of staff or local supporter, we’d love you to join. Please also spread the word to friends and family. Every additional member helps us get closer to our fundraising goals.

JOIN

1️⃣ Set Up a Standing Order

Account Name: Bartholomew School Association
Sort Code: 30-99-78
Account Number: 01916002
Reference: Your Full Name
Amount: £2 per number (e.g. £6 for 3 numbers)
Payment Date: 1st of each month
Duration: Minimum of 12 months

2️⃣ Email Us

Send your:

Name
Address
Contact number
Number of entries purchased

to: friendsofbartholomewschool@gmail.com

3️⃣ You're In!

We'll confirm your lucky number(s) and enter you into the next draw.

A small contribution can make a big difference. Join today, support Bartholomew School, and you could be our next winner! 🍀

Support FOBS Through Easy Fundraising

Did you know you can raise money for the school simply by shopping online?

By signing up to Easy Fundraising and selecting Bartholomew School, Eynsham as your chosen cause, participating retailers will donate to FOBS every time you shop, at no extra cost to you.

As we edge closer to Christmas, many of us will be shopping online for gifts, food, decorations and festive essentials. By using Easy Fundraising, those purchases can generate valuable donations for the school, helping us fund projects and resources that benefit our students.

With hundreds of popular retailers taking part, it's an effortless way to support FOBS whilst completing your Christmas shopping. Every purchase, no matter how small, contributes towards our fundraising goals and helps us continue to support the school community.

It only takes a few minutes to register, and every donation makes a difference. Please consider signing up and encouraging family and friends to do the same. Together, we can make this Christmas season a successful one for FOBS and the school.

Get in Touch

Email us at: friendsofbartholomewschool.com

Facebook: /friendsofbartholomewschooleynsham

Instagram @friendsofbartholomew

TikTok: @friendsofbartholomew

The Friends of Bartholomew School welcome new ideas and members, so if you’d like to get involved or just find out more, please get in touch.

We look forward to welcoming you! Thank you as always for your support

Kathryn Dowell

Chair of Friends of Bartholomew School

Term Dates 2026-27

Term Dates 2027-28

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