From Mr Craig Thomas, Headteacher
Earlier this term I was fortunate enough to meet a gentleman who was a student at the school when it first opened in 1958. He had some amazing stories of what life was like in the early days at Bartholomew and brought with him some fascinating memorabilia.
We are currently in the process of developing our alumni programme at the school and will be finding ways to better engage with former students whether it be those from many years ago or those who have left us more recently. Look out for our communications in this area over the coming months as we look forward to putting together our first alumni event during the summer term.
I'd like to wish you and your families a very relaxing Easter break.
From Dr Lucy Dickinson, Chair of Governors
Governors met last week and were grateful to our School Counsellor who spoke about the invaluable support she offers to students experiencing mental health challenges. We were also inspired to hear about the role of our Year 13 student counsellors in mentoring Year 7 pupils—a powerful example of peer support in action. With exam season approaching, we know that many students may be feeling the pressure, and we are grateful to all staff for their continued dedication in helping students feel prepared, supported and confident.
Governors also heard about the wide range of careers initiatives taking place across the school, including those that highlight less familiar career paths. Plans are underway to further involve alumni, parents and members of the local community in sharing their experiences and broadening students’ understanding of the world of work. We would like to thank those who have already given their time to support the careers programme.
Meanwhile many more entertaining activities and trips have continued this term. Governors attended the recent Battle of the Bands and were hugely impressed by the confidence of the performers, as well as the enthusiasm of the audience. It was lovely to see students engaged in this way, ably supported by student technicians and the music department. Elsewhere, students have been offered opportunities to try djembe drumming, sailing, and theatre performances in other languages to boost their listening comprehension —just a few examples of the many opportunities available beyond the classroom.
Do keep an eye open for information on future events and encourage your young people to try something new.
Best wishes for a relaxing Easter break.
From Ms Guy, Art Department
Students in Year 9 were busy working on an art project inspired by Surrealism earlier in the year. We were delighted to be able to submit 30 students work from the year group to Art Bytes, a national competition for primary, secondry and SEN schools. This combines an inter-school art competition with a virtual gallery and designed to give young participants the opportunity to see their art exhibited online.
All 30 students’ artwork can be viewed in the virtual gallery on the Art Bytes website, please follow this link/QR code below. https://artbytes.co.uk/schools/bartholomew-school-425/
Three winning students from each school have also been selected by a shortlisting panel of Artists and Art Educators. Congratulations to our student finalist: Abigail, 9T, Ariella, 9W and Gordon, 9R, whose work is shown below.
The public vote is now open, and we invite you to vote for your favourite from those shortlisted. Art Bytes culminates every June with a celebration event in each of the nine regions of England; the lucky winners will have their work displayed at a venue in Oxfordshire yet to be decided.
We are immensely proud of all students who put their work forward for this competition; the wealth of their ideas and skills never ceases to amaze us.
In March, our A Level Business and Economics students attended a high-impact Grade Booster Workshop at the VUE Cinema in Birmingham, delivered by Tutor2U. The intensive sessions focused on refining exam techniques, building confidence, and enhancing students’ approach to the upcoming assessments. With expert guidance, tailored resources, and post-event revision support, the trip provided a valuable opportunity to consolidate learning and prepare for success in the summer exams.
Congratulations to Ellie and Shaan in Year 8, along with Emily and Ethan in Year 9, for taking part in the Team Maths Challenge, run by the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT). The challenge promotes mathematical dexterity, teamwork and communication skills, giving students the chance to compete against others from schools across the region.
The team spent the day at Matthew Arnold School on 7th March, taking part in four exciting rounds: a group round, a crossnumber (a crossword-style puzzle using digits), a shuttle round where answers were passed back and forth, and a fast-paced mathematical relay.
Ms Shao said, "The team gave it their all and performed especially well in the crossnumber round, where they dropped just one mark—an outstanding effort!"
Bartholomew School music students have had the enriching opportunity to attend five concerts of the Witney Music Society's 2024-2025 season, the final one of which was this term on Friday 14th March. These performances featured a diverse array of talented musicians:
Ignas Maknickas (Piano): Delivered a captivating solo recital on November 8, 2024. Ignas Maknickas
Pelléas Ensemble: Performed on December 13, 2024. WITNEY MUSIC SOCIETY
The Gesualdo Six: Presented a choral performance on January 10, 2025.
Emma Johnson (Clarinet) & John Lenehan (Piano): Offered a clarinet and piano recital on February 14, 2025. WITNEY MUSIC SOCIETY
Trio Isimsiz: Concluded the season with their performance on March 14, 2025. WITNEY MUSIC SOCIETY
Mrs Almgill said, "It was wonderful to provide our students with exposure to a wide range of musical styles and ensembles, enhancing their appreciation and understanding of live classical music."
Our annual 'Battle of the Bands' music is an eagerly-awaited event that took place on Wednesday 26th March, giving students the opportunity to perform in front of an audience with a chance of being selected to perform on the main and acoustic stages at this year’s Front Row Festival.
There were eight groups or soloists in total and a wide range of music performances. The overall winners were 'Clennell and Lewis' with their folk string set. Thank you to all who supported this event and congratulations to our student performers who took to the stage with great confidence, making this a wonderfully memorable evening!
Bartholomew School is proud to support the Front Row Festival, giving students an opportunity to perform. This year's event takes place in Fritwell Playing Field on Saturday June 28th with a free social event on the Friday evening. The two local charities benefitting from profits this year are The Hummingbird Centre and Sport in Mind. To find out more, please click on the Front Row Poster below:
From Ms Shao, Mathematics Department
On Saturday 8th March, four of our Year 12 students headed to Jesus College, Oxford, to take part in the inaugural Oxford Team Maths Challenge (OTMC). Representing Bartholomew under the brilliant team name The Uncommon Denominators were Izzy, Joel, Hyeongbin and Tom, pictured below.
The OTMC is a brand-new competition organised by the Invariants Society—Oxford University’s student mathematics society. The aim is to provide a fun and intellectually stimulating event that gives students a flavour of advanced mathematical thinking and problem-solving.
The day featured four challenging rounds, a fascinating lecture on Knot Theory by Oxford mathematician Dr Basualdo-Bonatto, and some well-earned perks—including free OTMC T-shirts and a Domino’s pizza lunch!
Bartholomew’s team performed brilliantly, placing 11th out of 20 and earning Bronze certificates. We hope this experience offered a rewarding insight into where a passion for maths might lead—and that the day was as enjoyable as it was inspiring.
From Mrs Malik, Head of Science
Year 12 students recently enjoyed a fascinating visit to the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, gaining valuable insights into this exciting and rapidly evolving field. The trip offered a brilliant opportunity to explore the subject areas and wide-ranging career paths within Biomedical Engineering.
Students were captivated by three inspiring lectures on cutting-edge research, delivered by leading experts in the field:
Prof. Robin Cleveland shared the science behind Healing with Sound, explaining the physics of therapeutic ultrasound.
Prof. Malavika Nair discussed Building Back Better, highlighting advances in engineering tissue repair and regeneration.
Prof. Ting-Ting Zhu explored the role of Machine Learning in Health, demonstrating how AI is transforming modern medicine.
The visit sparked plenty of curiosity and conversation, leaving students inspired about the future of healthcare innovation.
From Ms Guo, MFL Department
On 21st March, our Year 9 Mandarin students had the incredible opportunity to attend the Chinese Student Conference at Manchester Grammar School. The event was filled with engaging activities and insightful discussions that left a lasting impression on all attendees.
The day began with an early departure from Bartholomew School at 7.30 AM. Upon arrival at Manchester Grammar School, students were welcomed with refreshments and a warm greeting from Dr. Martin Boulton, the High Master. Edward Watson, Executive Director of the Swire Chinese Language Foundation, followed with opening remarks that set the tone for the day.
One of the highlights was the keynote address by Edward Knight and Ruby Osman from The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. Their talk, titled "Why bother learning Chinese?" sparked curiosity and provided compelling reasons for pursuing Chinese language studies. The interactive Q&A session that followed allowed students to delve deeper into the topic.
After a delightful buffet lunch, students participated in a panel discussion on "The Future of Chinese Language Learning." The panel featured Chidimma Anyakora, a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Manchester, Will Hart (何威), a popular YouTuber, and Lewys Thomas, Co-director of I’m Learning Mandarin. Their diverse perspectives and experiences enriched the conversation, making it both informative and inspiring.
The afternoon session included a lively student debate on the motion "This house believes that learning to handwrite Chinese characters is a waste of time." Held under the Chatham House rule and loosely in the Oxford style, the debate saw passionate arguments from both sides. The audience voted for the winning team, adding an element of excitement to the proceedings.
The day concluded with tea and a heartfelt farewell, leaving students with new knowledge and a deeper appreciation for the Chinese language. The conference was not only educational but also a memorable experience that will undoubtedly influence their future studies. Parents and students alike can be proud of the enthusiasm and engagement shown by our students at this event. We look forward to more such enriching opportunities in the future!
From Mr Scott, MFL Department
The Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators offers UK students at all levels the chance to show their skills in a creative translation of a foreign language text into English. The competition, managed by Queens College, Oxford, is now in its fifth year and Bartholomew students have entered in most years.
The competition is inspired by the life and work of the great translator Anthea Bell. It aims to promote language learning across the UK and to inspire creativity in the classroom. By providing teachers with the tools they need to bring translation to life, the organisers hope to motivate more pupils to study modern foreign languages throughout their time at school and beyond.
Five of our talented linguists entered the competition this year: Astrid and Mariyah with translations from French; and Leo, Robin and Valerie with translations from German. We loved reading their expert, creative translations of the different texts and wish them Bonne Chance, Viel Glück and Good Luck in the competition!
We operate a ‘yellow bag’ scheme at Bartholomew School whereby students can help themselves to disposable menstruation pads as required. Yellow bags are located around the school site for students to help themselves and they may also go to reception or speak to another member of staff if they require more substantial supplies to have at home.
Through funding from the Department for Education we are also able to offer students the chance to try out reusable period underwear.
If you have any questions about accessing menstruation products, please email Mrs Humm, Head of Learning for Life, via the School Office
From Mrs Humm, Head of Learning for Life
During Term 4, Year 7 students will be taught a selection of topics by the Year 7 tutor team, including:
Being Healthy- focusing on alcohol
Being Media Smart- What is fraud?
Being Safe- recognising unhealthy and coercive friendships
Careers- Jobs around me
Staying Safe – What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and how can we safely access support for individuals who may be at risk of or have experienced FGM? We recognise that this is a very sensitive topic, so have carefully designed our lesson with the support of our School Health Nurse and have also utilised resources from the PSHE Association.
Finance - Being a critical consumer
Healthy Relationships- Consent
Year 8, 9 and 10 students will continue to follow a carousel of five lessons, each exploring a wide variety of topics.
Further detail can be found on our website - head to the L4L page and scroll down to 'L4L Curriculum in More Detail', then open the link to the relevant year group.
Year 11 have completed their statutory PSHE curriculum and will now to being L4L lessons to prepare for examinations and other Year 11 administration. May I take this opportunity to wish them all the best for their future plans.
From Ms Palmer, School Counsellor
Our Sixth Form Student Counsellors have continued their fantastic work this term, supporting Year 7 students as they settle into life at Bartholomew. Recently, they’ve been working one-to-one with individual students—an experience that has been both valuable for the younger pupils and rewarding for the Year 13s involved.
These sessions have provided a safe and supportive space for Year 7s to share their experiences, from the highs of new friendships to the challenges of transition. The Sixth Formers have shown great empathy, drawing on their own memories of starting secondary school to connect with the students they’re supporting.
All of our Student Counsellors have received training in active listening, basic counselling skills, and safeguarding, and are guided in their work by our in-house School Counsellor.
Having qualified for the regional heats of the National Reading Champions Quiz 2025, two teams went head-to-head against 25 teams from 16 different schools across Oxon, Berks and Bucks. Mr Dilly, the online quiz master, tested their reading knowledge with eight rounds of questions, including Book Design, Brainteasers and Dark Tales (everything ghosts, ghouls and monsters).
Both teams showed excellent focus, teamwork and enthusiasm, with Team A finishing joint fourth place and Team B in joint ninth place. A massive well done to everyone who took part and thank you to Callum Miller MP for his letter wishing the teams good luck!
Congratulations to the 14 students in Years 7 and 8 who completed this year’s Reading Challenge, created and launched by three of our brilliant Library Ambassadors.
The challenge began in January with a lively video announcement, shown on the school screens, encouraging students to kick off the year with a reading resolution. Participants were tasked with completing six themed reading challenges—ranging from books with green covers to historical fiction—over the course of two terms.
Those who rose to the challenge were celebrated in a special prize-giving ceremony during the final week of Term 4. Well done to all involved!
Winners:
Year 7: Alfie W, Isla M, Skye B, Mara-Jade P, Katharine L-J and Enya H
Year 8: Ian R, Esme A, Audrey W, Bella C, Hattie B, Phoebe B, Thomas E and Alma H
A huge thank you to everyone who supported our recent Scholastic Book Fair in the Library. We’re delighted to share that we sold nearly £600 worth of books—which means we’ve earned an amazing £240 in free books for the Library!
Your support helps us keep our shelves stocked with exciting, diverse reads for all students to enjoy. Happy reading!
From Ms Selfe, Director of Reading across the EPA
Bartholomew School was proud to host the very first EPA Festival of Reading on Wednesday 5th March 2025, a day dedicated to celebrating the magic of storytelling and the power of literacy. This brand-new event brought together primary school students from across our EPA Trust for an inspiring, interactive literary experience.
We were thrilled to welcome The Brothers McLeod, the BAFTA-winning duo behind the Knight Sir Louis series, and acclaimed author Rhian Tracey, whose latest book I, Spy: A Bletchley Park Mystery has captivated young readers. Throughout the day, students explored the art of storytelling, took part in engaging workshops, and collaborated on presentations to share with their schools on World Book Day.
The excitement was palpable as students asked insightful questions during the Q&A sessions, learned about the creative process, and even had the opportunity to meet the authors and get their books signed. Our Sixth Form students played a key role in the festival, guiding and supporting the younger pupils as they developed their ideas and storytelling skills.
This festival marked the beginning of what we hope will become a cherished annual tradition, fostering a love of reading across our Trust. We are immensely grateful to The Brothers McLeod, Rhian Tracey, and Authors Aloud UK for inspiring our students, and to everyone who helped make this event such a resounding success.
From Milly, Year 12, School Council Head of Communications
Following their recent appointment as School Council leaders and Ambassadors, a passionate group of students has been working hard to ensure that pupil voices are heard and positive changes are made within our school community. The school council is structured into three dedicated teams—Environment, Mental Health & Wellbeing, and Fundraising—each committed to improving different aspects of school life.
This term, we were excited to announce our Friendship Bench Project, an initiative led by our Mental Health & Wellbeing team. The goal of these benches is simple yet impactful: to foster a more inclusive, sociable, and supportive school environment. We understand that making friends or finding a space to connect with others can sometimes feel daunting, so these benches will serve as welcoming spots where students can chat, bond, and support one another.
There will be two benches—one in the lower school playground and one in the upper school playground.
To bring this project to life, we need your support! Our Fundraising team organised a Non-School Uniform Day on Friday 4th April. Students were allowed to wear their own clothes in exchange for a suggested donation of £1 (or more, if you wish!) via ParentPay.
As a special thank you, the School Council arranged a free seed giveaway, issuing free packets of seeds to grow at home over the Easter break.
There is still time to donate via ParentPay if you haven't yet done so; this closes on Friday 25th April.
THANK YOU from the School Council
The West Oxfordshire Schools Careers Partnership (WOSCP) organised an Apprenticeship Event at The Marlborough School, Woodstock, on Thursday 13th March 2025. The event was the result of WOSCP staff working together to provide an opportunity for students and their parents/carers to engage with organisations offering apprenticeships and was open to students in Years 10 – 13. The event went very well, with a large student attendance and positive feedback. We would like to thank the exhibitors, who gave up their time to promote the wide range of apprenticeships on offer.
Maggie Nason, our Careers Adviser, has continued to meet Year 11 students this term, particularly those referred to her following their recent Post 16 IAG meetings. All students will receive an Action Plan summarising what has been discussed and the suggested action to be taken. Any Year 11 or Sixth Form students who would like to make an appointment, particularly any unsure of their plans for September, should see Mrs Williams in the Careers Office, or email: careers@bartholomew.epatrust.org
We marked National Careers Week at the beginning of March with some registration activities to help students kick start their career planning, we also provided some useful links that students can use including:
The eClips website offering accurate, impartial information on over 1400 careers, plus a wealth of advice and information on education and employment choices: eCLIPS (Password: adviza24).
National Careers Service: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ You can find job profiles and information about which careers will be in demand in the future. The website also has a section specifically for young people. If you want to speak to an advisor you can call 0800 100 900.
Get My First Job: www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk Find out about live apprenticeships, training and job vacancies and get in touch with employers. As well as tips about applying for jobs and how to impress at interviews.
During Year 8/9 and 10/11 assemblies we welcomed Vince Altamura from Airbus Helicopters and Alex Morgan from BMET/BMW respectively, to talk about the varied careers available in their industries, including apprenticeships. We were grateful to Vince and Alex for taking the time to visit us in school and talk to our students about the wide range of opportunities.
Well done to those Year 10 students who’ve managed to arrange their own work experience placements. The majority of those who asked school to arrange a placement for them, have also now received their employer details. Students have been asked to email their employer to thank them for this opportunity; this is particularly important for those students who’ve had placements organised by school and not had any previous contact with the company. We’re still waiting for some final details from employers, particularly to confirm working hours, and these will be forwarded to students as soon as they’re available. The necessary H&S/insurance checks are continuing.
This week has been set aside for Year 12 to do a period of work experience and students have been encouraged to research and apply for places. All placements have to be registered and checked with school and the necessary forms are now available on Google Classrooms and the school website: https://www.bartholomew.oxon.sch.uk/655/work-experience
The deadline for returning Application forms is Friday 2nd May 2025.
Eynsham Parish Council, in partnership with West Oxfordshire District Council, is launching a new Art Trail to showcase artworks by local artists and community groups, inspired by spaces around the village. The installations—mainly outdoors—will form a circular walk linking Thornbury Green with the main village and are intended to be long-lasting, low-maintenance, and rooted in the local landscape. Artists with a connection to Eynsham are warmly encouraged to apply.
👉 Read the full article from Eynsham Parish Council and download the application materials
The Eynsham based Nature Recovery Network (NRN) is celebrating five years this year. They are organising a big nature celebration on our community water meadows on Saturday 21st June, to which everyone will be invited. As part of this they are launching a nature photography competition and have invited students to participate! See the poster for details.
With this brilliant weather they hope children will be inspired to go outdoors over the holidays and coming weeks and take a few photos to submit.
The deadline for submissions is Friday 6th June.
We’re excited to announce the launch of our brand-new alumni platform in partnership with Future First, going live in Term 5!
Future First is a national leader in helping schools build thriving alumni networks, and this new platform will make it easier than ever for former students to reconnect, share their stories, and support the next generation at Bartholomew. Whether you're keen to mentor current students, attend events, or simply stay in touch, we’d love you to join us.
Bartholomew School was delighted to welcome former student Francis Hunt back to the school on Friday 7th March 2025, as he returned to donate memorabilia from his time as a student. During his visit, Francis enjoyed a tour of the school, met with Headteacher Craig Thomas, and shared fond memories of his school days.
As he explored the campus, Francis recalled his time helping to set up the kiln in the art department and painting stage sets—an early passion that later saw him working for the New Theatre, Oxford. He reminisced about Mr Sharp, the Headmaster at the time, and the porta cabin classrooms used while the old tower block was being built. Among the memories, he also recounted the tragic accident involving a crane operator during the construction.
Francis was amazed by how much the school has grown, particularly the state-of-the-art classrooms in the maths and computing block. He was pleased to see the original art studios still standing, though he noted that the kiln—once tucked away under the stairs—now has a more fitting home in the art department.
Visits like these remind us how much our alumni mean to the Bartholomew community. Hearing stories from former students and seeing how the school has played a role in shaping their lives is always inspiring. In fact, Francis’s visit has got us thinking—wouldn’t it be wonderful to bring together more of our alumni for an event to celebrate our shared history? You can contact the school via alumni@bartholomew.epatrust.org