Private School News

Octagon Academic Society at Kingham Hill School, Oxfordshire

The Octagon Academic Society was formally launched in September and has had a successful opening term. Alongside lessons which are designed to stimulate the mind into new and challenging ways of thinking, Octagon has also hosted debates in the Lecture Theatre including one led by a visiting speaker from Oxford University, Christopher Shields. His topic for discussion was ‘Why is there a mind / body problem?’ Years 11 to 13 asked some intelligent and thought provoking questions of Professor Shields and staff were impressed by the ideas and issues raised by the lecture. Many of the Octagon students have applied to top universities (both UK based red brick Russell Group and also American Ivy League) and one has recently been offered an interview at St Hughes College, Oxford.

The Octagon Academic Society enjoyed their inaugural formal dinner this December; in future to be an annual event. The Octagon pupils sat at tables with a mixture of students from all year groups and guest staff members in order to encourage discussion and socialisation. Pupils and staff were entertained by the competition to slip a secret sentence into the conversation during the evening without other people noticing, and by the brain teasing games which accompanied each course. Mr Stannard announced the Octagon Council as including the following members: President : Philippa Lane, Vice President: Jan Sindhar, Events manager: Katy Howell, Reporter: Bryony Parkinson, Junior Rep: Ellie Copsey, Intermediate rep: Josh Baxter and Senior rep: Guy Cable. These students will play key roles in developing Octagon throughout the school.

The Lent term sees a packed Octagon programme including the study of C.S Lewis, Tolstoy and G.K Chesterton, a visiting Oxford fellow and Chaplain to raise the debate about science and religion, a Gifted and Talented day trip for GCSE aged students, a school debate on politics and a 6th form ethics conference in Oxford.