Community Action
Head of Community Action: Mr N.D. Turnbull
The purpose of the School's Community Action programme is to provide as many different ways as possible for pupils to benefit both the local and the wider community. In so doing, it aims to cultivate a spirit of service and engender an awareness of the needs of people from different sectors of society.
About 400 Fifth and Sixth Formers are active on a weekly basis, not only in the immediate neighbourhood, but also in Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Peterborough. Extensive involvement with local pensioners takes the form of visits to their homes or hosting events at the School's Sixth Form Club. A large contingent works with many local organisations including the local Mother and Toddler Group, Guides and Scouts groups, primary and special needs schools. A number of pupils are involved with a local disabled group, sign language tuition and developing equipment for people in need.
The pupil-run newspaper, The Oundle Chronicle, features issues of local interest, and the School Radio Station is involved in broadcasts for and by the community. Conservation, environmental and gardening activities include work at Barnwell Country Park and the services of a mobile squad, which uses mechanised equipment round the town. A drama group takes in-house plays and workshops into local schools and the School runs a sports club for local 12 - 14 year-olds.Lower Sixth Formers have the opportunity to run companies with a view to selling products or services in order to raise money for charity.
Field Weekends, which occur twice a year have encompassed such events as
sleeping in a carpark to raise money for St Basil's Centre for homeless people,
open days whereby local handicapped people use the sports facilities and a
sponsored walk to raise money for a local drop in centre. In addition, every
summer, many current and former pupils help with the longstanding MENCAP holiday
week held at the School or at the Trinity in Camberwell Centre which works
with inner-city children and prior to Christmas the School hosts a community
concert.
Community Action Department,
19 Market Place,
Oundle School,
Oundle
PE8 4BA
01832 277267