Official Opening
Official Opening Ceremony Europa School UK
Opened on 21st September, 2012 by Lord Hill of Oareford, CBE John Howell, OBE MP
The school was oOpened on 21st September, 2012 by Lord Hill of Oareford, CBE and John Howell, OBE MP. It opened as a small primary school with three years groups Reception to year 2.
Farewell message from Peter Ashbourne
31st August,2018
At the heart of our school is the belief that we should be “acquainted with all that is great and good in the different cultures”. This has a direct impact on the pedagogical model with a conviction that no one national system holds the single best model, particularly when the population of the school is so diverse. Rather there is respect for the professional training and experience of each teacher and a belief, borne out in practice that the cross fertilisation of pedagogical approaches will produce a rich and vibrant learning experience.
Every pupil in our school is destined to be fluent in a language other than their original dominant language. But more is involved: the highly effective method of immersion, and learning so much through the language, supports not only fluency, but also cultural understanding and empathy. I am proud of the linguistic and academic prowess of our school, but while accepting that we are not perfect, I gain greater delight from the reputation we have as a friendly and welcoming place. Without having done any statistical survey, I would be prepared to bet that there are far more smiles per head of population in our school than is found generally in society!
A school brings pupils together to learn and our school promotes a shared responsibility for learning, so that pupils engage and rejoice not only in their own success, but also that of their peers. We have pioneered a new approach to language learning in the primary school and provided a unique UK model for rounded baccalaureate education through to 18. While our school is certainly experimental, it is also academically rigorous. Our approach, set in place and overseen by our founders, is guided by over 60 years experience built up by the European Schools and our success is measured against UK national tests, the European Baccalaureate and double inspection regimes of OFSTED and the European Schools. In every case we have emerged shining through six years of rapid growth.
So much for reflection. There are fresh challenges ahead and nothing is easy about developing such a dynamic school, but there is ability, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm and sheer hard work in abundance from all parts of our community. A remarkable school that has only just begun its journey and one I leave now in the very capable hands of our new Principal, Mrs Lynn Wood.Peter Ashbourne
Founding Principal 2012-2018
Europa School UK
Secondary opening and first Baccalaureate
Official Opening of the Secondary Section
The secondary section of Europa School UK was opened in September 2017.
On 7th July 2018, with completion of the first baccalaureate a ceremony marked the addition of the new section. A plaque was unveiled by the Founding Chair of the Trust, Andrew Parker, and the Founding Principal, Peter Ashbourne, in the presence of local MP, Layla Moran and Deputy Secretary General of the European Schools, Andreas Beckmann with our first baccalaureate students and their guests.
You can find an article on the event at the Oxford Times website.
The First Baccalaureate Proclamation of the Europa School UK
100% pass rate
Average mark of 81.79%, the best ever achieved in Culham
The Principal’s address to the students
The ending of our European School Accreditation
Following the EU referendum in 2016, the Governing body sought to retain its European School accreditation however the Brexit deal meant that our accreditation ended in August 2021. The uncertainty of our end qualification over the negotiation period and the threat of a no-deal Brexit was a very difficult period however the school sought and gained the approval from the European Schools’ Board of Governors to continue to offer the European Baccalaureate in 2021 regardless of the outcome of Brexit.
In 2019 the school had to advise its existing S5 cohort to gain insurance places for other sixth forms as we waited for the decision on the BAC 2021. A smaller than usual cohort (28 students) achieved their European Baccalaureate Diplomas on 3 July 2021 at the last EB proclamation in the secondary quadrangle in the presence of Mr John Howell MP and Dr Lorne Horton (JET).
Insert photos from the proc.
Our ES accreditation ended on 31 August 2021.
In 2018 the school started the process of applying to be an International Baccalaureate (IB) World school for the IB Diploma and achieved full authorisation and world school status in Spring 2020. We started teaching in S6 in September 2020 and our first graduation is in July 2022.
With the loss of our European School accreditation Europa School Trust decided to adopt the Middle years programme to start teaching in S1 in September 2021. It gained agreement form the European School Board of Governors to continue to use European School syllabuses in S2-S5 for the next three academic years as the school moved to a MYP curriculum in S1-S5.