At Abingdon, staff work hard to create a friendly and collegiate environment where students can thrive and excel in a myriad of ways. This is due, in no small part, to the quality of the relationships between staff and pupils. We are confident that both students and parents will find the school a friendly place and that pupils will go on to make life long friends.
Students join the Middle School in the Third Year (Year 9) and carry on through to complete their GCSE studies at the end of the Fifth Year (Year 11). Pupils are split into nine houses; three for boarders and day pupils and six for just day pupils. Each individual has a house tutor attached to them in order to shepherd them through the Middle School; one tutor for the Third Year and another to guide them through both the Fourth and Fifth Years. There is great inter-house camaraderie as students take part in various inter-house competitions ranging from: singing, debating and swimming, through to chess and athletics.
Students are encouraged to seize the numerous opportunities (including all the Other Half Activities) available to them at Abingdon and to grow in many ways: in learning, self-confidence, sport, music and in readiness for life beyond school.
Our advice can be boiled down to this: work hard and play hard; seize opportunities, take risks, don’t be afraid to try new things, treat others as you would have them treat you, and, if you need help – ask!
The Rough Guide (PDF), which is written by Abingdon students for Abingdon students, gives a flavour of life in the Middle School, both from the perspective of life as a boarder and as a day pupil.
A brochure can only hint at the real life of the school so do come and visit us and see Abingdon life in action. Alternatively, if you have any questions you can email: [email protected].
With all good wishes
Mr Andrew Crisp, Head of Middle School
Further Information:
Head of Middle School
Andrew Crisp
Having been fascinated by languages since a young age, Andrew studied French and German at the University of Salford with an emphasis on linguistics and ‘machine translation’ – this theoretical approach was well before the days of ‘Google translate’. His passion for language-learning continued when he taught in Nairobi for two years and set about learning Swahili. Andrew began his teaching career in London in 1993 and since then has fulfilled a range of pastoral roles including being Head of Year for Years 7 – 13. He has also been Head of Languages in two schools. Outside of teaching, Andrew is a keen clarinettist and has performed in a number of orchestras in the Oxford area. He therefore enjoys playing alongside students at Abingdon in the Symphonic Wind Band. Moreover, his love for cooking, no doubt inspired by French cuisine, has led him to help run an OH cookery club aiming to prepare sixth formers for student cooking at university.
