9 March 2026
Dear Oakley Parents and Guardians
This half term began with mock exams for our U6 and ALP students but the improved weather and the lighter mornings have eased our return into routines. On campus we are now seeing the blossoming trees, and the daffodils made their appearance just in time for the traditional 1.2 relays.
Victoire, Ellie, Lacey, Winnie, Arina and Trissie did a fantastic job running the course in front of the entire School. It’s a historic event and I was very proud that our girls represented us so well:
We have had a number of House competitions at the start of the term, making it busy for all involved. I am always impressed at those who push themselves out of their comfort zones and are willing to volunteer for Oakley. In a big House it’s easy to think that someone else will do it; hopefully even our most reluctant students can see the sense of pride and achievement experienced by those who give things a go. Leading by example, Florence, Olivia and Nila took part in the first round of the House Debating competition, facing Lupton House. We were opposing the motion: This house believes that Elon Musk is more dangerous than Donald Trump. It certainly made for a lively debate and I am pleased to report that our girls handled the challenge brilliantly, winning their round and progressing to the next stage.
In the inaugural House Pool competition, we hosted Thomas Cookes House. In the Senior event, Ibby and Greycious narrowly missed a win. But Celina and Ava were champions and progress through to the next round:
On Friday night, Miss Farrell and I went to see the GCSE Drama students present their devised pieces in Cobham Theatre. As ever, our girls were outstanding. Petya and Arina delivered powerful and convincing performances in their respective pieces and had the audience on the edge of their seats:
Also on stage, our annual Cultures Connect concert drew a huge audience and for many was the culmination of a lot of rehearsing. It was a fabulous event: Niki sang a David Tao song beautifully; Trissie and Alvina performed Cantopop; Brisha joined her friends in a traditional Nepalese dance; Hailey and Seline performed in a Jay Zhou piece that brought the house down; Olivia represented Turkey in a beautiful dance and Ibby represented Nigeria in a Beyonce classic, Brown Skin Girl. It was one of those events that makes this School a truly special place to belong:
I will leave you with a couple of pictures from the weekend. On Saturday afternoon, while many were involved in fixtures for School, those back in House kept themselves busy, whether that was studying or baking:
It was International Women’s Day over the weekend but, with 22 nationalities represented in Oakley House, every day is International Women’s Day here and it’s a privilege to live and work alongside your fantastic daughters.
Best wishes
Victoria Adams