Sibford School
Encyclopedia
Sibford School is a British co-educational independent school
in Sibford Ferris
, west of Banbury
in Oxfordshire
, linked with the Religious Society of Friends
. The school has both day and boarding pupils between the ages of 3 and 18.
for the children of Quaker families. It is set in more than 50 acres (202,343 m²) of grounds surrounded by the Oxfordshire countryside.
Today this independent school accommodates both boarders and day pupils, of all faiths and none, and in September 2011 had more than 420 pupils.
The Quaker values of the school, which seek to recognise "that of God in everyone", remain at the heart of school life. Head, Michael Goodwin commented, "We believe passionately in the uniqueness of every pupil and know it is our job to seek out and nurture their gifts and develop their confidence to meet the challenges of the 21st century."
The main building (The Hill) was opened be Dame Elizabeth Cadbury
in 1930.
for those aged 16–18.
Sibford Junior School caters for children from the age of three to 11 and occupies its own distinctive area of the school’s 50-acre campus. This means it can operate as a self-contained unit while still being part of the whole school.
In line with the school's Quaker ethos, junior children are encouraged to think and act in a way that encourages self-respect, understanding and tolerance. Opportunities exist for children of varying abilities and talents to flourish and discover the space to grow. Parents of children who join us are amazed how soon they become more comfortable with themselves and begin to thrive.
Sibford Senior School offers a broad and balanced curriculum for day and boarding pupils between the ages of 11 and 16 and recognises that while some may have a talent for mathematics, science or history, others may be gifted in the arts, horticulture or sport. All disciplines are equally respected and dedicated teachers nurture and inspire their pupils to cultivate a thirst for life-long learning.
Sibford Sixth Form is a caring but challenging enviornment where students can develop intellectually, socially and personally. Sixth Form students enjoy exclusive use of the Sixth Form Centre, which features a study suite, complete with internet-enabled study carols; seminar room; careers office; media studio with Apple Mac computers, dedicated teaching areas and a student common room. At the same time they benefit greatly from being able to use the excellent facilities of the wider school.
Sixth Form students benefit from an approach that looks to identify learning styles and adapt teaching methods to suit individual needs. Opportunities for personal development extend beyond the classroom and students are encouraged to develop qualities of leadership, initiative and self-motivation. Some hold positions of responsibility on the Student Management Team, some undertake work in the local community while others choose to become involved in fund raising or extra-curricular activities. This enables them to enhance their social skills and broaden their experience.
Elizabeth Jolley
(4 June 1923 – 13 February 2007) attended Sibford from the age of 11 to 17 She latter become an award winning author notable in Australia
n literature for her critically acclaimed novels based upon the alienated characters and the nature of loneliness and entrapment.
Paul Eddington
CBE (18 June 1927 – 4 November 1995) was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 1980s.
Joseph Coles Kirby
(1837–1924) was an English flour miller who migrated to Sydney
, Australia
in 1854. In 1864, Kirby was ordained in the Congregational Church
es and then ministered to rural and city congregations in Queensland
and South Australia
and supported or led numerous causes for social reform including the temperance movement
, women's suffrage
and raising the age of consent
to 16 in Australia.
Charley Boorman
(born 23 Aug 1966) is an adventure, travel writer and actor. Boorman took part in a motorcycle trip from London, New York, Europe and Asia in 2004 this was later made in to a television series. Boorman attended Sibford School for some of his teenage years (1980–1983) to get help for his dyslexia
. In 2009, Boorman was made president of Dyslexia Action
.
Guy Ritchie
, actor and director, married Madonna
.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in Sibford Ferris
Sibford Ferris
Sibford Ferris is a village and civil parish about west of Banbury in Oxfordshire, sited on one side of the Sib valley.The Manor House was built in the 17th century and remodelled in the 18th century. In 1842 the Society of Friends extended the house and converted it into a boarding school,...
, west of Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, linked with the Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
. The school has both day and boarding pupils between the ages of 3 and 18.
Overview
Sibford School was founded in 1842 as a co-educational boarding schoolBoarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for the children of Quaker families. It is set in more than 50 acres (202,343 m²) of grounds surrounded by the Oxfordshire countryside.
Today this independent school accommodates both boarders and day pupils, of all faiths and none, and in September 2011 had more than 420 pupils.
The Quaker values of the school, which seek to recognise "that of God in everyone", remain at the heart of school life. Head, Michael Goodwin commented, "We believe passionately in the uniqueness of every pupil and know it is our job to seek out and nurture their gifts and develop their confidence to meet the challenges of the 21st century."
The main building (The Hill) was opened be Dame Elizabeth Cadbury
Elizabeth Cadbury
Dame Elizabeth Mary Cadbury, DBE , was an English philanthropist and wife of George Cadbury, the chocolate manufacturer.-Early life:...
in 1930.
Divisions
The school comprises three divisions of pupils: the Junior School for those aged 3–11; the Senior School for those aged 11–16; and the Sixth FormSixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
for those aged 16–18.
Sibford Junior School caters for children from the age of three to 11 and occupies its own distinctive area of the school’s 50-acre campus. This means it can operate as a self-contained unit while still being part of the whole school.
In line with the school's Quaker ethos, junior children are encouraged to think and act in a way that encourages self-respect, understanding and tolerance. Opportunities exist for children of varying abilities and talents to flourish and discover the space to grow. Parents of children who join us are amazed how soon they become more comfortable with themselves and begin to thrive.
Sibford Senior School offers a broad and balanced curriculum for day and boarding pupils between the ages of 11 and 16 and recognises that while some may have a talent for mathematics, science or history, others may be gifted in the arts, horticulture or sport. All disciplines are equally respected and dedicated teachers nurture and inspire their pupils to cultivate a thirst for life-long learning.
Sibford Sixth Form is a caring but challenging enviornment where students can develop intellectually, socially and personally. Sixth Form students enjoy exclusive use of the Sixth Form Centre, which features a study suite, complete with internet-enabled study carols; seminar room; careers office; media studio with Apple Mac computers, dedicated teaching areas and a student common room. At the same time they benefit greatly from being able to use the excellent facilities of the wider school.
Sixth Form students benefit from an approach that looks to identify learning styles and adapt teaching methods to suit individual needs. Opportunities for personal development extend beyond the classroom and students are encouraged to develop qualities of leadership, initiative and self-motivation. Some hold positions of responsibility on the Student Management Team, some undertake work in the local community while others choose to become involved in fund raising or extra-curricular activities. This enables them to enhance their social skills and broaden their experience.
Notable former pupils
Old scholars form the Sibford Old Scholars Association (SOSA).Elizabeth Jolley
Elizabeth Jolley
Monica Elizabeth Jolley AO was an English-born writer who settled in Western Australia in the late 1950s. She was 53 when her first book was published, and she went on to publish fifteen novels , four short story collections and three non-fiction books, publishing well into her 70s and achieving...
(4 June 1923 – 13 February 2007) attended Sibford from the age of 11 to 17 She latter become an award winning author notable in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n literature for her critically acclaimed novels based upon the alienated characters and the nature of loneliness and entrapment.
Paul Eddington
Paul Eddington
Paul Eddington CBE was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s: The Good Life, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Early life:...
CBE (18 June 1927 – 4 November 1995) was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 1980s.
Joseph Coles Kirby
Joseph Coles Kirby
Joseph Coles Kirby was an English flour miller who migrated to Sydney, Australia in 1854. In 1864, Kirby was ordained in the Congregational Churches and then ministered to rural and city congregations in Queensland and South Australia and supported or lead many causes for social reform such as the...
(1837–1924) was an English flour miller who migrated to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1854. In 1864, Kirby was ordained in the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
es and then ministered to rural and city congregations in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and supported or led numerous causes for social reform including the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
, women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
and raising the age of consent
Ages of consent in Australia and Oceania
The ages of consent for sexual activity vary by jurisdiction across Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. The specific activity engaged in or the gender of its participants can also be affected by the law. Below is a discussion of the various laws dealing with this subject...
to 16 in Australia.
Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman is an English TV adventurer, travel writer and actor. He is well known for his association with motorcycles and enthusiasm for biking.-Education:...
(born 23 Aug 1966) is an adventure, travel writer and actor. Boorman took part in a motorcycle trip from London, New York, Europe and Asia in 2004 this was later made in to a television series. Boorman attended Sibford School for some of his teenage years (1980–1983) to get help for his dyslexia
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a very broad term defining a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read, and which can manifest itself as a difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, or rapid...
. In 2009, Boorman was made president of Dyslexia Action
Dyslexia Action
Dyslexia Action is a non profit organisation based in the UK, providing support to those affected by dyslexia and literacy difficulties, across all sectors and training providers...
.
Guy Ritchie
Guy Ritchie
Guy Stuart Ritchie is an English screenwriter and film maker who directed Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Revolver, RocknRolla and Sherlock Holmes.-Early life:...
, actor and director, married Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
.
Further reading
- Jones, H.W. & Harrod, M. Sibford School, 1842–1942. (Pub. 1942).
- Fowler, R.W.F. Quaker education with special reference to Sibford School (MA thesis, King's College London). (Pub. 1987).
- Alphabetical list of scholars 1842–1867 (Sibford), prepared by Malcolm Thomas.
- OSA Annual reports, 1 (Pub. 1903/4).
- The Archway [school magazine] 1 (Pub. 1947).
- Oxfordshire Record Office, Oxford; (later records at the school).
- A View from the Hill ... a history of Sibford School 1842-2010 ~ an 'experiment' in Quaker education (Pub . 2010).