Dear Parent,

The Primary & Senior (Home / School Partnership)

With An exciting invitation to our our taster day on Friday 18th July (see below) !!

Exciting, different news that may be of interest to you.  As many know we have been developing a flexible and interest led curriculum for senior school children.   This mainly comes from the need to find the right community for our own children who are 11 and 13 years.  We have developed a lovely farm school setting close to the centre of Oxford and hope to encourage wider use of the facilities we have for Oxford's alternative educational community.

Forest Farm, the view to Otmoor.  Camping Nights. Trip to Wales and our Mini bus

If you are viewing this on line, click any image to see our photo collection.
The 'Forest Farm Flyer'.  Mini bus service.

Below you will find an introduction to our setting and answers (hopefully) to some of your most important questions.

How will we organise?  Who are we?  Who will teach?  How flexible will it be?  How much will it cost?  How will children get to us?  And most important of all, what will they eat?!  What's on offer during the holidays?

Organisation...

Group One:  This is our 5/6 to 11's age group.  There is currently a core group of children in this age bracket that attend Forest Farm full time. We are very much looking forward to welcoming primary aged children to join us for special workshops and educational events.  Children can join us for sports activities, special science workshops, music & art days, modern languages, bush craft / nature skills, drama and music.

Group Two: Will combine children aged 11, 12 and 13 for preparatory work towards GCSE courses.  The curriculum will be project/workshop based and open to children wishing to attend every day or part time. The emphasis will be on the  arts / music / nature studies / sport.  Academic preparation is covered by individual subjects taught with a hands on workshop based approach.  *See www.mantleofthexpert.com 

The aim is to inspire children to relish the challenges that will come when they join the GCSE workshops in...

Group Three:  This is for parents and children that are at the stage of considering studying for, or are already taking some GCSE level courses. We are working together with Oxfordshire's Home Education Community who will  meet and offer a range of subjects at Forest Farm.  Children will be free to attend GCSE preparatory courses from 14 (earlier if ready) for as few as one study course or as many as they wish to make a full time attendance pattern.

Who are we...

Forest Farm School, Elsfield : http://www.oxfordmontessori.co.uk is excited to offer its facilities to the many parents and children who look for greater choice and flexibility when it comes to the education of their children.  We have been offering Montessori Education in Oxfordshire since 1990, and started an elementary class in the year 2000. The Senior Home/School Partnership is a natural progression......

Sessions will be offered to teenagers with a view to students attaining qualifications at GCSE level. The school is  making an application to become an exam centre, this will provide a welcoming and intimate place for private candidates to sit exams.

There will be some full time students, but places will be available for home schooled children, aged upwards, who will be able to tap into the  proposed sessions : these will include - English, History, Maths, Science, Sport, Multi media ( music, film, radio ) Geography, horticulture and bush craft.  Two subjects will be offered each day.

Who will teach...?

Our activities are provided by a mix of tutors, volunteers and parents who specialise in the specific subject areas.  We are always on the look out for parents with skills and the enthusiasm to share these with the children.  If that's you or you know someone who might like to get involved, please let us know, it's a great way to extend the experience for the children.

How much will it cost...?

Days and times have not been confirmed yet but cost will be realistic and in line with other tutor lead GCSE courses.  For group two, year long subjects, the courses starting in September will lead to exams the following May/June.  Some options will be examined after a two year period.  It is likely to be a rolling programme, so if you are not ready for a particular subject one year it will most probably be offered again the following or every other year, depending on demand. The courses run will be subject to numbers. Students may take between 1 and 3 subjects per year, building up a portfolio of 6 to 7 GCSEs if they so wish. 

Subjects range in cost GBP 15.00 to GBP 20.00 per subject for flexible part time or GBP 1950 per term full time attendence (senior school) or GBP 2344.28 (primary school)  What extras are there?  Lunches, simple, organic when possible from our own gardens.  Guide price is 2.00 per day.  Special trips (these may incur small extra costs depending on venue / location.  Exam fees.  TBA.

'Maggie', one of 2 Shetland Ponies, the students help us care for

Your status...?

You may choose to  register your child with us as providers of full time education or for a home / school partnerships.  In this case you will simply be 'buying into' tutor lead sessions, in much the same way as many do already when attending structured home ed. groups.

The new sports barn

Home ed. students can attend the sessions for as few as one subject if required.

Our status...?

Forest Farm is privately owned and democratically run.  It functions not for profit, but to cover cost and develop the resource for all age groups.  We look to the future.  Last year we planted 2000 trees.  One day it will be forest to explore and hide in, it will also produce bush-craft resources, timbre for den making etc.

How will children get to us...?

We have a 17 seat mini bus (the Forest Farm Flyer) that does pickups and returns to key locations.

What will the children eat...?

We grow as much as we can from our gardens.  We hope this will develop in time to provide more and more of the fruit and veg we consume.  The children are actively involved in this from 5/6 upwards.  Currently we offer simple soups, homemade bread, sandwiches, summer fruits.  Of course, there are tuck shop bits and pieces too!

We like to cook outdoors when possible

What's on offer during the holidays...?

Forest Farm opens its doors to children aged 3 to 16 for the Create Holiday Club.  For 11 weeks each year during the normal school holidays we offer an exciting range of arts, sports, bush craft based goodies for all to try.  The cost are low at just 32.00 per day or 18 per half day.

Come make and record music with us!

Deciding if its right for you and your child...?

There will be trial sessions in each subject, after which students can decide to follow the course. At this stage full payment will be required to ensure that sufficient funds will be available to pay for tutor fees, admin and other costs.

The school is wonderful and inspirational - it is surrounded by beautiful grounds and is intimate enough not to overwhelm children who may have had  negative experiences at other schools.

Find out more...?

To find out more you are invited to attend Forest Farm on Friday 18th July between 10am and 1pm for information for parents and fun 'team building' activities for kids.  (Includes Lunch!)  RSVP to daniel.ardizzone@googlemail.com

Tel:  01865 358210

Very best wishes and we hope to hear from you.

Daniel Ardizzone (Forest Farm) & Sam Martell (Home Education Group)