15 September 2025
Dear Oakley Parents and Guardians
We are now two weeks into term and my aim is to update you fortnightly with what your daughters have been up to in Oakley House. Many of them ask for photographs not to be shared on Instagram but they don’t mind for my newsletters and assemblies. So, although Oakley might have been quiet on the social media platforms, please believe me it has been anything but that!
We welcomed nearly 30 new Oakley girls for boarders’ induction and they enjoyed a few days getting to know each other and settling in. As well as many talks (!), they enjoyed a sports evening and a day trip to Oxford:
The rest of the house returned just before the start of lessons and the new academic year began with its usual ferocity. As well as getting used to living away from home, some for the first time, it didn’t take long for the familiar routines to kick into place. Despite the bursts of heavy rain, the atmosphere in Oakley has been great.
We treated the fourth form to a pizza night and they enjoyed a ‘getting to know you’ evening, led by our Monitors, at the end of the first week. If the noise was anything to go by, the girls really knew how to let their hair down!
Mrs Pugh spoiled the girls at the end of the second week with the return of Treat Friday, which was a welcome start to the weekend:
Friday was also the day for House photos. We managed to dodge the showers and staff and students certainly looked the part. I look forward to seeing the end result:
In the evening it was the turn of the 5th and 6th formers to enjoy a pizza night and social, again led by Monitors. I believe the Mafia game was particularly popular and it was really nice to see everyone getting along:
The next couple of weeks will mainly be focused on settling into healthy routines and I want the girls to really focus on their lessons and study and sleep habits. There are always a few coughs and colds doing the rounds at the start of term but we try to make sure Oakley is a place for some needed rest and relaxation at the end of each busy day. Before we know it, the House Song rehearsals will start so I am going to make the most of the relative quiet for the next couple of weeks!
Best wishes
Victoria Adams