Introduction to Octagon

What type of students is Octagon looking for?

Students are selected on the basis of their academic potential across a range of subjects, although there is always attention given to subject specialists. Students should be highly enthusiastic about learning and ideally have A grade potential in order to be nominated for Octagon membership.

Octagon Summary 2010-2011

Octagon lessons over the last 12 months have included philosophy, IQ tests, logic puzzles, topical examinations, a book club, literature and comprehension, a study of ethics, evolutionary psychology, business ethics, cryptology, code-breaking, linguistics, critical thinking and coping strategies and the nature of mathematics and the Fibonacci sequence.

National Portrait Gallery

On Thursday the 17th of March, the entire Octagon Academic Society from Kingham Hill School went on a trip to London to the National Portrait Gallery in order to visit a specialist photographic exhibition by Hoppé.

After a surprisingly short bus ride into London, everybody disembarked to stretch their legs and have some lunch. We had this in Trafalgar square, sitting on Admiral Nelson’s plinth watching the Olympic clock count down.

Cultural Evening

Beer and wine tasting at The Chequers, Churchill 21.4.10

Sixth form members of the Octagon Academic Society experienced an amazing evening of culture, fine wines and education. We attended The Chequers Village pub for a talk by a sommelier and two local breweries for a night of wine and beer tasting.

Octagon Council 2011

The Octagon council is made up of eight student members who serve the school’s academic community and the needs of the society by advising on the content of lessons and the extra-curricular events that are planned. They work very hard! When on the Octagon Council they learn skills such as board management, planning, event management, journalism and PR.

Dr Mike Leahy Lecture

Gross Diseases, Blood Sucking Parasites & Disgusting Killer Bugs

The Octagon Academic Society were treated to a very lively and controversial lecture about gross diseases, blood sucking parasites and disgusting killer bugs from Dr Mike Leahy on Wednesday the 11th of May.

There was an excellent turnout for the lecture as all of octagon attended along with other students who were interested. It was so crowded that extra chairs were added to the theatre and some people even had to sit or stand at the back of the Lecture theatre.

Apologetics

Michael Ramsden and “Big Questions”

On Thursday the 25th of November, Michael Ramsden came from Oxford to give a lecture to all the Octagon, Theology and Christian Union Students who had “Big Questions” about God.

The evening started off with a Questioning session - everybody with questions had them written on the board. Then everybody voted for the 3 that they would most like to be answered and the two questions that had the most votes, he would answer. The two questions that were chosen were:

Julie Arliss and Dr. Peter Vardy Lectures

Gifted and Talented

The Octagon Academic Society members of years 10 and 11 were invited to a series of lectures and a debates hosted by Julie Arliss and Dr. Peter Vardy on a Gifted and Talented Study Day in Oxford Town Hall. To begin with, Dr. Peter Vardy delivered a presentation on the Nature and Reality of Mathematics.