New Beginnings, Endless Possibilities

A Warm Welcome for New Arrivals

The excitement began as students from as far as across the globe, to those just down the road, arrived and settled well into their new boarding houses. From London Place to Alice House to Wavy Gate and Thames Street, our boarding team, led by Director of Boarding, Kieran Jones and Assistant Head of Boarding, Teresa Clack, ensured that everyone felt comfortable, supported and ready to begin their OIC journey.

Great to see that already our boarding community has begun fostering new friendships and developing a strong sense of belonging — an essential foundation for the year ahead.

Induction Day at Oxford Town Hall

This year’s induction took place at the stunning Oxford Town Hall, where the entire College came together for a full-day programme filled with engaging talks, informative sessions, and community-building activities.

Highlights of the day included:

• Welcome Address by Dr. Sarah Watson, our Principal, who set an inspiring tone for the year.
• Expectations & Culture Workshop with Vice Principal Pastoral, Ben Holman, ensuring our students understand the values of respect, resilience, and collaboration at OIC.
• Safeguarding & Wellbeing Guidance from Severine Collins, Vice Principal and DSL, reinforcing our commitment to student safety and support.
• Academic Pathways & Supercurricular Opportunities presented by our academic leads, Vice Principal, Bill O'Brien-Blake and Director of Global Strategic Pathways, Toby Blundell outlining the exciting challenges and enrichment activities awaiting our students.

The day concluded with students being officially welcomed into the OIC community — marking the beginning of a year filled with ambition and excellence.

Settling Into Boarding Life

For many of our students, this is their first experience living away from home. Our boarding houses have quickly come to life with laughter, collaboration, and connection. The boarding team has introduced new students to daily routines, weekend check-ins, and the vibrant community culture that makes OIC a home away from home.

Meals are already in full swing, served across our dedicated dining spaces, while our student committees and house teams are preparing for an exciting year of social events and activities designed to bring everyone together.

An Exciting Year Ahead

With the College’s vision of developing pioneering leaders and our mission to cultivate excellence across academics, personal growth, and career preparation, the 2025–26 academic year promises to be transformative.

Students will benefit from:

• Cutting-edge facilities, including our innovation spaces and collaborative learning hubs.
• A dynamic programme of Supercurricular activities, electives, and enrichment sessions.
• A supportive, nurturing environment built on OIC’s four core attributes: Exceptional, Pioneering, Tenacious and Compassionate.

Closing Thoughts

This year’s induction has set a powerful tone for the months ahead. The energy, enthusiasm, and dedication shown by our students and staff reaffirm OIC’s standing as a world-leading institution.

We cannot wait to see our students thrive, push boundaries, and achieve extraordinary success — both inside and outside the classroom.

Welcome back, OIC students — your journey starts here!