Oxford International College in Brighton welcomes first students

Guests joined students and staff at Oxford International College (OIC) in Ovingdean last week to celebrate as 160 students from across the globe started at the new independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18.

The school offers pre-GCSE, GCSE and A-Level courses for both British and international students.

It will expand to accommodate a maximum of 400 boarding and 100 day students over the coming years.

Leading the celebrations was the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Andrew Blackman who hosted a tree-planting ceremony to commemorate the opening.

Following the tree-planting, Brighton and Hove Mayor Jackie O’Quinn officially opened the new building before guests enjoyed tours of the school campus.

Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Ms Jackie O’Quinn, officially opening the new school building and Tess St Clair-Ford, founding principal of OIC Brighton, cutting the cake modelled on grade II listed Ovingdean Hall (Image: Oxford International College in Brighton)

Tess St Clair-Ford, founding principal of OIC Brighton, said: “We are thrilled to welcome our first cohort of students to our newly renovated Brighton campus as they embark on their learning journey with us.

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“Following extensive investment, all of our students benefit from facilities thoughtfully designed to support their learning, while our enviable location in the British countryside, close to the city of Brighton and the coast, provides our students with many opportunities to relax, study and stay fit.”

The college said its curriculum will prepare students for entry into their university or career of choice with emphasis on academic excellence and career and personal development.

Students will undertake OIC’s Super Curricular Programme, which goes further than traditional extra-curricular programmes and offers career-related activities alongside sports, charity work and arts clubs.

Ms St Clair-Ford said: “Our passionate teachers, who are leaders in their fields, will guide our students to stand out as pioneers, original thinkers, and highly skilled learners."

As the college is part of the Nord Anglia Education family of schools, its students will also reap the benefits from the group’s collaborations with global institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.