oxford royale academy
Oxford
Nearing the end of his undergraduate degree at Oxford University, our Director,
William Humphreys, reflected on the life-changing opportunities that had been
afforded to him, and the countless avenues now open ahead of him, as a result of
his time at Oxford. Affected profoundly by the transformational effect this
place and this education had had on his life, he started discussions with his
brother and Co-Director George about how these same opportunities and
experiences might be offered to students looking to make decisions about their
own futures. George and William opened the first ORA summer school in 2005, made
up of 35 students, a number of whom are still in touch with us and each other
today! That summer was full of academic energy and progress, friendship,
cultural expansion, and fun! It became clear that the opportunity to use summer
holidays to learn in an entirely different way from school was both exciting and
inspiring to students from all over the world. Energised by the opportunity to
bring something new to the world of education, our most popular courses were
born and aptly named ‘New Perspectives’ and ‘Broadening Horizons’. We build and
retain close relationships with our students and their parents, listening
carefully to their experiences and ambitions. These relationships have become an
important driver of our growth and we are always thrilled to hear from alumni
about the paths they have taken and the successes they have enjoyed. By 2008, we
were accredited by the British Council, had assembled a committed team of staff
and teachers excited by this new philosophy, and were welcoming hundreds of
students each year to Oxford to study a growing number of courses. From 2010
onwards, with students wanting to return to the programme but keen to see more
of the world, we began programmes in Cambridge, and later St Andrews, London,
and Yale. In 2017 we launched programmes for younger students, from age 8, as
well as courses for students aged 19 and over, many of whom were former students
wishing to continue their education with us. We have been awarded the BETA Award
for Best Educational Product an astonishing five times, and have been proud
recipients of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise three times. We have an
extraordinary team of staff, all entirely committed to the transformational
effect education has on a young life. These range from the counsellors on our
campuses who guide students through each day and offer insights into university
life, to the teachers who get to know our students well enough to introduce them
to the precise topics and ideas that will inspire them, to the office staff who
work with parents to ensure their children are happy, safe, and make the most of
every opportunity presented to them in their time with us. Of course 2020 was
not part of anyone’s plan. When it became clear in March that we would be unable
to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of our international student body that
summer, we were forced to suspend our programmes for the first time in our
history. Disappointed but not disheartened, we decided to rise to the challenge
and move our courses online, with the firm commitment to preserving the
interactivity, the excitement and the academic rigour that characterises our
summer programmes. We were blown away by the dedication of our teaching staff
that summer, by the positivity and intelligence of our students, and by the
enduring commitment to learning and aspiration. With this confirmation that the
ORA philosophy thrives even in the face of such challenges, and with a firm
commitment to innovation in a fast-changing world, we are extremely excited
about the future. Education, and working globally, has never been more important
and we are proud to be at the forefront of innovation in international
education.
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