Spring Term Highlights at OIC Brighton

As we reach the end of the spring term, Principal Tess St Clair-Ford reflects on an inspiring, fast‑paced and achievement‑filled few months at OIC Brighton. From student leadership and global opportunities to academic enrichment and wellbeing initiatives, the term has been packed with activity. 

We began the year by welcoming our new Student Council, selected through a democratic hustings process. Students also had the chance to engage with the Brighton & Hove Youth Council, giving them a voice in local government and even national Youth Parliament initiatives. 

The term saw an impressive range of trips and experiences: theme parks, theatre performances, geography fieldwork, a winter sports trip to Switzerland, a social impact expedition to Tanzania and a basketball tournament in Budapest. These opportunities continue to enrich learning beyond the classroom. 

A major highlight was the launch of our partnership with IMG Academy, bringing elite sports coaching and performance psychology to our campus. Their visit supported both students and staff, and opened pathways for US university entry and summer programmes for aspiring athletes. 

Our Year 13 students celebrated an exciting wave of university offers, with places across Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial and a wide mix of global institutions and specialist courses. Alongside this, students in Years 12 and 13 showcased exceptional independence through extended research projects and participation in the OIC Fusion Programme, contributing to undergraduate‑level research with Oxford University partners. 

The college also deepened its commitment to research-informed education, with staff training in metacognition, collaborations with Harvard University and participation in the Nord Anglia Delta Research Project. This work continues to strengthen students’ human skills – curiosity, critical thinking and resilience – in a world shaped by AI. 

On campus, students embraced British Science Week, debating competitions, World Book Day activities, and an expanding library and reading mentor programme. Academic support remained a key focus, with tailored guidance, supervised study, SEN provision and subject-specific clinics helping students prepare for the upcoming exam season. 

As Tess shared, the term has been a dynamic blend of learning, growth and celebration – and the summer term promises even more.