The ISC Pantomime 2009: Strictly Xinderella

For most staff and students, December means one thing: holidays. But not at the ISC. Here, December means it's time for the annual panto – this year, Strictly Xinderella.



The panto has become an important fixture in the College social calendar – and has even acquired a cult following among certain theatregoers.

'Oh, no it hasn't,' I can almost hear you say.

Oh, yes it has!

Is it the expertly prepared, professionally crafted sets that appeal most? Or the stunning colours and exquisitely cut costumes? No, let’s be honest, it’s probably just the sight of Chinese boys pretending to be British boys who are pretending to be girls that makes our panto the must-see event of the season!

The story begins in the X Factor studio, where the panel of Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Danii Minogue are portrayed as a group of stock characters trying to find a cast of talented pantomime players to appear in a new pantomime production.



You can guess who the villain is (and if you can’t, it’s Simon Cowell, or, as he’s known in the panto, Warlock Atrocidocious).

The action then shifts to the Strictly Come Dancing studio where a fantasy King and Queen are busy trying to arrange a glittering party where their son can find a wife from all the fair maidens in the land. After that, well, let’s just say it gets a bit complicated…

Always impressing is the fact that all the students, regardless of ability, play a role and are given the opportunity to improve their vocabulary and pronunciation. This year was probably the most ambitious production we’ve ever done, and the fact that it was produced a week early meant even less time to rehearse than usual. Combined with that was the fact that the cast had to contend with an epidemic of 'flu, colds and laryngitis, this was certainly a challenge. But the brave crew soldiered on and managed to give an exciting, memorable and entertaining performance.

A huge thanks is due not only to the students and staff of the ISC who worked so hard, but also to all the other staff and students of the Sixth form who helped with costumes, make up and set.

Photos from the performance (view on Flickr)



Photos from the dress rehearsal (view on Flickr)

Writeup by David Wareham

Student profile: Anna Steiner

Over the coming weeks and months, we'll be interviewing and profiling students at the International Study Centre – getting their take on school life and finding out about their achievements and ambitions. The first in this series is Anna Steiner.


Anna joined the International Study Centre in September 2008. Having wanted to study abroad since the age of 10 – and following on from two previous visits to the UK – she came to d'Overbroeck's to improve her English whilst also studying other subjects, such as Science, Maths, French and Geography.

She's particularly appreciated discovering a liking for Biology – a subject she'd not enjoyed before: 'I really love Biology now ... In lessons we don't only talk about Biology, we also look at plants and organisms ... It's really interesting and interactive.'

Obviously, the quality of English teaching is very important to Anna. And she feels she's made a great deal of progress in her language skills. 'The way English is taught is very different [from Germany] ... Soon after being in England I started thinking in English, which is true for most other students as well.'

Anna lives close to the College, as part of a host family. How has she found this experience? 'I find it really amazing! My host family has three other children from the ISC, so we can do our homework together and help each other, or go out together.' She's also enjoyed living in Oxford: 'Even though it's a city, it has many green places and there are many facilities like sports centres ... As there are a lot of international students you feel like you're part of the community, here.'

And how would she describe the atmosphere at d'Overbroeck's? 'Very friendly and communicative ... If somebody has a problem, everyone's trying to help. We have a lot of fun, but of course we also work hard.'

Outside classes, Anna has taken part in the Study Centre's busy activities programme, and played a main part in the annual pantomime – a great success, and one of the most memorable experiences of her year.

Sadly, Anna will be leaving us at the end of this academic year, to study the European Baccalaureate, in order to return to the same system used in Germany. Ultimately, her ambition is to work in the travel business – so that she can continue to use the language skills she's so enjoyed acquiring.

Next year's GCSE course outline

As ever, the aim of our GCSE course is to develop strong English language skills, whilst also allowing students to take GCSE qualifications in a range of core academic subjects.

We have further improved our programme for next year, offering students three possible 'routes', each containing a variety of subjects.

Depending on the options students take, they may study a total of up to 9 GCSEs. Subjects on offer include Art, Business Studies, French, Geography, Citizenship – as well as English, Maths, Sciences and students' own languages.

See a diagram showing the course outline in more detail (pdf)

Launch of International Study Centre News page

Welcome to the newly-launched news page for d'Overbroeck's College International Study Centre. We'll post here news about events, initiatives, student successes and more – as they happen.