The students staying at Yarnton Manor are really demonstrating their passion for learning here at ORA. Teachers are frequently mentioning the immense levels of effort and capabilities shown by all students in the classroom, they are simply a delight to teach! Since students were told about the upcoming ‘ORA’s Got Talent’ show next week they’ve been keen to get some practice in during their breaks. This has turned into somewhat of a competition as students hop on and off the piano playing different pieces to impress their peers, whilst the rest of their classmates eat lunch in the Long Gallery.

After a very busy morning, the students hopped on the bus ready to hit the town once again. First on the list of things to do was punting, one of Oxford’s more traditional pastimes enjoyed by students, residents and tourists alike. Students cruised along the river Cherwell on a long, narrow, pole (or ‘quant’ as they are known in Oxford) driven wooden boat, able to see some of the most famous attractions in Oxford. Main highlights of the punting trip included Christ Church Meadow, the beautiful Botanical Gardens and just kicking back and enjoying the sunshine with their friends.

After disembarking the punts, the students migrated over to begin a full tour of Christ Church College, viewing the magnificent Tom Quad including Tom Tower, famous for running 5 minutes behind GMT on ‘Oxford time’ due to its geographical location. All students relished the opportunity to immerse themselves in such history soaked buildings and traditions.