In 2024, Aston Rowant CE Primary School was delighted to take part in Oxfordshire’s first ever OxTrail sculpture project, a county-wide creative initiative raising funds for Sobell House Hospice. This exciting opportunity linked beautifully with both our Art curriculum and our PSHE focus on community, kindness and contribution.

Along with 86 other schools, we were invited to design and decorate our very own mini ox, which would later join public displays across Oxfordshire for thousands of visitors to enjoy.

Designing Our Ox - A Whole-School Creative Challenge

Every child was invited to submit a design for our school’s ox. The ideas were incredibly imaginative, thoughtful and varied - making the judging process wonderfully difficult!

We are proud to congratulate Aurora in Year 4, whose thoughtful and meaningful design was selected as the winner. Her design stood out because:

• It was inspired by our school logo — the tree
• It incorporated all six of our school values, each represented through coloured leaves
• It included a space for every child and member of staff to paint their own individual section

This meant the ox would truly represent the whole school community, celebrating unity and creativity.

Bringing Oxton Rowant to Life

Once our blank ox arrived at school, the artistic journey began!

Under the expert guidance of Mrs Olsen, children across the school painted their individual sections with pride and care. It was a joy to witness pupils gathering around the finished sculpture, excitedly identifying the area that they had contributed.

Our ox was officially named:

Oxton Rowant

…and he looked absolutely fabulous.

Where Oxton Rowant was Displayed

All school-designed mini oxen were grouped into local “herds” and placed in publicly accessible buildings for eight weeks. Our ox was proudly displayed in Thame Library, and our children and families, as well as many locals and tourists, went to visit and admire the creativity of children across the county.

In addition to the schools’ mini oxen, visitors can also explore over 30 life-sized ox sculptures across Oxford during the summer, each decorated by local and international artists.

Fundraising Success - A Remarkable Achievement

Not only was this an exceptional artistic project, but it was also a significant fundraising opportunity.

We are thrilled to share that we exceeded our fundraising target by an incredible 780%.

Match funding was secured and we were able to donate £3,000 to Sobell House Hospice — an extraordinary achievement for a small school.

A heartfelt thank you goes to every family, child and supporter whose generosity made this possible.

Winners of the Oxley Competition

Despite strong competition from 86 participating schools, Aston Rowant won the Oxley competition - a true testament to the creativity, collaboration and spirit of our pupils.

Our prize? A visit from the famous OxTrail ox himself - a moment the children will never forget!

Click here to view the photo gallery from his visit.

 

Why OxTrail Mattered to Us

OxTrail was more than a creative project. It:

• Brought our whole school community together
• Supported a charity that makes a profound difference
• Encouraged children to express themselves artistically
• Boosted confidence, teamwork and pride
• Connected us with schools and artists across the county
• Enabled every child to contribute to a high-quality public artwork

Oxton Rowant stands as a symbol of creativity, compassion and community - values at the heart of Aston Rowant CE Primary School.