Rising to the challenge, since 1948
On one afternoon, Charles and Muriel Oxley were discussing one of the most important matters, which school to send their youngest child to.
Heated debate ensued about the various merits of the schools available in the area. However, the disadvantages always seemed to outweigh the advantages.
“Charlie, if you’re so concerned about the quality of the children’s schooling, why don’t you start your own school?
Well, never one not to rise to a challenge, Charles replied:
“I might just do that!”
There was so much work to do and Charles had to return to Egypt to serve out his notice in a school in Alexandria. The budget was tight, and it was up to Muriel to bring the building up to standard. Charles returned from Egypt and both worked long long hours to get the school ready and despite all the obstacles, on the 6th April 1948, Charles as Principal and Muriel as Bursar opened the doors to the first and only independent school in the metropolitan borough of St. Helens.
And so, Tower College began its journey… and from the very start it was obvious that this was no ordinary school. The co-founders, Charles and Muriel were driven by a love for God and passion to defend Godly principles in Britain. Their school was to be a reflection of their traditional Christian values and Tower soon built a strong reputation for providing an education of high academic standards, where children learn the benefits of adherence to hard work and excellent conduct.
Principled Principal
Some considered him extreme in his zero-tolerance attitude towards bullying, telling lies, stealing, vandalism and swearing. But, those at Tower College knew that this was the perfect platform on which to build a school and very soon parents were on waiting lists trying to get their sons and daughters into the school.
Charles and Muriel also laid special emphasis on the spiritual aspect of the Christian education provided. They were astute enough not to affiliate the school to any denomination, and to invite pupils of all faiths or none on the understanding that they would participate in Morning Assemblies and all Religious Studies lessons. Pupils were expected to show tolerance and respect for each other’s faiths, and kindness and courtesy in all aspects of school life.
In 1948, Charles and Muriel Oxley bought Tower College, a building which had previously been owned by the well-to-do Baxter family. The only problem was that the building was not in a fit state to be a school; it had fallen into rack and ruin after the Baxter’s had vacated it during the war. There weren’t even any floors to walk on!
Charles interviewed all the staff himself to make absolutely sure that any teacher being privileged enough to be employed at Tower College would be dedicated to the success, happiness and well-being of the pupils; that they would lead by example and encourage the children to be tolerant and compassionate towards one another and especially to care for the younger children.
He was insistent that excellent behaviour, smart dress and thinking of others before oneself were the cornerstones of a successful school and essential if pupils were to grow into being responsible and upstanding members of society. He knew that if staff paid attention to the smaller indiscretions, then the greater misdemeanours would never happen.
1987 – Muriel Oxley takes the helm
Tower College went from strength to strength and such was the success of the school that Charles and Muriel were able to open two new schools: Scarisbrick Hall in Ormskirk (1963) and Hamilton College in Scotland (1983) And, all continued happily until 1986 when Charles was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away in November 1987.
Without Charles, many people thought that Tower College would either not survive at all or at the very least would become an entirely different school. Muriel Oxley, however, had other ideas and though she was reluctant to assume the role of Principal, she knew that if the school were to maintain its values then she would have to be the next Principal. Muriel, despite her limited experience, turned out to be an outstanding leader and Tower College continued being just as successful until her untimely passing in December 1993.
1993 – Rachel Oxley Continues the Success Story
But, unlike her mother before her, there were very different challenges facing the school and fortunately Rachel had the necessary qualities to ensure that the school met these challenges without sacrificing any of its core values. The school had to evolve but Rachel knew that it must never ever move away from the values that were set down in 1948.
Tower became even more successful – topping the GCSE league tables year after year and having waiting lists for every year group. The ISI inspection report of 19?? confirmed that Tower College was continuing to be everything that it set out to be in 1948. It said:
Enter Miss Rachel Oxley, Charles and Muriel’s youngest child and only daughter. Rachel was at the time of her mother’s death Head of the Kindergarten Department at Scarisbrick Hall and no one doubted for a second that under her leadership, Tower College was in the safest of hands. Why was this? It was because the school was being passed onto someone who was the very embodiment of the values and beliefs that the school had been founded on
‘The relationship between staff and pupils, based on mutual respect and trust, is excellent, and pupils clearly feel safe, secure and happy in their lessons. This enriching relationship contributes greatly to the positive learning environment that pervades the school.’
Ms Bingley to Ensure Continuity
As much as Rachel loved (and still loves) the School, the life of a Principal takes its toll and she was due a well-earned retirement. She was also very aware of the upcoming challenges that Tower College would face and if it were to survive, then a new Principal would have to be found to meet these challenges head on. And, most crucially, a Principal who would still allow the school to change and move forward without moving one iota away from the values that she and her parents had built the School upon.
How do I know this? Because Miss Oxley delayed her retirement for one whole year to ensure that the new Principal would be perfectly placed to be the best possible custodian of the values that she and her parents had dedicated themselves to maintaining in Tower College.
In September 2018, I was honoured to become the fourth Principal of Tower College. And I can assure you that all that Miss Oxley and her parents hold dear will be safe in my hands too.
Every one of us in this school, both staff and pupils, is involved in making hundreds of decisions every day. The decisions we make are a reflection of our values and beliefs. You could not possibly have a better set of values on which to base your decisions than those set down in 1948 by Charles and Muriel and then continued faithfully by their daughter.
