Oasis Academy Enfield Prospectus 2016/2017
A very warm welcome to Oasis Community Learning! I am delighted that you and your daughter or son are interested in becoming part of Oasis Academy Enfield. Oasis Community Learning was established as a Multi- Academy Trust in 2004 with the vision to create: “Exceptional Education at the Heart of the Community”. We now run Academies in four main regions throughout the UK, providing either Primary, Secondary or All-through education. All of our Academies are committed to providing a rich educational experience and ensuring that every child and young person has the opportunity to achieve at the highest level.
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All of this is underpinned by our philosophy of education which highlights our focus on inspirational leadership, deep learning and healthy communities and aspires to develop the character and competence of every child within every community that we are part of. At Oasis Community Learning therefore, we believe we are all ‘the architects of our students’ lives’ and as such we are committed to laying the right foundations for every one of our young people. So we look forward to your daughter or son potentially becoming part of Oasis, in the knowledge that we will work in partnership with you to ensure they become confident learners ready to fulfil their aspirations in life. Best wishes
Our ethos is integral to that provision, it is an expression of our character, a statement of who we are and therefore the lens through which we assess all we do. We are committed to a model of inclusion, equality, healthy relationships, hope, and perseverance throughout all the aspects of the life and culture of each Academy community. We passionately embrace learning and are committed to every child within our care reaching their full potential and developing holistically across every area of their lives, both now and in the future.
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John Murphy Chief Executive Officer
‘The Principal has successfully created an ethos of high expectations and commitment to improvement, where teaching and students’ behaviour are good.’ Ofsted 2015 I am exceptionally proud to be the Principal of our Academy, which sits at the heart of our Community Hub and has a welldeserved reputation for teaching quality, provision of care and academic success for all. I have the privilege of leading a team of outstanding staff who inspire and nurture students to achieve both academic excellence and strength of character; and therefore produce young people who have a positive, transformative impact on their community. We believe in both ‘love and boundaries’ for young people. The students who join the Academy have access to excellent facilities, exciting opportunities, and first-class support. They are subject to very high academic rigour and are stretched and challenged in their learning and personal development. Standards of behaviour are very high and uniform is worn with pride. Traditional values like respect, discipline, and hard work are cherished. Young people are guided and challenged to manage themselves and become mature and sociable adults. We champion and celebrate progress in all aspects of young people’s lives. These are the high expectations which Ofsted praised so strongly when we were inspected in April 2015.
Students are recognised as individuals, yet we act together as a strong family, proud of the Oasis values and ethos which act as a foundation for all we do. Their time in school is enhanced by an exciting extra-curricular offer on top of an exciting varied curriculum. Students have a real voice here. They actively contribute to the running of the Academy and are engaged in youth politics and activism. For me, the thrill of teaching is in being part of young people’s journey into adulthood and I can think of no better place for your children to become the successful, happy and confident people they can be, than here at Oasis Academy Enfield. I know that, as parents and carers, nothing is more important to you than ensuring that your children have the best chances in life. We want that too. That is why we are here, dedicated to their futures; learning together, succeeding together. Neil Hassell BEng (Hons) NPQH FRSA Principal
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‘Teachers use skilled questioning to support and extend learning so that students make rapid progress.’ Ofsted 2015 Great teaching and learning is at the centre of everything we do. We are absolutely dedicated to having a transformative effect on young people’s lives and have a highly skilled body of teaching and support staff who are always willing to ‘go the extra mile’ for our young people.
“Teachers go well beyond what they are required to do and have had an extraordinary impact on my son’s life.” Carol, mother of Ben in ‘the class of 2015’.
Our teachers use a host of data to better understand the individuals in their class and personalise learning. Due to our quality of teaching, young people at Oasis Academy Enfield can make better progress than those at eight out of ten schools in the country. Our highly qualified and experienced inclusion staff meet the individual requirements of students with special education needs or disabilities. A learning and teaching group of outstanding practitioners design and constantly assess the curriculum and staff training to ensure that teaching is at its keenest and every child is stretched and challenged to the fullest.
“Teachers are really supportive, offering their advice and time, even after school. Extra-curricular activities and the school council have been great for me.” Hemant, class of 2016. Your child will experience a fun, varied and exciting diet of subjects during the week, with many opportunities to add extra-curricular activities to these during our period six extended day. This can include student politics, sports, clubs, performing arts and highly sought after programmes such as the Brilliant Club, where our students work with PhD students from top universities. Six Oasis Life+ days prepare young people for the world of work, healthy relationships, staying safe and developing their strength of character.
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Hemant’s Story
Hemant epitomises what happens when you commit yourself to everything a school has to offer. In his five years here he has played in the cricket team, been on the student leadership team, spoken at parents’ events and now represents the whole school community in the Enfield Youth Parliament. Predicted to get ten A* grades and with his A* in mathematics already secure, taken a year early, he now hopes to read Economics at Cambridge.
“This is truly a school for everyone. Whoever you are, you are treated as an individual. The level of challenge, support and adaptability to each person’s need is great. OAE is never a chore, always an enjoyable and engaging experience. This school has great resources and wonderful teachers and it has helped me a lot.”
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Mr Hines has been the Head of Mathematics since 2009 and leads a very popular and very successful department. Mr Hines read mathematics and science in the West Indies and the United States and completed his teacher training at the Institute of Education in London. He is exceptionally proud of his ‘maths family’ and the fantastic work they do with students at OAE.
“I have been teaching for nearly fifteen years and the people and the students here are very special. They appreciate when their teachers put in the extra effort, which we do, and respond phenomenally.”
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‘Students display a positive attitude to learning, reflected in a strong desire to learn. As a result, they respond well to the high expectations of their teachers.’ Ofsted 2015 At Oasis Academy Enfield we provide a broad and rigorous curriculum which enables all young people to make great progress and get great results. Each young person can experience and discover the subjects in which they will excel. At Key Stage Three, in years seven and eight, the National Curriculum is taught for English, mathematics and science with extra time being dedicated to reading and literacy. Your child will have a rich timetable with geography, history, modern foreign languages, technology, food, music, drama, PE and computing.
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Our flexible, ‘Period 6 Extended Day’, offers opportunities for younger students to take part in extra-curricular activities and further academic support. Older students also get highly focussed revision, coursework and examination preparation sessions. “Steps to Success”, our innovative educational philosophy ensures that all young people are prepared to be great learners so that they can be successful in school and in life.
Steps to Success So that I can become the very best version of me.
I have self discipline
I am an active and resilient learner
I have a dream and I know how to achieve it I have strength of character
I am academically competent
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‘Achievement is good.’ Ofsted 2015 We know young people do best when parents, children and teachers work together. That is why we will send you a progress report five times a year to keep you informed. In Year Seven there are two parents evenings, the first to meet your child’s learning family guide and the second to review academic progress.
We will help you to keep up to date with all the exciting events and stories at the Academy through our electronic newsletter, Facebook page, Twitter feed and website. The Principal holds regular coffee evenings where you can ask questions or make suggestions.
Your child’s Learning Family Guide and Head of Year are only ever a phone call or email away. We make very good use of technology to keep in touch with you, for example by using ‘My ED’ app which lets you communicate for free with the Academy and track your child’s timetable, achievements and attendance.
‘Students are proud of their school and come smartly dressed and ready to learn.’ Ofsted 2015
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Senem’s Story
Senem loves history and wants to study it at A Level and then read Law at university. As one of the most able in her year, she is in the Brilliant Club, through which she is completing a psychology project alongside a PhD student from the University of Cambridge. Senem has been an active member of the Student Council, a group that gives the students’ voice in how to run and improve the Academy. She has also been a very hard working and ambitious student in her chosen subjects. She is well on her way to securing top grades in all her GCSEs this year.
‘Teachers here really want to help you and are always willing to spend extra time with you. If I was talking to a new year seven I would advise them to do exactly what I did and take everything on offer! Working with the Brilliant Club has made me realise that I can, and want to go to Cambridge’.
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Ms Aston is in her second year of teaching history having completed her training at the Institute for Education. She is absolutely dedicated to students’ attainment and had recently established a history discussion club for students like Senem.
‘Teachers are just so excited about their subjects and that passion comes across in the way we teach. We have youngsters in the department every lunchtime just wanting to know more or discuss what they have learnt in class.’
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‘Students feel safe in school, and are confident in adults’ ability to deal with any concerns they raise.’ Ofsted 2015 Transition to secondary school can be scary – but not here. Long before the summer, our Year Seven Team will visit your child’s primary school and start to build relationships with your child and their teachers, so we know them well when they start. Transition is smoothly handled by a dedicated team which includes the school’s Mentoring Coordinator, so guidance and support on an individual basis is there from day one. Issues or concerns from primary school are swiftly dealt with. The Academy has a zero tolerance of bullying of any kind. Each student at the Academy belongs to a learning family and has a learning family guide who meets them every morning and will check they have what they need for the school day. The learning family guide will mentor, tutor and challenge your child throughout their studies. This learning guide will, in most cases, be with your child from Year Seven right through to Year Eleven and very strong and supportive bonds are built.
“We have to wear our uniform smartly and the school makes me feel safe. My head of year sorts out any problems.” Mert, class of 2019.
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Jamie’s Story Jamie has made a flying start here at OAE. Since joining us in September 2015 he has amassed an amazing 300 achievement points and not a single behaviour point. He loves his Mathematics, English and Drama lessons and is looking forward to auditioning for the school play next year. He is also excited about getting to year ten where he will be able to do his Duke of Edinburgh Award, building on what he loves to do after school in Scouts. So good is Jamie’s creative writing that he was recently entered into the Enfield Mayor’s Award for Writing. He says he looks forwards to his English lessons with Mr Donnelly because he makes the learning really enjoyable, even though they are studying a sad and serious story like ‘The Boy in Striped Pyjamas’.
“All the students here are really friendly, even with people they have never met before. This school is really welcoming and my friends and I love to sit and read and share lunch together in the agora. There are loads of people here who look out for me and I do really well in all my lessons.”
Mr Donnelly taught in his home county of Yorkshire before completing his teacher training with us here in OAE this year. He read Philosophy at York and is currently studying for a Masters in Literature. He is passionate about language and literature and his lessons are fast paced and fantastic fun.
“The vibrancy of this school is like nothing I have experienced before; there is such an atmosphere of mutual respect, built on the genuinely strong relationships students have with staff. This comes across in the passion and enjoyment the students have for their learning.”
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‘Students are proud of their school and come smartly dressed and ready to learn.’ Ofsted 2015 Traditional values like respect, discipline, and hard work are cherished here. Young people are guided and challenged to manage themselves and become mature and sociable adults, and at the centre of this is our shared ethos as part of the Oasis family.
We explicitly teach character and self-discipline and all Year 7 students are part of the famous PiXL Edge programme which develops Leadership, Organisation, Resilience, Initiative and Communication skills.
We are a vibrant and multi-cultural community in which diversity is celebrated and valued.
‘Students are courteous to adults and visitors and willingly give honest replies to questions asked of them.’ Ofsted 2015
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About our Academy Our ÂŁ30m inspirational building has state-of-the-art classroom facilities as well as specialist areas, which include a well-stocked library, fitness suite, recording studio, radio station, dance studio, ICT suites, a 3G AstroTurf pitch and a large sports hall. Toilets are clean and well maintained and our students take pride in, and care of, their surroundings. Sport is very important to us and teams compete in a wide variety of disciplines at school, borough, and national level. Our modern restaurant provides a wide range of healthy, hot and cold food at break time and lunch time. A breakfast club is available and a very popular option. The Academy day: 8:45 am
Line up in your learning families
08:50am to 09:50am
Period 1
09:50am to 10:50am
Period 2
10:50am to 11:10am
Break
11:10am to 12:10pm
Period 3
12:10pm to 1:10pm
Period 4
1:10pm to 1:50pm
Lunch
1:50pm to 2:50pm
Period 5
2:50pm to 3:10pm
Learning family time or assembly
3:10pm to 4:00pm
Period 6 enrichment or intervention sessions, clubs and societies
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Registration and late arrival It is essential that your child arrives promptly at the Academy. If, for any reason, your child is late, please escort them to the Academy reception office and inform the office staff of their arrival and the reason for their lateness. Sanctions, including after school ‘time outs’ (detentions), are given for lateness. Persistent lateness can result in fines being issued to parents and carers.
Attendance Maximum attendance is essential to ensure academic success. If your child is too unwell to come to school, you must telephone and explain the absence. A note will be required by your child’s learning family guide after the illness. Because attendance is so important, the Academy actively challenges repeated or persistent absence including the use of fines and court proceedings. The law is clear that parents/carers do not have the right to take their child out of the Academy during term time. In exceptional circumstances the Principal may authorise a short period of absence. However, the criteria for allowing such absences are clearly defined and independent written evidence must be produced by the parent/carer regardless of the exceptional circumstances. On considering a request for leave of absence the Principal will take the child’s previous attendance figures into account. If a child becomes ill during the Academy day we have caring and highly qualified medical staff. The typical headaches, bumps and bruises of an active student can be swiftly dealt with without too much lost learning. If needed, we will need to ask you to collect your child and take them home, or to your GP. Please ensure that we have your up-to-date contact details for such circumstances. Children leaving the Academy other than at official times, i.e. for a dental appointment, must be signed out at the main office.
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Contact with Parents/Carers Children achieve more when both home and the Academy work together. To this end, the Academy aims to work in close partnership with parents/carers. You are welcome to raise any questions or concerns that arise with staff. Teaching staff can be consulted at the end of the day when they escort children to the playground or by appointment. The Principal, one of the Deputy Principals or the Assistant Principal is normally available at the start of the Academy day, to clarify information or respond to any issues. This is a very busy time for class teachers so unfortunately they will be unable to respond to concerns at this time. If you have any concerns at any time during the academic year please contact your child’s teacher by letter or through the office to arrange an appointment at a mutually convenient time, so that you will be free from interruption. We will also contact you if we have any concerns about your child. Each term teachers send home a curriculum overview that gives details of the range of skills their children will be learning. Learning targets are also sent home on five occasions during the year.
Uniform and equipment Children are expected to wear full Academy uniform every day. Students who arrive at school in the morning with incorrect uniform may be sent home to correct their uniform and a late sanction may follow. The Academy may also issue your child with a correct uniform item for the day. The Academy is conscious of some parents’ financial needs and individual circumstances can be helped through a hardship fund.
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Uniform must be worn correctly at all times whilst in school and travelling to and from school.
All students need to have a bag large enough to fit several A4 sized workbooks and textbooks.
For girls and boys: Black blazer with Academy badge Black v-neck Academy pullover White, long sleeve collared shirt Academy tie Black tailored (not skinny) trousers, or girls may wear a knee length or longer skirt Sturdy, black leather shoes (not sports brands)
All students must have a pencil case containing 2 black pens, one red pen, pencils, an eraser, a ruler, a protractor, a calculator, a glue stick, a highlighter and a pocket dictionary/ thesaurus.
Sports kit: Academy polo shirt, Academy shorts, Proper sports socks Trainers
A plain coat may be worn to or from school. Hoodies are not permitted. Hats are not to be worn. Students may wear a black or dark blue hijab or headscarf for religious observance.
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Jewellery Jewellery is not permitted, except for children with pierced ears, who may wear plain studs. Earrings must be removed for PE lessons. Students are encouraged to wear a watch.
Personal Property Items of personal property should not be brought into the Academy unless there is a special reason and authorisation has been given by the class teacher. If older children require mobile phones for safety reasons when making their own way home, they should be handed into the main office on arrival. The Academy accepts no liability for the loss of personal possessions. All belongings, including all items of Academy uniform should be clearly labelled.
Staying in Touch Follow us on Twitter @OasisEnfield Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ OasisAcademyEnfieldOfficial
Subscribe to our newsletter on our website at www.oasisacademyenfield.org
To sign up to My Ed, Go to your app store, search for My Ed and download the app.
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Our Commitment to Equality Equality and inclusion are at the heart of Oasis. We have a passion to include everyone and a deep desire to treat everyone equally. We accept others for who they are and respect differences. Our aim is to provide an excellent education for all our students. Our way of doing this is to work hard to improve students’ attainment and the standards of teaching and learning continually. At the same time, we also aim to meet the needs of the whole person and the whole community because we understand that the whole of life is education and that everyone who is part of a student’s life affects that student’s understanding of life and, therefore, his or her education. In this sense, every person matters.
provisions for the delivery of education and a requirement for public bodies to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relationships between different groups. Against the background of the UK’s increasingly diverse communities, Oasis recognises that this Act plays a major role in recognising the UK’s historic commitment to tolerance. The Equality Act 2010 is, therefore, an important and significant piece of legislation for Oasis because its key provisions underpin the aim of Oasis itself: an equal and inclusive society in which difference is understood and respected. This Academy is committed to meeting its obligations within the law and being a good expression of Oasis’ own commitment to equality.
The Equality Act 2010 gathers together various different pieces of equality legislation which have been developed over a number of recent years. It sets out some key equality
Special Educational Needs We aim to meet the needs of all individuals within our Academy. Occasionally some children experience greater difficulties in aspects of their learning than others. These children are offered extra support within their class. They may be identified as having Special Educational Needs. In line with the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice these children are placed on the Academy’s SEN register. Their progress is closely monitored and reviewed at regular intervals. Individual Education Plans may be written for children with Special Educational Needs and are reviewed with parents/carers at Parents/carers’ Evenings or by arrangement. If necessary the Academy is able to access many support agencies in order to help meet their needs.
Availability of Documentation Parents/carers should note that the Academy has a great deal of documentation. Essential policies and information are available by request from the main office or through the Academy’s website: www.oasisacademyenfield.org
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A word from the Founder When I started Oasis, back in 1985, I had no idea it would grow into the wonderful family of charities that it has become today. We have not only become the country’s second largest provider of academy schools, educating around 25,000 children and young people, we also provide housing for vulnerable young people, and run everything from community farms to coffee houses and churches to children’s centres, and much more besides, in communities from Gateshead in the North East to Bristol in the South West. So, the question is…why? Not only do we believe your child should receive the very best formal education, but also that there is more to a healthy life and future than simply the knowledge they hold. Every one of us is a product of the community we live in. That’s why Oasis is passionate that every community one of our academies is part of should be a happy, healthy place where every person is included, valued, and is able to achieve their full God given potential and thrive. That’s why Oasis’ vision not only aims to deliver outstanding education, but also to help build great local neighbourhoods.
Steve Chalke MBE Oasis Founder
We’re motivated by our core Christian ethos which means that we believe every person – those of all faiths or none – are equally valuable and have a part to contribute in helping this vision become a reality. Helping a young person realise who they are meant to be is about more than simply the qualifications they get or the job they want; it’s about how they see themselves and those around them. That’s why Oasis goal to play its part in helping to create great communities where every young person achieves their best, respects themselves, values those around them and contributes to the good of all. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to an Oasis Academy in order to experience this for yourself.
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unity m Comearning L Principal: Neil Hassell BEng (Hons) NPQH FRSA
If you wish to know more about Oasis Community Learning part of the Oasis group of charities, please contact:
Oasis Academy Enfield Kinetic Crescent Innova Park Enfield EN3 7XH
The Oasis Centre 75 Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7HS www.oasiscommunitylearning.org
Telephone: 01992 655 400 Registered number: 5398529. www.oasisacademyenfield.org Keep up to date: Follow us on Twitter @OasisEnfield Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ OasisAcademyEnfieldOfficial
Download My Ed www.myschooldapp.com
Subscribe to our newsletter on our website at www.oasisacademyenfield.org We are proud to be associated with:
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Oasis Academy Enfield Kinetic Crescent, Innova Park, Enfield EN3 7XH www.oasisacademyenfield.org www.oasiscommunitylearning.org