Oasis Academy Oldham Prospectus
A Message from our CEO 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 Oldham. 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 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. 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. 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.
“We passionately embrace learning and are committed to every child within our care reaching their full potential”
John Murphy Chief Executive Officer, Oasis Community Learning 2
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Welcome from our Principal I am exceptionally proud to welcome you to Oasis Academy Oldham. Our mission is simple: achieving excellence for all. At Oasis Academy Oldham, not only will we build on our strong GCSE results to help your child get the best possible qualifications, but we also support them to develop their passions, talents and interests. We offer, an extensive extra-curricular programme where our students can try everything from floristry to archery. Our school drama performances stand shoulder-toshoulder with the very best. Students excel on the sports field and I am continually impressed by the active role that our young people take in shaping and enhancing our wider community. Oasis Academy Oldham is a cheerful, friendly place in which everyone can feel at home and give their best. We insist on the highest standards of good behaviour and foster a climate of mutual respect; our students take responsibility for themselves and for others. Our excellent pastoral care (including specialist services) ensures our students are safe and well-supported. It is our firm belief that if our students feels safe, healthy and happy at school then they will take full advantage of the excellent teaching and learning on offer. To support this every student is assigned a House, each of which has a group of highly skilled tutors led by a Head of House.
This “school within a school” ensures that no child goes unnoticed, each and every student is closely monitored and cared for. That sense of community goes beyond the school gate. Through our Community Hub we ensure that parents, carers and local families are also able to benefit from all that we offer. Through a dedicated team we offer a range of outreach work, including a Community Farm and a Memorial Garden to help our staff and students remember people our wider community has lost. We have also created a community kitchen and run a financial inclusion project. That is why I am so proud to be the Principal of this Academy. All the staff take great satisfaction in raising the achievement and aspiration of our students – it is our privilege to work with such wonderful young people. I look forward to meeting you!
“It is our firm belief that if your child feels safe, healthy and happy at school then they will be able to take full advantage of the excellent teaching and learning on offer.”
Dominique Gobbi Principal, Oasis Academy Oldham 4
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About our Academy We are a diverse, co-educational academy that takes students from across Oldham and Manchester. We have around 1,500 students learning with us, and a strong team of dedicated and experienced teachers who help our young people excel and achieve. Our multi-million pound inspirational building has state-of-the-art classroom facilities as well as specialist areas, including fitness and dance studios, ICT suites and some of the best sport facilities in the area. Everything we do as an Academy is about “achieving excellence for all”. Our goal is to provide excellent opportunities in an honest, respectful, positive and
purposeful climate, supporting our students to become lifelong learners and responsible, well rounded citizens. Through our exciting enrichment programme, a strong focus on pastoral care and a firm belief in the power of community, we are realising our goals.
We strive for excellence in all, regardless of age, ability, gender, ethnic origin, personal circumstances, background or need. We aim to: • Provide high quality teaching and promote a positive approach to learning • Ensure learning experiences engage, challenge and develop all students • Ensure high expectations of all and treat others as we expect to be treated ourselves • Enable all students to make exceptional progress, raise their levels of attainment and achieve success in their qualifications • Provide a wealth of remarkable, enriching opportunities for all, to develop their potential and equip them with vital life skills and experiences • Develop our Academy as a hub of community activity, ensuring all our families benefit from the world class facilities before and after the school day
The aims are supported by the following objectives: • To provide an appropriate, relevant and balanced curriculum that enables the spiritual, cultural, moral and personal development of all learners to prepare them for lifelong learning • To support all students and staff in a safe, happy, secure and structured working environment • To enable all young people to become independent, confident and highly skilled learners • To ensure all students develop a sense of honesty, fairness, personal responsibility, self-esteem, selfdiscipline and respect for others. • To achieve high quality standards and excellence in all areas of the academy • To regularly recognise, acknowledge and celebrate the excellence and achievements of all • To develop effective links with partner primary schools, partner secondary schools, colleges of further education, universities, local, national and international organisations to enhance educational opportunities for all
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The Oasis Education Charter
Vision and Values Our vision is to ensure all students are equipped with the skills, abilities and qualifications to pursue a fulfilling career and become responsible, respectful, global citizens.
Ethos + Learning + People + Rooted in what we believe
Who am I? Who am I becoming?
Exceptional strength and opportunity
Purpose + Inclusion + Curriculum In partnership with our communities
Driven through passion
The heart of educational provision
Our values are RESPECT, BELIEVE, INSPIRE, RESPONSIBILITY, CARE and RESILIENCE.
Oasis 9 Habits
These values underpin our actions and thoughts, and are the basis of ensuring every student enjoys their time at the academy.
As part of the Oasis family, we are committed to developing a deeper understanding of what it means to become the best version of ourselves. We recognise that our characters and our behaviours are key to this, as is being able to ask and respond to profound questions about life and purpose. We also acknowledge the importance of the need for a high level of selfawareness as we each engage in the journey of personal development and transformation. To help us with this, we have developed the Oasis 9 Habits – the bespoke Oasis approach to personal development and formation. The 9 Habits are an invitation to live a different way – a way characterised by being Compassionate, Humble, Patient, Honest, Joyful, Considerate, Hopeful, Forgiving and Self-controlled.
RESPECT We will value and show appreciation for each other and our environment.
BELIEVE We will develop in confidence, believe we are capable of achieving our goals and make a positive difference to our lives and the lives of others.
INSPIRE We will inspire students to exceed expectations and inspire each other.
RESPONSIBILITY We are responsible for ourselves and each other. Together we are responsible for becoming the citizens of tomorrow.
CARE We will look after and care for ourselves and each other by showing kindness, valuing diversity and resolving our differences fairly.
RESILIENCE We will be able to overcome difficulties and problems. We will not let things set us back from achieving our goals.
Exceptional Education at the Heart of the Community 8
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Our Curriculum Our curriculum has been designed to enable our pupils to develop a broad range of knowledge and skills to enable them to be successful at Oasis Academy Oldham, and in their futures.The decision to organise the timetable over a two-week cycle has been taken after careful consideration and consultation in order to ensure all students get the opportunity to study a broad, balanced and compelling curriculum. There will be a Week A and a Week B. As a result of the new timetable structure more time has been afforded to English, Maths, Science, Geography, History and Modern Foreign Languages while still being able to offer a broad range of creative and vocational qualifications.
What will this mean for your child? Students will need to remember: • Lessons may fall on different days during week A and B • Books and PE kit may need to be brought in on different days of the week • Students will have more time for some subjects
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Our Extended Cultural Offer The Extended Cultural Offer has been designed and put in place alongside more academic subjects, such as English and Maths to provide students with a variety of skills and experiences that will support them in later years.
Sports Participator; Creative Master and Careers Prep. As a family at Oasis, we believe that these areas will support the students to develop into well-rounded people, making valuable contributions to society.
The Extended Cultural Offer gives our students opportunities to take part in a range of activities led by both Oasis staff and professionals from outside the Academy.
All Year 7 students have the Extended Cultural Offer for one hour a week as part of their timetable. They stay on each unit of work for a full term experiencing three different aspects of the Extended Cultural Offer from the five headings.
External providers include; local businesses, the ‘Outstanding’ Oldham Music Service, Debate Mate and Manchester Universities Confucius Centre. The activities that have been put into place come under the five headings; Global Citizen; Community Volunteer; 12
Sports participator activities are available at the academy each evening, as well as volunteering opportunities in partnership with the Oasis Hub team.
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Outstanding Opportunities At our Academy we have excellent facilities in a building designed for 21st century education. The centrepiece of our Academy is the Agora, a market place where students’ work and achievements are showcased. The Academy also has many eco-friendly features. We are an ICT-rich environment with easy access to the Academy network, both in and out of school. Parents and carers will be able to access information on their child’s attainment, progress and attendance at any time. We have excellent links with other Oasis Academies, developing as more Oasis Academies come on stream. We also have excellent links with other Oasis Hubs from around the world, providing a rounded educational experience.
The fitness suite, sports hall and multi-use games area (MUGA) provide excellent facilities. We will also access off-site facilities for other sports such as sailing and rock climbing. The catering facilities are first-class both for students to use and for students to learn. We are developing expertise in hospitality and catering and will encourage business development in these areas. Arts and Technology are well supported with indoor and outdoor performance spaces, engineering workshops and high specification design equipment.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
The Academy Day 8.15am:
All students to be on site
8.25am:
All students to attend Line up
8.30am – 8.45am: Progress time 8.45am – 9.45am: Lesson one 9.45am – 10.45am: Lesson two 10.45am – 11am: Break 11am – 12pm:
Lesson three
12pm – 1pm:
Lesson four
1pm – 1.30pm:
Lunch one/progress time
1.30pm – 2pm:
Lunch two/progress time
2pm – 3pm:
Lesson five
3pm – 4pm:
Extra-curricular activities
Attendance & Punctuality Attendance and punctuality is incredibly important as it impacts significantly on results and outcomes. We endeavour to work with our families to ensure outstanding attendance. Please note, we cannot authorise holidays in term time, and we ask parents and carers to make any appointments outside of school hours to lessen the impact on your child’s attendance. 5 minutes late each day
10 minutes late each day = 6.5 days lost 15 minutes late each day = 10 days lost 20 minutes late each day = 13 days lost 30 minutes late each day = 19 days lost Poor punctuality
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= 3 days lost
= lost learning and can affect your attendance percentage. 15
Our Uniform Our high standard of uniform sets the tone for all our other expectations to ensure your child is successful.
Your child is required to wear:
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Academy blazer with Academy badge
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White school shirt (short sleeved shirts are acceptable)
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Academy tie, worn with the ‘O’ beneath the knot
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Black polishable shoes, no pumps or trainers
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School bag
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Black tailored trousers or knee length skirt, no skinny trousers are permitted
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Plain black socks or tights
How to Apply Students may wear: •
Academy black V-neck jumper
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Plain outdoor coat
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Plain black or navy blue religious head covering
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If long hair is tied back it must be done so by using a plain bobble. No hair bands are permitted.
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One small pair of earrings, studs or sleepers, one earring in each ear. No other jewellery is allowed.
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No electronic equipment is permitted; this includes mobile phones and headphones. Such items, if seen, will be confiscated and only returned if a parent attends the Academy between the hours of 3.30pm and 4pm.
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No extreme haircuts and hair may only be dyed natural colours
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No nail varnish or false nails are permitted to be worn
Oasis Academy Oldham is a non-selective academy open to all students of all religious faiths and those of no faith.
If you are seeking a place in any other year group, or for a Year 7 place other than in September, you must contact the Local Authority directly.
If you are a parent or carer of a child currently in Year 6 and wish to apply for a year 7 place at Oasis Academy Oldham for the following September, you will need to complete the Common Application Form and return it to the admissions section of Oldham Council’s website.
Students admitted to the academy are allocated places in accordance with Oasis Academy Oldham’s Admissions Policy. For further information on this please visit our website or give us a call.
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A Message from our 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. In Oasis Community Learning, we are the country’s second largest provider of Academy schools, educating around 25,000 children and young people. Through Oasis Aquila Housing, we provide housing for vulnerable young people. With Oasis Community Partnerships we run social projects – from community farms and coffee houses to churches and children’s centres – and much more besides. And we do this in communities as diverse as 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 in which we live. That is why Oasis is passionate that every community served by one of our Academies should be a happy, healthy place where every person is included and valued, and has the ability to thrive and achieve their full, God-given potential. That is why Oasis’ vision not only aims to deliver outstanding education, but also to help build great local neighbourhoods.
We are 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 is to help 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.
unity m Comearning L
Steve Chalke, MBE Founder, Oasis If you have a query regarding Oasis Academy Oldham please contact: Oasis Academy Oldham Hollins Road, Hollinwood, Oldham, OL8 4JZ t: 0161 624 9630 www.oasisacademyoldham.org @oldhamoasis
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If you wish to know more about Oasis Community Learning – part of the Oasis group of charities – please contact: The Oasis Centre, 75 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7HS www.oasiscommunitylearning.org @OasisAcademies
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Oasis Academy Oldham Hollins Road, Hollinwood, Oldham, OL8 4JZ  @oldhamoasis www.oasisacademyoldham.org