Prospectus
EXCELLENCE • INNOVATION • RESPECT
Pupils flourish because of extensive and carefully planned opportunities that nurture their self-awareness and strengthen their understanding of the world they live in OFSTED
to Oakgrove School Welcome
We are an all-through academy offering rich and diverse opportunities. Amongst prospective parents we are one of the most popular schools in the region, building on our reputation of excellent academic progress, outcomes and pastoral care.
Our philosophy of education is simple. We believe that children are at their best when they know where they stand, are fully involved in their learning and when those around them expect high standards. We believe that, by engaging children with a challenging curriculum, quality first teaching and varied lessons, they can make the most of their talents.
Our aim is to ensure that all children reach their full potential and that this progress is marked by the highest possible standards in public examinations.
Oakgrove is a happy, caring and disciplined school, where each child feels safe, secure and confident. It is a school where children know that through hard work, involvement in extra-curricular activities and respect for others, they can develop into well rounded and successful citizens.
Ian Tett Executive Headteacher
Inspiration & Innovation Creativity
Oakgrove is full of vibrancy, energy and drive. A combination of the modern and traditional ensures that Oakgrove is second to none and students can be assured that they will receive the highest quality of teaching, with the right level of support and challenge.
The student curriculum includes an innovative Life Studies course, which incorporates the latest theories on how we learn, encourages the awareness of local issues and prepares students for life in modern Britain.
The school’s outstanding careers provision, tailored to the GATSBY benchmarks, ensures that all students are prepared for the next steps in their education.
Excellence & Achievement Learning
Oakgrove’s carefully sequenced all-through curriculum provides a tremendous range of opportunities for students across all key stages. Setting is used in the majority of subjects and all classes are taught by subject specialists. Excellence is valued and recognised in the teaching and learning within the academic curriculum, as well as in competitive sport, the extensive musical and artistic opportunities available and in the array of after-school clubs. Oakgrove celebrates this excellence in regular assemblies and in the school’s annual Awards Evening.
The school believes student achievement is at the centre of all that it does. The teaching and learning provision offers every student with the best, in terms of outcomes and future destinations.
The detailed student tracking systems and achievement monitoring system, Targets for Learning, have been described by Ofsted as ‘exemplary’. Alongside this, the Attitudes for Learning system is designed to reward students for meeting the school’s expectations. This links directly to the innovative stamp system, which gives parents and carers the opportunity to monitor their child’s progress.
Throughout the school, pupils attain highly OFSTED
Standards & Expectations Respect
Oakgrove is an ordered community, where students, staff and visitors treat each other with respect.
It is a school that believes in the traditional values of politeness, consideration and courtesy. Oakgrove places great importance on these values to promote outstanding behaviour.
Bullying is not tolerated, nor is disruption to lessons. Systems are in place to ensure that if a student is preventing others from learning, or preventing a teacher from conducting the lesson, staff will intervene, so that all can continue to learn and make progress.
Oakgrove expects students to be punctual to school and arrive ready to learn, with a positive attitude. They are expected to bring the right equipment, be attentive in class and work to the best of their ability. Those who achieve this are rewarded through the stamp system, which links to the dedicated parent/carer app.
Many students hold positions of responsibility, such as Learning Ambassadors, Student Voice Representatives and Library Ambassadors. These play an important and valued role within the school community.
All students wear their Oakgrove uniforms with pride; they are positive and are committed to the school.
Attendance and behaviour are excellent. Pupils demonstrate courtesy and respect, supported by effective school routines OFSTED
Opportunities & Success Teamwork
Oakgrove places great importance on students pursuing personal interests to further develop their skills outside of the academic curriculum.
There is an extensive range of extra-curricular activities on offer throughout the school year. These include everything from Bee Keeping Club to Computing Club, Chess Club to Language Club and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. For students interested in the performing arts, there are opportunities to use the school’s music and drama facilities, which are fully equipped with the latest technology. Expression, confidence and communication skills are just some of the competences that students build on when they participate in drama performances at Oakgrove, and in addition to peripatetic lessons, they can be a part of orchestras, choirs and other musical ensembles.
Physical Education at Oakgrove is taught inclusively, with an emphasis on both learning and enjoyment. Students participate in a range of different sports and predominantly in single sex groups. Emphasis is placed on them having the opportunity to be involved and develop their skills in an array of sporting after school clubs, including athletics; badminton; netball; rugby; football; basketball; cross country and trampolining. They can also compete in regular fixtures and tournaments with other schools in Milton Keynes, as well as in County Championships. One of the main aims of Physical Education at Oakgrove is to enable students to develop an enjoyment of sporting activity that supports lifelong participation.
Enjoyment of activities is paramount and, although students are encouraged to learn through healthy competition, the principles of ‘fair play’ and sportsmanship are always observed.
& Foundation Nursery
Nursery and Foundation are superbly equipped with purpose-built facilities, including an imaginative and interactive outdoor sensory learning environment.
The school ensures that each child’s time is full of fun and exciting experiences, with all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage covered: Literacy; Mathematics; Communication and Language; Physical Development; Personal; Social and Emotional Development; Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. All teachers in the specialist Nursery are Early Years qualified.
Learning and understanding is enhanced through stories, songs and role play, with social interaction central to everything the school does.
Children are prepared well for their future learning by their experience in the early years OFSTED
Primary
Primary education at Oakgrove is creative, innovative and challenging. The school ensures each child masters the basics and offers a rich and diverse curriculum, that is both rigorous and fun.
Work in the classroom is supplemented with a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The unique all-through status ensures children are well prepared for the transition to secondary school with secondary subject trained staff teaching some of the lessons. As an all-through provider, the school has access to a much greater range of facilities, expertise, resources and subjects than a conventional primary school. Staff utilise these to the maximum, ensuring the children have an exceptional experience that is second to none.
Oakgrove provides a safe, secure and stimulating environment where creativity, imagination and independence are fostered. The aim is to ensure each child has their own talents and skills and that these are developed and nurtured fully. A wide range of musical, dramatic, artistic and sporting activities are on offer, many in conjunction with the secondary school.
Sixth Form
Oakgrove’s purpose built Sixth Form Centre includes a spacious common room, café and large private study area. Students can look forward to a unique and personalised learning experience in contemporary surroundings, with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Teaching groups are smaller than in the lower school and dedicated sixth form mentors recognise and assist with each individual student’s needs.
Although the Sixth Form is academic in structure, it also offers students the opportunity to pursue a vocational curriculum and develop invaluable life skills. This enables students to leave the Sixth Form as well-rounded individuals.
Careers advice and university guidance forms a fundamental part of the Sixth Form package, which the school believes offers everything a student will need for applications to university, or if they decide to pursue an apprenticeship or employment.
Oakgrove students aspire to succeed both academically and as individuals. Benefiting from exceptional standards of teaching and, with the encouragement they are given to work effectively in the wider community, they leave the Sixth Form with a portfolio of transferable skills.
High proportions of students gain qualifications that enable them to move on to university or high-quality apprenticeship providers that meet their ambitious career aspirations
OFSTED
OAKGROVE PRIMARY
Oakgrove Primary & Nursery School
Atlas Way, Oakgrove, Milton Keynes, MK10 9SG
Tel: 01908 545300
www.oakgrove.school
OAKGROVE SECONDARY
Oakgrove Secondary School
Venturer Gate, Middleton, Milton Keynes, MK10 9JQ
Tel: 01908 545300