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Oasis Academies in Dudley Oasis Academy in OldhamOasis Academy in NE Enfield Oasis Academy St James is to replace Castle High School and Visual Arts College.
Click on the links below to read more about:
The proposed Academy
Admissions
Specialism
Curriculum
FAQs
Full Consultation Booklet (opens as a new
window)
Further information about the second proposed Academy will be available soon.
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The proposed Oasis Academy is a new secondary school which would replace the current Castle High School and Visual Arts College. The Academy would open in September 2009 initially using the existing buildings at Castle High, and would be new/refurbished in September 2012.
This Academy would join the family of Oasis Academies across England, and would have close links with another proposed Oasis Academy in Dudley which would also open in September 2009.
The consultation on the viability of the new Academy closed on Friday 21st November. Oasis Community Learning, in conjunction with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, held meetings with a number of stakeholders, including existing parents/carers and prospective parents/carers, local residents, staff, governors, local Primary and Secondary School Heads and local voluntary and faith groups. Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council are still undertaking their Statutory School Closure Consultation and responses on this are due by December 23rd .
The Oasis Academy would accept students irrespective of faith or ability. Those with disabilities or special educational needs would also be welcome. Oasis’ ethos is based on an overarching theme of inclusion, of encouraging and enabling all to achieve their best whatever the challenges may be in doing so. All places at the Academy would be free and available to the local community within an admissions policy that mirrors the admissions arrangements for schools in the Dudley Borough. This Academy would offer six forms of entry (6FE) – it is proposed to have 900 students 11-16 and 250 students 16-19; 1,150 in total.
The specialism of the Academy, agreed with the Local Authority to fit in with provision across the Borough, would be English with Visual and Performing Arts.
The Oasis Academy would cover the National Curriculum and prepare students thoroughly for national tests and examinations at all levels.
An innovative feature would be the introduction of a competency-based curriculum along the lines of the Royal Society of Arts curriculum, Opening Minds This would start in Year 7, where students would have fewer teachers and spend more time learning in a ‘home base’ which would ease the transition from primary school. The curriculum focuses on the development of skills for adult and working life like how to learn independently, how to manage information, how to manage and work with people and how to be a good, active citizen.
To help prepare the curriculum for the 2009 opening Education Consultants have been appointed and have already met with the head teacher and the Senior Leadership Team. They will look in detail at the curriculum in the New Year.
Q: What are Academies?
A: Academies are all-ability schools serving local communities and working in partnership with the Local Authority, local business, other schools and other local stakeholders.
Q: How are Academies funded?
A: The DCSF meets the capital and running costs for an Academy in full, as a part of an overall strategy to raise standards beyond the improvements already made by the predecessor school. Once up and running Academies receive equivalent funding to other secondary schools in the same area.
Q: How would the Academy improve education for the students?
A: The Oasis Academy would build on the achievements of the predecessor school but becoming an Academy allows more opportunities for new ideas and improved facilities that would help to raise standards.
Q: How would students’ education be affected?
A: The transition to a new Academy would be planned carefully to ensure that all students continued to receive the highest quality of education without unnecessary disruption. We already have successful experience of doing this in our open Academies.
Q: What action is being taken regarding the curriculum in preparation for the 2009 opening?
A:
Education Consultants have been appointed and have already met with the head teacher and the Senior Leadership Team. They will look in detail at the curriculum in the New Year.
Q: Would the uniform change?
A: Yes. There would be a new uniform for the Academy if it opens in September 2009. We would work with the student council to plan the new uniform and consult students and parents/carers about our plans. Where items of uniform have to be replaced there would be financial help so parents/carers would not be out of pocket.
Q: What happens to the staff?
A: Regulations regarding TUPE rights apply to staff employed at schools facing closure.
Staff in place immediately prior to the opening of an Academy would have the right to transfer to new positions within the Academy under existing terms and conditions.
Q: When do we get Young People involved?
A: Young people will be involved in a range of ways. Over the next 12 months Oasis staff will be working with the predecessor schools putting activities together and making sure that student voice is effective in the development of the Academy. Examples of student involvement include taking part in photo shoot sessions to provide images and signage for the new Academy and attendance of Oasis staff at various Student Council meetings.
You can also email questions to Julie Aston, the Project Liaison Coordinator, at julie.aston@oasisuk.org
