Over 70 Oasis student leaders drew inspiration from Westminster yesterday before helping draw up a slice of education policy for their own Academies and gearing up to speak to Government about their future.
After meeting their local MPs, a tour of the Houses of Parliament, bumping into Lord Alan Sugar in the lobby and watching the Leader of the House of Commons take his seat, students from 11 Oasis Academies met to contribute to a document that will set the agenda for how their education is shaped in the future and which will form a framework for discussion with Government.
The Oasis Student Leaders inaugural National Conference has been introduced to encourage leadership in young people by showing them that their own passions, concerns and convictions can be harnessed in such a way as to shape theirs and their peers’ futures.
The students, from Bristol, North East Lincolnshire, Southampton, Manchester, and London, met their local MPs at Westminster Central Hall after being led round the Houses of Parliament on tours provided for them by their host, Joan Ryan, Labour MP for Enfield North.
Joan Ryan, whose constituency includes Oasis Academy Enfield and Oasis Academy Hadley, said, “I applaud the vision of Oasis Community Learning in seeing the value of bringing together representatives from each of their Academies and giving them the chance to have their say. Ever since I became a Member of Parliament, I have been amazed by the numbers of people who want to get involved in their community and affect the decisions that impact on their lives - and that includes young people. Oasis Community Learning recognise this and their National Conference is a fantastic opportunity for young people from around the country, including in my constituency in Enfield, to have their say on a wide range of issues. I’m delighted to be able to support the conference and I pay tribute to Oasis Community Learning for putting together this exciting day.”
Andrew Pelling, MP for Croydon Central, said, “I am thrilled that students from two neighbouring Academies are joining with other Oasis students from across the country to attend a national conference in London. It is through events such as this, that young people will begin to change situations, not only in their own lives, but on a national and international stage. I fully support this event and hope all of the Oasis students return to their Academies keen to continue speaking out for others.”
Talking about their day visiting Westminster and contributing to the education debate, students from Oasis Academies said:
"It was good to meet our MPs and know they will listen to our ideas about how Academies and schools should be run." - Student, Oasis Academy Mayfield.
"It was great to listen to the views and ideas of other student leaders from other Academies across the country and how their ideas can help improve my education. It feels special being asked to come to Westminster to learn more about leading in our community at home." - Student, Oasis Academy Hadley.
“Everyone had different ideas and it’s good that we were listened to and that these ideas will help form a plan to help improve our Academies.” - Student, Oasis Academy Bristol.
CEO and Founder of Oasis Community Learning, Steve Chalke MBE, said, “We believe that our students have something very positive to contribute to the Oasis ethos, its outworking and its learning goals. To that end, we wanted to bring together delegates from each of our Academies to sit down and discuss, as a national student body, what matters to them, and on which areas of education they want to input. Gathering together like this will empower our students to bring their opinions to bear on a whole range of issues, from local to national. We are really excited about the introduction of this significant conference and who knows, in the future, some of our MPs may come from this body.”
Utilising feedback from the Oasis Student Leaders at the conference, Oasis Community Learning hope to publish the finalised Education document in early 2010.
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