Oasis Academies Shine As Nation's Happiest Schools

At Oasis we know that if we’re to truly enhance young people’s lives with an exceptional education, their happiness must sit at the heart of that work. We are incredibly proud of Oasis’ 54 academies. Remarkable people who remain dedicated in supporting our young people to feel valued as they receive a truly inclusive, purposeful and relational education. 

This pride has continued to grow with the news that five Oasis academies have been highlighted as some of the nation’s happiest secondary schools, as reported in The Sunday Times. 

Analysis developed from five years of Ofsted Parent View survey data (between 2020-25) saw parents of students at Oasis Academies, Shirley Park, Coulsdon, Mayfield, Sholing and Brislington highly rank their children’s happiness.  

The survey, which asked 100 parents of secondary schools with at least 500 students, saw many parents of Oasis Academies students, agree or strongly agree that their children were happy at their school.  

Ranking the highest out of Oasis academies was Oasis Academy Brislington, with an incredible 95% of parents claiming that their children were happy at the school.  

Sharing his joy on this prestigious proof of dedication and commitment, Barnaby Ash, Principal of Oasis Academy Brislington said, "We are incredibly proud to have been recognised as one of the happiest schools for pupils in England and Wales. This is a great testament to the amazing attitude of our students towards their education, supported by the hard work of our passionate staff team, who are committed to creating a happy and secure culture for our young people at Oasis Brislington. 

"The initiative that has arguably had the most positive impact on fostering emotional well-being and strong culture has been via The Brislington Way; our students are nurtured in a positive environment, therefore experiencing reduced stress and anxiety. They feel safe expressing themselves, which boosts self-confidence and resilience. 

Emphasising the importance of student voice in shaping the school's culture, Barnaby added: "We have a strong student voice strand whereby all students in each year group have the opportunity to join a student leadership pathway that helps to shape the culture of the Academy. All students can share feedback and add their voice to Academy development through a range of different means, both digitally and in-person. All students feel seen, valued, and supported."  

Croydon celebrated several schools making the happiest schools rankings, with Oasis Academy Shirley Park seeing 83% of parents confirm their children’s happiness at the school. Followed closely by Oasis academy Coulsdon, which came in close third amongst our academies, with four out of five (80%) parents claiming their child’s happiness with the school.  

Catrin Green, Principal of Oasis Academy Coulsdon, expressed her pride in the academy’s placement saying: "We are absolutely delighted to be recognised as one of the nation’s happiest schools. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both our staff and students.  

“At Oasis Academy Coulsdon, we believe in broadening the horizons of our young people, which is why we encourage opportunities such as trips abroad, visits from our local MP, and entering public speaking competitions. We also celebrated Culture Day, where students learned about and celebrated the diversity within our academy community. These experiences help our students build self-confidence, develop a deeper understanding of the world around them, and feel part of something larger than themselves. A happy, engaged student body doesn’t just contribute to school life, it enriches the whole community.” 

Also ranking well above half of the happiest schools on the list, Oasis Academy Sholing (65%) and Mayfield (64%) in Southampton were amongst the top 10 celebrated for their nurturing learning environment within their region. 

Join us in congratulating all five of the Oasis academies placed, who have been recognised for their outstanding commitment to student happiness. This remarkable achievement is a true testament to the dedication of staff and students across our thriving family of schools.