Oasis Academy Boulton’s Pride

We are delighted to share that we recently hosted children’s author Olly Pike from ‘Pop’n’Olly,’ an organisation that produces LGBTQ+ content for primary schools and primary-aged children.

In the lead-up to this year’s Pride celebrations, we decided to mark the occasion with a vibrant and inclusive programme of activities designed to educate, inspire, and bring our academy community together.

Staff professional development was led by class teacher Mr/Ms Ozen (they/them), who delivered a session focused on the importance of championing inclusion in a primary setting. This was followed by a whole-school assembly led by Assistant Principal, Ms Sultana, based on materials created by Shannon Black for the Oasis LGBT+ network, which highlighted the importance of celebrating differences and building an inclusive community.

All of our pupils took part in a wide range of engaging activities. Children were encouraged to dress in colourful clothing and reflect on what makes them unique and proud. Classroom sessions included creating Pride flags, decorating rocks for a new Pride eco-garden and researching influential LGBTQ+ figures from history, including Olympians, musicians, astronauts, and spies.

In the afternoon, we welcomed guest author and performer Olly Pike, who delivered an interactive storytelling and dance experience for EYFS, followed by talks and a Q&A session with KS1 and KS2 pupils. Olly shared his personal journey across careers in television, theatre, and online platforms before becoming an author, and introduced his book ‘Have You Ever Seen a ‘Normal’?’, reinforcing the message that there is no single definition of “normal.”

The event concluded with a book sale that saw strong support from our wonderful families, highlighting our community’s enthusiasm and engagement. The day was a significant success and marked a growing tradition of celebrating Pride within the academy, with plans already in place to expand the event next year.

Ms Özen, Class Teacher and event organiser, said:

“The event was fantastic! It was incredibly rewarding to see both staff and students fully embrace the opportunity to learn about inclusion and celebrate diversity together. Watching the children and parents engage so positively and confidently in these activities was truly inspiring.”

This is just one of many examples of how Oasis Academy Boulton provides their students with opportunities to grow, develop their passions and remain proud of who they are and what they can do for their community.

Principal of Oasis Academy Boulton, Ms Sandhu, said:

"We are incredibly proud of the inclusive and creative way our school community came together to celebrate Pride. This reflects our academy’s values of inclusion, respect, and community, and shows exactly how our students and staff continue to thrive together."

We look forward to building on this success and invite our community to participate in next year’s Pride celebrations, which promise to be even bigger and better.