Oasis Academy Hobmoor celebrates with a national accreditation award

A primary school in the heart of Yardley, Birmingham has been recognised with a national accreditation for their work in providing high quality provision for more able learners.

The National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) has named Oasis Academy Hobmoor the 458th school to be accredited with the NACE Challenge Award. The award is given in recognition of school-wide commitment to high-quality provision for more able learners, within the context of challenge for all.

Darren King, Principal at Oasis Academy Hobmoor, commented on the recognition saying; “We are exceptionally proud to have been awarded with the NACE Challenge accreditation, It highlights the dedication of my amazing team of staff, who I would like to sincerely thank for their dedication and commitment, particularly over the last 12 months during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

The award is based on the NACE Challenge Framework, which sets out criteria for high-quality provision for more able learners within a wider ethos of challenge for all. The framework is available as part of the NACE Challenge Development Programme – a suite of resources developed by NACE to help schools evaluate and improve their provision for more able learners.

Sue Riley, NACE CEO, commented saying; “Oasis Academy Hobmoor has worked hard to attain reaccreditation through the NACE Challenge Award. It has shown itself to be committed to developing an environment in which all learners are challenged and supported to be the best they can be.”

“The award is presented in recognition of whole-school commitment to and achievement in providing effective challenge and support for all – spanning school leadership, curriculum, teaching and learning, processes for identification and tracking, extracurricular opportunities, strong communication and partnerships, and ongoing evaluation.”

Within the report, NACE’s assessor wrote, “Oasis Hobmoor is an exceptional school that provides a vibrant and exciting curriculum that promotes active learning and builds cultural capital through the wide range of learning experiences both within and beyond the school day and the confines of the school itself. The school has used the Challenge Award as a key driver for change and has shown strong evidence of meeting the expectations in all elements, embedding provision for MA pupils in all documentation and keeping their needs to the forefront in all their strategic planning.”

Improving provision for the more able remains a priority for many schools and has been highlighted by Ofsted and the DfE as a key focus. The experience and evidence gathered by Challenge Award-accredited schools also shows that effective strategies to improve provision for the more able are likely to have a positive impact on the achievement of a much wider group of learners.

To attain the Challenge Award, schools must complete a detailed self-evaluation using the NACE Challenge Framework, submit a portfolio of supporting evidence, and undertake assessment by a NACE associate. The assessment process includes examination of school data and key documents; lesson observations; and interviews with school leaders, learners, parents and governors.

Oasis Academy Hobmoor now joins the international community of Challenge Award-accredited schools which have demonstrated a sustained and effective commitment to meeting the needs of more able learners, and an interest in sharing expertise for the wider benefit of the education community.