Oasis Academy Short Heath celebrates 80th birthday

A school in the centre of Erdington is celebrating its 80th birthday as staff look ahead to the future.

The primary, now called Oasis Academy Short Heath and part of the Oasis Community Learning family of academies is an Ofsted graded ‘Good’ school, and was first opened on 5th February 1940. The Headmaster at the time was called Mr Ronald Hugh Trown and the school was originally called Turpits Lane Junior and Infant school.

The grounds of the school contain memories of when the school first opened its doors to the local community in February 1940 as a reminder of its history.

When the school opened on the first day, according to the school log it was “inclement weather” and had just 17 pupils through its doors. By the end of the first week that quickly changed and the number of learners on role went up to 221.

Air raid evacuations were a regular part of a school day for staff and children.

To mark the celebratory occasion Oasis Academy Short Heath compiled a video of the digits 80 with Oasis spelt out by all pupils and staff.

Michelle Lee, Principal of Oasis Academy Short Heath, commented on the birthday, saying; “During the day, pupils learnt about the history of the school and what life was like in 1940. We celebrated providing 80 years of education to the local community with an aerial video of the digits 80 with Oasis spelt out by all pupils and staff.”

During the afternoon of the school’s 80th birthday the children celebrated with parties in their classroom and each child and teacher had a special cupcake made by Sodexo with ‘80th Birthday Short Heath’ on the top of each cake.