Parent info booklet

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Welcome from George Franks, Executive Principal I am delighted to welcome you to the new Oasis Academy Marksbury Road.

The primary academy will open in September 2014 in temporary accommodation and move to a brand new building with a play area on Marksbury Road in January 2015. The academy will serve the local communities and offer provision for 60 reception places. The academy will then grow each year until it is full, with a total of 420 children.

Oasis’ vision is to create a new academy based on the belief that all pupils, regardless of background or ability, should be able to fulfil their potential as they develop aspirations, self-belief, justice and respect for their community and one another.

It is through a sincere and dedicated approach to partnership working that we will achieve this goal together. By working closely with families, the local community, faith groups and other providers we will ensure that this vision is achieved. The academy will join Oasis Academy John Williams, Oasis Academy New Oak and Oasis Academy Connaught in the South Bristol Hub which already offers holiday clubs, coffee shops, after school activities and other clubs that benefit the children that attend the academies, their families, and the communities in which they are situated.

Rebecca Clarke, Regional Academies Director said,

“George Franks is an experienced and passionate school leader and Oasis Academy Marksbury Road will be her third headship. Under Ms Frank’s headship, Oasis Academy New Oak secured 91% Level 4+ in Reading, Writing and Maths, positioning the academy in the top 20 highest achieving schools in Bristol in 2013.”

The Vision Oasis Academy Marksbury Road will be a happy place where learning is fun and exciting. We want every individual child to sparkle and shine in all that they do. Their enthusiasm and joy in discovering new things will become infectious across our learning community and beyond.

Our curriculum will be rich and vibrant, taught through cross curricular themes and projects whilst providing a full range of academic and creative skills. Our children will be prepared for a lifetime of learning where everyone’s contribution is genuinely treasured and valued.

Our team will be passionate about achieving the very best for every child.

A commitment to being an outstanding school with inspirational teaching and learning is our aim. All of our families and our community will be part of celebrating each moment of our journey; together we will feel proud of all that is achieved.

• Because every great artist started with finger painting • Because sometimes the best learning comes from jumping in puddles • Because every child should aim for the stars • Because every child is as unique as their fingerprint • Because you are the expert on your child

The Academies Annual Report 2011 notes Oasis “to have made the highest level of improvement than any other academy chain”.

Our New Academy and Location Oasis Community Learning is delighted to have been pre-approved by the DfE to open a brand new primary academy in partnership with Bristol City Council in the Bristol area.

School place planning projections for the Bristol area show that there is a need for a new primary school. Our aim is to build on the expertise of our current family of primary schools to create a new academy which will both meet this need for primary school places and offer families a new, outstanding primary school for their children.

Whilst the new building is completed for occupation in January 2014, the academy will open on the grounds of Oasis Academy Connaught in September 2014. These existing buildings will be specially adapted for the pupils during this interim period. The proposed location for the new academy building is on the site of the former College buildings on Marksbury Road.

Oasis will develop a community ‘Hub’ around the new academy as part of the South Bristol Hub and in partnership with local statutory, community and voluntary organisations. Oasis Hubs are centres of activity that provide integrated, high quality and diverse services to benefit the whole person and the whole community. We are keen to develop relationships with local stakeholders in delivering services to the community. As part of our consultation meetings we would love to hear any ideas you may have so that we can enhance the life of the academy.

“W e to a will e n chi eve coura g the ir v e our ery l bes earne rs t.”

The Curriculum At Oasis Academy Marksbury Road there will be an exciting and cohesive curriculum that follows whole school themes and strands. These will be chosen to reflect the key values that are important for the children to explore and learn for their future.

This will be achieved through first-hand and practical experiences drawing on pupils’ interests and ideas. Where possible, the children will be asked to design and engage with their own learning. There will be a strong focus on the sharp development of knowledge and concepts at a young age and ultimately we aim that all children will be confident readers, writers and mathematicians by the age of six. This means that they are able to confidently access a curriculum as they immerse themselves in the challenge and excitement that new learning offers.

Alongside the curriculum there will be a proactively planned enrichment programme. It will ensure that when young people leave our academy at the age of eleven they will have experienced a carefully planned and wide range of art, drama, sports, technology and media to prepare them for life beyond school.

Pupils will develop a range of basic skills through the stimulus of a broad and balanced curriculum that introduces new ideas and experiences to all in a calm, friendly, stable and structured environment. They will receive an education that uses real experiences and multi-sensory approaches as a foundation for learning, whilst developing a respect and consideration for their own and others’ individuality, particular backgrounds, cultures and religions. They will learn in a culture where achievement is recognised and all pupils are given high expectations for their future.

The curriculum will also explore international links through the extended Oasis family, partnering the academy with others across the globe.

Day to Day at the Academy At Oasis Academy Marksbury Road we will expect every child to participate fully in the activities of the academy. In return, we will create a safe, engaging environment where mutual respect and cooperation are key, creating the most effective climate for learning. The school day will start at 8.30pm and finish at 3.30pm. After school clubs will run from 3.30pm-4.30pm.

Safety We will make sure that children are kept safe and will teach them to keep themselves safe. There will be yearly Anti-Bullying, Road Safety and safety weeks, which cover all types of safety including in the home, on the road, on the Internet and at the park.

Culture for Learning All members of the academy community will be expected to behave towards one another in a polite, caring and respectful manner, showing consideration for one another’s feelings.

Behaviour At Oasis Academy Marksbury Road, behaviour will be underpinned by The Golden Rules. These will ensure a high standard of behaviour in the academy so that children can learn and fully participate in academy life.

They are: • treat others and myself with respect at all times • always treat property with respect • play fair and friendly games at all times • walk quietly around the academy • work hard and always try my best

Admissions Policy Oasis always offers inclusive education designed around, and for, the community in which it is located. The Oasis Academy will serve local children and will follow the Bristol Admissions Policy. It will accept pupils regardless of faith or ability.

If you would like your child to attend the academy in September 2014 please write to Bristol City Council at school.admissions@bristol.gov.uk stating that you would like to send your child to Oasis Academy Marksbury Road, including your child’s name, address and date of birth on the letter.

Special Educational Needs At Oasis Academy Marksbury Road, where a child has a Statement of Educational Need or requires additional support to enable them to access the curriculum, we will aim to provide this through a constructive dialogue with parents/carers, social workers and health professionals to ensure that the child’s best interests are served. Where a child shows a particular talent or gift we will work with them to ensure they have every opportunity to develop this.

About Oasis Community Learning Oasis Community Learning is a Multi-Academy Educational Trust with a growing number of primary, secondary and all-through academies. Oasis also runs a college for higher education. In Bristol there are a number of Oasis Academies already, both primary and secondary.

Oasis Community Learning is part of the Oasis family of charities which has been running for over 25 years. As a group of charities, we provide a number of other services including children’s, youth and family work; housing, training and education projects; foodbanks and churches. Oasis also works across the world in 9 countries. In every community in which Oasis works, we seek to create an inspirational learning environment which we believe can only be achieved by working with the whole community; we believe that every person matters. We call these centres “Hubs”.

We are proud of the progress and increasingly high standards within our family of primary academies. Over the recent years, Oasis Academy Johanna and Oasis Academy Limeside have exceeded national average and achievement measures. This has led to Oasis Academy Limeside receiving its third consecutive ‘Outstanding’ OFSTED judgement. This Academy has been granted National Teaching School Status. Of the Oasis primary academies who have joined us in the last year, we are delighted to report that, as a group, they have exceeded the national average progress measures in Reading, Writing and Maths. This is a significant achievement in such a short space of time.

Oasis is committed to raising educational standards and developing wider community engagement. Without compromising our commitment to educational improvement, we focus on the task of creating integrated services which cater for the wider context of our students’ lives, as well as those of their families and communities.

The Academies Annual Report 2011 notes Oasis “to have made the highest level of improvement than any other academy chain”.

“Oasis Academ y Marksbury R oad will be tota students are w lly inclusive: al elcome regard l less of starting point or need.”

The Oasis Ethos Oasis Community Learning’s goal is to create and sustain a network of excellent learning communities, working in the context of the Oasis Ethos, where every young person can reach their full potential. The Oasis Ethos is grounded in the Christian faith and actively encourages participation from all faith groups or none.

This is encapsulated by the following five statements: • a passion to include everyone • a desire to treat everyone equally, respecting differences • a commitment to healthy and open relationships • a deep sense of hope that things can change and be transformed • a sense of perseverance to keep going for the long haul In practical terms this means we will build a positive, affirming environment where children can learn; forming strong relationships with parents/carers and the wider community. We will work actively against discrimination and social exclusion, respecting the beliefs and practices of others.

Governance Oasis Academy Marksbury Road will have an Academy Council that will be focused on supporting and championing the Academy locally.

Academy Councils are the key mechanism for local governance in Oasis Academies; Councillors are expected to robustly assess the impact of local implementation of activities, working collaboratively to ensure great standards of teaching and learning for all students, regardless of their starting point. This is an ideal opportunity for individuals to become key stakeholders and have a real say in education locally.

The Academy Council will be made up of representatives from the Local Authority, Oasis Community Learning, parents/carers and academy staff, alongside other representatives from the local community or local businesses appointed for their skills, abilities and local knowledge. They will work with a range of Oasis staff, who report to the National Executive and Oasis Community Learning Board of Trustees, who have overall responsibility for each Oasis Academy.

Contact Us Tel: 020 7921 4655 E-mail: info@oasismarksburyroad.org ‘Like’ us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/oasismarksburyroad Follow us on Twitter: @Oasismarksburyroad www.oasisacademymarksburyroad.org