Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Ski Trip Celebration Evening

  Tue 27 Mar 2018

  Following our amazing Skiing trip to Pila last month, we invited parents, carers and families to join the pupils and staff who went on the trip for a celebration evening; to share photos and videos and congratulate our young people on their achievements.

   

  All of the pupils deserved to win the Skiing Award, the staff were so proud of them all, but on the night it was awarded to Hannah. Not only did she show an enormous amount of determination and perseverance throughout, she gained so much socially from the experience and it was wonderful to see her relax, smile and laugh with her friends.

   

  The trip was such a success that planning for next year is already underway!

  

• Learning in the Community

  Tue 27 Mar 2018

  On the afternoon of Monday, 26th March, Giraffe Class had a great trip to Poundland. The pupils practiced their skills for life and independence and Maths; using a shopping basket, waiting in a queue at the checkout and counting out coins from a wallet or purse. Pupils also practiced their good talking at the till, saying ‘hello’, ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’, which took a lot of courage for some of them. 

  

• Oakley wins 'School of the Year' Award

  Fri 23 Mar 2018

  On Tuesday, 20th March inspirational young people, across Kent were joined by local training organisations and employers for a special awards ceremony, organised by Skills Training UK, an independent training provider.

   

  Awards were presented to young people aged 15 to 24 in 10 different categories, including ‘Learner Achievement’, ‘Learner Progression’ and ‘Apprentice of the Year’.  Each learner was nominated for an award by their training provider, in recognition and celebration of the progress and achievements they have made.

   

  The local training and education partners were also recognised, with the prestigious award for ‘School of the Year’ going to Oakley School.  The awards were presented by Medway Council’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Gloria Opara; Paul Winter, Chair of the Kent and Medway Skills Commission; Allan Baillie, Skills and Employability Manager, Kent County Council; and Mike Rayner, Participation and Progression Manager, Kent County Council. 

   

  Ros Leach, Further Education Leader and Josh Epstein, Learning Support Assistant collected the award on behalf of the School.

  

• Oakley School's first Easter Eggstravaganza

  Mon 19 Mar 2018
  On the evening of Thursday, 15th March our Key Stage 3 pupils and staff held Oakley's first ever "Easter Eggstravaganza". The Dining Hall on the Tunbridge Wells site was full to capacity with pupils, parents, carers and their friends and family, all playing bingo to win an Easter Egg (or two!) Everyone had a lovely evening, making Easter bonnets, buying and eating cakes made by pupils and staff, as well as playing bingo with our pupils calling the numbers, it was a great success. Well done to everyone who helped organise and the run the event and to all our families who supported what we hope will become an annual event.

  

• Key Stage 5 students try curling!

  Mon 19 Mar 2018

  This term our Key Stage 5 students have been learning about the Winter Olympics which seemed a really good opportunity to try out some winter sports!  So on Thursday, 15^th March Classes 5SS and 5TB went to the Tunbridge Wells curling rink. They watched a short video to tell them about how to play the game, after which they put on their special shoes and were shown how to push the ‘stones’ and brush the ice (to make the stone go further).

   

  They had a fantastic time, everyone enjoyed taking part. Thank you to Julia, our coach for the morning, she was really friendly and complimented everyone on their efforts.

  

• Oakley pupils improve their social skills in the community

  Thu 15 Mar 2018

  On Tuesday, 13th March two of our Key Stage 4 classes visited Temple Grove Care Home, for what was a fantastic day. The interaction between our young people and the residents was delightful to watch and the interviews that took place really gave the pupils an opportunity to improve their social skills with people they had never met before, which for some, is a huge challenge. The residents of Temple Grove Care home just loved our enthusiasm and energy, they enjoyed our show so much they have invited us back for a ‘morning slot’ so we can entertain them for longer next time. The pupils were buzzing as they drove back to school in the minibus, we look forward to our next visit.

  

• Oakley's belated World Book Day

  Wed 14 Mar 2018

  The bad weather on 1st March meant we had to postpone celebrating World Book Day at Oakley School, but that did not deter us!  On Thursday, 8th March so many pupils and staff dressed up as their favourite book characters and celebrated everything to do with reading and listening to books.  The whole school was buzzing with fun and excitement, all day. During the Easter holidays Oakley School pupils are invited to take part in a sponsored read and listen event. In addition to the sponsorship money, Usborne Books will donate up to 60% of the total raised in EXTRA FREE BOOKS for the school.

  

• Oakley's first Skiing Trip - Great Success!

  Sun 04 Mar 2018
  "What a fantastic launch of the Oakley Skiing Trip. So proud of everyone and their amazing determination, perseverance, courage and attitude during the entire trip. The majority of pupils made it up to the red runs of the Pila slopes and showed not only physical strength but how mentally strong they are. Even when tired and sore they always gave 100%. This trip has demonstrated that our pupils are polite, friendly and supportive young people. They integrated incredibly well with the students from Ifield school, who joined us on the trip, and the feedback from everyone we crossed paths with; ski instructors, reps, coach drivers and the hotel staff was incredibly positive and reflected the good manners and likability of our pupils."  Sally Maher, Teacher and Trip Co-ordinator