Parent newletter issue 1 dec 13

At Oasis Academy Shirley Park we are...

December 2013 | Issue 1

Season’s Greetings and Salutations, What a year this has been.

The highlights for 2013 are too many to list but include; Examination results across the board were again outstanding, our first set of students applying for Oxford and Cambridge Universities, our sports teams distinguishing themselves in National competition across a number of codes and staff members being recognised nationally for their expertise and work in Education. We have had a hugely successful ‘shoe box appeal as well as a tinned goods drive to support the opening of our Food Bank. Our year culminated in an ‘Outstanding’ judgement by Ofsted in every category. This is all the more remarkable as we serve students in 6 Key Stages on 4 different sites from 3-19 and numbering almost 1600. Whether you are a student, parent, staff member or in the community you have an enormous amount to be proud of in your Academy. We understand that there is still a lot to do. My Mum was a Headteacher in New Zealand and on a particularly tough day 4 years ago I said to her “Mum, being a Principal is very difficult, sometimes it feels like I’m climbing Mount Everest” My Mum said “Son, it’s not like climbing Mount Everest, because Mount Everest has an end but when the air is thin and the going gets tough it means that you are close to something great!” She was definitely right. Teaching is the best job in the world, it’s extremely hard work but staff at Shirley Park, think that working with children and supporting them to become great thinkers, great leaders and great people is a reward that is beyond the tangible. We thank you all for sticking with us on this journey, for having faith in the children and staff and for knowing that we are building something that is special and unique, an education that seeks to ‘even the playing field’ so that our children can secure University places at the very best institutions and can compete for any job that they choose, anywhere in the World. Stay with us and help us grow, keep working with us and mentoring us and having faith in us, keep supporting and challenging us. This Academy belongs to you. I know that the best is yet to come. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all

We are enormously proud of all of our children from the Nursery right through to the 6th Form. They have excelled at every turn and it has been an honour to be on this journey with them.

Christmas Celebrations

The Secondary Phase Art club designed and printed a range of luxury Christmas Cards and wrapping paper – Prices are as follows: - Christmas Cards, pack of 8= £2.50 - Wrapping Paper with tags, (individually

handmade) 2m x 0.5m = £1.50 These are available on general sale – please enquire at the Secondary Phase reception if you would like to make a purchase.

*proceeds will be donated to Charity

This years Primary Phase Christmas fair took place on 06/12/13. On the day each class chose a stall which was run from their classroom, with FoSP organising resources and Sixth form students from the secondary Phase also lending a hand. Staff also assisted as the Primary students helped organise refreshments, popcorn, books, cards and bric-a-brac in the hall, face painting, Asian food, and reindeer food - There was also a special appearance from Father Christmas! On the day most activities cost 20p raising over £1600 in total; Highlighting an excellent effort from all involved.

Carol Concert

Christmas Nativity

Christmas Card Sale

Our students, staff and parents are

celebrating being part of an Outstanding School Community, with the Academy being awarded a '1' against all five of the Ofsted criterion of a Section 5 full inspection. All phases of the Academy were praised; in the Early Years Foundation Stage, children were found to make outstanding progress ; and the Sixth Form is quoted as improving rapidly because of its outstanding leadership and management.

“Teaching is outstanding because staff are highly committed to ensuring that their

students fulfil their potential.”

“Students Achievements are Outstanding”

‘Amazing achievement of which you should all be so proud.’

Rt Hon Gavin Barwell MP (Croydon Central)

‘Can I add my congratulations on behalf of the council and of the local community. The school has come a really long way in a short space of time, and this accolade is richly deserved.’ Councillor Tim Pollard, Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Learning

We are committed to the vision that no child’s educational success should be limited by their socio-economic background and we believe that communities like ours can and will grow our future leaders in business, finance and government. We are immensely proud to celebrate this success with all stakeholders of our community, and we are looking forward to sharing our story and best practice by supporting colleagues in other schools and academies. Read this story in full and our report at: http://www.oasisacademyshirleypark.org/oasis-news

Principal Glen Denham, states the reasons behind the remarkable transformation of the Academy- "Oasis Academy Shirley Park is now amongst the very best academies and schools in the country. The credit for this goes to the staff, our children and their families, our Academy Councillors and Oasis Community Learning as our parent body. We can be incredibly proud to be an ‘Outstanding’ Academy that serves one of the most deprived areas in the country and we all share the belief that our children have the right to an outstanding education.”

“Our GCSE results are

better than Shirley

High School and

Archbishop Tenisons!”

Progress Polite, Productive , Prepared

Our Primary Phase has also been busy

achieving record breaking attainment figures over the summer. We have recently received front page

coverage within the Croydon Advertiser celebrating the overwhelming achievements of our EAL students (English as an Additional Language). Across both Phases our students speak 69 different languages in total ranging from Afrikaans to Turkish, French to Gujarati – Primary Phase students Lukas Rudinskas and Kishany Kirubakaran featured in the article with Alena Darakova, EAL co-ordinator stating “What happens is everyone pulls together and

we do it. No matter what the language is I get my message across.” This further highlights the great work being done at the Primary Phase, well done!

-- This term has also been very productive, with Primary students hosting our first Macmillan Coffee morning. The students baked a range of cakes and other treats eventually raising

£107.73 for the charity. An amazing achievement considering the most expensive cake was priced at just 30p!

Parent VLE Training

Family Learning Week

All of our year 5s and 6s will visit big businesses to take part in team challenges. Cedar class visited BT in October. We have trips to IBM and Hamley‟s planned later in the academic year

Parent engagement is encouraged at the Primary and this term we have engaged in activities such as

Family learning week and managed to launch the brand new Parent VLE platform.

Nursery - During our „touching and feeling‟ (hands week) we made hands that you could eat!

What’s Going ?

The average number of students who attend

every morning exceeds 500, with breakfast

and fruit juice served from 7.45am to 8.25am

every day. As there is currently no funding

available for Breakfast Clubs in secondary

schools, the school relies on the generosity of

staff who volunteer their time to help Sixth

Formers run the Breakfast Club.

Dan Morrow, Head of Secondary Phase

explained why we set up the Breakfast Club:

“We set the club up because it was

becoming increasingly clear that many of our

students were either coming to school hungry

or buying sugary treats and crisps on the way

to school and eating them for breakfast. We

want to support our families to ensure

students start the day in the best possible

way”.

This term has seen some very exciting

events take place at the Academy,

including the launch of our Breakfast Club

by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Shirley Park made it their mission last year to promote

Rugby within the Academy, with PE teachers Mr

Norman and Mr Davis setting up the Academy‟s first

ever competitive Rugby team.

All of their hard work and efforts were rewarded when they received a phone call inviting them, and twenty

students, to an exclusive „behind closed doors‟ training

session With the New Zealand „All Blacks‟ Rugby team

just days before their recent clash against England.

Other events this term have included:

- Dynamo the Magician visit with

BeatBullying

- OASP Crystal Palace Academy vs.

New Zealand

- Black History Month celebrations

- Skills for London careers fair

- Student Leadership presentation

evening

The All Blacks Team bus also broke down

resulting in the players pilling into the Shirley

Park minibuses!

Our partnership with Crystal Palace FC continues its successes, seeing our students excel both on and off the field. The Academy team was invited to play in an extra special match against a New Zealand U14 National side. This was particularly special for the Principal Mr Denham considering this is his homeland, and the Academy boys impressed turning out eventual 4-0 winners. Mr Denham’s loyalties were tested, but he told all of the boys how proud he was of their efforts.

Brighton University Sports Science Laboratories Trip On Tuesday 3rd December, Mr Marshall and Miss Naish took the AS and A2 PE students to the Brighton University Sports Science Laboratories in Eastbourne. The students participated in a variety of fitness tests which included the Douglas Bag Test (which tests VO2 max), the Blood Lactate Test, the Wingate Test (which tests anaerobic power) and sprint testing within the universities outstanding sports facilities. The students excelled in their efforts in these tests. Usain Bolt’s time for the first 20m of his 100m time is 2.83 seconds – Vincent in Yr13 covered the 20m distance in 2.84 seconds – just 1 hundredth of a second slower! Watch out for his name in future Olympic competitions! After the tests were complete, the staff and students ventured into Eastbourne town-where they visited the arcades on the Pier and competed in some very heated games of Air Hockey! A great trip enjoyed by both students and staff!

Yr8 Basketball - OASP 47 – 22 Harris Crystal Palace (W)

Yr8 Football - St Josephs 3-2 OASP (L) Yr8 Football – OASP 6-3 Harris Purley (W) Yr8 football - OASP 3-3 vs Edenham (D) Yr9 Football - OASP 3-2 Teddington (W) Yr9 Football National Cup – OASP 1-1 Glyn High (3-2 pens) (W)

Yr9 Football National Cup - OASP 7-1 Glenthorne (W) Yr10 football - Edenham 2-1 OASP (L) Yr11 Football - OASP 4-3 Riddlesdown (W) Yr11 Football - OASP 4-2 Edenham (W) 6th form - OASP 2-2 Tenisons (D) 6th form - OASP 4-3 Woodcote (W) 6th form Football - Edenham 2-0 OASP (L)

Yr7 Netball - Croydon High 5-1 OASP (L) Yr7 Netball - Virgo 5-2 OASP (L) Yr8 Netball - Croydon High 11-6 OASP (L) Yr8 Netball - OASP 8-2 Virgo Fidelis (W) Yr9 Netball - OASP 11-3 Old Palace (W) Yr9 Netball - v OASP 12-1 Riddlesdown (W) Yr9 Netball - OASP 16-1 Edenham (W) Yr10 Netball - OASP 15-6. OA Coulsdon (W)

www.oasisacademyshirleypark.org/oasis-news

www.oasisacademyshirleypark.org @OasisAcademySP

Dates for the Diary

Reception Open Morning

Thu 9th Jan 9.30am

Contact details: (Telephone Number - 020 8656 0222) Children's Centre a: Malling Close, Croydon, CR0 7YD e: [email protected]

Primary Phase a: Long Lane, Croydon, CR0 7AR f: 020 8656 7500 e: [email protected] Secondary Phase e: [email protected] a: Shirley Road, Croydon, CR9 7AL f: 020 8656 1474

Sixth Form a: Shirley Road, Croydon, CR9 7AL f: 020 8656 1474 e: [email protected]

If you wish to attend our forthcoming 6th Form Freshers event please email your name and contact details to: [email protected]