Oak Lodge School

Oak Lodge School is a special academy managed by Barnet Special Education Trust. It is funded to offer 200 places for students aged 11-19 with a wide range of learning difficulties.

Oak Lodge School  is dedicated to the provision of a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the requirements of its funding agreement with the Secretary of State for Education.

This includes English, maths and science, religious, careers and relationships education at levels appropriate to the developmental understanding of our students. Our curriculum is particularly focussed on independent and collaborative learning, personal development and understanding of our shared spiritual, moral, social and cultural heritage, reflecting the fundamental values of British society.

Our curriculum approach reflects our respect for each student as an individual, aiming to develop knowledge, understanding, self-reliance and coping skills in a supportive environment that minimises distress. We operate the SPELL approach recommended by the National Autistic Society:

• Structure
• Positive (attitudes & expectations)
• Empathy
• Low arousal
• Links (parents, other professionals)

Values and Ethos

• To ensure that the quality of education for children and young people with complex learning difficulties and disabilities in all our provisions is of the highest standard, using evidence-based research to drive school improvement so that we are at the forefront of progressive practice
• To celebrate diversity and developmental difference by providing appropriate and relevant specialist curriculums that will meet the broad range of needs and aptitudes presented by the students in each provision
• To have regard to the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students by providing safe, secure, stimulating and therapeutic environments for learning
• To be an outward looking organisation that maintains positive relationships across its professional networks; being committed to high quality governance and leadership in all settings to ensure effective financial performance
• To remain an independent specialist, SEND MAT, small enough to maintain a personalised service to the community of its academies and subsidiary provisions

We prepare students to leave school as confident young people who are as self-reliant as their strengths and abilities will allow them to be. We believe passionately that all students should have the right to access learning at a level and in a setting appropriate to their needs that will enable them to enjoy and achieve. If a student cannot learn the way we teach, we should teach the way they learn. We hope through our practice to:

• Promote positive social behaviour and communication through our commitment to the SCERTS model
• Develop enjoyment and commitment to learning and achieving
• Build on strengths and interests, develop confidence and the capacity to learn both independently and collaboratively
• Equip students with literacy, numeracy and communication skills, and the ability to enquire and make connections across different areas of learning
• Develop students’ sense of identity through knowledge and understanding of our shared and diverse spiritual, moral, social and cultural heritage
• Promote physical development and encourage the pursuit of safe and healthy lifestyles
• Enable students with physical disabilities to understand and manage their condition to enjoy the best possible quality of life
• Develop students’ capacity to build positive relationships based on mutual respect for themselves and others
• Enable students to respond positively and to cope with adversity
• Develop awareness, understanding and respect for the environment
• Promote the fundamental values of British society
• Encourage and stimulate the best possible progress and attainment.