Oak Lodge School

Oak Lodge School is a special academy, formerly maintained by the London Borough of Barnet, but now managed by Barnet Special Education Trust, whose registered office is at the school address. From September 2017, we can offer places for up to 185 students aged 11-19 with a range of learning difficulties. We also operate the 18-place Post-19 "Oak Bridge" provision in partnership with Barnet & Southgate College. The quality of our Autism practice has twice been recognised with the accreditation mark of the National Autistic Society and we have also been judged ‘Outstanding’ in successive OFSTED inspections.

The school site is highly accessible and able to include young people with physical disabilities in all its learning. We work hard to ensure that all members of the school feel safe and acquire high levels of self-esteem. Students can expect to follow a curriculum relevant to their needs, with increased opportunities for the development of social skills. Staff are totally committed to providing the best possible education for all; assessing each individual’s level of development and enabling them to make progress at their own pace to fulfil their unique potential.

We aim to prepare students to leave school as confident and self-reliant individuals. 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.

We hope through our practice to

• Develop enjoyment and commitment to learning and achieving.
• Encourage and stimulate the best possible progress and attainment.
• Equip students with literacy, numeracy and communication skills, and the ability to enquire and make connections across different areas of learning.
• Build on strengths and interests, develop confidence and the capacity to learn both independently and collaboratively.
• 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.

Oak Lodge is a converter Special Academy managed by Barnet Special Education Trust. It is funded by central government to admit up to 185 students between the ages of 11 - 19 years with a wide range of moderate or complex learning difficulties. We have significant experience in the education of young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and also with Down Syndrome.

Most students join the School at 'secondary transfer' (Year 7). However, the School and Trust will always consider suitable admission requests for older students. Successful applications for admission will identify Oak Lodge as the most appropriate provision for the needs of the student; where they will find a peer group that supports their wellbeing, and where they will have the best chance of making academic and personal progress.

For a young person to be admitted to Oak Lodge, the School must be named by a local authority in their Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP). The overwhelming majority of young people admitted are resident in the London Borough of Barnet, but we will also work in partnership with other local authorities and parents/carers to assess the suitability of potential applicants for a place.

The School and Trust must consent to being named on an EHCP, except where admitting the young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for other students; and where no reasonable steps may be made to secure compatibility. The School and Trust will have regard to relevant guidance issued by the Secretary of State to maintained schools when making its determination.

In some circumstances the school may also admit a young person for the purposes of an assessment of their educational needs, in agreement with the LA, the Academy trust, the young person’s parent and any other professional whose advice is to be sought in accordance with regulations.

Oak Lodge School, as a special academy converter, 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)

The Middle School Department works closely with feeder primary schools and families, observing prospective students in their educational setting and taking account of available information to assign each new student to the most suitable class.

The department is organised into classes of mixed Year 7, Year 8 and some Year 9 students, grouped according to their primary area of learning need and their cognitive ability. Each class is assigned a class teacher supported by two or more teaching assistants.

Students study a modified national curriculum at a level appropriate to their cognitive development. Their class teacher will teach most subjects of the curriculum, but students will also work with specialist teachers for subjects such as Science, Design & Technology, Art, Music and PE. Students will also access support from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy or speech and language therapy where this is indicated by their statement of special needs, or Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP).

All students can expect to be learning in an environment that takes account of their levels of understanding and which offers them the opportunity to work with a smaller team of teachers and teaching assistants to focus more clearly on the development of consistent and effective behavioural and learning skills.

This department includes students in Years 9 to 11. Classes may include students across the age range of the department, grouped according to primary need, social need and attainment level. One teacher and two teaching assistants staff the majority of lessons, although in some classes a greater number of adults may be deployed.

Students continue to follow a modified national curriculum with additional differentiated educational input to support communication needs, but may be taught by a wider range of teachers. Students are also able to access a number of vocational subject options to further personalise their learning. There is a focus throughout the department on the study of accredited courses leading to nationally recognised qualifications at Entry or GCSE level, dependent on each student’s level of progress and understanding.

Our thriving Post-16 Department emphasises the development of life and work related skills that enable students to continue their learning in a safe, familiar and secure environment.

Young people joining the department may stay for two or three years. Whether transferring from our own Upper School, or from another school or setting, students can expect to be learning in an environment that takes account of their levels of understanding and which offers them the opportunity to work within smaller teams of teachers and teaching assistants to focus more clearly on the development of independence and learning skills.

The curriculum meets the 16 to 19 study programme requirements through its focus on learning independent living skills whilst extending literacy, numeracy and communication to help prepare for life in further education and beyond. The department enjoys links with a range of additional learning providers to further enrich the curriculum offer that includes opportunities for both independent and supported work-experience.

Students can expect to study for nationally accredited vocational and functional skills qualifications at Entry Level or higher dependent on their level of progress and understanding.