Oasis Academy Foundry Achieves Flagship Status Again

October 3, 2022

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Oasis Academy Foundry in Birmingham has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Flagship status for the second time.

Truly Belong

Oasis Academy Foundry sits in the heart of a diverse and transient community close to Winson Green Prison. The area has a poor reputation, high depravation and many social problems. Pupils speak 43 languages and join the academy at different times throughout the academic year, 58% are pupil premium children and some have no recourse to public funds. The Leadership Team is very new with the Head taking over only 5 weeks ago. Many post holders are temporary however all have worked at the academy for some time and the intention is for the Head to make these positions permanent in the near future. The academy is firmly embedded as a vital part of the local community and goes to extraordinary lengths to meet the needs of all stakeholders. This has created a culture where pupils and parents feel that they have a voice and truly belong. Much of this is achieved through activities of the Hub which runs a food pantry and adult education as well as multiple opportunities for voluntary work that often leads to future paid opportunities. This is transformational and helps increase aspirations for all. The Headteacher describes spending time with children and parents listening as the catalyst behind their journey which began 8 years ago when the academy joined the Oasis Trust. This is tangible in the academy and the multitude of initiatives that they have embraced as a response to the pandemic is a testament to the hard work and commitment of staff, pupils, parents and volunteers.

The Academy Values

The academy ethos is rooted in what they believe and who they are which is grounded in their values that inform and provide the lens on everything they do.

The values are:

• A passion to include.
• A desire to treat people equally respecting differences.
• A commitment to health 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.

Oasis Habits

The Oasis Ethos is aspirational, inspirational, and something that they have to constantly work at. This is underpinned by the 9 Oasis Habits of:

• being patient,
• humble,
• joyful,
• forgiving,
• honest,
• hopeful,
• self-controlled,
• considerate,

These are in evidence in every facet of the academy and are used in behaviour conversations, rewards and included on lesson PowerPoint slides which helps contextualise them and make them meaningful for pupils.

Staff Are Supported

One member of staff commented ‘you need a heart to work here and to go beyond the normal school day’ however this is not at the expense of staff wellbeing as workload issues are always considered before any initiatives are undertaken. For example, the academy closes at 5pm each day so staff leave. Further support for staff is ensured through the Step lab coaching programme, mentoring, supervision, Oasis wellbeing emails and access to a 24-hour helpline.

Superbly Inclusive

The curriculum has allowed pupils to make links across the subjects and the academy is one of the highest progress performers in the Oasis trust. 100% of pupils in Year 2 passed their phonic check this year. Parents are central to the work of the academy. They have multiple opportunities to engage with the academy for example on the day of my visit parents of one class were invited to participate in an outdoor musical performance. Attendance was sizeable and they clearly felt comfortable and welcomed. The Hub provides valued opportunities for parents to volunteer and engages in adult education classes. These have helped numerous adults gain formal qualifications as well as paid work with the Hub and elsewhere. The school continues to move from strength to strength in terms of its superb inclusive practice

Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award

If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team please telephone:

028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
or email: info@iqmaward.com for further details.

Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack