A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY
Despite the many challenges arising from the Covid pandemic this year, things are certainly looking optimistic at Oakhill School and Nursery in Whalley
During the last school year an unprecedented number of pupils have joined Oakhill School at all levels with an overall growth of nearly a quarter on the previous year.
The reasons for this may well be found in the way in which learning has been managed during the pandemic with pupils’ one-to-one iPads meaning they could continue learning from home without any interruption. Many parents are also attracted by the safe location and the deliberately small class sizes which have added a sense of security in difficult times.
The school is also moving forward with a number of exciting new initiatives at the moment. In recent weeks they have announced a partnership with Whalley Cricket club, which the school is also sponsoring allowing them to make use of the cricket club’s excellent facilities which are walking distance from school. In addition to this, they are about to move into a partnership with Lancashire Cricket Club acting as a Development Centre from which pupils in the school and other local elite cricketers will be able to benefit. The indoor nets that form part of the school’s gym and leisure facilities are among the best in the area and will be a valuable resource from which Lancashire Cricket Club will be able to benefit, whilst also providing students at the school with access to LCC coaches and training opportunities. This initiative has been enthusiastically embraced by Oakhill’s Year 6 teacher Jack Edgar, himself a former Lancashire player, who has also played cricket in Australia. As well teaching Year 6 and playing a key role in Oakhill’s sports department, Jack has also been a professional in local league cricket for the past five seasons, so he is ideally placed to spot and nurture future cricketing talent at Oakhill.
Lancashire Cricket Club’s partnership with Oakhill forms part of a planned expansion of extra-curricular activities which the Principal, Jane Buttery, was in the process of developing when the pandemic hit, causing so many sports and activities to be suspended. The school already has a substantial programme of activities running alongside the excellent educational provision with up to 50 sports and activities taking place throughout the school in a typical week.
The development is intended to focus on after school clubs and activities as the school’s outstanding facilities make it an excellent base for a number of outside providers to use, allowing working parents to access a longer school day if required and also leaving more time for family at the weekends. Plans are already in place to expand provision to include golf, yoga and football using qualified outside coaches, with more in the pipeline from September. Jane Buttery explains: “After all the disruption of the last 18 months, we are delighted to be getting back on track with all our new developments. Here at Oakhill we prioritise pupils’ wellbeing very firmly alongside their academic success and it’s wonderful to be focussing on such an exciting future with so much opportunity for growth in school.”
The next stage of the school’s development will be the new building programme which will allow for an expansion of facilities in music and technology, an additional performance area and a new library and resource centre. These developments will provide much needed additional space and resources to allow for curricular and extra-curricular expansion, while retaining the family feel and small class sizes which are such an integral part of Oakhill’s ethos.
The Principal adds: “We know that what we are doing at Oakhill works and the outstanding achievement of pupils at every level is proof of this. Our pupils leave Oakhill with one, two or even three grades above those predicted for them at GCSE and in addition to this they are confident, happy, well-rounded, individuals who have been given all the care and attention that allows them to shine. They feel as though they are known and valued for who they are and this helps them move forward to the next stage of their education with maturity, self-assurance and self-belief.”
Oakhill School & Nursery
Wiswell Lane, Whalley
01254 823546
oakhillschool.co.uk
