Oasis Academy MediaCityUK

Oasis Academy MediaCityUK is an academy in Salford Quays, Salford, Greater Manchester, England. The co-educational school for 11-16 year olds is part of the Oasis Community Learning multi-academy trust group. The buildings date from 2012. It has had a turbulent history- but it has stablised, and is classed by Ofsted as a "Good" school.

Oasis Academy MediaCityUK
Address
King William Street

Salford Quays

Salford
,
Greater Manchester
,
M50 3UQ

England
Coordinates53.4754°N 2.2838°W / 53.4754; -2.2838
Information
TypeAcademy
TrustOasis Community Learning
SpecialistMedia
ICT
Business and Enterprise
Department for Education URN135661 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalMarie Dillon
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 16
Enrolment704 as of February 2021
Capacity1150 [1]
Websitewww.oasisacademymediacityuk.org

History

The Academy has its origins in Hope Hall School which was located on Prestwood Road in Pendleton. It was more recently renamed Hope High School before it reopened as Oasis Academy MediaCityUK in September 2008.

In September 2012, the Academy moved to a new site at Salford Quays.[2] In the process, it made 14 teachers involuntarily redundant. Students rioted in support of their teachers. [3]Members of the NUT and NASUWT teaching unions walked out over the way the redundancies were being handled. Avis Gilmore of the NUT said, "As soon as we became aware of the situation, we asked for a meeting to resolve issues without the need to go forward with the strike, but the responses were that they (the management) would not contemplate revisiting the procedure. The NASUWT, as well as supporting their members, commented "that educational standards could be compromised." Students are going to lose their teachers part way through the academic year." [3]

The head teacher at the time, Patrick Ottley-O'Connor, joined the school in September 2010. He blamed inherent overstaffing and government cuts: in 2007 there were 700 on roll but by 2010 there were only 500.[3] He resigned mid year in 2013. [4] Patrick Rice became the interim headmaster. [5]

It was deemed "Inadequate" in 2014, and put into "special measures".[5] Ofsted identified a school where the students enter "with standards in reading, writing and mathematics which are significantly below average.... too few students make the progress [expected of them] "[4] Ofsted made suggestions on how the school should be improved which included stabilising the staffing, and planning to develop the students rather than just completing tasks. To provide opportunites to all students in Key Stage 3 to develop their maths and to provide activities to challenge the more able. To challenge and eradicate poor behaviour. Management needs to develop systems to ensure that all aspects of the academy’s work are rigorously monitored. Planning must be firmly focused on making improvements based on that evaluation. [4]

Fiona O’Sullivan was appointed principal in November 2014, and expelled nine students and recruited a new leadership team and brought in 6 extra teachers in a turnaround bid. Weekly staff training was put in place and assistance accepted from St Patrick's Roman Catholic High School in Eccles. [6]

In its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2016, the school was rated 'Good'.[7] 80% of the staff had changed and systems were in place, students felt that the school was safe and calmer.

Description

Oasis Academy MediaCityUK is part of the Oasis Community Learning group, and evangelical Christian charity [8] Three quarters of the trust’s academies operate in the UK’s most deprived areas, with most rated by Ofsted as failing at the time they were taken over. The trust have guided forty schools out of special measures. 19 per cent of the 52 Oasis academies classified as failing. [9] The trust's founder Reverend Steve Chalke says "Turning round a school is sometimes a quick fix, it really, truly is. And sometimes it’s a really long, hard, hard job". There are two or three persistently troubled schools, with a 50 year history of problems and the trust works with the DFE and Ofsted to address them. [9]

Oasis has a long term strategy for enhancing the performance of its schools. Firstly it has devised a standard curriculum, that each school can safely adopt knowing it will deliver the National Curriculum. Secondly it has invested in staff training so they are focused on improving the outcomes for the students, and thirdly, through its Horizons scheme it is providing each member of staff and student with a tablet. [10]

Ethos and the 9 habits

Oasis Academy MediaCityUK, like each academy in the Oasis Community Learning group adopts the Oasis ethos and students and staff are encouraged to align themselves to these values. They are open about these being rooted in protestant Christian teaching, but encourage students to celebrate the richness of their own faiths.[11]It aims to

  • be inclusive
  • to treat people equally while respecting differences
  • be committed to healthy, open relationships
  • show hope that things can change and be transformed
  • persevere and to keep going [11]

The Oasis 9 Habits are the bespoke and unique approach to character development. These are promoted within the school, and provide the pupils with a benchmark for behaviour.

  • compassionate, patient, humble
  • joyful, honest, hopeful
  • considerate, forgiving and self-controlled[11]

Curriculum

Virtually all maintained schools and academies follow the National Curriculum, and there success is judged on how well they succeed in delivering a 'broad and balanced curriculum'.[12] Schools endeavour to get all students to achieve the English Baccalaureate(EBACC) qualification- this must include core subjects a modern or ancient foreign language, and either History or Geography.

The academy operates a three-year, Key Stage 3 where all the core National Curriculum subjects are taught. This is a transition period from primary to secondary education, that builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding gained at primary school, and introduces youngsters who are starting from a lower than average base to wider, robust and challenging programmes of study needed to gain qualifications at Key Stage 4.

At Key Stage 4 the focus is on the EBACC, and there are daily Maths, English and Science lessons- plus some options. Spanish is the taught Modern Language. [13]

Lessons all follow the same structure. A immediate activity, to get the students focused and allow the teacher 'set up time'. The body of the lesson uses the tag: I do, we do, you do.

I do
is the teacher exposition, where the students are expected to 'SLANT'.
We do
is where the teacher teaches by question and answer with the student.
You do
is where the students work through examples on their own.

The lesson is concluded with a plenary, where students are reminded of what they have learnt and to celebrate their achievements. SLANT is sit up, lean forward, ask and answer questions, nod your head and track the speaker. [14]

Results

In 2018, Oasis Academy MediaCityUK announced a 60% pass rate of pupils gaining grades 4–9 in English & Maths combined. 74% achieved grade 4–9 in English and 67% achieved grade 4–9 in Maths. [15]

References
  1. "Provider details". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. "Oasis: The Evangelical Christians opening a children's prison – Corporate Watch". corporatewatch.org. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. Ward, Helen (25 November 2011). "Sparks fly at MediaCity academy as cuts take hold". Tes. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  4. "Ofsted Full Inspection 2014". ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  5. Keeling, Neal (21 July 2014). "Oasis Academy in Salford put in special measures for poor teaching, weak leadership and bullying". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  6. Keeling, Neal (19 November 2014). "Head vows to turn round Salford's worst school". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  7. "Ofsted Section 5 Report 2016". ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  8. Charity Commission. Oasis Community Learning, registered charity no. 1109288.
  9. "Oasis leader on his vision for country's first secure school". Schools Week. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  10. "Oasis Horizons - Oasis Academy Leesbrook". www.oasisacademyleesbrook.org. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  11. "Oasis Ethos and Habits -". www.oasisacademymediacityuk.org.
  12. Roberts, Nerys. "The school curriculum in England Parliamentary Briefing Paper" (PDF). parliament.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  13. "Our Curriculum -". www.oasisacademymediacityuk.org. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  14. "Lesson Structure Poster:How we teach" (PDF). www.oasisacademymediacityuk.org. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  15. "Compare oasis-academy-mediacityuk". www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/. Retrieved 6 February 2021.


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