The Oaks Secondary School was opened in September 2005. The Oaks caters for students aged 11 to 19 with a range of Special Educational Needs. The expertise of staff in school enables a broad and varied curriculum which engages students and provides experiences and opportunities specific to their individual needs. This has led the school to have four successive outstanding Ofsted inspections since opening.
To celebrate the past twenty years, they held a fabulous night of light and wonder with ‘Light up The Oaks’, representing the light of the students’ lives and what they bring and the wonder they experience through their education. The students worked over two days focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths projects to create resources and sculptures for a fantastic light festival that took place on a trail around the school.
Visitors were greeted with the school reception illuminated with huge light boxes made onsite by the Technology department. Staff wore colourful flashing-light outfits in a range of styles including a butterfly and a rocket-man. The first window showed a Swan Lake scene, featuring an ornate glass swan created by the Art Department and Art students.
Once inside, the school visitors were treated to an immersive sensory experience through lights, dance and music. Sixth Form students performed a dance created during their sessions with Tin Arts who are a local inclusive dance provider. Moving through the school via the Sensory Garden the school grounds were awash with colour and light showcasing items that had all been carefully created by students including an ‘Under the Sea’ display.
Each classroom designed their light theme project based on their own interests- some linking to elements of the curriculum they had particularly enjoyed. One group decorated the polytunnel with an array of butterflies as they loved this theme. They were made from recyclable materials. Other groups had ‘Mining’ as their key focus. One of the Mining groups had worked closely with staff from ‘The Auckland Project’ who brought inspiration from their own Mining Museum in Bishop Auckland and others had created their own lit up miner and pit pony structures.
There were also opportunities to buy food like hot dogs and, gifts (made by the pupils) and drinks to help make the night a night to remember.
Mr Tweddle, Headteacher at The Oaks explained ‘It was lovely to see people with strong links to The Oaks gathered to support our fabulous school. Seeing former colleagues and pupils celebrating our twenty-year anniversary was a very positive experience.’
In addition to former staff and students, the night was attended by the local Mayor, many members of the local community with links to The Oaks including guests from Durham University and the Auckland Project. Members of the school charity FOTOS also attended alongside current staff, pupils, parents and other friends. It was a wonderful evening celebrating a successful school that works hard to meet the needs of its’ young people.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
