3rd October 2012

MEDIA RELEASE FROM OASIS Oasis Community Learning Announces Plans For New Primary Academy in Romford
Oasis Community Learning, today, announces its proposal to establish a brand new primary school in Romford town centre which will open in September 2014. Public consultation meetings on the proposal will be held on: rd Tuesday 23 October 2012 at The Wykeham Centre, Market Place, Romford, RM1 3AB from 4.00pm-5.30pm and 6.00pm-7.30pm Thursday 22 November 2012 at Romford Baptist Church, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BL from 4.00pm-5.30pm and 6.00pm-7.30pm The new Oasis Academy Romford, to be opened under the coalition governments flagship Free School policy, will be a primary school for children aged 4-11 years, with two forms of entry, opening with an initial intake of 60 Reception Class pupils in 2014. The school will cover the National Curriculum and prepare students for national tests and examinations at all levels. The school will be fully inclusive, accepting children irrespective of faith or ability.
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Steve Chalke, Oasis Founder, said: Oasis goal is to create an outstanding community primary school in Romford which will offer both an excellent education and many additional opportunities for pupils and their families through our Oasis Hub model. We have listened to the concerns of many local families about the future shortage of primary school places in the area and wish to work with them to develop this much-needed new school. Projections for the London Borough of Havering indicate a significant increase in the severe shortage in the number of primary places in the coming years. With this proposal Oasis is planning ahead to meet the future needs of the Romford community. Oasis plans to develop a range of children, youth and family programmes around the new school to build community and support local residents. Oasis is hoping local parents and carers and the wider community will welcome the new school proposal and will be seeking signatures at the consultation events from those advocating the plans to support their application to the Department for Education. Local parents and carers may also sign up online through the website: www.oasisacademyromford.org. Oasis will be liaising with the London Borough of Havering with regard to establishing the new school. A number of possible locations for the new primary school are being considered, and Oasis will work closely with the local authority and the Department for Education over the coming months to identify and secure a suitable site. Oasis will be engaging with local partner organisations to develop aspects of the primary curriculum in innovative and exciting ways which all children will benefit from regardless of their starting points.

Oasis Community Learning has a successful track record in delivering education, having established 14 academies nationwide. The Educational Trust, which now has 19 schools with many more in development, aims to create and sustain a network of excellent learning communities where every child can realise their full potential. In nearby Enfield, Oasis sponsors the increasingly popular Oasis Academy Enfield and Oasis Academy Hadley and is consulting on the possibility of a third secondary academy in the south of the borough. Paul Rose, Director of the Development Unit at Oasis, who has lived in the Romford area for many years, said: We are very excited at the prospect of opening a new primary school in the heart of Romford at which every pupil will have the opportunity to fulfil their potential in a safe and nurturing learning community. The proposed new school will be the cornerstone of our new our community hub in Romford, which we will be developing over the coming years to provide a range of integrated community services in this area. As an active member of the Romford community I look forward to working with local partners to establish this provision which will provide much-needed primary school places for local families.

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Editors notes: 1. Oasis Community Learning is part of the family of Oasis charities. For more information about Oasis Community Learning, go to: www.oasiscommunitylearning.org. Oasis Community Learning is a family of 19 academies, 10 secondary academies, 7 primary academies and 2 all-through schools. By April 2013 Oasis will be a family of 33 academies. 2. Oasis Trust was established in 1985 and is now a group of charities working to deliver education, training, youth work, health care and housing in 10 countries around the world. 3. For further information on the Oasis Academy Romford please contact: Lucia Glynn Tel. 07973 940779 lucia.glynn@oasisuk.org 4. Follow the progress of the new school on Twitter: @OasisRomford and on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Oasis-Academy-Romford/104225489733363