23rd April 2012 MEDIA RELEASE FROM OASIS Oasis SE1 Free School Application Progresses to Interview Stage

Oasis Community Learning is delighted to announce that its application to open a Secondary Free School in Waterloo has progressed to the second stage of the approval process. The Department for Education has invited Oasis Founder, Steve Chalke, and the project team to an interview in the middle of May. The outcome of the interview will be known during the summer. Oasis has identified the need for a local secondary school for children in the Waterloo area. The proposed Oasis Community School SE1 would be for children aged 11-16 years, with four forms of entry, opening with an intake of 120 Year 7 pupils in September 2013. It 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. The Oasis Community School will help meet the anticipated shortfall of secondary places in the immediate area, and relieve pressure on other secondary schools in the south of the borough. It is hoped that opening a school in this area will enable children to stay with their primary school peer groups, and help aid a smooth transition to secondary school. Oasis believes that opening a secondary school for this community will help contribute to the work that is already on-going to improve and regenerate the area. Oasis consulted extensively across the Waterloo, Southwark and Lambeth North areas in January and February this year, with more than 300 local parents signing up in support of the proposal. The application is also supported by Kate Hoey MP, Ward Councillor, Peter Truesdale, Iain Tuckett, Group Director of Coin Street Community Builders, Kevin Spacey and Hugh Jenkinson of the Old Vic Theatre, Loretta Minghella, Director of Christian Aid, and many influential local community groups including WaCoCo and WCDG. Oasis is confident that it will be able to secure a suitable site in the area and has entered into preliminary discussions with the relevant parties. Oasis is continuing to encourage local parents and members from the wider community to sign up in support of the proposal. This can be done online through the website: http://www.oasiscommunityschool.org. Steve Chalke, Oasis Founder said: I am thrilled that the Department for Education are keen to hear more about our proposals for a Secondary Free School in SE1 and we look forward to discussing our application in detail with them. I would like to thank all the parents and local residents who have backed our proposal this far we know how much they want this school. I would also encourage others to show their support for the application by registering their interest online or contacting the team. ENDS 1

MEDIA RELEASE FROM OASIS Oasis SE1 Free School Application Progresses to Interview Stage Editors notes: 1. Oasis Community Learning opened its first three academies in September 2007 in Enfield, Immingham and Grimsby, with six more Academies opening in September 2008: Oasis Academy John Williams and Oasis Academy Brightstowe (both in Bristol), and Oasis Academy MediaCityUK (Salford) and Oasis Academy Coulsdon (Croydon), as well as Oasis Academy Mayfield, and Oasis Academy Lords Hill in Southampton East and West respectively. A further two academies opened in September 2009: Oasis Academy Hadley (Enfield) and Oasis Academy Shirley Park (Croydon). Oasis Academy Oldham opened in September 2010. As of September 2011 Oasis Community Learning sponsors a total of fourteen academies with the opening of Oasis Academy Limeside and Johanna Primary School, Oasis Academy Waterloo. A number of new academies are in development and will join the group this September and in January 2013. 2. Oasis Community Learning is part of the family of Oasis charities. For more information about Oasis Community Learning go to: www.oasiscommunitylearning.org 3. 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. 4. For further information on the Oasis Community School SE1 please contact: Lucia Glynn Tel. 07973 940779 lucia.glynn@oasisuk.org 5. Follow the progress of the new school on Twitter: @OasisSchoolSE1