Oasis to Run Two Academy Schools in Southampton

Oasis has confirmed that it is to run two Academies in Southampton, a move which will bring its total number of confirmed Academy schools to seven.

The Oasis Academies in Southampton, one in the east of the city and one in the west, will open in September 2008, on the closure of four existing schools. Oasis' bid to create and run the academies was backed by the Diocese of Winchester and Southampton YMCA.

Steve Chalke, the chairman of Oasis Community Learning, said: "We recognise the trust and confidence being placed in us on behalf of present and future generations of Southampton's children and we are committed to providing them with substantial, measurable improvements in educational opportunity and attainment.

"We are committed to working in partnership and cooperation with the local authority, the existing education providers, local business and healthcare communities to achieve these aims"

In addition, Billy Kennedy, Chair of the Oasis Community Learning Southampton Partnership, commented: "We recognise the hard work of the pupils, staff and governors of the existing four schools and wish to build on their achievements.

"It will require further work and determination to make the transition to the two new academies over the next 12 months but our aspiration is that, over a reasonable time horizon, we will exceed rather than just meet the expectations placed on us."

The first three Oasis Academies will open this September in Enfield (North London), Grimsby and Immingham (both North East Lincs). These will be followed by new schools in Salford and Bristol in 2008, as well as the two Southampton academies.

Oasis is also in talks regarding an eighth school in Oldham, and hopes to have ten academies open within the next few years.

Oasis said that the "idea of a rich and balanced educational environment" would be central to the ethos of the Southampton Oasis Academies and affirmed its desire to create a partnership between students, parents, each academy and the local community.

In addition to being outstanding schools, they will also be hubs for the wider community. The Oasis Academies in Southampton will look to eventually provide improved access for both students and the community to facilities such as adult learning programmes, fitness suites, sports courts and out-of-hours youth activities.

Oasis Community Learning's roots are strongly based in Oasis UK, a voluntary sector provider, which delivers educational, health and housing services for local authorities, UK and foreign governments, as well as self-funded initiatives providing opportunity and choice around the world.