Oakbank School
Oakbank School is an inclusive learning community for previously excluded, vulnerable young people and has recently celebrated 125 years in the west end of Aberdeen.
Jane Arrowsmith, Principal of the school, says:
'We aim to provide our young people with the very best care and education possible. This is the least they can expect. Mainstream education can marginalise some disaffected learners and for some young people being looked after in a residential setting is ideal.'
The school's aim is to provide a supportive environment for children with difficulties. Children and young people are referred to Oakbank School by the Children's Hearing System and for some pupils, this is a second, third or even fourth attempt at finding the most appropriate setting for them to pursue their education.
What makes Oakbank a success?
The ethos of Oakbank School
A positive ethos permeates the daily life of the school, affecting every member of staff, young person or visitor to the school. There is a high expectation of the use of praise, a sense of equality and fairness, and a climate of achievement. Also, good communication with parents/carers and the wider community has helped to foster and develop a partnership approach and to encourage involvement in the life of the school and in the young people's learning.
Learning and teaching
Social Work and Education staff work collaboratively to maximise every opportunity for the young people's learning and there is a balance between academic achievement and opportunities for personal development.
Each young person is involved in planning their learning and in target setting. They review their outcomes and plan for the next steps, celebrating all achievements, however small.
Pupils are presented for all subjects at Standard Grade, and National Qualifications in Religious and Moral Education, Music and Drama, and the school has an above-average success rate in National Qualifications.
How do they manage the behaviour?
A well structured environment is crucial to the management of behaviour in Oakbank School. Non-verbal interventions, prompts, planned ignoring and redirecting are some of the strategies used to manage the day-to-day behaviour of the young people. Pupil-devised guidelines for behaviour are strategically placed on display throughout the school building. In the case of extreme behaviour, strategies including time out and increased supervision are put in place.
Support strategies
The Oakbank School counselling service offers support to all members of the school community. Pupils are referred for a variety of reasons including alcohol/drug misuse, anger management needs and self-harming, and on the grounds of general health concerns.
Young people also have the opportunity to work on the Cognitive Skills Programme, a course that teaches problem solving, assertiveness and critical reasoning, enabling the young people to resolve and deal with problems themselves.
Personal and social development
Permeating everything in Oakbank School is the belief that young people with social, emotional and behavioural needs should have many opportunities to regain their belief in themselves.
The 24-hour curriculum is a major feature of Oakbank School. After-school activities are tailored to meet the individual needs of young people and the focus is on raising self-esteem and on developing skills. Activities as diverse as chess, mountain biking, Judo, Yoga, trampolining, dance, computer club, and membership of an Army Cadet force are offered. Pupils can visit the gym, have their hair or a manicure done in the Looking Good salon or experience the joy of a massage. Recently, reflexology has been introduced as an option, with plans to develop other alternative therapies to support pupils.
The young people return to the safety and security of their own units and rooms. In this context, 'security' refers not to securely locked doors but to the security of their relationships with adults. A positive relationship with adults is seen as crucial in developing trust in young people who may have been let down by adults in the past.
Activities Week, held in June each year, is designed to offer young people challenge and opportunities to develop team work, leadership, motivation, and self-care skills. Pupils 'sign up' for a variety of activities away from the school campus such as white-water rafting in Italy, kayaking on Loch Tay, caring for animals at Blair Drummond Safari Park, golfing around Aberdeen, climbing or abseiling on Royal Deeside and navigating the James Cook, a 70-foot steel-hulled ketch rigged cutter.
Pupil involvement
From individual education planning to participation in unit meetings and membership of the school council, all young people are empowered to contribute to the decision-making process in Oakbank School.
They are consulted on aspects of school life such as the choice of extra-curricular activities and hobbies. A food community contributes to decisions about meal and snack menus. Behaviour guidelines drawn up by the young people are on display around the building as a reminder to all of what is seen as acceptable behaviour in Oakbank School.
Celebrating success
Each young person is encouraged to build a portfolio of their achievements. They collect photos and produce slide shows, PowerPoint presentations and DVDs of themselves in action.
Every possible opportunity is used to celebrate achievement and 'Super Achievement Certificates' are presented at weekly assemblies. Throughout the year, a photo or video diary is kept of all school activities and the entire school community gathers to enjoy together this evidence of its communal successes and achievements.
Staff development
Social Work and Education staff work together to provide high quality provision for the young people in Oakbank School. Staff development time is seen as crucial to ensuring that colleagues from different disciplines gain the emotional intelligence, skills and expertise to provide maximum support for the young people in their care.
'Each member of staff, too, is an individual, but they complement each other. We ensure that staff have opportunities to develop their skills, so they may in turn enthuse the young people.'
'Oakbank School strives to facilitate the holistic development and realisation of the innate potential of every member of the school community - both staff and young people.'
For further information contact:
Oakbank School
Midstocket Road
Aberdeen
AB15 5XP
Principal: Jane Arrowsmith
E-mail: Admin@oakbank.aberdeen.sch.uk