Welcome
We are delighted to welcome you to Oaklands Junior School where we celebrate both academic achievements and children’s creativity and talents in equal measure. Our curriculum embraces this creativity by providing fun, practical and engaging activities both inside and outside the classroom.
Accredited as a Thinking School by the University of Exeter, we are passionate about our vision – “Learning to Think and Thinking to Learn”. We strongly believe this is a key life skill that children will develop in their learning across the curriculum. Our aim is for all our children, by the time they transition to secondary school, to be capable of independently using the thinking tools we have taught them during their time with us.
Oaklands Junior School, together with Oaklands Infant School (our feeder school) and Edgbarrow School (where most of our Year 6 children transition to), is a founder member of the Corvus Learning Trust.
Miss E Weston and Mr D Holland, Co-Headteachers of Oaklands Schools
About Us
“Pupils at Oaklands learn in a happy, safe and secure environment which they describe as ‘discrimination-free’. Pupils behave very well and have a strong sense of right and wrong.” Ofsted 2022
Here at Oaklands Junior School, we believe children achieve their best in school when they are taught in a lively and friendly atmosphere within an orderly and well-structured environment.
That’s why we aim to provide a happy, stimulating and purposeful learning environment for our pupils and endeavour to allow each one to develop at a pace suited to their individual capabilities whilst providing challenge to enable them to achieve their full potential.
Our school has a broad and well-organised curriculum which encompasses all of the Primary Curriculum and Religious Education. All of the curriculum policies and schemes of work comply with the requirements of the Primary Curriculum (to learn more about our Curriculum click here).
Where appropriate we take a more integrated approach where the curriculum is taught through carefully planned topics which incorporate a number of different subjects in cross-curricular learning.
“The curriculum promotes topics that capture the imagination of pupils and inspire creativity” Ofsted 2022
As an accredited Thinking School and part of the International Thinking Schools Hub Schools network, we actively promote the skills and attitudes essential throughout a lifetime of learning not just at our school but in children’s lives beyond Oaklands. By using a variety of Thinking Tools and approaches, we look to enable children to independently ‘learn to think’ and ‘think to learn’.
The underpinning ethos of our school is summarised by the Oaklands Mindset – the key competencies we aim to develop at the Junior School:
Friendship, Ambition, Communication, Independence, Challenge and Enjoyment
Our Aims
“Leaders’ commitment to enhancing pupils’ wider development is clear. There are many opportunities for pupils to develop personally.” Ofsted 2022
We recognise that every child has their own particular talent. We take pride in celebrating and encouraging our pupils to foster and develop these talents, whether this is in or outside of school.
In school, children will be suitably challenged in all their school work by ensuring that they are working at a level which is appropriate to their ability and which stretches them. Sometimes identified pupils will be working independently towards their challenging personal targets and at other times they may be working in extension groups with their peers.
Oaklands Junior School is well established as a focal point of the community. It aims to uphold its reputation as a centre of learning. Our school is most fortunate in having extremely supportive parents/carers and governors, experienced and conscientious staff and a high proportion of well-motivated children. We will:
Provide a high quality of education which meets the needs of each child by: | – Delivering a broad and balanced curriculum – Encouraging each child to reach their potential – Maintaining high standards of progress and attainment for all our pupils – Preparing pupils for the next phase of their education – Equipping children with the life skills they will need with our Thinking Tools and Oaklands Mindset |
Maintain a supportive environment in which children can develop morally, spiritually, socially and physically by: | – Developing honesty, confidence, resilience and self-esteem – Fostering a tolerant and caring attitude throughout the school – Encouraging self-discipline and responsible behaviour – Creating opportunities to work with partners (parents/carers, other schools, churches, etc.) in classrooms, assemblies and off-site activities |
Promote a learning ethos for all members of our community by: | – Maintaining a safe, stimulating working environment in which all members can learn. – Encouraging all pupils, teaching and support staff, governors and parents/carers to achieve their very best. – Providing a programme of professional development and encouraging all adults to take part. |
We are a healthy school and we work to ensure that it is a happy place for children to learn and staff to work. Oaklands Junior School values all pupils and staff alike and provides all that is required for each person to develop personally, socially, physically and emotionally.
Our Learning Environment
We are privileged to have a well equipped school which benefits from a number of excellent learning environments both indoors and outside. Classrooms are equipped with Clevertouch displays and each one has its own individual workspace, perfect for small group work. Our computer suite accommodates 33 computers with a further two sets of class iPads available for use within the classroom. Assemblies, PE lessons and lunchtime dining all take place in our school hall. Outdoors, children have access to a large playground that encompasses an adventure play area, outdoor gym, playing field with its own daily mile track and woodland plus a pond and year group gardens. A well stocked library, reading bus and children’s kitchen complete our school’s offering.
Enrichment Activities
Our pupils enjoy a vast number of enrichment activities throughout the school year. These activities fall broadly into 6 categories – Trips, Sports, Clubs, Events, Visitors to school and Personal Development.
These include a number of optional lunchtime and after school clubs and activities, details of which can be found on our website. Musical instrument lessons (for which a fee is charged) are also available and are taught by visiting teachers. Details can be found here.
Safeguarding
At Oaklands Junior School we recognise that all adults, including temporary staff, volunteers and governors, have a full and active part in protecting our pupils from harm, ensuring that their welfare is our paramount concern. All visitors to school wear a lanyard, colour-coded to identify them.
All staff believe that our school should provide a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development of each individual child.
The school’s Safeguarding Policy can be viewed within our School Policies section. More information can be found on the following website: Wokingham Safeguarding Children Board
Equal Opportunities
Oaklands Junior School is committed to equal opportunities and aims to be a school where everyone:
- is respected and respects others
- takes part in the life of the school
- achieves their potential
- develops skills essential to life
Our Equality Statement is available to view within our School Policies section.
Pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Oaklands Junior School recognises the importance of effective provision for SEND and complies with the requirements of the Code of Practice on the identification and assessment of children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities. A copy of the SEND policy is available within our School Policies section.
The school considers that to support children with special needs effectively there must be a strong partnership between home and school. If a child is identified with specific difficulties, parents/carers will be fully consulted and advised as to the type and nature of support being put in place to assist their child’s learning. Parents/carers will be encouraged to be involved in their child’s programme of work and will be informed regularly of progress their child is making.
Wraparound Care
The Beehive After School Club and Breakfast Club are run independently of the school by The Beehive. The clubs, which accept pupils from both the Infant and Junior schools, offer a safe place for children, outside of school hours, to enable parents/carers to work, study or just have time to themselves. For more information click here.
Policies and Procedures
School policies, Curriculum Intent, Implementation, Impact and general documentation are all available for parents/carers to view on our website or from the school office on request.
Oaklands Governing Body
Our Governing Body is ambitious for all children and infused with a passion for education and a commitment to continuous school improvement that enables outstanding outcomes. They oversee financial performance, challenge, support, and focus on the strategic direction of Oaklands Schools.
Interested in Joining Us?
Children normally qualify to start Junior School at the beginning of the academic year (Sept 1st – Aug 31st ) in which their 8th birthday falls. To find out how to apply please visit our Admissions section on our website.
Most of our intake transfers directly from Oaklands Infant School, however, parents / carers are still required to make an application to the local authority for a place at Oaklands Junior School. Children from outside the designated area may also be considered if a place is available, but you should visit your own designated area school first.
If you wish to apply for a place for your child in any year group during the academic year; then you will need to complete an In-year Application Form which can again be found on our Admissions section of the website.
Contact Details
Co-Headteachers of Oaklands: Miss E Weston and Mr D Holland
Address: Oaklands Junior School, Butler Road, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6QZ
Junior School Office
Telephone: 01344 773496
Email: admin@oaklands-jun.wokingham.sch.uk
Family Support: Nikki Lenon
Telephone: 07748 415 285
Email: nlenon@oaklands-jun.wokingham.sch.uk
Chair of Governors: Kathryn Pierce
Email: chair@oaklandsgov.co.uk