Communityning Lear Becoming an Oasis Academy Councillor Information Booklet Welcome from Oasis Founder, Steve Chalke An introduction to Oasis Academy Councils, Head of Governance Services, Norma Downer-Powell I began Oasis in 1985 with a vision to build inclusive communities, where everyone has hope, feels that they matter and is given the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Firstly, thank you for your interest in Oasis’ first project, No. 3, which I set up with my wife, Cornelia, is a hostel for young volunteering with Oasis as an Academy We are looking for Academy Councillors homeless people in Peckham, South London. However, it was always my aim that one Councillor. with the right skills and experience to day Oasis would not only run housing projects but also other services including youth be effective locally. Oasis governance programmes, schools and hospitals. Oasis Community Learning is one of the works at both a national and local level, largest Multi-Academy Trusts in England, as explained later, but essentially we with over 47 Academies opened since 2007. Oasis’ mission is to ensure that people its own unique way, they all share our Ethos rely on Academy Councillors to be local and whole communities are offered the and holistic approach to education. Our To help you work out whether this role is champions. breadth of support, depth of education and Academies seek to provide a welcoming for you, this booklet explains our model of One of the other key areas for Academy spectrum of opportunity that they deserve, environment for students of all faiths and governance and gives you some key facts Councillors is to robustly assess the in order to reach their God-given potential. none, as well as for their parents and carers. about what is involved in the role of an impact of the Academy on student We know that individuals can only truly Academy Councillor. Education is never just about what happens performance; working collaboratively to thrive when their community flourishes during the formal school day. We seek to Academy Councils create an opportunity ensure standards are raised for all our around them, so we work in ‘community provide a rich and balanced environment for local people who are passionate students, regardless of their starting point. hubs’ to provide a range of integrated and for all our students which develops about excellent education, in the context high quality services that support people Please do contact me if you have any informed and active learners who can of community transformation, to come holistically: educationally, physically, socially, further questions, I would be happy to talk explore questions, seek answers and solve together to support their Academy. spiritually, emotionally, economically and with you! problems. Our hope is that Oasis students environmentally. Oasis has now developed will become people who care passionately [email protected] into a movement of many thousands of about their lives, their learning, their people, working in ten countries around the neighbours, their communities and their planet. world, who are all committed to this goal. Academy Councillors play a vital role in the life As part of this, our first three Oasis of each Academy and its wider community, Academies opened in 2007 in the UK; this as you will discover as you read on. Thank was the beginnings of a national network you for considering this opportunity to play which has now developed into a substantial a key role in supporting the children, young family of primary, secondary and all-through people and families that, together, we serve. I schools. Though each Oasis Academy aims look forward to working with you. to serve the needs of its local community in Steve Chalke Norma Downer-Powell Founder Head of Governance Services Who is Oasis? Oasis Hubs are local ‘Christ-centred’ places of activity that provide integrated, high Oasis was established in 1985 and has now grown into a group of charities working quality and diverse services to benefit the whole person and the whole community. to deliver housing, training, youth work, health care, family support and primary, This is achieved by bringing together the Oasis Ethos and values, as well as local, secondary and higher education. We also work in nine other countries across Europe, regional, national and international resources and expertise, and working together in Asia, Africa and North America. and with local partnerships, to meet the needs and build on existing strengths and assets in the local community. Oasis in the UK started life delivering a handful of youth projects. Since then it has gained high levels of expertise in mentoring young people and working with them through different stages of transition; Oasis Community Learning • developed housing projects for homeless young people and, more recently, merged Oasis Community Learning (OCL) is one Oasis Community Learning believes with housing organisation Aquila Way, to form Oasis Aquila Housing in order to of the subsidiary organisations of Oasis we are all the architects of our students’ focus on the delivery of social and affordable housing; Charitable Trust. It is the subsidiary in lives and are committed to laying the • established Oasis College for Higher Education which specialises in both under- which all the Academies sit, and is a Multi- right foundations for every one of our graduate and post-graduate studies in children’s work, youth work and family Academy Trust. As of January 2017, OCL young people. We want all our students practice and now offers courses to over 400 students a year; is a family of over 47 Academies which to achieve their very best, have access • started STOP THE TRAFFIK – a global campaign against human trafficking working are based across four regions and cater to high quality cultural experiences and in almost 100 countries; for over 24,000 students. develop the social skills that allow them to • through the development of Oasis Community Learning, entered primary, secondary flourish in any context and lead fulfilled lives. and all-through education. A full list of Academies can be found on the Oasis Community Learning website http://www.oasiscommunitylearning.org/ Oasis’ Vision and Mission OCL’s Vision is for ‘Exceptional Education Oasis’ vision is for community – a place where everyone is included, making a at the Heart of the Community.’ contribution and reaching their potential. Oasis’ Mission is to work in an inclusive, integrated, empowering and comprehensive way so that all people experience wholeness and fullness of life. Our way of doing this is by building community Hubs, of which Academies are a key part. The 4 key roles of Expectations of an Academy Council Academy Councillors Oasis Governance Oasis understands that the role of an 1. To serve as “champions” of the Oasis Academy Councillor is voluntary and we The Oasis Governance Model is different to the way a governing body in a non- Philosophy of Education and the Oasis appreciate everyone’s contributions to Academy/traditional school undertakes governance. Essentially, there are two elements Ethos and values in the Academy. this important function. However, in order to the governance of Oasis Academies – local governance, delivered via the Academy for the Academy Council to function Council (AC), and national governance, delivered via the CEO, the Regional Directors 2. To act as “a critical friend” to the efficiently and effectively, there are certain and the Heads of Service. Principal and the Academy at local level. expectations of AC members in order to achieve this. One of the key expectations The principle of the Oasis Governance opportunity to discuss and reflect on the 3. To act as “a sounding board” for the is regular attendance at AC meetings. Model is that local and national governance purpose of education in society and how it Principal and their leadership team, Academy Councillors are also expected to work together; each providing a different can transform communities. It is therefore and represent the views of different undertake tasks that support the work of element of governance. Working together, really important that the AC understands, parts of the Academy community to the Academies. both parties provide a very strong has time to think about and ask questions influence decision making. governance model. about the Academy’s curriculum, teaching Meetings of the AC take place roughly and learning. 4. To continually assess and review once every half term. The meeting is The OCL Board of Trustees oversees the overall impact of the Academy prepared by the Principal and the Chair of both national and local governance and The focus of local governance, delivered amongst the people it exists to serve, the AC and the process is supported by is the equivalent of the traditional school’s through the Academy, is the context make suggestions for improvement the AC secretary. Academy Councillors governing body and, as such, has ultimate of the Academy; the role of the AC is and ensure that the Oasis Ethos receive an agenda and documents in responsibility for all Oasis Academies. to understand the Academy in its local remains at the heart of it. advance of the meeting. Please note that Academy Councillors context and to ensure that the Academy are therefore not trustees. is being Oasis in it. Meetings are usually held in the evenings or at other times as agreed locally by all Oasis believes that the role of the AC AC members. is a vital one because it is essential