Oasis Academy MediaCityUK

Oasis Academy MediaCityUK
Address
King William Street Salford Quays Salford , Greater Manchester , M50 3UQ England
Coordinates	53.4754°N 2.2838°W / 53.4754; -2.2838
Information
Type	Academy
Trust	Oasis Community Learning
Specialists	Arts (Media) ICT Business and Enterprise
Department for Education URN	135661 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Principal	Paul McEvoy (since September 2021^[update])[1]
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11 to 16
Enrolment	877 (as of September 2021^[update])[2]
Capacity	1150 [3]
Website	www.oasisacademymediacityuk.org

Oasis Academy MediaCityUK (formerly Hope Hall then Hope High School) is a co-educational secondary school for 11-16 year olds in Salford Quays, Salford, Greater Manchester, England. The school is an academy run by Oasis Community Learning, a multi-academy trust. The buildings date from 2012. It has had a turbulent history but is now classed by Ofsted as a "Good" school.

History

Hope Hall and Hope High

The present-day academy has its origins in Hope Hall Secondary Modern School which opened in 1958 on Prestwood Road/Eccles Old Road in Pendleton.^[4] It was named after Hope Hall, a manor house on the site, demolished in 1956 by the City of Salford Education Committee to make way for the school.^[5][6][7] The architects, J. C. Prestwich & Sons, had already been appointed in 1939, but building was postponed by the Second World War.^[8][9] In 1954, the Education Committee decided to resume their plans due to a shortage of school capacity in West Salford.^[10] The first phase of building was completed in 1958, with extensions in 1964-1965 doubling the school's area.^[11]

The school was later renamed Hope High School. In 2001, Windsor High was closed and its pupils transferred to Hope and Buile Hill high schools, resulting in an expansion of the school.^[12][13][14]

Transfer to Oasis

Plans began in 2006 under the Building Schools for the Future programme to replace Hope High with an Oasis Trust sponsored academy with sixth form provision and to relocate the school to Salford Quays.^[15][16] Some reasons given by Salford City Council for closing the school in Pendleton were a decline in demand and the high density of schools in the area.^[17]

When it became an academy in September 2008 it was renamed Oasis Academy MediaCityUK.^[18][12] The name reflected the planned location of the school in MediaCityUK, chosen in anticipation of the BBC's relocation there. The closure of the school and transfer to Oasis was brought forward to 2008, despite objections from the National Union of Teachers and NASUWT, though the school initially remained on the same site.^[19][20]

The academy opened a sixth form centre with a planned capacity of 250, which had 40 students in 2009, and was no longer operational as of 2012.^[21][22]

Ahead of the move, the academy also made 14 teachers involuntarily redundant in 2011. Unionised teachers called for a meeting with management to address concerns about transparency for affected staff and educational standards for students who would lose teachers part way through the academic year. Staff walked out when management refused to revisit their handling of the redundancies, closing the school for a day. Students rioted in support of their teachers.^[23]

At MediaCityUK site

In September 2012, the academy moved to its £25 million (equivalent to £38.5 million in 2023) new-build site at Salford Quays.^[23][24] After a full inspection in 2014, Ofsted deemed the school "inadequate" in all areas and it was put into special measures.^[25][26] Fiona O’Sullivan was appointed principal in November 2014, and expelled nine students, recruited a new leadership team, and brought in six extra teachers in a turnaround bid. Weekly staff training was put in place and assistance was accepted from St Patrick's Roman Catholic High School in Eccles.^[27]

Former headteachers and principals

Hope Hall and Hope High School

• Victor Innes Tomlinson, 1958^{[citation needed]} - 1972^[28]
• Valerie Ivison, at least 1978 - 1985^[29][30]
• Alan Hewitt, 1991 - 2004^{[citation needed]}
• Nick Joseph, until closure in 2008^[31]

Oasis Academy MediaCityUK

• Dave Terry, 2008 - April 2010^[32][33]
• Patrick Ottley-O'Connor, 2013 (for 3 weeks)^[25][26]
• Patrick Rice, October 2013 - April 2014^[34]
• Fiona O'Sullivan, May 2014 - October 2018^[35][36]
• Marie Dillon, October 2018 - September 2021^[36][1]

Description

Oasis Academy MediaCityUK is part of the Oasis Community Learning group, an evangelical Christian charity.^[37] As of 2019, the trust said it had guided forty schools out of special measures, though 10 of out the 52 Oasis academies were still classified as failing.^[38] The trust's founder Reverend Steve Chalke said "Turning round a school is sometimes a quick fix, it really, truly is. And sometimes it’s a really long, hard, hard job".^[38]

Oasis has a long term strategy for enhancing the performance of its schools.^{[citation needed]} Firstly it has devised a standard curriculum, that each school can safely adopt knowing it will deliver the National Curriculum.^{[citation needed]} Secondly it has invested in staff training so they are focused on improving the outcomes for the students,^{[citation needed]} and thirdly, through its Horizons scheme it is providing each member of staff and student with a tablet.^[39]

Curriculum

As an academy, Oasis Academy MediaCity is not required to follow the National Curriculum.^[40] At Key Stage 3 all the core National Curriculum subjects are however taught. This includes a transition period to secondary education, building on knowledge and skills from primary school,^[41] giving all pupils equal access to wider, more challenging programmes of study needed to gain qualifications at Key Stage 4. At Key Stage 4 the focus is on the English Baccalaureate (EBACC), and there are daily Maths, English and Science lessons, plus some "options" subjects. Spanish is the Modern Language taught.^[41]

Lesson structure

Lessons follow a three-part structure:

1. Do Now: Preparation for the lesson and self-assessment of previous work
2. I do - We do - You do:
   • I do: an overview of the main concepts of the lesson
   • We do: an explanation of how to apply these concepts, with examples
   • You do: students work independently to apply the concepts to a task
3. Plenary: Recap and tidy away lesson materials^[42]

Exam results and school performance

In 2018, Oasis Academy MediaCityUK announced a 60% pass rate of pupils gaining grades 4–9 in English & Maths combined. 74% achieved grade 4–9 in English and 67% achieved grade 4–9 in Maths. ^[43]

In its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2016, the school was rated "Good".^[44] 80% of the staff had changed and systems were in place, students felt that the school was safe and calmer.

References

1. "Leadership_Update_-_OA_MCUK.pdf" (PDF). Oasis Community Learning. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2024.)
2. "Inspection of a good school: Oasis Academy MediaCityUK". ofsted.gov.uk. Ofsted. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
3. "Provider details". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
4. "CITY OF SALFORD. HOPE HALL SECONDARY MODERN MIXED SCHOOL". The Guardian. 4 November 1957. p. 4. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
5. "CITY OF SALFORD EDUCATION COMMITTEE. DEMOLITION OF HOPE HALL ECCLES OLD ROAD, PENDLETON". Manchester Evening News. 7 September 1955. p. 6. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
6. Walker, J.S.F.; Tindall, A.S. (1985). Country Houses of Greater Manchester. Manchester, UK: GMAU Publications (Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit - The University of Manchester). p. 144. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
7. Strategic Director for Environment and Community safety. "Salford City Council's Local List of Heritage Assets". salford.gov.uk. Salford City Council. p. 21. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
8. "CITY OF SALFORD. HOPE HALL SECONDARY MODERN SCHOOL". The Guardian. 10 December 1955. p. 11. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
9. "Secondary School, Hope Hall, Eccles Old Road, Salford - Building | Architects of Greater Manchester". www.manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
10. "CITY WARNED OF HALF-TIME EDUCATION". The Guardian. 12 February 1954. p. 12. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
11. "EXCUTIVE SUMMARY Strategic Business Case" (PDF). salford.gov.uk. Salford City Council; Partnerships for Schools. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
12. "Sparks fly at MediaCity academy as cuts take hold | Tes Magazine". www.tes.com. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
13. "Education and Leisure Directorate Service Plan 2001/02 Progress Report". Salford City Council. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
14. "SECONDARY SCHOOL REVIEW – FUTURE USES OF WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL AND LITTLE HULTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL SITES". Salford City Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
15. "Inspiring schools | Transforming secondary education IN Salford Information for community groups - a new academy at Salford Quays" (PDF). salford.gov.uk. Salford City Council. November 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
16. "Oasis Academy Salford is praised in the Manchester Evening News". Oasis Trust. 18 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
17. "Salford Education Vision" (PDF). salford.gov.uk. Salford City Council. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
18. "Hope High School - GOV.UK". www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
19. "Hope High and Oasis Community Learning Consultation". salford.gov.uk. Salford City Council. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
20. "CABINET 22nd January, 2008". salford.gov.uk. Salford City Council. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
21. "Academies initiative: monitoring inspection to Oasis Academy Mediacityuk". ofsted.gov.uk. Ofsted. 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
22. "Inspection report: Oasis Academy MediaCity UK, 27–28 September 2012". ofsted.gov.uk. Ofsted. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
23. Ward, Helen (25 November 2011). "Sparks fly at MediaCity academy as cuts take hold". Tes. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
24. "Oasis: The Evangelical Christians opening a children's prison – Corporate Watch". corporatewatch.org. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
25. Keeling, Neal (21 July 2014). "Oasis Academy in Salford put in special measures for poor teaching, weak leadership and bullying". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
26. "Ofsted Full Inspection 2014". ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2021. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
27. Keeling, Neal (19 November 2014). "Head vows to turn round Salford's worst school". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
28. "Aug 08, 1996, page 10 - Salford City Reporter at Newspapers.com". Retrieved 7 April 2024.
29. "The Guardian from London, Greater London, England". Newspapers.com. 6 July 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
30. Ashworth, John (1985). "Iii. Tomorrow's Universities: Ivory Towers, Frontier Posts or Service Stations?". Journal of the Royal Society of Arts. 133 (5347): 464–479. ISSN 0035-9114. JSTOR 41373984. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
31. "Hope High School - GOV.UK". www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
32. Wainwright, Martin (10 September 2008). "Salford head sees hope turn into certainty". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
33. "Head leaves months after winning top award". Manchester Evening News. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
34. Keeling, Neal (21 April 2014). "Second head to quit flagship academy in nine months". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
35. "Tougher inspections prompt a quarter of headteachers to leave academies in 2014". The Independent. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
36. Dillon, Marie. "Oct_New_principal_letter.pdf" (PDF). oasisacademymediacityuk.org. Oasis Academy MediaCityUK. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
37. "Oasis Community Learning, registered charity no. 1109288". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
38. "Oasis leader on his vision for country's first secure school". Schools Week. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
39. "Oasis Horizons". www.oasisacademymediacityuk.org. Oasis Community Learning. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
40. "Types of school: Academies". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
41. "Our Curriculum -". www.oasisacademymediacityuk.org. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
42. "Lesson Structure Poster:How we teach" (PDF). www.oasisacademymediacityuk.org. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
43. "Compare oasis-academy-mediacityuk". www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
44. "Ofsted Section 5 Report 2016". ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2021.

External links

• The school website