Educating young people is not just about providing students with the academic qualifications to succeed in the workplace. They need social skills to enable them to interact and communicate with a cross-section of society: people from different ethnic and economic backgrounds and different age ranges.
As an Academy, it is our responsibility to prepare our students for the real world of business and that is why we have implemented a vertical Family Group structure within Oasis Academy Coulsdon. Friendships are formed without the more traditional 'age-barriers' found in so many schools; 11 year olds realise that they have shared interests with 14 and 15 year olds. 15 and 16 year old students realise that they have so much knowledge to share with younger students that can help them succeed.
Our Academy reflects real life and, just like real families, we will never give up on our students, we will nurture them and watch them grow into responsible, caring citizens.
Our vertical system of pastoral care was introduced 2 years ago. Originally, all year groups were placed in one of five Family Groups, however, since its inception, the Family System has been reviewed and from September 2011 the Family Groups will be as follows: Students in Years 7 - 10 are placed in one of four Families:
Family Leader: Mr Cheshire
Family Colour: Blue
Figurehead: Isambard Kingdom Brunel a designer, business person and entrepreneur
Born in Portsmouth - April 4th, 1806. Died on September 9th 1859.
Brunel was educated near Brighton then later at the Henri Quatre in Paris. In 1823 he worked with his father building the Thames Tunnel. In 1829 he designed a suspension bridge across the Avon at Clifton. In 1831 he became the chief engineer at Bristol Docks, later designing similar docks at Plymouth, Cardiff, Brentford and Milford Haven. Two years later he became the chief engineer for the Great Western Railway, linking Bristol to London and establishing him as one of the world's leading engineers. Special features included the viaducts at Hanwell and Chippenham, Maidenhead Bridge, Bow Tunnel and Temple Meads Station. In 1838 he built the steam ship, The Great Western, which sailed from Bristol to New York. It was 28 feet longer than the existing largest vessel. Its journey took 15 days and it made more than 60 crossings in its 8 year life. In 1845 he built the Great Britain. With its iron hull and 6 propellers, it was designed for 250 passengers, 130 crew and 1200 tons of cargo. Just before his next ship, The Great Eastern was launched. he suffered a stroke, dying 6 weeks later. He is buried in Kemsal Green cemetery.
Family Leader: Mr Martin
Family Colour: Yellow
Figurehead: Marie Curie chosen for her contribution to Science and Charity
Born in Warsaw, Poland - November 7th 1867. Died in Savoy, France - 1934. Born Marie Sklodowska to parents who were both teachers, she had 4 brothers and sisters. She received a general education but inherited an interest in science from her father.
She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, achieving Licenciateships in Physics and Mathematical Science. It was here she met Pierre Curie who in 1895 became her husband. She succeeded him as head of the physics lab at the Sorbonne where she gained her Doctor of Science degree in 1903. During this time they had two daughters. In 1906 Pierre died in an accident and Marie replaced him as Professor of the General Physics in Science faculty. She was the first woman to hold this position.
In 1914 the Curie Laboratory in the Radium Institute of the University of Paris was founded. The Curie's early research was performed in poor conditions, Marie also taught to earn a living whilst doing their research.
In 1896, when Radioactivity was discovered by Henri Becquerel, the Curies began to research its properties. They isolated Radium and Polonium, which was named after Marie's birth country, and began to research the therapeutic properties of Radium. Marie began promoting the use of Radium to alleviate suffering during the First World War.
In 1903 the Curies jointly with Becquerel received the Nobel Prize for Physics. Marie was the first woman to receive this. Marie was held in high esteem from scientists throughout the world, receiving the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1911. She was the only woman to receive the Nobel Prize twice. She died in 1934 from Anaplastic Anemia, a disease where bone marrow does not regenerate blood cells. This was probably caused by exposure to Radiation
Family Leader: Mrs Buckingham
Family Colour: Purple
Figurehead: Leonardo da Vinci, Scientist and designer
Born near Vinci, Italy - April 15th, 1452. Died in Cloux, france - May 2nd, 1519.
Born to an unmarried peasant woman, Leonardo was educated at home, showing great interest in all areas of learning. In 1467 he was took an apprenticeship to learn more about painting, sculpting, technical and mechanical skills. In 1482 he worked for the Duke of Milan, but because he was very interested in geometry, he did little painting. He realised the possibility of constructing a telescope to look at the stars. He did however complete "The Last Supper". After leaving the Duke's service, he travelled through Italy, staying in Florence and becoming more interested in Mathematics. Here he was employed by Cesare Borgia.
In 1506 he began work using hydrodynamics, anatomy, mechanics, mathematics and optics. In 1513 he went into service in France for King Francis I. although not pressed by his new employer to keep painting, he did paint the "Mona Lisa" and "John the Baptist".
During his life he dabbled in architecture, sculpture, engineering, geology, hydraulics, military arts, cartography, botany, music and writing. His doodles were of parachutes and flying machines that were not invented until the 19th and 20th centuries. Most of his notes were created in mirror writing, thus keeping his ideas to himself until after his death. He has been described as possibly the most diversely talented person to have ever lived.
Family Leader: Mr Calvo
Family Colour: Orange
Figurehead: Martin Luther-King-ambassador for Human Rights
Born January 1st, 1929. Died April 4th, 1968.
He was born Michael but later changed his name to Martin. He was co-pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta following his father and grandfather before him. His mother was a teacher. He attended a segregated public school, graduating in 1944 he then went to Moorhouse College attaining his BA degree, also as his father and grandfather had done. He then did 3 years of Theological study in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominately white senior class. He graduated from Boston with his Doctorate. It was here he met his wife, Coretta Scott. They had 4 children.
As paster of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church he began working for Civil rights for black people. In 1955, following the stand by Rosa Parks, not to give up her seat to a white person, he led the first great Negro, non-violent demonstration when all Negros refused to travel on public transport. The "Alabama Bus Boycott" lasted 382 days and led to congress ruling that black people had equal right s to white on the transport system. During this time, his home was bombed, he was arrested and subjected to personal abuse. However he emerged as a Negro leader of first rank.
His ideals were based in Christianity; he also used much of Gandhi's operational techniques. Between 1957 and 1968, he travelled over 6,000 miles, speaking more than 2500 times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest and action. He wrote 5 books and endless articles on Civil Rights. His "letter from Birmingham Jail" was a manifesto of the Negro revolution. He paved the way for the Negro vote when 250,000 marched on Washington and he delivered his "I have a Dream" speech.
He was arrested many times and assaulted but received 5 honorary degrees and being given the title "Man of the Year" from Time magazine. He became the symbolic leader of black Americans and a world figure. At age 35, he achieved his aim to get blacks the vote and he became the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
He was assassinated at the age of 39.
Year 11 students are grouped horizontally and led by Family Leader, Mrs Patel. This enables us to specifically target our pastoral programme to the year group needs and provide specialist support, advice and intervention to the year group throughout their crucial exam year.
Years 12 & 13 are grouped in one Sixth Form Family led by Mr McCullagh. Like Year 11, their pastoral guidance and support is targeted to their specific exam and career requirements. Sixth Form Students also act as role models and ambassadors to younger year groups, leading and participating in many Family activities across the Academy.
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