Many of the pupils who attend Oakwood School have previously struggled to engage in education and may have had negative experiences in the past.

At Cambian Oakwood School, each learner follows a programme that is appropriate to their age and ability. Baseline assessments help us set personalised learning goals and create a curriculum tailored to individual needs, with Literacy and Numeracy at the core. Older pupils also have opportunities to pursue accredited courses and take part in work experience to support their post-16 aspirations.

Pupils’ progress and achievement are constantly monitored in order to adapt teaching and learning with further support or to stretch and challenge our students accordingly.

The curriculum is a framework for setting out the aims of a programme of education, including the knowledge and understanding to be gained at each stage (intent); for translating that framework over time into a structure and narrative (implementation) and for evaluating what knowledge and understanding pupils have gained against expectations (impact).

Historically our students have struggled to access a traditional formal curriculum (within mainstream and generic specialist school settings); a creative, more bespoke and cultural .      

based approach enhances the curriculum offer (through broader curriculum themes containing Vocational Education, Outdoor learning and Enrichment Opportunities).  We put great value on pupils being the best they can be while acknowledging their limitations and knowing how they learn best, ensuring that preparation for adulthood objectives are reflected within our curriculum from the youngest of learners. 

Our pupils may have a range of learning needs but primarily, many students have missed large aspects of their education prior to attending Oakwood School and so they often begin their  education here with attainment levels and skills that are significantly below average (for their age and starting points). 

The aim and values of Oakwood School are focused on maximising every individuals’ potential to develop into a confident, secure, well-adjusted and skilled young person who will make a positive contribution to society and live as independent a life as possible. 

Oakwood School delivers a differentiated curriculum, which is closely aligned with our pupils’ levels of ability, interests and aspirations. It is broad, balanced, and relevant to needs and designed to have integrated therapeutic support as necessary and a focus on developing resilience and preparing pupils for the next stage in their lives. This specialist curriculum is tailored to our pupils’ individual needs and based on a person-centred planning framework.