Promoting Community CohesionPromoting Community Cohesion

Schools as a Schools as a Gateway to Gateway to stronger stronger

communiticommunitieses

Pat NormanPat Norman

Projects DirectorProjects Director

Oxford Community Oxford Community SchoolSchool

Oxford Community Oxford Community SchoolSchool

East Oxford communityEast Oxford community

• A little ‘A little ‘East End of LondonEast End of London’’• Culturally very mixed Culturally very mixed • Asylum seekers and refugees Asylum seekers and refugees • Small businessesSmall businesses• Low skills levels, high Low skills levels, high

unemploymentunemployment• Poor health profilePoor health profile• Early school leavingEarly school leaving

Oxford Community Oxford Community SchoolSchool

• Comprehensive secondary school in Comprehensive secondary school in Oxford CityOxford City

• 1075 on roll1075 on roll• 47% BME47% BME• 43% English not first language43% English not first language• 32 Special Needs register32 Special Needs register• 5% statements5% statements• 24% Free School Meals24% Free School Meals

Community Cohesion Community Cohesion Plan Plan

• Open the school every day all year Open the school every day all year 6am – 10pm6am – 10pm

• Work with ALL groups in the Work with ALL groups in the community in partnershipcommunity in partnership

• Curriculum as a tool to promote a Curriculum as a tool to promote a common understandingcommon understanding

Open the school all year Open the school all year to everyoneto everyone

• Change the EthosChange the Ethos• Change the staffingChange the staffing• Almost 300 user groupsAlmost 300 user groups• Financially self sufficientFinancially self sufficient• Most people know we are thereMost people know we are there

One weekend at One weekend at Oxford Community School . . .Oxford Community School . . .

6 Oxford United 6 Oxford United youth football youth football teams in on teams in on

Sunday Sunday morningmorning

Chinese Chinese Language Language

School in on School in on Sunday Sunday

afternoon.afternoon.

And more….And more….

An Asian An Asian WeddingWedding

Adult Education Adult Education from Oxford from Oxford UniversityUniversity

And during the week . . .And during the week . . .

The fabulous The fabulous

Art RoomArt Room

A production for A production for Primary School Primary School

youngstersyoungsters

And at night . . .And at night . . .

Ballet ClassesBallet Classes

Support from Support from

The Oxfordshire The Oxfordshire Dyslexic Dyslexic

AssociationAssociation

And during the holidays . . .And during the holidays . . .

Sports coaching in Sports coaching in conjunction with conjunction with the City Councilthe City Council

Tennis coaching Tennis coaching in conjunction in conjunction with the City of with the City of Oxford Tennis Oxford Tennis

ClubClub

Reach out - Work with ALL Reach out - Work with ALL groups in Partnershipgroups in Partnership

• Schools and FE and HESchools and FE and HE• BusinessesBusinesses• FaithsFaiths• Local, Regional + National Local, Regional + National

GovernmentGovernment• Health and Social servicesHealth and Social services• PolicePolice• Sports clubs and associations Sports clubs and associations • Community groups + CharitiesCommunity groups + Charities

Curriculum as a tool to Curriculum as a tool to promote better promote better understanding understanding

• PSHEPSHE

• Specialism – Business and Specialism – Business and EnterpriseEnterprise

• Student Forum/CouncilStudent Forum/Council

• FacultiesFaculties

It impacts upon levels of It impacts upon levels of achievement!achievement!

OfSTED Nov 2006OfSTED Nov 2006

‘‘Inclusion is at the heart of the school’s Inclusion is at the heart of the school’s beliefs and actions.’beliefs and actions.’

‘ ‘There are outstanding links with the There are outstanding links with the community, including partner schools community, including partner schools and businesses. These links are and businesses. These links are enhancing the school’s reputation and enhancing the school’s reputation and increasing motivation.’increasing motivation.’

OutstandingOutstanding