Oaklands Catholic School & Sixth Form College

Oaklands is a Catholic Voluntary (Aided) School taking in boys and girls from 11-18, which has been established by the Diocese of Portsmouth for the education of Catholic children who live within the former designated parish catchment area allocated to the school.  In addition, Oaklands also takes in a number of children from other Christian denominations whose parents have specifically requested a catholic education at the School, provided that they satisfy the criteria laid down in the Governors’ Admissions Policy.

Oaklands has nearly 1300 students on roll, including a Sixth Form College of 180 students. It is a well established Comprehensive School, which is well supported by parents and highly respected in the community. Oaklands offers a full range of GCSE, AS and A2 Level courses. Students at all levels are provided with challenge and support as appropriate. The school’s success is rooted in a strong academic tradition.
 
The students are drawn from a very wide area extending from Hayling Island in the south to Petersfield in the north and from the Sussex border in the east to Denmead and Hambledon in the west.  This means that, although Oaklands is situated within the Parish of the Sacred Heart, Waterlooville, the school also takes in students from other Parishes such as St. Michael and All Angels, Leigh Park; St. Edmund’s Horndean; St. Patrick’s Hayling Island and St. Joseph’s, Havant, as well as from a number of other Parishes outside the original catchment area, including St. Coleman’s, Cosham; Sacred Heart, Fareham and St, Laurence’s, Petersfield.

The School is designated as 11-18 with the majority of Catholic children coming in Year Seven at 11+ from four principal contributory Catholic Primary Schools: St Peter’s in Waterlooville, St Thomas More’s in Bedhampton, St Paul’s in Cosham and St. Jude’s in Fareham, together with an approximate intake of 30% of children from other Christian denominations and other faiths.  A small number of Catholic children also come to Oaklands from local non-denominational primary schools.

The school stands within attractive and extensive grounds including woodlands and playing fields. Well-equipped specialist facilities are provided for all areas of the curriculum. In recent years the school has undergone a major expansion to provide an extra suite of RE classrooms, a tutorial base for Year 10. an additional Drama area, Health Suite, Sixth form college block, mathematics classrooms and Music Block. This year has seen the opening of the John Paul II building designed to accommodate Humanities and Learning Support. 

The Chapel, which has been refurbished this year, is a focal point of many of the School’s liturgical and other related activities. Oaklands is also fortunate enough to have a part- time Chaplain, as well as the services of a number of Parish Priests who share the roles and responsibilities of School Chaplain, and make a very valuable contribution to life at this school.  As a Catholic School, Oaklands endeavours to nurture the Christian faith, the growth of which commences in the home and develops in the life of the Parish Community, as well as in that of the School.

The aims of the school emphasise the importance of each student as an individual and the need to focus on and promote the spiritual, moral, intellectual, physical, social, personal and cultural development of each person entrusted to our care.  To this end, the teaching staff, who also have important roles as Form Tutors, endeavour to create a Christ centred learning community whose primary aim is to ignite a passion for faith and learning. At Oaklands we recognise that students have special and different gifts, we aim to develop them in a climate where they can be shared and personal achievement can be maximised, where difference is not just tolerated but celebrated. Students need to work within an environment where they can develop their unique God given gifts and feel lovable, loved, capable and valued members of the community. This occurs within a warm and caring environment in which all children can grow in confidence and trust, and achieve their true all round potential.
 
The School also recognises its responsibility to foster a Christian atmosphere, to equip the young students in its care to face the adult world with confidence and to play a responsible part in a society which is rapidly changing and holds a variety of different standards.  This confidence is shaped through a deep understanding of the relationship between faith and culture. Students are encouraged to further their faith journey. To this end Religious Education, Form and Year Assemblies, Year Masses and Liturgical services, Full School Masses, Residential Experiences, and Community Service are all important aspects in the life of the School.

At Oaklands extra-curricular activities are an essential part of a young person’s development and all students are encouraged to profit from the wide range of activities on offer. Whatever their talents and abilities there are opportunities to succeed.

The successful pastoral system at Oaklands is built on the strong partnership between the school, home and parish enabling each student to flourish. We believe that parents have a key role to play in the education of their child. The Year Head and Form Tutors, through the pastoral curriculum at Oaklands, emphasise with students the importance of self-discipline and responsibility and also the importance of care, concern and respect for each other at all times. Close parental links with the tutor and Head of Year are an essential ingredient of our success as a School