Friday 23rd May

Dear Parents,

We are all delighted that OFSTED has recognised that our school is improving rapidly. The new leadership team has brought a sense of stability and direction, and our staff's dedication to professional development is creating a more conducive learning environment. Students are responding well to the clearer routines and expectations, and we are seeing positive changes in classroom behaviour and engagement. These improvements are a testament to the hard work and commitment of our staff and the support of our community.

You can find a copy of the report by following the link below.

This is also an incredibly important time for our Year 11 students who have started their GCSE's which will continue into June. They have been an incredible year group despite the disruption they have faced. When the world shut down in March 2020, our Year 11's were in Year 6 which meant they missed leavers parties, sports days, and the transition to secondary that is so important for many children. For some, education ended entirely, no online learning, no structure - just uncertainty. So, the usual excitement of going to secondary school was replaced by screens and restrictions. We all worked in bubbles and missed out on all the activities that make secondary school such an exciting place to be. 5 years later, our students have overcome one of greatest disruptions to education in living memory. They have shown the resilience and determination which will help them as they move into adult life.

Best wishes to our Year 11's for the rest of the GCSE period.

Mr Firth, Principal

Parent Survey

Please kindly take a moment to complete our parent survey by clicking the link below. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. The survey will be open to parents until Monday 2nd June.

Students inspire Parliament with their powerful views on child poverty

Students from Oasis Academy Lord's Hill took to the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, 22nd April, to directly address policymakers about the profound impact of poverty on children's lives and futures.

The event, hosted by The Children’s Society and Oasis UK, marked the launch of a significant new report, "A Chance of Childhood," which urgently calls on the Government to prioritise the lived experiences of young people as it develops its ongoing child poverty strategy.

The Year 11 students from Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill played a central role in the report, sharing their firsthand accounts of how poverty affects their community and countless others nationally. Their insights, included within the paper, highlighted the daily challenges and limitations imposed by financial hardship.

During the parliamentary event, Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill student said:

“We stand before you today not just as students, but as witnesses to the silent struggles of young people in our community trapped in poverty. Poverty is not just an economic issue; it is a cycle that suffocates ambition, crushes potential, and makes even the simplest impacts of home life unbearable.”

The event provided these young individuals with a crucial platform to directly convey the realities of growing up in poverty to key decision-makers, at a pivotal time ahead of the Government's planned Child Poverty Strategy. Their presentations were described as thoughtful and impactful, resonating deeply with attendees.

The event received significant attention from Members of Parliament, including Labour MP for Southampton Test.

Speaking at the event, MP Satvir Kaur stated:

“We can't continue to let down generation after generation of our young people. We must do everything we can to deliver a better and brighter future for all in Southampton, and this starts with putting an end to child poverty.”

"A Chance of Childhood" focuses on three critical areas of young people's lives: their experiences at school, at home, and within their wider community. The students from Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill emphasised the vital importance of inclusive, wraparound support systems to ensure all young people feel safe, happy, and empowered to flourish.

Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, expressed his gratitude, saying:

“We are so grateful to the young people who have helped give their important insights to inform our report as well as speak to MPs and peers in Parliament. We want the government to listen and really hear what these young people are telling us. We all need to commit ourselves to fight for the change we need, so that every child has a good childhood, free from poverty, and where they’re able to thrive, not just survive.”

John Parker, Director of Excellence at Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill in Southampton, proudly commented:

“Everyone at Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill is so proud of our fantastic students for openly sharing their experiences and growing concerns as part of The Children’s Society’s report. Serving a brilliantly diverse and resilient community in Southampton, we know all too well of the growing challenges our young people face, particularly linking to poverty and the cost-of-living. While we continue to ensure all our students have everything they need to remain proud, kind, and determined to thrive in and out of school, we welcome the government to keep listening to young people as they frame their policies as part of the Child Poverty Strategy."

Lizzie Whitbread, Strategic Community Development Lead - Oasis Southampton, said:

“The Oasis Academy Lord's Hill students were fantastic advocates for young people across our communities. They used their voices to challenge the situation of 4.5 million children living in poverty in this country and called for change to improve lives. They highlighted how poverty can impact school, family, and community life, and the need for a holistic approach addressing all these areas. They were a credit to their school and the community as a whole.”

Beyond their impactful presentations, the students were given a guided tour of Parliament and enjoyed engaging meaningful conversations with various MPs.

Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill students build financial awareness with HSBC UK

Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill students have gained invaluable insights and skills as part of a Financial Capability Programme delivered by British banking and financial services company, HSBC UK.

Tackling financial anxiety, the programme provided enthusiastic Year 7 to 11 students with essential financial awareness and management skills, encouraging them to foster confidence in their present and future financial decision making. This is set to bridge any opportunity gaps by empowering Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill students with the financial literacy tools they need to break down economic barriers and go onto lead financially secure lives.

Complementing the national maths curricula, the HSBC UK programme followed a financial education framework, supporting students to understand the value of money, perform financial calculations, understand different currencies, and interest calculations.

Each hour-long session upskilled Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill students by adhering to the HSBC UK learning framework of "introduce, discuss, and use", promoting interactive learning and the continuous development of ideas beyond the classroom.

Specific sessions as part of HSBC UK’s Financial Capability Programme included:

• Fraud & social media - Aimed at Year 7 & 8, this session guided students on recognising fraud, protecting their online identity and money, and highlighted the risks associated with money mules and the consequences of involvement.
• Household budgeting - Designed for students aged 11 to 14 (Year 9), this session helped young people comprehend regular household expenses such as rent, council tax, utility bills, and food.
• Banking 101 - Targeting students aged 11 to 16 (Year 10 & 11), this session built basic understanding of banking, borrowing, saving, and the significance of having a bank account.

Jennie Cole, Assistant Principal of Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill remarked:

"It was wonderful to see our student’s excitement and interest in the session’s content, which they all found really useful. We are so grateful for The HSBC UK team for providing our young people with incredibly valuable practical skills that will aid their personal development."

“At Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, we pride ourselves on delivering a truly inclusive education, that supports all of our students to thrive in and outside of school. Personal development sits at the heart of all we do, and we look forward to seeing how our young people implement their new skills in financial literacy as they go onto successfully navigate their next steps in life.”

Year 10 Girls Inspired to Get Active Thanks to Places Leisure Visit

Our Year 10 girls were given an exciting insight into the world of fitness and wellbeing this week, thanks to a visit from three members of staff from Places Leisure. The initiative aimed to break down perceived barriers to sports participation and highlight the diverse range of activities available to young people at their Romsey, Knightswood, and Eastleigh centres.

The Places Leisure team engaged with all the Year 10 students, holding an informative chat about common obstacles that can prevent girls from engaging in sports. Following this open discussion, they enthusiastically detailed the wealth of opportunities available to them. These include:

• Unlimited gym use during designated Junior Gym hours (for 11-15 year olds), complete with a necessary gym induction to ensure safe and effective training.
• Unlimited swimming at their state-of-the-art facilities.
• A variety of age-appropriate group workout classes, including the exclusive "We Move" sessions designed specifically for young people.
• Free access to the Places Leisure App and Virtual Studio, which even features a dedicated "Big Sister" channel offering guidance and support.

The visit wasn't just about information; the Places Leisure team also put the girls through their paces with a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session. The energy in the room was palpable as all the Year 10 students actively participated, working incredibly hard and thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Teacher of PE, Mrs Toppin commented,

"It was fantastic to see our Year 10 girls so engaged and enthusiastic. The Places Leisure team were brilliant at connecting with them and showcasing the fun and accessible ways they can incorporate fitness into their lives. The practical HIIT session was a real highlight, and the girls clearly loved it."

Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill would like to thank Places Leisure for their support and for taking the time to inspire their students. This collaborative effort is a positive step towards encouraging young women to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle within the local community.

Year 7 – Mr Harding

As we reach the midpoint of a very sunny Summer Term, the hard work and positive attitudes of our Year 7 students continue to shine. It's been wonderful to keep celebrating your achievements through our regular reward systems. Over 70 Year 7 students have now spent a tutor time with me in the boardroom, enjoying a hot chocolate breakfast to recognise brilliant or improving attendance. This is a fantastic testament to your commitment to coming to school every day. Looking ahead, we also have the Paultons Park rewards trip to look forward to later in the summer term, providing a well-deserved opportunity for fun and celebration for those who have consistently demonstrated our academy values.

As we move towards the end of the year, Year 7 will also be undertaking end-of-year exams. These assessments are an important opportunity for them to showcase their learning and build a strong foundation for Year 8. While I encourage them to take these seriously, please be reassured that this is a chance for you to demonstrate everything you have learned, without any unnecessary stress, and we will support you through this process.

Have a lovely half-term break, and I will see you on 2nd June!

Year 8 – Mr Burton

As the new Head of Year 8, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the students over the past few weeks. It’s been a pleasure to see their energy, enthusiasm, and unique personalities shine through both in and out of the classroom. From lively conversations during break to impressive efforts in lessons, Year 8 has already shown great potential. Looking ahead to the next half term, I’ll be placing a particular focus on raising standards around punctuality and uniform, both of which play an important role in setting the tone for learning. We also have our Year 8 Parents’ Evening coming up soon, and I’m looking forward to meeting more of you and celebrating the progress your children are making.

Year 9 – Mr Genovese

As your Head of Year, I wanted to start by saying a massive well done for all your hard work and effort this term. I've been so impressed with so many of you, and you should be incredibly proud of what you've achieved.

As we head towards the end of the school year, it's a really good time to make sure we're all getting into those brilliant habits that set us up for success, especially as you start thinking about Year 10. There are a couple of things I've noticed that I know we can easily sort out together.

First up, looking smart in our uniform. Lately, I've seen a few ties hiding in bags, some skirts that aren't quite right for school, and a few pairs of trousers that seem to have been swapped out for other things. Wearing our uniform properly shows we respect ourselves and our school community. It gets us in the right mindset for learning. If there's any reason why sorting your uniform is tricky, please, please come and chat with me or your tutor – we're here to help.

Secondly, those mobile phones. They're amazing bits of kit, right? But, honestly, they're also a massive distraction in school, and they can really slow down your learning and how well you're getting on. We really need to make sure they're switched off and put away safely during the school day – not seen, not heard, not even a sneaky peek! Remember, if anyone urgently needs to get a message to you, they can always call the school office, and we'll make sure you get it straight away. This is all about helping you focus and do your absolute best.

And finally, a HUGE congratulations to everyone who's been invited on the end-of-year rewards trip! That's absolutely fantastic, and a real testament to your hard work and positive attitude. I'm sure it's going to be an amazing day out – you thoroughly deserve it!

Let's finish this year strong, Year 9. Keep being brilliant!

Year 10 – Mr Harris

Well done on making it through another packed and productive term! This one is always tough one as whilst it’s the shortest- we manage to pack the same amount of time, work and activity in! You all must be exhausted

Summer 1 is always a crucial period. With just under 11 school months until your first GCSE exams, every lesson, every revision session, and every bit of effort you put in now will pay off later. Keep pushing—you’re doing brilliantly. Remember don’t count the days- make the days count.

Here are some highlights/updates are:

• Shout-out to engaging in sparx readers! - We’ve started a literacy programme in tutor time and have started reading for leisure with sparx reader.
• Work Experience is on the horizon! Huge shout out to all of you that have managed to get placements, work experience is on the 30th of June and it’ll be fab to see you in the workplace, gaining invaluable experience.
• Upcoming mocks - One of the privileges of being your head of year, is that I am able to step into your lessons and see you in your element. In the summer 2 term, you will be having some mock papers to help you gauge where your strengths are so that you can enter year 11 prepared. You’ve got this, and this will be an excellent opportunity to show off your academic prowess!
• Let’s talk numbers - The average weekly positive points for Year 10 has been a whopping 493 this term!!! It is fab to see this trend carry on.
• In it to win it! – After seeing a brilliant increase in attendance over the last two terms, we took a slight dip in attendance as year group. Thank you to everyone striving for 100% attendance, your resilience is fab. You may be bored of my catchphrases by now, but school is like most things in life - you have to be in it to win at it.

Enjoy your well-earned break - rest, recharge, soak up some sun - along with a some revision. Looking forward to seeing you all refreshed and ready for the final term (EEK! You’re nearly Year 11s!)

Keep up the great work - see you next term for the final push of Year 10!

Year 11 – Mrs Knight

I've been so incredibly impressed with how you've all handled the first half of your GCSEs. You're showing great resilience and determination right now, and I know this can be a stressful time. It's clear you've been working incredibly hard, and the way you've conducted yourselves during the exams shows just how seriously you're taking this. I'm absolutely sure that all this effort you're putting in is going to pay off.

Looking ahead to half term – please, please try and get a bit of a break! I know there's still revision to do, but make sure you find some time to recharge. We need you back refreshed and ready to tackle these final weeks of exams.

Prom! I'm already so excited to celebrate with you all on Friday, 20th June. It's amazing to think about how much you've all grown as individuals over your five years here at Oasis Lord’s Hill. We've genuinely loved having you as part of our community.

See you all on Monday 2nd June.

The Summer term is a very exciting term with regards to Rewards. The FAB 4 programme is now embedded and it’s great to see so many students adding their tickets to the boxes to be in with a chance of winning some major prizes. This terms main prizes include a £100 AMAZON gift voucher, a Premium Women’s Perfume set/£20 voucher, or a Premium set of JBL Wireless Earphones/£20 voucher.

On Tuesday 6th May, it was a delight to take 25 winning students from the previous FAB 4 Easter draw to Southampton St Mary’s Stadium where they undertook a full tour of the stadium. It was a fantastic day, and we hope to do it again next year.

We are already looking forward to our end of year whole school assembly where a whole host of prizes will be given out to a large number of students. These prizes will include the main FAB 4 prizes, Footballs, Basketballs, Spray sets, Vouchers, Water Bottles and many more items up for grabs…….. Last year, well over 100 students received prizes in the assembly and we hope to go even bigger and better this year…

Mr Parker

On Saturday 12th July we are holding a Fun Day. Inviting our whole community to come to the academy and take part in fun activities provided by many of the clubs and organisations that run locally. Come along between 11am – 2pm to try out new activities, meet with others in the community and have some fun together. There will be stands with activities, games, refreshments and a raffle. Please look out for further publicity in the coming weeks and let other friends and family know too.

If you are part of a local community group or activity club who might like a space at the event, please complete this form and our community team will be in touch.

We are three-quarters of the way through the year, and the Academy continues to be a hive of activity during the evenings and weekends with a range of clubs and activities taking place 7 days a week. Some recent highlights include Hampshire FA football tournaments, food festivals, dance competitions and Southampton City Council’s Early Years and Childcare Conference. With each event being attended by several hundred people.

Looking ahead, over half-term we see Testlands return with their holiday club. For more information and booking details please follow the link below.

The Academy will once again be the start and finish point for the annual Lordshill Road Runners 10k race on Sunday 6th July, with spaces still available using the following link Lordshill 10K Road Race 2025.

Some of our bookings begin to pause for a summer break very soon, this means that we have increased availability across several spaces including the sports hall, 3G astro pitch and theatre. Furthermore, we have been working hard behind the scenes rebooking slots for our existing customers for next year. This process is almost complete, which means that our calendar will soon be open, and accessible for people to book any free slots, so keep an eye on School Hire over the coming weeks!

If you interested in hiring any of these spaces over the upcoming months, or on a longer-term basis over the next year, please get in touch with billy.chafe@oasislordshill.org

Year 8 Parents' Evening – 5th June

City Sports Athletics Championship – 17th June

Year 11 Prom – 20th June

Natural History Museum – 20th June

Rewards Trip to Paultons Park – 25th June

Rewards Trip to Thorpe Park – 27th June

Year 10 Work Experience Week – 30th June - 4th July

City Wide Year 6-7 Transition Day – 2nd July

Sports Day – 11th July

Last Day of the Summer Term – 18th July

Term dates for the upcoming academic year are to be confirmed. Our website will be updated accordingly in due course. In the meantime, please refer to the Southampton City Council school calendar available here.