Friday 18th July 2025
Dear Parents,
As we reach the end of another academic year at Oasis Academy Lord's Hill, we want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. We are pleased to share that the school is on a positive journey of improvement, and we are proud of the progress our students and staff have made together.
However, one area we must all focus on next year is student attendance. Regular attendance is crucial for academic success, and we need your partnership to ensure that every student is in school, on time, every day.
Please keep up your reading during the summer holidays by using the books available on Sparx Reader and E-Platform.
We look forward to building on this year’s successes and working together to make next year even better.
Wishing you a restful and enjoyable summer break
Mr Firth, Principal
Additional support during the holidays
At Lord’s Hill, we are dedicated to supporting all our students, parents, and families. During the summer holidays, if you feel the need to speak with someone, seek support from a service, or require additional information, please refer to the providers listed below, which we hope will meet your needs.
Year 7 – Mr Harding
As the Summer Term draws to a close, we reflect on the end of a remarkable first year for our Year 7 students at Oasis Academy Lord's Hill. It's been great to watch them grow and adapt, already showing their readiness for Year 8.
This final half-term has been full of activity and achievement. Students put in a fantastic effort during their end-of-year exams, showcasing what they've learned and building a strong foundation for next year. Beyond academics, we celebrated their hard work with the Paultons Park rewards trip, started new Mario Kart parties for excellent attendance, and hosted a celebration party in the Sports Hall for over 40 pupils nominated by their tutors!
It's been a genuine privilege for Ysy, our Pastoral Lead for Year 7, and me to work with your children this year. We're incredibly excited to continue supporting them as they embark on their Year 8 adventure, and we can't wait to see them act as brilliant role models for the incoming Year 7s. As they head into a well-deserved summer break, please encourage them to rest and recharge. We look forward to welcoming them back in September as proud, kind, and determined Year 8 pupils!
Have a wonderful summer.
Year 8 – Mr Burton
As we come to the end of the school year, I want to say a huge well done to all of you in Year 8 for the progress you’ve made this year. You’ve continued to grow not just in your learning, but in confidence, maturity, and independence too. We’re really proud of everything you’ve achieved and the positive contributions you’ve made to our school community.
Over the summer holidays, make sure you take time to rest, recharge, and enjoy yourself—but please also remember to stay safe. Be sensible when you’re out with friends, stay aware of your surroundings, and always make smart choices, especially online. Look after one another, and don’t hesitate to speak to a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right. We want you all back in September, safe and ready for the exciting year ahead!
Speaking of which—next year brings one of the biggest milestones in your school journey: your GCSE options. While it’s still a little way off, it’s something you can start thinking about over the summer. What subjects do you enjoy most? What are you passionate about? We’ll be guiding you through the process next year, helping you to make informed choices that shape your future. Have a brilliant summer, Year 8—we’ll see you in September!
Year 9 – Mr Genovese
Year 9, it has been fantastic to work a little closer with you over the last few months, and it has been great to see so many of you push yourselves to be KS4 ready. We spoke a few months ago about how this year is about putting ourselves in a position to hit Year 10 running: GCSE courses, work experience, college taster days... We have so much to look forward to next year. Over the summer, spend time with your family and on yourself, relaxing and reflecting on the year just gone. As we get closer to September, take the time to ensure you are ready to go once more—find your tie and blazer again, charge your iPad, and make sure you get used to waking up early again! Be safe over the break.
Year 10 – Mr Harris
Well, here we are! At the other end of the year.
You've made it – you're Year 11 now and are the pinnacle of the school, about to embark on the final months of your secondary education.
It has been my privilege to be part of this journey with you, and I am proud of the young adults you are becoming.
At the time of this release, you will have exactly 150 school days until your first GCSE exam. Do not count the days down, but make each of these days count.
If you can say that you finish each of these days in a better place or position than the day before, then I cannot wish anything better for you.
This term has shown the biggest growth for you, whether it's your first taste of post-16 education, entering the workplace with work experience, or raising the bar in your attitude towards your first set of GCSE mock exams.
Your journey this year has been challenging, and you are, without a doubt, different from when I met you in November – you have grown, and our school community is better for having you in it.
Take some time off this summer to rest, have fun, and recuperate – but be sure to put in some groundwork so that you are ready for Year 11. This doesn't have to take up loads of time, but it could look like:
- Planning a revision timetable and sticking to it – consistency is key. Start with a small amount of time and then build up (30 minutes to 1 hour per week per subject). This will keep your skills sharp so you hit the ground running in September.
- Trying out different revision methods, such as flashcards, retrieval practice, and dual coding (associating pictures with your notes), so that you can see what works for you.
- Using your mock exam results to inform your revision and spacing it out so you're not covering everything all at once!
- As the holidays start to come to a conclusion, make sure you're getting back into a sleep cycle or routine so you're ready for school in the mornings (we'll be doing the same as teachers!).
I get that this sounds like a lot of time and effort, but it works out to about 30 hours over the holidays if you space it out (about 4% of the holiday).
Anyway, to finish off, it's been a fab term. It will always have been my honour to be part of this journey with you, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Be awesome,
Don’t count the days; make each day better than the day before.
Have a brilliant summer.
Year 11 – Mrs Knight
Class of 2025, I am not really sure I can put into words how incredibly proud and humbled I am to have had the privilege of being your head of year since your transition from primary school.
I hope you enjoyed our end-of-school celebrations: the leavers' event and prom, which I’m told is the best prom staff have ever been to!
We look forward to welcoming you back to the academy in August to receive your GCSE results. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all every success and luck for the start of your next adventures, whether that be college, apprenticeships, or working. Remember: always be you!
Staff Spotlight!
We are incredibly proud of our Curriculum Leader for Performing Arts, Ms. Holloway, who was privileged to be invited to speak at the Mayflower Theatre and Mayflower Studios staff conference.
The event, which took place on Monday, 9th June, at the Hilton Hotel at the Utilita Bowl, was a fantastic opportunity for Ms. Holloway to highlight the transformative power of theatre for young people in Southampton.
At Oasis Academy Lord's Hill, we are deeply proud to offer a wealth of enriching opportunities to our students, and we are equally proud of our state-of-the-art facilities that help nurture their talents.
Drawing on her experiences at Oasis Academy Lord's Hill, Ms. Holloway spoke about the importance of making theatre accessible to all, stating,
The more they experience in the theatre, the greater the impact on their emotional, social, personal, and academic development.
We are so grateful for our partnership with the Mayflower Theatre. Their support, including discounted performances, practitioner workshops, and transport bursaries, has been invaluable.
Watch the highlights from Ms. Holloway's powerful speech on our website.
Work Experience 2025
2025 saw the return of work experience (WEX) for Year 10 students. A large number of students successfully found themselves a work placement and immersed themselves in the world of work.
WEX aims to provide all young people with an opportunity to:
- Obtain a wider awareness of the world of work as part of their general education.
- Learn outside the classroom.
- Increase their economic understanding.
- Get a taste of a potential future career.
WEX can be one of the most transformational experiences young people have during their education. It builds their confidence, resilience and takes them out of their comfort zone to really develop life essential skills. A massive thank you to all employers who welcomed our students, and we had some great feedback and comments from all involved.
Watch this space for information about the 2026 offer!
Comments from a few of our employers
'Jordan's work placement was a really good experience, both cleaning teams were impressed with his willingness to learn and be part of the team, he was a pleasure to work with and showed maturity talking to clients, very pleased with how it turned out and he was a joy to work with....'
'He is doing well and has been turning up for his shifts. He would like to continue volunteering with them in the future. '
'Attending and is wiring plugs, running cables and is nearly a fully-fledged electrician'
'Doing very well, they're really enjoying having her there in the nursery.'
'CS has been amazing, she's chatty, confident & working really well with adults and students'
'Absolutely brilliant start to work experience, learning quickly, a real pleasure to have on board!'
'Attending, punctual, getting on well with staff and getting involved.'
Excellent feedback from HDSgreentech Ltd
'This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming our Year 10 work experience student, Ava — who threw herself into a full and varied programme with curiosity, attention to detail and a great sense of professionalism. From assisting with general office duties to shadowing our team on current projects, no task was too big or too small.
On the technical side, she gained valuable insights into building sustainability, focusing on Part L (energy efficiency) and Part O (overheating mitigation)—two essential pieces of the puzzle for designing smarter, greener spaces.'
It was a pleasure to receive this from ZoieLogic Dance Theatre
'Recently, we were delighted to welcome Noah for a week-long work experience placement with ZoieLogic Dance Theatre.
During his time with us, Noah fully immersed himself in both the creative and operational sides of the company. He took part in dance and choreography workshops, developed and presented his own original dance project, and gained hands-on experience in areas such as marketing, budgeting, advertising, and location scouting - offering a well-rounded insight into the inner workings of a professional dance theatre company.
As part of his placement, Noah shadowed our Rehearsal Director, Alex, during our FuzzyVision and FuzzyClear boys’ dance sessions, where he observed and supported teaching. He also joined a FuzzyLogic company rehearsal, learning repertoire from our recent production Enter Intelligence.
Noah also stepped into a performance role with FuzzyLogic at the Southampton Schools Dance Festival at Bitterne Park Sixth Form College - filling in for a dancer at short notice and performing on stage the very next day. He approached the opportunity with professionalism and confidence, delivering an excellent performance.
Noah also attended a live theatre production at Mayflower Studios, further expanding his understanding of the wider performing arts landscape.
Throughout his placement, Noah demonstrated enthusiasm, creativity, and a strong work ethic. We were thoroughly impressed by his commitment and attitude, and we’re very pleased that he’s planning to join FuzzyLogic officially when sessions resume in September.
We look forward to seeing what’s next for him.'
The Summer Term has been a busy time with regards to rewards, with various trips and activities taking place across the term. It is important for us at Lord’s Hill to recognise and reward students for their hard work, and so it’s great that we can offer such a diverse range of events.
One notable highlight was the end-of-year rewards trips, where 140 Year 7 and 8 students were taken to Paulton’s Park on Wednesday, 25th June, and then 115 Year 9 and 10 students attended Thorpe Park on Friday, 27th June. There were huge levels of excitement in the build-up to the trips, and the experience did not disappoint, with two fantastic days of excitement and fun. As always, the students conducted themselves brilliantly across both trips.
There were also many rewards activities throughout the term, with the SEND team and some Heads of Year delivering regular rewards activities in tutor time for selected students. Additionally, some students were invited to watch the matinee performance of Shrek during the last week of term, during the school day.
Our now annual whole-school assembly in the Sports Hall was a brilliant opportunity for us to celebrate a significant amount of student success across the year, with many categories of awards, including Sports Day medals and certificates, the introduction of our new tutor group attendance cup trophies and tutor group positive points trophies, the top engagement in learning students in each year group, the Principal’s Award, and of course our now-embedded FAB 4 Rewards prize draw. The main prizes on offer ranged from a £100 Amazon voucher, premium perfume sets and vouchers, to a premium set of JBL EarPods and vouchers. There were also several runners-up prizes won by students!
Mr Parker
Shrek Jr Show Week!
The final week of the academic year is always a big one for team performing arts, and this year we completed our end of year performance of Shrek the Musical Jr!
Over the last 8 months, the students have worked tirelessly to rehearse this fabulous show, and what an incredible journey it has been bringing the magical world of Shrek Jr. the Musical to life! Our talented cast, crew, and creative team worked tirelessly to deliver a show full of laughter, heart, and pure talent.
From the swamp to Duloc, the students shone on stage, showcasing their confidence, teamwork, and dedication to the performing arts. The performing arts at Lord's Hill is about so much more than just showcasing talent. Our mission is to bring the performing arts to all, both in and out of the classroom.
A huge thank you to everyone who supported the production—parents/carers, staff, and our amazing audience. Your energy and encouragement made this experience unforgettable and we are overwhelmed with some of the audience feedback.
We promise to continue pushing the boundaries and challenging our young people to engage with the performing arts, and we can't wait to share our plans for next year!
Here’s to celebrating the magic of theatre and the incredible talent within our school community!
Thanks to all the staff and fabulous pupils who took part in last nights production. It was great to see the pupils energy, enthusiasm and joy at preforming the show. Fantastic production filled with great singing and humour! - Audience Member
Southampton Dance Festival
On Thursday, 3rd July, our Year 10 GCSE Dance students had the amazing opportunity to perform at the Southampton Schools Dance Festival at Bitterne Park Sixth Form, alongside other schools from across the city. They were fantastic and represented our academy brilliantly. We’re so proud of all their hard work and enthusiasm!
On Saturday 12th July, in the very warm sunshine, the academy, alongside our community team, hosted a Community Funday. We welcomed families, students, and adults from across the community into the academy for a chance to take part in a whole host of fun activities provided by clubs and organisations in the area.
Activities included a chance to: take a closer look at the sun through Solent Amateur Astronomers’ telescopes; explore the world of fossils with the Southampton Mineral and Fossil Society; play football and other outdoor games with the Saints Foundation and local youth workers; hold stick insects with Southampton City Farm; play Mario Karts, pool, and air hockey with friends thanks to Mr. Parker and our student leaders sharing the rewards equipment; admire the creativity of Oaklands Wood Carving Club and Oaklands Art Club; relax with Suni Yoga and more. There were also fantastic performances from Liberty Bell Cheerleaders and Theatre Train. Ice cream, pizza, and candyfloss helped to keep everyone refreshed, and those with energy to spare enjoyed the bouncy castle and archery.
We would like to say a huge thank you to all the organisations who came along to share their interests and let people try out new activities, and to all the local businesses who donated raffle prizes. You all helped to make it a great day where children and adults of all ages were able to come together, have fun, and try out some new activities.
Sunshine, Sports, and Smiles: A Spectacular Sports Day
Despite soaring temperatures, this year’s annual Sports Day proved to be a resounding success, filled with fun, friendly competition, and community spirit. Students from across the school came together to participate in a wide range of activities, showing resilience and enthusiasm even in the blistering heat.
The day featured a mix of traditional events and outdoor games, with rounders, tug of war, and inflatables, to name a few. New additions such as darts, golf, and Jenga were also warmly received, offering something for everyone and adding a fresh twist.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated PE staff, who worked tirelessly before, during, and after the event to ensure everything ran smoothly.
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the day so special. - Mr Cook
College Taster Days
During the week commencing 7 July, students had the opportunity to visit Richard Taunton's, Southampton College, Eastleigh College, and Barton Peveril.
Following a bespoke timetable, students were able to access a range of taster lessons and explore the different colleges. It is never too early for our young people to see what opportunities are available for further study in their area of interest. This year, we had record numbers of students attending these days.
As we move into Year 11 and the autumn term, it will be time to think about next steps and college applications. Further information, forms from the colleges, and prospectuses will be available from September. We encourage all students to submit applications to one or more colleges. If your child does not already have a personal email, it might be worth helping them to set one up in preparation for their college applications.
Student quotes:
I really enjoyed my day here. I think I will be applying to come.
It was nice being able to wear my own clothes, and the food was great.
I was lucky and able to go to two different colleges, but now I know which one I prefer.
Industry Campus Visits - Solent University
Fashion Taster Day
The students joined Solent University for an exciting Fashion Taster Day at Southampton Solent University and discover a world of exciting career possibilities beyond the sewing machine. The activities included:
- Unleash your creativity: Learn about styling, photography, and the magic of fashion shoots.
- Learn about the digital world: Hear about the exciting world of social media marketing, influencer collaborations, and digital fashion from students studying those subjects.
- Get behind the scenes: Discover the breadth of courses on offer from business and branding to media, marketing and creative direction.
- Meet industry professionals: Network with successful fashion and beauty professionals and gain valuable insights into their careers.
Music Taster Day
Students had the opportunity to learn about everything that goes in to promoting and managing a major music event.
- Unleash your creativity: We'll help you to create a plan for a stadium show or music festival, considering not just the musicians that would appear at your event - but also important factors such as the location, audience and promotion.
- Learn about careers: Discover the breadth of careers and courses on offer in both the event and music industries.
- Meet current students: You'll also have a chance to meet some of our current students, who can tell you about their university life, work experience and career plans.
Nursing Taster Day
The students had access to their specialist nursing facilities, including a nursing simulation suite with a six-bed ward, GP consulting room, nurse's treatment room, care home bedroom, and a range of clinical equipment including simulation mannequins. They will also met current students and understand the opportunities on offer.
We are almost at the end of our year of bookings, and it has been a hugely successful one, with The Academy hosting more groups and events then ever. Recently, the Academy has proudly hosted the Lordshill Road Runners 10k race on Sunday 6th July, with approximately 1000 runners taking part, as well as a national karate grading event, an international yoga event and a number of end of year performances.
Looking ahead, on Friday 18th July, a Grand Slam Wrestling show is taking place in the theatre, tickets can be purchased here.
Over the summer, Testlands will be running their holiday club, with HAF places available. For more information and booking details please follow the link.
Throughout the summer, there is increased availability across all spaces in the academy, whether that be for football on our 3G astro turf pitch, badminton in the sports hall, or an event in our theatre. Please visit our school hire page to see prices and availability.
Our block bookings for next year have all been added to our booking system, and there is very limited availability remaining from September onwards. Please do check out school hire to see what slots remain available.
If you interested in what goes on at The Academy during the evenings, weekends and school holidays, please get in touch with billy.chafe@oasislordshill.org
Last Day of the Summer Term: Friday 18th July (12pm finish for students)
GCSE Results Day: Thursday 21st August
INSET Day: Wednesday 3rd September
INSET Day: Thursday 4th September
Year 7 and Year 11 only - start of autumn term: Friday 5th September
Year 7 and Year 11 day 2, Year 8, 9 and 10 - start of autumn term: Monday 8th September
Year 5 and 6 Open Evening: Wednesday 24th September
Term dates for the upcoming academic year can be found on our website.
Credits:
Created with images by kittiyaporn1027 - "Blue stage light background" • magann - "blue sky with sun and clouds background" • m________k____ - "Mark your calendar with a red pen."