The Oaks ....

... is the Junior School of Frewen College, for children aged 5 to 11. We have our own buildings and grounds next to the main Frewen site, but we have full access to all the specialist facilities within the senior school.

Stop Press!!

As a result of the unprecedented demand we are seeing for places at The Oaks, we are now virtually full until September, although we will try to accommodate pupils who are already 'in the pipeline'. Places for September will be allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis, so you are advised to get your name on the waiting list as soon as possible.

To help us cope with the increase in pupils we have recruited another two excellent and experienced Teaching Assistants, Ligia Spirim, who comes originally from Brazil and is actually a fully qualified teacher and also a computer whizz, and Elizabeth Winwood, who has just joined us this term. Both have settled in very quickly and become a part of The Oaks family.

Worktime…

Children are taught in very small groups, by specially trained staff.  Our aim is to ensure that each child enjoys a full, happy and varied school life, both in and out of the classroom. 

Lessons are structured and differentiated so that Individual Education Plans can be implemented while pupils still experience the stimulation of learning together.  Pupils acquire sound literacy, numeracy and learning skills, and we extend learning through a wide range of visits, outings, and community-building activities. For some subjects such as Music and Games we use the facilities available on the senior school site, and we enjoy joining with Year 7 for singing.

… Playtime…

Playtime is just as important as class-time, in developing our community life and teaching a wide range of social skills. We have our own extensive play area, including a popular adventure playground, and make full use of the sports facilities at the senior school. We also enjoy making use of the brand new Sports Hall just across the road. We have a very enthusiastic Gardening Club, and have just started a bird spotting club to learn about the many different birds in our garden.

Our staff work hard to ensure that each child feels included and valued. Rewards and sanctions are carefully designed to build responsibility and self-esteem, alongside mutual care and respect.

…and Hometime

As we provide tailored education for each child and ensure that every pupil works as hard as they are able to at school, we believe that when they come home they should be allowed to relax and enjoy themselves.

Accordingly, unless we have agreed with parents that a particular child needs extra help in Year 6, we do not normally set homework. We prefer to ensure that pupils are able to come in each day fully refreshed and able to enjoy and concentrate on their work.

Theatre Arts

We are proud of our reputation for Theatre Arts, performing at least two specially written productions every year. Parts are written with specific children in mind, and this enables each pupil to enjoy starring in front of an invited audience of parents and friends, who are consistently amazed to see the confidence and skill displayed.

Moving on

We support children as they move on, whether into mainstream schools, or to our own senior school Frewen College, to continue building on the sound foundations laid at The Oaks. During Year 6 we give pupils opportunities to visit the senior school and start to build a relationship with some of the teachers who will be teaching them. We also have good relationships with a number of mainstream schools in the area for those able to cope with the transition to a non-specialist environment. 

Early Intervention

Techniques for early identification of dyslexia continue to improve.There is general agreement between educational experts that the earlier children can access specialist support, the better the outcome.

With this in mind, we have recently obtained approval to accept day pupils down to age 5/ Key Stage 1. We would be very happy to meet with parents of any children showing early signs of dyslexia, to discuss how we may be able to help.