7/10/22
Before COVID, I used to write a regular Blog which was posted here on the school website. This was quickly overtaken by regular, sometimes weekly letters home. I would like to return to using this medium of communication to talk about issues in school or education generally.
I would like to start with the emotive subject of school toilet facilities.
Over the last few years as we have refurbished our toilets in school, we have opted for a more open plan approach.
Many schools have removed gender specific toilets, favouring toilet areas that only have cubicles which can be used by any youngster and students have access to central hand basins. The central circulation areas outside of the cubicles is accessed directly off a corridor. Anyone, student or staff, walking down the corridor has visibility into the toilet circulation area.
The image here gives you a sense of what is possible to achieve given the money and a blank canvas. This is a new school building in Southend, Essex. The design premise is to reduce the number of areas around the school that cannot be monitored or checked upon. This reduces the risk to young people.
Remodelling the facilities in buildings that are 60 years old or more, like Oaklands, is not quite so straight forward. In addition to the limitations of the structure, moving services and drains is prohibitively expensive. This results in a compromise. When we refurbished the facilities in Newman Block, we maintained two individual sets, but similar to the design above, the circulation areas are visible from the corridors. They are designed to ensure that the dignity of the users is not compromised. The corridor and circulation areas are covered by CCTV.
When we refurbished the facilities in Thomas More Block a few years previous to this, there were an additional number of structural limitations which prevented us being so creative, however we were able to put vision panels looking into the circulation areas. Despite having visibility of circulation areas from corridors, in reality they can’t be watched all of the time. A number of parents have questioned whether we should increase the CCTV coverage into these circulation areas.
I would welcome your views.
- Work with St Peter’s Catholic Primary School – Miss Keogh works at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School to support their Catholic Life and celebration of the Sacraments. Students from St Peter’s also regularly visit the Oaklands’ Chapel.
- Year 8 Youth Alpha Course – as part of their RE curriculum time, all of Year 8 take part in a Youth Alpha course. One lesson a fortnight is with Miss Keogh in the Chapel, learning more about the Christian Faith and asking the ‘Big Questions’.
- Christmas Carol Service – all members of the Oaklands Community are most welcome to join us celebrate the truth and beauty of Christmas at a service of carols, readings and prayers.
- Residential Retreats to the SPEC Centre in London – SPEC is the Archdiocese of Westminster’s home of Youth Ministry. Year 10, Year 11 and Sixth Form are given the opportunity for a residential retreat experience – not to be missed!
- St John’s Week – a week in school (October time) dedicated to prayer and fundraising for our partnership School, St John’s, in Korogocho, Kenya.
- Commitment to Charities – the school makes a significant commitment to local, national and international communities. (Missio, CAFOD, & St John’s are just a few examples…)
- Aid to the Church in Need’s RED WEDNESDAY – the school always observes ACN’s annual Red Wednesday campaign with fundraising, wearing red, celebrating Mass and praying for persecuted Christians around the world.
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – regular opportunities for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, placing the Eucharist at the centre of all that we do as a community.
- Regular Visitors and Guest Speakers – the Chaplaincy often hosts guests, for example visiting priests, the Dominican Sisters, Franciscan Friars etc.
- Year 7 Teaching Masses – each Year 7 tutor group celebrate a teaching Mass together, as a way of welcoming them into the school community and helping them to understand more about the Mass and why we celebrate it together as a Catholic Community.
- Year 7 Romero Days – a two-day programme at the end of Year 7’s first half term at Oaklands with a focus on Catholic Social Teaching and Gospel values, to help students understand how God is in every aspect of their learning in school.
- Lenten Reconciliation – during Lent, all students and staff are offered the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession), or a confidential chat with a Catholic priest.
- Stations of the Cross – celebrated during Lent with each year group.
- Year 7 Pilgrimage to the Cathedral – all of Year 7 make a pilgrimage to St John’s Cathedral in Portsmouth in June to celebrate Mass together in celebration of their first year at Oaklands.
- Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes – students who have finished Year 9 are invited to participate in the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Diocese. Fundraising to support these students is carried out throughout the year.
- 1:1 spiritual support and pastoral care – Miss Keogh is always available to offer support and encouragement to all staff, students, parents and families.
- CAFOD Young Leaders – an excellent opportunity for aspiring leaders in the Sixth Form who want to put their faith into action and make a difference to the world.
- Romero Award – Mr Sumba (RE teacher) ensures that our school is doing its best to uphold and put into action Catholic Social Teaching.
- Staff Mass – once a month the staff gather to celebrate Mass together in the Chapel on a Friday morning before school.
- Staff Prayers – staff gather to pray for one another, our students and the needs of our school on a Tuesday morning before school.
- Parents’ Prayer Group – meet in the Chapel on a Friday morning at 9.00am. All are very welcome to attend.
