OAKDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough

Education Centre Information: Oakdale Primary School:

Establishment Type:Community School
Phase of Education: Primary
Status: Open
Local Authority: Peterborough
Boarders: No Boarders
Sixth Form: Does not have a sixth form
Urban/Rural Description: Urban > 10k - less sparse
Special Classes: No Special Classes
Religious Character: Does not apply
Nursery Provider: No Nursery Classes
Total Pupils: 198
Number of boys: 116
Number of girls: 82
Age Range: 5-11
Gender: Mixed
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Background:

The school was founded in 1969 in Stanground, an 'urban' area to the south of Peterborough, though most pupils are now accepted from outside the catchment area. The site is shared with Stanground College, where most pupils receive their secondary education. Oakdale serves a large percentage of Italian families and about one quarter of pupils have at least one Italian parent. To cater for this population, the school offers Italian language and culture lessons to all pupils and most take advantage of this. There are also 'very strong' links with the Italian Community Association. The curriculum is taught within a 'caring, purposeful framework', matched to each individual's needs. There is a computer in every classroom. All staff run extra-curricular clubs in lunchtimes or after school, including chess, choir, art and craft, French, keep fit and many sports. Pupils participate in several sports tournaments and music and drama festivals each year, and host the Peterborough Schools' Country Dance Festival. The whole school Christmas concert is performed over three evenings and two matinees to encourage the maximum audience to attend. Senior citizens are invited into school for this and other events. Each class is involved in at least one full day educational visit per term. The school 'welcome and encourage' parents to assist around the school and they benefit from an 'active, supportive' parent-teacher association. The annually over-subscribed school now provides for over 220 pupils, and has come a long way since its small size threatened it with closure eight years ago.