Welcome to our website which we hope you find interesting and informative.

The Oaks Secondary School opened in 2005 in a new specially designed building. We are a large, local authority school, for young people with special educational needs. Our pupils attend from across South West Durham, with a significant number from further afield. We have achieved an ‘Outstanding’ grade from our last four Ofsted inspections. You can read our latest report in the ‘school’ section.

Today, The Oaks offers a diverse and enriched curriculum for over 340 pupils, supported by a wide range of accreditation opportunities. There are a number of different class models which ensure that individual pupils learning needs are met. This is supported by a strong ethos of inclusion and high expectations of learning and behaviour. Details of each subject and our exam and accreditation results can be found in the ‘curriculum’ section.

We endeavour to work in partnership with parents and professionals to create a positive learning experience for every pupil.   In the  ‘parents’ section of the site you will find essential information about school, local services and online safety. The dinner menu is also in the parents section and our catering staff will be happy to speak to you about your child’s dietary needs. Families can find additional information about social events and fundraising organised by Friends of The Oaks School (FOTOS).

In the ‘pupil’ section, you will find links to learning websites which will help to support learning at home. Please ask for our homework policy and parent leaflet if you would like more information. Information about each Family Group is also in the pupil section.

Statutory policies and procedures can be found in the ‘policy’ section . This area of the website also includes information about pupil premium, the Y7 catch up grant, how we comply with the Public Sector Equality duty and The Oaks School aims, vision and ethos statement.

The school entered a new phase in September 2015, forming part of The South West Durham Learning Federation in partnership with Evergreen Primary school in Bishop Auckland. Since then the Federation has expanded to include Croft Community school in Stanley. Mr Martyn Tweddle is the executive head teacher of all three schools. Click on the ‘federation’ tab in ‘home’ to find out more

We welcome your feedback, so please use the ‘contact’ tab to send us your suggestions or requests. In the meantime, enjoy browsing the blog.