Great Oaks College

Building Skills for Life Through Volunteering
Our LL2 learners, alongside Dylan, have been actively engaging in their volunteering placements and what a fantastic experience it’s been!
From promoting the Syon Park Foodies Festival through leafleting, to preparing animal food at the SEN farm, our learners have been developing a wide range of transferable life skills that will support them well beyond the classroom.
These opportunities help build:
✅ Confidence and independence
✅ Communication and teamwork
✅ Responsibility and time management
✅ Practical, real-world work skills
Volunteering not only strengthens employability but also allows our learners to contribute positively to their local community, gaining a real sense of achievement and pride in their work.
We’re incredibly proud of their enthusiasm, resilience, and the way they’ve represented the college out in the community. 👏

Wellbeing Wednesday
Last Wednesday, our staff came together for a wellbeing walk on our INSET day – showing support for our Deputy Principal, Rich, and his wife Sophie 💙
In July 2025, Sophie – a Speech and Language Therapist – was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. While going through radiotherapy and chemotherapy, she has shown incredible strength, raising nearly £25,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/sophie-sparrow-murr-2?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

The walk was a chance for us to stand together and show support. At Great Oaks, we don’t just support our students – we support each other too.
You can help by sharing this post and donating if you are able to. More information is available on Sophie’s fundraising pages .
Sophie Sparrow-Murr is fundraising for

🏫 Learning with Purpose 🏫

We love that our students have an active role in maintaining their college.

Our curriculum is designed to help students develop the skills they need for both work and everyday life, and our buildings play a key part in making this learning meaningful. There are no worksheets here – instead, students take part in real, purposeful tasks that make a genuine difference to their environment.

This hands-on approach not only builds practical skills but also encourages pride and ownership. You can see that pride in action, as our students work together to help maintain and care for their college.

☀️ Sun's out, fun’s in ☀️
Students have been making the most of the recent sunshine, taking their learning outdoors and embracing every opportunity to explore beyond the classroom. At Great Oaks College, learning happens in practical and purposeful ways, helping students to build skills for independence and employment, whilst enjoying their environment.
Learning in the sun brings so much positivity, energy and joy to our day.

🌟 Meet Jack, one of our fantastic new students at Great Oaks College!
Jack has settled in brilliantly, building strong relationships with staff—especially Alicia, who has supported him every step of the way. 💛
He’s made amazing progress, growing in confidence with listening, following instructions, and transitioning between activities. From using the college minibus to now walking weekly to the supermarket, Jack is becoming more independent every day!
With the help of social stories and visual supports, Jack is truly shining—what a superstar! 🌟

🐣 Our students had a wonderful Easter thanks to our Student Union! From sensory trails and hands-on experiences to photo frames with props and colourful activities, there was fun for everyone. 🌈📸
Check out all the smiles and joy from the day! 💛

🍴 Ihsanullah is loving our brand-new kitchen! He’s learning all about kitchen safety and hygiene—putting on his apron, washing his hands, and preparing his food safely.
He even walks to Tesco with his list to buy ingredients and makes delicious tuna and salad sandwiches for lunch. 🥪💛

🌟 Tala is thriving at Great Oaks College as she prepares for adult life! Since September 2025, she’s grown in confidence, independence, and communication.
With strong Makaton skills, life skills practice, and a clear daily routine, Tala is ready to take on the next chapter with determination and positivity. 💛

At Great Oaks College, ICT in the classroom plays a vital role in making learning accessible, meaningful and exciting for all of our students — particularly those on the Engagement for Life pathway.

Our students benefit hugely from specialist ICT equipment that supports communication, independence and interaction with the world around them. Switches are used for cause and effect, communication and even controlling the environment — you can see these in action in the photos.

Eye gaze technology empowers students to communicate their wants and needs, express likes and dislikes, and take part in fun, engaging activities. We also use a range of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tools, such as the Go Talk 4, to support every learner’s voice.

The Great Oaks Charitable Trust was set up to help our students truly thrive. However, this life-changing equipment comes at a cost:
• Eye gaze device: £8,000–£12,000
• Go Talk 4: around £200
• Big Mack switch: around £150

These essential tools are not covered by standard funding — but they make a life-changing difference every single day.
If you would like to help us continue providing these opportunities and make our students’ educational experiences even more special, please consider donating

https://www.justgiving.com/charity/greatoakscharitabletrust?msockid=28253c916f8660aa0f1c2af96e3d611e

We would also love to hear from any organisations or businesses who would like to support us at a corporate level and help us make an even greater impact.

💚🩷 Something WICKEDLY wonderful happened at Great Oaks! 🩷💚
Last week our alumni joined us for our 2026 Sensory Cinema 🎬
Organised by our Student Union, with the support of our wonderful teacher Agnieszka, this years film choice was Wicked and our hall was transformed into a magical cinema experience inspired by the Land of Oz.
Students immersed themselves in a world of green and pink, with sensory elements bringing the film to life. We even different scents for different scenes and characters, making the experience truly multi-sensory and magical.
It was so lovely to welcome some of our former students back to join in the fun and to see one of our beautiful new sites. Seeing everyone together made the day even more special ✨
There was just one request from our audience… that we take the show on the road and bring our magical sensory cinema to our Triangle site next! 🎥🌪️
Watch this space… because at Great Oaks we like to do things wickedly well! 💫