Oakley School

18/09/2026

Headteacher Update: 18th September 2026

There is lots to celebrate and share from another busy week at Oakley School.

In this week’s update:

- We celebrate achieving our 5th Thrive Award, the Thrive Ambassador Award in Leadership
- We look ahead to our Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA) reassessment on Friday 2nd October, recognising the importance of working together with our families
- See how brilliantly our Caterpillars have settled into their class in Reception
- Find out about upcoming Makaton and First Aid workshops for families
- Read our latest safeguarding and wellbeing information
Plus, important dates and reminders for the term ahead

👉 Read the newsletter here:

Dear Families,

11/09/2026

We are delighted to share our first Headteacher Update of the 2026-2027 academic year!

From welcoming new families and celebrating an incredible pupil achievement, to sharing important safeguarding updates, Meet the Teacher events, family workshops and key dates for the term, there is lots happening across Oakley School.

You'll also see some wonderful examples of our pupils already settling into learning, building friendships, developing independence and enjoying their creative curriculum experiences.

Take a few minutes to catch up on the latest Oakley news and find out what's coming up over the next few weeks.

We are looking forward to another exciting year of learning, growth and achievement together.

📖 Read the full Headteacher Update here - https://sway.cloud.microsoft/c9fKPAXentDgkJMO?ref=Link

17/07/2026

🌻 The Final Headteacher Update of the Academic Year is Here! 🌻

As we reach the end of another incredible year at Oakley School, our final Headteacher Update reflects on the many achievements, memorable experiences and special moments that have made this year so memorable. From celebrating our remarkable pupils and dedicated staff to exciting visits, animal encounters, volunteering projects and community partnerships, there is so much to celebrate.

A huge thank you to our families, staff, governors, PTA, volunteers and wider community for your continued support throughout the year. Together, you help make Oakley such a special place.

📖 Read the final update here: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/DX1XJKlhLOvTDJ8X?ref=Link

10/07/2026

Our latest Headteacher Update is now available! 💚

What a fantastic week it has been at Oakley School!

After last weekend's incredible Summer Fair, we're delighted to share that together we raised an amazing £3,005 for our Tonbridge Playground Project! 🎉 The fair truly showcased Oakley at its best, bringing together pupils, families, staff, local businesses, volunteers and community groups for a fun, inclusive and welcoming day. Thank you to everyone who supported the event, donated prizes, bought raffle tickets, volunteered their time or simply came along to enjoy the day.

We're also celebrating two very special annual events held at Trinity Theatre this week:
⭐ Oakley's Got Talent – where pupils took to the stage to sing, dance, sign and perform with confidence, courage and pride. One parent perfectly summed up the day by sharing how their child learnt "how to be brave and about friendships."
🎓 Leavers Ceremony – a beautiful evening celebrating our Phase 4 pupils and recognising their incredible achievements as they prepare for their next steps.

We also celebrate our fantastic Work Experience Fortnight. We would like to extend a huge thank you to all the employers, organisations and community partners who welcomed our pupils and provided such valuable experiences. From AXA and Southeastern to Scotney Castle- National Trust, Folly Wildlife Rescue, Aspens Charities, The Amelia Scott, The Oaks College, MINI Stratstone Tunbridge Wells, Kia Sidcup and North Kent College, their support helped our young people develop confidence, independence and employability skills whilst demonstrating just how capable and inspiring they are. We are incredibly grateful for these partnerships and the opportunities they create for our pupils.

This update also includes:
🌻 Information about our special day remembering Harry
🌳 The opening of the new sensory garden at Dunorlan Park
🏆 Success in the Tunbridge Wells in Bloom competition
🍽️ A spotlight on our Therapy Team's "Fun with Food" sessions
📅 Important dates for the end of term and September return

Take a few minutes to read the full update and celebrate the amazing achievements of our pupils and community.

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/CHXpQJmDG3t27QIL?ref=Link

💚 Thank you for being part of our Oakley family.

06/07/2026

💙 THANK YOU, OAKLEY COMMUNITY! 💙

What an incredible day we had at the Oakley School Summer Fair on Saturday! ☀️🎪

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated prizes, supported our fundraising activities, performed, ran stalls, and helped make the day such a success. The atmosphere was full of fun, laughter, friendship and community spirit – a wonderful reflection of everything that makes Oakley so special. The fair brought together pupils, families, staff, friends, local businesses, charities and community groups in support of our school.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our sponsors, supporters, prize donors and community partners. A special thank you goes to This Is Us - Youth Dance Company in partnership with Stopgap Dance, Singer Ben Paul Hill and the Rapid Relief Team UK for their support, as well as the T.S Brilliant (Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadets) who gave their time to help make the day memorable with a fabulous musical performance.

We are also incredibly grateful to the generous businesses and individuals who donated raffle prizes. Thanks to your support, our raffle featured an amazing range of prizes, including hotel stays, family days out, theatre tickets, activity vouchers, restaurant experiences, hampers and much more. Your generosity helped create excitement throughout the day and played a huge part in the success of our fundraising efforts.

The final fundraising total is still being counted, and we'll share this with you soon. Every pound raised will help us continue providing the very best opportunities and experiences for our pupils.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity and support. Together we demonstrated the true strength of the Oakley community and showed once again that Every Moment Matters. 💜

Craftsbymaddy
Princess Christian's Farm- Hildenborough

03/07/2026

As we look forward to tomorrow's Oakley Summer Fair, this week's update is packed with inspirational stories, exciting events and celebrations from across our school community. 🎉

Inside this week's update, you'll discover how our pupils have been developing independence through Work Experience Week, collaborating with local schools through the inspiring One World Project, and contributing to their local community by helping create a sensory garden at Dunorlan. These opportunities are only possible because of the dedication of our staff and the support of our wider community.

You'll also find details about tomorrow's Summer Fair, including live entertainment from the Sea Cadets Band, activities from This is Us, our fantastic raffle and the return of the much-loved Spencer Bear Auction. Every ticket purchased, donation made and volunteer hour given helps us continue creating exceptional opportunities for our pupils.

We are also delighted to celebrate a significant milestone in our Tonbridge Playground Project. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the commitment of our fundraising community, we continue to move closer to creating an inclusive and accessible playground for our pupils. We would like to offer a special thank you to the Bernard Sunley Foundation for their generous £5,000 pledge towards the project, bringing us a step closer to turning this vision into reality.

The update is a wonderful reminder of what we can achieve when families, staff, partners, funders and our local community work together.

💚 Take a few moments to read the full update and celebrate the difference we are making together.

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/E80RX2ppBbQhzYiH?ref=Link

26/06/2026

Our latest Headteacher Update is now live.

It’s been a week full of care, resilience and community spirit here at Oakley—and there’s so much to share. As well as important updates and reflections, this week’s update also shines a spotlight on some of the exciting things coming up very soon…

🌞 Summer Fair – Saturday 4th July
We can’t wait to welcome you for what is set to be an incredible day for our whole community!
We’re especially excited to have This Is Us joining us, bringing a fantastic line-up of inclusive entertainment including:

A welcome parade to kick things off
A youth dance performance
Dance-alongs, party games and an open mic session
A Greatest Showman-inspired workshop
Live music and a fun-filled bubble party finale

There will also be creative activities running throughout the day, including LEGO play, glitter face art and a “Make Your Mark” station—truly something for everyone to enjoy together.

🎟️ Raffle – Amazing Prizes to Be Won!
Our Summer Fair raffle is packed with brilliant prizes—from exciting experiences to vouchers and hampers—all for just £1 a ticket!
👉 Be in it to win it and support our pupils at the same time
🧸 Don’t miss the Spencer Bear Auction!
We also have a huge 5ft Spencer Bear, kindly donated by Marks & Spencer, looking for a new home… make sure you get your bids in!

As always, the Headteacher Update also includes important information for families, key dates, and ways to share your views as part of the upcoming SEND inspection.
👉 Take a few minutes to read the full update and stay connected with everything happening at Oakley.

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/NHzcvoEv9mYOvpUG?ref=Link

We can’t wait to see you at the fair—it’s going to be a fantastic day! 🎉

Cant make the fair?....buy your raffle tickets here: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/oakley-summer-fair-raffle-2026

19/06/2026

Our latest Headteacher Update is now live – full of highlights including Sports Week celebrations, creative photography experiences, and important updates for families.
There’s also lots coming up that you won’t want to miss:

🍬 Sweet Donation Day – Monday 22nd June
🎂 Cake Donations – Friday 3rd July
🎉 Summer Fair – Saturday 4th July

🎟️ Summer Raffle – amazing prizes to be won! Buy your tickets here....https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/oakley-summer-fair-raffle-2026

Plus, don’t forget to check out the auction for our incredible 5ft Spencer Bear 🧸 and find out how you can support our outdoor project fundraising.

👉 Read the full newsletter here: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/VdsvaxP7jynVr9pa?ref=Link

Thank you, as always, for your continued support 💙

12/06/2026

It has been another fantastic and busy week at Oakley School!

From celebrating incredible pupil achievements to exciting enrichment opportunities and preparing for upcoming events—there is so much to share in our latest newsletter.

In this week’s update, you can read about:
🏹 Merryn’s amazing sporting success—now a British Champion!
✂️ A fantastic visit to North Kent College Hair Salon
🏃‍♂️ Sports Week and upcoming Sports Days
🎡 Our Summer Fair on 4th July
🎁 A call for hamper donations to help make the fair a success
💻 Important online safety information for families
There’s lots happening, and we’d love you to stay informed and involved.

👉 Read the full newsletter here:
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/YBk8BBZb7MMD1dV5?ref=Link

Thank you for your continued support 💚

05/06/2026

Welcome back to Term 6, our final term of 2025-2026.
The Headteacher Update is available to read, with lots of exciting updates from across Oakley School!
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/I1Zs6Cu07c7wbTte?ref=Link

From an incredible sailing trip to celebrating National Volunteer Week, there’s so much to catch up on. We’re also hugely proud of Darcie and her amazing fundraising challenge for our playground project 👏💙

📖 Please take a few minutes to read the newsletter and keep up to date with:

🎉 Our Summer Fair – Saturday 4th July
🧺 Ongoing hamper donations and key dates
🍬 Sweet Donation Day – 22nd June
📅 Sports Week and other upcoming events

Your support makes such a difference to our school community – thank you as always! 💙