13th February 2013 MEDIA RELEASE FROM OASIS Oasis Romford Primary Free School Application Progresses to Interview

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Oasis Community Learning is delighted to announce that its application to open a new Primary Free School in Romford has progressed to the second stage of the approval process. The Department for Education has invited Oasis Founder, Steve Chalke, and the project team to an interview in early March. The outcome of the interview will be known in the late spring. Oasis has identified the need for a new primary academy in central Romford to meet the critical need for new school places. School place planning projections undertaken by the London Borough of Havering demonstrate the need for 150 new Reception class school places to be provided in the borough by 2016-17. The academy will have three forms of entry and be for children aged 4-11 years, opening with an initial intake of 90 Reception class children in 2014. The school will cover the National Curriculum and prepare pupils for national tests and examinations at all levels. The school will be fully inclusive, accepting children irrespective of faith or ability. Oasis will engage with local partner organisations to develop aspects of the primary curriculum in innovative and exciting ways which all children will benefit from regardless of their starting points. Oasis hopes to offer nursery provision on the site in partnership with a local provider. The proposed new school will be the cornerstone of Oasis new community hub in Romford, which we will be developing over the coming years to provide a range of integrated community services in the town Oasis consulted extensively in Romford between October and December last year, meeting parents at nurseries, playgroups, pre-schools in the town. More than 400 local parents have signed up in support of the proposal to date. The application is also supported by Andrew Rosindell MP, and by the London Borough of Havering. Oasis is confident that it will be able to secure a suitable site in the area and has entered into preliminary discussions with the relevant parties. Oasis is continuing to encourage local parents and members from the wider community to sign up in support of the proposal. This can be done online through the website: www.oasisacademyromford.org. Steve Chalke, Oasis Founder said: I am thrilled that the Department for Education are keen to hear more about our proposals for a new primary academy in central Romford and we look forward to discussing our application in detail with them. I would like to thank all the parents and local residents who have backed our proposal this far we know how much they want this school, and we look forward to continuing our discussions with Havering Council in order to meet the critical need for primary school places in the town. I would also encourage others to show their support for the application by registering their interest online or contacting the team.

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MEDIA RELEASE FROM OASIS Oasis Primary Free School Application Progresses to Interview Stage Editors notes: 1. Oasis Community Learning operates 26 academies in Bristol, Southampton, Grimsby, Oldham, Salford, Waterloo, and Birmingham. A number of new academies are in development and will join the group during 2013, including the groups first secondary Free School, Oasis Academy South Bank in Waterloo. 2. Oasis Community Learning is part of the family of Oasis charities. For more information about Oasis Community Learning go to: www.oasiscommunitylearning.org 3. Oasis Trust was established in 1985 and is now a group of charities working to deliver education, training, youth work, health care and housing in 10 countries around the world. 4. For further information on Oasis Academy Romford, please contact: Lucia Glynn Tel. 07973 940779 lucia.glynn@oasisuk.org.

5. Follow the progress of the new school by reading our website www.oasisacademyromford.org, on Twitter: @OasisAcademyRomford and on Facebook page Oasis Academy Romford.