Oak 2025 - 2026

Welcome to Oak Class!

In Oak class we have ten wonderful pupils supported by myself, Hannah, Janette and Shamyana. We are all working towards a mixture of qualifications, which include Functional Skills, PDP bronze & gold and Personal Progress. This year we are proud to announce we are working alongside The Kings Trust, to deliver their Personal Development and Employability course – looking at modules in health & wellbeing as well as enterprise. All of these qualifications will allow us to undertake lots of fun, practical and engaging activities that will provide us with skills for the future.

In college we put a big focus on Preparation for Adulthood, building up our independence skills and how we’ll use these in the future. As part of this, we complete daily jobs around the college, take part in weekly in-house work experience with the site team & in forest schools and also have plans to take part in some work experience out in the community.

We have the opportunity for pupils to plan, shop for and then prepare their own lunch daily – if you think this would be an option you would like for your child, please contact me to discuss how it works. Pupils in college are also welcome to wear their own clothes if they wish to.

In the Spring term, we have a range of practical modules for our PDP accreditation. Such as, upcycling and restoring a variety of furniture with Julie on a Tuesday afternoon. We’re also going to be looking at how wages, taxes and pensions work as part of our number modules. As part of our enterprise project, we’re hoping to expand our breakfast menu, which is proving popular on a Friday morning. Every Wednesday over the Spring term we will be going swimming at Nick’s Swim School in Longridge – please ensure your child has appropriate swimming attire & a towel, in a clearly labelled bag.

We’re having a big push on revision for Functional Skills Maths and English this term, as our examinations start straight after the Easter break. Exam dates will be emailed out to parents this term.

If parents or carers have any queries, feel free to contact me on our class email: oak@hillside.lancs.sch.uk

James and the Oak Class team