Welcome To Oakdale Comprehensive School
About Us
At Oakdale Comprehensive we have around 600 pupils, 40 teachers and 13 support staff making up the school community. The school occupies a large building and, as a result of the extensive refurbishment which is being carried out, we are able to enjoy a pleasant, safe and stimulating school environment. The school is also very adequately equipped and resourced. There are five science laboratories. In addition there are large and well equipped arts and crafts and technology workshops as well as a four purposely built I.C.T. suites. There is a School Library Resource Centre which archives books, videos, cd's and multimedia equipment and is home to internet-equipped computers for research.
Our school is situated on the outskirts of the village of Oakdale on the road linking Pontllanfraith and Crumlin. It occupies an elevated site, overlooking the Sirhowy Valley and the town of Blackwood. It was first opened in 1968 and has subsequently expanded with the addition of new teaching blocks. Oakdale is renowned for its strong community spirit which, as in other Welsh villages; emanated from its religious institutions and mining traditions. The Miners' Welfare, Library and Institute was built and financed from voluntary contributions, providing a focus for many activities. The original Institute has been carefully rebuilt within the grounds of the Welsh Folk Museum at St. Fagans. However the traditional miners' high regard for education remains embedded in the local culture and is enhanced by the strong links maintained with our partner primary schools. In 1975 the school became an 11 - 16 coeducational Comprehensive with post-16 provision available primarily at Coleg Gwent, Crosskeys located some seven miles away. The school is maintained by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
WE ASK ALL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY . . .
- to give of their best always;
- to engage and participate in as wide a range of activities as possible;
- to treat others as they themselves would wish to be treated.
WE ARE PREPARING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY . . .
. . . Have the skills to achieve their full potential:
- academically;
- in the world of work;
- in physical and cultural activity;
- as social and political beings.
Have the confidence, self-belief, flexibility and vision to create lives of quality for themselves and their communities..
All our endeavours are directed towards the improvement of teaching and learning in all its aspects in order to achieve our aims and fulfil our mission. The structures, strategies and support systems of the school must always be directed to this end for both staff and pupils. Our teaching and learning programmes are carried out in the knowledge of young people's present and future needs. We are aware that our purpose is to contribute to the mental, physical, intellectual and social health that allows them to develop into full and active citizens. This ideal of citizenship takes into account the context of a renewed and vibrant Wales and its place within the United Kingdom, Europe and a world characterised by rapidly advancing technology global communication and interaction. Care and respect for the whole planet and its people is a core value of our day to day activity.
-MANAGEMENT TEAM-
Headteacher
Mr C.M. David
Deputy Headteacher
Mr M.Davis
Assistant Headteacher
Mr M.Thomas
Business Manager
Mrs E.Paskell
PUPIL GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
YEAR 7 - Mrs E Lincoln - Progress Manager
YEAR 8 - Mr G Preece - Progress Manager
YEAR 9 - Mrs K Conway - Progress Manager
YEAR 10 - Mr S Davies- Progress Manager
YEAR 11 - Mrs P Darknell- Progress Manager
THE SUPPORT TEAM
The Support Team are paramount to the running of the school and consists of administration support, class supports, an EWO, Canteen Staff and Caretakers.
CLASSROOM SUPPORT
° Mrs D Skelton - Literacy / Numeracy Assistant
° Mr H Davies
° Mrs J Williams
LEARNING COACHES
° Mrs S Yamamoto
ADMINISTRATION
° Mrs M Presley - Headteacher's PA
° Mrs S Swidenbank - Senior Technician / Resources Administrator
° Mrs C Phillips - Examinations Officer / Assessment Administrator
° Mrs B Hampshire - Receptionist / Attendance Administrator
° Mrs L Davis - Finance / Administration Assistant
° Mr C Jones - IT Technician
° Mr D Jones - IT Technician
° Mrs Y Watkins - Librarian
LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT'S (LSA's)
° Miss Cath Chaplin
° Mrs Linda Cook
° Mrs Laura Richards
° Miss Steffie Wright
° Miss Nyree Jones
° Mrs Tina Martin
° Mrs Ceri Stuart
° Miss Jackie Gardner
° Mr Nathan Williams
° Miss Becky Morris
° Miss Jordan Hudd
EDUCATION WELFARE OFFICER (EWO)
° Danielle Davies
Our school is situated on the outskirts of the village of Oakdale on the road linking Pontllanfraith and Crumlin. It occupies an elevated site, overlooking the Sirhowy Valley and the town of Blackwood. It was first opened in 1968 and has subsequently expanded with the addition of new teaching blocks. Oakdale is renowned for its strong community spirit which, as in other Welsh villages; emanated from its religious institutions and mining traditions. The Miners' Welfare, Library and Institute was built and financed from voluntary contributions, providing a focus for many activities. The original Institute has been carefully rebuilt within the grounds of the Welsh Folk Museum at St. Fagans. However the traditional miners' high regard for education remains embedded in the local culture and is enhanced by the strong links maintained with our partner primary schools. In 1975 the school became an 11 - 16 coeducational Comprehensive with post-16 provision available primarily at Coleg Gwent, Crosskeys located some seven miles away. The school is maintained by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
WE ASK ALL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY . . .
- to give of their best always;
- to engage and participate in as wide a range of activities as possible;
- to treat others as they themselves would wish to be treated.
WE ARE PREPARING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY . . .
. . . Have the skills to achieve their full potential:
- academically;
- in the world of work;
- in physical and cultural activity;
- as social and political beings.
Have the confidence, self-belief, flexibility and vision to create lives of quality for themselves and their communities..
All our endeavours are directed towards the improvement of teaching and learning in all its aspects in order to achieve our aims and fulfil our mission. The structures, strategies and support systems of the school must always be directed to this end for both staff and pupils. Our teaching and learning programmes are carried out in the knowledge of young people's present and future needs. We are aware that our purpose is to contribute to the mental, physical, intellectual and social health that allows them to develop into full and active citizens. This ideal of citizenship takes into account the context of a renewed and vibrant Wales and its place within the United Kingdom, Europe and a world characterised by rapidly advancing technology global communication and interaction. Care and respect for the whole planet and its people is a core value of our day to day activity.
-MANAGEMENT TEAM-
Headteacher
Mr C.M. David
Deputy Headteacher
Mr M.Davis
Assistant Headteacher
Mr M.Thomas
Business Manager
Mrs E.Paskell
PUPIL GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
YEAR 7 - Mrs E Lincoln - Progress Manager
YEAR 8 - Mr G Preece - Progress Manager
YEAR 9 - Mrs K Conway - Progress Manager
YEAR 10 - Mr S Davies- Progress Manager
YEAR 11 - Mrs P Darknell- Progress Manager
THE SUPPORT TEAM
The Support Team are paramount to the running of the school and consists of administration support, class supports, an EWO, Canteen Staff and Caretakers.
CLASSROOM SUPPORT
° Mrs D Skelton - Literacy / Numeracy Assistant
° Mr H Davies
° Mrs J Williams
LEARNING COACHES
° Mrs S Yamamoto
ADMINISTRATION
° Mrs M Presley - Headteacher's PA
° Mrs S Swidenbank - Senior Technician / Resources Administrator
° Mrs C Phillips - Examinations Officer / Assessment Administrator
° Mrs B Hampshire - Receptionist / Attendance Administrator
° Mrs L Davis - Finance / Administration Assistant
° Mr C Jones - IT Technician
° Mr D Jones - IT Technician
° Mrs Y Watkins - Librarian
LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT'S (LSA's)
° Miss Cath Chaplin
° Mrs Linda Cook
° Mrs Laura Richards
° Miss Steffie Wright
° Miss Nyree Jones
° Mrs Tina Martin
° Mrs Ceri Stuart
° Miss Jackie Gardner
° Mr Nathan Williams
° Miss Becky Morris
° Miss Jordan Hudd
EDUCATION WELFARE OFFICER (EWO)
° Danielle Davies