Oasis Academy Hadley in Enfield opens up its new home

The Enfield-based academy moved from its former site in Bell Lane to South Street in January and is accommodating both primary and secondary pupils at the new £25 million complex.

An open event held on Thursday was packed with entertainment from face painting to a bouncy castle for primary-aged students as well as a free international buffet for all those who attended.

Oasis Academy also showed off dance and drama performances from students, and welcomed members of the community to enjoy the range of activities.

The event was also used to raise money for Oasis Academy in Uganda.

Principal Lynne Dawes said the evening gave the academy a fantastic chance to embrace its community.

She said: “Everyone is very welcome and what we’re trying to do is make sure we are not a closed door where only students come.

“We have also opened a hub across the road where we are running more community activities such as classes to help people learn English.”

The principal also feels that despite only moving in six months ago, it has been “remarkably easy to settle in", down to the way the school was built.

Year 8 pupil Kannice Archer-Carneige said: “The best parts are the classrooms and the way they’re separated because it stops so much commotion and it’s less hectic with more space.”

The academy specialises in music, maths and IT and gives students the opportunity to take up free music lessons, whether to play an instrument or to sing.

Currently holding 1,200 students from reception through to A-Level, Ms Dawes believes this is a huge positive.

She explained: “What is lovely is we get to know the families here and build those relationships over the years.

“One of the big barriers is primary to secondary and the parents are not as involved there but we’re going to know the parents and they are going to know us.

“We can build long term relationships with families and help know the students so as they go through we know what their strengths are.”