Our key priorities are:

Safeguarding Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is of paramount importance. All aspects of safeguarding are rigorously monitored. Key elements include – safer recruitment, staff training, health & safety, risk assessments, provision of a safe space, promotion of healthy relationships, work with external agencies and reducing risky behaviour. We have a live safeguarding action plan that ensures that we keep this area of our work as our highest priority at all times.

High Expectations Students are encouraged to aim high on both a day to day basis and in their aspirations for the future. All year 11 students follow a programme leading to a minimum of 5 GCSEs, and more commonly 8. Students undertake baselines in all subjects on arrival so that they can be clear about their targets for improvement.. Small groups and supportive staff enable them to successfully address gaps in their learning and make rapid progress over their time with us.

Student Voice Students take an active part in decision-making about their own learning and their school environment. Opportunities for involvement include a formal school council, the Jack Petchey scheme, regular curriculum student voice activities and the tutor group programme. Our promotional video (on the website) features students talking about their experiences of Malden Oaks and gives a clear indication of their involvement.

Engagement We use outdoor education and a range of other practical and creative activities, to enable students to take risks, rise to challenges and learn from mistakes in a safe environment. Some of these activities take place within the formal taught curriculum such as GCSE PE and the weekly outdoor education day for our transition programme students.Other opportunities are delivered through our Wednesday afternoon activity programme and through off-site trips. This aspect of our work is the main focus of our Outreach (‘MOOT’) programme.