We are delighted to announce our 23rd Quality Mark Beacon School: Oaks Park High School. Our Quality Mark review process confirms the schools’ quality provision for and evolving specialism in Holocaust education. Holocaust teaching and learning is effective and contributing positively to policy, curriculum, pedagogy and practice. As a UCL Beacon School Oaks Park High School offers learning experiences that are research informed and result in outcomes that are empathetic and insightful, where students have been inspired and empowered by knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust.

Oaks Park High School (OPHS) is a mixed, 11-18, comprehensive school situated in Newbury Park, Ilford.

The UCL Centre for Holocaust Education extend our warmest congratulations to Headteacher, Ms Joanne Hamill, and the whole school community on this prestigious achievement, and take the opportunity to outline 6 key strengths that should be celebrated and shared as best practice.

The Quality Mark identifies and celebrates many examples of best practice and innovation at Oaks Park High School and recognises areas for ongoing development and internal reflection, but we highlight here, by way of summary, 6 key strengths following a highly successful, positive and enjoyable review process:

1. The intent and implementation of the History curriculum, and, increasingly, across a range of subject areas, bares many of the hallmarks of deep thinking, planning, innovation and quality curriculum design.
2. Teaching and learning about the Holocaust is informed by research and embedded in UCL Centre pedagogic principles.
3. Drawing upon local history connections and making the history relevant through personal story are particularly strong and innovative features of Holocaust education provision and experience.
4. The Beacon School Lead Teacher’s passion, commitment and dedication for the business of effective, quality provision for and experience of Holocaust T&L – having taken on this curriculum, T&L development role during her ECT period has embraced the challenge has thrived.
5. Beacon School status is supported by Senior leaders and increasingly embedded within and seen as integral to the college’s values, educational vision, and culture. They recognise the need for continued professional development to invest in staff and thereby further equip their community of practice and build capacity to ensure this work embeds, adapts, and flourishes over time. They are rightly proud of all that has been achieved to date, but acknowledge the Quality Mark is not a destination, but an ongoing journey.
6. Primary liaison/transition and networking opportunities – reaching out and forging connections.

In addition to these strengths and those which will be cited in the full report, we would like to take this opportunity to recognise Lead Teacher, Miss Courtney Morton. Of Courtney, mentor Dr Andy Pearce said:

“It was a pleasure to work alongside Courtney on the Beacon School Programme and I am delighted that she has decided to pursue the Quality Mark. Her ambition to do so was clear from the start, and that she has managed to pull together an evidence base in such a comparatively short period of time very much speaks to her growth and development as an educator.”

Whilst Courtney has led and driven the schools’ Beacon work, in particular, the development of a scheme of learning – the success of the programme and its impact upon student knowledge, understanding, experience and outcomes, is thanks to a dedicated History team – whom she is rightly hugely proud of. It was entirely appropriate upon a successful Beacon School review a delighted Lead Teacher was full of praise for #TeamOaksPark:

“As lead teacher on the Beacon School programme, and then for the Quality Mark process, I am immensely proud of my role in guiding the department and the school alongside my SLT link during this process. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our colleagues who have supported this initiative. Additionally, recognition must be given to our students who spoke so insightfully during the student voice session, reminding us of the profound impact our educational efforts can have. This milestone reaffirms our commitment to teaching this crucial aspect of history, and reminds us of the journey that working closely with UCL has provided us with.”

Colleagues buy-in from across the school, with support of SLT Link, Ms Salise Hassan, and senior OPHS colleagues, always underpins successful and sustainable Beacon Schools. It was evident throughout the review that senior and middle leaders understood the potential rich benefits of integrated curriculum opportunities for Holocaust teaching and learning in supporting ongoing school development. Salise stated:

“We take great pride in achieving the UCL Beacon School status and Quality Mark for Holocaust Education. This significant accomplishment not only fills us with joy but also serves as a guiding light, inspiring us to move forward with an unwavering commitment to continuous growth and excellence in our educational endeavours. We recognise the collaborative effort that has brought us to this point and how the lead teacher role, undertaken by Courtney, has facilitated this. Being a Beacon School signifies not only a remarkable achievement but also a commitment to an ongoing journey of development. We understand that this designation marks a milestone in our pursuit of educational excellence, and we remain dedicated to the continuous improvement that this honour represents.”

This was echoed by Headteacher, Ms Joanne Hamill insightful reflections on the process and all is represents:

“We are deeply honoured to be awarded this prestigious status and Quality Mark as UCL Beacon School for Holocaust education, underscoring our pride in the accomplishments that reflect our unwavering commitment to educational values and a culture of inclusivity. Our dedication to excellence permeates every facet of school life, integrating best practices from diverse sectors to uphold the highest standards subject pedagogy. The rigorous evaluation process, complemented by valuable feedback, has not only objectively assessed our achievements but has also nurtured a lasting ambition to continually enhance our educational ethos. As we express our gratitude for this recognition, we look forward with enthusiasm to further building upon our successes. With a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and a strong educational foundation, we are poised to achieve even greater milestones in the future.”

The Centre commend all at Oaks Park High School for their evolving innovative and engaging provision and practice in Holocaust education, their desire to embed research informed practice, commitment to ongoing professional development, pastoral care and safeguarding, civics and leadership – their pursuit of values of ambition, courage and excellence is lived, not laminated.

Becoming a Beacon School at any time, is a significant undertaking at any time – to do so within a context of a tough and ongoing post-pandemic world, and a time of immense challenge and stress within the education system, and to pursue, successfully, is even more impressive and commendable. Successful accreditation is testimony to sustained hard work and innovation. Quality Mark Reviewer, Nic Wetherall remarked:

“Remembering, teaching, talking and learning about the Holocaust is uncomfortable. However, as individuals and as a community we must, today and every day, build social courage to ensure “Never Again”. Oaks Park High Schools’ successful Quality Mark process offers a timely reminder of what a school, a teacher, and a community can do. It was a pleasure to see all that has been achieved to date, but also refreshing to hear reflective, ambitious and innovative educators and reflective committed leaders consider next steps to ensure provision and practice continues to meet student and community evolving needs. Many congratulations to all involved.”

The full Oaks Park High School 2024 report can be found here.

The UCL Quality Mark scheme is a great way to celebrate and share best practice and is both developmental and forward looking. Beacon School alumni considering undertaking the

Quality mark process should contact Head of External Relations and School Partnerships Nicola Wetherall or read more here.