Oak Lodge School for deaf and hearing-impaired students
The TLC 2009 project is Oak Lodge School in Balham, London
In 2009 we were keen to develop a relationship with a school in London, to join our ongoing projects in Cape Town and Shanghai, and keeping the project focus on children who face certain challenges.
Thanks to a friend of Tamar's, Ronke Phillips of ITN, we were put in touch with Oak Lodge School, based in Balham, South London.
Oak Lodge is a special school maintained by Wandsworth Council Education Department for deaf boys and girls between 11 and 19 years of age. The school has around 80 pupils, of all backgrounds and abilities - many of whom find themselves in the UK through extraordinary circumstances and many of whom don't speak English as their first language. The school also offers a 5 day boarding facility for 16 plus students, either on a long term or respite basis.
Oak Lodge is different in many ways from most schools - but what makes it most different are the children themselves. Cumulatively, 17 different languages are used. Of the children, 16% are refugees or asylum seekers, 27% of their families need a minority language interpreter support to access English, 95% of the student's parents need support to learn sign language, and all students need sign language to gain access to the schools curriculum. The school has been recognised by Ofstead as being exceptional, and its teaching and results commended.
Oak Lodge wants to enable its pupils to become independent and socially competent adults. Its goal is for all students to be able to earn a living, gain job satisfaction, enjoy their leisure time and be eager to continue learning.
Oak Lodge school, whilst extraordinary, is very ordinary in the respect that like most schools, they are short of resources, and in need of as much assistance as possible.