For many young people in Liverpool, traditional schooling has been an unmitigated disaster – a recipe for disengagement and exclusion. But one pioneering alternative school is bucking this trend, offering a lifeline to those who've hit rock bottom. Oaktree Education Trust, situated in a grand Edwardian building overlooking Sefton Park, caters to 30 students aged between 11 and 16 who have struggled with mainstream education due to behavioural issues, persistent truancy, or bullying.
The trust's approach is fundamentally student-led, prioritising empowerment above all else. Pupils play an active role in selecting new teachers and shaping the curriculum – a radical departure from traditional schooling. A student council, complete with mock elections mirroring local authority polls, further embeds democratic principles within the school, requiring candidates to craft campaign slogans, design posters, and deliver speeches to their peers.
For students like Michael Nicholls, 16, Oaktree has been nothing short of transformative. Excluded from a mainstream school for four years due to disruptive behaviour, Michael credits the welcoming atmosphere at Oaktree, where he's developed a new passion for boxing – a far cry from his previous antics, which included throwing furniture.
The daily routine at Oaktree includes five academic sessions, interspersed with breaks and 'circle meetings' where students discuss problems and submit homework. End-of-term reports involve students commenting on their own performance alongside their teachers, promoting realistic self-assessment. The curriculum is broad and dynamic, featuring themed weeks that might delve into Spanish history one week or explore politics the next.
Other success stories include James Kinsella, whose ambitions have shifted from driving tug boats to planning for university, having previously refused mainstream secondary education. Sarah Haves, who was persistently truant for 16 months due to bullying and boredom, now harbours ambitions of becoming an architect. The trust's continued operation has been a testament to the dedication of its staff, including co-ordinator Fiona Watts, who re-mortgaged her house to secure Oaktree's future.