Prospectus - Great Oaks College, Great Oaks College

About Us

We offer outstanding education, enrichment and therapies delivered by our highly skilled staff team.

Find out more

Learn With us

We will support students to identify where they want to be, as they take their place as adults in the community.

Find out more

Courses

Further Education opportunities to young people aged 19-25 with moderate, severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties, including autistic students.

Courses

Work with us

Make a positive difference every day

Work with us

Contact

We look forward to hearing from you

Contact

Check out our social media pages here

great.oakscollege

Great Oaks College offers further education to young people aged 19-25 with moderate, severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties.

🏉 A huge thank you to @stainesrugby for welcomi

🏉 A huge thank you to @stainesrugby for welcoming our Vocational 1 students as they prepare for their temporary college site from September 2025 to January 2026, while our new build is being completed.

Students are currently visiting the site to become familiar with their future environment—and we couldn’t have asked for a more inclusive, supportive setting.

By embracing the core rugby values—teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship—we’re creating a space where students with special educational needs feel safe, valued, and empowered to thrive.

🌱 Jayce and Heitor explored the vast outdoor areas where horticulture will take place.
🛋️ Jayce also enjoyed a quiet moment in the lounge area, with calming views of the picnic tables and rugby pitch.

This collaboration is about more than a building—it's about community, belonging, and opportunity.

#RugbyValues #StainesRugbyClub #SENDinclusion #VocationalLearning #Horticulture #GreatOaksCollege #CommunityMatters #NewBeginnings #InclusiveEducation #RFU #Surrey

Our students had the amazing opportunity to go sai

Our students had the amazing opportunity to go sailing this week with the support of Littleton Phabsail ⛵

For some, it was their first time ever on the water—and they loved it! Not only did they enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Littleton Lake, but they also learned important skills like water safety, how to put on a life jacket, and how to safely enter a boat.

This experience also contributes towards their @DofEuk Award 🏅

💡 Did you know? Many autistic individuals find water-based activities like sailing calming and therapeutic, helping to reduce anxiety and support sensory regulation.

Thank you, Littleton Phabsail, for making this possible!

#DofE #Sailing #ASD #Inclusion #OutdoorLearning #LifeSkills #LittletonPhabsail #GreatOaksCollege #autism #surrey #SailAway

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 We’re giving you a firs

🚧 Exciting times at Great Oaks College! 🚧 W

🚧 Exciting times at Great Oaks College! 🚧

We’re thrilled to announce that building work has officially begun at both our Sunbury and Hounslow sites! The builders are on site, setting up and preparing for the transformation ahead.

That didn’t stop us from sneaking in beforehand to capture some behind-the-scenes footage! 🎥 Keep an eye on our social media and website—we’ll be sharing videos soon, along with a sneak peek of what the spaces could look like once complete.

👀 Check out the pictures in this post for an exclusive first look!

This marks the next phase of our relocation journey, and we couldn’t be more excited. We’ll keep you updated every step of the way.

📩 Got questions? Feel free to get in touch!
👍 Like, 💬 comment, and 🔁 share our pages to spread the excitement!

#GreatOaksCollege #NewBeginnings #BuildingOurFuture #Sunbury #Hounslow #SpecialistEducation #RelocationJourney #surrey #Natspec #building #project

🎉🐾 Happy 6th Birthday, Samson! 🐾🎉 Thi

🎉🐾 Happy 6th Birthday, Samson! 🐾🎉

This time 6 years ago, during our very first year at Great Oaks College, we got the call — our college therapy dog Samson was born!

Since joining us in September 2019, Samson has made an incredible impact on both students and staff. From wellbeing walks, sensory stories, and photography clubs to dog grooming, desensitization sessions, and just being a calm, friendly face — he’s done it all.

Most importantly, Samson offers something truly special: a consistent, non-judgemental companion for everyone who walks through our doors. 💙

He's not just a therapy dog — he's a legend.
Here's to our all-round good boy. Happy Birthday, Samson! 🐶🎂

Want to learn more about the benefits of therapy dogs in education? 🧠🐕
Check this out: https://dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/2023/07/27/three-reasons-why-every-school-should-have-a-dog/

#HappyBirthdaySamson #TherapyDog #AnimalAssistedTherapy #GreatOaksCollege #Wellbeing #GoodBoy

🌲 Adventure Awaits at Great Oaks College! 🌲

🌲 Adventure Awaits at Great Oaks College! 🌲

At Great Oaks College, we’re proud to offer our students amazing opportunities to grow, build independence, and have fun — and our residential trips are a big part of that!

Some of our students take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, working toward both Bronze and Silver levels, while others head off to Avon Tyrrell in the New Forest for exciting outdoor adventures.

In preparation, our students have been taking part in special sessions where they practice essential expedition skills — from putting up tents and fastening clasps to the ultimate challenge: getting a sleeping bag back in its storage bag! 🏕️😄

Here’s a sneak peek at our DofE students getting expedition-ready for their big trip in the coming weeks! 💪✨

#GreatOaksCollege #DofE #StudentSuccess #OutdoorLearning #AdventureReady #LifeSkills #SpecialEducation #AvonTyrrell

🌟 It’s been a BIG month for Great Oaks Colleg

🎉 "BIG news! 🎉 Great Oaks College is happy

🎉 "BIG news! 🎉

Great Oaks College is happy to share that we’ve secured a £3.2m Loan from Big Issue Invest.

This landmark funding will allow the college to move to a new, purpose-built site in Sunbury-on-Thames, ensuring our continued ability to provide high-quality education and support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ranging from moderate to severe.

James Potter, Investment Director at Big Issue Invest, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership:

“We’re delighted to have made our first Social Impact Debt Fund IV loan commitment to Great Oaks College to allow it to transition to a new site and provide its students and staff with long term security.

“This loan will remove the uncertainty and challenges of a short-term leased site and allow Great Oaks to own, manage and invest in its site, providing the students with the opportunity to make the most out of their time at the college, opening doors for their future. This funding to a critical piece of community infrastructure in Surrey creates exactly the type of long-term impact we’re trying to make with Fund IV and across Big Issue Invest.

“The outcomes achieved by the students at Great Oaks College and the difference the college makes to their lives is why Big Issue Invest funds projects like this.”

🌟 Join Our Team! 🌟 We're hiring for excitin

🌟 Join Our Team! 🌟

We're hiring for exciting roles—come and be part of something amazing! 🎉

Apply now 👉 https://greatoakscollege.com/work-with-us/vacancies/

#NowHiring #OccupationalTherapy #Teachers #JobOpportunity #MakeADifference #greatoakscollege @the.rcot @tesnews

📢 How do you prepare for a job interview? Our s

📢 How do you prepare for a job interview? Our students at Great Oaks College spent the week learning essential skills for the workplace!

We’ve had a fantastic belated Careers Week at Great Oaks College!

At the start of the week, students practiced interview questions in class, explored appropriate interview attire, and learned how to speak and act professionally. They were supported with visual aids and communication tools to help them engage confidently during mock interviews.

On Thursday, we welcomed guest speaker Graeme from TSI world and @beesicehockey, who led a Q&A discussion on The Importance of Customer Service. He also conducted practice interviews to help students develop key employability skills, boost their confidence, and strengthen their self-esteem.

Friday brought another exciting opportunity, as Hollie from the London Steam Museum joined our Employability Coaches to conduct further interviews. Every student on the vocational pathway had the chance to participate, and they all did an amazing job!

A huge thank you to our wonderful guests and staff for making this such an enriching and valuable experience!

👉 What’s your best interview tip? Share in the comments!

#CareersWeek #EmployabilitySkills #FutureReady #InterviewSkills #WorkReady #GreatOaksCollege #SpecialEducation #SEND #InclusionMatters #LifeSkills #VocationalTraining #CareerPreparation

🌟 Empowering Independence at Great Oaks College

🌟 Empowering Independence at Great Oaks College! 🌟

At Great Oaks College, we ensure every student gets the specialist support they need to thrive. You may have heard of QTVIs (Qualified Teachers of Vision Impairment), but have you heard about Habilitation?

We work closely with @lindenlodgesch, a specialist school for students with visual impairments, to provide expert Habilitation support. This program helps students develop essential mobility and independence skills.

Meet Shyanne and Robert—two incredible students who have made huge strides! 🚶‍♂️✨ From mastering cane skills inside the college to confidently navigating outdoor spaces, they are building safety, confidence, and independence every day.

Both Shyanne and Robert are proud to use their canes—show them some love! ❤️ Drop a like and comment to celebrate their achievements!

Want to learn more about Habilitation? Visit https://habilitationviuk.org.uk/what-is-habilitation/

#GreatOaksCollege #Habilitation #VisualImpairment #Independence #Confidence #MobilitySkills

🌟 Careers Week at Great Oaks College 🌟 As p

🌟 Careers Week at Great Oaks College 🌟

As part of Careers Week, a group of our students visited @smartworkscharity, an incredible organization that helps unemployed women gain the coaching, clothing, and confidence they need to secure employment and transform their futures.

This annual visit has become a real highlight for our young women at Great Oaks College. The Smart Works team provided tailored support, ensuring our students could fully engage using their preferred methods of communication. They received expert interview coaching, professional styling—and best of all, they got to keep their designer outfits to help them feel confident and job-ready!

💙 A huge thank you to Smart Works for their ongoing support! Check out their amazing work here: smartworks.org.uk

#GreatOaksCollege #CareersWeek #SmartWorks #ConfidenceToSucceed #Inclusion #EmploymentSkills #DressedForSuccess

🌞🐾 IL1 Enjoying the Sun at Heathrow SEN Farm

🌞🐾 IL1 Enjoying the Sun at Heathrow SEN Farm! 🐾🌞

This week, our Independent Living (IL1) group had a fantastic time at their weekly volunteering placement at Heathrow SEN Farm! They soaked up the sunshine while getting hands-on with their tasks—chopping food for the animals, watering the plants, and making sure everything was well cared for.

The highlight of the day? Meeting the newest additions to the farm—the alpacas! 🦙💛 The students loved getting up close with these friendly animals and learning more about their care.

Heathrow SEN Farm provides a safe and inclusive environment where students can develop essential life skills, build confidence, and connect with nature. Through activities like animal care and farm maintenance, our IL1 group gains valuable hands-on experience that supports their learning and independence.

Well done, IL1! 👏🌱🐓

💬 What’s your favorite farm animal? Let us know in the comments! 🐴🐖🐑 And don’t forget to like, share, and follow us for more updates on our amazing students! 💙

#GreatOaksCollege #IndependentLiving #HeathrowSENFarm #SENVolunteering #LifeSkills #AnimalCare #NewArrivals #Alpacas

📢💛 Celebrate #WorldDownSyndromeDay with us!

📢💛 Celebrate #WorldDownSyndromeDay with us! 💛📢

Today, we’re shining a 🔦 spotlight on some of our amazing students! Meet Luke, Sabrine, Nash, Daniel, Ithya, Simran, and Shreyan as we celebrate their individuality and achievements.

Keep an eye on our socials throughout the day to learn more about each of them in our stories! 👀💙💛 #WDSD #Inclusion #CelebrateDifferences #GreatOaksCollege #downsyndromeawareness

🎬🍫 Sensory Cinema Magic with Our Alumni! 🍫🎬

This half-term, our Student Union hosted a special Alumni Event for our Engagement for Life students—an immersive sensory cinema experience! 🎥✨

The chosen film? The new Wonka! 🍭🎩 This gave us the perfect excuse to go all out with chocolate-themed fun. Students enjoyed the movie surrounded by colorful props, the delicious scent of chocolate, top hats, glowing lights, and giant candy balloons—a true feast for the senses! 🤩

It was an unforgettable experience, planned by students, for students. Thank you to everyone who made it happen! 💜

📸 Drop a 🍫 in the comments if you love chocolate!
🎥 What film should we do next? Let us know below! ⬇️

#SensoryCinema #StudentUnion #AlumniEvent #EngagementForLife #GreatOaksCollege

🚨 Exciting News from Great Oaks College! 🚨

🚨 Exciting News from Great Oaks College! 🚨

We are dedicated to supporting our students—and that wouldn’t be possible without our incredible staff! 💙

That’s why we’ve expanded our team of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs)! 🎉 Our newly @mhfaengland qualified MHFAs met for the first time yesterday, and they’re not just here to listen—they’re planning activities and discussing ways to support staff well-being.

Working at Great Oaks is rewarding, fun, and exciting, but we know that life comes with challenges. It’s important to acknowledge these struggles and support each other.

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What do you do to boost your own well-being? Share your thoughts and ideas on how we can create a supportive environment for all!

#GreatOaksCollege #MentalHealthMatters #WellbeingAtWork #SupportingEachOther #MHFA #mentalhealth #wellbeingmatters #GOC #FridayFeeling

🚀 Amelia’s Amazing First Steps in the Rifton

🚀 Amelia’s Amazing First Steps in the Rifton E-Pacer! 🚀

Today was a huge milestone for Amelia—her first time using the Rifton E-Pacer, and she absolutely smashed it! 🎉👏

As soon as she got into the E-Pacer, she began propelling herself forward using both legs—an incredible achievement for her first go! 💪✨ While it's a new challenge, she’s already showing determination and progress.

The Rifton E-Pacer helps build strength, confidence, and independence, and we’re so excited to see how Amelia continues to grow with it. Stay tuned for her journey—we’ll be sharing another update as she gets more comfortable! 💙

Let’s celebrate Amelia’s achievement! 🎉 Drop your encouragement and support in the comments! ⬇️ #AmeliaOnTheMove #RiftonEPacer #CelebratingProgress #greatoakscollege
Music from Bensound.com

⭐ Information Session for Parents ⭐ We’d li

⭐ Information Session for Parents ⭐

We’d like to invite the parents of young people attending the college and will be remaining in the autumn term to an information session about the upcoming relocation.

The college is hosting three information events to answer any questions parents might have about the relocation.

During these events, we’ll share timelines and plans and give parents the opportunity to have their questions answered. The same information will be shared at each event.

Note - Open only to parents who's young people currently attend the college and will be remaining in the autumn term.

Please contact us if you are interested in attending:

📧 relocation@greatoakscollege.com

🏉🌹 Taizyer came to college today proudly wea

🏉🌹 Taizyer came to college today proudly wearing the England Rugby rose to cheer on the men's team as they take on Italy! @englandrugby

Who are you backing in this clash? Drop your predictions below! 👇🔥

#EnglandRugby #RFU #ENGvITL #SixNations #GreatOaksCollege #GOC

Instagram post 17892758187190240

Instagram post 17892758187190240

Load More Follow on Instagram

NewOAK d1 347

Governance

GAC 434

Principal’s Welcome

GAC 215

Values and Vision

NewOAK d1 130

Leadership Team

GAC 197

Safeguarding

NewOAK d1 267

Mission Statement

© Great Oaks College 2025

Website by Design Image