Oasis Academy Blakenhale recently marked a major milestone, celebrating 75 years of education, community service and generations of Blakenhale families!
The academy welcomed pupils, staff, families, alumni and distinguished guests - including the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zaker Choudhry for a commemorative event honouring the school’s rich history and its enduring role at the heart of the community.
The celebration reflected the academy’s ongoing commitment to excellence, inclusivity and community transformation, bringing together past and present to recognise the people and stories that have shaped Blakenhale since 1950.
The Lord Mayor met with pupils and staff, learning about the academy’s journey and its contribution to the Garretts Green community over the past seven decades.
Pupils then guided the visitors through a specially curated 75‑year gallery, showcasing original logbooks, photographs, artefacts and memories from across the decades. A picnic lunch with pupils followed, offering homemade sandwiches and warm conversation.
To celebrate the generations who have passed through the school, the day concluded with the ‘75 Years of Blakenhale’ Showcase, featuring the academy's very own shining star pupils, performing songs from the 1950s to the present day, including ‘Let’s Twist Again’ and ‘Saturday Night.’
Among the guests was 95‑year‑old Doreen Cheshire, a former Blakenhale staff member whose remarkable story embodies the resilience and compassion at the heart of the school’s history. Doreen began working at then, Blakenhale Junior School in 1965, supporting Reception pupils before training as a teacher - despite having missed much of her own education due to wartime evacuation. With encouragement from the then‑Headteacher, Mrs Gaskin, and the Vicar of St Thomas Church, she attended night school, gained her qualifications, and went on to become a headteacher in Erdington.
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Doreen attended the event with her family and was warmly welcomed by staff and pupils. Her presence was a powerful reminder of the individuals who shaped the school’s legacy.
The academy also welcomed Celia Cox, who taught at Blakenhale for 30 years, and Richard Hardingham, the son of the school’s first ever headteacher, Mr Hardingham, who officially opened the school building on 7th September 1950.
This was the first time the academy has hosted a celebration of this scale, bringing together former staff, residents, community partners, civic leaders and descendants of the school’s earliest leaders.
Bernie Thomas, Teaching Assistant at Oasis Academy Blakenhale, said:
“The celebration was fantastic. Seeing pupils proudly share the school’s history - and watching former staff reconnect with the community - was incredibly moving. It reminded us that Blakenhale has always been more than a school; it has been a family.”
Farzana Ahmed, Principal of Oasis Academy Blakenhale, said:
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate 75 years of Blakenhale. This milestone reflects our values of community, inclusivity and aspiration. Today showed exactly how our pupils, staff and families continue to thrive together, honouring our past while looking confidently to the future.”
The academy will continue to share stories, photographs and memories from the anniversary throughout the summer term. Families and former pupils are invited to contribute their own memories via the school office.