At Oasis Academy Enfield, we’ve been thrilled to take part in This Girl Can Skate, a brilliant, pioneering 12‑week programme that has brought confidence, creativity and a real sense of joy to our students.
Working with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, Enfield Council’s public health team and Everyone on Boards, a group of our girls have spent the past term learning to skateboard, exploring creative workshops and building resilience in a supportive, empowering environment.
Last month, the girls completed their final session, and it’s been inspiring to see how far they’ve come. Many had never stepped on a skateboard before, but week by week their confidence has grown, not just on the board, but in themselves.
Year 9 student, Joyce, shared:
“We’ve learnt the basics, then some tricks, and now we can cruise around. It’s brought something different to our curriculum – it’s been exciting and fun!”
We were also delighted to welcome our local MP for Enfield North, Feryal Clark, who visited the programme a couple of weeks ago. She spent time with the girls, heard about their experiences and even tried out a board herself. Her encouragement meant a great deal to the students.
Ms Clark said:
“It’s fantastic! Some of the girls have never had a chance to skate and I’m absolutely delighted Spurs Foundation, along with partners, are providing this opportunity. It’s incredibly important to introduce young people to a variety of skillsets. I’ve had a go on a board myself and it’s not as easy as it looks, so the girls have clearly learnt a lot and built their confidence, whilst having lots of fun.”
Assistant Principal, Hanen Alaya, has seen the impact first‑hand:
“At the start, the girls were nervous to try getting on a board, but they’ve enjoyed it and they’re really confident now. Outside of the sessions, we’ve definitely seen them be more willing to put themselves forwards for other opportunities.”
“Initiatives like this are really important for us because a lot of our students come from a range of different backgrounds and having people come in to work with them is amazing for their development.”
The programme’s wider impact was also reflected by Simon Wears, Foundation Health and Wellbeing Manager:
“We’re incredibly proud of the progress these young women have made through This Girl Can Skate. By combining physical activity with creativity and wellbeing support, the programme creates a safe space for girls to express themselves, try something new and grow in confidence.”
For us, initiatives like this are about more than learning a new skill. They help our students discover new interests, build friendships and develop the confidence to take on challenges — all of which sit at the heart of our values.
We’re incredibly proud of every student who took part, and we’re excited to see some of them join the upcoming community skate jam, designed and hosted by participants from across the borough.
