Mathematician has his name on the door of new Academy

The borough’s second Oasis Academy has been named after a famous mathematician from Enfield.

The school, which will replace Albany School in September, will be called Oasis Academy Hadley after John Hadley who lived in the borough in the 17th century. The name of the academy reflects the new school’s specialism.

Lynne Dawes, the former headteacher of Albany School, has been appointed as the academy’s Principal Designate. She said: “With one of our specialisms being mathematics, information communication technology and music, it is fantastic that our academy’s name reflects one of our nation’s great mathematicians.
“It is our aim to provide students at Oasis Academy Hadley with the best resources to see them achieve as high a standard as Mr Hadley did, and more.”

Born in 1682, John Hadley invented the octant which later became the sextant, a navigational instrument for sailors. He was elected as vice-president of the Royal Society in 1728. He also built the first Newtonian reflective telescope.

Steve Chalke, founder of the Oasis Trust, said: “We are delighted to be involved in Enfield with the planned opening of Oasis Academy Hadley, and we look forward to working closely with not only the young people from the area, but the community as a whole.
“Oasis Academy Hadley will benefit from working with our other academy in Enfield, Oasis Academy Enfield, which, although a separate school, is very much part of the same Oasis family of schools.”
Glynis Vince, cabinet member for education, added: “We are very pleased the academy’s name celebrates the achievements of a talented person who, like so many others from Enfield, made a vital contribution to national life.
“The academy will help future generations of Enfield students realise their ambitions.”