Oak National Academy: Free Resources for Every Teacher

Updated on  

January 27, 2026

Oak National Academy: Free Resources for Every Teacher

|

March 23, 2022

Complete 2025 guide to Oak National Academy - free DfE-funded curriculum resources. 10,000+ lessons, full curriculum sequences, and practical implementation guide for UK teachers.

Course Enquiry
Copy citation

Main, P (2022, March 23). Oak Academy: A teacher's guide. Retrieved from https://www.structural-learning.com/post/oak-academy-a-teachers-guide

What Is Oak National Academy and How Does It Help Teachers?

Oak National Academy is a free online teaching platform created by UK teachers that provides over 10,000 curriculum-aligned lessons, videos, and resources for pupils aged 4-16. The platform helps teachers save planning time, deliver quality lessons with zero preparation, and access materials that directly support the national curriculum without requiring any login or subscription.

Oak National Academy is an online teaching and learning platform built by teachers, for teachers. Originally launched in 2020 in response to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it quickly grew into a widely used curriculum support hub for schools across England. Designed for pupils aged 4 to 16, Oak provides a growing library of high-quality resources including video lessons, quizzes, worksheets, and lesson slides, that align with the national curriculum.

Key Takeaways

  1. Zero Prep Cover Lessons: Discover why over 80% of teachers turn to Oak Academy when facing unexpected absences and last-minute cover needs
  2. Beyond Generic Resources: Access 10,000+ lessons built by classroom teachers who understand your reality, not tech companies guessing what you need
  3. The Flexibility Factor: Transform Oak's curriculum-aligned materials into personalised lessons that match your pupils' specific needs, interests, and abilities
  4. No Login, No Barriers: Navigate straight to free resources without sign-ups or passwords: the overlooked advantage for busy teachers and independent student learning

The platform is managed by the Reach Foundation and was created to help schools keep learning going during lockdowns. But its long-term purpose goes further: to help improve pupil outcomes, reduce workload, and close the disadvantage gap by offering every school access to a comprehensive, . With over 10,000 resources spanning subjects from phonicsand early maths to GCSE science and history, Oak gives teachers a reliable, time-saving way to plan, adapt, and deliver engaging lessons.

One of Oak's major strengths is its flexibility. Teachers use it in a variety of ways: to support effective teaching strategies with proven pedagogical approaches, , to deliver structured remote learning, and, for over 80 percent of users, to set cover lessons with minimal preparation time. Because the platform is built by educators who understand the real classroom context, it offers practical solutions rather than generic content.

Crucially, Oak doesn't aim to replace teacher autonomy. Instead, it supports it. Teachers are encouraged to build from Oak's materials and adapt them to the needs, interests, and aspirations of their pupils whether that's through enrichment, scaffolding, or creative extension.

Three key things to know:

How Do Oak Academy Video Lessons Work in Practice?

Oak Academy video lessons are pre-recorded by experienced teachers and include clear explanations, visual aids, and interactive elements that engage students. Each video typically runs 5-20 minutes and comes with accompanying worksheets, quizzes, and slides that teachers can use as-is or adapt for their specific classroom needs.

What Subjects and Year Groups Does Oak Academy Cover?

Oak Academy covers all core subjects including English, maths, science, and humanities from Reception through Year 11, plus specialist subjects like computing, art, and languages. The platform offers complete curriculum sequences with lessons organized by year group, term, and topic to ensure systematic coverage of national curriculum objectives.

Hub diagram showing Oak Academy platform at center connected to six key features
Hub-and-spoke diagram: Oak National Academy Platform Structure and Features

In an age marked by rapid advancements in education technology and shifting pedagogical approaches, primary teachers are increasingly challenged to navigate the complexities of curriculum design and implementation.

Oak Academy is a revolutionary platform in the education technology sector, that offers comprehensive course offerings aimed at empowering educators with the tools and confidence necessary to facilitate mastery of a diverse range of subjects within the school curriculum.

As an authoritative body for curriculum resources, Oak Academy has partnered with leading education publishers to develop robust curriculum packages that cater to the unique needs of each classroom.

These packages encompass a wealth of material, granting teachers access to thousands of expertly crafted resources, designed to address the ever-evolving demands of a challenging curriculum. Furthermore, market impact assessment studies have demonstrated the tangible benefits of Oak Academy's innovative approach to curriculum planning and delivery.

With Oak Academy, primary teachers are supported in every step of the curriculum implementation process, from lesson planning to assessment. The platform's user-friendly interface streamlines the integration of interactive content, ensuring that educators can efficiently and effectively deliver a rich learning experience tailored to the diverse needs of their students.

By harnessing the power of education technology and embracing Oak Academy's comprehensive course offerings, teachers can confidently guide their students towards academic success and personal growth. The platform supports various approaches including project-based learning and develops students' metacognitive skills.

How Do Teachers Access Oak Academy Resources Without Login?

Teachers can access all Oak Academy resources immediately by visiting the website and browsing by subject, year group, or topic without creating an account. Simply navigate to the desired lesson, click to view materials, and download any worksheets, slides, or teaching notes directly to your device for immediate classroom use.

Oak provides a completely free, sequence of lessons, including online video lessons and resource for teachers and others who wants to learn or teach school students. The platform also supports vocabulary development and literacy skills, while incorporating formative assessment opportunities and social-emotional learning components.

To access the educat

Loading audit...

What Is Oak National Academy and How Does It Help Teachers?

Oak National Academy is a free online teaching platform created by UK teachers that provides over 10,000 curriculum-aligned lessons, videos, and resources for pupils aged 4-16. The platform helps teachers save planning time, deliver quality lessons with zero preparation, and access materials that directly support the national curriculum without requiring any login or subscription.

Oak National Academy is an online teaching and learning platform built by teachers, for teachers. Originally launched in 2020 in response to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it quickly grew into a widely used curriculum support hub for schools across England. Designed for pupils aged 4 to 16, Oak provides a growing library of high-quality resources including video lessons, quizzes, worksheets, and lesson slides, that align with the national curriculum.

Key Takeaways

  1. Zero Prep Cover Lessons: Discover why over 80% of teachers turn to Oak Academy when facing unexpected absences and last-minute cover needs
  2. Beyond Generic Resources: Access 10,000+ lessons built by classroom teachers who understand your reality, not tech companies guessing what you need
  3. The Flexibility Factor: Transform Oak's curriculum-aligned materials into personalised lessons that match your pupils' specific needs, interests, and abilities
  4. No Login, No Barriers: Navigate straight to free resources without sign-ups or passwords: the overlooked advantage for busy teachers and independent student learning

The platform is managed by the Reach Foundation and was created to help schools keep learning going during lockdowns. But its long-term purpose goes further: to help improve pupil outcomes, reduce workload, and close the disadvantage gap by offering every school access to a comprehensive, . With over 10,000 resources spanning subjects from phonicsand early maths to GCSE science and history, Oak gives teachers a reliable, time-saving way to plan, adapt, and deliver engaging lessons.

One of Oak's major strengths is its flexibility. Teachers use it in a variety of ways: to support effective teaching strategies with proven pedagogical approaches, , to deliver structured remote learning, and, for over 80 percent of users, to set cover lessons with minimal preparation time. Because the platform is built by educators who understand the real classroom context, it offers practical solutions rather than generic content.

Crucially, Oak doesn't aim to replace teacher autonomy. Instead, it supports it. Teachers are encouraged to build from Oak's materials and adapt them to the needs, interests, and aspirations of their pupils whether that's through enrichment, scaffolding, or creative extension.

Three key things to know:

How Do Oak Academy Video Lessons Work in Practice?

Oak Academy video lessons are pre-recorded by experienced teachers and include clear explanations, visual aids, and interactive elements that engage students. Each video typically runs 5-20 minutes and comes with accompanying worksheets, quizzes, and slides that teachers can use as-is or adapt for their specific classroom needs.

What Subjects and Year Groups Does Oak Academy Cover?

Oak Academy covers all core subjects including English, maths, science, and humanities from Reception through Year 11, plus specialist subjects like computing, art, and languages. The platform offers complete curriculum sequences with lessons organized by year group, term, and topic to ensure systematic coverage of national curriculum objectives.

Hub diagram showing Oak Academy platform at center connected to six key features
Hub-and-spoke diagram: Oak National Academy Platform Structure and Features

In an age marked by rapid advancements in education technology and shifting pedagogical approaches, primary teachers are increasingly challenged to navigate the complexities of curriculum design and implementation.

Oak Academy is a revolutionary platform in the education technology sector, that offers comprehensive course offerings aimed at empowering educators with the tools and confidence necessary to facilitate mastery of a diverse range of subjects within the school curriculum.

As an authoritative body for curriculum resources, Oak Academy has partnered with leading education publishers to develop robust curriculum packages that cater to the unique needs of each classroom.

These packages encompass a wealth of material, granting teachers access to thousands of expertly crafted resources, designed to address the ever-evolving demands of a challenging curriculum. Furthermore, market impact assessment studies have demonstrated the tangible benefits of Oak Academy's innovative approach to curriculum planning and delivery.

With Oak Academy, primary teachers are supported in every step of the curriculum implementation process, from lesson planning to assessment. The platform's user-friendly interface streamlines the integration of interactive content, ensuring that educators can efficiently and effectively deliver a rich learning experience tailored to the diverse needs of their students.

By harnessing the power of education technology and embracing Oak Academy's comprehensive course offerings, teachers can confidently guide their students towards academic success and personal growth. The platform supports various approaches including project-based learning and develops students' metacognitive skills.

How Do Teachers Access Oak Academy Resources Without Login?

Teachers can access all Oak Academy resources immediately by visiting the website and browsing by subject, year group, or topic without creating an account. Simply navigate to the desired lesson, click to view materials, and download any worksheets, slides, or teaching notes directly to your device for immediate classroom use.

Oak provides a completely free, sequence of lessons, including online video lessons and resource for teachers and others who wants to learn or teach school students. The platform also supports vocabulary development and literacy skills, while incorporating formative assessment opportunities and social-emotional learning components.

To access the educat

Learning Tools

Back to Blog

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.structural-learning.com/post/oak-academy-a-teachers-guide#article","headline":"Oak National Academy: Free Resources for Every Teacher","description":"Complete 2025 guide to Oak National Academy - free DfE-funded curriculum resources. 10,000+ lessons, full curriculum sequences, and practical implementation...","datePublished":"2022-03-23T15:06:11.997Z","dateModified":"2026-01-26T10:09:32.212Z","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Main","url":"https://www.structural-learning.com/team/paulmain","jobTitle":"Founder & Educational Consultant"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Structural Learning","url":"https://www.structural-learning.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b69a01ba2e409e5d5e055c6/6040bf0426cb415ba2fc7882_newlogoblue.svg"}},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.structural-learning.com/post/oak-academy-a-teachers-guide"},"image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b69a01ba2e409501de055d1/693feedb3e2e0e4c4c7e598f_673238b8f06fa006526b02ed_623b363f320ee707a11b882c_Plan%252520of%252520video%252520lessons.png","wordCount":3346},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.structural-learning.com/post/oak-academy-a-teachers-guide#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.structural-learning.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https://www.structural-learning.com/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Oak National Academy: Free Resources for Every Teacher","item":"https://www.structural-learning.com/post/oak-academy-a-teachers-guide"}]},{"@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://www.structural-learning.com/post/oak-academy-a-teachers-guide#faq","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Oak National Academy and who created it?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Oak National Academy is a free online teaching platform created by UK teachers that provides over 10,000 curriculum-aligned lessons, videos, and resources for pupils aged 4-16. Originally launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's managed by the Reach Foundation and built specifically by cl"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How can teachers access Oak Academy resources without creating an account?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Teachers can access all Oak Academy resources immediately by visiting the website and browsing by subject, year group, or topic without any sign-up or login required. Simply navigate to the desired lesson, view materials, and download worksheets, slides, or teaching notes directly to your device for"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What subjects and year groups does Oak Academy cover?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Oak Academy covers all core subjects including English, maths, science, and humanities from Reception through Year 11, plus specialist subjects like computing, art, and languages. The platform offers complete curriculum sequences organised by year group, term, and topic to ensure systematic coverage"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do Oak Academy video lessons work in the classroom?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Oak Academy video lessons are pre-recorded by experienced teachers and typically run 5-20 minutes, featuring clear explanations, visual aids, and interactive elements. Each video comes with accompanying worksheets, quizzes, and slides that teachers can use as-is or adapt for their specific classroom"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why do over 80% of teachers use Oak Academy for cover lessons?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Teachers turn to Oak Academy for cover lessons because it provides zero-preparation resources that can be used immediately when facing unexpected absences. The platform offers structured, curriculum-aligned lessons that require minimal setup time whilst maintaining educational quality and engagement"}}]}]}