We understand the importance of transparent communication during this period. We will regularly communicate with you about any new developments. If you have any questions, please contact the office officeadmin@olchs.co.uk

Mr Andy English
Headteacher

Catholic Life

Since returning to school after the Christmas holidays, Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 have celebrated Mass on a Tuesday morning with Fr Jean. In his homilies, he has explored various themes with students, including what it means to be a Christian in the modern world, and the importance of prayer in our community. 

Assemblies have focussed upon Catholic Social Teaching, including the Care of Creation, Dignity and Solidarity and Peace. We have reflected upon very important and topical issues such as Holocaust memorial, Racial Justice and the need for peace in our world. 

The choir continues to grow and are preparing new hymns which will enhance the liturgies, Masses and other events we are planning throughout the year. Thank you to Sr Karen and Mr Tempest-Roe for their hard work and dedication.

In the first week back after half term, students attended special Lenten services led by Sister Dominic and Sister Karen which focused upon the need for prayer, fasting and giving as we prepare ourselves for the most important feast of Easter. Students also had the opportunity of going to Confession, and we thank Fr Jean for making himself available for this important sacrament.

We will be undertaking special Stations of the Cross services in small groups to help prepare students to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Lenten Easter Egg Appeal

We are now well into the important liturgical season of Lent and our school community is preparing for Easter in various ways, including through prayer and liturgy, but also through our acts of charity and service. Our main planned charity event during this Lent will take the form of an Easter Egg appeal.

We would like each pupil or family to donate at least one Easter Egg before Friday 15th March. Eggs will then be distributed to local charities, who will help to deliver the eggs to families and children in need.

Pupils should bring their eggs into school and hand them into the main office. I know that our school community comes together so well for these events, so I thank you in advance for your support.

Essay Competition

We are delighted to inform you that a panel of judges at Immersive Education selected Juanita’s (Year 12)  essay to receive a 20% Partial Scholarship! Congratulations to Juanita on this fantastic achievement. Her essay was one that stood out from thousands of entries and the judges were very impressed, Juanita should be really proud of the work she put in!

Creative Art Trip in Valencia

On the first day the students took part in a guided tour led by @elinelovesvalencia They explored the town, Valencia Cathedral and La Lonja de la Seda.

“Our guide was amazing and we all learnt a lot about the history of Valencia.”

National School Attendance Award

We are thrilled to announce that our school has been honoured with the National School Attendance Award. This achievement reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of attendance and engagement. Huge thank you to all students and their supportive parents/carers.

Attendance and punctuality matters

Being in school is important to your child’s academic achievement, wellbeing, and wider development. There is evidence to suggest that regular school attendance is a key mechanism to support young people’s educational, economic and social outcomes.

Attendance and punctuality reminder: 

• Arrival at 8.30am = late
• Students MUST arrive at school before 8.29am
• If a student is late she/he will have a detention at lunchtime in C28 the next day
• Failure to attend the late detention = a one hour detention after school 
• If a student arrives at school after 8.45 (16 minutes late) she/he will receive an additional TRUANCY detention.
• Truancy detentions are one hour after school. 

Summer Exams Preparations

The below exam day checklist will help students to be prepared for their upcoming GCSE exams in May. Possession of unauthorised items, such as a mobile phone or any watch, is a serious offence and could result in disqualification from your examination and your overall qualification. The mobile phone will not be given back to the student. A parent/carer will have to collect the phone from the school.

What to do if your child arrives late for an exam?

If your child thinks she/he may be late for an exam, remind them to contact the school as soon as possible. Depending on how late your child arrives, she/he may or may not be allowed to sit the exam. Ensure your child store the school’s telephone number in their mobile phone: 020 8800 2158

If, in an emergency, someone needs to contact a student taking an exam, parents/carers should call the school directly and never the student.

A candidate who arrives after the start of the examination may be allowed to enter the examination room and sit the examination. This is entirely at the discretion of the centre.

A candidate who arrives late and is permitted by the centre to sit the examination, will be allowed the full time for the examination. A candidate who arrives very late will not be permitted to sit the examination.

A candidate will be considered very late if he/she arrives:

a) more than one hour after the awarding body’s published starting time for an examination which lasts one hour or more, i.e. after 10.00am for a morning examination or after 2.30pm for an afternoon examination;

b) after the awarding body’s published finishing time for an examination that lasts less than one hour.

Contingency Days Summer Exams 2024

Please note there are 3 contingency sessions within the Summer 2024 exam timetable:

• the afternoon of 6th June and 13th June 2024 and
•  the morning and afternoon of 26th June 2024

The designation of ‘contingency sessions’ within the common examination timetable is in the event of national or significant local disruption to examinations. Candidates will be expected to make themselves available in such circumstances. 

Extra-curricular activities

We have a wide range of clubs and study activities for our students. See here our extra-curricular activities.

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Key Dates

• 1st March 2024 – National Offer Day Secondary School Place
• 7 – 8th March – Year 11 Mock MFL Speaking Tests
• 15th March 2024 – Last Day to Respond to the Offer
• 20th March 2024 – Year 11 GCSE Drama Exam
• 21st March 2024 – Year 11 Parents’ Evening
• 29th March – 12th March 2024 – Easter Break

Click here to view the term dates.