I am honoured and privileged to be the Head of OLA. I said this to pupils on the first day of term. I said this to staff. I have posted this on social media. And I am delighted to be able to say it to you.
OLA is an excellent school. Pupil achievement is excellent. Pastoral care is excellent. And what really makes this school excel, and how we can best demonstrate how wonderful OLA is, is through our pupils. They are quite simply fantastic. And that is why I feel honoured and privileged to be the Head.
One theme I would like you to bear in mind as we start a new school year is ‘Transformation’, and transformation not in the sense of change per se, but in all of us at OLA, pupils and staff, being the best that we can be, and all aspects the school being the best that it can be.
What makes OLA different?
- SMALL SCHOOL
- SMALL CLASSES
- FUN AND INNOVATIVE LEARNING
- HIGHLY PRAISED PASTORAL CARE
- FAMILY COMMUNITY
- CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN ETHOS
An excerpt from our Mission Statement: “To each according to their needs” … we nurture wisdom, the value of learning, independent thinking, a sense of self-worth and care for each other that all may reach their full potential.
Our Catholic ethos determines everything that we do at OLA. The child is at the centre of everything. We want pupils to make the most of their gifts in all areas of school life, whether it is academic, pastoral, extra-curricular, spiritually, as a friend, as a member of a family, as a member of a community.
I would like everyone to remember that we are ‘Catholic’ in its literal sense. ‘Catholic’ means ‘all welcoming’, and we welcome boys and girls from all backgrounds, faith and non-faith. Approximately one-third of pupils at OLA are Catholic, and it is a similar proportion amongst the staff. It is our ethos and our Mission statement that current parents and pupils value, and they value our Catholic foundation because it prepares them for a life of fulfilment and, importantly, a life full of opportunities taken, not wasted.
What do we mean by Transformation? Transformation is where each individual child is valued for who they are, and who they can be. An advantage of being a small school, with class sizes averaging 15, is that we get to know everyone. We know their strengths, their areas for development, and we know how to support them, motivate them, encourage them and challenge them in everything that they do. We have ambitious aims for our pupils, and we challenge our pupils in a caring and nurturing manner so that they can develop resilience and confidence over time.
At the start of term, I said to pupils: “Try to fail. Not try and fail. Try to fail. Have a go. Learn how to be challenged. Learn how to be resilient.“
As our founder, Catherine McAuley once said: “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
‘Educate’ means to lead out of the dark and into the light. As teachers, we are enlightening our pupils. Inspiring them in lessons. Supporting them pastorally so that they feel confident. Providing a plethora of co-curricular clubs and activities so that they can make the most of their gifts. Continuing with the theme of Transformation, our pupils can enlighten the lives of those around them, contributing positively to our school community, and to any community in which they live or work when they leave OLA. Enlightening a future world where our pupils have the qualifications, the confidence, the ability to speak publicly, the skills to work independently and as part of a team, the personal integrity to do what is right and, ultimately, the indomitable spirit to make a difference in the world.
All of our pupils are on a journey and we are walking beside them on their journey. A journey of exploration and discovery.
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”
Academically, we want to really kindle those fires and stir those burning embers to life. We want pupils to achieve. We inspire our pupils in lessons and also in the wide range of academic enrichment activities and events we offer. Academic enrichment is an area about which I am passionate, and it is an area which we will develop even more in the future. We will have seminars and conferences, competitions and prize essays, cross-curricular projects, debating, outside speakers, trips.
So that we have a firm focus on pupil achievement, we have recently restructured the Leadership Team and created a new role, Assistant Head (Academic). One key part of this role will be ensuring that we set ambitious targets for pupils, and that there is a rigorous tracking and monitoring system which will stretch our high-achievers and intervene to support those who need help. We will not allow anyone to slip through the net. Another key part is continuing to develop the quality of learning so that it is not only excellent now, but is excellent in terms of futureproofing our pupils. Pupils joining Year 7 next September will be going to university in 2028. Pupils joining Year 3, 2032. The world will be very different. Education will be very different.
And so, I am delighted to announce that OLA is aiming to become a Microsoft Showcase School engaged in digital transformation to improve teaching and learning. This is a fantastic goal for OLA to have as we would ultimately join an exclusive group of UK schools as well as a global community. OLA will also look to join the Microsoft Innovator Educator programmes, and participate in the Microsoft Imagine Academy which offers both staff and pupils courses aligned to Level 2+ certifications. We will be moving towards pupils and staff having one-to-one Microsoft Surface Go 2 devices.
Pastorally, pupils can contribute to their tutor groups, to Student Council, inter-house competitions, and chaplaincy to name but a few. Pupils value our pastoral care because we view them as individuals, and we are with them on their journey. When it is going well, we are there to encourage, and when it is difficult, we are there to listen, to support and to guide. Mental health awareness is an area we also wish to develop further. As part of our Leadership Team restructuring, we have also created a new Mental Health Lead, who will coordinate awareness training programmes for pupils, staff and parents.
In terms of co-curricular, recent Open Morning visitors had the opportunity to see our glorious choir perform in the Chapel; our own swimming pool which is right in the heart of the school; our newly redeveloped sports field; an international kayaker training; rowing erg machines, and; many other activities around the school. We will always look for new ways to develop our co-curricular programme.
At OLA we really do care. And that care extends into all aspects of school life. Whether you are Catholic or not. Whether you are a straight A* student or you find Maths to be a real challenge. Whether you are a county level netballer, a first XV rugby player, a musician, a chorister, an actor or actress, or maybe you like to read. Maybe, you like to create. Maybe, you like to be involved in fundraising for charities. If you have a Special Educational Need or disability. If you require mental health support. If you have no idea what you want to do. We care. We want you to be the best you. We want your child to be the best version of themselves.
Mr Daniel Gibbons, Head of OLA