Thank you for coming to our virtual Open Morning. It’s very good to have you here. So what makes OLA different? It’s a question we are asked very often.
Founded in 1860 by the Sisters of Mercy, OLA has been a beacon of Oxfordshire education ever since. We are a small, independent co-educational day school for students aged 7 to 18, offering a highly successful, fun and innovative learning experience within a happy and friendly community. This leads our students to achieve some exceptional academic results, guided as they are throughout their time at the school by our caring and dedicated teachers.
The school’s success comes from a combination of four factors which create the unique OLA learning adventure. Each child embarks on a journey that uncovers their full potential and nurtures them to achieve, enabling them to thrive both academically and as a person.
Small school: With under 400 pupils in total, OLA offers everyone the possibility of representing the school in a wide range of confidence-developing activities, including sport, drama, music, academic competitions and other chances to thrive, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Enterprise.
Small classes: We have a very high teacher to pupil ratio, meaning our class sizes are smaller than you will find elsewhere. OLA provides a more individual learning experience that fully nurtures academic potential and regularly delivers success beyond expectation.
Highly praised pastoral care: Our staff work closely alongside our pupils to encourage, motivate and support each child, helping them to grow as confident, successful and happy individuals.
Catholic Christian ethos: This is the foundation of everything we do, creating the family community so valued by OLA parents. The school accepts children of all faiths and none and helps them aspire to such values as integrity, compassion, openness, forgiveness, reconciliation, co-operation and courage.
I hope this helps you understand what we can offer to you and your family and that you enjoy the rest of your visit. If you would like to have a personal conversation with the Head of OLA you can find out how to arrange this under the Meet the Head section on our Virtual Open Morning page.
We hope to speak with you or see you again very soon.