Our Lady’s Abingdon is a Catholic, co-educational day school located close to Oxford in the heart of Abingdon, welcoming pupils of all faiths and none. We successfully combine excellent academic achievement with huge strengths in the creative and performing arts and a broad range of opportunities beyond the classroom. Exceptional pastoral care and an innovative, inclusive culture underpin all that we do. Our Lady’s Abingdon proves that big things come from small schools, but what makes OLA different?
We are a small school, of just under 400 pupils – big enough to offer a wide range of subjects and activities, but at the same time small enough to mean that every child is known, valued, and cared for from the moment they join us to when they finish their school education. The size of the school also means pupils have every chance of being given regular opportunities to represent OLA in a wide range of activities. The co-curricular experience we offer is not just an ‘add on’, but an essential part of day-to-day school life. All pupils are encouraged to take part in a wide range of confidence-developing activities, including sport, drama, art, music, academic competitions, and other chances to thrive. There are a large number of clubs, both at lunchtime and after school, and many academic and extra-curricular trips. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is very popular, drama and art are particularly strong and our musical productions legendary.
Our class sizes are deliberately kept small, reflecting our excellent pupil/teacher ratio. This applies to all year groups, ensuring that children receive individual attention throughout their time at the school. Our teachers ignite pupils with fun and innovative learning, ensuring that they are fully engaged in the academic life of the school. The excellent results they achieve flow naturally from this. We are not an exclusively selective school, yet many of our pupils exceed expectations across the board. Particularly important here is the ‘Value Added’ OLA gives. ‘Value Added’ means what pupils achieve against baseline expectations. The Department for Education ranks OLA in the top 5% of the country for Value Added, an exceptional achievement.
What OLA is most famous for, is our outstanding system of highly praised pastoral care, which is at the centre of everything we do. At our last full Inspection, our pastoral provision was rated as ‘excellent’, the highest grade that can be awarded. As a Catholic school with a strong Christian ethos, we welcome pupils of all faiths and none, creating a real sense of a family made up of teaching staff, pupils, and parents. We see each child as a unique person, with gifts and talents to be nurtured, developing in our pupils' such key qualities as integrity, compassion, co-operation, and courage.
This is an exciting time to be working or learning at OLA. Formerly a convent school run by the Sisters of Mercy, we are now fully coeducational and governed by a board of lay trustees. As such, we have a unique position in the Oxfordshire independent schools’ landscape. Our Senior School offers a broad and balanced curriculum, with pupils taking ten or eleven subjects at GCSE/IGCSE. Pupils have a positive and purposeful approach to learning. Our small class sizes mean we are able to challenge and support according to individual needs. Our Sixth Form, which has grown in numbers in recent years, offers a curriculum that includes more than twenty A-level choices, the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and a well-planned enrichment programme.
Our Catholic ethos defines us and is at the heart of all we do. It inspires our mission, directs our work of teaching and learning and offers us a vision for the goal of human life. Across the curriculum, respect is given to the dignity of every person. We aim to develop the individual talents of each pupil, every child being seen as a unique human being, created by God with gifts to be recognised, valued, and nurtured. Pupils are encouraged to have high aspirations. They are expected to contribute fully to school life and participate in the wide range of enrichment opportunities on offer. As a result, pupils leave OLA as well-rounded, confident, and well-qualified young people, ready to face the challenges of the adult world.
OLA is a purposeful, outward-looking school with a happy, family atmosphere which gives children the freedom to develop within a structured framework. As our school motto says: age quod agis – whatever you do, do it well.
Telephone: 01235 524658
