Headteacher's Letters

Dear Parents & Carers

Welcome back to the second half of the Spring term! I hope that all of our students have enjoyed a well-deserved rest and are feeling refreshed and ready for the weeks ahead. We are very much looking forward to working together during the five weeks leading up to the Easter break.

This is the shortest term of the academic year — just 25 school days in total — and every single day really does count. With such a short and important half term, excellent attendance is essential to give students the very best chance of academic success.

Each day builds on the last, and being present ensures that no learning is missed and that students remain confident, connected and on track. If you are experiencing challenges in supporting your child to attend school regularly, please contact your child’s pastoral team. We are always keen to work in partnership with families to ensure every student feels fully supported and able to succeed. Let’s make these 25 days count!

Catholic Life and Mission

The Season of Lent

As we begin the holy season of Lent, our school community joins the wider Catholic Church in a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Lent started last week on Ash Wednesday and is the forty-day period leading up to Easter. It invites us to reflect on our lives, grow closer to God, and prepare our hearts for the celebration of the Resurrection. It is a season of renewal—an opportunity to turn away from distractions, practise self-discipline, and show greater compassion to those in need. Lent encourages each of us to deepen our faith through small but meaningful sacrifices, acts of kindness, and a renewed commitment to living out Gospel values in our daily lives.

The Stations of the Cross

During Lent, form groups will visit the chapel and will pray The Stations of the Cross. Students will reflect on the key moments in Jesus’ journey from His condemnation to His crucifixion and burial. We will be using the Stations of the Cross that were blessed by Archbishop John Sherrington when he visited our school in January.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

During the second week of Lent, form groups will lead a Service of Reconciliation and on Tuesday 3rd March 2026, Fr. Kenny will be in the Chapel from 1.20pm to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to individual students.

Almsgiving

As part of our almsgiving, The Big Lent Walk will take place on 14th March 2026 10-12pm. Students in Y10 & Y11 are invited to take part. Fundraising during Lent will be for the Lourdes Group and for CAFOD.

Year 10 Parents’ Evening

Parents and carers of students in Year 10 are warmly invited to attend the Year 10 Parents’ Evening on Thursday 26th February 2026, from 4.00–6.30pm. No appointments are necessary. This is a valuable opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, and receive an update on their progress and next steps. Your involvement is vital in supporting your child’s learning, and we strongly encourage all families to attend.

Behaviour - Mobile Phones and Smart Devices in School – Parental Support Requested

As a school, we are fully committed to creating a calm, focused and safe learning environment for all students. In line with Department for Education (DfE) guidance, we do not allow the use of mobile phones or other smart devices in school. The DfE guidance on 26^th Jan 2026 stated: ‘All schools should be phone-free environments for the entire school day. That includes lessons, time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime’.

Why are we taking this approach?

• Mobile phones and smart watches are a significant distraction to learning.
• They are often linked to online bullying and other safeguarding concerns.
• Regular breaks from screens and social media are proven to support positive mental health and wellbeing.
• The government has directed schools to ban the use of mobile phones during the school day.

Our priority is simple: every student deserves to learn without disruption and to feel safe in school.

Our Clear Expectations

• Mobile phones, smart watches and ear pods must not be seen or heard at any time in school. This is in line with expectations in all other schools.

This rule applies:

• From the moment students enter the school building
• Before and after school
• During break and lunchtime (including dining areas and common rooms)
• In corridors
• During extracurricular clubs, study support and revision sessions
• Until students are outside Student Services / the Green Gate at the end of the school day

There will be:

• No warnings
• No requests to “put it away”
• No exceptions for checking the time, timetable, texting a parent or checking ClassCharts

If a student is wearing ear pods, we will assume they are using a phone.

Consequences

If a member of staff sees a phone, smart watch or ear pods:

• The device will be confiscated.
• A 30-minute same-day after-school detention will be issued for deliberately breaking school rules.
• The device will be returned at the end of the detention.

If a student refuses to hand over a device:

• This will be recorded as “On Call – refusal to hand over mobile phone or other prohibited device”
• 30 ClassCharts points will be issued.
• A 1-hour same-day after-school detention will be set.
• Continued refusal will be treated as persistent defiance and will result in a more serious sanction.

If Students Need to Contact Home:

During the school day, the student must go to Student Services at break or lunch. If a student is staying after school for a club, revision session or study support and needs to inform someone at home, they must ask permission to use their phone in front of the supervising teacher.

Exception

The only exception is for a small number of students who use mobile phones as a medical device. This usage has been approved by a medical practitioner e.g. for the monitoring of diabetes.

Working in partnership with Parents, we are asking for your full support in reinforcing this message at home. Please ensure that:

• Your child understands that phones and smart devices must not be used during the school day.
• Devices are switched off and kept out of sight.
• You avoid contacting your child directly during the school day.
• If there is an emergency, please contact the school office.

By working together, we can protect learning time, reduce safeguarding risks and support the wellbeing of all students. Thank you for your continued support.

Pastoral Staff

For day-to-day issues, you will be directed to your child’s form tutor in the first instance. Below is a list of the key contacts for year groups for more complex issues relating to attendance and behaviour.

Curriculum

Our Curriculum Overviews for this half term are on the school website. The curriculum overviews give details of the curriculum content to be covered during the next five weeks. Please use this link to see what your child is learning in each subject. https://www.olqp.org.uk/curriculum/curriculum-overviews.

Year 11 will complete mock examinations week beginning Monday 9^th March 2026. It is essential that students start their revision as soon as possible.

Over the next few weeks staff will be focusing on the acquisition of specialist vocabulary in all subjects expecting students to learn key spellings, understand meanings and use the words correctly in context in spoken and written form.

Dates for your diary

PARENTS’ EVENINGS (Thursdays 4-6.30pm)

26^th February 2026                           Year 10

Holiday Dates

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the term.

Yours sincerely

Mrs M. Henshaw

Headteacher