Headteacher's Letters

Dear Parents & Carers,

I hope you all had a relaxing Bank Holiday weekend, and that our Year 7 and Year 8 students were able to enjoy a well-deserved rest following their recent examination weeks.

We wish the very best of luck to our Year 11 students who begin their examinations this week. The full GCSE exam timetable will be underway from next week—an important milestone, and I am confident they will approach it with focus and determination.

In this month of May, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are reminded of the special significance of our school, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School. As a community inspired by Mary, Our Lady Queen of Peace, we are called to follow her example of faith, humility, and compassion. May this month encourage us all to grow closer to Christ, reflecting her gentle strength and bringing peace to those around us. Our Year 7 students will take part in a ceremony to crown the statue of Mary in our Garden of Hope on Friday.

We are delighted to congratulate ten of our students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Francis Church. The celebration, led by Bishop Tom, was a joyful and memorable occasion. We wish our students every blessing for the years ahead.

Attendance

With just 14 school days remaining this half term, it is vital that all students attend every day and continue to update their Attendance Tracker Card daily. Every lesson counts, and even a single day of absence results in around five hours of missed learning, which can quickly place students at an academic disadvantage.

We are still seeing a number of ‘occasional absences’ where reasons are unclear, and we ask for your support in ensuring consistent attendance—particularly on Wednesdays and Fridays, when full attendance is expected. Please be reminded that term-time holidays will not be authorised. If your child is absent, parents and carers will receive a welfare call; we kindly ask that you respond promptly so registers can be kept accurate, as this is a legal requirement for the school.

If you need any help or support in ensuring your child attends school regularly, please do not hesitate to contact the attendance team, who are always happy to help. You can do this by phoning the school or emailing the attendance team directly: attendance@olqp.lancs.sch.uk.  As part of our support, the attendance team may also carry out welfare visits at home to ensure that the right support is in place. Please be assured that these visits are intended to help—your partnership and openness are greatly appreciated.

Uniform Standards

Students are expected to attend school in full uniform at all times, including wearing the correct tie and appropriate school shoes. Any missing items should be replaced promptly. If there is a valid reason why a student is unable to be in full school uniform, parents and carers are asked to contact their child’s form tutor to explain the situation. Students are not allowed extreme haircuts, coloured hair, jewellery or piercings. Thank you for your support with maintaining high standards in school.

Year 10 Visit to Princes Road Synagogue in Liverpool

Mrs Roby’s Year 10 class had the opportunity to visit Princes Road Synagogue, where they explored the key features of a synagogue, gained insight into the differences between Orthodox and Reform traditions, and learned about the rich history of the Jewish community in Liverpool. The visit offered a valuable chance to experience GCSE content beyond the classroom, and students were praised by the Rabbi for their respect and attentiveness. Meanwhile, Year 9 students have been studying the GCSE Judaism unit, focusing on religious items of clothing used in worship. They explored the significance and use of the tallit, tefillin, and kippah, deepening their understanding of Jewish beliefs and practices.

Anti-racism

We are proud to be a Catholic school that values respect, kindness and inclusion. We ask for your continued support in reinforcing with students that racism in any form is unacceptable. This includes the use of inappropriate language, comments about a person’s skin colour, race or ethnicity, the sharing of offensive symbols or content, and remarks made either in person or online, including on social media. What may sometimes be described as “banter” can cause real harm. It is important to remember that racism is taken very seriously and is recognised as a hate crime under the law. Students who deliberately cause distress to others through any form of racism will be issued with a  serious sanction, in line with the school’s behaviour policy. All students have been reminded that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in school. By working together, we can ensure our school remains a safe, respectful and welcoming community for everyone.

Summer Examinations

Students in all year groups should now start preparing for their summer examinations. Students should create a revision timetable and put time aside to learn key knowledge and do practice questions.

• Years 9&10 – Examinations start Monday 15^th June 2026 and will be spread over a two-week period 

Dates for your diary

Monday 15^th June 2026                  Start of Year 9 & Year 10 exams

Friday 19^th June 2026                      Year 11 Prom

Thursday 2^nd July 2026                    Year 6 Transition Day

Holiday Dates

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the term. 

Yours sincerely

Mrs M. Henshaw

Headteacher