Headteacher's Letters

Dear Parents & Carers,

As we approach the end of another successful school year, we would like to thank you for your continued support throughout the year. School will close for the summer holidays on Friday 17th July 2026 at 12:00 pm and will reopen on Thursday 3rd September 2026 at 8:00 am.

We have an exciting and busy final week planned for our students. We would like to wish all of our Year 10 students the very best as they begin their Work Experience Week. This is a fantastic opportunity for them to develop valuable workplace skills, build confidence and gain an insight into future careers. Our Year 7 and Year 8 students will be taking part in Sports Day, and we hope they enjoy the opportunity to work together, challenge themselves and celebrate their achievements.

We are also looking forward to our Excellence Evening on Wednesday, where we will celebrate the outstanding achievements, commitment and effort of our nominated students. It will be a wonderful opportunity to recognise their success alongside their families and to acknowledge the hard work, resilience and dedication they have shown throughout the year. We look forward to sharing this special occasion with everyone involved.

On Thursday, we will be holding our Rewards Day. Students have chosen either to take part in exciting trips or to enjoy a range of fun activities in school. This is our way of recognising their hard work, positive behaviour and commitment throughout the year. We are looking forward to seeing everyone enjoy a well-deserved day with their friends and create some lasting memories before the summer break.

Thank you once again for your continued partnership and support. We wish all of our students and families a safe, happy and restful summer holiday.

Catholic Life and Mission

Many congratulations to our students in Year 7 who have achieved the PIN Award and our students in Year 8 who have achieved the Bronze Award for Faith in Action.

The Faith in Action PIN Award recognises students who actively live out their faith through service, leadership, and a commitment to helping others. Throughout the award, students reflect on their personal faith journey while putting Gospel values into action by supporting their school, parish, and wider community. The award encourages young people to grow spiritually, develop a sense of social responsibility, and make a positive difference through acts of compassion, justice, and service.

As part of the BRONZE award, students reflect on how their faith influences their daily lives while actively contributing to their school, parish, and local community. By completing acts of service and participating in opportunities for prayer, leadership, and outreach, students develop a deeper understanding of Catholic social teaching and the importance of putting their faith into action. The Bronze Award recognises their dedication, compassion, and willingness to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

On Thursday 9th July 2026, we came together as a school community to celebrate the Feast Day Mass of Our Lady Queen of Peace, the patron of our school. This special feast day allows us to reflect on Mary's role as a symbol of peace, hope and compassion. We can all follow Mary’s example by showing kindness, respect and understanding in our daily lives, both within our school community and beyond.

Summer Show - Beauty and the Beast

On Tuesday 30 June and Wednesday 1 July, our school proudly presented Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr. Audiences were treated to the much-loved story, brought to life with its unforgettable songs, memorable characters, and plenty of humour. The cast had been working tirelessly on the production since January, attending rehearsals twice a week. Their dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm were exceptional, and their hard work shone through in every performance, making the show a tremendous success.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of students also played a vital role. Our backstage crew attended weekly lunchtime sessions to design, sketch, and paint the impressive stage scenery, helping to transform the stage into the enchanting world of Beauty and the Beast. Meanwhile, the Technology team designed and created a range of homemade costumes for the furniture characters, which were both incredibly creative and instantly recognisable. Students were involved throughout every stage of the production, with some also taking responsibility for operating the sound during the evening performances. It was wonderful to see so many students sharing their talents and working together both on stage and behind the scenes.

A huge congratulations and thank you to everyone involved – our talented cast, dedicated crew, creative Technology team, staff, and volunteers. Beauty and the Beast Jr. was a truly outstanding production and a wonderful showcase of the talent, creativity, and teamwork within our school community. It is a performance that will be remembered for years to come.

Curriculum for Life Day

On Friday 3 July, students took part in our third Curriculum for Life Day, a valuable opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills, and understanding beyond the classroom through a range of engaging and informative activities.

Years 7 and 8 participated in a variety of workshops covering important topics, including knife crime awareness, anti-racism, and careers education. These sessions encouraged students to reflect on making positive choices, celebrating diversity, and thinking about their future aspirations.

Year 9 took part in the CELLS Project, participating in a series of interactive workshops exploring issues such as criminal involvement, gangs, exploitation, bullying, and the criminal justice system. The sessions provided students with a greater understanding of the risks associated with these issues while promoting resilience, informed decision-making, and personal responsibility.

Meanwhile, Year 10 visited West Lancashire College, where they experienced college life first-hand and explored the wide range of courses and pathways available after GCSEs. The visit gave students valuable insight into further education and encouraged them to begin thinking about their future education and career options.

Curriculum for Life Days are an important part of our personal development programme, providing students with meaningful experiences that equip them with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions, stay safe, and prepare for life beyond school.

West Lancs Athletics

Congratulations to our Year 7 and Year 8 boys' athletics teams, who both secured 1st place at the District Athletics Competition held at Edge Hill. To have not one, but two separate teams crowned district champions is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the dedication, commitment, and hard work shown by our students throughout the season. Their determination, teamwork, and resilience were evident in every event, and they represented the school with pride, enthusiasm, and excellent sportsmanship. We are equally proud of all the students who competed on the day. Every athlete gave their very best, supported one another, and demonstrated the values of perseverance and respect, making the school proud both on and off the track. A huge congratulations to everyone who took part, and a special well done to our Year 7 and Year 8 boys on becoming District Champions. We look forward to seeing what they achieve next!

Year 7 and 8 Rounders

Congratulations also to our Rounders teams on their fantastic achievements this season. Our Year 7 team secured an impressive third-place finish, while our Year 8 team were crowned champions following an outstanding performance.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such talented, dedicated and hardworking students representing Our Lady Queen of Peace. They continue to demonstrate excellent teamwork, determination and sportsmanship, and we are immensely proud of all they have achieved.

Year 6 Transition Day and Transition Evening

We were delighted to welcome our new Year 6 students and their families during our recent transition events. These visits provided an exciting opportunity for students to begin their journey at Our Lady Queen of Peace, helping them to feel confident and familiar with their new school. Throughout the day, students enjoyed a range of taster lessons, including Science, PE and Technology, making full use of our specialist facilities. They also had the chance to meet their future teachers, make new friendships and experience lunchtime in our dining hall. We are looking forward to welcoming many of our new students back for our Summer School, taking place from 17th–19th August 2026, before officially welcoming them as members of our Year 7 community when they join us in September. We can't wait to see them begin this exciting new chapter.

Summer Dance Show

As always, Boogie Wonderland was one of the highlights of our summer term calendar. The evening was a wonderful celebration of creativity, teamwork and talent, bringing together students from across our school community. Our dedicated Dance Leaders proudly showcased the incredible work they have been doing with pupils in our partner primary schools, culminating in outstanding performances from our primary students. We were equally proud to celebrate the exceptional talent, enthusiasm and commitment of our own students from Our Lady Queen of Peace, who delivered excellent performances throughout the evening. There was a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish, with the audience enjoying an evening full of energy, confidence and creativity. Every performance reflected the hard work and attention to detail that had gone into the event, from the choreography and music to the costumes, hair and make-up. A huge congratulations and thank you to everyone involved—our students, Dance Leaders, staff and primary school partners—for their dedication and commitment in creating such a memorable and spectacular evening. We are incredibly proud of you all.

End of Term

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our students, parents and carers for your continued support throughout the year. We wish all of our families a safe, happy and restful summer holiday and look forward to welcoming everyone back on Thursday 3rd September 2026 at 8:00 am for another exciting year at Our Lady Queen of Peace.

Holiday Dates

Yours sincerely

Mrs M. Henshaw

Headteacher