Headteacher's Letters

Dear Parents & Carers,

First of all, I would like to congratulate our Year 7&8 students who have sat their first set of exams of the year. I wish Year 11 students all the best for their mock examinations taking place over the next two weeks.

Catholic Life and Mission

Season of Advent

This weekend has seen the start of the season of Advent. As we enter the season of Advent, we are invited to slow down and prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. Advent is a time of joyful waiting and hope, a chance to reflect on God’s promises and the light Christ brings into our world. We encourage families to pray together, share acts of kindness, and create moments of peace during this busy season. May this time of preparation help us draw closer to God and to one another, as we look forward with faith and anticipation to the birth of our Saviour.

Our Community Carol Service will take place on Tuesday 9^th December 2025 at 6pm. All are warmly invited. A group of Year 7 students will attend the Archdiocese Advent Service at the Cathedral on Wednesday 10^th December 2025. We also look forward to the Senior Citizen’s Party on Tuesday 16^th December 2025. If any grandparents would like to join us, please let reception know by the end of Friday 5^th December. We also look forward to our whole school Advent Mass on Thursday 18^th December 2025.

Teaching and Learning

A reminder that the curriculum content for this half term can be found on the school website under Curriculum/ Curriculum Overviews. Staff are continuing to focus on increasing students’ active engagement in lessons. Strategies being used include cold-calling, where teachers select students to respond rather than relying on a ‘hands-up’ approach, and Think–Pair–Share, which allows students time to consider a question individually, discuss their ideas with a partner, and then share with the class. We are also increasing the use of mini whiteboards, enabling students to show their answers clearly so teachers can quickly assess understanding and address misconceptions. Towards the end of each lesson, students are provided with time for independent practice, completing written tasks on their own to consolidate learning.

Attendance

Attendance over the last two weeks has been quite mixed, and we would like to remind families that there are only 15 school days remaining this term. Teaching and learning will continue right up to the final day, so it is important that all students are in school each day to avoid any gaps in their progress. Attendance below 90% is considered persistent absence. We are currently reviewing registers to identify patterns of absence, particularly on Mondays and Fridays, as frequent time off can significantly impact learning and achievement. We are very grateful to all our students and families who continue to prioritise regular attendance and support their child’s education. If you require any help or guidance in ensuring your child attends school consistently, please do not hesitate to contact our attendance team. We are here to support you. Please remember to check your child’s attendance and punctuality regularly via ClassCharts. Thank you for your ongoing partnership.

Our CAFOD Live Simply Project

On Friday 21^st November 2025, students and staff at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School in Skelmersdale were delighted to welcome a number of special guests to our school. Among them were our local MP, Mrs Dalton, Reform Councillor, Mrs Worthington, our Parish Priest, Fr. Kenny and representatives of the Parish Council, Sue Mason and Alan Horridge. We were also pleased to be joined by groups of pupils from our partner primary schools: St Richard’s, St James’ and St Francis. Together, we planted trees in celebration of our CAFOD Live Simply project.

We are extremely grateful to the Woodland Trust for their generous donation of 200 saplings, which were planted throughout the day by our guests. These trees will form a lasting legacy for generations of students to come, who will watch them grow into mature woodland and enjoy the positive environmental impact they bring.

As part of our wider sustainability plans, these trees will help to manage water in a part of the school site that is prone to flooding. Their root systems will absorb excess water, improve soil drainage, and increase oxygen production. They will also provide a rich habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, helping to support and enhance biodiversity across our school grounds.

As a Catholic school, we recognise our social and moral responsibility to care for God’s creation and safeguard our common home. By taking this small but meaningful action, we show our commitment to living simply, living sustainably, and living in solidarity with those most affected by climate change.  We would like to express our sincere thanks to Mrs Witter, Assistant Headteacher, who led the project and to everyone who helped make this project possible.  Together, we are planting hope for the future.

Y11 Parents’ Evening

I am delighted to share that over 70% of our Year 11 parents attended Parents’ Evening on Thursday 20th November 2025 — a significant increase from previous events. Our staff greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet families in person, discuss students’ current progress, and offer practical advice on how to best support them throughout the upcoming mock exam period. Thank you to all who attended and for your continued partnership in helping our students achieve their very best.

Y11 Leavers – Class of 2025 Presentation Evening

On Wednesday 26th November 2025, we were delighted to welcome back our former students to receive their GCSE certificates. Many of our leavers have now progressed to a range of local colleges, studying T-Levels, A-Levels, or vocational courses, while others have embarked on apprenticeships. During the celebration, a variety of subject awards and special prizes for excellence were presented, recognising the hard work and achievements of our students. We were honoured to have Mayumi Pacheco as our guest speaker. Mayumi, an ex-pupil of Our Lady Queen of Peace, is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Everton in the Women’s Super League and is a former England youth international. She spoke to students about the dedication and effort she invested in her time at school, her success in achieving a law degree, and the importance of resilience in reaching one’s goals. Her inspiring message encouraged our recent leavers to remain ambitious and strive for success in all that they do.

Sports Update

Thank you to Mr Evans for his most recent updates and to all our students who have represented school in a range of sports competitions.

Y10 & Y11 Badminton

Dates for your diary

PARENTS’ EVENINGS (Thursdays 4-6.30pm)

22^nd January 2026                             Year 7

5^th February 2026                             Year 9

26^th February 2026                           Year 10

INSET DAYS (School is closed)

INSET 5 - Monday 20th July 2026

Holiday Dates

Full term dates for this academic year 2025/26 and next academic year are available on our website Term Dates | Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout this term.

Kind regards

Mrs M. Henshaw

Headteacher