Headteacher's Letters

Dear Parents & Carers

The highlight of the last two weeks has been the visit of the Archbishop which took place on Thursday 15^th January 2026. Well done to our Year 9 students who have completed their examinations. Good luck to Year 10 who embark on their examinations in the coming week.

Archbishop’s Visit to School on Thursday 15^th January 2025

Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School was overjoyed and deeply honoured to welcome our Archbishop, the Right Reverend John Sherrington, on Thursday 15th January 2026. His visit was a truly special and grace-filled occasion, bringing our whole school community together in faith, joy, and unity. It was a moment that will be fondly remembered by students, staff, and families alike.

The day began with a whole-school Mass, prayerfully and beautifully led by our wonderful Year 7 choir. Their confident singing of the Mass setting and hymns created a calm, joyful atmosphere and set the tone for a very special day. In his homily, the Archbishop reflected on our mission statement, “In Christ we grow,” encouraging students to recognise the unique gifts God has placed within them and to nurture these talents with confidence and kindness as they journey through school life.

A particularly touching moment was the blessing of the Stations of the Cross in the chapel. Thoughtfully etched and designed by Mr Yarwood, our Design Technology technician, alongside our chaplain, Mr Baron, these Stations are a beautiful and lasting gift to our sacred space and will support prayer and reflection for many years to come.

The visit concluded outdoors with the blessing of a newly transformed area of the school grounds. Inspired by the Jubilee Year theme Pilgrims of Hope, this once-neglected space has been lovingly developed into the Garden of Hope—a peaceful place of remembrance and reflection, created to honour students and staff who have sadly passed away. This garden stands as a gentle reminder that they remain forever part of our school family and continue to be held in our hearts.

The Archbishop’s visit was a deeply uplifting celebration of faith in action and a powerful affirmation of the hope, compassion, and shared purpose that define Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School. We are immensely proud of our students and grateful to our families for the continued support that helps make moments like this so special.

Communication with Mr Diamond, our SENDCo

As many of you will be aware, there is a growing demand for support for students with special educational needs, and the number of students requiring this support continues to increase. To ensure that Mr Diamond’s time and expertise are fully focused on meeting the needs of our students with SEND, we kindly ask that parents direct any queries relating to trips, uniform, friendship matters, ClassCharts, or other day-to-day concerns to their child’s year group pastoral team, rather than to Mr Diamond. The details of our pastoral team are below:

This will help us to ensure that all students receive the appropriate care and support in a timely and effective way. We thank you, as always, for your understanding and continued support.

Attendance

We have lots of students who have 100% attendance in the last two weeks. Last Thursday Y7 achieved 98% attendance as a year group which was fantastic. This term is comparatively short, with just four weeks remaining until half term. We kindly ask parents to do everything possible to ensure that students are in school for each of the remaining 20 days, as every lesson truly counts.

To help keep families informed, parents will receive a weekly attendance update using a simple red, amber, green system. This shows how your child’s attendance is supporting their learning and progress. Students who are rated green are giving themselves the best possible chance to make strong academic progress and fulfil their potential.

A rating of amber or red indicates that a student has gaps in their learning and would benefit greatly from improved attendance. Being in school every day helps students stay confident, connected, and on track with their studies. Excellent attendance goes hand in hand with our school value of Resilience. By improving attendance, students are making a positive choice that strengthens both their academic performance and their personal growth.

We understand that there may be genuine circumstances that affect attendance. If you are experiencing ongoing challenges in supporting your child to attend school regularly, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s pastoral team. We are always keen to work in partnership with families to ensure every student is supported to succeed.Top of FormBottom of Form

Year 7 Parents’ Evening

Parents and carers of students in Year 7 are warmly invited to attend the Year 7 Parents’ Evening on Thursday 22nd January 2026, from 4.00–6.30pm. No appointments are necessary. This is a valuable opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, discuss how they have settled into secondary school, 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.

Dates for your diary

Holiday Dates

Thank you for your ongoing support this term.

Yours sincerely

Mrs M. Henshaw

Headteacher