Headteacher's Letters

Dear Parents & Carers,

We are coming towards the end of a long and busy half term. School closes for the half term break at 3.00pm on Friday 24^th October 2025. It re-opens on Tuesday 4^th November 2025. Please ensure that your child has full attendance for the remainder of this half term. There are just 10 days of learning left.

Exam weeks

Advance notice that Year 7 & Year 8 students will sit formal examinations week commencing 24^th November 2025 and Year 11 exams will start on Monday 1^st December 2025. Year 9 & 10 exams will start on Monday 12^th January 2026. Students will be given revision lists and revision lessons in advance of the exams.

Catholic Life and Mission

Month of the Holy Rosary 

This week, our assemblies will centre on the Holy Rosary — a cherished Catholic devotion made up of prayers and reflections on significant moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary. To mark October as the month of the Holy Rosary, all staff and students are warmly invited to visit the Chapel throughout the week to take part in “A Decade a Day.” Each day, we will pray one decade of the Rosary together — a simple yet powerful spiritual practice that brings peace, reflection and unity to our community. Let us take this opportunity to pause, pray and grow together in Faith

Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Students in Years 10 &11 with an interest in joining the Liverpool Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, taking place from 22nd to 31st July 2026 are invited to an information session in school on Thursday 16th October at 4:30pm. Students who register before 20th October 2025 will receive a £50 discount, reducing the total cost to £670. All are welcome to attend.

Upcoming Parents’ Evenings

After the half-term break, we will be holding two Parents’ Evenings. Please make a note of these important dates in your diary. We look forward to welcoming you and discussing your child’s progress. Parents’ Evenings run from 4pm to 6.30pm.

6^th November 2025                          Year 8

20^th November 2025                       Year 11

Attendance

I’m delighted to share that student attendance has improved this week. A total of 603 students achieved 100% attendance, showing fantastic commitment. Year 9 and Year 11 led the way, both achieving over 95% attendance — well done to them!

For students whose attendance is currently below expectations, please remember that every day in school makes a difference. The more consistently a student attends, the more quickly their overall attendance percentage improves. Good attendance has a huge impact on academic progress, confidence and well-being.

We encourage all parents and carers to check attendance and punctuality via ClassCharts regularly. If you are experiencing any difficulties in getting your child into school, please do not hesitate to contact us — we are here to help. Let us continue working together to ensure every student has the best possible chance to succeed.

After-School Detentions – Information for Parents and Carers

At Our Lady Queen of Peace, we aim to promote good behaviour so that everyone can learn in a safe and respectful environment. Sometimes, when a student does not follow the school rules, an after-school detention may be given.

Detentions may be issued for reasons such as:

• Repeatedly not completing work
• Disrupting learning
• Rudeness or lack of respect
• Refusing to follow instructions
• Not attending a break or lunchtime detention

Teachers are legally allowed to give detentions, including on the same day, and parental permission is not required. However, we will always do our best to communicate via ClassCharts and keep you informed. If a student follows our School Expectations, they will not receive a detention.

What Happens If a Detention Is Refused?

If a student refuses to attend their after-school detention, the situation will be taken more seriously. The sanction may be increased to a longer detention, an internal exclusion or a suspension, as refusal to attend is considered defiance. To avoid this, we ask that parents and carers work with us to encourage their child to complete the detention as soon as possible so the matter can be resolved quickly. If a student is absent, they will do their detention on return to school. Detentions will only be moved or changed in exceptional circumstances, and any changes must be approved by Mrs Downing, Deputy Headteacher or the Headteacher. Thank you for your support in helping us maintain high standards for all students.

Year 11 MEGA Day

On Thursday 2nd October, 19 Year 11 students participated in a MEGA Day organised by a company called IN4 Group - an award-winning technology company dedicated to supporting young people and communities across the North West. Their mission is to provide Fair Access to Technology Futures through high-quality educational enrichment.

The aim of the ‘MEGA’ programme is to inspire and prepare young people for the growing number of opportunities within the digital and technology sectors. The digital sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the UK. In the North West alone, it is predicted that there will be over 30,000 cyber-related jobs by 2035, spanning both technical and non-technical roles. These careers are highly skilled, well paid, and in demand.

Year 11’s MEGA Day was an interactive, themed experience where students explored the modern and emerging technology of artificial intelligence (AI). Students were challenged to imagine a concept for an AI that solved a real world problem and worked as groups to prepare and deliver a ‘pitch’ to a panel of experts, Dragon’s Den style. The AI products our students ‘invented’ ranged from a virtual rescue pet matching service to an intelligent way to save vulnerable people from scam emails and misinformation! Each group successfully managed to present their idea, area of AI tech, logo, budget and intended audience to the panel and then respond to their challenging questions. All students completed this challenging task, all earning valuable experience and all receiving positive feedback.

Events and projects such as these help us to support students to raise their career aspirations, develop transferable skills, and make informed decisions about their next steps in education and employment. Mega days for small groups from each year group have been organised throughout the year and a Mega after school club for Year 7-9 will run in the new year.

‘Curriculum for Life’ Day – Friday 10th October 2025

Our first ever Curriculum for Life Day took place on Friday 10th October 2025, giving every year group the opportunity to explore a range of real-world topics designed to build confidence, resilience and informed decision-making.

• Years 7 & 8 focused on the Faith in Action Award, while also engaging in important discussions around health, anti-bullying, online safety and vaping.
• Year 9 welcomed visitors from the Amy Winehouse Foundation, who delivered a powerful session on managing emotions, self-esteem and resilience. Students also learned about the risks associated with ketamine use.
• Year 10 received expert input from the NHS, covering sexual health, alongside further learning around alcohol awareness, toxic cultures and exam stress.
• Year 11 explored degree apprenticeships, effective revision strategies, exam stress management and knife crime awareness.

Although many of these topics are sensitive, we believe it is vital to equip students with accurate information and practical strategies so they can make informed, responsible choices and understand how to safeguard themselves in an ever-changing world.

Homework

Some students are still needing to get into routines with regards to homework. Please have a chat with your child if this is the case and help them to get organised. Establishing a simple homework routine at home can make a big difference. A quiet space, a set time each day, and limiting distractions such as phones or TV help students stay focused. Encouraging them to check their timetable, pack their bag the night before, and complete tasks independently (with support if needed) builds responsibility and confidence. Consistency is key — even small routines create positive habits that lead to success. We offer a Study Club after school Mondays to Thursdays until 5pm where students can do homework with support from staff. Students can then get the bus home.

Homework plays an important role in helping children make steady progress. It allows them to practise what they have learned in class, build confidence and develop good habits such as independence, time management and responsibility. When pupils regularly complete homework, they are better prepared for future lessons and more likely to achieve their full potential. It also gives parents and carers an insight into what their child is learning at school and provides a valuable opportunity for support and encouragement at home.

Sports Updates

A few updates from Mr Evans in the PE Department:

Dates for your diary

PARENTS’ EVENINGS (Thursdays 4-6.30pm)

6^th November 2025                          Year 8

20^th November 2025                        Year 11

22^nd January 2026                             Year 7

5^th February 2026                             Year 9

26^th February 2026                           Year 10

INSET DAYS (School is closed)

INSET 3 - Monday 3rd November 2025
INSET 4 - Friday 28th November 2025
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 at the start of this term.

Kind regards

Mrs M. Henshaw

Headteacher