Our Lady’s Abingdon
Our Ladys Abingdon
Org 1: The Society of Heads
Org 2: ISA
Radley Road, Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire OX14 3PS
Telephone: 01235 524658
Motto: Age Quod Agis - Whatever you do, do it well
Open events: April, September and November
Age Range: Prep/Junior to 11, Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Day Only
Gender: Co-ed
Exams offered: A Level, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), GCSE
Scholarships Tick: Academic, All-Rounder, Art, Drama, DT, Music, Sport
Scholarships Other Types: Textiles
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary
Scholarships and Bursaries – Further Details
Each academic year, OLA makes available a range of Scholarship awards under the McAuley Scholarship Programme.
Lower Sixth Scholarships: Academic, Music, Art, Textiles, Design Technology, Drama, Sports
Year 7 and 9 Scholarships: Academic, Music, Art, Drama, Sports Scholarships
All Rounder Scholarships are awarded to OLA students in Year 9 or Lower Sixth on the recommendation of the School’s staff and at the discretion of the Principal.
A limited number of means-tested bursaries are available. The closing date for Senior and Junior School Bursary Applications for pupils requesting to start in September of any year, will be the last working day of the previous November. Applicants for Year 7 and Year 9 will be required to take an entrance examination early in the January before entry.
Founded in 1860 by Mother Clare Moore of the Sisters of Mercy, Our Lady’s Abingdon (OLA) is an independent, co-educational, Catholic day school, for ages 7–18. The school welcomes pupils of all faiths and none who wish to benefit from its nurturing and outward-looking ethos. OLA offers outstanding pastoral care and a wide range of academic and co-curricular activities, ensuring that pupils are confident and engaged and leave school excited about their next steps in life.
Small class sizes allow staff to get to know every single pupil, giving them the support and encouragement they need to fulfil their academic and personal potential.
Numbers. There are 388 pupils aged 11–18 in the Senior school and 37 pupils aged 7–11 in the Lower school.
Facilities and buildings. Bright, spacious classrooms and an excellent library provide a pleasant ambience conducive to study and learning. Grounds surround the building, providing an attractive setting in which pupils can play and relax during breaks. Sports facilities include football and rugby pitches, a multi-use games area, tennis courts, a sports hall, hockey and athletics provision and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool. The school has dining rooms and a 50-seat café, with other building projects including a 6th form garden, a Design & Technology centre, an auditorium and library, the latest in ICT equipment and additional Science laboratories. The Music department benefits from facilities to aid composition and support the wide variety of instruments taught in the school.
Curriculum. The school teaches a balanced range of subjects both academic and practical during the first three years. All lessons are one hour long to maximise learning on a 2-week timetable to increase flexibility and maintain a broad and deep curriculum. The School day starts at 8.30am and ends at 4.00pm. We strive for all pupils to fulfil their potential, whatever their level of ability, and they are supported in making the most of the opportunities available. We are constantly developing our Academic Enrichment which enables all pupils to discover and explore their intellectual curiosities. In addition, the extensive enrichment opportunities available allows us to stretch and challenge the most able, and empower their university and career decision-making. We have introduced alternative pathways into our curriculum so that we can cater for all pupils. There is BTEC Film and Media in OLA 6th, which is a more accessible and vocational course than many A-Levels, and is accepted as equivalent to one A Level by all UK universities. Pupils are able to study either Separate Sciences or Combined Science at GCSE. French and Spanish are no longer compulsory subjects at GCSE. We value the study of languages, and we recommend that pupils choose a broad and balanced set of subjects for GCSE, including a language, a creative subject and one of the humanities. However, the study of French or Spanish is not always appropriate for some pupils and, in these cases, they can opt for another subject. The great majority of OLA 6th students go on to Higher Education, but some have also succeeded in gaining places on highly competitive professional placement programmes. There is also support throughout the school for pupils with special educational needs and for pupils for whom English is not their first language.
Co-curricular activities. The school provides an extensive programme of co-curricular activities including drama, music, art, public speaking and many forms of sport. There is also a strong commitment to local community schemes and an impressive record in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. OLA has regularly been accredited with the British Council’s International School Award for the links it has fostered with schools in Uganda.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Senior School: £6,795; Lower School: £4,560–£5,470. Fee from April 2025. Senior School: £7,680; Lower School: £5,150–£6,180.
Admission. We have developed an assessment process that is kinder to your child while yielding in-depth information for our admissions decisions. Our new process uses a test designed to identify each child’s potential and aptitude for learning, not simply their current performance. This gives us a deeper understanding of each individual child; whilst also minimising the impact of lost learning due to Covid-19. Our move away from formal written assessments in large examination halls provides a kinder and less daunting experience for your child.
Pupils may apply for Scholarships for entry to Year 7, Year 9 and OLA 6th. Candidates may also apply for bursaries, which are awarded at the discretion of the Governors.
Charitable status. Our Lady’s Abingdon Trustees Limited is a Registered Charity, number 1120372, and a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England and Wales, number 6269288.
Governors & Staff:
Board of Governors:
Chairman: Mr F Elturk, BSc
Mr G Ayling, MA
Dr L Bergmeier, PhD, CBiol, MRSB, FHEA
Mrs A Freeman, BEd
Mr M Glendon-Doyle
Mr T Lauze
Revd J McGrath, STB, MA
Mrs H Ronaldson
Mr T Savory
Dr Jacqueline Woodman, MB ChB, MRCOG, MA, MEd Ed, DPhil
Leadership Team:
Chief Operating Officer & Executive Leader: Mr P Karian, CIPD
Head of OLA: Mr D Gibbons, BA Hons Leeds, PGCE, MMU
Senior Deputy Head: Mrs S Machen
Deputy Head Pastoral & DSL: Mrs A Poulain
Heads of Sections:
Year 7 and Transition: Miss L Vick
Head of Year 8: Mr R Somma
Head of Year 9: Mr E Butler
Head of Years 10 and 11: Miss J Simpson
Head of OLA 6th: Dr E Lawson (Assistant Head Dr J Whitty)
Heads of Departments:
Art: Mrs L Bainbrigge
Careers: Mr C Sissons, BEd
Classics: Miss P Smith, BA
Design & Technology: Mr N Humphreys, BEd
Drama: Dr E Lawson, MA, PhD
Economics & Business Studies: Mrs L Webster, BA, Grad Dip, MEd
English: Mr Aleks Raszpla
Food: Miss J Simpson
Geography: Mrs S Dutton, BSc, PGCE
History: Mrs N Nicholls
Learning Support: Mrs C Roberts, SENCo
Mathematics: Dr Cinzia Di Silvestro
Modern Languages: Mrs N Samah
Music: Mr G Damiani
Physical Education: Mr J Dhiman BEd Plymouth Marjon
Psychology: Mrs J James, BSc, PGCE, GTP
Religious Studies: Mrs A Pigott
Science:
Chemistry: Mrs L Read, MChem Durham
Biology: Miss C Gregory, BSc Hons Western Ontario, BEd Toronto
Physics: Mrs R Harris, BEng
Textiles: Mrs M Nilsson
Director of Admissions & Marketing: Ms K Sutton, CIM Dip
Head’s PA: Mrs J Braley, BSc, Assoc CIPD
School Business Manager: Ms T Wheatley, AAT
School Development Manager: Mrs Z Doy, FIOS