Our Lady's Catholic College
Lancashire, United Kingdom
About Our Lady's Catholic College
Our Ladys’ Catholic College is a successful comprehensive school with an excellent sixth form provision situated in Lancaster, Lancashire. We are growing in popularity and currently oversubscribed due to recent improvements not only in results but also in pupils’ behaviour.
Parents recognise the excellent standard of pastoral care and we have a culture of high expectations resulting in a happy school to work and learn in.
We belong to a Catholic Teaching Alliance and have a sharp focus on research based CPD which allows our staff to engage in the current approaches to understand how learning takes place. This inspires our staff to give the best possible learning experience to enable our pupils to be more effective learners.
If you are considering relocating we strongly recommend you come and explore Lancaster and the surrounding areas. You can get a flavour of what we have to offer by some of the links below.
Lancaster is a beautiful city filled with a rich history and stunning surroundings. According to Ch4’s ‘Best Place to Live in the UK’ programme, the Lancaster district is one of the 10 best places to live in the country! Property guru Sarah Beeny took into account affordability of housing, jobs, business, well-being, culture and family life resulting in ranking Lancaster ninth over hundreds of other UK areas.
The area is very well connected for transport; there are two motorway junctions from the M6 and the newly opened bypass has greatly improved traffic congestion into the city centre. If you want to visit larger cities, Lancaster is on the main train line making it a very easy journey to Manchester (1hr), Glasgow/Edinburgh (2hrs) and London (2.5hrs). The nearby port of Heysham has car ferries to the Isle of Man and Ireland.
Due to its universities, Lancaster has a vibrant cultural scene and is becoming quite cosmopolitan. There are many bars, restaurants and pubs with lots of live music. The city hosts food festivals, beer festivals, jazz festivals and music festivals. https://visitlancaster.org.uk/blog/19-events-in-2019/. Thespians benefit from two theatres and two cinemas, there are 3 museums and exhibitions are regularly held in the city’s art galleries.
Walkers are spoilt for choice with the Lake District, the Forest of Bowland and the Dales all nearby offering outstanding natural beauty in the countryside.
https://www.lancashirelife.co.uk/out-about/walks/10-great-spring-walks-in-lancashire-1-4931810. The Lune Valley has lots of pretty and popular villages and there are safe cycle tracks, perfect for families, along the river - upstream to the Crook O’Lune, downstream to Glasson Dock and along the old railway track to the nearby seaside town of Morecambe.
Morecambe also offers a variety of festivals such as Vintage by the Sea, A Splendid Day Out, Morecambe Comic Con and Catch the Wind Kite Festival.
https://morecambebid.com/festivals-events-2019/. Concerts are regularly held at the resorts’s Platform venue. The famous 1930’s Art Deco hotel, The Midland, is a very popular spot for afternoon tea or cocktails as it looks out over the bay. https://englishlakes.co.uk/the-midland/. There is a lovely safe promenade which is fabulous for prams, bikes, or just feet as all 5 miles of it are totally flat making it ideal for family walks.
If you are considering applying for a post in our school please feel free to contact the headteacher's assistant, c.rowlands@olcc.lancs.sch.uk, to arrange a visit so you can see for yourself how wonderful our school is.
A link to the Ofsted report on the Ofsted site: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/119798
Location
Parental support for the school is strong. Parents described the fact that pupils are respected by the staff and that they are treated fairly and as individuals. They praise the inclusivity of the school and appreciate the fact that issues are handled with compassion.
- Denominational ReportI started OLCC as an NQT; I received lots of support from my Head of Department and mentor, allowing me to become confident in my own teaching and in using the school policies. There are opportunities for CPD, and training. As well as opportunities to go on trips and residential trips, with the students. Members of SLT are approachable, understanding and care about your well-being. There are also lots of social opportunities to get to know members of staff from other departments.
- Member of staffStudents make exceptionally strong progress on vocational courses in the sixth form. A higher proportion than average attain high grades at A levels in traditional academic subjects and many attend Russell Group universities after leaving the sixth form.
- OfstedThere is a sense that each whole person is being formed, not just his or her intellect. Pupils of all ages are able to articulate that they feel valued for who they are. This was borne out in three separate inspirational interviews with groups of pupils from Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5. Pupils show pride and belief in the school and what it stands for.
- Denominational ReportI have worked at OLCC for 16 years! After passing my PGCE I struggled to find a teaching job; schools were reluctant to give a teacher in a wheelchair a chance. However Our Lady’s saw my potential and took the risk. They knew that having staff from a range of different backgrounds, ethnicities and disabilities would only strengthen their team and provide good role models for their students. Our Lady’s is a warm and welcoming school; they take on students, no matter their background, ethnicity, disability, sexuality and ability. I feel the students here are very well looked after by all the staff, teaching and pastoral. The students are thoughtful and caring; sometimes challenging but you could never call them boring. I have stayed here all this time because the students are so well looked after here and I feel a valued member of staff. I am proud to be a teacher at OLCC.
- Member of StaffMembers of staff enjoy working at the school and parents are extremely complimentary about the school’s work.
- OfstedPupils enjoy school and identify with the school’s mission. Most pupils are easily able to quote Oscar Romero’s words ‘Aspire not to have more but to be more’ and they use this as inspiration for their lives.
- Denominational ReportEver since starting work at OLCC just over a year ago, it has allowed me to start my teaching career in a supported and happy environment. I have always felt nothing but welcomed, made some great friends and developed valuable relationships with students. The staff that make up Our Lady’s are hardworking, ambitious and REALLY care - why would you not want to be part of the team?!
- Member of staffYou have continued to provide the school with strong and compassionate leadership. You have successfully ensured that staff at the school continue to be ambitious for all pupils and relentlessly promote the inclusive and caring school values.
- Ofsted
