It is at this time of year when parents tend to look through educational supplements and league tables to try and decide which might be the best school for their child.

Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will have to make. It is a matter of matching his or her abilities, needs and personality to an environment in which he or she will flourish and achieve their potential.

At Our Lady’s Abingdon we make the choice easier by offering education to boys and girls from nursery right through to sixth form. From this September OLA senior school will also admit boys at 11-plus and in the sixth form, becoming fully co-educational by 2013.

At OLA we view each pupil as a unique individual with his or her own special gifts and talents.

It is our challenge to help them discover and realise them. By offering opportunities to enjoy success in a variety of different areas we help to broaden horizons and develop self-confidence.

Our pupils leave us as well-rounded and independent individuals, with good academic qualifications and a sound moral and spiritual basis for the next stage of their lives.

By starting in the nursery your son or daughter can have a gentle introduction to school life.

The early years are critical for children as they progress rapidly during this time — physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially.

Highly-qualified and experienced early years staff offer a supportive and positive environment in which your child can develop as a happy and flourishing learner. The junior school is able to share many of the senior school’s facilities including a 25m indoor swimming pool and science laboratories.

Throughout the school, sport is inclusive with everyone taking part regardless of ability, developing interests that will last a lifetime, enabling him or her to maintain a healthy mind and body.

Not only do pupils at OLA achieve excellent examination results, they are also able to find an expression for creative talents and discover that education is not a process solely confined to the classroom.

OLA was one of 586 schools in the UK to be recognised for the DCSF International School Award for “outstanding work done by the staff and pupils at OLA to bring the wider world into the classroom and take the ‘classroom’ to the wider world”.

The school’s international links have been firmly established through partnership with Maryhill High School in Uganda with staff and pupils from the school visiting Uganda, and supporting the visit of two pupils plus two members of staff to visit OLA in return.

If you feel your son or daughter would also enjoy the experience of OLA, please contact us to arrange a visit, or come along to our open morning on October 17 between 10am and 1pm.

OLA is registered for the Early Years Scheme. A scholarships and bursaries scheme is also available.