At this time of year pupils all across the country, having taken their mocks, are planning their revision for the real thing in the summer term. This is the culmination of all their hard work begun when they first started school.

Some pupils at Our Lady’s Abingdon (OLA) will have joined in the Nursery where our highly qualified and experienced early years staff offer a supportive and positive environment in which a child can develop as a happy and flourishing learner.

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

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 and developing interests that will last a lifetime, enabling him or her to maintain a healthy body as well as an enquiring mind.

The junior school is having an open morning on Friday, March 12, between 9.30am and 11.30am, when interested prospective and current parents can come and see what goes on at the school during a normal school day.

Since OLA Senior School became co-educational in September 2009 both boys and girls from the Junior School can continue into the Senior School, making the transition to secondary education much simpler and less unsettling for both pupils and parents.

There are also two classes in Year 6 of the junior school so that it can accommodate pupils who want to transfer to OLA before entry at Year 7.

OLA has a reputation of academic excellence, as can be seen by its examination results, achieved by inspirational teaching and enjoyable lessons, combined with regular monitoring and target setting — and a strong commitment by staff, pupils and parents.

The school also prides itself on the breadth of opportunities it gives its pupils.

This can take the form of extra-curricular activities, community service, Young Enterprise, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme or challenging treks to places like Patagonia or Nepal.

OLA holds the DCSF International School Award for “outstanding work done by the staff and pupils at OLA to bring the wider world into the classroom”.

The school’s international links have been firmly established through partnership with Maryhill High School in Uganda with exchange visits by staff and pupils.

After GCSE, pupils continue into the Sixth Form, which can also accommodate pupils from other schools who wish to join OLA at this stage.

Anyone wishing to join can then come for a taster day beforehand, and experience a day in the life of the Sixth Form. Entry is subject to acceptable GCSE results.

At the end 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 in their lives.

Lynne Renwick, head of OLA, said: “Our Lady’s Abingdon prides itself on being very much a family school, which can cater for your child from nursery through to A-Level.

Our move to co-education provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen these family ties.”

If you feel your son or daughter would also enjoy the experience of OLA, please contact us.

If you have little ones you are very welcome to attend the junior school open morning. Call Marie Haynes on 01235 523147 for more details.

If your son or daughter is older please call Felicity Russell on 01235 524658 to request a prospectus, arrange a visit to look round the senior school or to make a date for a Sixth Form taster day.

■ Our Lady’s Abingdon, Radley Road, Abingdon OX14 3PS