Why OLA Lower School – Our Parent and Pupil Stories

“Oxfordshire offers many excellent junior schools, but OLA stood out for its supportive and family atmosphere, its stress-free approach to learning, and the broad smiles of its pupils. My daughter can’t wait to go to school every morning and there can’t be a higher recommendation than that!”

“We chose OLA because it felt right. From the moment we walked through the doors and met the Headteacher and teaching staff, we knew we’d found the right school for our children. We considered all the private co-educational schools in the area, but for us there was something different about OLA. A school with authenticity, where children were gloriously happy in their classrooms, where they had strong bonds with their teachers and where learning was fun. Our daughter has excelled socially and academically, we couldn’t have asked for more from a school.”

“We choose OLA for our daughter, because we felt that the school had the right combination of emphasis on learning, but also ensured that the children at the school were happy and valued; encouraged to learn to the best of their ability and treated as an individual.

We have not been disappointed. Our daughter is always happy to go to school and this is evidenced when we speak to her in the evenings and ask how her day went. The usual response starts “I have had a lovely day…..”

Our experience of the school is that the smaller class sizes allow the teaching staff to develop the children academically and to care for them pastorally, creating a home from home. They are encouraged to try new foods and new activities with a wonderful variety of after school clubs, day trips and in-house school activities, including the pet assembly.  OLA successfully defied the adage not to work with animals or children that day and the performances and behaviour from the children in the assembly was impressive.”

“Our daughter was having difficulties at her junior school. From the moment we phoned OLA we were treated amazingly well, our daughter was made to feel special for the first time in her schooling career. Instead of being put down she was lifted up.

We cannot speak more highly of OLA. The staff are brilliant. They care so much for the pupils. It is wonderful to see your child learn and develop in such a lovely school. She skips to school every day”

” OLA is a very loving, caring and nurturing school. The ethos of OLA is to make learning fun and that mistakes are a part of growing up – this helps the girls and boys to develop into confident individuals. Every child is encouraged and recognised for their achievements, big or small inside or outside the school. The high quality teaching in OLA has meant that the children perform well above the national average in the core subjects. Our son joined OLA as a 3 year old, shy boy with eyes always full of tears. Now he is in Year 6 and has grown up into a very confident and outspoken young boy. We are so pleased that we have chosen OLA for our son.”

“I didn’t – We did as a family, and we haven’t looked back! It’s small and friendly. The children are treated as individuals.

My children like the calm environment which, they tell me, helps to reduce pressure, stress and anxiety on a day-to-day basis, so they can focus on the varied and interesting classes and activities, giving them the best opportunity to achieve their potential.
The members of staff are approachable and the school is small enough to be reasonably flexible.

My children do not feel they have to fit a rigid mould or box, and individuality is seen as an attribute, rather than an impediment to learning.

On the whole, students are respectful and kind to each other and there is a close community spirit.

We feel reassured that from junior to senior it is a place where our children can enjoy emotional stability during the sometimes challenging times of puberty, the influence and issues brought on by social media and public exams. Giving them the best chance to become responsible, balanced adults who can differentiate between heart, head and algorithms and ultimately contribute positively to society. What’s more, my children tell me it’s fun!”

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