Leyland St. Mary's Catholic Technology College
Encyclopedia
Leyland St Mary's Catholic Technology College is situated in Leyland
, Lancashire
in the South Ribble
district.
Leyland St. Mary’s has served the Catholic population of Leyland and its surrounding parishes since 1957 and is proud of its Ampleforth Benedictine heritage. See Ampleforth Abbey
. It is set in extensive grounds near the centre of the town, and draws on Leyland, the nearby villages of Euxton, Eccleston, Mawdesley and Farington, as well as pupils from further afield. The school is an 11-16 mixed comprehensive and currently has around 800 pupils.
The curriculum at Leyland St Mary’s was graded as Outstanding in the latest Ofsted report (2008). The National Curriculum Core and Foundation subjects are studied from Years 7 to 9. Pupils are taught in groups of similar ability for most subjects, with regular reviews to ensure that they are appropriately set. All pupils study French in Year 7 and some study Spanish as an additional language in Years 8 and 9.
Pupils select courses appropriate to their interests as early as Year 8, with the major decisions on option choices being taken at the end of Year 9. Pupils have the opportunity to choose from a range of academic and vocational courses in Years 10 & 11, studied in school and at local colleges.
The school’s examination results indicate the success of the “outstanding curriculum” (OFSTED 2008) at St Mary’s. The headline results of 5A*-C including English and Maths have been over 60% for the past three years and in 2010 the figure of 66.5% placed the school top in Leyland once again.
According to the school prospectus, the school aims "to provide a Catholic, Christian community and climate in which children can grow from day to day in the knowledge and understanding illuminated by the light of faith. It is expected that children admitted to the school will take a full and active part in the religious life of the school."
Extra-curricular activities are organised in the performing arts and sport with pupils regularly organising fund-raising projects for charities such as the CAFOD, Breast Cancer Awareness and Lourdes Fund. A range of residential courses is offered to students throughout their school career. These include visits to France and Italy and residential stays at Castlerigg Manor
, the Lancaster Diocesan Retreat Centre. There are also pupil exchanges with schools from Vichy
in France and Valladolid
in Spain. Pupils are involved in a wide range activities including sports teams, drama productions, dance festivals and the school band.
Leyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in the South Ribble
South Ribble
South Ribble is a non-metropolitan district and borough of Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Leyland.In May 2007, the council was officially declared "Excellent" by the Audit Commission, gaining its place among the best 5 district councils in the country,-Overview:On 4 October 2007, a...
district.
Leyland St. Mary’s has served the Catholic population of Leyland and its surrounding parishes since 1957 and is proud of its Ampleforth Benedictine heritage. See Ampleforth Abbey
Ampleforth Abbey
Ampleforth Abbey is a monastery of Benedictine Monks in North Yorkshire, England, part of the English Benedictine Congregation. It claims descent from the pre-Reformation community at Westminster Abbey through the last surviving monk from Westminster Sigebert Buckley.The current Abbot is Fr...
. It is set in extensive grounds near the centre of the town, and draws on Leyland, the nearby villages of Euxton, Eccleston, Mawdesley and Farington, as well as pupils from further afield. The school is an 11-16 mixed comprehensive and currently has around 800 pupils.
The curriculum at Leyland St Mary’s was graded as Outstanding in the latest Ofsted report (2008). The National Curriculum Core and Foundation subjects are studied from Years 7 to 9. Pupils are taught in groups of similar ability for most subjects, with regular reviews to ensure that they are appropriately set. All pupils study French in Year 7 and some study Spanish as an additional language in Years 8 and 9.
Pupils select courses appropriate to their interests as early as Year 8, with the major decisions on option choices being taken at the end of Year 9. Pupils have the opportunity to choose from a range of academic and vocational courses in Years 10 & 11, studied in school and at local colleges.
The school’s examination results indicate the success of the “outstanding curriculum” (OFSTED 2008) at St Mary’s. The headline results of 5A*-C including English and Maths have been over 60% for the past three years and in 2010 the figure of 66.5% placed the school top in Leyland once again.
According to the school prospectus, the school aims "to provide a Catholic, Christian community and climate in which children can grow from day to day in the knowledge and understanding illuminated by the light of faith. It is expected that children admitted to the school will take a full and active part in the religious life of the school."
Extra-curricular activities are organised in the performing arts and sport with pupils regularly organising fund-raising projects for charities such as the CAFOD, Breast Cancer Awareness and Lourdes Fund. A range of residential courses is offered to students throughout their school career. These include visits to France and Italy and residential stays at Castlerigg Manor
Castlerigg Manor
Castlerigg Manor is a Catholic Residential Youth Centre - also often referred to as Catholic Youth Retreat Centres - in Keswick, Cumbria, in the north of England's Lake District National Park...
, the Lancaster Diocesan Retreat Centre. There are also pupil exchanges with schools from Vichy
Vichy
Vichy is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. It belongs to the historic province of Bourbonnais.It is known as a spa and resort town and was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944.The town's inhabitants...
in France and Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
in Spain. Pupils are involved in a wide range activities including sports teams, drama productions, dance festivals and the school band.
Headteachers
| Years | Headteachers |
|---|---|
| 1957 - 1976 | Miss M. Reddy |
| 1976 - 1982 | Mr. F. Harrison |
| 1982 - 1996 | Mr. J. Clarke |
| 1996 - 2008 | Mr. T. Day |
| 2008 - present | Mr. M. Wright |
House system
Houses are based on famous saints. St Benedict, St Thomas, St Peter, St Anselm and St JohnJohn the Apostle
John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...