Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School & Sixth Form

We consider each person as special and unique and we recognise and respond to their gifts, their needs and their aspirations. We care for all individuals, celebrating achievement and providing support when difficulties are experienced. The continuing success of our school is based on the positive partnership between parents and school. The active involvement of parents in the life of the school brings a unique warmth and vitality to our community and we recognise the crucial role which parents have to play in the education of their children. We believe that parents choose Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School because they share in our insistence on the highest standards of behaviour and self-discipline, our expectation that all students will work hard, show respect and courtesy for others and a pride in their appearance. Our highly professional staff is dedicated to ensuring that every student fulfils their God given potential, committed to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning throughout the curriculum. Students are provided with appropriate work which challenges and extends them, in an environment which enables them to focus on their studies effectively. The school’s enhanced facilities have helped us to develop dynamic and innovative schemes of work and to offer a broad and balanced curriculum designed to meet the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century. Our thriving Sixth Form greatly enhances the character of the school. The high rate of students choosing to continue their studies with us is a testament to the very positive student-teacher relationships which are established here. All of our students enjoy a challenging and enriching curriculum to enable them to pursue further study and purposeful, fulfilling careers. I look forward to welcoming you to our school. Mr G Alexander - Headteacher

If you are an ex-pupil, a member of staff who used to work here, or an interested parent I am sure that by visiting this site you will either relive many happy memories or find the answers to your enquiries.We are proud of what we have achieved over the years from what we consider to be a happy and positive environment. We are, as a Catholic school, determined to promote the spiritual and personal education of each child as well as pursue those traditional values of respect and courtesy. All schools promote academic success, and we are no different, but we use the foundations of our Catholic faith upon which we build achievement. Our school motto, “Christ achieved through endeavour, we endeavour to achieve”, reinforces the concept that hard work is the pathway to success. It is essential therefore that self-discipline, self-control and an ability to make a vision come true are promoted within the school to help children achieve.

Our success as a school and as a strong element in the community is reflected in the fact that a significant number of our parents are ex-pupils, that nearly 10% of our staff are ex-pupils and some of our pupils have parents who are members of staff. This reflects a high degree on confidence in our school community and its traditional values.

While we have our feet firmly established in the present, our eyes look to the future with optimism and a desire to ensure that we continue to improve as a school. Since the aquisition of our Technology College status in 2000 we have utilised ICT and technological resources to support youngsters learning, achievement and enjoyment. Teachers have been supported with the use of ICT in all classrooms adding a wide range of variety to both teaching and learning styles. With good planning, financial management and resource co-ordination we can now boast an average of one computer for every two students, high-tech equipment and enhanced workshops and laboratories. The overall objective is to raise pupil achievement, generate an ability for independent learning and create citizens who can positively contribute to the technological future of the country. To this end the school has a fine C.V.A. (Contextual Value Added) record being rated in the top 20% of schools nationally in four of the last five years.

We hope our website will therefore not only provide you with an outline of what we are about, but also encourage you to find out more about us. Again welcome to Ilsley.