Head of School Letter 15th April 202415/04/2024

We’re two-thirds of the way through the academic year but still with so much more to achieve and opportunities to be grasped, across all year groups. I hope you had an enjoyable holiday and were able to do some of the things that make you happiest, with family and friends. The week ahead is relatively quiet, before things begin to become busier with GCSE and A Level exams beginning next week, with GCSE PE Moderation and the GCSE Art exam. We wish all students preparing for exams our very best.

Parent Survey: A reminder that we are currently seeking the views of parents, to help inform our school self-evaluation process (https://forms.gle/vwZzATYxcuMGcmHQ9). Thank you to the families that have already completed the survey - we appreciate you taking the time to help us improve our school. We welcome constructive feedback - even when it is tough to hear - because it will help us to develop and improve. It is also good to know where you think we are getting it right. The survey will remain open until Monday 22nd April.

Change in the school day: The consultation on the proposal to adjust the school day to start ten minutes earlier and increase tutor time/assembly by five minutes and lunch time by five minutes each in order that the school meets the DfE’s minimum expectation on the length of the school week of 32.5 hours for all mainstream, state-funded schools will close on Thursday 18th April. If you’d like comment on the proposal, please email: consultation@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk

One lunch: This week we will launch the one lunch trial with all students and staff moving to the ‘early lunch’ time of 12:20pm-1pm. Tomorrow there will be an assembly for each year group to explain the practicalities of the change; where students line up for access to the canteen, details of the increased number of lunchtime clubs, and which toilets are accessible for specific year groups. The website has been updated with details of new lunch and after-school activities: Wider Curriculum and Activities - https://www.cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/curriculum/wider-curriculum-opportunities. My thanks goes to all the staff offering these clubs and activities.

School Photo Shoot Day: This coming Friday 19th April, Edupic, a specialist school photography company will be in school to take photos for our new website and for marketing purposes such as online prospectuses. If you have given photo consent for your child, they may be included in some of the photos; please double-check their uniform on Friday morning. If you have not given photo consent for your child, we will not use them in the photos - we have carefully checked the information we have about this to ensure we don’t include anyone without consent. It would be helpful if you could remind your child, that although we will be checking on the day, it does speed things up if students are aware of their status. The weather is looking good at the moment!

Brave the Shave for an Incredible Cause! Mr Herman, one of our History teachers will be undertaking a wonderful act on Friday 26th April during the lunch break by shaving his hair and beard!. Cancer has touched Mr Herman's family deeply, and he has seen first-hand the incredible support Macmillan offers during those toughest times. Mr Herman has previously braved the shave but this time, it's bigger than ever as he has been growing his hair since the 2nd lockdown! He will be donating his hair to the Little Princess Trust, helping create wigs for children experiencing hair loss. If you are able to, and would like to, please consider sponsoring Mr Herman's Shave to support both of these charities. Every donation, big or small, makes a huge difference. To donate, please click here: https://bit.ly/HermanShave

Ski Trip: The ski trip returned last Saturday from a wonderful week of adventures. Thank you to the members of staff who gave up part of their Easter holiday to provide this opportunity to students.

Sports Fixtures and Results: On Sunday, over 48,000 runners will take to the streets of the capital to participate in the London Marathon. I will be running as part of the official London Marathon pacing team, pacing 7:00 hours; you may spot me on TV with a huge 7:00-hour flag on my back! A number of our students volunteer with St John’s Ambulance on a regular basis, including at a variety of sporting events, and will be doing so at the marathon on Sunday. I'm hoping not to need their help whilst on the course but I’m looking forward to seeing them at their First Aid post at the finish. If you, or someone you know is taking part, we wish you the very best of luck!

At school, we’re looking forward to a summer of cricket, rounders and athletics; there’s a new practice schedule published here: Summer Term PE Clubs (https://www.cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/documents/1711632861.pdf). With the move to one lunchtime and sports facilities not being used for lessons at the same time as some students were previously on lunch, a wide range of sporting activities will be on offer every lunchtime: Summer Term PE Lunch Activities (https://www.cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/documents/1711632928.pdf)

Year 10 and Year 11: Tomorrow, Tuesday, Year 10 and Year 11 students will experience Macbeth performed by a professional theatre company in our school hall. Macbeth is the Shakespeare play taught as part of GCSE English Literature and this performance will serve as a well-timed revision for Year 11, and inspire Year 10 students to increase their understanding of the play for their exams next year.

Wishing everyone a happy and positive week. Thank you, as ever, for your support.

Yours sincerely
Mrs L Baldwin
Head of School