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Strep A | Advice

05th December 2022

Dear parents and carers,

We have all been deeply saddened to read about the tragic deaths of six children across the country from invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infections.  Group A “Strep” is a bacteria which often lives harmlessly on our skin but can also cause a variety of illnesses, most of them mild and non-invasive.  Scarlet fever is a common type of Group A Strep infection, which is currently circulating at higher levels than is usual for the time of year.  Symptoms of scarlet fever can include:

• sore throat
• high fever
• a pink or red rash with a rough sandpapery feel

If your child develops any of these symptoms then please keep them at home until they are feeling better.  If you have any concerns, contact NHS 111 or your GP for further advice.  The vast majority of childhood infections currently circulating are mild and easily treatable, and more severe infections (such as iGAS) are extremely rare.  Buckinghamshire Council is working closely with schools and early years settings to ensure that all our children continue to be able to learn and develop in safe and healthy environments. 

Regards,

Daniel Flecknoe

Consultant in Public Health

Big PTA Cash Draw

05th December 2022

We are taking part in The Big PTA Cash Draw, a nationwide PTA fundraiser.

Purchase tickets before 14th December 2022 and be in with the chance of winning up to £5,000 in each of the 6 draws from 14th to 16th December 2022. Friends of Cottesloe PTA will receive a guaranteed 50% of all the tickets you purchase on our behalf and the other 50% is used towards the prize funds and running costs.

Buy your tickets https://www.bigptaraffle.co.uk/support/the-cottesloe-school-lu7

Year 7 Food Bank Drive

23rd November 2022

Year 7s are doing a Food Bank Drive for Leighton Linslade Homeless Service if you would like to donate, please bring donations to Main Reception.

The collection will end on Friday 9th December.

Many thanks

Mrs Catling and Mrs Knightley

Safeguarding Alert

22nd November 2022

We have been made aware by colleagues at Brookmead School of two separate incidents of children being followed by three men in a silver car on their way home from school. On both occasions, a man has exited the car and watched the child.

This has been reported to both First Response and the Police.

We are sharing this information with you so we can all remain vigilant to ensure our students and members of the wider community are safe.

Transport Consultation

22nd November 2022

Between Wednesday 19 October and midnight on Sunday 4 December, people in Buckinghamshire will be able to provide their views on proposals for:

• Spare Seats Scheme charging options
• Updates to our home-to-school transport policies

Any changes will apply for 2023 to 2024 academic year onwards and will apply to both new and existing customers.

Buckinghamshire Council would like to encourage educational settings to consult on the Home to School Transport policies and request that they help spread awareness of the consultation to students, parents and carers. The consultation may particularly appeal to parents/carers of Year 5 and Year 6 students, parents/carers of secondary school students, parents/carers of students attending a SEND educational setting and students of sixth-form age.

The Spare Seats Scheme offers paid-for seats on timetabled Council-run school buses after all young people who are eligible for free school transport have been allocated a seat.

The changes will even out the cost of travel over a child’s whole school career by reducing the cost of post-16 travel for some Spare Seat passengers, making it easier for parents and carers to know upfront how much they will have to pay before applying for a seat.

The consultation addresses concerns that the Spare Seats fee structure is complex and difficult to understand and proposes three options for simplified school bus ticket charges. Under all proposed options, non-Buckinghamshire Council residents will pay a higher fee to customers who live within Buckinghamshire.

The Home to School Transport Policy sets out the Council’s approach to providing transport to schools and educational settings for students up to 19 years old, and up to 25 years old for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The Post-16 Transport Policy Statement sets out transport arrangements for students aged 16 and over. Minor changes to these policies are being proposed to make them clearer and easier to understand.

Please have your say on the proposed changes to these policies, and encourage others to have their say too.

The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 4 December 2022.

https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/schools/home-to-school-2022/

Buckinghamshire Council

Buckinghamshire Council

Fundraising Raffle | Friends of Cottesloe School

21st November 2022

We are taking part in The Big PTA Cash Draw, a nationwide PTA fundraiser.

Purchase tickets before 14th December 2022 and be in with the chance of winning up to £5,000 in each of the 6 draws from 14th to 16th December 2022. #FriendsofCottesloe PTA will receive a guaranteed 50% of all the tickets you purchase on our behalf and the other 50% is used towards the prize funds and running costs.

We are excited to be a part of The Big PTA Cash Draw and look forward to seeing if you are a winner!

Buy your tickets here: https://www.bigptaraffle.co.uk/support/the-cottesloe-school-lu7

Extra Date Sixth Form Open Evening

14th November 2022

Due to popular demand we have added an extra open evening date on 30th November at 5pm.

Book now:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-cottesloe-school-sixth-form-open-evening-tickets-465597593937

Spaces are limited. 

Sixth Form Open Event Presentation

10th November 2022

Sixth Form Open Events for 2023 admissions

If you missed our open evening, below is the presentation (PDF) 

Collection of Exam Certificates

08th November 2022

Calling students from 2015 to 2021, have you got your exam certificates?

We have a number of uncollected exam certificates, which under GDPR legislation must be destroyed soon.  

Please arrange to collect your exam certificates by 8th December 2022, email exams@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk with your name, year of leaving and date of birth. If you have any siblings currently attending The Cottesloe School, we can arrange for them to collect on your behalf.

After 8th December they will be securely destroyed, to request copies of certificates from exam boards can be quite costly.

If you left school this year (Summer 2022) we will contact you shortly on how you will be able to collect your certificates.

Mrs Ayling | Examinations Officer

Carers Bucks Support

17th October 2022

Are you carer? Do you need some extra support?

Carers Bucks have lots of free courses on offer covering a variety of topics:

Mindfulness: Relaxation is a must for carers. Learn invaluable mindfulness techniques delivered in a calm setting.

Carer Essentials: The must-know elements for carers, from emergency planning to benefit entitlements and everything in-between.

LPOA: All you need to know about Lasting Power of Attorney. The session is delivered by a partner solicitor and includes time for questions.

Understanding Stress, Anxiety and Depression: Understand the impact of stress on carers, recognise the signs of anxiety and depression, and find out how to help yourself and how to access support.

Working with Professionals: Discuss positive ways of working with health and social care professionals to help promote confident, positive communication.

First Aid: Feel confident about what to do in a medical emergency.

Book now:
https://carersbucks.org/services/workshops-and-information-programme-2022/

Sixth Form Open Event 2022 BOOK NOW

14th October 2022

The school will be providing an Open Evening for all those wishing to return to The Cottesloe School Sixth Form, on Monday 7th November 2022.

There will be two time slots available to listen to presentations from the Headteacher, the Head of Sixth Form and the Head Students. There will then be an opportunity to visit the various departments in their teaching environments and speak to both Sixth Form staff and students.

Information on the courses offered and details of the entry conditions will also be available online.

• Parking is restricted so please try and walk wherever possible.
• Presentations will take place at 6pm or 7pm promptly followed by an opportunity to visit and talk to subject leaders and students.
• The open evening is exclusively for Year 11 students and up to two accompanying adults and YOU MUST have a ticket.

We look forward to welcoming you to our school in person as we give you the opportunity to see what our Sixth Form offers.

Tickets are available for the face-to-face event from the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cottesloe-school-sixth-form-open-evening-6pm-to-7pm-tickets-414681923797

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-cottesloe-school-sixth-form-open-evening-7pm-to-8pm-tickets-418765367487

We will be uploading course information over the coming weeks so regularly check this page - https://www.cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/sixth-form

I look forward to seeing you there.

Yours sincerely
Mr A Youngs
Head of Sixth Form

ParentPay accounts in arrears

13th October 2022

A message from our Dining Room suppliers AiP.

• Please can you check your child's account daily/weekly to ensure that they have enough credit?
• THEY CAN NOT LEND ON ACCOUNTS IN ARREARS
• If you want to set a spending limit please email finance@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk, please ensure you set this accordingly to the amount of food your child consumes in a day.
• Set your ParentPay notifications so that you know when their account is running low.

Many thanks

Alliance in Partnership

Wicked Trip Information

10th October 2022

Mrs Woodburn is very excited to take the Year 7s to see the hit show Wicked on Wednesday 12th October.  The students must come to school in full uniform as they will be in lessons for periods 1 and 2.  They should leave their Chromebooks safely at home on Wednesday.  The theatre is a cashless venue so please send your child with either an alternative payment facility or more ideally, all their yummy sweets already purchased at a much cheaper cost. Students also require a full packed lunch to keep them going until we return at 7:30pm.   Please collect from the coach park and come into the school via church street and exit via the coach park to help the traffic flow and ensure that the coaches can safely manoeuvre on the coach park.

Any students remaining in school will be in the library for periods 3 to 5 working on a group project.

Warm regards,

Mrs Woodburn

Open Event Tour Guides - Consent Forms

04th October 2022

We still have a large number of students whose parents have not completed consent for Open evening. The consent Google Form is on the email sent home about the event.  They cannot take part without consent being received. 

The deadline for responses is today (4th October).

The Cottesloe School

Ukrainian Education Webinar Tomorrow

04th October 2022

For our Ukrainian families and hosts, Buckinghamshire Council are holding this free education webinar tomorrow

Wednesday 5 October, 6pm to 7pm

Join Buckinghamshire Council's Education Team to learn about early years and the school system in Bucks.

Register : https://bit.ly/3BZ6vLC

Final plea - Foodbank Appeal 2022

03rd October 2022

The Aylesbury Foodbank will be collecting the donations this Wednesday, if you would like to donate

We saw a post on social media by the Aylesbury Foodbank for a donation plea. We will be supporting this, so if you can donate the following:

Long-life food products: pasta, tinned food, rice, cereal, long-life milk, coffee, tea, and chocolate.

 Hygiene products: sanitary towels, deodorant, shower gel, toothpaste

Food donations can be left in the Main Reception.

Mr Henry | AHT Character

Career Inspirational Speakers

29th September 2022

We are doing Career Planning module for the Year 11 Prepare, Aspire, Succeed students, Mrs Lambourne would love to have some guest speakers talk about their journey to their current career and inspire Year 11.

Information to share would be:

• Which subjects they chose at GCSE
• Post 16 pathway
• Courses/ Qualifications completed
• Did they feel they made the correct pathway choice

If there is anyone you know, friends, family members, ex-students, who would be keen to support this by coming into school or even something simple like creating a short loom video to share to the class.

Please email office@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk

Online Safety Evening - tonight don't miss out!

27th September 2022

• Are you up to date with what your child is up to online?
• Are you aware of all the apps that young people are engaging with?
• Are you able to have open and honest conversations as to what your child is doing online?
• We have a guest speaker, the Safer Schools Officer from TVP Aylesbury Vale 

It is not too late to book for this evening. BOOK NOW

Chromebook Delivery

23rd September 2022

Good morning, 

We have been in touch with FreedomTech, our Chromebook providers to escalate the delay in the delivery of Chromebooks.  We have been assured that by 7th October that your child should receive theirs if you ordered before summer.

For those who have not placed your orders yet, the portal closes on 10th October, details on how to order https://www.cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/students/chromebooks-for-learning 

Thank you for your patience.

The Cottesloe School

Collect your artwork

20th September 2022

For last year's Year 11 and 13 students, your artwork can be collected from the main school reception from October 1st and to give us a 24 hours notice before turning up so I can ensure the work is down ready for collection.

Rescheduled photos due to the Queen's funeral

16th September 2022

We were due to have school photos taken on Monday 19th September of Year 7s and 10s. Due to the funeral taking place, this will now happen on 30th September.

Many thanks 

The Cottesloe School

Wider Curriculum Opportunities

16th September 2022

We are pleased to share our Wider Curriculum for Autumn 1 offer - please see our dedicated page for what's on offer.

We hope that there is something for everyone!

Sixth Form Open Event 2022

15th September 2022

Open Events for 2023 admissions

7th November 

The format is a presentation followed by a tour with the opportunity to talk to subject leaders and students.

This is a ticketed event, please see below for links to Eventbrite.

6pm 

7pm

National Bank Holiday for Queen Elizabeth II State Funeral

12th September 2022

I am sure by now, that you are aware that Monday 19th September 2022 will be a National Bank Holiday for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, the school will be closed on this day.

The school has participated in a number of events during the period of National Mourning. This includes a special whole school PSHE lesson looking at the life and reign of the Queen. We will also share with students the link to the official Royal online book of condolence and encourage them to send their thoughts and messages to the Royal family. The link can be found below.

https://www.royal.uk/send-message-condolence

We have reviewed our school calendar and feel it is appropriate to continue with the events we have planned during the period of National Mourning.

The students have been fantastic at school and have shown their respects for the Queen at every opportunity. I would like to thank them for their maturity at this sad time.

Yours Sincerely 

Mr Jones

Period of National Mourning

09th September 2022

I watched the news breaking yesterday evening about the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth with great sadness and a huge sense of loss.

This morning I held a whole school assembly to mark the beginning of the National period of mourning which will continue until the end of the State Funeral. The school will of course remain open during this time. Any request for a Leave of Absence will be dealt with through our normal processes.

We will be planning further activities to show our respects to the Queen over the coming days.

Once more details are released by the Royal Household regarding the State Funeral we will inform you of any official changes to our school calendar.

Our thoughts are with the Royal family at this time and we expect all students to conduct themselves respectfully during activities that are linked to this sad time.

Yours Sincerely

Mr Jones

Online Safety Evening | 27th September 6pm to 7pm

08th September 2022

At The Cottesloe School, we take our responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and child protection very seriously. We instil a strong culture of vigilance amongst all members of the school community and believe it is our shared responsibility to safeguard each other.

As part of our commitment to our safeguarding procedures, we are looking to host an information evening for parents and carers in order to help support you and to understand what to look for and how you can support your child.

The event will take place on Tuesday 27th September from 6 to 7pm in the main school hall.

We will cover how young people are using social media and the internet; to help guide you as parents/carers on how to approach a key part of modern society.

Covering these topics:

• How and what are children accessing online
• Practical advice and resources
• Communication with young people about healthy online usage
• Blocks and filters
• Our online safety policies and procedures
• Cyber Bullying

There will be the opportunity to ask any questions, seek support from the available staff, and share ideas on how to keep your children safe online.

To book your place use the following link:

https://bit.ly/TCSonlinesafetyeve

Change to Bus Route 900

05th September 2022

We have been informed by Marshalls Coaches that the MCOT900 bus is over capacity.

We have been asked to share the following information with you in order to ensure all students on this service are able to be transported to school safely.

Any student that gets on/off at the following stop in Pitstone has been transferred to the MCOT902 service from Tuesday 6th September (tomorrow morning).

Pitstone, Brookmead Lower School/Haldi Indian Restaurant

All other stops in Pitstone are not affected by this and students getting on at Pitstone, Woodz Pizza should continue to catch the MCOT900.

????902 Service ????

07:41 - Pitstone, Brookmead Lower School/Haldi Indian Restaurant

07:43 - Ivinghoe, High street bus stop, next to the playing field

07:53 - Dagnall, Nelson Road

07:57 - Edlesborough, The Travellers Rest 08:00 - Northall, The Swan PH 08:02 - Just prior to the Slapton turn

In the afternoon, this bus will depart The Cottesloe School at 15:20, arriving at the Pitstone stop at 15:55

Bus Services are managed by @buckscouncil. Please contact them directly if you have any specific queries regarding any school transport.

Year 11 Chromebook Loan Scheme

05th September 2022

As many of you will be aware, over the past two years we have run a scheme for parents to purchase Chromebook for students to use in school. For a variety of reasons, this has not been rolled out to the current Year 11 cohort.

We recognise the importance of the forthcoming academic year to Year 11 students and are in a position to be able to offer all Year 11 students the opportunity to loan a Chromebook from the school. We have seen how beneficial access to this type of technology has been; enhancing the learning experience and allowing easy access to a range of learning and revision sites and platforms.

If you would like your child to take up this opportunity, we require a refundable deposit of £50. Payable via ParentPay, it will be refunded at the end of Year 11, once the device and charger have been returned undamaged. When the deposit has been received, we will issue Chromebooks to students in school.

If your child is entitled to Free School Meals, please contact the school office (office@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk) for details of the support we can offer.

Arriva bus strike

02nd September 2022

For parents with children who use #ARRIVA BUSES ONLY. 

Please make sure you read this before leaving for school on Monday.  

We received this communication today from Buckinghamshire Council 

---------------------------------

We will be writing to parents of those children who are entitled to transport to inform them directly of changes to arrangements in light of the planned strike action and also posting on our social media accounts - @BucksCouncil to alert all other parents of the situation. We would be grateful if you could reinforce these messages through your communication channels too.

We recognise that this is not the way that any of us would have chosen to start back after the summer holidays, however we do appreciate the support that you are providing for parents and families.

What options are available for students after their GCSEs?

23rd August 2022

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/22/what-options-are-available-for-students-after-their-gcses/

Sixth Form Admission 2023 - Open Evening

18th August 2022

Sixth Form Admission 2023

For Year 11s in September, you can now register your interest in our Open Evening

https://bit.ly/TCSSixthFormOpenEvening

Monday 7th November 2022

7pm to 9pm

A-Level Results 2022

18th August 2022

After a return to exams this summer along with the uncertainty and disruption of the last two academic years, we are extremely proud of the results our students have achieved this Summer. The results in our Sixth Form have remained consistently high over the past five years and this year’s results reflect the highest levels of A-Level exam achievement we have seen at the school.

59% of A-Level grades were at A* to B with 85% achieving A* to C. 71% of all BTEC grades were Distinction/Distinction*. These are extraordinary results achieved in the most difficult circumstances and reflect the hard work and dedication of both students and staff.

Some notable individual results include:

• Rosanna Mulcahy A*A*A* in English Literature, Physics and Sociology and is going on to study Social Sciences at Royal Holloway.

• Chloe Warne also achieved A*A*A* Biology, Physics and Maths and is going to study Biological sciences at Bristol.

• Tallulah Cooper achieved A*A*A in English Literature, Religious Studies and History and is going to study Law at Exeter.

• Jess LaVallin also achieved A*A*A in Maths, Biology and Geography and she is going on to study Biology at Bath.

• Jonah Faulks achieved A*AA in Maths, Physics and Chemistry and is going on the study Maths at Bath.

• Charlotte Thorne achieved A*AA in Maths, Physics and Geography and is going on to study Maths at Loughborough.

These results reflect the dedication and resilience our students have demonstrated in challenging times. I would like to take this opportunity to say congratulations to all students and a huge thank you to the staff who have supported them through the challenges of the last two years.

Simon Jones - Headteacher

Remote learning due to we extreme weather

17th July 2022

The current weather and forecast for Monday and Tuesday are unprecedented. This is reflected in a Red weather warning and a Level 4 Emergency Heat Alert.

A particular concern is the high number of our students who will be travelling to and from school on buses and coaches, some of which do not have air conditioning. Temperatures are due to peak around home time on Monday and again at lunchtime on Tuesday when we close for the summer holiday.

We will move to Remote Learning on Monday (all periods) and Tuesday (periods 1 to 3) as the advice is high risk and high likelihood of heat related issues for everyone.

For those Year 10 students on work experience, we would ask that parents judge the conditions of your child’s placement and make a decision based on this. Exposure to the sun and heat varies greatly in many work experience placements.

All students will receive email instructions for Remote Learning procedures before the start of school on Monday.

Take care over the next two days.

Yours sincerely

Mr Jones 

ATTENTION Year 10s

15th July 2022

ATTENTION Year 10s

You are not due back in school next week. Tuesday is your last day of work experience.

University admissions and A level, T level and VTQ results: Your questions answered

12th July 2022

University admissions and A level, T level and VTQ results: Your questions answered

Uniform during the hot weather

11th July 2022

With further warnings around the heat this morning, we have extended our modifications to school uniform.

For the remainder of this week students can either wear:

Modified uniform which includes no tie and blazer

Or

PE kit

We have a number of trips going out this week and we would encourage students to dress appropriately to help them remain cool, but also protected from the sun. Loose and lightweight clothing and a hat are recommended.

Students should carry water in a reusable bottle at all times and fill this up regularly between lessons and at break/lunchtime.

Students will be encouraged to keep out of the sun during break/lunchtime. Please apply a high-factor sunscreen before coming to school.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

Bring water bottles

10th July 2022

With temperatures set to soar this week, please ensure you bring your water bottles to be filled.  Plastic cups from medical is not very sustainable to our planet so please bring your own bottles. 

Mr Jones has said that no blazers or ties need to be worn tomorrow (Monday), we will communicate each day, as we know the British weather can be unpredictable.

Reminder | Early finish on 19th July

01st July 2022

Just a reminder that we finish at 1pm on 19th July.

Many thanks

The Cottesloe School

Athletics Club Tonight CANCELLED

30th June 2022

We are cancelling athletics club tonight!

Training will now be on MONDAY 4th June 3pm to 4:30pm so athletes can practice for district championships.

Sorry for the inconvenience caused, it's just not safe to train in these conditions.

Many thanks

PE Dept

Happy 10th Birthday Inspire

30th June 2022

Wishing a very happy 10th birthday to INSPIRE!

We have collated some INSPIRE golden oldies for you all to enjoy. The history of the logo was designed by a student in 2012, Billie-Tia Anderson.

VIDEO

Thank you to our wonderful Performing Arts Department, Miss Mayhew, Mrs Pinto and Mrs Varty for your dedication, hard work and devotion to INSPIRE.

We have our Carnival at 4pm this afternoon here at the school; you can still buy tickets until 2pm via ParentPay.

Exam Results 101 - What you need to know as parents and carers

28th June 2022

Exam Results 101 - What you need to know as parents and carers by National Careers Service

If you are the parent/carer of a child who is expecting their exam results in August then join us and learn more about their choices.

With exams returning this year we want to equip parents and carers with advice to support their children with:

• tips on how to prepare for results day
• advice about choices and exploring careers
• signposting to useful sources
• an opportunity for Q&A

Prepare Aspire Succeed - Edition 2

27th June 2022

For our latest newsletter click on the image

Deadline for Prom Bookings

22nd June 2022

The deadline for Prom booking is this week.  Please ensure that you have ticked for your child to attend via ParentPay, even if they have already given their Chromebooks back.

Character Camp deposit deadline has been extended to 27th June.

22nd June 2022

Character Camp deposit deadline has been extended to 27th June.

For more details see the below link or the email you have been sent: https://www.cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/students/summer-character-camp-2022

Deadline for Year 7 Disco Booking

20th June 2022

The deadline for booking the disco is Wednesday 22nd.  If would like to attend, please book via ParentPay ASAP.

At present we do not have enough bookings for it to go ahead, which will be a real shame.

Mrs Woodburn

Thorpe Park Tickets Book Now

17th June 2022

Year 7 and 8s STEM Trip

The issues with Thorpe Park tickets have now been resolved. Please log in to ParentPay to book.

Year 7 Disco - Book Now

17th June 2022

Tickets are £8.00 which includes a burger or hot dog during the event. Please complete the form below stating your child's preference - https://forms.gle/6fSo36ZdxCoAECfN9.

Tickets are only available via Parent Pay by selecting the Year 7 Disco payment option. Payment is required by Friday 17th June 2022.

Should there be insufficient interest in this event, then unfortunately it will not go ahead. Any monies that have been paid will be refunded to your Parent Pay account.

Athletics Club has been cancelled tonight

16th June 2022

Due to the rising temperatures and lack of shade on the field, Athletics Club has been cancelled tonight. 

We have not taken this decision lightly, especially just before sports day, but the safety of staff and students is paramount. 

Many thanks

PE Dept.

Trampolining CANCELLED after school

15th June 2022

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to cancel trampolining after school today. Please can you share this information with your period 5 classes so that students can get on the buses before they leave.

Hot Weather

15th June 2022

With the forecast of hot weather this week, we will allow students to not wear blazers on Thursday and Friday and additionally on Friday, students are not required to wear ties. Full uniform will be required again on Monday 20th June 2022.

If students are in PE lessons they should be in the full school PE kit. Students should ensure they bring in water bottles.

Yours sincerely
The Cottesloe School Pastoral Team

Year 11s Prom IMPORTANT INFO

15th June 2022

Calling all Year 11s.

Tickets are available to purchase via ParentPay at a cost of £50. There are two options which you MUST select to be able to attend:

1) Any pupil who has loaned a Chromebook from the school will be able to use their deposit payment to purchase their ticket. Tickets will be handed out in exchange for the safe return of their allocated Chromebook. This exchange MUST happen by Friday 1st July 2022. YOU MUST STILL GO THROUGH PARENT PAY AS THIS ISN'T AUTOMATIC.

2) All pupils who did not lease a Chromebook will be able to purchase their prom tickets by paying in instalments through Parent Pay. Final payment must be received by Friday 1st July 2022.

Any issues please contact us.

Mr Passaro

Thorpe Park Trip Booking issue

14th June 2022

We are aware parents want to book on to the Thorpe Park trip, sadly we are waiting on Thorpe Park to issue our tickets, there has been an unexpected delay on their part.  We hope this would be resolved by Wednesday latest.  We will communicate with you when they are live.

Apologies for the inconvenience. 

Architectural industry work experience

13th June 2022

We are seeking anyone in the architectural industry to offer work experience to our students.

Please get in touch if you or you know anyone that does ayoungs@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk

Peripatetic Music Opportunities

13th June 2022

Did you know that The Cottesloe School offer musical instrument and voice lessons, that are available for your son/daughter to learn? For more info please see the link below

https://bit.ly/TCSPeripatetic

We are currently recruiting for a new woodwind teacher and in this instance, please contact Mrs Pinto at lpinto@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk to register your interest. If your child is currently learning an instrument that doesn't appear on our list, please also contact Mrs Pinto as we may be able to offer this next academic year.

Vote for The Cottesloe School

10th June 2022

Our school needs you! Help us win £1,000 of National Book Tokens and a membership to the School Library Association to help rebuild the library and encourage reading for pleasure - plus you could win £100 for yourself! Enter here: http://www.nationalbooktokens.com/schools

National Thank a Teacher Day

23rd May 2022

This Friday is National Thank a Teacher Day in the UK.

If you would like to pass a message on to somebody in school in recognition of something they have done, please complete the attached form by 5pm on Thursday.

https://bit.ly/TCSthankateacherday

Please check the your child's ParentPay Balance

18th May 2022

This week we have had a considerable amount of students with insufficient funds on their ParentPay accounts.  We ask that you regularly check your child's account. 

There is a function to set a daily spending limit.  Please refer to the price list below to ensure that you set an appropriate amount for the morning break and lunch.

Please regularly check your child's account or turn on notifications to remind you when it is running low.

ParentPay Login

Many thanks

The Cottesloe School

Exam Season: All the resources you need including how DfE are making exams fair after disruption, revision help, and what to do if you have Covid

17th May 2022

The Department for Education has just published this, which you may find helpful.

ParentPay Balance

16th May 2022

Good morning,

We have been asked by AiP our catering providers, to remind parents/carers to check their child's ParentPay credit.  We have had lots of requests for lends and this is not something that can be facilitated long-term.

Please regularly check your child's account or turn on notifications to remind you when it is running low.

ParentPay Login

Many thanks

The Cottesloe School

How DofE are helping people learn new skills regardless of their age through the Lifelong Loan Entitlement

11th May 2022

Please see this blog from the Department of Education - how they are helping people learn new skills regardless of their age through the Lifelong Loan Entitlement.

Study Leave

29th April 2022

The examination season is fast approaching, with the first exam being on the 16th May 2022. In order to best support our students during their examinations, and to allow them the time to quietly focus on their revision, we will be allowing Year 11 and 13 students to study leave, commencing on Monday 6th June 2022.

During this time, students will only be expected on the school site on days that they have an examination and must be on-site at least 15 minutes before the start of their examination.

We recognise that any exam period increases the demands on our students, and so we hope that the reduction in travel time and movement between classes will help the students focus more effectively on their studies.

Yours sincerely
Mr R Peel
Assistant Headteacher – Equality and Outcomes

The COVID-19 vaccine is still available to anyone aged 12-15

27th April 2022

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/04/26/the-covid-19-vaccine-is-still-available-to-anyone-aged-12-15/

Year 9 students Vaccinations Friday 20th May

26th April 2022

Your Child’s Secondary School Immunisations are now due.

We use an online consenting platform which can be accessed via any internet-enabled device. Please click on the following link https://www.buckschildimmunisations.co.uk/Forms/DTPMen which will direct you to an online consent form for you to complete for your child.

We will be visiting your child’s school on 20/05/2022. Please complete the consent form in full using the following school code: EE110533 no later than midday on 18/05/2022 as the link will close on this date and you will not be able to consent for your child to have the immunisations after this time. However, we will use Gillick Competence for self- consent with those students whose forms are not returned and who wish to have the vaccine.

Yours sincerely
Buckinghamshire Immunisation Team

Monday 25th April Inset day

23rd April 2022

We hope you all have had a great couple of weeks off school and are ready to return feeling refreshed to start summer term.

Just a quick reminder that Monday is an Inset day. See you all on Tuesday!

Rugby and Netball Cancelled

07th April 2022

Due to the yellow warning weather conditions, Rugby and Netball are cancelled this evening.

Cake Sale Friday 8th April

07th April 2022

There was lots of cake leftover from today's cake sale, so the cake sale will be on again tomorrow.

Please remember to bring in money.

Many thanks

New students' parents/carers joining us in Sept 2022/23.

07th April 2022

For our new students' parents/carers joining us in September 2022/23.

Our office manager jsmith@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk has just emailed important Admissions Forms for you to fill in.

Please check your email and if you have not received an email:

• Please check SPAM and 'mark not as spam' and add jsmith@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk to your contacts.
• If you haven't received this at all, it could be we do not have the right email address for you, in this case, please email jsmith@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk and she will amend your information.

Many thanks
The Cottesloe School

ParentPay Balance Notifications

06th April 2022

Alliance in Partnership, who provide all the catering for the school have recently had a change in management. They have changed a setting in ParentPay to automatically notify parents when their child's accounts are below £3.00. 

If your child brings in a lunch box and you do not want to receive these notifications, you can turn them off via your settings when you log-in(see picture below): 

• circled in red - to get to the settings
• circled in yellow - to set balance limit or turn on and off email and text alerts

You can also see this video as a guide on how to change it.

Any issues please call or email the school.

Young Creative Bucks Forum

05th April 2022

YoungCreativeBucks are looking to create a Young Creative Bucks Forum for young people aged between 14 to 18 in partnership with Bucks Culture.

The Young Creative Bucks Forum will help us to shape things to come!

They are looking for:

• Young people aged 14 to 18
• From Buckinghamshire
• Who have a keen interest in creativity, arts and/or culture
• Who are interested in making the youth voice heard in Bucks

We are welcoming anyone from any area in Bucks and from any background, what matters to us is their enthusiasm and willingness to support a shared vision!

There will be a great opportunity to learn leadership skills, teamwork, project management and delivery, all of which can help to build their CVs.

Please email them directly at cwillis@youngcreativebucks.org (Please note if they are under 16 to only use their school email address)

https://youngcreativebucks.org/

GCSE Science Revision Timetable

03rd April 2022

For any students that need extra help with revision, Mr Davidson and the Science Department have produced a revision timetable to help support and guide you or your child through their Science GSCEs.

Careers Open Day Hartwell House

03rd April 2022

This is a great opportunity for our students looking to go into the hospitality industry. Hartwell House Hotel, Restaurant & Spa are having a Careers Open Day on Tuesday 19th April.

Living with Covid

01st April 2022

The Department for Education has now released new guidance linked to the Living with Covid strategy that will take effect from 1st April 2022.

The main details of this can be found in the blog below.

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/30/living-with-covid-the-end-of-routine-testing-in-schools-colleges-and-childcare-settings/

Currently, cases of Covid at the school are relatively low and stable. We know that Covid is still amongst us and that we are constantly alert to the impact that can have on face to face teaching. This is particularly important for those students in Years 11 and 13 who are about to enter a period of examinations.

The school is currently running above the national average figure for school attendance. Our attendance figures are lower than normal where historically, we expect each year group to be around the 95% attendance rate. Our current year to date figure is fluctuating at around 90 to 91% compared to the national average of around 87% (March 2022).

Cottesloe students always have excellent attendance and we expect this figure to rise as we come into the next phase of the Covid pandemic.

The Department for Education guidance advises the following regarding symptoms and attendance:

• Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.
• Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature and are well enough to attend.
• Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice will be 3 days.

Essentially, we are expecting a return to normality with attendance and absence expectations with regards to respiratory illness/infection.

If you are genuinely unwell and have the symptoms described above please stay at home until you have recovered. This does not mean you have to self isolate for 5 days. Please return promptly when you have recovered and in line with the advice above.

From 1st April 2022, staff and students will no longer be required to complete asymptomatic testing in line with changes to the use of Lateral Flow Testing devices.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff, students and parents for their continued resilience and support as we enter the next chapter of our recovery journey.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

Welcome to The Cottesloe School 2022/2023

25th March 2022

TO ALL YEAR 6 PARENTS/CARERS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED A PLACE AT THE COTTESLOE SCHOOL

We have just sent an email with the below link

https://bit.ly/3tG9hCE

If you didn't receive an email, it could mean that we have the wrong email for you, if this is the case please email us at office@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk or we have hit your spam/junk folder.

HPV Vaccine Consent Deadline 17 March

13th March 2022

The School Nursing Team will be visiting the school on 21 March to offer the opportunity to Year 8s (and top-up for Year 9s) to receive the HPV vaccine as part of the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule. You should have received full details regarding this via email.

Please complete the consent form in full using the following school code: EE110533 no later than midday Thursday 17 March as the link will close on this date and you will not be able to consent for your child to have the immunisations on this day in school after this time.

You will then be offered an appointment at one of our community catch up clinics based in Aylesbury and Amersham.

We use an online consenting platform that can be accessed via any internet-enabled device. Please click on the following link https://www.buckschildimmunisations.co.uk/HPV which will direct you to an online consent form for you to complete for your child. Please complete the consent form in full using the following school code: EE110533

Attendance Matters | March 2022

02nd March 2022

As predicted, the Prime Minister has relaxed the guidance around Covid 19 and the following is a summary of main the changes related to school absence:

Self-isolation: From the 24th February 2022, the Government has removed the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. In addition, the Government no longer asks fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 to test daily for 7 days and routine contact tracing has ended. Anyone with any of the main COVID-19 symptoms should order a PCR test and is advised to stay at home while waiting for the result. If you test positive, avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days.

Children and young people who test positive are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days.

Children and young people who are contacts should attend their education settings as usual.

Should parents send their child to school if they think they have COVID-19?

If a child has any of the main symptoms or receives a positive test result, the public health advice remains unchanged and is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

The following link has further guidance about what to do if you have covid: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts

Masks: Students are no longer required to wear masks. Anybody is free to wear a mask at any time should they wish to.

Absences and informing the school: We require daily contact for all school absences, including for COVID related illness. Please either email studentabsence@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk or telephone the student absence line on 01296 689720.

Should you require any further support please feel free to contact the school on 01296 688264.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Wilson
Assistant Headteacher - Character

National Offer Day

01st March 2022

The Cottesloe School are looking forward to finding out who our 2022/23 cohort is. We hope you get your first choice whichever school that may be.

We have no part in the allocation process, please direct your queries to Buckinghamshire Council Below we have included information from their website.

https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/.../app.../school-offers/

If you applied:

• online, Buckinghamshire Council will email you on 1 March 2022 to tell you the school your child has been offered

• using a paper form, Buckinghamshire Council will email or text this information to you

Responding to your offer

If you applied online, you can view and accept your offer online.

If you're happy with the school your child has been offered, you must accept the offer online by 11:59pm on 14 March 2022.

If you're not happy with the school offered, it is still a good idea to accept it for now. Your child will be added to the waiting list (or lists) for preferred schools, and you may decide to lodge an appeal. Make your appeal before midday, 28 March 2022.

https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/.../appeal-a-secondary...

KS4 Options Deadline Tomorrow

28th February 2022

Reminder

Tuesday 1 March (tomorrow) is the deadline for online Options Forms to be submitted. If you are having issues with making choices, please talk to your Year Head or Form Tutor ASAP.

https://www.cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/curriculum/ks4-options

February Half-Term | Headteacher Update

18th February 2022

The last few weeks have been incredibly challenging for staff and students alike which have become a way of life in schools over the last few years. We have faced significant staff absence which has impacted on face to face learning. This has been mirrored by a steady rise in student cases of Covid. I am delighted to say we seem to be over the ‘hump’ with cases amongst staff and students being much lower as we break for our half-term holiday.

The school community has once again shown amazing resilience during these times and the ‘character’ of our staff and students has carried us through this difficult time. We very much hope to be seeing the back of these levels of absence and the threat of remote learning.

Masks and restrictions
The Prime Minister is due to address parliament next week and has hinted that he will bring an early end to the restrictions that are currently in place. With that in mind, I have made the decision to remove the requirement for staff and students to wear masks when we return after the half-term break. Staff and students are of course free to wear a mask if they wish to. The students have been particularly patient and respectful of our decision to keep masks in place in recent weeks when we have suffered significant absences. I am sure this has contributed to minimizing the impact of the spread of the virus in our school community.

Chromebooks for Learning
With the exception of Year 10, we now have almost full coverage of Chromebooks across the school to support learning. We are entering into an exciting time for teaching and learning as we now begin to explore and embed best practices for Chromebooks.

Our acceptable use contract requires students to bring their Chromebooks to school every day fully charged. Chromebooks have a significant battery life to enable them to run for a full school day and reduce the need for charging.

Students are not permitted to charge their devices in class for a number of reasons. Firstly, these devices are not PAT tested and therefore are not approved for use whilst plugged in. Secondly, we do not have sufficient plugs across the school for numerous members of a class to charge up a device. Finally, the rising costs of energy would see the school spending a significant amount of money if devices are charged on site.

Please make sure students bring their Chromebooks to school fully charged every day.

Leaving site before and after school
Duty staff have seen a rise in the number of students attempting to leave the site before and after school to visit the shop in the village. After school, this is predominantly students catching the 902 ‘late bus’ to Northall, Edlesborough and Dagnall.

It is not possible for duty staff to monitor this accurately as individual travel arrangements change on a daily basis for some families. We would like parents to assist us in discouraging this practice by reminding their children to remain on-site once they have arrived in the morning and whilst they are waiting to catch a bus.

Pick up and drop off
Church Street and the main A418 road to Aylesbury continues to be busy at the start and end of school. Can I politely remind parents to stick to the pickup and drop off times and locations as sent out in regular communications from the school. The coach park is open early for drop off in the morning and only accessible after 3:10pm or after the last bus has departed at the end of school.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

Storm Eunice | Move to remote learning

17th February 2022

Following a further appraisal of the current forecast, the risks associated with travel and the impact on the safe movement of staff and students around the site I have, with the approval of Paul Kitchen, decided to close the school tomorrow.

All staff will work from home and students will learn remotely through Google Classroom.

Further details will follow regarding remote learning expectations shortly.

Please take care over the next few hours.

Best wishes

Mr Jones

Storm Eunice

17th February 2022

Dear parents/carers,

We are tracking the weather reports and fully appreciate any concerns you may have regarding safety given the current media coverage of the approaching Storm Eunice. We have been in communication with Buckinghamshire Council and are at present completing our own assessment of the situation to ensure we can open safely. 

We have also been in touch with our main bus contractor, Marshalls, who will keep me personally updated throughout today and tomorrow morning.

We will of course inform you as soon as possible regarding any changes we make tomorrow. We will push these out via the usual platforms, including our own website, social media, email and the Bucks Council website.

Thank you for your patience as we consider our options.

Kind regards

Mr Jones

SigntoSing for charity Event | 15 February 2022

11th February 2022

Key Stage 3 Music curriculum, Year 7 are participating in a performance using sign language alongside singing. Students are learning four songs with sign language and will perform them on Tuesday 15th February 2022 in PA3 during their PSHCE lesson.

Links to the songs are available for the students to practice on Google Classroom.

The event is in support of Sign Health, which raises funds to support young people with hearing impairments with their education. please click on this link to find out more about the charity: https://signhealth.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/. The Cottesloe School was delighted to have been part of the filming for the 2017 Sign to Sing song, following successful fundraising over the last five years.

Students are able to support the event by donating £1.50 towards the charity via Parent Pay. If you would like to make an additional donation, Parent Pay will allow you to do this, you can just amend the payment item up to £10.00.

All students will receive a participation certificate and will complete their Sign 2 Sign challenge for their Performing Arts challenge badge.

Bucks SEND Survey 2022

11th February 2022

Are you a parent or carer of a child with additional needs?

Please see this email we received from FACT Bucks and SEND IAS.

"FACT Bucks, Buckinghamshire’s parent/carer forum and Bucks SEND Information, Advisory and Support Service (SEND IAS) are conducting our annual survey of parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Buckinghamshire.

The survey will run until Monday 28th February. To access it, https://kwiksurveys.com/s/BucksSEND2022

PLEASE COMPLETE THE SURVEY – IT IS ANONYMOUS – AND THE MORE RESPONSES WE RECEIVE THE MORE WEIGHT OUR COLLECTIVE VIEWS WILL HAVE WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS

"FACT Bucks, Buckinghamshire’s parent/carer forum and Bucks SEND Information, Advisory and Support Service (SEND IAS) are conducting our annual survey of parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Buckinghamshire.re.gov.uk/send/get-involved/fact/ We will publish the results on our websites no later than 7th April 2022. We will share the anonymous data with schools, the local NHS, and Buckinghamshire Council who have undertaken to act on its conclusions. It will tell FACT Bucks what are the priorities of parents in 2022 and help SENDIAS plan their services. The survey is repeated each year so we can track the pace of improvement. By popular demand FACT Bucks is again offering a £250 prize to one lucky

respondent to the survey. The prize comes from our government grant. So please make yourself a nice cuppa and allow 15 to 20 minutes to complete the survey. Thank you FACT BUCKS and SEND IAS."

How the Government are helping students prepare for exams this summer

07th February 2022

Today the Government has announced its plans for Summer exams. Please read if you have a child doing GCSEs or A-Levels.

Apprenticeships | Letter from the Minister of Skills

07th February 2022

To coincide with National Apprenticeships Week 2022, Alex Burghart, Minister for Skills, has written to students and parents about the opportunities and benefits apprenticeships can bring to young people.

Letter to Parents PDF

Letter to Students PDF

To find an apprenticeship: bit.ly/govapprenticeship

Aylesbury Food Bank Crisis

03rd February 2022

We saw a post on social media by Aylesbury Foodbank for a plea for food bank donations. We will be supporting this. Food donations can be left in Student Reception.

"Dear Supporters we are suffering from a bit of a crisis at the foodbank in Aylesbury presently. This is clearly illustrated by the following figures. Stock in this month 1312.19 Kg Stock out this month 4772.13 Kg

Everyone is being very generous with donations but sadly the demand for our food parcels has simply grown significantly in the last few months. Virtually everything on our list of food is low, except for Pasta.

If you could donate any food, we would be very grateful.

Thank you

Mr Wilson

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Reminders

02nd February 2022

Please can I remind all parents that the coach park is the expected pick up and drop off point for those coming to school by car. Church Street is a narrow residential road and is not suitable for waiting.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher
 

Help us maintain face-to-face learning

31st January 2022

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that in order to maintain face to face learning for all students, we must all continue to play our part by adhering to the control measures we put in place.

Masks

Although the requirement for masks in wider society remains somewhat ambiguous, at The Cottesloe School we will continue to wear masks in communal spaces to reduce transmission of the virus. The students have been excellent with this and compliance is good. Understandably, we have seen masks not being worn or forgotten more frequently as organisations have different rules and guidance is relaxed.

Buckinghamshire Council has supported Headteachers to allow them to make decisions on a school by school basis as restrictions have been lifted.

Could I ask that you ensure your child comes to school with a mask every day. Masks need to be worn in corridors, communal workspaces, changing rooms and on buses to and from school.

Testing

Regular testing is also important. All students should continue to test twice weekly and report the results to the NHS in the usual way. This enables us to see any emerging patterns or changes in case numbers across the school population.

Case numbers still remain relatively low among staff and students, but the virus is still in our school community. Staff absence is particularly challenging at this time and we are striving to maintain face to face learning for everyone.

Thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

top Abuse Together: new Government resource to help keep children safe from sexual abuse launches

25th January 2022

It’s estimated that one in ten children in England and Wales will experience sexual abuse before they turn sixteen. That’s equivalent to three in every classroom.

Most children won’t tell anyone at the time of their abuse. That’s why it’s important for everyone to know how to spot the potential signs of child sexual abuse and where to go for support if concerned.

The Government’s new Stop Abuse Together website is to help teachers and parents learn to spot the signs and know when to reach out for more support. If you have any concerns at all about a child’s safety or wellbeing you can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

KS4 Options Booklet

24th January 2022

We are delighted to share with you an electronic copy of the KS4 Options booklet 2022

Year 9 students will learn more about the Process in their PSHCE lesson tomorrow. You will receive further information regarding the specific colour route for your child later this week prior to the online Options Evening on Thursday.

If you have any questions please contact the school via the options@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk email address.

Yours sincerely
Mrs L Baldwin
Deputy Headteacher

Local Plan for Buckinghamshire | Have your say!

24th January 2022

Survey on the future of planning in Buckinghamshire They would like to hear the views of school communities including school staff on the future of planning in Buckinghamshire through our short online survey.

Those of us living/working in Bucks might have something to say about future planning, so please take some time to look at this survey.

"Work is now underway on the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire, which will set out how we plan for new housing, community facilities, infrastructure and employment opportunities for residents and business in Buckinghamshire up until 2040.

To make sure that the Local Plan reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of everyone in Buckinghamshire, we will be engaging with people at every stage of the Plan’s progress. As we begin the process, we’re asking people to give us their views on future planning in Buckinghamshire through a short online survey.

As part of the survey, we very much want to hear the voices of those in Buckinghamshire’s school communities:

• School staff. Our education professionals and their support staff are key workers in the wider community, and we want to hear their views on issues such as affordable housing, both for themselves and the families of those at the school.
• Parents. Access to good housing, community facilities, transport infrastructure and employment opportunities are part of the day-to-day concerns of most parents – all issues on which we want to hear their opinion.
• Pupils. Our pupils will be adults in the communities of tomorrow, for which we need to plan today – it’s important to us that we hear their views.

So that we can get an as wide response to the survey as possible, we’d be really grateful if you could spread the word about the survey to all your staff and to the wider school community. The deadline for responses to the survey is 11 February 2022."

yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/planning/local-plan-2021

Face masks in classrooms will no longer be required from 20 January and in communal areas from 27 January

19th January 2022

Please see the latest guidance from the DoE regarding face coverings

Vaccinations for your children

19th January 2022

Just a reminder that we sent a letter to you on 10th January with the full details of the second phase vaccine rollout taking place in school on 31st January.

You MUST consent to your child's vaccination prior to the day via this link: https://www.buckschildimmunisations.co.uk/Forms/CovidDose2

If you would prefer for your child to be vaccinated sooner and in a clinic rather than in school, you can go to the walk-in clinics.

They are offering:

• The Booster Vaccination for those 16 years plus (Booster vaccination is available 12 weeks after the second dose)
• First and second Doses for those 12 years plus (Second Dose is available 12 weeks after the first dose)

If the student has contracted Covid-19 in the past 12 weeks, they will need to wait for 12 weeks from their positive test to get a vaccination. 

MILTON KEYNES Walk-In Times (no appointment necessary) | Run by Rainbow Pharmacy Vaccination Clinic at the Open University, Milton Keynes

• Mon 24th Jan to Fri 28th | 2:30pm to 7pm
• Sat 29th Jan | 9am to 1:30pm
• Mon 31st Jan to Friday 4th Feb | 2:30pm to 7pm
• Sat 5th Feb | 9am to 1:30pm

AYLESBURY Walk-In Times (no appointment necessary) - Guttmann Centre | The Guttmann Centre in Aylesbury

• Mon to Thurs | 9:30am to 7pm
• Fri and Sat | 3pm to 7pm

SEND FAMILIES

Covid vaccination clinic for Buckinghamshire residents who have a learning disability or are autistic and their family members. 

There will be a vaccination clinic on 27th Jan 1pm to 4pm at the Mandeville Wing, Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Changes to the self-isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19

14th January 2022

Changes to the self-isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19

From Monday 17 January, people who are self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with a lateral flow device (LFD) test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6.

The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.

If the result of either of their tests is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.

Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.

Further information on self-isolation for those with COVID-19 is available.

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning | FREE Wellbeing Courses

11th January 2022

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning have these fantastic FREE courses on offer to help you support your child.

Supporting your child’s wellbeing for KS3 parents If your child is in Years 7, 8 or 9 then our FREE online workshops could be for you.

Help your child build Confidence and Resilience:

Monday 24th January 12:30pm to 2:30pm Help your Child build Confidence and Resilience https://bit.ly/3tgRdPx

Support your child’s wellbeing (coping with anxiety and stress): Monday 31st January 12:30pm to 2:30pm Support your Child's Wellbeing https://bit.ly/3faNElB

Help your child build Positive Relationships:

Monday 7th February 12:30pm to 2:30pm Positive relationships https://bit.ly/3HSXipr

COVID-19 walk-in vaccination centres

06th January 2022

We have had parents asking where their child can get second vaccinations. If you are looking for information on where you or your child can get vaccines via walk-in centres or by booking, please see the below links:

• NHS Bucks https://bit.ly/3G0TYbp
• Guttmann Centre | The Guttmann Centre in Aylesbury accepts walk-ins for boosters and 12 to 15-year-olds walk-in vaccinations are available every day 9:30am to 7pm (Fri and Sat from 3pm to 7pm)
• 12-15-year-old walk-ins |
• Longridge Activity Centre (Marlow)
• Pharmacy 2U - Buckinghamshire New University, Aylesbury Campus (Aylesbury)
• Chess Medical Centre (Chesham)
• Lansdales Pharmacy (High Wycombe)

• Milton Keynes Council | https://bit.ly/3HGr40t
• Milton Keynes walk-in centres | https://bit.ly/3t3nNEr

• Bedfordshire Council | https://bit.ly/3G4TvoC
• Beds walk-in centres | https://bit.ly/3pVFGD7

• Or you can book via the NHS | https://bit.ly/3JPQo6i

Students to wear masks

05th January 2022

Can we please remind you that students must come to school with a face mask/covering. The government guidance has been widely publicized in the national media.

Students are expected to wear masks to and from school on dedicated school and public transport, in corridors, classrooms or communal indoor spaces. Students are not expected to wear masks if they are eating in the canteen.

We will encourage students to take breaks from mask-wearing, particularly when they are outdoors.

Many thanks

The Cottesloe School

On-site Lateral Flow Testing

04th January 2022

We appreciate the guidance is ever-changing and at times confusing.

Please see this extract from the 2nd January bulletin to schools regarding the latest guidance which now says they recommend testing even if you have had COVID-19 in the last 90 days. The schedule for on-site testing is pictured.

-----------------------------------------------

Testing for students after the holiday period

As all settings are aware, we have asked that secondary school students undertake one on-site test, on return in January. This will help boost testing participation and reduce transmission after a period of social mixing during the holidays. Students should then be strongly encouraged to continue testing twice weekly at home and to report all results to NHS Test and Trace and to their setting.

Further education and higher education students, and staff in all education and childcare settings, should take one self-test at home either the evening or morning before they return in January, then continue to test twice weekly at home. Colleges should continue to make LFD tests available to students and staff who need them to enable them to test prior to, and at, the start of term.

Even if someone has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, they are strongly encouraged to take part in LFD testing on-site through ATS or at home once they have completed their isolation period for their prior infection.

Headteacher Christmas Update

17th December 2021

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we come to the close of 2021, I just wanted to update you on the situation in school. In my regular discussions with local Headteachers, it is clear that this has been a very challenging term at the end of a very tough year for staff and students.

As I reflect on the past year, on many occasions the strong sense of community spirit and that desire to go the extra mile has kept the school moving forward. I am extremely proud of the sense of family I get from everyone in the wider school community, something that Ofsted picked up on when they visited a few weeks ago.

January always brings a chance to look forward and I can assure you that everyone at the school will return rested and ready to face the challenges ahead and support our students and their families.

Ofsted Inspection and Report

We are eagerly awaiting the final report and this will be published as soon as it is available. Thank you to those parents and students who contributed to the surveys that Ofsted use to gather evidence. The Lead Inspector commented on the volume of positive comments that came through from the surveys from students and parents. Thank you for taking the time to support us.

Phased return

The latest round of guidance from the Department for Education allows us to have a phased return to complete some in school testing before students return to the classroom.

Tuesday 4th January 2022 is an INSET Day for staff and school will open for a phased return for students from Wednesday 5th January 2022. 

As per the latest Department for Education guidance, we will be completing one lateral flow test on site for all students as follows to ensure we can open safely;

Tuesday 4th January 2022 testing for Years 7, 10, 11 and Sixth Form.

Wednesday 5th January 2022 testing for Years 8 and 9.

Years 7, 10, 11 and Sixth Form will return to face to face learning on Wednesday 5th January 2022.

Years 8 and 9 will return to face to face learning on Thursday 6th January 2022.

All students must complete a one lateral flow test on site before returning to the classroom. Your support is appreciated in this matter. Christmas brings with it the chance to see family and friends and we want to ensure everyone returns free from the virus, especially in light of the recent discovery of the new Omicron variant.

We will send you further details of the timing of your lateral flow test on the above days shortly. 

Vaccinations and boosters

Many students and parents took up the opportunity to receive a vaccination at school before half term. The recent Government announcement has opened up the possibility of students getting either a second jab or a booster. I would encourage everyone, including those that have not had a vaccination to take up this opportunity as we continue to maintain face to face learning. The link below will enable you to do this;

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Covid restrictions

The students have responded so well to the changing guidance, especially around mask wearing. If there are any further updates we will let you know, but it looks certain that masks will be here to stay in communal areas and on transport to and from school. Please ensure your child comes to school with a mask. We do hand them out but students should always have a mask with them at school at all times.

We will continue to limit our face-to-face gatherings such as assemblies and are reviewing trips and visits as necessary, particularly overseas travel. 

Please continue to test regularly and report these to the NHS website as normal. This will give us an indication of the impact of the holiday period on our case numbers which at the moment is low.

Attendance

Naturally attendance is considerably down on ‘normal’ levels. Typically we are above the national average with an operational attendance of around 96% on a daily basis. Currently we are fluctuating on a daily basis from around high 80 to low 90% depending on each year group.

Please consider carefully any absence for appointments and where possible take them outside of school hours or at the very least try to reduce the number of sessions missed. We appreciate that appointments for GP’s and dentists have been hard to come by, but we have seen a rise in the number of students missing sessions for appointments. 

Safeguarding over Christmas

Christmas is not always a time of happiness for everyone. I wanted to thank all the staff, students and parents who have supported our local charity work in the run up to the festive period. The generosity of the school community has been very heartwarming.

If you have a concern about a child over the holidays please contact Buckinghamshire Social care First Response Team on 01296 383962 or out of hours on 0800 999 7677.

Parking and drop off

Just a reminder about parking and school drop off and collection. We ask parents not to use Church Street and the area at the front of school as the coach park is open at the start and end of school. This makes it much safer for our students, local residents and our neighbours at Overstone Combined School. I recently had several complaints from members of the public who were concerned over congestion and driving in Church Street. Pick up time at the end of school is from 3:15pm and we still have a number of parents regularly trying to access the site before this and blocking the main roundabout. 

I would appreciate everyone following the guidance we issue. 

Finally, I wish you all a restful and safe Christmas and New Year period. I hope you get time to relax and spend time with family and friends which has been in short supply in recent months.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Yours sincerely

Mr Jones 

Headteacher

Updated guidance | self-isolation

14th December 2021

Dear Parent / Carer 

From today, a new national approach to daily testing for contacts of COVID-19 is being introduced (including until the end of this term).

All adults who are fully vaccinated and children aged 5 to 18 years and 6 months, identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 – whether Omicron or not – should take a lateral flow device (LFD) test every day for 7 days instead of self-isolating.

Daily testing by close contacts will help to slow the spread of COVID-19. Daily testing for contacts of COVID-19 will help protect our school by reducing transmission and will also help keep our students in face-to-face education.

Once notified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact, all eligible staff and students should take an LFD each day for 7 days and report the results through the Online Reporting System and to their setting. If they test negative, they can continue to attend their education setting.

This approach should also be adopted over the coming school holiday and on return in January.

If they test positive, they should self-isolate and order a PCR test to confirm the result. If the PCR is positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days. If the PCR test is negative, they no longer need to self-isolate but should continue to carry out the remainder of the daily tests, and only need to isolate if it is positive.

All staff and secondary aged students should have access to a box of 7 LFD tests from school. Additional tests can be ordered online through the NHS website.

Anyone over the age of 18 years and 6 months who is not vaccinated, must isolate in line with government guidelines if they are a close contact of a positive case.

Thank you for your continued vigilance and resilience during this time. This will help us maintain face to face learning for students.

Yours sincerely

Mr S Jones

Headteacher

Christmas Jumper Day Tomorrow

09th December 2021

Just a reminder that Christmas Jumper Day is tomorrow, the fee is £1, which goes to Save the Children. Please remember that uniform is still to be worn with Christmas jumpers over shirts.

Last day of term Friday 17th December 2021

08th December 2021

Just to confirm that the last day of term is Friday 17th December at the usual finish time.

Buckinghamshire Skills Hub | Career Events Coming Up

06th December 2021

Please check through the events that are available for your children from Buckinghamshire Skills Hub including:

•Perfecting your interview skills

• Finding relevant courses and training for employment

• How to develop a winning CV and cover letter

• What is "Kickstart" and how can I be part of it? (Government scheme for the 16 to 24 age group)

• BFI Film Academy - Craft Skills courses

There are loads of careers events coming up in December that you won’t want to miss. From PwC Flying Start Programme, Success Beyond School seminars, Jaywing Digital Marketing Webinar to Apprenticeship webinars with Deloitte. Visit our website to see what’s happening and when. We’re continually adding to our event calendar, so make sure to check back regularly!

View all events here > https://orlo.uk/VwqMZ

Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey 2021

30th November 2021

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Unloc launched the Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey 2021 in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust delivers CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). The survey has already launched in Oxfordshire, receiving close to 1500 responses and they are now keen to hear the voices of young people living or studying in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

The survey is the first step in an ambitious project to develop and strengthen young people’s mental health services in the region. They want to hear from as many young people aged 12 to 25 as possible - whatever their experience with their own mental health. Every response will be listened to, and shape work over the next year and beyond.

Please share and encourage your children to complete the following 5-minute survey so they can have their say on young people's mental health and wellbeing: https://unloc.online/survey

Below is the result from Oxfordshire's survey

New Measures in response to Omicron variant of Covid-19

28th November 2021

Dear Parents/Carers 

On Saturday 27 November, the Prime Minister announced new temporary measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the UK. The new measures are being introduced as a precaution to slow down the spread of the variant while the government gathers more information. As part of these measures, new guidance for secondary schools has been published this afternoon regarding the wearing of face coverings.

Face coverings

Face coverings should be worn in communal areas in all settings by staff, visitors and students in Year 7 and above, unless they are exempt.

Students (in Year 7 or above) should continue to wear face coverings on public and dedicated school transport.

Lateral flow testing

All students and staff should continue to test twice weekly at home using LFD kits and report the results on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result. New kits are available from school via form tutors. Additional kits are on order and will be issued to students prior to the break to ensure families have enough tests for use over the Christmas holidays.

Contact tracing and isolation

The current guidance on contact tracing and isolation remains in place. In addition to these, any suspected or confirmed close contacts of the Omicron variant will be asked to isolate for 10 days regardless of vaccination status or age. Anyone that falls into this group will be contacted directly and told to isolate.

Thank you for your ongoing support with the implementation of these updated measures so we can continue to open safely for staff and students within The Cottesloe School community.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

Foodbank Appeal 2021

19th November 2021

As we head towards Christmas, we are continuing The Cottesloe School tradition of donating to those in need via the Foodbank collection.

We are always so pleased to see how many items come in and they are gratefully received by the Foodbank staff. This exemplifies the Cottesloe Values of Respect, Responsibility, and Empathy.

As well as donations of non-perishable foodstuff, we would like to be able to add toiletries and Christmas goodies to our collection (please see link below). We are still collecting other staples and of course, any item that you can share would be gratefully received.

We will be collecting items in form time, as well as in collection points in reception. Please send in any donations before Friday 10th December 2021 to allow us time to arrange delivery to the Food Bank depot in Milton Keynes.

For more information on the Food Bank, please see http://mkfoodbank.org.uk/ or their Facebook page.

Foodbank items:
Christmas Cake / Christmas Pudding
Tinned fruit
Crisps and/or biscuits
Tea/Coffee
Drinks (fizzy or long life)
Tinned Potatoes
Tinned Meat
Tinned Vegetables
Gravy or Oxo Cubes
Sweets and/or Chocolate
Stuffing
Sugar
Long-life milk
Part baked bread (please check that the dates are long enough)

Low in-stock items
Biscuits
Cereal
Spreads - Jams, Peanut Butter etc.
Long-life fruit juice
Long-life milk
Pasta sauce
Tinned fruit
Tinned tomatoes
Dried rice - 500g or 1Kg packets only, please

Yours sincerely
Miss M Lay, Mrs E Redman and Mr S Clawson
The Cottesloe School

Extra Sixth Form Open Evening 1 December

18th November 2021

For details

Odd Socks Day Friday 19th November

18th November 2021

Please can remind students to wear odd socks tomorrow in honour of Anti-Bullying Week. 

No donations are needed.

Many thanks!

Fundraising Totals

17th November 2021

The Cottesloe School prides itself on community, we support charities whenever we can but this would not be possible without our students and their parents' generosity.

We raised a good amount of money for our three charities.

Thank you, everyone, for your kind donations.

Cottesloe student takes part in Remembrance Parade as a Lance Corporal

12th November 2021

We couldn't be more proud of our student Kaijun, who is a Lance Corporal. For Remembrance Day, Mr Jones granted him permission to attend this very moving ceremony.

He sent Mr Jones a very poignant note:

For this parade, cadets and senior NCOs were selected to take part in this event - unlike the Remembrance Sunday parades, this was most prestigious as very high ranking members of the ACF, Army, CCF, Royal Marine Cadets and Navy Cadets were present during the event. So the best cadets from I Company were meticulously chosen to represent I Company and the Rifles (Our regiment).

In the first photo, I (in camouflage), the other NCOs and cadets are standing around the Mayor of Milton Keynes. The mayor read out multiple speeches on how important the 11th November is to the commonwealth and the veterans of previous conflicts.

The second photo shows me, in Multi-Terrain Pattern uniform, to the right of a Royal Marine cadet bearing a wreath. I was given the opportunity to lay the wreath down on the memorial on behalf of the entire Bucks ACF - which leads me to explain the video.

The video shows myself and the Royal Marine Cadet marching up to the memorial, saluting out of respect for the fallen; placing the wreath on the memorial, saluting, and marching away to fall back into our parades.

‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many so few’

- Winston Churchill

To see all the photos please follow this link where he featured in the MK Citizen https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/.../hundreds-take-part-in...

WELL DONE KAIJAN!

The Cottesloe Sixth Form Open Evening Content

10th November 2021

If you missed our Open Evening here Is Our Video Presentation from our face-to-face evening on 9 November 2021.

Presentation (PDF)

How to apply

and more on our dedicated page 

FUNDRAISING FOR MACMILLAN | Luxury Christmas Wreath Workshop 13 November

10th November 2021

Ferris Heart Sloane are hosting a Luxury Christmas Wreath Workshop all proceedings going to Macmillan.
When: Saturday 13 November 2021 10:30AM
Where: The Cottesloe School, Aylesbury Road, Leighton Buzzard LU7 ONY
Duration: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
Cost: £55 per person

Come and join our luxury Christmas wreath workshop in support of Macmillian.

We'll come armed with natural, locally sourced and seasonal foliage, berries and fruits, and some other fun embellishments, so you can make a gorgeous rustic or traditional Christmas wreath.

If you are interested in booking, please email Paige at Paige@ferrisheartsloane.com or call her on 07508 881616.

Ofsted Section 8 Inspection | Tues 9 and Wed 10 November

08th November 2021

Dear Parents and Carers,

Ofsted Section 8 Inspection 

This morning I received notification from Ofsted that they will be coming to the school on Tuesday 9th November for a two-day inspection. The purpose of a Section 8 Inspection is to confirm whether we remain a Good school under the Education Inspection Framework. This should have been completed the last term but has been delayed due to the recent pandemic.

The staff, students and Governors are very much looking forward to working with the inspection team over the next two days.

As part of their evidence gathering, they ask all schools to promote parent feedback to help them make their judgement. I have attached a letter and a leaflet from Ofsted for parents/carers to read. This includes a link to the Ofsted Parent View. I would be grateful if you could complete this before the deadline of 11am tomorrow. Please see the extract from the letter below. 

Please complete the online survey by 11am on 09 November 2021 as this will give the inspection team more time to consider your views. However, we will consider all online responses that are completed during the inspection, although the free-text box facility will not be available after 12 midday on 10 November 2021.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Please see a letter from Ofsted and a Guide for Parents leaflet with more information.

Yours Sincerely

Simon Jones

Fundraising for The Cottesloe School

07th November 2021

Have you started your Christmas online shopping already? Could we ask that you raise money for our school at the same time with a click of a button?

With over 3,500 online retailers, you can raise money for the school while you shop online. Please follow this link. You will need to sign up but can opt to receive no emails. You can also add a shortcut button to your browser or device once you sign up for the app.

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/focottesloeschool/

Bucks Skills Hub - Careers newsletter for families | November 2021

04th November 2021

Bucks Skills Hub shared their newsletter with us.

Below are some great events coming up in the next few weeks:

Key Stage 3 Pathways | Crafting your career - Wednesday 10 November 6pm to 7pm – Click here for further details >

Key Stage S4 and 5 Pathways | Crafting your career - Thursday 11 November 6pm to 7pm – Click here for further details 

PwC’s Careers Events

Over the next few months, PwC is providing a series of events for Parents, Students, and Teachers including information on their training opportunities and programmes for young people. Find out more >

Bucks Skills Hub - Book a Free Virtual Event

For November we have a jam-packed schedule of virtual and in-person events, including masterclasses with JP Morgan as well as open days in agriculture and nursing, we have created a handy calendar to see what you can book onto this month Find them all here >

Pilot Careers Live | 6 November 2021

This is an exciting career event for anyone looking to take the first steps towards a career as a professional pilot. It covers everything you need to know about becoming a pilot by bringing together leading pilot training companies, airlines, and experts. Find out more >

The National Apprenticeship Show | 10 November 2021

This National Central event highlights Apprenticeship opportunities and offers information from Central England and the Midlands’ top employers and training providers. https://bit.ly/3GN6E6m

UK Higher Education Expo | 24 November 2021

Registration is now open for the UK HEX. This event presents opportunities and information from Universities across the UK. https://bit.ly/3GN6E6m

Pearson Business School Open Day – Autumn Term 2021

For any students with a passion for Animation, Game Art, or Visual Effects – Pearson has created an immersive opportunity to engage with one of the fastest-growing sectors as well as other opportunities to attend open days and tasters throughout the autumn term https://bit.ly/3wg4vv6.

UK Higher Education Expo | 24 November 2021

Registration is now open for the UK HEX. This event presents opportunities and information from Universities across the UK. Find out more >

The National Apprenticeship Show | 10 November 2021

This National Central event highlights Apprenticeship opportunities and offers information from Central England and the Midlands’ top employers and training providers. Find out more >

The University of Law’s True Crime Festival | Saturday 13 November 2021

This online True Crime Festival has interactive sessions relating to true crime, as well as hands-on activities and special guest speakers in the form of former detectives. This is a day not to be missed for those interested in Criminology. Find out more >

Sixth Form Open Event 2021 | 22 - Session 2

03rd November 2021

Calling all Year 11s and their parents and carers. Our Open Event is on Tuesday 9 November, the 6pm to 7pm slot is now sold out and we have a few remaining tickets left for the 7pm to 8pm slot.

Book now to avoid disappointment.

https://bit.ly/3GFxaOW

Young Photographer Competition

02nd November 2021

MY PEACEFUL PLACE: INVESTIN'S YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER COMPETITION

In honour of Stress Awareness Week 2021 (1st-5th of November), we’re running a photography competition entitled ‘My Peaceful Place’.

They would like you to send an image that represents your ‘peaceful place’, somewhere you are able to find respite and tranquillity when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Images must be no larger than 1GB and should be submitted with a title and a short caption explaining the image’s significance (no more than 50 words).

For every entry, they’ll make a donation to Stem4, a fantastic charity that works to promote positive mental health in teenagers and those who support them.

To enter https://bit.ly/2Y88sW9

Lateral Flow Testing - Reminder for twice a week testing

01st November 2021

Education Secretary writes to parents about vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds

01st November 2021

Education Secretary writes to parents about vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2021/10/25/education-secretary-writes-to-parents-about-vaccinations-for-12-to-15-year-olds/

#AskTheAwkward CEOP New Parent Resource

20th October 2021

CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command) shared this video on their social media channel.  They have a new series called #AskTheAwkward, a great resource for parents/carers of secondary school-aged children, which we wanted to share with you. 

How can you build trust online?

Episode two of #AskTheAwkward series is coming this Thursday. Tune in to see the parents explore this question and more with their children…and reveal a few surprises too!

Find out more about how to #AskTheAwkward at → www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/ask-the-awkward

Face masks on transport

20th October 2021

Dear Parent / Carer 

Current guidance recommends that young people wear face masks/coverings on dedicated school transport. Many of our students already do this as a matter of course.

Could we ask you to encourage your child(ren) to use a mask on their journey to and from school, particularly at this time as case numbers nationally among young people are high.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

Year 11 | Flu and COVID Vaccinations

19th October 2021

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had confirmation of the arrangements from the vaccination team this morning for Friday's COVID and Flu vaccinations.

Please do not attend if your child has COVID symptoms or has had COVID in the last 28 days.

In order to enable Year 11 to be vaccinated, we have arranged for Year 11 to come at a time that suits you. We appreciate that you may be working and setting specific times will be unhelpful.

Please do not arrive before 9 am. The final vaccinations will be given at 2:15 pm to enable students to recover before being sent home.

There will be no access to the site by car for parents. Students should walk in through the pedestrian gate at the front of the school and come in via the main reception to the Hall.

Students may have to wait for a short while and have to remain on-site for 15 minutes after their vaccinations.  Students must leave the site after the process has been completed via the front gates.

Please be mindful of where you park and arrange to pick up your child from in Wing. Church Street is a very busy and narrow street so please avoid this. 

Year 11 COVID-19 update - move to remote learning

18th October 2021

Dear Parent / Carer 

Following consultation with Public Health England and the School Improvement Team at Buckinghamshire Council, we have taken the decision to move Year 11 to Remote Learning with immediate effect. Year 11 will not be in school for face-to-face learning until after half term.

The decision has been made due to the significant staff absence due to Covid 19 and a rise in the number of positive cases across the school, predominantly in Year 11. Please continue to test regularly over the next few days and report all results to the NHS website.

https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result

We have not taken this decision lightly and have consulted fully with Public Health England and Buckinghamshire Council. This should create a natural ‘firebreak’ with the impending half term break starting at the end of this week.

Year 11 Flu and Covid vaccinations will continue as normal on Friday

Year 11 students who have consent for their Covid vaccination should attend for their vaccination on Friday as planned. We are in contact with the Schools Immunisation Advisory Service and will communicate the timing for Year 11 vaccinations as soon as we have them.

Students should access their normal Google Classroom where work will be set by their teacher. Our style of Remote Learning will follow the format previously adopted. Work will be scheduled to appear in Google Classroom just before the timetabled lesson. This work will be a mixture of pre recorded or ‘live’, where possible, input from the teacher or an external source such as Oak Academy or GCSE POD. Teachers will only be available in ‘real time’ to provide support and guidance via Google Classroom or Google Meet. Please remember they will be delivering face to face lessons at all other times.

Students should log in to each lesson at the normal time and complete the work during the scheduled lesson time.

Those students and families who are currently supported by a Social Worker or deemed vulnerable will be offered face to face support in school and the school will be in touch with you directly later today.

The Safeguarding Team and TEAM Hub will also be available should any students need any support over the coming days. Please see the Safeguarding tab on our website.

https://www.cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/home

Form tutors and Mr Passaro, Head of Year 11 will be continuing with daily form time ‘check-ins’ via Google Classroom should you need any additional support. We will endeavour to source Chromebooks or suitable devices for those that do not have access to a device through our current loan scheme for devices for Year 11 students.

We very much hope that this prompt action following the advice we have been given will have the desired effect and maintain face to face learning for the vast majority of our students. Further staff absence may trigger additional students moving to Remote Learning, but we will only do this as a last resort.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher
 

We are hiring

18th October 2021

We have vacancies

Teaching Assistant (fixed-term)

25 hours per week (term time only)

Required as soon as possible - fixed term to July 2022 in the first instance.

Bucks Pay Range 1 pro-rata (actual salary from £9,592 pa; £17,190 pa FTE)

We are looking to appoint a hardworking and enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to join our SEND Team on a fixed-term appointment to July 2022 in the first instance. The successful candidate will be someone who can work calmly and professionally with young people to support them with their learning needs and is confident working in a classroom setting with secondary school-age students.

If you would like to discuss this role please contact Anne-Marie Hibbert (SENDCO) via email: ahibbert@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk

The deadline for receipt of applications is Sunday 31 October 2021, with interviews the following week.  Previous applicants need not apply. 

Cover Supervisor

30 hours per week, 39 weeks per year

Required as soon as possible

Bucks Pay Range 2 pro-rata (actual salary from £13,641 pa; £19,856 pa FTE)

We are looking to appoint a friendly Cover Supervisor to join our busy team. The successful candidate will primarily supervise lessons in the absence of teaching staff and maintain a high standard of learning and classroom management.  Experience in working calmly and professionally with secondary school age young people and confidence working in a classroom setting is essential.  There is the possibility of overtime to run Homework Clubs after school.

We can offer you school-friendly working (term time plus 5 Inset days) and a wide range of benefits as a Bucks Council employee.  Please contact Mr Simon Smith (Assistant Headteacher - Teaching & Learning) if you would like to discuss this role further: ssmith@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk

We will consider applications upon receipt, and early application is advised.

Casual Exam Invigilator

Required from January 2022

Bucks Pay Range 1 pro-rata (£10.92 per hour)

Applications are invited for Casual Exam Invigilators to join our busy team for the forthcoming exam season.  We are looking for hardworking and enthusiastic individuals who can work calmly and professionally with secondary school-age young people.  Hours of work generally start at 8:30 am, afternoon 12:30 pm.  Main availability is required during May and June.  Other opportunities are available throughout the academic year with mock exams.  Please contact Mrs Tracey Cherry (Exams Officer) if you would like to discuss this role further: Examinations Officer

We will review applications upon receipt and early application is advised.

Cottesloe Year 13 student makes it on the big screen

14th October 2021

Bucks Herald News Article

Sixth Form Open Event 2021 | 22

11th October 2021

These events will be tightly managed by the school. We will have a number of control measures in place in order to minimise the risk to all involved. This will include:

Ticket only entry, tickets available on Eventbrite. Each event will be limited to 60 prospective students who can be accompanied by up to 2 adults.

Tickets | 6pm to 7pm

Tickets | 7pm to 8pm

• Open evenings are exclusively for Year 11
• All attendees over the age of 12 will need to complete a Lateral Flow Test before attending.
• All attendees over the age of 12 must wear a face-covering/mask unless exempt.
• Further details will appear on our website and social media platforms over the coming days as we put into place the planning for these new events.
• Parking is restricted so please try and walk wherever possible.

We look forward to welcoming you to our school either virtual or in-person over the next few weeks and appreciate your cooperation as we give you the opportunity to see our school.

Yours sincerely

Alan Youngs

Assistant Headteacher - Sixth Form

Last years Art A-Level and GCSEs | Your artwork is ready for collection

08th October 2021

A message from Mrs Bye

Last year's students can now collect their GCSE and A-Level artwork.  Please give us a minimum of 48 hours notice so we can get it packaged up for you and then you'll be able to collect it from reception.

The Cottesloe School Open Event 2021 is now live!

07th October 2021

Good evening,

Please see Mr Jones' Open Virtual Event presentation, our Open Events page and there is a YouTube Playlist.

We hope to see you all next year!

The Cottesloe School

This Sunday is the deadline for placing your orders for Chromebooks

07th October 2021

For your child to receive a Chromebook before Half-term please order through the portal.

Vacancy Casual Exam Invigilator

07th October 2021

Casual Exam Invigilator

Required from January 2022

Bucks Pay Range 1 pro-rata (£10.92 per hour)

Applications are invited for Casual Exam Invigilators to join our busy team for the forthcoming exam season.  We are looking for hardworking and enthusiastic individuals who can work calmly and professionally with secondary school-age young people.  Hours of work generally start at 8:30 am, afternoon 12:30 pm.  Main availability is required during May and June.  Other opportunities are available throughout the academic year with mock exams.  Please contact Mrs Tracey Cherry (Exams Officer) if you would like to discuss this role further email our Examinations Officer

We will review applications upon receipt and early application is advised.

Job Description      Candidate Information Booklet 

Open Events CANCELLED

05th October 2021

Care in a Card for welcoming families from Afganistan

01st October 2021

COVID-19 Information | Remote Learning Updated

01st October 2021

Ofqual Update

30th September 2021

Ofqual have today have set out their approach to grading for #GCSEs, AS and #Alevels in Summer 2022 and Autumn 2021.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ofquals-approach-to-grading-exams-and-assessments-in-summer-2022-and-autumn-2021

Cross Country County Series 2021 hosted by The Cottesloe School

29th September 2021

Buckinghamshire Council Bus Services Road Closures

29th September 2021

COVID-19 Asymptomatic Testing

29th September 2021

The Cottesloe School Gardening Club deliver a massive bucket of sweetpeas to Carey Lodge Care Home

07th September 2021

Students from The Cottesloe School Gardening Club were delighted to deliver a massive bucket of sweetpeas to Carey Lodge Care Home, Wing, after school on Thursday, July 15.

The well-being benefits of gardening are well documented. During the periods in the past year when the school was closed to most students, those in school were invited to take part in a gardening project. This academic year the staff and students of the Gardening Club have focused their efforts on establishing a Wellbeing Garden on a piece of unused land next to TEAM Hub (the pastoral support centre). The project is led by Mrs Hammons.

The Friends of Cottesloe (a registered charity) secured a grant to help fund the project. However, the school would welcome donations of new or pre-loved spades and forks for digging; a sturdy wheelbarrow and bags of compost.

Anyone interested in learning more about the project; donating items or sponsoring the Wellbeing Garden should contact ahawkes@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk

Please see latest on changes to Bus Routes and Timetables

06th September 2021

Change to Bus Routes and Timetables

A-Level results are in at The Cottesloe School

06th September 2021

Leighton Buzzard Observer 13 Aug 2021

Launch of New PE Kit

25th May 2021

We are excited to announce that from June 2021, The Cottesloe School will have a new Physical Education (PE) kit. 
Following feedback from students, the new kit has a more modern style with a variety of cuts to choose from. It is made from a breathable, quick drying fabric, it is more sympathetic to all weather types, and we have embraced our district colours of black and gold.
As well as updating our original items, we are introducing some additional garments to the range of kit available. Students can now select a skort instead of shorts, and for colder days leggings, slim fit bottoms, and/or a three quarter zip games top. Our shorts and polo shirts now come in two different cuts; unisex and female, allowing greater choice for students.

We completely understand that some parents/guardians may not have been planning to buy new kit this year, therefore it is acceptable for the students to still wear their old kit for as long as it fits. As students outgrow their existing kit, it will be expected that the new kit will be purchased. We hope the new kit will ensure students have more variety and comfort, ensuring all students have a positive experience within PE.

School Shop

Chromebook Rollout

29th March 2021

I am delighted to inform you that the final batch of Chromebooks for Year 7 have arrived at school. These will be introduced to Year 7 during next week to enable us to have full coverage after Easter. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and support over the last few months. The global pandemic has created many barriers to our lives; nobody could have foreseen that the supply of devices across the world would have been so widely disrupted.

This is an exciting phase in our strategic development. The improvements we have seen in the use of technology to support learning created by periods of school closure and remote learning will be a springboard that will shape education for years to come. I am delighted that the current Year 7 are going to be leading the way in this cultural change at The Cottesloe School.

Now to practical matters. In order to support the range of circumstances that students have received or had access to their Chromebooks we have planned a number of events next week. Our ICT technical team and teaching staff will be leading a range of support opportunities to ensure that everyone can get online promptly after Easter.

Students with their own Chromebook purchased outside of the Cottesloe FreedomTech scheme
On our initial survey, a number of parents indicated that they had already purchased a Chromebook and you would like to use that in school. 
We are asking students to bring these devices to school on Tuesday 30th March so they can be configured by our ICT technical team. Students will be allocated a time on Tuesday morning to attend an appointment to enable them to use their Chromebook at school. Any devices not configured may not be able to access the school internet and platforms at a later date. The school will take no responsibility for any loss or accidental damage that occurs to any Chromebook not purchased through The Cottesloe School. Please check that you have the necessary insurance cover for using or transporting these devices outside of the home.

Please note that The Cottesloe School only supports the use of Chromebooks and not personal laptops.

Students who are awaiting delivery of their Chromebooks purchased through the Cottesloe FreedomTech scheme
We will be running a Masterclass for these students on Tuesday 30th March during period 4 at 12.55pm in the main assembly hall. Devices will be issued at this time and Mr Clawson, Head of ICT and Computing will walk the students through how to login, navigate the Google platform and get to grips with their new device. Our ICT technical team will also be in attendance to resolve any technical problems such as password.

Students who already have their Chromebooks purchased through he Cottesloe FreedomTech scheme
Those students who received their device a few weeks ago will be invited to Masterclass on Thursday 1st April during period 2 at 10.20am in the main assembly hall. Please bring your Cottesloe Chromebook with you to the session so we can check that you can login, navigate the Google platform and get to grips with using the device at school.

Students who do not fall into these categories will receive further communication shortly. There may still be an opportunity to join the scheme this academic year and purchase your own device. Moving forward it is our vision that all students across the school will use a Chromebook during their day-to-day learning both in school and at home.

I look forward to seeing this culture flourish over the coming months and years.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

Teacher Assessed Grading

25th March 2021

Teacher Assessed Grading (TAG)

As you know, this year examinations are not going ahead and schools are being asked to work closely with exam boards to ensure that grades are awarded consistently and fairly. This is a complex and holistic process that ensures that a range of evidence is used for every student in every subject. We have made considerable progress in this process already and I wanted to share the key principles that will underpin our work.

Students will only be assessed on the work they have been taught. They cannot be assessed on things they have not studied. We have already identified the key aspects of the curriculum that have been delivered in all subject areas. This has been shared with all parents and students.

We have also identified the key evidence that will be used by each subject area to assess each student's performance. This has also been shared with all parents and students.
This evidence, where available, ranges from:

1. Student work produced in response to assessment materials provided by the exam board, including groups of questions, past papers or similar materials such as practice or sample papers.

2. Non-exam assessment (NEA) work (often referred to as coursework), even if this has not been fully completed.

3. Student work produced in centre-devised tasks that reflect the specification, that follow the same format as exam board materials and have been marked in a way that reflects exam board mark schemes. This can include substantial class or homework (including those that took place during remote learning), internal tests taken by pupils and mock exams taken over the course of study.

4. Records of a student’s capability and performance over the course of study in performance-based subjects such as music, drama and PE.

5. Records of each student’s progress and performance over the course of study.

Evidence must be of high quality and relates directly to the specification and the assessment.

The disruption to education over the last two academic years has meant that many students have had vastly different experiences both in school and during periods of remote learning. For this very reason exam boards have not prescribed how schools will use evidence. The range and amount of evidence will vary between students and across subjects. No two cases will be the same so we have the flexibility to exercise our professional judgement in awarding TAG based on the evidence we have available for every student in every subject. We will be using a range of records from across the duration of the courses students have studied to support our judgements.

Our process has been externally validated by our School Improvement Officer, Ralph Batten. Further scrutiny has been applied by the Governing Body to ensure that we are following due process so that every student gets the grades that reflects the work they have completed during the period of disruption caused by the COVID 19 pandemic and the course of their studies. 

Please be assured that this process will be robust and fair and will have the students at its centre. We are working as quickly as we can with tight timeframes in which to complete this process. Whilst I appreciate that you may naturally have some questions around grading, I would ask that at this time you allow the school to complete this process without undue interruption from queries. We aim to provide you with all the information you need and may not be able to respond to individual requests.

Yours Sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

COVID-19 Transition to Home Testing

16th March 2021

The lateral flow test
Students will be able to collect home test kits from their Form Tutor from Monday 15th March. 

• Students will receive 2 boxes of 3 tests, with a leaflet on how to carry out the test and report the results to NHS.
• We recommend that the tests are taken before school on Monday and Thursday.
• Make sure you have enough time to do the test before going to school. Preferably, this would be in the morning before going into school. However, we understand that for some people this may be challenging, therefore, tests may be carried out the evening before school if necessary.

We also have a page on the website with further instructions under the Useful Links section and online instructions in different languages are available (GOV.UK).

What should you do after the test?
You will need to tell the school and NHS the results of each test

• Report your results to school: https://forms.gle/zqoiaHK6R57oGLLL8. 
• Report your results to the NHS: https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result. 
• If anyone tests positive you, your household, any support bubbles you are part of should self-isolate immediately in line with NHS Test and Trace guidance for 10 days.
• You should order a confirmatory PCR test if you are testing at home (confirmatory PCR tests are not needed if the test was conducted at the Asymptomatic Test Site at School).

If the result of the test is unclear (void) you need to carry out another test. Negative and void results should be reported to both NHS Test & Trace and School. A negative result does not guarantee that you are not carrying the virus. So, you should continue to follow social distancing, and other measures to reduce transmission such as wearing a face mask and regularly washing your hands and observing social distancing.
If you or anyone in your household gets symptoms of the virus you should follow national guidelines on self-isolation and testing.

There is no need to keep used test equipment after the result has been reported. You can put it in your normal bin (household waste). This does not replace symptomatic testing. If you have symptoms, you should self-isolate with immediate effect, book a PCR test and follow national guidelines.

Why take part
Up to one in three people who have COVID-19 can spread the virus without knowing. This is because they have no symptoms. To reduce the spread of the virus, we need to identify those individuals. We can do this by carrying out tests at home twice every week, 3-4 days apart. The Government has recently announced that all secondary and college aged students will be offered tests to make the return to school safer for everyone. Taking part is voluntary and all students will be able to attend school whether they take part in testing or not, however, I am strongly encouraging all students to take part. Testing at home will allow your child and other students to attend school as safely as possible.

Please contact Mrs Hulland our COVID Coordinator, (nhulland@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk), if you have any questions or concerns about home testing.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

Summer 2021 Exams

07th January 2021

The Government announced yesterday that most examinations will be cancelled this summer, with results instead being formulated by teacher assessments. We are currently awaiting further guidance as to what the logistics of this will be and I will of course update you as soon as I possibly can with further details of this, as they emerge.

In the meantime, we have made the decision to delay the Parents’ Evening on 20th January, in order that we can more appropriately advise students on how best to focus their studies over the forthcoming weeks and to provide more effective feedback on the work completed during the current home learning period. We also hope at that point to be able to provide more clarity about the exams and teacher assessments in each subject area.

We will also advise you, as soon as we can, when we will be holding this year’s progression evening. This will be a great opportunity to meet with a senior member of staff who will be providing guidance and support with preparation for the next steps. This meeting will specifically focus on post 16 options, applications to our sixth form and other institutions. This meeting very much feeds into the school’s aim of Prepare, Aspire, Succeed.

We understand that these are difficult times for everyone, not least the students themselves. The key message is that students must continue to engage fully in order that they will be in the best position to succeed, no matter what the arrangements turn out to be. It is essential that we focus on the knowledge and skills needed to equip the students to progress to the next stage, whether that be college, apprenticeships, university or employment.

If you do have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the school, and once again, can I thank you for your support during these difficult times.

Yours sincerely
Mr R Peel
Assistant Headteacher – Attainment & Progress

Christmas Message from Mr Jones

17th December 2020

Please select this link to view the video message

Christmas Closure

14th December 2020

No doubt you are aware of the announcement by the Department for Education a few days ago regarding proposed changes to the last day of term for schools before the Christmas holidays.
As a school and wider community we have been extremely diligent and respectful of the national restrictions placed on us. The duty of care we have all shown to one another has helped to keep us all as safe as possible over the last few months. Compared to some schools local and nationally we have had fewer cases of Covid 19 resulting in less disruption to learning.
This term is always the longest, busiest and most tiring period of the school year. The constant changes to government guidance and national restrictions have exacerbated this. I am immensely proud of how the school community has stood together during this challenging time.

Spending time with family and friends is so important, none more so than at celebrations such as Christmas. This is especially important this year when these opportunities have been so limited in recent months.
The latest local data indicates that after the second lockdown, there has been a continual sharp rise in the number of cases amongst the 11 to 15 year old age group. The few cases we have had fit this age profile.
With that in mind, I have decided to take the option strongly suggested by the DfE to change our end of term plans. Buckinghamshire Council yesterday outlined that we could use Friday 18th December as a Remote Learning Day for all year groups. Consequently, the school will close for face to face lessons at 3.00pm on Thursday 17th December 2020.
The primary purpose of this is to reduce the likelihood of a positive case impacting on the Christmas period for staff, students and their families. The Governing Body have given their consent for this decision.
Students should be reminded that they are to treat this like a normal school day and attend online lessons as outlined in their school timetable. Students should obey the current national and local Tier 2 restrictions that apply, including social distancing and contact restrictions both at home and outdoors.
These can be found on the following link: Government Guidance Tier 2 Restrictions.

The school has been asked to assist with contact tracing during the initial holiday period. For the first 6 days after teaching ends, if your child tests positive for COVID 19, having developed symptoms within the first 48 hours of being in school, then please contact the school via the following email address: covid19@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk 
This email address will be checked daily during this period in order to help with contact tracing for any positive cases. Our last day for contact tracing will be Wednesday 23rd December 2020.

We will re-open for students as planned on Tuesday 5th January 2021. Monday 4th January 2021 will remain an INSET day as per the published calendar. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff, students and their families for their ongoing support and I wish you all a safe and Happy Christmas.

Yours sincerely
Mr S Jones
Headteacher

Chromebooks for Learning

20th October 2020

We have now launched our Chromebooks for Learning scheme to Year 7 students. Here you will find all the information you need to choose and order your chromebook. There are two Lenovo devices available, more detailed information including technical specifications is available on the information leaflet available to view in the important documents area of this page. A parents' handbook with answers to many frequently asked questions is also available.

Please note the portal will close on November 10th.

Year 7 Character Camp

30th September 2020

Despite the current restrictions, over the next few days all of Year 7 will be taking part in our 'Character Camp' to help them settle into life at Cottesloe and understand what it takes to be successful at the school.
Led by Outspark, students will be completing a range of activities including a hike, archery, team building games, feast preparation and eating around a campfire. This will help to embed our ethos of Healthy Relationships and our 6Cs - challenge, cooperation, collaboration, coaching, creative and critical thinking.
Slightly different this year in that it's taking place at school and there's no camping involved, but just as much fun and wonderful to see the students forming friendships and challenging themselves.

We had a fantastic first 2 days, but the weather has deteriorated, therefore, we have taken the decision to postpone Day 3 until Friday 16th October.

GCSE Results

20th August 2020

Today we welcomed Year 11 into school to receive their results. It was so great to be able to see them all and pass on their achievements in person. I would like to take this opportunity to praise them for their resilience during the last few months.
The much anticipated results are as we expected and show strong improvements across the board.
A stunning 89% of our students achieved a standard pass in English and 79% achieved this in maths. As a result, 76% of our students obtained a standard pass in English and maths.
There were many outstanding performances, but a special mention has to go to the following students; Jessica Lavallin achieved six grade 9's and three grade 8's. Similarly, Jonah Faulks achieved two grade 9's and six grade 8's. These are phenomenal achievements.
Congratulations to everyone on their results today and good luck with your onward journey.

Simon Jones, Headteacher

Year 13 Exam Results

13th August 2020

We were delighted to see so many Year 13 students in school this morning to receive their A level and BTEC results. As expected, our students have produced some fantastic results and we are extremely proud of their achievements. The challenging process of awarding grades has gone extremely well and this saw fewer of our students having their grades altered than on the national scale. They have taken the whole process in their stride and have been able to secure their next steps towards university or apprenticeships.

Results have risen from last year and some notable achievements included Stanley Stokes who achieved two A* and an A and is hoping to go to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences. Amelia Fogden achieved two A* and two A grades and is hoping to take a gap year to pursue her equestrian ambitions.

Simon Jones, Headteacher

Scarlett Awarded Commissioner's Commendation

13th July 2020

Scarlett Mercer was very quick to put her first aid training into practice recently as she attended to an injured pedestrian who was the victim of a road accident. The woman’s injuries included a broken jaw and nose, and she had lost a significant number of teeth. Thanks to her immediate action and quick thinking, Scarlett was able to help stem the blood flow, and identified that the woman was going into shock as well as showing signs of concussion.
The Year 11 Cottesloe student remained calm, gently reassuring the lady that an ambulance was on the way, and kept talking to her so that she remained conscious.
For her actions Scarlett was nominated by passer-by Mr Tutton, a scout leader from Aylesbury District, to receive a County Commissioner's Commendation Award.
Yesterday Scarlett attended the socially distanced award ceremony. Her father Mr Mercer, Section Leader, Phoenix South ESU, said “I'm doubly proud as both her leader and father, that she's attained this great honour.”

Transition to Higher Education Support

07th July 2020

The Cottesloe School is offering Sixth-Form Transition to Higher Education Support for students and parents/carers. Working in collaboration with @BucksMind Mind UK, we are delighted to be able to deliver wellbeing support to students and parents, focusing on the transition to University. All Year 13 students and parents will have full access to this course.
We know that starting university can be an exciting period of life with lots of fantastic opportunities ahead, but it can also come with some challenges. This course is designed to support our students with this transition.
Public Health is funding this valuable project, so we welcome your feedback. We hope you find this course valuable, especially at this time.

Sixth Form Students Transition to University video for parents and school staff (opens in YouTube)

Welcome to the Summer Term

20th April 2020

Please see the new video message from Mr Jones.

Video message from the Headteacher

30th March 2020

Please see the video in the link below for a personal message from our Headteacher, Mr Jones. As time goes by we will continue to use a range of media to engage and keep in touch with our community.
https://youtu.be/GIp-zjBaBHI (opens in YouTube)

KS3 Year 9 Choices Evening

16th March 2020

The KS3 Year 9 Choices evening, held on Wednesday 11th March, was very well attended by Year 8 students and their families. Below is a copy of the presentation to help with the decision making. 

Year 9 Curriculum

26th February 2020

Following a comprehensive review of the Key Stage 3 (KS3) and Key Stage 4 (KS4) sections of The Cottesloe School’s Curriculum, we are making some changes that will impact on your child’s learning from Year 9 onwards... Please read full letter

Video
 

Parent Survey Feedback

05th February 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you very much to the 170 families that completed the parent survey sent out before Christmas. We appreciate you taking the time to feedback your thoughts about the school, what you think we do well and the areas you feel we could improve.
Overwhelmingly the feedback was positive. Please find below a link to the survey results and our response to the areas you felt could be made even better. We have analysed the data and have put in place a number of different strategies and actions to reflect the areas you feel we could improve upon.
Thank you again for contributing to help improve the opportunities for our young people.

Yours sincerely,
Louise Baldwin
Deputy Headteacher

Parent Survey Feedback

Student Council: Your questions answered

21st January 2020

Following a meeting between school leaders and the student council, we have compiled the following Q&A:

Achievement Evening

19th December 2019

Last night we celebrated the achievements of students who sat public examinations in Summer 2019, in addition acknowledging students for their outstanding contribution to the school. It was a privilege to welcome back so many young people who have achieved so much whilst at The Cottesloe School. All had used many of the qualities and behaviours within the 6'C's to achieve their goals, challenging themselves to succeed. We were treated to performances from the Performing Arts students, and refreshments provided by the Catering students. A great evening was had by all and made us proud to be part of The Cottesloe School.

Computing Competitions with McAfee

16th December 2019

We are always excited when companies want to meet with our amazing students, and would welcome any chance to show them how real world businesses work with technology. The ICT & Computing department have been working with McAfee for two years, now, inviting Dave Oxley and his colleagues into lessons with Year 13 students, advising them on best practices for developing security systems for their BTEC coursework. This year we’re really pleased to have Dave and several McAfee interns working with us to support competitions that Year 12 and Year 8 students are entering. 

Year 12 are being mentored as they work to produce a platform computer game. These games will be pitted against teams from the Aylesbury UTC in March. Their mentors are both studying Computer Science at Brunel University, so this will also be a great opportunity to meet HE students and talk about courses with people taking them. The interns will be available to meet with them regularly to check their progress and support their projects. The students will gain invaluable experience of working in teams towards a project plan. 

Some great game ideas are already taking shape and the competition looks like it will be hotly contested.

Year 8 girls are preparing to enter the National Centre for Cyber Security’s CyberFirst for Girls competition this January. Interns spent a lesson training them for the challenge ahead. We were really amazed by how quickly there were able to tackle some really tricky puzzles, making us hopeful that we will have some incredible cyber security experts in the near future. All the girls were really keen to solve as many puzzles as they could in the session, so we’re confident that they will take the challenges presented in the real event in their stride. As with the Year 12’s, the McAfee interns, both studying Computer Science at Manchester University, will be available to mentor the teams on puzzle solving skills as we enter the competition for real. I know that they all have their eye on the final later in the year. 

Massive thanks must go to Dave Oxley and his fantastic team of interns for their support in both these programs. Lots more opportunities to tackle tech competitions will be available in the New Year, so watch this space.

Mr Clawson and the Computing & ICT Team

Professional Karting

12th December 2019

Jake Almosawi (10ASA) has been competing in professional Karting with a view to building a career in Motorsport.  The 14 year old Cottesloe student raced at club level for the first time and, in this his first year of professional karting, finished 8th place out of 42 competitors (https://results.alphatiming.co.uk/skrc/2019/champ/39/). 

Next year Jake has been invited to join a racing team and compete in the National British Karting Championships. The National Championship is more demanding and is run over a 4-day period from Thursday to Sunday. It is held at tracks all over the UK from North West Wales to Cumbria to Dorset. Good luck Jake – keep us posted on your progress!

GCSE and A Level Exam Certificates

29th November 2019

GCSE and A Level Exam Certificates 2019

From Monday 2nd December 2019, Exam Certificates for all students who completed GCSE's, BTEC's and A Level's in the summer are available for collection from the Exams Office from 8.00am - 2.30pm, Monday to Friday.  These certificates have to be collected in person and cannot be posted out. If you wish for someone else to collect your certificates please ensure that they bring both identification and a permission letter from yourself. 

Teddy our Well-Being Dog. Coming Soon

28th November 2019

What we are going to offer

Mrs. West (Student Support Officer in TEAM Hub) has a registered Therapy dog called Teddy who is a Golden Retriever.  

Obviously, bringing any animal into school is not something to be approached lightly, both for the animal’s sake and for the sake of the students and adults in the school. I have visited and taken advice from other schools in the area, who have school dogs. We have discussed the practicalities, including everything from risk assessments and insurance to dealing with training, doggy toileting and student’s allergies.

Teddy will be based in TEAM Hub with Mrs West as she is the person that the dog is registered with through Pets as therapy.

Students will never be left alone with Teddy and they will be taught about how to be around a dog; for example, if Teddy is on his bed, then we leave him alone to rest.   

We are hoping that Teddy will eventually join our school on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but this will be built up over time.

What is Teddy like?

Teddy is a Golden Retriever. The breed is renowned for their calm, gentle temperament and love of children. Belonging to Mrs. West and her family, Teddy has undergone strict training and assessment in order to prepare him for working with children.  Teddy is certified as a ‘Pets As Therapy’ dog, meaning that he has been assessed as being healthy and of the right temperament to work within the local community, including children.  Pets as Therapy dogs are recognised by the Royal College of Nursing and welcomed by medical authorities in many areas.

Mrs. West takes Teddy to the ‘Campbell Centre’ in Milton Keynes on a regular basis to help patients with their Mental Health.

What will Teddy do all day in school?

Teddy’s role in school will be varied. He might ‘chill out’ in TEAM Hub whilst students are attending their lessons. For those students who access TEAM Hub, arrangements can be made to spend time with Teddy.

Research studies in both Britain and America have concluded that having a dog in a school environment can have many positive benefits – these include helping to calm children down, improve academic achievement, motivate those children who are often not that attentive, teach responsibility and encourage children to respect all life. Also, it has been shown that when children share the affection and care of a ‘school’ dog, a bond forms among them and strengthens their team ethics.

Teddy can also be used to hear students read. Dogs give unconditional acceptance, as they are non-judgmental, which is especially crucial to students who struggle to read. He will provide confidence to students as he will not make fun of them when they read, but above all he will make an amazing listener, providing the students with a sense of comfort and love.

A Christmas Carol

21st November 2019

On Tuesday Year 7 students enjoyed a fabulous performance of 'A Christmas Carol' by three very talented actors from Quantum Theatre. The trio played all the parts from Dickens's famous story, with so much zest and energy, and at the end of the show they kindly answered a number of questions put to them by students. An enjoyable afternoon was had by all! Thank you to everyone involved and a special thanks to Mrs Rawlins for organising the event.

Visit to Stewartby Power Station

11th November 2019

On Wednesday 6th November, four of our Year 13 students visited the Stewartby Power Station, one of the biggest power stations powered by landfill gas. When we arrived we were greeted by Jason who escorted us onto the site, we then had an introduction to the Power Station and a health and safety talk: we wore hard hats, ear defenders, eye protection and overalls. The tour of the Stewartby Power Station was important as it is preparation for our unit 3 exam.
The tour began outside where the gas is extracted from the landfill that was buried in the 1980’s, landfill was stopped in 2008 due to the increase in recycling and the use of incineration, because of this, the use of landfill as an energy source will one day run out. We were shown where the landfill had been buried and the pipes that extract the gas from beneath the ground. The pipes then connected to the generators where gas is turned into electricity. We looked round the generators, this is where we had to wear the ear defenders due to the mass amount of noise, each generator produced 120 decibels each, if the ear defenders were not worn it could have caused permanent hearing damage.
After the tour of the Power Station we went on a walk around Stewartby Lake to see the wind turbine. The walk allowed us to reflect on what we had learned. We took advantage of the walk for our mental health as it allowed us to have some fresh air and a clear our minds.
We are grateful to Stewartby Power Station for donating some of their overalls to the science department to use for future scientific events at the school.

Year 9 Core Evening PPT

25th October 2019

Year 9 Core Evening Presentation
Click on image to download PPT

Tate Britain

23rd October 2019

On September 24th Art Students from Years 11, 12 and 13 visited the Tate Britain in London to experience art first-hand. It was a successful visit as the following comments from students illustrate:
“I enjoyed looking and understanding the development of British Art through time and it gave me lots of new ideas”. Verity
“The trip to the museum was very inspiring and allowed me to discover new artists. It has helped a lot with coursework”. Robson
“I thoroughly enjoyed it and it really inspired me”. Elliot
“I enjoyed the Sixty Years room in particular, but it was also really interesting to see Art from different periods of time”. Tia
“Interesting, but some pieces were strange to me”. Ollie
“I liked the museum visit; it gave me lots of ideas for my sketch book”. Chloe

Eco Warriors

07th October 2019

Eco Warriors

A group of Year 7 Cottesloe students; Emily, Chloe, Sanchia & Sinead, have formed a small task force designated to clearing up litter around Stewkley, the village they live in.

It all started with them being disgusted by the littering they saw at the village Rec. They agreed to work together to clear the rubbish, which in addition to being an eyesore, can pose a danger to wildlife. In their quest they have collected and filled bags with; plastic bottles, cans, packets, discarded toys and other general waste. 

They are taking so much pride in the work they have done and hope to inspire others to take more care of the beautiful village that they love and respect.  Well done for making a difference and making Stewkley a better environment to live in. 

It’s important that we all take responsibility to look after our local environment and ensure litter is disposed of correctly; either use bins provided, or take your rubbish home with you.

Core evening presentation

30th September 2019

Following on from the Year 11 Core Evening, please find below a link to the presentation.

Year 11 Core Evening 2019

Year 7 Residential Trip

25th September 2019

The Camp at Outspark

On the first day, all the students who were going on the camping trip came into school with their bags, excited about the two days that were ahead of them. We entered the sports hall and sat down in our form groups, we talked amongst each other until we were introduced to the Outspark crew. We were then put into groups before getting on the coach. After around 15 minutes we arrived at Woburn Abbey, then we started our 3-mile hike!
Some of us had snacks for the long walk, which was a smart idea, and we had things we had to find on the way like deer and stables. Walking through the beautiful deer park in Woburn was fun, but it was also very tiring.
We finally arrived at the campsite, exhausted and keen to get into our tents, although it took us around twenty minutes to build them before we could achieve that. My group did a good job, however, our tent had a tear in it and we ended up with a muddy puddle during the night! Looking back at it now, it’s quite funny.
We all got to do a number of activities over the two days. My favourites were Archery, Rock Climbing and Pioneering. We had to work together to build a catapult and shoot tennis balls from it. It was great to see some classmates overcome their fear of heights during the rock climbing. 
For dinner we had a healthy stuffed pepper with sweet potato which we helped to prepare. For dessert we had cooked banana with chocolate inside. Most groups then had a campfire and hot chocolate, but due to bad weather my group were unable to do this.
Overall I loved the Outspark trip, and definitely recommend going. One of the highlights for me was hearing the tip-tap of the rain against the tent. It might have kept me up at night but it was strangely soothing.
Thank you to the teachers for the hard work and preparation.

By Ben Wilson Year 7

The Cottesloe School celebrates 'excellent' GCSE results in Wing

23rd August 2019

Staff and students of The Cottesloe School, Wing, are celebrating "some excellent GCSE results".

This year 83 per cent of students passed English (21 per cent above national average) and 78 per cent achieved a pass in Maths (18 per cent above national average).

Simon Jones, headteacher, said: "As headteacher, I would like to pass on my praise to the staff and students who have worked so hard to achieve these results.

"A particular mention goes to the following students: Henry Dorrance- 2 grade 9s, 2 grade 8s, 1 grade A* and 1 grade A;

Cameron Powell - 2 grade 9s, 5 grade 8s, 2 grade As;

Isabelle Walford - 1 grade 9, 4 grade 8s, 2 grade As;

Charlotte Targell - 5 grade 8s, 1 grade A, 1 grade B."

World challenge -Nepal

23rd July 2019

Nepal, Summer 2019

Speaker in school today

18th July 2019

Harry Davison and @annielawrencee from Facebook are inspiring some of our Year 9 students during today's Maths lesson. Talking about how stats are used in business, Harry told them "the Maths and Statistics you are learning today is what I use on a daily basis"

English Literature Ambassadors

15th July 2019

My name is Rebecca Putt, I am in Year 11 and currently taking my GCSEs. Along with a group of fellow students I took my GCSE in English Literature when I was in Year 10, so Mrs Webber asked if we would get involved in mentoring our peers, as we had exam experience and were able to advise them on revision techniques that helped us, and how to deal with stress as the exam approached. We had one-to-one and small group sessions, and I had to learn different books to the ones I had studied, going over the plots and giving unique ideas for answers, using tips I had learned from Mr Matcham. I found it interesting and enjoyed the experience, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to help as I would like to go into teaching. Mrs Webber added, "These Year 11 students have been amazing in the Intervention sessions. They have really helped other Year 11 students because they have recently been through the examination process themselves and know what works. They were also so focused in these sessions and shared their excellent notes to great effect."