The summer exam season is fully underway, and our students have demonstrated remarkable dedication and focus in managing the demands of these assessments while adhering to the rigorous JCQ exam regulations. As part of the quality assurance process, every school receives an unannounced visit from a JCQ Exam Inspector each exam season. We were pleased to host the inspector last week during the GCSE Geography and Level 3 Core Maths exams. The inspection involved observation of the start of an exam, a detailed review of processes and documentation with our Exams Officer, including the practical aspects of exam administration such as the secure storage of papers, and finally a meeting with our SENDCo to verify the Access Arrangements paperwork. I am delighted to report that the inspection outcome was exemplary, a testament to the exceptional organisation and diligence of Miss Hall, our Exams Officer, her team of invigilators, and Ms Hibbert, our SENDCo.

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Welcome to our new Year 7 Parents, Carers and Students!

It’s a very warm welcome to our new Year 7 parents, carers and students that will be joining us in September 2025.  We are really looking forward to meeting you in July and welcoming you to the Cottesloe family. The transition process is well underway, with TCS staff visiting primary schools to learn more about our new Year 7s! Transition information is on our website: Welcome to The Cottesloe School 2025 and here: The Cottesloe School - Transition Support 

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Parent Survey

Thank you again to the 181 parents or carers who participated in the recent survey. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us to continuously improve and enhance our school environment. The full data is here: Parent Survey Results 2025 and the headlines are below:

• The number of parents who strongly agree that their child is happy at The Cottesloe School has increased by 3.5% to 29.3%. Overall, 84.5% (up from 82.8% last year) of parents say their child is happy here; we will continue to work hard to make this even higher because being happy at school is very important.

• Overall 81% of parents strongly agree/agree that TCS has high expectations for their child (67.3% overall last year). The number of parents who agree about high expectations has increased by 18.9%, from 46.6% to 65.5% in 2025. 

• The number of parents who agree that The Cottesloe School makes sure its pupils are well-behaved has increased by 12.1% from 2024. Overall, 84.5% of parents strongly agree/agree that pupils are well-behaved (the same percentage for parents who strongly agree/agree that their child is happy!) This is an increase of 15.5% from 69% last year.  Behaviour has been an ongoing area of focus and whilst this feedback is excellent, we will continue to work on this next year. 

• The number of parents who would recommend The Cottesloe School to another parent has also increased from 2024 (70.7% would strongly recommend or recommend TCS) to 81.3%. The biggest increase was seen in the strongly recommended category, with just under a quarter of all parents in 2024 to 35.4% strongly recommending TCS to another parent in 2025.

• The number of parents who responded positively to the question 'TCS supports my child’s wider personal development’ has decreased 12% to 58.6%. Clearly, this needs to be an area of focus for the school in the coming year.  

In the comment boxes, you gave us overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding our supportive environment, strong sense of community, and the dedication of our staff. These are some of the wonderful things you wrote about the school - thank you!  

Cottesloe is a great school who believe in ensuring the welfare of the child takes priority. All teachers that I have spoken to have bent over backwards to support my child, which we are grateful for.

Extracurricular activities are a super bonus and has allowed my child to try alternative things and make other friends outside classes. Trips and days out are varied. I feel there is something for everyone. Communications are excellent and responses from teachers, if necessary, have been prompt.

I think the teachers really try their utmost in getting to know the students and making them realise their full potential. All through XXX’s time at the school, his teachers have known how to get the best from him in a constructive and supportive way. XXX will leave this school with the confidence to pursue his education at university and I think the Cottesloe School has been such a positive experience which has aided this decision.

The teachers are all brilliant! So kind, very helpful to my daughter when she joined mid-GCSE and went above and beyond to get her to speed with missing work/changing exam boards etc - we have been so impressed. The parents evenings are great, 2 per year is much better than other schools. Reports are regular enough to know what’s going on. We have been nothing but impressed with the school ☺️

The teachers are good, friendly and encouraging.

The Cottesloe school overall is a great school. XXX has experienced bullying a couple of times (which didn’t affect him) but the school dealt with this swiftly, which I wanted to mention, as I appreciated their prompt action in these matters. I would also like to mention the reception staff, who are always polite and helpful whenever I have called in.

Listening and supporting my son through difficult times.

High expectations for my child to reach the best of their academic abilities. Good communication home when there has been any issues. When my child made a mistake, it was well handled. My daughter received appropriate disciplinary measures, which included conversations on what had happened, which helped her personal development. 

I feel like there is a really positive attitude in the school which can be felt throughout.

We have also carefully reviewed your comments on areas for development, and we are already taking action to address them. For example, to improve communication, we are reviewing our systems to ensure that information is timely, clear, and easily accessible, including report grade descriptors and assessment information. Homework was mentioned by a number of parents as an area that we could be more consistent and provide greater clarity around. We agree with you and over the past couple of months, Mrs Hooley, AHT for Teaching and Learning has been working on a new Homework Policy and process that will be shared with you later this term. We are also reflecting on the feedback on our SEND provision and to look at how we can improve the consistency and effectiveness of support, mindful of the ever-increasing challenges that all schools are facing in relation to SEND funding. 

The survey data and analysis will be shared with the Governing Board, and colleagues on the senior leadership team are already working on aspects relevant to their responsibilities in order to bring about change where needed. The senior leadership team has been in touch with all parents who gave their email addresses, to explore further the comments they raised. I hope this transparency assures you of our commitment to being open to feedback and to working together with you all to continue to improve our wonderful school even further. 

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Farewell

We say goodbye to Ms D’Souza this week and wish her all the best in her new role.

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Scottish Rugby Success for Cameron

Year 10 student, Cameron, has been making incredible progress in rugby this season. Last weekend, he earned a spot playing at the prestigious Kingsholm Stadium, home of the Gallagher Premiership's Gloucester Rugby Football Club. After three days of intense training and assessment sessions, Cameron was selected to play for the Scotland U15s Scottish Qualified Pathway. This is a select group of just 50 talented young men from across England and Wales who have the potential to play for Scotland. Cameron not only represented this squad but also made a significant impact by scoring the first try of the day in their match against two other strong teams.

This was an invaluable experience for Cameron, especially considering that many of his teammates come from schools renowned for their rugby programs with  ex-professional players as their coaches. His selection and outstanding performance are a testament to his exceptional skill, unwavering dedication, and incredible commitment to the sport. Well done, Cameron! We look forward to celebrating more successes in the coming season. As recognition of his achievements, Cameron has been awarded a Gold Thumbs Up badge.

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STEAM End of Year Trips

A reminder that parents of students in Year 7, 8 and 9 will receive letters about the end-of-year STEAM trips, and the new payment process. As a reminder, the trips all take place on Tuesday 22nd July, with Year 9 visiting Chessington, Year 8 going to Thorpe Park and Year 7 heading to Legoland. Please ensure you have completed the mandatory consent Google form when completing the payment. The link is within the MCAS app under the 'trips' section.

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Sports Fixtures and Results

Still no fixtures results to report on, but hopefully a bumper update next week. This week sees our students participate in U15 Girls’ Cricket against Abbots Hill, rescheduled from last week due to heavy rain, and a team is entered into the Schools’ Team Triathlon competition at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. Teams of six will work together to undertake all three triathlon disciplines with the aim of beating a number of other local schools. Good luck!  

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Assemblies

Assemblies this week focus on Online Safety, delivered by our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs West. 

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Year 13

Continued good luck in the exams!  

Year 11

Year 11’s last formal day in school is this Friday. A separate letter has been sent to Year 11 parents with details of the day, and expectations for attendance to exams after half-term. 

Year 10

The Drama Controlled Assessments take place on Tuesday. Year 10 Business Studies students are visiting Woburn Safari Park on Wednesday to see the concepts they’ve been learning about in action.  Year 10 Biologists will attend a Molecular Immunology talk on Wednesday. 

Year 9

Good luck to the Bronze DofE students undertaking their expedition this week. 

Year 8

HPV vaccinations are taking place on Thursday. 

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Have a great week. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Best wishes, 

Louise Baldwin

Head of School