Monday 14th July | Head of School Letter
As we enter the penultimate week of what has been another incredibly busy and productive term, there's still a vibrant buzz of activity across The Cottesloe School, even though it was very hot last week!
Warm Weather
A reminder that it’s still PE kits for this week and for the last week of term. The weather doesn’t look as though it’s going to break for the final three days of school and so for ease, we’ll stick with PE kits through to the end of term. After the very high temperatures of last week, we’ll welcome wearing school uniform again in the cooler weather in September.
Timetable and teaching group changes
As we prepare for the new academic year, we're carefully reviewing teaching groups for students in Years 7-11. Each year, we make thoughtful adjustments based on student ability and cohort dynamics, always aiming to place every student in the optimal group for effective learning and excellent progress. This means that at the start of the new academic year, students may find themselves with different classmates. Please be assured these decisions are always made with your child's best interests at heart. We understand that adjusting to new groupings can sometimes be difficult, especially as group sizes and timetables are meticulously coordinated. To provide ongoing stability across a student’s Cottesloe journey, tutor groups remain consistent, and wherever possible, the same teacher will stay with their tutor group from Year 7 to 11. We are confident that even if students aren't with all their previous friends, they will form new friendships and be able to focus fully on their learning in their new classes. Our staff work hard to support students in settling into their new groups to thrive.
Farewell to colleagues
We will be saying goodbye to several colleagues next week, whose hard work and commitment have made a real difference to our school. We are incredibly grateful for their contributions and wish them all the very best.
‘Mr B’, Steve Bonser is retiring after an amazing 42 years of service as a teacher at The Cottesloe School. We wish him a wonderful retirement that will be as full as his career has been, with many more hours of fun on his narrow boat.
Ms. Rothwell, having joined us in 2015, Ms. Rothwell has been an invaluable member of our SEND team, working closely alongside Mrs. Willingale in The Base to provide exceptional support to students with neurodiversity. Most recently, she has skilfully led our Year 7 Nurture group, making a significant positive impact on those students. Ms. Rothwell leaves us to take up a promoted post as Deputy SENDCo at a local school, and we wish her every success in this exciting new role.
Mrs. Willingale, since joining our SEND team in 2016, Mrs. Willingale has consistently made a significant and positive contribution, providing invaluable support to all our SEND students, particularly in her vital role as an Autism Advocate. She will leave a considerable gap as she moves on to work at a local charity dedicated to supporting children with autism. We wish her every success in this new role.
Mr. Tymon, who has been an amazing teacher of PE at The Cottesloe School since 2019. Beyond his teaching, Mr. Tymon has achieved huge success in powerlifting, qualifying for the British Drug Free Power Lifting National Finals. He will be greatly missed by both staff and students. Mr. Tymon is moving with his family to be closer to their wider family network, where he will continue teaching PE in a secondary school. We wish him and his family all the very best for their new chapter.
Mrs Small is leaving us after one year as Head of Year 9 and Teacher of Maths. Mrs. Small has worked incredibly hard supporting Year 9 throughout the year, and we thank her for her dedication. She is leaving to teach Maths at another local secondary school, and we wish her all the best in her new role.
District Athletics Championships Success!
Last Wednesday, our top athletes from Year 7 to Year 10 represented The Cottesloe School at the District Championships held at Jarman Park in Hemel Hempstead. It was another very warm day, our students' behaviour was exemplary, and we are incredibly proud to announce that our team achieved an impressive fourth place overall out of 14 competing schools from across Aylesbury Vale, including The Grange School, Aylesbury Vale Academy, John Colet School, Waddesdon School, Aylesbury High School, The Mandeville School, Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, The Royal Latin School, Princes Risborough School, The Kingsbrook School, and St Michael's Catholic School. Our boys' team secured a strong fourth place, while our girls' team finished fifth. A special mention goes to our Year 7 athletes, who were our strongest year group, with both the boys and girls achieving an excellent third place overall in their respective age groups.
District Champions this year from The Cottesloe School are:
- Max C (Year 7 Boys) - 200m: 29.09 secs
- Emmanuel L (Year 8 Boys) - 300m: 42.63 secs
- Lottie G (Year 7 Girls) - 800m: 2.35 mins
- Poppy M (Year 7 Girls) - 1500m: 5.33 mins
- Amaya C (Year 9 Girls) - 75m hurdles: 13.12 secs
- Olive G (Year 10 Girls) - 1500m: 4.51 mins
Beyond the impressive results, it was fantastic to see our Healthy Relationships values evident throughout the day, with older year groups actively supporting our younger athletes for whom this was their first District Athletics experience. Congratulations to all our athletes for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding performances! A huge thank you also goes to our brilliant PE team for their unwavering support and guidance, to enable these achievements.
Dinner Money & MCAS System
A reminder that dinner money payments will need to be made via My Child At School (MCAS) system from today, Monday 14th July.
Summer Sports: Tutor Group Activity Mornings While our traditional Sports Day isn't possible this year due to the ongoing 3G pitch construction, our brilliant PE department has ensured that the competitive spirit of summer sport will continue! In place of a full Sports Day, they are organising a series of exciting Activity Mornings. During these events, tutor groups will have the opportunity to compete against one another in a range of sporting activities, to win the coveted Sports Day Cup! We're looking forward to seeing some fantastic teamwork and athletic talent on display.
Gardening Club: Cultivating Green Ambitions
Our dedicated Gardening Club has exciting plans for the next academic year as part of our wider commitment to sustainability at The Cottesloe School! Our ambition is to work towards achieving the prestigious RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Gardening Awards, which will provide a fantastic framework for enhancing our school grounds and learning environment. You can find more about the awards here: RHS School Gardening Awards. To help us kick-start these initiatives, we are currently seeking support through donations. While more detailed information about our projects will follow next year, our immediate need is for bamboo screening to be put up across the fence by the Wellbeing Garden, near TEAM Hub. The old fencing in this area became rotten and has now been removed. In time, our long-term vision for this space is to plant a beautiful hedge along the fence line. Any contributions towards this initial screening would be greatly appreciated as we begin to transform our outdoor spaces. If anyone works in landscape gardening or has contacts that could help us out with our ambitions, please get in touch via the school office, any support gratefully received.
3G Pitch Footwear clarification
We've received queries about why astro boots are not permitted on our 3G pitch, and we'd like to clarify this important point. While it might seem logical, the smaller, denser studs on astro boots can dislodge and damage the vital rubber crumb infill of the pitch. From a distance, these boots can also look very similar to flat-soled trainers, which cause significant damage to the surface. Both types of footwear drastically reduce the lifespan and quality of our valuable 3G pitch. We've seen first-hand how incorrect footwear can damage a new pitch and our priority is to keep our 3G pitch in excellent condition for as long as possible, ensuring its continued benefit for all our students and the wider community for years to come. To maintain the safety and integrity of this fantastic facility, all students will need a pair of the correct 3G-compliant boots for PE lessons from September. Your understanding and cooperation in adhering to these rules are greatly appreciated, helping us preserve this resource.
Careers Blog
Here’s the latest Careers Blog from Mrs. Gunn, our Marketing and Careers Coordinator about the Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for 2025 which has just been launched. This is an invaluable resource for students considering their next steps after school, offering insights into leading organisations that provide exceptional apprenticeship opportunities. It's also a fantastic tool for parents looking to support their children's career journeys and explore alternative pathways to higher education. We encourage students and families to explore this comprehensive guide to the best apprenticeship employers in the country. The full blog post here: Discover your future
Summer Fun for All Ages in Buckinghamshire!
Looking for fantastic and free activities to keep everyone entertained this summer? There are some wonderful opportunities available across Buckinghamshire for all ages! For younger community members, Under 10s can join the Family Centre Open Mornings from 10am to 12pm. These fun-filled mornings will feature arts & crafts, outdoor activities, and even live music with the Alina Orchestra. Catch them at Southcourt (July 25th), Berryfields (August 5th), Wing (August 13th), and Elmhurst (August 21st) Family Centres. For ages 11-19 (and up to 25 with SEND), exciting Youthspace Fun Days run from 3pm to 5pm. Get involved with graffiti art, various sports, and Nintendo Switch gaming. These events will be held at Berryfields (July 30th) and Southcourt (August 18th) Family Centres. To find more information about all these incredible events, please visit: https://directory.familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/…
World Challenge
Malaysia Good luck and safe travels to the students heading out to Malaysia with Miss Gamage and Mr Waite. We hope they have a brilliant time; we’re looking forward to hearing all about the adventures when they get back.
Year 12
Good luck to the Gold DofE students who are on their expedition this week in Mid Wales. Students in school will be attending a University talk on Tuesday.
Year 9
Activity morning is on Thursday.
Year 8
Activity morning is on Wednesday.
Year 7
Activity morning is today.
Year 6
Uniform Sale Collection takes place this Friday between 3:30pm and 6pm.
Have a wonderful week, and thank you for your ongoing support of our school.
Best wishes,
Louise Baldwin
Head of School