Parent Survey 2026

Thank you to the 183 families who completed our 2026 Parent Survey. Now that the survey has closed, I am delighted to share some encouraging headlines. It is particularly heartening to report that 94% of you feel your child is safe at The Cottesloe School, with over half of respondents strongly agreeing. This represents a sustained positive trend—rising from 83% in 2024, to 90% in 2025, and now reaching 94% in 2026. This reflects our core mission to support students and their learning in an environment where they feel secure.

Similarly, 87% of you told us that your child is happy at school. This metric has also seen steady growth, rising from 83% in 2024 and 86% in 2025. Alongside this, recommendation rates have increased significantly with 87.5% of respondents stating they would recommend the school to another family. This is up from 81% last year. These figures show that our students are empowered to aspire and succeed, but we remain committed to continuous improvement. We want every single student to flourish, so we will be analysing the feedback to understand how we can support every family even better. For those who left contact details regarding specific concerns, we will be in touch personally over the coming weeks. Thank you for sharing your views; constructive feedback is essential for us to keep moving forward together. We will share the full results, and any actions with you soon.

Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan is approaching and is expected to begin on or around Tuesday 17th February and we want our Muslim students to feel fully supported during this period of fasting and reflection. A separate letter will be sent to families before half-term, outlining the specific adjustments we are putting in place, including details of designated quiet spaces for prayer and reflection during the school day, as well as how we will support students throughout the school day with lower energy levels than usual. We look forward to sharing this blessed month with our community.

The TCS Opportunities Fund: Every Student Deserves a Chance to Shine

At The Cottesloe School, we firmly believe that some of the most impactful learning happens outside the classroom. Whether it is a life-changing field trip, the confidence gained from joining a new club, or simply having the right technology to study at home, these experiences are vital in shaping who our students become.

However, we also recognise that financial hurdles can sometimes make these extras feel out of reach for some families. The TCS Opportunities Fund is designed to bridge that gap, ensuring that a price tag never stands in the way of a student’s potential. Every donation - no matter the size - directly contributes to improving a student’s journey. To give you an idea of the impact your generosity can have:

• £6 provides a school tie, helping a student feel a true sense of belonging.
• £9 buys a vital revision guide for exam success.
• £40 covers a ticket for a theatre trip or STEM theme park visit.
• £300 supports a student on a life-changing Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) expedition.
• £400 funds a high-spec Chromebook for essential learning.

Year 9 Trip Bucks Skills Show 5th March

We will be taking all Year 9 students to the Skills Show during the school day this year. The Bucks Skills Show is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to meet with over 100 exhibitors at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. Whether your child is interested in vocational training, academic routes, or is unsure where to start, this event offers invaluable insights into the world of work.

Why Attend?

Sports Results

It has been another busy and exciting week of sport, with our teams competing across football, basketball, badminton, and netball. The week kicked off in style on Monday with a football double-header against Waddesdon. The Year 10 team secured a solid 3-0 victory, while the Year 8s came out on top in a thrilling, high-scoring encounter, winning 5-3. On Tuesday, the Year 9 team played a tight match against Waddesdon, unfortunately falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat despite a standout performance from Toby, who was named Player of the Match. On Wednesday,  the U18s just missed out in a close 3-2 loss to Waddesdon.

On the court, the U14 basketball team faced a strong AGS side on Tuesday, battling hard in a 66-33 loss. Wednesday brought fantastic news from the badminton courts, where both the U13 and U15 Boys teams secured victories against RGSHW, completing a clean sweep for the school! To finish the week, the Year 8 netball teams hosted Royal Latin on Thursday. It was a successful outing for the A-Team, who edged a close game 12-10, with Libby earning Player of the Match. The B-Team faced difficult opponents, losing 7-1, but showed great resilience, with Rose selected as Player of the Match.

Sparx Maths Update

We continue to see incredible dedication in Maths, with the total learning time now breaking the 10,000-hour barrier!

• Total Questions Answered Correctly: 893,663
• Total Hours Spent Learning: 10,260 hours
• XP Progress: 430 students (nearly half the school) moved up an XP level this week.

Praise this week goes to:

• Highest Completion: 7y/Ma2 (97%)
• Biggest Improvement: 8y/Ma4 (+20% increase in completion)
• Highest Average XP: 9wx/Ma4

Sparx Science Update

As with last week, Year 11 data remains excluded while students focus on their mock exams. Elsewhere, we have seen some positive increases in engagement from Years 8 and 10, though we are encouraging Years 7 and 9 to push for those higher completion rates next week.

Participation by Year Group:

• Year 7: 74% (Down 5%)
• Year 8: 71% (Up 2%)
• Year 9: 61% (Down 6%)
• Year 10: 53% (Up 4%)

The Top 6 Science Classes this week are:

1. 7y/Sc1 (87%)
2. 9yz/Sc1 (87%)
3. 8y/Sc2 (87%)
4. 7w/Sc2 (84%)
5. 8y/Sc1 (83%)
6. 9wx/Sc1 (83%)

Buckinghamshire Family Learning: SEND Support Workshops

Please find below details of upcoming workshops delivered by Buckinghamshire Family Learning. These sessions are designed to provide parents and carers with practical advice and strategies to support neurodiverse children at home.

Support Your Child with ADHD at Home

• Date: Wednesday 25th February
• Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
• Course Code: FMAC135 ADHD course link

This course offers practical strategies for supporting children with ADHD in the home environment. It will help you understand ADHD characteristics and guide you in creating a supportive setting for your child. The workshop also provides resources and signposting to further information.

Support Your Child with Autism at Home

• Date: Tuesday 3rd March
• Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
• Course Code: FMAC134 Autism course link 

This course is designed to help parents and carers understand the needs of children with autism, focusing on practical ways to adapt the home environment and build positive strategies for support.

Unifrog Apprenticeship Fair

On Wednesday 11th February between 4pm -6pm students have the opportunity to explore their future career options as Unifrog is hosting a virtual Apprenticeship Fair. This event is designed to help students discover new opportunities, attend live information sessions, and chat one-on-one with industry experts to get top tips on finding and successfully applying for apprenticeships. Whether students are just beginning to understand what an apprenticeship entails, or are ready to learn what it is like to work in specific industries, this fair is an excellent way to get questions answered directly by the experts. Parents, carers and teachers are also very welcome to attend. Sign up here 

Live session schedule

• How to use AI successfully in applications | 4:30 PM - 4:50 PM
• Day in the life: education | 4:30 PM - 4:50 PM
• Degree apprenticeships | 4:30 PM - 4:50 PM
• Everything you need to know about apprenticeships | 4:30 PM - 4:50 PM
• How to ace your written application | 4:30 PM - 4:50 PM
• How to ace interviews and assessment centres | 5:00 PM - 5:20 PM