Monday 29th June 2026 | Head of School Letter
Reflecting on last week's unprecedented heatwave, I want to start this week's HoS letter by expressing my pride and thanks in how our entire school community responded to such challenging conditions. The Met Office's Red Weather Warning meant moving to half days on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a full site closure on Friday as temperatures remained in the mid 30s. Throughout these disruptions, our community embodied our core values of Prepare, Aspire, Succeed.
It was a week that really tested our resilience, but it also showed exactly what those values look like in practice. Staff and families did a brilliant job adapting to the schedule changes at short notice – which I know can cause real challenges for families, including our own staff with children. Our students showed great maturity; trying to focus on learning in that level of heat was tough! The calm, positive way everyone handled the disruption was an achievement for the whole school.
We know that operational decisions around school closures will always divide opinion, as any approach requires a difficult balance between student safety and lost learning time. Our decision to run half days was based on a careful risk assessment of our school site. Because our buildings are much cooler in the mornings, this compromise allowed valuable face-to-face learning to safely continue.
We are glad to be back to our normal routines and (slightly) cooler weather, and we look forward to a fantastic week ahead. To help everyone stay comfortable as we transition back, we will continue with the relaxed uniform plans; students may wear their school PE kit for the rest of this week.
Assessments This Week
There are a large number of assessments taking place across the school this week – please see the events section at the bottom of this letter for more information. We want to wish the very best of luck to all students taking a test, exam, or other assessment, including:
- Year 12 Mock Exams (continued from last week’s hot weather)
- Science Assessments for Years 7, 8, and 10
- Year 10 MFL Speaking Exams
- Reading Assessments (Year 8)
Please check in with your child to support them with their revision at home.
Sixth Form Induction
Last week, we were delighted to welcome just over 100 prospective Year 12 students for our Sixth Form Induction, across four days. The week started with an inspiring talk from guest speaker I. Stephanie Boyce CBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, who spoke powerfully to our prospective students about how resilience and determination can help them achieve their goals. We hope everyone who attended got a real flavour of life at our Sixth Form - a unique and special community where every student is valued as an individual, and where their journey to adulthood truly matters to us.
A massive well done to the students for battling through the intense heat last week. While it was a shame our planned days had to be cut short due to the weather alerts, the resilience and maturity shown by everyone was incredible. I would like to extend a huge thank you to Mrs Smith, Mrs McMonagle, and Mr Youngs for their incredible efforts in creating such a positive, welcoming, and engaging week for the students despite the disruptions. Thank you also to our Sixth Form teachers who did a brilliant job showcasing their subjects and inspiring students as they consider their next steps beyond GCSE. We hope to welcome as many of them as possible in September, and we wish them all a fantastic summer!
BT Work Ready Careers Morning
On Thursday this week, our morning timetable will adjust slightly as all students from Year 7 to Year 10 participate in the BT Work Ready Event. In an increasingly digital world, there is a growing gap between young people's day-to-day tech usage and the professional digital skills employers are actually looking for. BT Group’s Work Ready programme is designed to bridge this gap, helping students develop the practical, technical, and human-centric skills demanded by a modern career while supporting them as they think about future subject choices. The session will run as an intensive, two-hour virtual bootcamp streamed directly into school, and will include a live Q&A session with BT Group employees, giving our students a unique look into the future of technology and the diverse roles they could play in it. A huge thank you to Mrs Dayton for organising this fantastic opportunity for our students. BT provides a dedicated portal for parents and carers, packed with resources to help you continue these conversations and support your child's digital journey at home, accessed here: BT Work Ready Parents Guide
Chromebook Portal Now Open for All Year Groups
We are committed to preparing our students for a digital world by ensuring everyone has access to 1:1 technology.
Our Student Device Programme is open to all year groups, allowing students to seamlessly access Google Classroom, digital learning resources, and teacher feedback both at school and at home. In partnership with Freedom Tech, we offer an affordable, inclusive parental contribution scheme with flexible payment terms tailored to your child's year group.
Visit the Cottesloe Chromebook Portal to select your child’s year group and order their device today.
Science Lab Refurbishment
Starting today, the Science labs on the old Science corridor will be closed for the remainder of this term as we begin the exciting final phase of our Science block renovation. You may remember that back in December I shared the fantastic news that The Cottesloe School was awarded a significant grant of £54,500 from the Wolfson Foundation to support this project. Following the building of four additional Science labs in the early 2000s, the conversion of an old classroom into our bright, modern S9 lab last year, and updates to three other labs, this funding is now being put into action to completely refurbish our final two traditional labs - S1 and S5. When we return in September, all nine of our science labs will be high-quality, modern facilities. We are grateful to the Wolfson Foundation for their support in helping us provide a state-of-the-art STEM environment, and we look forward to welcoming students into these brilliant new spaces next term.
Sports Results
All fixtures and training sessions were cancelled last week due to the weather.
RISE Summer Holiday Programme (Ages 11–16)
RISE Space has launched 'RISE Summer' - an inclusive holiday programme based in a specialist setting in Aylesbury. It offers a supportive, safe environment with a mix of activities including crafts, baking, gaming, and quiet spaces. All sessions are delivered by a dedicated team experienced in supporting SEND, ensuring individual needs are fully met.
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Dates: July 21st, 23rd, 28th, 30th & August 4th, 6th
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Times: 10:30am – 2:30pm
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Cost: £50 per session (paid in advance)
Places are limited to ensure a supportive environment. To find out more, or to book a place for your young person, please contact Sarah at sarah@risespace.uk.
Free Online Safety & RSE Webinars for Parents
Following feedback from families across Buckinghamshire, the charity Brook is running 'RSE at Home' - a series of free, non-judgmental online sessions designed to help parents and carers support their children safely through the digital world. With the summer holidays approaching, many young people will naturally spend more time on gaming, social media, and group chats. These practical webinars offer guidance on topics such as online safety, digital wellbeing, relationships, and how to have open conversations about life online. The sessions are free, but registration is required via these links:
- Wednesday 29th July (7:00pm – 8:00pm): Click here to register
- Tuesday 11th August (10:00am – 11:00am): Click here to register
- Thursday 20th August (12:00pm – 1:00pm): Click here to register
Buckinghamshire Community Safety Update
The latest Buckinghamshire Community Safety Newsletter is available, with seasonal crime prevention advice, awareness campaigns, and safety tips for local residents as we head into summer. Topics in this edition include:
- Safety advice regarding open water, rivers, and lakes.
- Practical guidance on preventing burglaries while away on holiday.
- How to spot and report rogue traders or unexpected callers.
- Insights into Knife Crime Awareness Week and updates from Thames Valley Police
Events at School this week
It’s a Week 2.
Assemblies Mrs Nicholas is leading assemblies on staying safe in the summer.
Monday 29th June:
- Year 7 Assembly
- Year 10 MFL Speaking Exams
- After School Detention (3:00pm – 4:00pm)
Tuesday 30th June:
- Year 8 Assembly
- Year 10 MFL Speaking Exams
- Year 12 King Lear Trip to Stratford-upon-Avon
- HPV Vaccinations
- Carey Lodge Summer Concert
Wednesday 1st July:
- Year 9 Assembly
- Year 10 Assembly (virtual assembly)
- Year 10 MFL Speaking Exams
- Year 12 Psych Fest Trip to Bucks Uni
- Year 8 w band End of Year Science Exam (Period 2)
- Year 8 y band End of Year Science Exam (Period 5)
- After School Detention (3:00pm – 4:00pm)
- U15 Girls Softball vs Royal Latin (Away)
- Year 13 Prom
Thursday 2nd July:
- Year 7 y band End of Year Science Exam (Period 1)
- Ready to Work - Intro to Digital World of Work for Years 7–10 (Periods 2 & 3)
- Year 10 w band Triple Chemistry End of Year Exam (Period 4)
- Year 7 w band End of Year Science Exam (Period 5)
Friday 3rd July:
- Year 12 Assembly
- Senior Citizens High Tea in the Library
- Year 9 Drama Rehearsal
- Year 10 y band End of Year Science Exam & Triple Physics (Period 1)
- Year 10 w band End of Year Science Exam & Triple Physics (Period 3)
- Reading Assessments for 8y English classes (Period 4)
Have a cooler week! Thank you as always for your support for our brilliant school.
Best wishes,
Louise Baldwin
Head of School