Monday 28th September | Head of School Letter
It has been another vibrant and action-packed week at school, with our students engaging in a wide variety of opportunities alongside classroom learning. From welcoming prospective families during our Open Mornings to celebrating creative talent at our Arts Award certificate presentation and waving off our Silver Duke of Edinburgh cohort on their expedition to Devon, the school has been buzzing!
Home/School Agreement
We know that when families and school work closely together, our students flourish. Our commitment to your child’s growth is built on a genuine, supportive partnership between home and staff. Guided by our school values Prepare, Aspire, Succeed we aim to nurture every step of your child’s Cottesloe Journey, helping them develop the skills, habits, and confidence they need to thrive. To support this, our agreement outlines clear, mutual expectations around key areas such as attendance, uniform, independent learning, and respectful communication. Please read the full TCS Home to School Agreement so we can continue building a positive, encouraging environment together.
What is a Home-School Agreement?
A strong partnership between home and school is essential for a student's academic and personal success. While specific policies set our daily expectations, the heart of this relationship lies in collaboration, mutual respect, and shared ambition. At The Cottesloe School, we are committed to fostering a supportive learning environment where every child can thrive. This agreement outlines our shared commitment to:
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Valuing Hard Work and Achievement: Encouraging students to strive for excellence in all their endeavours.
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Promoting Participation and Commitment: Empowering students to actively engage in their learning and take ownership of their education.
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Building Strong Relationships: Maintaining open and honest communication with parents and carers, addressing concerns promptly, and celebrating successes together.
The greatest success comes when everyone involved contributes and learns together. We look forward to working alongside you to empower all of our students to succeed.
Year 6 into 7 Open Events
We’re looking forward to welcoming more families to school this week for the final two open morning sessions, following three successful sessions last week. I want to share feedback from a parent who visited us last week:
I was one of the Year 6 parents who attended your open event for prospective pupils today and wanted to thank you for what was a well-organised and informative morning. The email communications prior to the event and the efficient management of the car park on arrival made a strong first impression. It was evident from the beginning that a considerable amount of planning had gone into ensuring families felt welcomed.
Our tour guide, Josh, did an excellent job of showing us the school and its wonderful facilities. He was a great ambassador for Cottesloe, answering our many questions with honesty, positivity and clarity. I was particularly struck by the maturity he demonstrated in adapting his communication between the adults and children in our group. I am also very appreciative of the staff and pupils whose lessons we briefly interrupted during our tour. Their patience and understanding enabled us to gain a genuine feel for the school environment. Thank you for enabling us to see your school in action!
Meet the Tutor Evening – Wednesday 30th September
A reminder that our online Meet the Tutor Evening takes place this Wednesday, 30th September, for parents and carers of students in Years 7, 8, 9, 11, and 13. These five-minute online appointments with your child’s form tutor provide a valuable opportunity to discuss how they have settled into the new academic year, celebrate early successes, and address any initial concerns. If you require a longer conversation, please email the tutor directly to arrange a follow-up. If you have not yet booked an appointment through the Parents Evening System, please contact the school office. Details of subject-specific parents' evenings are available on the website: Parents Evening.
Year 10 Progress Evening – Wednesday 30th September
Also taking place this Wednesday, Year 10 families are invited into school to meet with a senior leader or a member of the Pastoral team. These in-person discussions will focus on your child’s start to Year 10, as well as their long-term goals and aspirations beyond Year 11. Appointment times have already been emailed home. If you have not yet received your time, please contact us via email: office@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk. We look forward to welcoming you in person.
Year 12 Transition Evening – Tuesday 6th October
Year 12 students do not have online Meet the Tutor appointments. Instead, Year 12 families are invited to attend our face-to-face Transition Evening in the School Hall at 6:00 PM on Tuesday 6th October. Mrs Smith and Mr Youngs will share essential guidance to ensure your child is fully supported over the next two years as they work toward their post-18 aspirations. A detailed letter regarding this event has already been sent to parents.
TCS Performing Arts: Oliver! Stage Set – Can You Help Us Build London Bridge?
Preparations are officially underway for our upcoming TCS Performing Arts Department production of Oliver!, scheduled for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th December. To bring Victorian London to life, our set design features an ambitious 'London Bridge' built over our main stage. To make this vision a reality for our cast and crew, we are looking to borrow scaffolding from October through the end of the show run on 4th December. If you are a parent, carer, or local business owner in trades or construction who could lend us the necessary equipment, we would love to partner with you! In exchange for your support, we are delighted to offer:
- 8 free tickets to a performance night of your choice
- Free full-page advertising in our official show programme
- Promotional shoutouts across our school social media channels
If you can assist or have connections to a local company that might be willing to support our students, please contact the TCS Performing Arts Department at jmayhew@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk Thank you for helping us make our Oliver! dream come true, consider yourself one of us!
Wear Yellow: Supporting World Mental Health Day
On Friday 9th October, our school will be recognising World Mental Health Day by proudly supporting YoungMinds, a leading UK charity dedicated to the mental health and emotional well-being of young people. Currently, more than one in four young people are struggling with a probable mental health condition, and many lack access to necessary support. We invite all students to participate in our 'Hello Yellow' day by wearing one item of yellow clothing along with their usual school uniform on 10th October. By raising awareness and funds, we send a powerful message to young people that they are not alone. A letter has been sent home about the bake sale and how to make donations via the MCAS app.
Sport Results
It was a challenging week on the pitch for our football teams, but true athletic character is built from testing ourselves against strong opposition and learning from every fixture. On Monday, our Year 8 boys put in a determined effort against a clinical Hazeley side, falling 5-1 despite showing great spirit and moments of excellent teamwork. Midweek proved equally demanding for our U18s against a formidable SHFGS team in a 13-1 defeat; nevertheless, our senior players showed commendable grit, keeping their heads high and supporting each other right through to the final whistle. Whilst defeats can be tough, these matches provide vital stepping stones. Our teams are already using these experiences to prepare with greater focus in training, hold fast to their high aspirations, and build the resilience that ultimately leads to long-term success. We are proud of their attitude and look forward to seeing them bounce back in their next fixtures.
Vacancy
We’re advertising for an English Teacher (Maternity cover) for a January 2027 start, please share amongst friends and colleagues so we can recruit a really brilliant colleague to join our outstanding English department. The advert is here: Teacher of English - Maternity Cover at The Cottesloe School
Events at School This Week (Curriculum Week 2)
Assemblies this week will be led by Mrs Milton, Curriculum Leader for MFL, on the theme of 'Languages Unite' to celebrate European Languages Day.
Monday 28th September
- Year 7 Assembly
- Year 8 Boys Football: National Cup fixture vs. Ashlyns at home (3:15pm – 5pm)
- Performing Arts Trip: Hans Zimmer concert, Waterside Theatre (evening)
Tuesday 29th September
- Year 8 Assembly
- Whole School: Routine Lockdown Practice during Period 3
- Year 8 Netball: Away fixture vs. John Colet (3:15pm – 5pm)
Wednesday 30th September
- Year 9 Assembly
- U18 Football: Away fixture vs. Amersham (2pm – 4pm)
- Years 7, 8, 9, 11 & 13: Online Meet the Tutor Evening (4pm – 7pm)
- Year 10: In-person Progress Evening in school (4pm – 7pm)
Thursday 1st October
- Year 10 Assembly
- Year 12: Team Talk Event taking place all day
- U16 Girls Football: Home fixture vs. Denbigh (3:15pm – 5pm)
Friday 2nd October
- Sixth Form Assembly
- Year 11 Assembly: Guidance on Mock Exam Procedures
Have a super week, and if you’re attending one of our open events this week with your Year 6 child, I look forward to meeting you - you are very welcome. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.
Best wishes,
Louise Baldwin, Head of School