Last week was a full-on week at The Cottesloe School, and I have been incredibly impressed by how our students have lived out our core values of Prepare, Aspire, and Succeed. Our Year 13 students showed great focus and resilience as they sat their mock exams, while our Year 12 students looked toward their future goals during an inspiring trip to the NEC for 'What University? Live'.
Welcome back to the second half of the Spring term. I hope that all of our students and their families enjoyed a restful and restorative half-term break – even if the weather meant you couldn’t get out and about as much as you’d have liked. As we return to school, we continue through a significant time of year for members of our community, with the holy month of Ramadan and the season of Lent both having begun last week. For families of all faiths and none, the approaching transition into Spring is a wonderful time for renewed focus, quiet reflection, and giving back to others. These shared values of empathy, discipline, and community spirit are central to everything we encourage and respect at The Cottesloe School. I would like to wish a peaceful Ramadan Mubarak and a meaningful Lent to all those observing, and a very positive half-term ahead to our whole school community.
As we begin the last week of this half-term, I have been reflecting on just how much we have packed into the last few weeks. It has been wonderful to see that, despite the rainy February weather, the school remains full of energy, with a strong focus on fostering Healthy Relationships across our community.
As we move into February, navigating the inevitable mix of rain and fluctuating temperatures, it has been great to spot the first green shoots of bulbs emerging across the school grounds. These small signs of resilience serve as a reminder that Spring is just around the corner, carrying with it a renewed sense of hope and positivity. This spirit of forward-looking preparation has been reflected in our year groups over the past week. Year 11 have displayed commendable focus as they near the completion of their second round of mock exams, while Year 9 are currently in the thick of the decision-making process for their Key Stage 4 Options. Looking ahead to after half-term, the baton will pass to Year 8, who will begin to consider which creative subjects they wish to pursue for their Year 9 Choices.
Reflecting on last week, it was a period of purposeful activity at The Cottesloe School, centred on our core values of Prepare, Aspire, and Succeed. Our Year 11 students have now begun their mock examinations; seeing them settle into the hall with such focus was a reminder that success is built on rigorous preparation. We saw that same dedication during Thursday’s KS4 Options Evening. It was excellent to see so many Year 9 families engaging with the decisions that shape a young person’s future. By taking the time to explore GCSE and vocational pathways, our students are setting their aspirations and ensuring they have a solid foundation for the years ahead.
Today is often labelled ‘Blue Monday’ - supposedly the gloomiest day of the year. While social media might suggest January is a month to simply endure, my own experience is a little different as January is a month of birthdays in my house, so the mid-winter gloom is usually offset by celebration and cake. It is a helpful reminder that there can be more to this month than the ‘depressing’ narrative suggests.
We had a brilliant week last week, welcoming all year groups into 2026. The weather certainly kept us on our toes last week, as Storm Goretti made its way across the UK. As a reminder, please ensure your child comes to school with a warm winter coat. With the school site being so exposed to the wind, a proper coat is essential. Please remember that coats should be worn over blazers, and hoodies or other jumpers are not part of the school uniform and should not be worn as a substitute.
Welcome back and Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas break and are ready for all of the opportunities that 2026 will bring. At The Cottesloe School, we are committed to providing the support and challenge necessary for every student to Prepare, Aspire, and Succeed. We look forward to working closely with you throughout this term to ensure your child reaches their full potential.
We’re a third of the way through the academic year, and I’d like to say thank you to you as families for your continued support throughout your child's Cottesloe journey this term. Your active involvement is so important, from assisting with independent learning to collecting children after sports fixtures, trips and after-school clubs and activities, engaging with parents’ evenings, attending drama and music concerts, and supporting in so many other ways to help your own child make progress.
It was an incredible week last week with three sell-out shows from our students for the school's production of High School Musical! After months of preparation, the cast and crew delivered three outstanding performances.
While the cold weather might have settled in last week, the atmosphere inside the school was anything but chilly, with lots of exciting learning and high-level extra and supra-curricular opportunities taking place across the year groups.
Winter arrived last week, delivering a mix of crisp cold, snow, and heavy rain. It's been great to see how prepared our students have been, with coats and warm clothing in full effect. As the cold sets in, please remind your children to continue dressing warmly. To clarify uniform expectations: V-neck black jumpers can be worn as an additional layer, but not instead of the school blazer. A coat is also an addition to the uniform and not a replacement for the blazer.
