Monday 20th July | Head of School Letter
We’ve nearly completed the academic year, and although it's a shorter week, learning is still happening. Tomorrow, our Rewards trips are heading off for some fun at Legoland, Thorpe Park, and Chessington, and for students in school, there’s an exciting activity day planned. Meanwhile, our Year 12 students will have a fantastic day of interviews and career support with a variety of people from a range of different professions, companies and organisations, designed to help prepare them for life beyond sixth form.
School Uniform Regulations: Compulsory Branded Items
As we look ahead to the new academic year, we want to share an important statutory update regarding school uniforms. From September 2026, all schools must strictly limit the total number of compulsory branded uniform and PE kit items they require pupils to own. This change is a legal requirement under the Education Act 1996 (as amended by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026), designed to ensure school uniforms remain affordable, reasonable, and fair for all families. The law states that if a school offers a choice between two branded items (for example, choosing between a branded skirt or branded trousers), it only counts as one compulsory item toward the overall limit, as a pupil only needs one or the other to be compliant. Our uniform policy (TCS School Uniform) has been updated to align with these new legal guidelines, with the four compulsory branded items below:
- School Blazer
- School Tie
- Black and Gold PE Top (Rugby tops are not compulsory)
- PE Bottoms (Your choice of either the branded shorts or the branded skort)
All other branded PE items and accessories are entirely optional. You can still purchase other branded items of the PE kit, however they are not compulsory; unbranded alternatives are acceptable.
Year 7 History Walks: Exploring Wing's Past!
If you live in or around Wing, you might have spotted our Year 7s out and about in their hi-vis vests last week, delving into local history on their History Walks. These engaging learning experiences were expertly led by members of our History department. Understanding local history is a key part of the Key Stage 3 curriculum, and over two days, all Year 7 classes experienced the rich history of Wing through a fascinating two-hour journey through time. Students learnt about the famous visitors to the Cock Inn on the High Street over the years, discovered how a clergyman made his fortune via illegal means, and explored the earthwork remains of a late 11th/early 12th-century Norman motte-and-bailey castle at the end of the High Street. A huge thank you goes to the entire History team—Miss Hawkes, Mr Herman, Mr Powell, and Mr Fowler—and all the other colleagues who supported these walks. Events like these require considerable planning, including detailed risk assessments and itineraries, to ensure everyone can participate safely and enjoyably. It is brilliant to see our students connect with their local heritage in such a hands-on way!
Race To The Line Challenge
This event is a STEM competition but is also an excellent hands-on journey to develop our youngest students into future innovators, leaders, and collaborative thinkers. Specially designed for our Year 7 students, this project perfectly balances the science of forces and motion with life skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. Demonstrating immense commitment, 32 of our talented Year 7 students (selected by the Mathematics, Science, and Design Technology departments) spent their lunchbreaks over the past few weeks designing, refining, and building their custom race cars. The excitement will peak this afternoon as the teams put their creations to the ultimate test on the tennis courts, in a bid to be crowned the TCS RTL Champions 2026. An event of this scale requires collaboration - thank you goes to Mr Poote and Mr Mudarikiri, as well as the Science, Maths, and DT teams, for their support in championing this cross-curricular event. Please join us in congratulating all of our brilliant young engineers!
End of the year
School finishes at 1pm on Wednesday 22nd July. School transport will collect students from the coach park at 1pm. If you are collecting children by car, please support us in ensuring all students are able to get away promptly so that we are then able to celebrate colleagues who are leaving this term, and then able to send our staff on their well deserved holiday, thank you.
Start of 2026-2027 - important dates
For 2026-2027 term dates please see here: Parents Term Dates School opens for staff training days on Tuesday 1st September and Wednesday 2nd September.
- Thursday 3rd September 2026 Years 7, Year 11 and Year 12 only
- Friday 4th September 2026 All year groups return to school
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support over the holidaysKooth and Qwell
In case students need support over the holidays, a reminder that Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous mental health and wellbeing service commissioned for all young people aged 11-18 in Buckinghamshire (and any student attending a Bucks school, even if they live outside of Bucks). Available without referral or waiting lists until 10pm each night, 365 days per year, it provides a much needed out of hours service for advice and help. This link explains to young people what Kooth can offer, and for parents, please have a look at: Kooth: resources to help families support young people's mental health and wellbeing
In addition to Kooth, adults in Buckinghamshire have round-the-clock, free access to mental health resources through an online platform, Qwell. This digital mental health support tool offers a safe and anonymous space for individuals to seek help and support. Qwell Bucks provides a safe, anonymous space for adults 18+.
Events this week
Monday 20th July
- 8am – 3pm: Year 12 Criminology Trip
- Period 4 & 5: Race to the Line Event on the Tennis Courts
- 3pm – 4pm: After School Detention in room A5
- 3:30pm – 6pm: Year 6 Uniform Sale in the Hall
Tuesday 21st July
- All Day: Year 12 Careers Mock Interviews in the 6th Form area
- 8:30am – 3pm: In-School Challenge Day (Years 7, 8, 9)
- 8:30am – 6:50pm: Year 7 Rewards Day Trip to Legoland
- 8:30am – 8:00pm: Year 8 Rewards Day Trip to Thorpe Park
- 8:30am – 7:25pm: Year 9 Rewards Day Trip to Chessington
Wednesday 22nd July (Last Day of Term)
- Registration: Year 12 Celebration Assembly in the Hall
- Period 1: Year 8 Celebration Assembly in the Hall
- Period 2: Year 7 Celebration Assembly in the Hall
- Period 3: Year 9 Celebration Assembly in the Hall
- 1pm: Term Ends for Summer
Thank you to all of you for your incredible support this year. The Cottesloe School is truly a wonderful place to learn and work. We are immensely proud of everything we've achieved as a community – students, staff, and families – over the last academic year. I hope you have a safe and peaceful summer, doing the things that make you happy, with the people that are most important to you. I’m looking forward to celebrating exam results with some of you in August and welcoming everyone back to school in September.
Best wishes,
Louise Baldwin
Head of School