Tomorrow, our STEAM trips are heading off for some fun at Legoland, Thorpe Park, and Chessington. Meanwhile, our Year 12 students will have a fantastic day of interviews and career support with external organisations, all designed to prepare them for life beyond sixth form.

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Last day of term

A reminder that on the last day of term, Wednesday 23rd July, students are welcome to come to school in their own clothes for a non-uniform day. This non-uniform day is being held in exchange for a voluntary donation, with all proceeds going to the Friends of Cottesloe. The Friends of Cottesloe are a fantastic group of volunteers who work hard to raise money for various initiatives and resources that directly benefit the students attending our school. Your support makes a real difference to the school community. For information about FoC and how they help the school, click here: Friends of Cottesloe To make a donation, please use the following link: http://bit.ly/TCSNonUniform

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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 recently, delving into local history on their History Walks. 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. I had the pleasure of joining part of a walk with Mr. Herman's group learnt about the famous visitors to the Cock Inn on the High Street over the years, that a clergyman who made his fortune via illegal means and that at the end of the High Street  are the earthwork remains of a late 11th/early 12th-century Norman motte-and-bailey castle. A huge thank you goes to the entire History team: Miss Hawkes, Mr Herman, Mr Powell, and Mr Passaro. 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's brilliant  to see our students connect with their local heritage in such a hands-on way!

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Sixth Form Transport

I wrote to you recently about challenges facing new Year 12 and 13 students and transport to school. I am pleased to share that we have been able to secure transport via a local coach company and a school minibus. The sixth form team will be in touch with families about the next steps to book a seat, and to that end, we’re currently advertising for a minibus driver. The role can be combined with caretaking responsibilities for a full-time post, or it might suit someone who would prefer to just do the driving role. For more details, see the advert on our website: Join Our Team 

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End of the year

School finishes at 1pm on Wednesday 23rd July. School transport will collect students from the coach park at 1pm. Please support us in ensuring all students are able to get away promptly so that we are also able to send our staff on their well-deserved holiday. Thank you.

Start of 2025-2026 - important dates For 2025-2026 term dates please see here: Parents Term Dates School opens for staff training days on Wednesday 3rd September and Thursday 4th September.  

• Friday 5th September 2025 - Years 7, Year 11 and Year 12 only WEEK 2
• Monday 8th September 2025 All year groups WEEK 1

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Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

Over the holidays: Kooth and Qwell In case students need support over the holidays, a reminder that Kooth.com 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 has a range of resources to help families support young people's mental health and wellbeing In addition to Kooth, adults in Buckinghamshire will have round-the-clock, free access to mental health resources through a new online platform, Qwell. This new digital mental health support tool offers a safe and anonymous space for individuals to seek help and support. Available at explore.qwell.io/bucks/  Qwell provides a safe, anonymous space for adults  18+. 

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RSE at home free webinars

We're pleased to share a fantastic, free opportunity for parents and carers looking to deepen their children's understanding of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) at home. Brook, a leading expert in the field, is offering a series of 30-minute online webinars specifically designed to support you in these important conversations. School RSE focuses on the facts, the law and the expectations of the school and wider community, Brook's "RSE at Home" webinars provide a unique chance to discuss your family's personal values and beliefs. These sessions, led by Brook's experienced staff, offer practical guidance on how to approach sensitive topics like consent, online safety, and healthy relationships within your own family context. They can help you feel more confident in addressing these subjects and using real-life examples relevant to your child Click here for more details and to sign up:  RSE @ Home with Brook - 2025/26 | Sexual Health Bucks 

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Year 12

Congratulations to the Gold DofE students who completed their expedition this week in Mid-Wales, without the sunshine we had in Bucks. Careers Mock Interview day takes place on Tuesday this week.

Year 9

Tuesday trip 7:45am-7:30pm Chessington. 

Year 8

Tuesday trip 7:45am – 7:00pm Thorpe Park 

Year 7

Tuesday trip 8am-6:30pm Legoland

Year 6

Uniform Sale Collection today between 3:30pm and 6pm. 

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Thank you to all of you for your incredible support this year. The Cottesloe School is truly a wonderful place to work and learn, and 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