Monday 26th Jan | Head of School Letter
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.
The importance of this mindset was further highlighted by our Performing Arts students, who visited the MK Theatre last week to see Dear England. The play explores Gareth Southgate’s journey, beginning with his penalty miss in 1996 and following his path to leading the England men's team to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, and the finals of both Euro 2020 and 2024. A pivotal part of this narrative is how Southgate transformed the team’s culture by prioritising mutual respect and collective support. He demonstrated that consistent achievement is only possible when a group feels secure and connected, allowing individuals to face immense pressure without the fear of being isolated or overwhelmed.
Although the men's team are still chasing that final trophy, the Lionesses have shown that these high-level goals are achieved by design and through the strength of a unified squad, rather than by chance. This mirrors our own school environment, where we know that students are better equipped to aim high when they feel supported by the community around them. Our GCSE Drama students are continuing this journey of discovery this Friday with a bespoke Dear England workshop in PA3, led by actors from the National Theatre.. My thanks go to Miss Mayhew and the Performing Arts team for providing these opportunities that encourage our students to remain focused and resilient, even when facing significant challenges.
Holocaust Memorial Day
Tomorrow, 27th January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. As a Beacon School for Holocaust Education, I am incredibly proud of our long-standing commitment to ensuring our students develop a meaningful understanding of these events. Through our visits to Auschwitz, Treblinka, and most recently Sachsenhausen, many of our students have had the life-changing opportunity to act as witnesses to history.
On this day, we remember the six million Jewish men, women, and children who were murdered, and the millions more murdered under Nazi persecution. We also commemorate other genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. This year's national theme, 'Bridging Generations', resonates with the school’s mission to connect the testimony of survivors with the young people in our classrooms today. The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, has written to teachers and colleagues who work in schools to reinforce that this work is not merely a matter of historical record, but a vital tool in helping students recognise prejudice and challenge discrimination wherever it appears. We will continue to foster the tolerance and respect that ensure these enduring lessons are never forgotten. For families wishing to explore this further, resources are here: Holocaust Memorial Day.
Final call for the Parent Survey 2026
We have received 154 responses to date; thank you so much to everyone who has already taken the time to share their views. This is a final reminder for parents and carers, particularly those with young people in Years 10 to 13, to contribute. We value your feedback immensely and want to ensure your voices help shape our future planning. The survey will remain open until tomorrow at 3pm. You can access the form via the link sent via the letter.
World Record Attempt: We Need You!
We have an exciting opportunity to write The Cottesloe School into the history books, but we need our students and staff to step up to make it a reality. On 6th March, we are officially attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the largest "Big Fish, Little Fish" dance. The current record stands at 284 people. We know that with the collective spirit of our students and staff, we can comfortably exceed this number. At present, we are at risk of having to cancel the attempt due to a lower-than-expected number of sign-ups. It would be a great shame to miss out on this chance to become official World Record holders. I urge as many students as possible (across all year groups!) to sign up via MCAS (£5 donation per person) The deadline for registering is 31st January. This event is a unique chance for our school community to come together, have fun, and support two fantastic causes: Friends of Cottesloe and The Shark Trust. Let’s show what The Cottesloe School can achieve when we work - and dance - together!
Managing Children’s Digital Lives
The Children’s Commissioner has published an excellent guide titled: What I wish my parents or carers knew: A guide for parents and carers on managing children’s digital lives. This comprehensive resource offers deep insights into navigating the digital world, covering topics such as screen time, artificial intelligence, and how to support children when things go wrong online. It includes practical conversation starters and a helpful ‘actions to take’ checklist to use at home. You can download the guide and an accompanying activity pack here: Guide for parents and carers on managing children's digital lives. I recommend it as a practical tool for supporting your child's digital wellbeing.
Sports Results
Our teams have been back in action this week, and it has been fantastic to see the continued efforts and energy across all year groups. In football, the Year 10 team played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Royal Latin on Monday. On the same day, the U15 Girls travelled to The Cotswold School, where they narrowly missed out in a high-scoring 4-3 loss, with Eden named Player of the Match. The U12 Boys continued their fantastic form on Tuesday with a 6-4 victory against Royal Latin, successfully maintaining their impressive undefeated streak. This was followed on Wednesday by a dominant performance from the U13 Boys, who secured a clinical 10-2 win against Royal Latin. In netball, the U12A team faced a tough Royal Latin side on Monday, which resulted in a 7-2 loss despite a strong performance from Alyssia, the Player of the Match. Meanwhile, the U12B team secured a well-earned 3-3 draw against Royal Latin, with Alayna recognised as Player of the Match.
Sparx Maths Update
We have seen a phenomenal collective effort in Maths this week. A total of 846,664 questions answered correctly so far!
- Total Hours Spent Learning: 9,715 hours
- XP Progression: 484 students reached a new XP level this week
- Highest Completion: 8w/Ma3
- Biggest Improvement: 9yz/Ma2
- Highest Average XP: 11wy/Ma7
The top Sparx XP classes in each year group this week are:
- Year 7: 7y/Ma2
- Year 8: 8y/Ma1
- Year 9: 9yz/Ma1
- Year 10: 10wy/Ma1
- Year 11: 11wy/Ma6
Sparx Science Update Engagement in Science remains steady, although Year 11 data is currently excluded as they rightfully focus their independent study time on revision for their upcoming mock exams. The top 6 Science Classes this week are:
- 8y/Sc1 (93%)
- 7y/Sc1 (90%)
- 9wx/Sc1 (87%)
- 7w/Sc2 (84%)
- 7w/Sc1 (81%)
- 9yz/Sc1 (81%)
Virtual Work Experience
Our Virtual Work Experience page has been updated with new placements for the term, suitable for students in KS3, KS4, and the Sixth Form. These digital opportunities allow students to engage with global firms and live industry briefs from home, helping them build digital fluency and self-motivation; qualities highly valued by both universities and employers. We encourage students to have a look at the latest opportunities via this link: virtual-work-experience
Post-16 SEND Opportunities Showcase
On Thursday 26th February (3:30pm – 6:00pm), the Buckinghamshire Children & Young People’s Partnership will host a showcase at The Gateway, Aylesbury. This event is for young people from Year 9 upwards who have an active EHCP. Around 14 specialist providers will be available to discuss vocational pathways, supported internships, and personal development programmes in a calm, accessible environment. No registration is required, for more details click here: Post 16 SEND Opportunities Showcase - 26th Feb
Discover NHS Careers Stoke Mandeville Hospital
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is hosting a series of free after-school talks for students in Year 7 and above to explore roles within the healthcare sector. These sessions take place from 5pm – 7pm at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital Lecture Theatre. Booking is essential as tickets are limited. Please visit the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust to book.
- 12th February: Pharmacy
- 12th March: Biomedical Science
- 30th April: Nursing and Midwifery
- 2nd July: Psychology
- 16th July: Medicine
Events happening at school this week
- Assembly Focus: International Education Day
- All week: Year 11 mock exams
- Monday: Year 8 (home) and Year 10 (away) football vs. Waddesdon
- Tuesday: U14 basketball (away) vs. AGS, Year 9 football (away) vs. Waddesdon
- Wednesday: Year 7 football (home) vs. Waddesdon and U13/U15 badminton (home) vs. RGSHW
- Thursday: UWE Geography Workshop for Year 13 Geographers
- Thursday: Year 8 A and B Netball (home) vs. Royal Latin
- Friday: Dear England Workshop for Year 9 and 10 Drama students
Have a wonderful week, and thank you as always for your ongoing support.
Best wishes,
Louise Baldwin
Head of School