Welcome to our second to last week of this short term. There is much to celebrate from a super busy week last week, and over the weekend! Following a visit from the Mobile Planetarium last week as part of Science Week (more on that below), we were delighted to receive some lovely feedback from their team, who praised the outstanding conduct, manners, and engagement of our students. We are incredibly proud to say that this is not a one-off occurrence. We regularly receive feedback from visitors to the school and members of the public who meet our students on trips, telling us how brilliant their behaviour and attitudes are. They tell us that this level of respect and maturity is not something they see in all schools! This is a true reflection of the wonderful, supportive community we have within and beyond TCS. We know this consistent praise of our young people is the result of parents, carers, and families working in close partnership with the school to help them develop themselves. Through personalised support, high expectations, and a culture of respect and understanding, our students can embrace challenges with confidence. We encourage them to aspire to reach their full potential, nurturing their ambitions in a safe and supportive setting. Building these strong foundations ensures that, together, we enable every student to succeed, both in school and beyond, as resilient, compassionate, and responsible citizens through equity of opportunity. Thank you for your continued support in helping our young people become such positive forces for good as they shape their futures.

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.

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.

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.

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.