10th February 2025 | Head of School Letter
One week to go until the half-term break and there continues to be lots happening both in and beyond the classrooms at The Cottesloe School.
County Cross Country Success!
We are celebrating not one but two County Cross Country champions from The Cottesloe School! A team of eight students represented the school at the meet held at Stowe School, with the entire team delivering outstanding performances. The results speak for themselves: in the Minor girls' 2km race (for students in years 6 and 7), Poppy stormed to victory in 9:12, Lottie secured an impressive 4th place in 9:30, and Freya also ran strongly, finishing 16th in 10:04 out of 111 competitors.
Leo competed in the Minor boys' 2km race (Years 6 and 7), finishing in 11:39. Josh ran a solid race in the Junior boys' 4km event (years 8 and 9), finishing in 19:17. Digby completed the challenging 6km Inter boys' course (years 10 and 11) in 22:41. In the Inter girls' 4km race (years 10 and 11), Olive achieved a phenomenal 1st place in 17:31, an especially remarkable feat given she is in Year 10 - the youngest year of the Inter category - and was competing against Senior girls as well. Sophie also ran well in this race, finishing in 22:30.
All the students were a credit to the school, and the times achieved are truly impressive given the distances. As a comparison, 32-33 minutes is the average parkrun finish time in the UK for men and women, when including all ages and genders. Huge congratulations to Poppy, Lottie, and Olive, who have all qualified for the prestigious England Schools National Cross Country Championships next month. We can’t wait to find out how they get on.
Assembly Theme
Safer Internet Day Mr. Clawson is leading assemblies as Safer Internet Day 2025 takes place on 11th February. This year's theme, "Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online," highlights a critical issue for young people. The assemblies will address the prevalence of online scams, equipping students with the knowledge and resources they need to stay safe. Discussions will also cover the impact of evolving technologies, such as generative AI, on online scams, as well as the roles of government and the internet industry in tackling this growing threat. To find out how you can help your child navigate the internet safely, as they grow older, please click here: Safer Internet Day 2025
Year 11 Assessments
Year 11 are now heading into the time of year where the non-examined assessments that contribute to their final GCSE grades are taking place. Well done to all of them for stepping up. GCSE Music students have been recording their practical Music performances which make up 30% of the final grade - Amalie told me she was really pleased with the way her performance went on Thursday morning. Thanks to Mrs Pinto for helping calm students’ nerves so they perform to their very best.
Year 11 Hospitality and Catering students showcased their culinary talents on Thursday and Friday last week, undertaking their practical assessments across two busy days. Even when faced with some mishaps and the challenge of time pressures, the students remained unfazed. A delicious array of savoury dishes filled the kitchen, from comforting cottage pie to vibrant pasta and garlic bread, risotto, and crispy chicken goujons. Fish pie and expertly filleted fish, spiced curries with naan bread and tear-n-share bread were amongst the impressive range of savoury offerings prepared by the students.
Following these main courses, the students displayed their baking prowess, creating apple crumbles, Victoria sponge, and decadent brownies. The lemon drizzle cakes were a particular highlight, with Archie and Cobby’s versions being especially outstanding. Some desserts were served with homemade custard, while others were accompanied by vanilla cream and fresh strawberries as a garnish. Staff members had the enjoyable task of sampling these creations, providing valuable feedback that the students will use to inform their upcoming written assessments. A huge thank you to Dr. Jera, Mrs. Makin, and Mrs. Grant for their hard work in preparing the students and for their support during the assessments.
Broken bones and other mobility injuries
Accidents happen, often at the weekend or during a midweek evening sports fixture/training session and students return to school with a plaster cast, boot and/or crutches. In order for us to ensure that we can support the student appropriately, for example, change class location for those on crutches who can’t walk upstairs, please email office@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk and we will ensure the information is passed on to all the right people.
Sports Fixtures and Results
It was another busy week of sporting action for Cottesloe School, with a range of successes and valuable experiences across various disciplines. Starting the week strong, our Under 13s Basketball team secured a convincing 40-22 victory at home against Princes Risborough. Unfortunately, our U15 Boys Football team's County Cup run came to an end despite a valiant effort in a 4-3 quarter-final loss away to John Hampden. Our U13 Badminton players enjoyed a successful day at home against Sir Thomas Fremantle, with both the boys' and girls' teams recording wins.
Following Wednesday’s success at the County Cross Country Championships at Stowe School, the U13 Badminton teams faced Kingsbrook, with the girls emerging victorious and the boys narrowly missing out. The U15 Badminton matches against Kingsbrook produced a similar split, with the boys winning and the girls losing.
On Thursday, our Year 7 (B team) Netball squad faced a tough challenge away to Princes Risborough, unfortunately losing 14-0. Despite the result, Imogen was awarded Player of the Match for her efforts. A highlight of the week was the Year 11 Boys Football team's thrilling 3-2 victory at home against Royal Latin. Congratulations to all our students who represented the school this week. Whether victorious or not, their commitment and sportsmanship are commendable.
Design and Technology Tournament Students from across the year groups will be attending the Rotary Club Tournament today with Mrs Hankin. Historically, we have performed well at this tournament, so fingers crossed we are as successful this year. Good luck to the teams!
KS4 History and Philosophy and Ethics
On Tuesday, from 6-7pm in the main hall, we invite you to the Auschwitz Reflections Evening. Students will share their powerful experiences from their recent trip to Poland, offering unique perspectives through a variety of mediums, including poetry, written accounts, and artwork. This evening promises to be a moving and thought-provoking event; all are welcome to attend.
KS4 and KS5 Art Students will be visiting the Tate Britain gallery on Tuesday this week to provide inspiration for their forthcoming exams.
Year 9
Online Options Forms need to be submitted by Wednesday 12th February, please get in touch if you need any guidance around making the right choices for your child.
Year 7
Sign to Sing, the focus of Year 7 Music lessons this half-term, will culminate in a musical performance during PSHCE this week. Puppies from Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, along with their handlers, will be in school on Tuesday to visit the performance.
Have a great week, and an enjoyable half-term break when it arrives, whatever plans you may have. Thank you, as always, for your support.
Best wishes, Louise Baldwin
Head of School