24th March 2025 | Head of School Letter
It was another busy week at The Cottesloe School last week.
Two groups of Bronze Duke of Edinburgh participants went out on practice days in the Chilterns, putting up tents, using the cooking stoves and navigating using map and compass in preparation for their practice and assessment expeditions later in the year. Also out and about have been the Year 12 Geographers who spent three days/two nights in Dorset, seeing for themselves some of the coastal landscapes they’ve learnt about in the classroom. From the photos, the weather was kind and the scenery of Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove stunning! Thanks to Mr Pye, Mr Youngs and Mrs Knightley for giving up their weekends to support the students’ learning.
We had a number of external speakers visit us last week to support our Careers curriculum. We welcomed a farmer who spoke to Year 7 about what farming is like as a career, explaining the contribution agriculture plays in everyday life and why protecting farming is so important. We also welcomed an Engineer to talk to Year 9, Year 10 Triple Science students and Year 12 Physics students.
Red Nose Day
On Friday was a huge success - lots of students and staff wore something red along with the cake sale, which was so popular that all the cakes sold out in fifteen minutes! Thanks to everyone who contributed - we raised £217 from the cake sale and activities. Still to be added to make the final total are the contributions via ParentPay from those who wore something red.
Nicotine Pouches and Vaping
This afternoon, our Year 9 students will be attending a powerful drama performance titled "Hooked," delivered by 'Performance in Education.' This production, developed with guidance from Public Health Specialists and the NHS, aims to address the growing concern of vaping and nicotine addiction amongst young people. Through hard-hitting drama and emotional engagement, "Hooked" explores the potential consequences of peer pressure, risk-taking behaviour, and short-term decision-making, positively challenging attitudes towards these harmful substances.
In addition to this educational initiative, we are addressing the serious issue of 'snus' and nicotine pouch use amongst teenagers. These products, while distinct, both contain nicotine and pose significant health risks, especially to developing adolescents. We have observed an increase in their use, influenced by media and social media trends. To provide you with comprehensive information on the risks, legal status, and our school's approach, including sanctions for possession or use on school grounds, a separate letter will be sent home today. We urge parents to read this letter carefully and engage in open conversations with their children about the dangers of these products.
Paleobiology Talk
On Tuesday, A-Level Biologists and Triple Scientists will hear from Professor Simon Conway-Morris, Professor of Paleobiology at Cambridge University (Life Fellow of St John’s College), fellow of the Royal Society, and one of the fathers of convergent evolution. As an A-Level Biology teacher, I am very excited to attend this talk. We teach about convergent evolution in Module 4 of A-Level Biology. When unrelated animals face similar environmental challenges, they can independently evolve comparable features. This process, known as convergent evolution, is evident in the golden mole from Africa and the marsupial mole from Australia. Despite belonging to different evolutionary groups, both have adapted to a subterranean lifestyle, resulting in shared traits like strong digging claws, reduced eyes, and streamlined bodies. This demonstrates how similar living conditions can lead to the development of similar physical characteristics in distinct species.
More National Cross Country Success!
We are delighted to report on the outstanding achievements of Poppy and Lottie in the Year 7 National Cross Country Championships that took place at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on Saturday. Facing a challenging 3km course with gradual hills and numerous twists and turns, both girls demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill against 135 of the nation's top young athletes.
Both girls ran very well with Poppy delivering an exceptional performance, finishing 24th overall and leading the Bucks Swans team with a time of 11 minutes and 38 seconds. Lottie also ran strongly, completing the course in 12 minutes and 12 seconds, securing 61st place and contributing significantly to the Bucks Swans' impressive 4th place finish in the team results. Their dedication and hard work have paid off, and we congratulate them both on their fantastic achievements! These results are a testament to their talent and commitment, and we are incredibly proud of their representation of our school and the Bucks Swans team.
Sports Fixtures and Results
This week saw a mix of results across our sports teams, with a particular highlight being the exceptional performance of our Under 18s boys football team in the County Plate Final against Denbigh. Despite a narrow 2-1 loss, our team demonstrated outstanding determination and skill, especially considering Denbigh's status as an academy side with daily training. Even without our key striker, the boys matched their opponents in every aspect of the game, and a controversial penalty ultimately decided the outcome. Mr. Loveday and Mr List were incredibly proud of their performance and attitude throughout the match.
In other results, our Year 8 boys football team hosted Sir Thomas Fremantle, while our Under 13 and Under 15 badminton teams travelled to John Colet. The Under 13 boys and girls both secured victories, showcasing their talent and teamwork. Unfortunately, the Under 15 boys and girls faced tough opposition and were defeated. The scheduled Under 13 and 15 girls' football fixtures against Buckingham School were cancelled, resulting in walkover victories for our girls.
Looking ahead, next week promises to be a busy one, with netball tournaments, the final badminton fixtures, and three of our boys' football teams (Years 7, 8, and 11) competing in the semi-finals of the Aylesbury Vale District League. Good luck teams!
Vacancies The closing date for our current teaching position adverts is 27/03/25:
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Teacher of Business and Economics
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Teacher of Maths
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Teacher of Design and Technology (Product Design specialist)
Information of how to apply is available via our website: Join Our Team or directly via the MyNewTerm website: The Cottesloe School, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire | Teaching Jobs & Education Jobs | MyNewTerm
Year 13
A-Level English Language trip to the British Library on Tuesday
Year 12
Parents Evening is planned for Thursday this week
Year 11
GCSE Geography Paper 3 Pre-release material masterclasses this Tuesday
Year 9
’Hooked’ - Vaping and Nicotine addiction performance this afternoon
Year 8
Outward Bounds Trip to Aberdovey from Monday to Friday this week, with Mr Curtis, Mrs Hutley and Mr Jones.
Have an excellent week, and thank you for your ongoing support for our school community.
Best wishes,
Louise Baldwin
Head of School