Cotham School
Weekly Mailing
14 November 2025
Embedded Files
Keep us posted - It would be great if parents/carers could let the school know of any student achievements outside of school. We would like to find out what students are doing in their own time and celebrate their achievements.
Email us: weeklymailing@cotham.bristol.sch.uk
Week commencing Monday 17 November 2025 is Week A
Headteacher's Welcome! 👩🏫
Headteacher's Welcome! 👩🏫
Positive Feedback of the Week 👍
Positive Feedback of the Week 👍
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
We are absolutely thrilled and immensely proud to announce a phenomenal achievement by one of our students!
Lila has been selected as the Runner-up in the highly competitive Year 9–11 Fiction Category of the prestigious Clifton LitFest Young Adult Writing Competition 2025!
The LitFest received an exceptional number of submissions, making this a significant accomplishment. Lila will be honored at the prize-giving event this weekend, where an excerpt from her essay will be read aloud by award-winning actor, Paul McGann.
Please join us in congratulating Lila on this marvelous recognition of her talent and dedication to creative writing!
If you would like to dive into the story that earned her this distinction, simply click below - it's a truly intriguing read.
The Library, they call it!.pdfParent and Carer Calendar 🗓️
Parent and Carer Calendar 🗓️
Announcements 📢
Announcements 📢
Black History Month at Cotham - October 2025
Black History Month at Cotham - October 2025
At Cotham, we celebrate Black History Month every year — not because it’s something we have to do, but because it’s something we believe in. We believe that the achievements, creativity, and contributions of Black and Brown people should never be overlooked or confined to one month. Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to ensure that diversity isn’t just celebrated in October, but woven throughout our curriculum all year round.
We kicked off the month with daily inspirational — short, pre-recorded motivational messages shared over the tannoy by students and staff alike. Each message set a powerful tone for the day, reminding us of the strength found in unity and the importance of every voice in our community. This powerful message was reinforced in the launch of our ‘Seat of Resistance’ A project driven by students to promote unity, diversity and a long lasting legacy.
One of the highlights of the month was the Dugsi Dayz workshop with Sabrina Ali, a talented British-Somali writer and actor from South West London. Students found her workshop both eye-opening and engaging. In addition, our Post-16 students were treated to an inspiring workshop with the incredible I AM 13e, Bristol’s own hip hop and spoken word artist.
We also had the privilege of welcoming back the incredible Malcolm X Elders from the St Pauls community for afternoon tea. This cherished tradition brings generations together to share stories, wisdom, and warmth. The conversations were heartfelt, the connections genuine, and the feedback from both students and elders deeply moving.
To round off the celebrations, we hosted our African, Caribbean and Dual Heritage Celebration — now in its third year! The event was bursting with energy: a live DJ, delicious Caribbean food, vibrant student presentations, keynote speaker Sibusiso Tshabalala. It was a joyful moment for our whole school community — a celebration not only of culture, but of togetherness, pride, and shared history.
At Cotham, Black History Month is more than a series of events — it’s a reflection of who we are: a community that values inclusion, honours heritage, and celebrates every voice.
Non-Fiction November
Non-Fiction November
Non-Fiction November is a celebration for readers with a passion for information and facts, and an attempt to bring non-fiction into the same spotlight as fiction. Its aim to highlight the joy and value of factual reading
Non-fiction for curious children is quietly inspiring the next generation of coders, historians, scientists, engineers, doctors, writers and much much more. Click below to see WHY you should read nonfiction & which nonfiction books we have in the library NOW.
2025 WM NON FICTION INFO AND BOOK DISPLAY .pdfLost Property
Lost Property
We kindly ask that you remind your child to check the Student Reception for any lost coats or uniform items they may be missing.
All unclaimed coats and uniform items are currently being held on hangers at Student Reception. Students simply need to come and ask to check the lost property area.
Please note: Any items that remain unclaimed will be donated to a local charity at the end of Term 2.
We appreciate your support in helping us reunite these items with their owners before the donation deadline.
Many thanks
Chess Results
Chess Results
Cotham played their first chess tournament of the year yesterday at Bristol Grammar School, with a fantastic 12 students taking part in two teams of 6. This was open to students from Year 7-13.
The Cotham A Team came a respectable 11th out of 14 against some very stiff competition (see below), and our B Team came an impressive 8th out of 12. Big shout out to Lucas who won all four of his games in his first ever tournament!
KS3 Parent Information Event
KS3 Parent Information Event
Years 7-9 (KS3) Parent Information Event is being held on Wednesday 19 November between 5.00pm and 6.00pm. This is an in-person event for parents taking place in the main school hall and begins at 5.00pm. Please arrive via the school Visitors Reception on Cotham Lawn Road from 4.45pm. This event will include a presentation from Mrs Khan (Assistant Headteacher). The event is designed to talk you through the year ahead for Key Stage 3 and how you can best support your child through studies at Cotham.
Come Along and Meet our Local Train to Teach Providers!
Come Along and Meet our Local Train to Teach Providers!
Bristol Train to Teach event is taking place at We The Curious, One Millennium Square, Anchor Road, Bristol, BS1 5DB on Monday 24 November 2025 between 4.00 to 7.00pm.
Drop in for an hour to chat with local teacher training providers and hear all about their courses!
There will be experts on hand to answer your questions and give you advice about local school-based and University-led courses, how to make a successful application, what experiences would be useful preparation, qualifications and eligibility, funding and finances, and your next steps on your journey into teaching.
You will also be able to meet some recently qualified teachers and hear about their experiences of training and joining the profession.
The event will provide expert advice on next steps in your journey into teaching, whether you already know which route you would like to follow or are still making up your mind. Please click here to reserve your spot.
Letter to our sons:
Letter to our sons:
Adolescence star Stephen Graham and psychology lecturer Orly Klein are working on a new project inviting fathers to write a letter to their sons about what it means to be a man. Following the impact of Adolescence, Stephen says that he realised there was a greater need for communication between fathers and sons.
The letters will be included in a book called Letters to Our Sons, to be published in October 2026. Information here.
Year Group News 🏫
Year Group News 🏫
Year 7
Year 7
News!
Year 7 were doing a myths and legends unit last term - Greek, African, Celtic mythology. This term they have started the Studio Ghibli unit which is a Japanese film studio who have made lots of great films. They have learnt about the studio, a bit about Japanese culture and about the values that the films share e.g. protecting nature and having empathy for others.
They will also watch the film 'Princess Mononoke' in order to explore how symbolism and representation are used in the film. This is an accessible introduction to analysing how symbolism is used in writing. They are all excited about this unit and can't wait to watch the film.
Shout Outs
Please see the positive shout outs for Year 7:
From Ms Wyles:
Harry for bringing such enthusiasm to the class and being so polite and well-mannered.
Amir for amazing resilience and progress in English - he never lets the fact that English isn't his first language stop him from giving every task a go.
Ruwaidah and Zubaida for always working their hardest (and for having names that sound awesome when you say them together!)
From Mx Wynne: Mo 7GCR has been working really hard in Science and gave a really good definition of Hooke's law - he's been making great notes and I am really proud of his work!
Triple A Award
Congratulations to our 85 students who have achieved the Triple A award this term!
This award recognises students with attendance of 96% or above, high-quality work, and excellent engagement in class.
Well done, Year 7 – we are very proud of your hard work and dedication!
Mrs Arnold
Year 8
Year 8
Update
This term, Year 8 students are beginning a new unit of work titled Practitioners 1, which focuses on the influential theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski. To understand the theatrical world Stanislavski was reacting against, students will first explore Melodrama, developing exaggerated characters and stories. They will then move on to study key elements of Stanislavski’s System, including the Magic If, Given Circumstances, Circles of Attention, and the concept of Believing the Lie. Through practical workshops and performance tasks, students will learn how these techniques help actors create more truthful, realistic performances on stage.
Mr Geoghegan
In tutor groups Year 8 have been discussing what AI means. They have been discussing what they know about it already, what it might be used for and how to use it.
Mr Dunkley and Mrs Dickerson have been stopping by tutor times to have a look at uniform and check-in with regards to Yondr pouch use. Year 8 are doing an amazing job and look very smart. Well done!
Shout Outs
8ac/Fr1 - Students worked hard and put their hands up to participate! What a great atmosphere! Bravo!
Mrs Kennedy
Language Teacher
Congratulations to Lana and Orson for being selected to take part in the Bristol Cross Country finals that took place at Bristol Grammar School on Monday.
Year 8 Trip to Christmas Carol
Thank you to everyone who has bought a ticket. We are still outstanding some consent forms. Please return these as soon as possible to Ms Arnold or Ms Locke. Thank you.
Year 9
Year 9
News!
Since my return, I have been so impressed with the maturity and attitude of Year 9.
We have the lowest number of behaviour points of any year in the school and members of staff are contacting me saying how well Year 9 are getting on.
Thank you all for your input into this as well. I know parents and carers put a lot of work in at home in supporting our students to succeed and it is really showing in how Year 9 conduct themselves around school.
Year 10
Year 10
Busy, Active and Focused
Things remain calm and focused in Year 10 at the moment. Our students are really showing a ‘top of the school’ energy, and it’s powerful to see.
We currently have both a Year 10 tutor football tournament and a 3v3 basketball tournament taking place, alongside a strong schedule of extracurricular clubs. There’s plenty for our Year 10s to get involved in around the school.
Please encourage your child to let me know if there’s anything extra they would like us to look into arranging for them.
Year 11
Year 11
Careers Meetings
Careers meetings continue to be a success across Year 11 with a number of students already having completed their 1:1 sessions. The meetings provide students with an in-depth look at a wide range of opportunities and how to achieve them as we start to think about next steps. If students wish to take part in a meeting, please let the Year Team know.
Shout Outs - Rewards Opportunity
Following a huge number of students working incredibly hard and displaying an amazing amount of commitment towards the start of the academic year and their mock exams, we have launched an in-tutor shout out initiative to recognise student achievements. Every two weeks, students who have received a shout out will enter a raffle style draw to win a reward.
North Bristol Post 16 🚀
North Bristol Post 16 🚀
Update
Update
UCAS deadline approaching
Post 16 STRIDE took place this week- students provided their valuable feedback on experiences of the curriculum, their lessons and life at Post 16.
Year 13 students are finishing their UCAS applications, with the internal deadline of Monday 1 December!
Year 12 Family Consultation Day is on Wednesday 19 November. Students will meet with their tutor, alongside parents/carers, to discuss their progress. Please be on time for your appointment as it will be a busy day for tutors and Post 16 staff.
Subject Announcements 📖 ✏️ 🔢 🧪 🌍 🏛️ 🖥️🧮 🎨 🎭 🎵 🔨 🧑🍳 🏃♂️
Subject Announcements 📖 ✏️ 🔢 🧪 🌍 🏛️ 🖥️🧮 🎨 🎭 🎵 🔨 🧑🍳 🏃♂️
STEAM
STEAM
This Week in Food Science!
Year 7 carefully handled raw chicken for the first time in the food rooms! Learning about food safety and hygiene while practising accurate cutting techniques and the importance of avoiding cross contamination. Using fresh ingredients like colourful peppers, onions and seasoning, the students worked confidently to prepare, cook and assemble their fajitas. The final results were full of flavour, a tasty reward for all their effort and teamwork in the kitchen! Well done Year 7 - Miss Burt
Art of the Week
We are delighted to share details of the thought-provoking art project recently completed by our Year 9 students. This unit challenged them to explore complex local history while developing their skills in graphic design and visual communication.
This week, the Year 9 art students produced artwork in response to Javier Mariscal’s style, reflecting on Bristol’s controversial past and its links to the slave trade.
Bristol Education Partnership 🤝
Bristol Education Partnership 🤝
Update
Update
This week Mrs Griffin met with colleagues from across the BEP to discuss the continuing professional development on offer through the partnership. We aim to build collaborative staff networks to share best practice, find solutions to common problems, and inspire. We are developing cross-school networking opportunities for staff to learn with and from each other, identifying future education leaders and collectively providing opportunities to develop their career and skills.
Careers 💼
Careers 💼
Update
Update
Career of the Week...... is WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR
Could this be a career for your child?
Watch the video for more information
Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11 have completed their Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) this week in PSHE to help identify their current skills, strengths and what they might like to do in the future.
House Announcement 🏠
House Announcement 🏠
News
News
Sudan Bake Sale
Mrs Ahmad and Mrs Forbes will be holding a bake sale in the Hub on Tuesday 18 November to raise money for Sudan and the ongoing Humanitarian crisis there.
We will be selling warm Pain Au Chocolates for £1 each and every penny raised will be donated to Sudan's emergency appeal.
Don't forget to bring in cash for a delicious warm treat on a cold Autumn's day.
Sigma House Points
Well done Sigma House!! We are currently in the lead with House Points again this year. I know how hard you are all working, and this is being reflected in the number of House Points we are receiving. Keep it up, even as the days get colder and darker!
Mrs Ahmad
Literacy 📖
Literacy 📖
KS3
KS3
Word of the Week
Word of the Week
Collaborative
Collaborative
'Kuh - lab - uh - ruh - tiv'
Meaning:
Working together to achieve something (adjective).
Example:
Being collaborative can help you to solve problems quicker.
Synonyms:
Collective, shared, cooperative...
KS4
KS4
Word of the Week
Word of the Week
Surplus
Surplus
'Sur-plus'
Meaning:
An amount that is more than needed (noun or adjective, depending on usage)
Example:
There is a surplus of workers and not enough jobs.
Synonyms:
Additional, excess, extra…
Digital Literacy Corner 💻
Digital Literacy Corner 💻
Online Safety Newsletter
Online Safety Newsletter
Please find our latest online safety newsletter attached.
Important Notice:
This newsletter is intended for adults and includes discussions on online safety, including sensitive topics such as the online exploitation of children. Some of this content may be upsetting to both adults and children.
We strongly encourage parents and carers to prepare themselves before reading and to carefully consider which information to share with their child, based on their age and cognitive ability. The language and explanations used may not always be suitable for younger children, so please use your discretion when deciding what is appropriate for your child.
Your awareness and thoughtful approach is vital in ensuring a safe and informed discussion about online safety.
Kind regards
Farhan Ahmed
Digital Strategy Lead
Email: AhmedF@cotham.bristol.sch.uk
Online_Saftey_Newsletter_10.pdfCommunity 🏘️
Community 🏘️
Bristol Families: Fully Funded Winter Holiday Activities
Bristol Families: Fully Funded Winter Holiday Activities
Bookings for the Your Holiday Hub winter clubs are now OPEN!
These free, fully funded holiday activities across Bristol are a great way for children to stay active, socialise, and enjoy a healthy meal during the winter break.
Key Details:
Who is Eligible? The activities are for children of school age who receive Benefit-Related Free School Meals (BRFSM). Please click here.
What's Included? Fun, enriching activities and a free, nutritious meal at every session.
How to Book: Families can browse the full list of activities and book their place online now.
Browse activities and book online here:
Please check your family's eligibility and share this opportunity with any eligible families within the community.
Your Holiday Hub Winter Booklet 2025.pdf
Reminders 🔔
Reminders 🔔
Camps International - A Trip of a Lifetime!
Camps International - A Trip of a Lifetime!
We are excited to be partnering with Camps International again to offer students in Year 10, 11 and 12 the opportunity to participate in a life-changing, 4-week expedition to Kenya during the summer of 2027.
Special Assemblies will take place on Monday 10 November and Tuesday 11 November for Years 10 and 11.
A Year 12 drop-in session will take place on Wednesday 12 November at 1.05pm in G101. Please come along to our Parents Information session on Thursday 20 November at 5.00pm to find out more about the expedition!
Lanscape poster for parent session with QR code - Elizabeth Smith.pptxReporting Student Absence - Studybugs
Reporting Student Absence - Studybugs
Please inform the school by 9.00am on the first and subsequent days of absence.
School procedure is as follows:
absence message sent if absences have not been reported.
if no response to the absence message, a follow up letter requesting reason for absence will be sent.
If you haven’t already, please download the free Studybugs app, or register on the Studybugs website, and use it to tell us whenever your child is ill and unable to attend school.
Get the app or register now by clicking here.
Thank you
Cotham School
Poster with Additional Info.pdf
Key Dates - Term Dates 2025/2026
Key Dates - Term Dates 2025/2026
Term 1 Monday 1 September 2025 to Friday 24 October 2025
Term 2 Monday 3 November 2025 to Friday 19 December 2025
Term 3 Monday 5 January 2026 to Friday 13 February 2026
Term 4 Monday 23 February 2026 to Thursday 2 April 2026
Term 5 Monday 20 April 2026 to Friday 22 May 2026
Term 6 Monday 1 June 2026 to Friday 17 July 2026
INSET Days - 2025/2026
INSET Days - 2025/2026
Monday 1 September 2025
Friday 26 September 2025
Friday 14 November 2025
Monday 30 March 2026
Monday 20 April 2026
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