Cotham School
Weekly Mailing
5 December 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 8 December 2025 is Week B
Headteacher's Welcome! 👩🏫
Headteacher's Welcome! 👩🏫
Dear Parents and Carers,
Please find our weekly mailing which I hope you will find both useful and interesting!
With very best wishes for a relaxing weekend.
Kindest regards,
Ms Jo Butler, Headteacher
Positive Feedback of the Week 👍
Positive Feedback of the Week 👍
Email received
Good afternoon,
I am sorry it’s taken me a little while to get back to you. We’re very grateful for your time and support during the visit last Wednesday. It was a fantastic opportunity for our group to experience so much at your school, and we really appreciated everything you did to make it run so smoothly. Please also pass on our sincere thanks to the students and staff at Cotham for their warm welcome and engagement (as it really made the experience special for us).
As we mentioned briefly, we are hoping to visit you again next year when the student teachers from KNUE arrive in Bristol. We have a couple of questions about that visit and would love to discuss them with you whenever you have some time.
And if there is any way we can support future collaborations, please feel free to let us know.
Once again, thank you so much.
Best wishes
Young
Another positive Feedback!
I just wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone who was at the Year 10 parents' evening last night. It was a busy evening and there was a wonderful buzz around the place. I enjoyed popping into all the classrooms and seeing all the purposeful conversations that were taking place. Year 10 are working hard and these conversations with parents and carers are an essential part of curating that success for our students, so thank you for your energy, commitment and hard work.
Have a wonderful weekend when it gets here!
Thanks
Ms van der Berg
Assistant Headteacher
Parent and Carer Calendar 🗓️
Parent and Carer Calendar 🗓️
Announcements 📢
Announcements 📢
Young Poets Week
Young Poets Week
Cotham celebrated YOUNG POETS WEEK with SO MUCH POETRY! Poet Caleb Parkin gave an inspiring POETRY workshop and some Year 8s watched a LIVE ZOOM meet with poets Karl Nova & Nikita Gill who gave POETRY tasks to complete. We also promoted the YOUNG POET LAUREATE opportunity for KS3 students. All the amazing poems written this week are in the library for everyone to enjoy. Please click the link to READ the poems, see photos of Year8s in action & ALL the info you need to enter the YPL competition.
WM CALEB POET AND POEMS WM KARL NOVA AND NIKITA GILL zoom poems 8YA 2025.pdfParent Online Safety Workshop
Parent Online Safety Workshop
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the parents who attended our recent Online Safety Workshop. Your participation and engagement are greatly appreciated as we work together to support our students in navigating the digital world safely and responsibly. For those who were unable to join us, the presentation from the session has been included in the mailing so you can access the information at your convenience.
Link to the presentation: Social Media, Harmful Content and Parental Controls
School and City of Sanctuary Update
School and City of Sanctuary Update
We are so proud of the work we do to welcome students and their families from all backgrounds as a School of Sanctuary. We have recently re-started our Cooking Club and also held an EAL Coffee Morning to ensure that families new to the British education system have all the support they need. If you are able to support the City of Sanctuary charity, until December 9, every donation will be doubled at no extra cost to you.
Year Group News 🏫
Year Group News 🏫
Year 7
Year 7
Bake off Update
This was a great success. 9 students, one from each tutor group took on the challenge to bake off against each other. They were given 1hour and 30 minutes to make, bake and present 4 Christmas decorated cookies. The judges found it very hard to decide on a winner as all the students met the brief and the results were fantastic.
Congratulations to all the students who took part:
Ferdos, Lorna, Leai, Zakriya, Tamsin, Munzer, Ras, Manuela and Leen.
A special congratulations to the winner Tamsin!
Guess the candy canes in the jar:
Guess the candy canes in the jar: next week we will run a fun activity at lunch time. Year 7 will have the opportunity to guess the number of candy canes in the jar. The winner will win the contents to share in tutor time and a small prize for themselves.
Guide Dog Harness
This week the Year 7 students enjoyed sharing a tube of sweets in tutor time. Please can you support us, we would like to fill the tube with money. Once we have filled the tubes we will use the money to fill the silhouette of a dog and the money raised will buy a Guide Dog Harness.
Year 7 Shoutouts
Well done 7KD for your brilliant focus and engagement in English lessons recently: I have loved hearing all of your thoughtful ideas about Princess Mononoke! You also demonstrated excellent teamwork in our library treasure hunt - both Ms Payne and I were really impressed!
Miss Jamshidi
Miss Phillips: Please can Noor receive a shout out for working so hard to complete an outstanding presentation for dance.
Winter Sharing
Last week on Thursday, I went along to the Winter Sharing, it was a fantastic evening with amazing performances from all year groups. I was extremely proud to see Year 7 students perform. They showcased dancing, acting, choir and the Jazz band. Huge congratulations to all the year 7 students who were involved. Matilda you were a fantastic Emperor!
Matilda, Roxy, Arun, Balqees, Edie, Lorna, Noah, Otis, Mavis, Lenna, Marnie, Luka, Helena, Alicia, Eva, Finlay, Alana, Amira, Arya, Cecily, China, Ettie, Evie, Idha, Leai, Lily, Talia, Violet, willow, Marnie, Tori, Marae, Finlay, Rowa, Nabiha, Jessica, Amelie, Ella, Jolyon, Roderick, Dilsherr, Joseph
Mrs Arnold
Learning Coordinator
Year 8
Year 8
News!
Year 8 have been thinking about how AI can be used in school work. They have been discussing the difference between using it as a tool and academic dishonesty. They discussed where the line is between using it to help and how it could be perceived as cheating. They talked about acceptable and unacceptable ways to use it and how it's important to explain to a teacher that it has been used for an assignment. They also discussed how over-reliance on AI could be harmful to learning.
Mrs Dickerson
Learning Coordinator
Year 9
Year 9
News!
Year 9 continue to set a fantastic example for both older and younger students with their behaviour, maturity and amazing attitude.
Miss Boys would like to recognise 9ZE for their amazing work in Science and having a completion record of 100% for homework last week.
Ms Tuffley has been giving out skip the queue cards to students to use at lunchtime for going above and beyond what is expected. Well done to Ind, Beth, Idris and Aiman to name just 4. The list could go on.
Great work Year 9!!
Mr Knight
Learning Coordinator
Year 10
Year 10
A Thank You From the Year 10 Team
As we move into the final weeks of 2025, I want to take a moment to say thank you. Year 10 is thriving and much of that success comes from the strong partnership between home and school. Your support at home, high expectations and the conversations you have with your children each day make a big difference. Alongside the consistent care and standards set by staff, we are building a year group that is confident, focused & ready for all challenges.
Thank you for everything you do.
Mr Lawrence
Learning Coordinator
Year 11
Year 11
Prom Committee News
I am delighted to share that our Year 11 Prom Committee has now been formed. Students have already begun planning for next year’s prom, which is scheduled for 24 June. Their enthusiasm and creativity are already shining through, and we look forward to supporting them as the event takes shape.
Language Speaking Exams – A Big Well Done!!
A massive congratulations to all Year 11 students who completed their language speaking exams this week. The Year Team have been incredibly impressed with the maturity, dedication, and positive attitude students demonstrated throughout. They should all be very proud of their hard work.
Year 11 Parents’ Evening - Thursday 11 December 2025
The booking system is now open. Parents and Carers can book up to seven appointments with subject teachers for a 5 minute appointment.
Winter Sharing Success
It was fantastic to see Year 11 students take part in last week’s Winter Sharing. Their performances showcased the exceptional talent we have within the year group, and it was wonderful to see so many students confidently expressing themselves through the performing arts.
Year 11 Careers Fair
Next week we will be hosting a dedicated Careers Fair for Year 11. This will take place on Monday 8 December and Wednesday 10 December, with 12 external providers joining us to offer guidance on future pathways, careers options, and post-16 opportunities. This is a fantastic chance for students to explore potential next steps and ask questions to professionals across a range of fields.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support. Please do get in touch if you have any questions.
Best wishes
Mr H Arnold
Year 11 Learning Coordinator
North Bristol Post 16 🚀
North Bristol Post 16 🚀
Update
Update
December @ Post 16
This week Year 12 students had an assembly on 'Making yourself Heard'. Mr Buchanan outlined the various ways in which their feedback had been taken on board in the 6th form through STRIDE, settling in Surveys or other initiatives that are important to students like the RESPCT project and the Give a man a flower initiative.
Year 13 students were finishing their UCAS applications with lots of conversations happening around this. Thank you to all involved, especially Ms Beaver, Mx Sciubba and Year 13 tutors.
Subject Announcements 📖 ✏️ 🔢 🧪 🌍 🏛️ 🖥️🧮 🎨 🎭 🎵 🔨 🧑🍳 🏃♂️
Subject Announcements 📖 ✏️ 🔢 🧪 🌍 🏛️ 🖥️🧮 🎨 🎭 🎵 🔨 🧑🍳 🏃♂️
English
English
Year 7 Oracy Workshop
At Cotham we really value the importance of communication in all forms: reading, writing and speaking and we are incredibly fortunate to be able to support students in developing these life-changing and empowering skills. Last week Year 7 took part in an oracy workshop led by Ms Wyles. Students thought about why oracy skills are important and how they could become better orators. The activities focused on active listening, clarity, and techniques for projecting confidence. We saw some fantastic potential among our Year 7s to become very effective public speakers, and look forward to seeing them take these skills back into their classrooms.
Literacy and EAL Interventions
Students have been working incredibly hard with our HLTAs in their Reading and EAL intervention to develop their reading (phonics, inference and fluency), and English language proficiency. Our aim is to empower all students to ensure they can access the curriculum and express themselves confidently. Students are making incredible progress in their reading SAS scores, Lexia scores and progress through the phonics programme already. If your child receives intervention, do check in with them: ask them what they're reading, how they can log on to Lexia and support them in speaking and reading as much as possible!
Lots going on in the library
We've come to the end of Non-Fiction November, but we still have one more author visit on the horizon. Along with poetry workshops, poet visits, Young Poet Laureate competitions and the launch of the Readathon, there's never been a better time to pop along to the library and see everything that's going on! 2026 is the 'National Year of Reading', so expect a real focus on competitions and activities to boost reading of all types for everyone in the school community!
MFL
MFL
The Korean National University of Education visit
On Wednesday 26 November 2025, Cotham School hosted six delegates from the Korea National University of Education (KNUE) for a tour and modern languages lesson observation.
This visit is part of an ongoing collaboration with the University of Bristol, providing the Korean delegation with insight into the British education system to inform new initiatives in Seoul. We were pleased to showcase our Faculty areas and our two Cotham students were excellent ambassadors during the tour.
STEAM
STEAM
This Week in Food Science!
This week we have been so busy we didn't have time to take any photos. However, we've had Year 7 making Pizza, Year 8 - a South African Dish called Bobotie and Year 9 cooking Lasagne. Three fantastic recipes all made from scratch using fresh, local ingredients. Great use of knife skills, kneading, using ovens, hobs and assembling them all together to create a wonderful, tasty meal for themselves. Well Done to all KS3!!
Miss Burt
Art of the Week
Creativity was definitely on the menu this week! Our Year 10 students undertook a fun and unique project: Sandwich Art. Looking at various artists' work and using only food items, they have recreated these masterpieces on a slice of bread! We are incredibly proud of their ingenuity and their edible efforts.
Careers 💼
Careers 💼
Update
Update
Career of the Week.... is TRANSLATOR
Could this be a career for your child?
Is your child a natural with languages? Do they love learning about other cultures? A career as a Translator might be a perfect fit!
What is a Translator?
A translator converts written text from one language to another, ensuring the meaning, tone and cultural context remain accurate. They are essential bridges, helping people, businesses and governments communicate across borders.
House Announcement 🏠
House Announcement 🏠
Update
Update
Sigma Shoebox Appeal
Sigma will be holding its annual Shoebox appeal. Please bring in an empty shoebox for your tutor group, and as a team, fill it up with the items mentioned on the poster below. These will be collected in the last week of this term and delivered by Mrs Ahmad to Help Bristol's Homeless who will hand them out to the homeless just before Christmas. Thank you as always for your kindness and generosity!
shoebox appeal slide - Mariam Ahmad.pptxHouse Assembly
To celebrate Omega’s talent, Sunaya and Kiran performed a cultural dance in our assembly — an amazing performance. In addition, Mathew, Nabiha, Jeronimo, Lila, Beth, and Anton received the Omega Finest Award, and Alba won the Dare to Be Great motto design competition. An amazing way to celebrate the work and talent we have in the Omega House.
Omega Hall of Fame
Well done to Dylan on being inducted into the Omega Hall of Fame!!!
Literacy 📖
Literacy 📖
KS3
KS3
Word of the Week
Word of the Week
Changeable
Changeable
'Chayn- juh - buhl'
Meaning:
Something that changes unpredictably (adjective).
Something that can be changed or exchanged (adjective).
Example:
The weather is very changeable in Britain.
The tablecloths are changeable.
Synonyms:
Variable, changing, inconstant…
KS4
KS4
Word of the Week
Word of the Week
Remedy
Remedy
'Rem-uh-dee'
Meaning:
Variable, changing, inconstant…
Example:
The remedy for a cold is to rest and stay hydrated.
How can we remedy this issue?
Synonyms:
Cure, solve, fix…
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_12.pdfCommunity 🏘️
Community 🏘️
Free Bus Travel for Under 16s this Holiday!
Free Bus Travel for Under 16s this Holiday!
We have some exciting news to share that will make getting around Bristol much easier (and cheaper!) over the Christmas and New Year period! Bristol City Council is providing free bus travel for all children and young people aged under 16 across the city's bus network.
Please click here for more information.
Fantastic result for this Year's Poppy Appeal
Fantastic result for this Year's Poppy Appeal
We are delighted to share the fantastic result of this year's Poppy Appeal! Thanks to the wonderful generosity of our students, staff and families, we successfully raised £24.27 for the Royal British Legion.
This money will help the Legion continue their crucial work providing financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependents.
Thank you once again for your support of this important cause.
Discover Hotwells Primary School
Discover Hotwells Primary School
Are you looking for the perfect primary school for your child? Come and discover what makes Hotwells Primary School a truly special place—a school that is small but mighty!
We warmly invite prospective families to visit Hotwells Primary School and see their fantastic community in action. Please click below for more information.
Hotwells Primary School Tours - Nikki Lewis.pdfReminders 🔔
Reminders 🔔
ABM Catering Update for upcoming Festive Season
ABM Catering Update for upcoming Festive Season
12 Days of Christmas!
From Wednesday, 3 December, we are very excited to launch our 12 Days of Christmas. Please see the attached flyer to see which festive treats are available to enjoy throughout the festive period.
12 Days of Christmas - Cotham - 2025.pdfStudent Christmas Lunch
Student Christmas Lunch will take place on 10 December 2025 - please see the attached menu for further details.
Christmas Menu for Cotham.pdfLost Property
Lost Property
We are sending this important notice regarding student lost property:
Collection Point: All unclaimed coats and uniform items are currently being held at Student Reception.
Action Required: We urge students to visit Student Reception and check the lost property area as soon as possible.
Donation Deadline: To support local charities, please note that any items remaining unclaimed at the end of Term 2 will be donated.
Reporting 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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