Cotham School
Weekly Mailing
1 May 2026
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 4 May 2026 is Week B
Headteacher's Welcome! 👩🏫
Headteacher's Welcome! 👩🏫
Dear Parents and Carers,
We hope you enjoy this week's update and find the information helpful as we look ahead to the coming days.
Wishing everyone a wonderful and relaxing weekend ahead.
Kindest regards,
Ms Jo Butler
Headteacher
Weekly Mailing - 1 May 2026 Headteacher’s Welcome-1.webmAchievement and Positive Feedback of the Week 👍
Achievement and Positive Feedback of the Week 👍
Email Received
A huge congratulations to Roderick (7TE) for his incredible achievement in the world of music! Following a successful audition process, Roderick has earned a coveted place in the French horn section of the National Children’s Orchestra (U12s) for 2026.
Roderick recently returned from a prestigious residential course over the Easter break, where he performed alongside the most talented young musicians in the country. We are incredibly proud of his dedication to his craft and look forward to hearing about his experiences when he attends the NCO Summer course this August. Well done, Roderick!
Parent and Carer Calendar 🗓️
Parent and Carer Calendar 🗓️
Announcements 📢
Announcements 📢
Early May Bank Holiday
Early May Bank Holiday
Week Commencing Monday 4 May 2026 is a Bank Holiday!
The Winners of the Six Word Story Competition!
The Winners of the Six Word Story Competition!
We had a record breaking amount of entries this year for the Six Word Story COMPETITION. 42 stories overall. The creativity and talent was incredibly high and I was very impressed with EVERYONE’s entries AND enthusiasm. Voting was difficult because we had SO many good stories to choose from, so students were asked to vote for their TOP 3. The voting by 122 students was lively! OPINIONS flew, DISCUSSIONS were had, DEBATES became heated!
AND the WINNERS ARE:
Click below for more information:
WM 6 word story entries AND winners A Glimpse into the Past: Historic Photo Donation
A Glimpse into the Past: Historic Photo Donation
Through the incredible generosity of the families of former Cotham students, the school has been gifted a collection of original photographs that are nearly 100 years old.
These images offer a fascinating window into our local history and the school’s heritage. It is rare to see such well-preserved snapshots of a bygone era and we feel very lucky to have them in our archives. We have curated a selection of these lovely pictures for you to view.
15 February 1934
June 1926
June 1926
June 1926
Student Support
Student Support
New projects by Off The Record
OTR is a mental health social movement by and for young people aged 11-25 living in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. They recently shared some new projects that we wanted to make parents/carers aware of.
WORDCUP is a performance poetry project for 13-16 year olds starting on Tuesday 12 May.
Nature Works at Kingswood Park focuses on nature-based activities, starting on Tuesday 5 of May for 12-16 year olds.
See the attached posters for more info and sign up link
Joshua Byworth
Deputy Safeguarding Lead
world cup poster.pdfPiano Lessons at Cotham
Piano Lessons at Cotham
We have a fantastic opportunity to offer piano and keyboard lessons to years 7-9 on our lovely grand piano at Cotham School with our very experienced piano teacher Christina Craig - Jones.
Limited spaces available for this term and in preparation for next year. Summer holiday lessons also available. For more details and to book a free taster lesson please contact her directly at chriscraigjones@hotmail.com.
Year Group News 🏫
Year Group News 🏫
Year 7
Year 7
Year 7 Legoland Trip - Wednesday 15 July 2026
Tickets are now available on WisePay.
We are planning a trip to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort on Wednesday 15 July 2026. Whether you are earning your very first driving licence behind the wheel of a LEGO car at the LEGO City Driving School, riding a Dragon through a medieval castle or discovering a lost underwater city in your very own submarine, LEGOLAND Windsor Resort has something for everyone. We hope that all students in Year 7 will attend.
Mrs Arnold
Year 7 Learning Coordinator
Year 7 Exams
Year 7 Exams will take place during the period Monday 18 May to Friday 5 June.
Exam Preparation will take place in lessons from Monday 11 May.
Please see the Preparation booklet to support your child and the Exam timetable.
Please look through this with your child so you can support them at home.
Year 8
Year 8
Weekly Roundup
What a difference a bit of nice weather makes. So many more students have been making the most of the outdoor space during social times because of the sunshine. On Wednesday and Thursdays Year 8 have PE. Please ensure your young person comes to school in correct uniform and understands the expectation to change back into it after PE. A few of the boys in particular have started wearing their tracksuit trousers into the next lesson after they have had PE. This is unacceptable and if they do, they will be requested to change and given a sanction. I will reiterate this to them in assembly this week. Many thanks for your support.
Ms Dickerson
Year 8 Learning Coordinator
Year 9
Year 9
News
Students have returned from the Easter break with the same enthusiasm as prior to the holiday.
It is great to see students enjoying the school facilities in the warmer weather. Please can I give a gentle reminder that the uniform expectation does not change for the summer and students are expected to meet the expectations set out on the website.
Mrs Khan is looking through the data regarding option choices for next year and confirmation of courses will be sent in due course.
Mr Knight
Year 9 Learning Coordinator
Year 11
Year 11
This week in Year 11
Exam timetables and information has now been emailed to students. Please support your child to know exactly what exam they have and where they are sitting as this will take a lot of the pressure off on the day of the exam.
I have added to Google Classroom a pack of resources for students to access if they are feeling overwhelmed around exams with some really useful tips and strategies to try out.
Prom Reminder
A reminder regarding this years Prom:
The Year 11 Leavers Prom is on Wednesday 24 June (evening) at The Bristol Hotel. Tickets are on sale NOW on WisePay.
Get your outfits ready and get your ticket to avoid disappointment!
Ticket price includes buffet, DJ and Photo Booth.
Only students with a valid ticket will be allowed entry.
As we prepare for the Year 11 Prom, we are keen to ensure that all students have the opportunity to feel confident and included on this special evening.
If you have any prom dresses, suits, shoes, or accessories in good condition that you would be willing to donate, it would be greatly appreciated.
All students have received a paper copy of the Yearbook consent form, without the consent form signed and returned students will not be allowed to be featured in the Yearbook.
Please can all Yearbook consent forms be returned as soon as possible, first deadline of May 7, to allow us time to pass this on to our graphic designer.
Thanks as always for your continued support. If there is anything you would like to discuss or share, please reach out to either myself or the Year Team.
Best wishes
Mr Arnold
Year 11 Learning Coordinator
North Bristol Post 16 🚀
North Bristol Post 16 🚀
The Final Stretch at Post 16!
One more week to go before study leave for our Year 13 students! Their leaver's assembly details have been shared with them for Friday 8 May, as well as an important FAQs document about their exams season. We are looking forward to a really positive Leaver's day. Our Foundation cohort have 2 weeks to go and are working hard finalising coursework tasks and exam preparations. Year 12 had their Post-Mock assembly this week as they begin to get feedback from those exams! A busy week at Post 16!
Subject Announcements 📖 ✏️ 🔢 🧪 🌍 🏛️ 🖥️🧮 🎨 🎭 🎵 🔨 🧑🍳 🏃♂️
Subject Announcements 📖 ✏️ 🔢 🧪 🌍 🏛️ 🖥️🧮 🎨 🎭 🎵 🔨 🧑🍳 🏃♂️
MATHS
MATHS
GCSE - Past Paper Homework
The Maths GCSE exams are rapidly approaching on the following dates:
Thursday 14 May
Wednesday 3 June
Wednesday 10 June
All students have been given a Maths past paper homework during lessons this week, the paper is also linked to Google Classroom with video solutions. Please encourage your child to complete this paper to the best of their ability, then use the video solutions to mark their work. These topics occur frequently on paper 1 so this will be excellent revision.
GCSE - Equipment Requirement
Students need to bring the correct equipment to all of their Maths exams. This includes pen, pencil, ruler, protractor and compass. They will also need a calculator for paper 2 (3rd June) and paper 3 (10th June). These can be bought from stationers such as WHSmith or large supermarkets. The school library has a limited supply to buy if students go in advance. Students without familiar equipment will lose marks which may mean they drop below the GCSE grade they should be getting.
LANGUAGES
LANGUAGES
Wonderfully Creative French students!
Bravo Year 9 French students !
For the Spring Holidays, students were given "Surprise Me Homework" to complete and they demonstrated incredible imagination and mastery! From an unbelievable musical performance to a run spelling French words, from an Eiffel Tower made out of cardboard to a Lego reproduction of a Eugène Delacroix painting, from recapping learning to cooking and baking French recipes. Student playing the piano and singing in French here, other great work here. INCROYABLE !
FRENCH Spring holiday homeworkFRENCH Spring holiday homeworkFRENCH Spring holiday homeworkProfiterole Presentation
ENGLISH
ENGLISH
Young Poet Laureate Masterclass
Suki, Linh and Otis did a fantastic job getting shortlisted for the Young Poet Laureate’s masterclass. They worked with professional poet, Deanna Rodger, in developing their performance skills as well as discussing a definition of the roles and responsibilities of a young poet laureate.
I am pleased to say that all three students gave outstanding performances and did themselves and Cotham extremely proud; now Suki, Linh and Otis are committed to promoting poetry across the school.
STEAM
STEAM
Work of the Week - Year 8 Bug Sculptures
In the Art department, the Year 8 students have made an excellent start to their bug sculptures. After spending weeks of doing observational drawings of bugs, analysing the work of Christopher Marley, and designing their own hybrid bug species, they are now using recycled cardboard to bring their designs to life. Once they have finished the base of their sculpture, the next step will be to add colour using paint.
Food Science! 👩🍳👨🍳🍳🍞 - GCSE Food Year 10 Fish Heroes
As part of the #FishHeroes project, we were selected by Alaska Seafood UK to receive canned Alaska pink salmon. We cooked new dishes and learned about the health benefits of fish. We made Buddy’s fishcakes, which were a great success. Thank you to Alaska Seafood UK, @FoodTCentre and @FishmongersCo for the opportunity.
Careers 💼
Careers 💼
Update
Update
Career of the Week......TRAVEL AGENT!
Could this be a career for you?
A career as a Travel Agent is far from boring! With the potential to escape to faraway places, this isn't just an office job. If you have a passion for travel, excellent verbal and written skills and a talent for multi-tasking, this exciting path could be for you. Existing language skills would also be a great asset!
House Announcement 🏠
House Announcement 🏠
Omega Finest Awards
As part of the Omega Finest Awards, Charlie, Alana, Sylvie, Sabastaine, Ahmed and Tom received tickets to see the Bristol Aztecs vs Belfast Trojans in Bristol. Students gave very positive feedback and enjoyed the live experience. Thanks to Mr Andrews for securing the tickets.
Literacy 📖
Literacy 📖
KS3
KS3
Word of the Week
Word of the Week
Annotate
Annotate
'An-uh-tayt'
Meaning:
Adding notes to a text or diagram to give explanation or comment (verb).
Example:
The teacher told the students to annotate their design to explain their ideas.
You should annotate texts as you read them to summarise the main ideas.
Synonyms:
Comment, explain, define…
KS4
KS4
Word of the Week Quiz
Word of the Week Quiz
Ideology
Ideology
'Eye - dee - ol - uh - jee'
Meaning:
A person or a group of people’s ideas or beliefs, especially related to politics or the economy (noun).
Example:
Their society is grounded in communist ideology.
The political party shared its ideologies with the public
Synonyms:
Beliefs, ideals, principles…
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 Learning Lead
Email: AhmedF@cotham.bristol.sch.uk
_Online_Saftey_Newsletter_18.pdfCommunity 🏘️
Community 🏘️
Creative Opportunity for Years 9-13: Join Threefold Company 3
Is your child interested in drama, devising, or social change? Threefold Theatre has a few remaining spaces in Company 3, our flagship group for young people aged 13–18.
Fresh from performing at the Bristol Old Vic for National Theatre Connections 2026, Company 3 is a space where young people lead the way. We don’t just hand out scripts; we co-create performances that explore the world we live in through movement, games, and acting.
The Essentials:
Date: Every Friday
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Easton Community Centre
Threefold is accessible for all young people, they offer free, affordable and low cost options. Find out more on our pay what you can page. payment plan.
How to Join:
Students are welcome to come and try a session! To register your interest, please fill out this short interest form.
Here's a video to give you more insight.
Threefold Flyers A5 FRONT 3.pdf
Make a Difference: Foster with Bristol City Council
Children in Bristol urgently need safe, welcoming homes. By fostering locally, you help a child stay connected to their community, friends, and school—providing the stability they need to thrive.
Why Foster?
Inclusivity: No "typical" family—we welcome all backgrounds, regardless of marital status or home ownership.
Financial Support: Weekly allowances and payments.
Benefits: Dedicated support, carer networks, and free Bristol City Council gym access.
"Fostering brings us joy and fun every single day." — BCC Foster Carer
Are you interested?
Please contact:
Call: 0117 353 4200
Email: fostering@bristol.gov.uk
BCC Fostering - poster 1.pdfFree Support for Parent/Carers this May
Free Support for Parent/Carers this May
Bristol Parent Carers has released their "What's On" guide for May, featuring a range of free support sessions and workshops for families of children with SEND. To ensure our community is supported, the programme is available in English, Somali and Polish. Whether you need practical advice or a chance to connect with other parent/carers, these sessions are here for you.
Cost: Free
Please see the below posters for further information and share this with anyone who will benefit.
Boost Study - Information for Parents
Boost Study - Information for Parents
Are you a parent of a child aged 14-18 years (or have had a child this age in the last two years) that is attending (or has previously attended) a UK school? Would you like to help us understand what to include in short digital tools to support teenagers with their mental health? If so, please consider taking part in our study! This will involve completing 2 or 3 online surveys, spaced around 2–3 weeks apart. Each will take around 30 mins. Surveys will ask you to:
-Rate how important it is to include different wellbeing challenges that can build up into bigger mental health concerns (we’ll explain them), in these digital support tools
-Rate how important it is to include different features (e.g., additional support features) in these digital support tools
-Rate how important you think different factors are for impacting whether teenagers use the digital support tools
Findings from this study will help researchers at the University of Bath create a package of digital support tools (made available through schools)!
You are eligible to participate if
You are a parent of a child aged between 14-18 year (This can include if your child was this age in the last two years)
Your child must be attending (or had previously attended) a UK school.
You live in the UK
We don’t expect there to be any disadvantages to taking part. However, some of the questions could feel sensitive. Support information will be given at the end of every survey, and you can stop the survey at any time.
You’ll be given a small reward for your time.
If you are interested in taking part and would like to find out more and/or have any questions, then please do not hesitate to email the researchers Mia Morgan and Dr Melissa Atkinson: BOOST@bath.ac.uk
BOOST project- more info.pdf
Join the Action of Conversation Summer Camps 2026
Join the Action of Conversation Summer Camps 2026
Looking for an outdoor adventure for your child this summer? Applications are now open for the Action for Conservation Summer Camps in the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Who: Young people aged 12–16.
Dates: Monday 27 to Friday 31 July OR Monday 17 to Friday 21 August 2026.
The Experience: hands-on conservation, wildlife discovery, stargazing, campfires, and beach visits while staying in a coastal bunkhouse.
How to Apply:
Review the application pack with your child and apply online at actionforconservation.org/camp. Deadline: Applications must be submitted by Sunday 4 May 2026.
Summer Camp.pdfYoung Bristol Community Update
Young Bristol Community Update
Bristol Young Heroes: Congratulations to Juan, Lucas, Poppy, Rudi-Lee, and Tico on being shortlisted for the 2026 Young Heroes Awards! Good luck at the ceremony this July.
Civic Honours: Hartcliffe Club manager Web Matthews has been awarded the Lord Mayor’s Medal for his outstanding commitment to local youth and families.
Outdoor Wins: 17 young people successfully completed the Mendip Hills Night Hike in March, building teamwork and navigation skills.
Holiday Impact: The recent Easter programme supported 347 children across Bristol with activities and free healthy meals.
Fundraising Success: Huge thanks to Aaron Ruse for raising £1,000 for Young Bristol at the London Marathon with a sub-5 hour finish!
Upcoming Dates:
Golf Day & Dinner: 18th June
Welsh 3 Peak Challenge: 11th – 12th Sept
Road to River: 2nd Oct
Please click here for more information.
Bookings are now open this Spring with Your Holiday Hub!
Bookings are now open this Spring with Your Holiday Hub!
Browse activities and book here:
Activities this summer – Your Holiday Hub Bristol – take a look at the map to see what activities are close by.Help us spread the word! Share resources with your groups and contacts widely:
Understanding Benefits Related Free School Meal (BRFSM) eligibility
We are often asked what the criteria for being eligible for free school meals is; so we’ve put together this helpful factsheet.
Eligibility-Factsheet-2026.pdfHoliday-Hub-A4-Poster.pdfSummer Film Making at Cotham School
Summer Film Making at Cotham School
Sparks Film School Bristol Central is now enrolling for the Summer Term. This season, students will collaborate on their most ambitious projects yet: The Summer Shoots.
Inspired by the creativity of the Academy Awards and BAFTA, this hands-on program allows children to explore every aspect of cinema. From the initial pitch to the final "cut," students take full creative lead.
Summer Term Film Making Classes 21 April 26.pdf
Reminders 🔔
Reminders 🔔
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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