Achievement | Diversity | Respect
12 May 2023
Parent and Carer Weekly Mailing
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 15 May 2023 is Week A
Standing Items are now located at the bottom of the mailing.
Headteacher's Welcome
Dear Parents and Carers
Please find this week’s mailing with important information for parents/carers and students as well as updates on school events, activities and opportunities for your reference below.
Kindest regards, Ms Jo Butler, Headteacher
Positive feedback of the week 👍
Lovely feedback:
“It’s a fantastic school with engaged teaching staff, strong leadership, a diverse community which is representative of the local area and fantastic resources.”
Year 7 parent
Thank you
Do you know our three school values?
Word of the Week
KS3
Word of the week
Acquire
Acquire is a Verb
It means: ‘buy or obtain an object'
KS4
Word of the week
Epitome
Epitome is a noun
It means: ‘A person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type’
New Announcements
Student Planner Front Cover Competition
Congratulations to all of those Year 7 and 8 students who have entered the Student Planner Front Cover Competition! Well done!
The winner is Lila Rossiter 8EM
Runners up are: Louis Jackson Brown 8EM and Florence Gosztonyi 7SR
The winner will receive £20 Amazon voucher and the Runners up £10 voucher. For the rest of those students who entered the competition we have a box of chocolates. Rewards will be given to students by Ms Butler during the next week assembly
1. Winner Lila Rossiter 8EM Planner comp entry.jpg2.1 Runner up Louis Jackson Brown 8EM Glowing planner design.JPG2.2 Runner up Florence Goszeonyi 7SRWinner
Lila Rossiter 8EM
Runner up
Louis Jackson Brown 8EM
Runner up
Florence Gosztonyi 7SR
St Pauls Carnival Costume Creation
On Wednesday 2 May we hosted St Pauls Carnival Costume Creation Workshop. This event was attended by 23 of our Year 7 and 8 students. Helen Davenport, Carnival costume designer did an amazing job with the students resulting in designing and creating beautiful headdresses for the carnival. Our students learnt about the carnival history and practiced some dance moves. Well done to all of our students attending this event.
Attendance Matters
Attendance Fact:
All studies show a link between attendance and achievement. Those students with better attendance generally achieve better than those with lower attendance. Research from DfES suggests that on average, every 17 days off a student has over their school career equates to a drop of 1grade at GCSE.
Attendance Tip:
Students, especially those in the younger years, take on a lot of opinions and attitudes that they hear around them. If school is discussed and referred to positively at home then students are more likely to adopt a positive attitude towards school.
House News
A sad goodbye to our wonderful team of House Prefects of Year 11. Prefects have continually modelled good manners and habits in order to support our wider Cotham School community. They have supported their Heads of Houses in leading House assemblies, organising house competitions, promoting the school at open evenings, assisting in Student Voice and helping with younger years transition. All of the prefects have been wonderful to work with and are a shining example of outstanding Cotham Students. We would like to highlight their importance in their last couple of weeks which begins with a massive thanks to the following:
Delta - Imogen, Marcos, Rafferty, Barney
Gamma - Ella, Patrick, Mohamed, Sajeeda
Omega - Isabella, Jacob, Adrianna, Joao
Sigma - Flo, Layba, Gaspar, Olivia
Prefect Applications
Cotham Houses are launching our Prefect applications for our next cohort of Student Leaders in Year 10. For those of you who are unsure of our current system, we have 4 Prefects per house, with one of these taking the lead as a House Captain.
It is an excellent opportunity for our students to grow in confidence by taking a lead role in our school community. Prefect responsibilities include:
> Developing the House identity for their house. Including contributing regularly to the Google Classroom feed and social media presence
> Modelling good manners and habits expected from all Cotham School learners
> Supporting Heads of Houses at House Assembly, leading at least one House assembly during the year
> Organising inter-house competitions
> Carrying out a duty within school
> Help promote the school during Open Evenings
> Make regular contributions to the Weekly Mailing to parents / carers
> Help during whole school assemblies.
> Taking an active role in Student Voice
> Work with the Head of House and House Charity Ambassadors to raise awareness and develop House Charity events
> House Captain will lead on communication between Prefects and Head of House and collect awards and trophies on House Day
Applications have opened on google classroom and will run for 2 weeks. Paper versions are also available from the Humanities office
Bake Sale Success
The final total for Sigma’s recent bake sale for those affected by natural disasters such as the recent Earthquake in Turkey and Syria has been totalled. In a single break time Ms Forbes managed to raise £196.85 alongside the help from Student Leaders and helpful Sigma volunteers. There was a range of baked goods and hand made cupcakes made by staff and students. The response was extremely generous with a generous donation from Mr. Dunkley! Furthermore, after donations were included the total rose to £238 which shows our wonderful students' kindness and generosity.
Bristol Education Partnership
Students at Cotham School have successfully completed the Student Leadership Training Programme as part of the Bristol Education Partnership. This has been a 6 month programme of training in communication skills, presentation skills, coaching as well as planning a social action project which Cotham have chosen as a green week, commencing after half term. This programme culminated in a presentation to several other BEP schools at Clifton College in April where students did a fantastic job reflecting on their training and speaking passionately about their project.
Well done to
Corey (Year 10), Inez (Year 10), Adam (Year 11) and Samira (Year 11, not pictured) for their excellent work to pass this programme!
Year 9 Art
This week, Year 9 have been looking at the work of Klari Reis and making tonal drawings of cells under a microscope.
WOTW Y9 Klari Reis.pdfCotham Futures - PwC
PwC have reopened applications for their Virtual Insight Programme, taking place Monday 24 July - Wednesday 26 July 2023. Open to Year 11 and 12 students, the 3-day experience is designed to give students an insight into PwC: their lines of service, culture, the work PwC do and how one can join as a school leaver. Students will have the opportunity to engage with PwC and ask questions so that informed decisions about next steps can be made. Guidance and top tips on the application process and the skills needed to thrive in the workplace.
Further information, including full eligibility criteria can be found in the job description here. The deadline to apply is Friday 19 May 2023.
STEAM Art Bytes
Art Bytes is a national art and EdTech programme for primary, secondary and SEN schools. Congratulations to Nathalie who achieved 1st Place, Eliska achieved 2nd Place and Vismaya achieved 3rd Place and were voted in the top three of Cotham Art work exhibited see here. Nathalie’s work will now be exhibited in the National Virtual Gallery which we will share with you when launched.
What have students been cooking this week?
Students in Year 8 have been looking at the function of ingredients used for bread making and then produced a range of shaped bread perfect as an accompaniment. Year 9 have made Jollof Rice with Plantain and have learnt of the origins of the dish from West Africa; Nigeria and Ghana, there is a lot of rivalry to which country makes the best Jollof Rice but we think our Cotham recipe hits the spot - see here! Year 9 students really enjoyed making this dish so you may not have been able to sample it at home!
GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition
We were delighted to be one of 250 schools in the UK that received Alaska pink salmon, courtesy of the Food Teachers Centre and Alaska Seafood UK - 10,000 salmon fillets were sent to schools! Our school was one of the lucky schools.
It’s part of the Fish Heroes project, which encourages young people to learn about, cook and taste fish. Pupils also learned about the health benefits of fish in the diet (did you know that we are all recommended to each 2 portions a week?), as well as aspects of sustainability. Children in the UK eat just 84g of fish/fish products a week, of which only 21g is oily fish - way below recommendations.
Pupils studying GCSE Food learnt new food skills which they will be able to use in the future. Students made Salmon en croute with homemade rough puff pastry recipe and in another lesson Chilli, mint, coriander Salmon skewers. Follow the link for photos here. Learning that the flesh of wild salmon is a natural pale orange/pink. Perhaps your child will be inspired and cook for you at home too?
It has been an amazing experience - from the delivery, cooking and tasting of Alaska pink salmon. Pupils have really enjoyed their time and have learned many important life skills.
Young Enterprise Support:
Next year we will be running the Young Enterprise Company Programme for our Post 16 students and would like a Business Mentor to support us. This would entail using your business experience to help students set up and run a successful business over an academic year; mentoring, facilitation, instilling business acumen and encouraging them to overcome and learn from various challenges and setbacks. You work closely with a member of the teaching staff from the Social Sciences faculty. This role requires an enhanced disclosure with the DBS Update Service and online safeguarding training (which the school can facilitate).
The commitment would be to attend the weekly team meetings for at least one hour during term time (perhaps 20-25 meetings over the course of an academic year). These may be during the school day, or run as extra-curricular activities after school. We intend to operate the scheme from September through to May. The experience of helping a young company develop and grow over several months, encountering and tackling a variety of real business issues, can be very rewarding indeed.
We would be especially interested to hear from BAME business leaders in the local area. If you or any of your contacts might be able to assist us, please email: post16@cotham.bristol.sch.uk and mark your message for the attention of Hannah Radford Hines.
Bristol 650 Trail map at M Shed
If you visit the M Shed or planning to visit, a new trail map is now available from the front desk for families visiting the museum. The trail looks at Bristol in the last 650 years through objects on display in the M Shed. Bristol 650 marks 650 years since King Edward III granted important rights and privileges to Bristol by royal charter in 1373.
Online Safety Newsletter - May 2023
Online Safety Newsletter Secondary May 2023_SECONDARY_PDF_Cotham.pdfFriends of Alalay Spring 2023 Newsletter
2023 newsletter spring.pdfThe Youth Club On Wheels is Back
Youth Club On Wheels is back with a large emphasis on "lets get moving". With a team that can cater for all young people, aged 8-19, we aim to provide a safe, warm and engaging space, where young people have the choice to either hang out or engage in different activities. Youth Club on Wheels has 7 confirmed sites:-
Brislington Social Action Project
Lynwood Park, BS4 3AT - Monday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Brislington
St Peter's Methodist Church, BS4 4NZ - Monday, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Bishop Sutton
Village Hall, Wick Road, Bishop Sutton, BS39 5XQ - Wednesday, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Henbury and Brentry
Opposite Henbury skatepark, Crow Lane, BS10 7EL - Thursday, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Keynsham
Tintagel Estate, BS31 2NL - Tuesday, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Whitchurch
Bamfield Road, BS14 0AU - Tuesday, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Wrington
Wrington Playing Fields, Silver Street, BS40 5QN - Wednesday: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Post 16
Lanyards
We would like to ask for your support to encourage all P16 students to wear their lanyards at all times for the safety of all of our students. If students need a new lanyard, you can order one on Wisepay, If students get the bursary, they should see Ms Lugg Williams who will order them one at no cost. If they need a new string or plastic casing, they can drop into Charnwood reception and we will provide one. This is an especially timely reminder for Year 13 as they will not be able to get into their summer exams on time without one.
Foundation Students
To celebrate Foundation student’s final day with us we held a pizza party in the sun on Thursday. We would like to congratulate all students on reaching this milestone and wish those who are not returning next year the very best in their future endeavours.
Reminders:
- If they are NOT signed off for their subject, they must continue coming to school until they have fully finished.
- English lessons finished on Thursday 11 May but invites to revision sessions will be communicated soon.
- Maths will continue to run timetabled lessons throughout May and June (this means they must continue maths lessons).
Year 12
Mock Feedback
Students have been getting their mock results from this week. You will receive an official progress report next week with their mock results and predicted grades. Please note that predicted grades are NOT UCAS grades. UCAS grades are issued in term 6.
Year 13
Today was officially the last day of school for our Year13 students. We wish them all the very best with their studies in the lead up to their exams and urge them to come and see us if they would like any additional support.
Post 16 Futures Bulletin
Opportunities just keep on coming... it is fabulous to see that there are still so many apprenticeships and opportunities to gain work experience. Take a look at this week's Futures Bulletin.
Coming Up Soon...
Y11 Leavers Party/Prom 2023
Year 11 are holding their Leavers Party/Prom at:
The Bristol Hotel,
Prince Street,
Bristol,
BS1 4QF
on Wednesday 28 June from 7:30pm – 11:30pm
Tickets £35 -This price covers the hire of the venue, food, DJ and unlimited visits to the photo booth. The organising committee have worked hard to keep the price reasonable. If anyone thinks they will struggle to pay the ticket price please contact buckleyb@cotham.bristol.sch.uk at the school for help.
This date has been chosen as it is the same day as the North Bristol Post 16 transition day. There are 170 tickets which will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Please follow the link to refer to letters that were sent to Parents/Carers last week.
Thursday 22 June, 11am World Dance Workshop Day Bristol Grammar School
BGS are hosting a world dance workshop day on Thursday 22 June, with a Kathak workshop with an Akram Khan focus to feed into the A Level syllabus, and then following up with Flamenco and Dancehall. Students are invited to join in to celebrate dance around the world. There will be a small cost. If you are interested contact Emily Field at Bristol Grammar School: efield@bgs.bristol.sch.uk
Friday 23 June, 9.30am – 2.30pm Unlock Cyber Taster Day UWE School of Engineering, Frenchay Campus
The next Unlock Cyber Taster Day is taking place at UWE, Bristol on Friday 23 June. This event is for students in Years 8 and 9 and is aimed at inspiring those who are interested in discovering what cyber is all about and in taking Computer Science at GCSE . The day consists of hands-on cyber activities and problem-solving team challenges, organised by leading regional employers from the cyber sector. For further details or to register your interest email elaine3.brown@uwe.ac.uk
Thursday 29 June – Sunday 2 July Global Routes Project Photography Exhibition, Trinity Centre BS2 0NW
This exhibition, organised by children for children in collaboration with Clifton High School, is a unique opportunity for students to share their perspectives, celebrate their local communities through photography and collaborate with other schools. There will be two exhibitions - one at the Trinity Centre, Bristol and one at Alexandra Palace, London (Sunday 18 - Wednesday 21 June). Participation is free, and students are invited to share their work and present at the event. Free resources are available on the website to facilitate the project. Email globalroutesproject@gmail.com for further information
Monday 10 July, 9.30am – 2.30pm Bristol Future Talent Partnership Careers Fair University of Bristol School of Chemistry
Bristol Future Talent Partnership is a collaboration of leading Bristol based organisations who share the vision of making Bristol the fairest and most racially equal place to study and work in the UK. Bristol Future Talent offer high quality work experience and mentoring opportunities to young people aged 14 to 21 from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds to raise aspirations, remove barriers, and provide talent with opportunity.
Bristol Future Talent are organising a Careers Fair on Monday 10 July for students in Year 10 from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. It is taking place at East Foyer, Chemistry Building, School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS. The following organisations will be exhibiting: Hargreaves Lansdown, Bishop Fleming, HSBC, Bailey of Bristol, Bottle Yard Studios, Yeo Valley, Bristol City Leap, Burges Salmon, University of Bristol, Boundless, AAT and BNSSG.
Quantum in the Summer – Summer School at the University of Bristol
Quantum Engineering technology Labs are running a free quantum summer school for A-Level students to learn more about physics and engineering with the hope that it will inspire a future generation of students to pursue a career in science. In 2023 they will host their ninth annual summer school for students aged 16 and over. The intensive week-long summer school will run in early August 2023 and aims to teach students about quantum mechanics and light. The taught and practical components of the course will take place on the University of Bristol campus. The course is open to students from anywhere in the UK and international students are welcome to apply.
The summer school is a free event but students are expected to cover their own accommodation, travel expenses and dinner. Lunches will be provided throughout the week. More details are available here: Quantum in the Summer | Quantum Engineering Technology Labs | University of Bristol
And don't forget from last time....
Digital Platform Awards
Every term we like to acknowledge the great work that our teachers and students do on our digital learning platforms.
We mainly focus on GCSEPod and Seneca Learning at the moment, but are currently looking into using other platforms to help out students with their independent learning.
These are the main categories we give awards too:
Seneca
Teacher - Most Assignments Set
Faculty - Highest Avg Completion Rate
Student - Most Sessions Complete
Tutor Group - Most Sessions Complete
Year Group - Most Sessions Complete
GCSE Pod
Teacher - Most Assignments Set
Faculty - Highest Number of Assignment Set
Student - Highest Individual Use
Tutor Group - Most Pods Watched
Year Group - Highest Total Usage
Congratulations to all the Term 4 winners! 🥳🥳🥳
Year 9 MenACWY and Td/IPV catch-up clinics
MenACWY and Diphtheria, Tetanus & Polio vaccination catch-up clinics are available for Year 9 students who did not receive their vaccination at school. Please book an appointment by following the link
If you have any queries please contact the Immunisation Team directly on 0300 124 5515 or email sirona.sch-imms@nhs.net
Seneca Learning - Study at Home
Seneca Learning is a fantastic independent study platform that we use for many of our home learning tasks.
Students can also use it independently to recap and study all the subjects at home.
You can sign up for a free parent account to see what assignments your child has been set and what study they have completed on the platform.
Watch the video to find out more.
Seneca Learning is one of the main independent learning platforms that we recommend for students.
Digital Literacy Corner
Latest Parent Online Safety Cheat Sheet
10 Ways you can
Share Kindness Online
All - Share Kindness.pdfOur latest GCSE Pod Usage
Welcome! GCSEPod is the perfect resource to help your child learn, retain and recall all the information they need to achieve their GCSE goals.
Pods watched this academic year
6,112
Number of Pods watched so far in Term 4
637
Most watched subject this week
Geography
Our latest Seneca Learning Usage
Seneca offers high-quality free online learning courses for students to study from a computer, tablet or phone. The courses are suitable for students aged 13 and above and cover KS3, KS4 GCSE and KS5 A Level subjects.
We are Premium subscribers to this service which unlocks further features of the platform.
Seneca Learning sessions completed this academic year
242,704
Total Seneca Learning study time for Term 4
2506 hours
Total Seneca Learning study time for this academic year
27,383 hours
Staff Vacancies
Cotham School are currently recruiting for the following positions:
Assistant Headteacher
Exams Officer
English Teacher
Foreign Language Assistant(s)
Teacher - Inclusion Resource Base
For more information and to apply please click here
