Achievement | Diversity | Respect
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 31 March 2025 is Week A
Standing Items are located at the bottom of the mailing
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 and Eid Mubarak to those of you celebrating.
Kindest regards,
Ms Jo Butler, Headteacher
Email received
Dear Jo and Anilla
"Thank you so much for the Grand Iftar on Thursday. It was a magnificent event - truly on a grand scale! The speakers were all interesting, and the food was delicious. It is great that the school celebrates cultural diversity and harmony in this way. It was remarkable that so many young people attended with their families, and that so many members of staff volunteered to help. It was credit to your organisation, Anilla, and to your leadership, Jo, in promoting that ethos of engagement with the life of the school community beyond the classroom. Congratulations."
Best wishes
Graham
Dear Anilla and Jo,
"Thank you very much for hosting another lovely Iftar. Please convey our appreciation to all the volunteers, sponsors, and supporters. You all done a wonderful job.
Best wishes,
Regards,
Cllr Tom Aditya
Chairman, Bristol Multi Faith Forum
"Thank you to all of the school staff who gave up their time to plan and host this year's Grand Iftar. It was lovely to bring so many from the school community together to break their fast, and to hear the reflections on charity and the importance of mutual respect from the local multi-faith speakers.
Have a lovely weekend and Eid Mubarak to everyone who will be celebrating on Monday."
Year 9 Parent
Dear Ms Jo Butler,
"I hope this message finds you well.
I wanted to extend my deepest gratitude for organizing the Iftar Celebration for the students and families. It was a thoughtful and generous gesture that truly brought our community together during this special time of Ramadan.
Your efforts are deeply appreciated, and it was a wonderful experience for all of us. Thank you once again for your kindness and support."
Warm regards,
Year 10 Parent
Dear Mrs Butler and all the staff involved,
"I would just like to sincerely thank you for giving everyone the chance to break fast together. I have attended the Iftar for the last three years, and each year it has grown, and become more successful. I always come away feeling blessed. Grateful that we have the chance to break our fast with everyone from different religions, it’s such a nice shared experience. I love to hear the talks from the chosen speakers, it makes it a lovely special experience.
I just wanted to say that we really appreciate what you do, and really appreciate that you care, and appreciate that you go the extra mile to make Cotham School an Inclusive environment.
Thanks again for your hard work and God willing we really look forward to Iftar 2026. "
Kind Regards
Year 7 and year 11 Parent
Dear Anilla
"I just wanted to say a huge thank you for giving me the opportunity last night to address the entire Cotham Community and organising such a wonderful Grand Iftar last night. It was truly an amazing evening and the atmosphere was so special. My daughter and friend had a great time.
My special thanks to all the student volunteers, staff and the sponsors who supported the event. The event was a resounding success!
Thank you once again!"
Kind regards
Lopa
Thank you
Monday 31 March 2025 is an INSET Day. School is closed to students. We will welcome back students on Tuesday 1 April 2025 at normal time.
Friday 4 April 2025 is 'Get Moving Day' where we encourage staff and students to move more in some way on that day, to emphasis the positive impact of movement and physical activity on our wellbeing.
This day was setup by our BEP Student leadership trainees as you have read about in recent weeks where various activities will be encouraged on the day.
The arrangements for the last day of term, Friday 4 April, are as follows:
This is a non uniform day for students. Students should bring £1 which will be donated to house charities on the day!
There will be no break service for food from 10:45am -11:05am.
Students will leave school at 12:00pm.
Students who receive a free school meal will be provided with a packed lunch which can be collected from K Block canteen after 12:00pm.
There will be some changes to Student Reception with effect from Tuesday 1 April 2025.
Student Reception will be open until 9:00am each morning and any students arriving at school after that time will need to enter school and sign in at Visitor Reception on Cotham Lawn Road.
If your child needs to leave school during the school day, i.e. for an appointment or if they are unwell, they will need to be collected from Visitor Reception.
Lost property clothing will remain at Student Reception, but any small items, i.e. glasses or headphones, or any confiscated items will need to be collected from Visitor Reception.
Students will continue to leave at the end of the school day either through the PE gate on Hartfield Avenue or from the west gate onto Cotham Lawn Road.
Thank you to everyone who has bought a ticket. Last chance to get them on Monday 31 March at breaktime in the HUB.
Grand Prom Raffle which will take place on Tuesday 1 April.
Tickets will be 50p each or 3 for £1 - all money raised will go towards Year 11 Prom.
Please support the Year 11 student prom committee and buy a ticket.
Prizes include:
2 x £20 John Lewis vouchers
2 x £20 H&M vouchers
2x £15 Odeon vouchers
1 x £25 Papadeli voucher
1 x £10 Showcase voucher
£25 Gallimaufry Drinks voucher (adult only price)
£25 FED voucher
£20 Beerd voucher
1 bottle of Champagne (adult only prize)
1 bottle of Red wine (adult only prize)
Selection of chocolates including Easter eggs, Toblerone and Celebrations
Toiletry sets
Year 12 Business Studies students are organising a BOOK SWAP next week on 3 APRIL in the hub at LUNCHTIME. Please bring in any book from home that you no longer want and swap it for another one! Many of the books on offer are not in the library so PLEASE come and see the options they have. SWAP A BOOK - SHARE A STORY and come and support fellow Cotham students with their brilliant venture.
See the poster here.
BOOK SWAP POSTER There is still time to enter the SIX WORD STORY competition, following on from the WBD assembly for Year 9 to celebrate the phenomenal power of written stories. The challenge is to try and evoke fear, sadness, fun or laughter. Or all of these emotions! in only 6 WORDS!
A story does not have to be long or complicated to have a big impact on us. These stories can both surprise and intrigue in spite of being so short. DO YOU FANCY THE CHALLENGE?
Competition info below.
six word story poster ad Children and young people in Bristol who receive benefits-related free school meals, can now book lots of fun activity sessions taking place during the spring school holidays (7 April to 18 April). All our Your Holiday Hub sessions are fully funded and include a healthy meal as part of the day. Activities range from sports to crafts, and from drama to baking plus so much more. It’s a really great way for children to stay active, meet friends, have fun and learn new things.
For more about Your Holiday Hub Bristol, please visit here.
To search all the latest sessions and book online, please visit here.
We would like to remind parents and carers using the SIMS Parent app, that SMS text messages won't be received directly, but instead, you will receive notifications within the app itself, allowing you to view messages from the school, accessible through the "Messages" section of the app. It is important to note that you won't get text messages on your device outside of the app.
Email communications will be received directly to your email address, and can also be viewed in the app.
We advise parents and carers who have registered for SIMS Parent to review the notification settings on their device to ensure they are notified when a communication is received.
If you have any questions or require further information please email: parentapp@cotham.bristol.sch.uk.
We’ve got some exciting news from Monkhouse! For a limited time, enjoy FREE delivery on all orders over £30—perfect for getting ahead on your back-to-school shopping without the added delivery costs.
Offer Dates:
Start Date: Monday 14 April
End Date: Midnight, Wednesday 16 April
Don't miss out – get your orders in and save on delivery!
If you are reporting the absence of your child, you must notify attendance on a daily basis. Please fill out the Year 7-11 absence form which is on our website. Absence must be reported by 9.00am, otherwise it will result in an absence message still being sent home. If there is no response to the message, a follow up letter requesting reason for absence will be sent home.
Last week, (Lana, Livvy, Eloisa, Barbora, Polly, Martin, Charlie, Comfort, Monia, Leonard) took part in the in-school Poetry By Heart competition. They all showed real courage, creativity and flair as they performed their poems in front of an audience of students, parents and teachers. Particular congratulations to Lana, Livvy, Eloisa, Barbora, Martin and Charlie who have been chosen to go forward to the national competition.
The booking system is now open. Parents and Carers can book up to seven appointments with subject teachers for a 5-minute appointment.
Please see the letter for booking details.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Full Parents Evening Details Letter Y8.pdfHuge congratulations to all Year 9 students following a demanding week of exams!
I am incredibly impressed by your hard work and the resilience you have shown. Keep that spirit high as we head into the last two terms of the year!
Miss C Esposito
Wednesday 19 March saw the Year 10 Performing Arts class perform their Component 2 exam pieces to an audience of friends and family. The exam brief required students to rehearse and perform a scripted piece that linked to the concept of "Equality".
This saw students choose a wide range of texts including Finn Kennedy's "How to disappear completely and never be found", Polly Stenham's "That Face, "When They Go Low" by Natalie Mitchell", "DNA" by Dennis Kelly and Richard Bean's "One Man, Two Guvnors".
The performances were a great example of the creativity and hard work coming from our Year 10 students. Well done to all those who performed and an extra thank you to the friends and family who came to support.
Mr Geoghegan
During Friday tutor times, Mr. Arnold will be offering weekly drop-in sessions to support students preparing for their GCSE mock exams. These sessions will provide an opportunity for students to receive help with revision, ask questions, and gain guidance in a focused, supportive environment. We encourage students to attend and build their confidence ahead of the mocks. Please let your tutor know if you are interested in attending.
With only a few months to go now until GCSE's it is important that students attend their Period 6 sessions. It is valuable learning for students in supporting their GCSE's . Period 6 is compulsory for the students who have been selected.
If your child is unable to attend please let Mrs Arnold know.
Period 6 will be cancelled on the following dates:
Thursday 3 April - Year 8 Parents Evening
Our dedicated student volunteers are once again collaborating with a local designer (and ex-Cotham parent) to produce a charming and high-quality yearbook as a memento of their time at Cotham. We are able to offer the yearbook at the very reasonable price of £8.00 per copy. Payments should be made through the WisePay accessed via the school website. The item can be found in General Payments - Year 11 Yearbook 2025.
Year 11 Leavers Party/Prom 2025 will be held at The Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, Bristol on Wednesday 25 June from 19:00 until 23:00. Tickets are now on sale via Wisepay - in ‘General Payments – Year 11 Leavers Party/Prom 2025’ cost of ticket £38.50
Last week Year 11 had their end of term Easter celebration assembly. Congratulations to Saabrina Kuldeep Shyam who won the LC award for showing kindness to others and going above and beyond supporting others.
The tutors nominated two students who do the right thing every day, congratulations to:
Imogen
Rowan
Emily
Yahye
Gen
Ned
Lucia
Shuaib
Moataz
Hamda
Nabiha
Vismaya
Amir
Amira
Adam
Mike
Sulaiman
Anas
Well done to everyone in Year 11 for an amazing term.
Ms Kennedy gives a huge shoutout for a great lesson first thing on Friday 21 March, some students who can struggle with the subject at times were asking questions and giving it their best shot - well done to the following students!
Naima
Safiya
Asma
Harmony
Evie
Shuaib
Mike
Zoe
Maida
Reye
Nathalie
Yomna
Rosie
Selena
Kuldeep
Alexander
Finn
Waad
Our Year 11 Prom is fast approaching and with this in mind and to support our students we are asking that you have a look in the back of your wardrobes for any items that you no longer need and might be put to good use by our year 11 leavers.
We are looking for suits, shirts, ties, dresses, shoes and any other accessories. Any donations would be gratefully received. Please drop at Cotham Main Reception.
With many thanks.
Year 11 Team
Year 12 mocks will take place between 28 March and 4 April. Lessons will be suspended with the exception of BTECs, art and photography. Exams can be a really stressful time and we try to make sure the mocks mirror the real thing as much as possible so that our young people have good practice. We are here to help and want to see them do their best. Please encourage your young person to seek extra support from the Post 16 team if needed.
A reminder that it is essential that Year 10 students have the correct equipment for their Year 10 Maths mock exams (starting Wednesday 23 April 2025).
They will need a pen, pencil, ruler, protractor and compass for both papers. For paper 2 (Tuesday 29 April) they will also need a scientific calculator. These can be bought from larger supermarkets or stationary shops.
Students should NOT expect to borrow equipment on the day.
Year 7s discovered the importance of why the right conditions and kneading is "needed" to activate the yeast and gluten within the flour to create the perfect pizza base. They then added their favourite toppings to create deliciously looking and tasty pizzas! Well Done Year7!
Bayan competed in the South of England Regional Final at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, on Thursday 13 March, with CF there to support her. Unfortunately, she did not progress to the final in London but has come incredibly far on this journey. As our first student to ever compete in Articulate (against some prestigious schools!), we are incredibly proud.
Please congratulate Bayan for her brilliant presentation.
Pascal Matthias stated how it was really interesting to see an artist that is not so well known from Bayan’s own perspective. He added that Bayan’s presentation resonated with how the pandemic used tech and social media to reach out and build communities. Bayan shared with us themes of gender, loneliness, suffering, but also how we access art. Pascal stated that Bayan’s answer to his question was excellent, as well as the emotional experience that she brought and shared. He described Bayan’s presentation as really fantastic and congratulated her.
This week's work of the week, by Mae in Year 12, a self portrait. Year 12 are investigating new themes, ideas and concepts for their upcoming Personal Investigations.
The Cotham Climate Committee gave an outstanding presentation on their campaign to promote sustainable and active travel to and from school. Gathering at Bristol City Hall alongside ten other schools, they shared their ideas with industry experts, local government representatives, and their peers. Inspired by their passion and creativity, the experts awarded them £200 to turn their vision into reality!
We are excited to offer access to Digital Theatre Plus! This subscription provides students with world-class productions, study guides, and learning resources to enhance their understanding of Drama and English Literature. It’s a great way to bring the magic of theatre into their studies.
Access to Digital Theatre+ is included for all students. Please log in using your Cotham email address and password.
In the last week of school laminated eggs will be hidden across the site. They will be (relatively) easy to spot. Students do not need to interfere with displays or look inside classrooms, the Easter bunny has hidden them all outside.
If students come to the humanities office at break or lunch they can swap their laminated egg with a real chocolate one!
Well done to Gamma House for securing the highest attendance!!!
'uh-NOM-uh-lee'
Meaning:
Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. (noun)
Example:
The scientist identified an anomaly in the results and had to re-do the experiment.
The sudden drop in temperature in June was an anomaly.
The anomaly in the experiment was due to a broken thermometer.
Synonyms:
Exception, peculiarity, inconsistency, quirk
'koh-hee-zhuhn'
Meaning:
The action or fact of forming a united whole (noun)
Example:
The strength of their essay was its cohesion.
The surface tension is due to the cohesion of the water molecules.
The team lost the game because they lacked cohesion.
Synonyms:
Unity, togetherness, coherence, solidarity, connection
Screentime is classed as any time spent in front of a screen, so it includes everything from watching tv to completing homework on a laptop. Whilst there is no recommended screentime (except for under two, which is zero), it is important that we find a balance. Screentime can obviously be beneficial, both for educational and entertainment purposes, however it is important to be aware of the risks, such as:
Eye strain.
Disrupted sleep.
Less time for other activities and being outdoors.
Affects our attention span.
Further information
Childnet discuss what is screentime and how much screen time is enough in this useful article:
https://www.childnet.com/help-and-advice/screen-time-boundaries-parents/
