Weekly Mailing to Parents and CarersÂ
Friday 20 May 2022
Dear Parents and Carers This week’s mailing contains important information for you and your children as well as updates on school With very best wishes for the weekend, Ms Jo Butler Headteacher |
Important Reminders |
Week commencing Monday 23 May is Week A Polite reminder to Parents/CarersIn our continued efforts to minimise the spread of the COVID-19 virus, can we please remind Parent/Carers not to come into School, unless you have a booked appointment with a member of staff. This is to protect yourselves and members of the school community. Contagious InfectionsPlease can all parents notify school if they have chickenpox, shingles or measles in the household. We have students and staff with compromised immunity and have been advised to notify them if these infections are present in the school community. |
Good News |
Keep us postedIt 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. Email us: weeklymailing@cotham.bristol.sch.uk Well done to Cody in Year 10 GCSE Food!!Cody missed the lesson making Ravioli but was still keen to make his Ravioli at home, see images below. Â Image1Â Image2Â Image3Â Image4Â Year 10 are currently practising higher level skills in preparation for future assessment in Year 11. |
Important and New Information for Parents and Carers |
School Meals Menu Change during Term 6Due to unavoidable, emergency maintenance to the main school kitchen and our facilities, our school caterers’ ability to prepare and serve hot food during Term 6 will be significantly compromised. During the week commencing Monday 6 June, the menu will consist of a cold food offer: Breaktime service: fruit and fruit pots, sandwiches and a limited selection of other cold snacks Lunchtime service: sandwiches, wraps, fruit and fruit pots, and a limited selection of other cold snacks Cold food ‘Meal deals’ will continue to be available. All free school meal entitlements will be maintained. During the week commencing Monday 13 June, the menu will be expanded to offer: Lunchtime service: In addition: hot pasta dishes, jacket potatoes, pasties and cold salad pots. ‘Meal deals’ will continue to be available. All free school meal entitlements will continue to be maintained. Unfortunately the emergency maintenance will take approximately 90 days to complete. After this time a full menu will be reinstated in September.  May we thank you in advance for your support and patience while this work is completed. Year 11 Leavers Party/Prom 2022Parents/ Carers of Y11 students, prom tickets are available to buy. Follow this link for more information. If your child is attending this event, please ensure consent forms are completed. If you need help with finance to buy a ticket, please contact Ms Wellington directly. The doughnut sale and non-uniform day will add to prom funds to try to ensure everyone that wants to go, can. Any questions please email: cothamleavers2022@yahoo.com Thanks the Prom team Free School Meals Vouchers for half TermFamilies in receipt of Free School Meals will be receiving Free School Meal vouchers up to the value of £15 per week per child to support during the May half term holiday period.  These vouchers have been provided by Bristol City Council. Vouchers will be emailed to families by the end of next week. Lost Property at Student receptionIf your child has lost an item, please refer them to the lost property cupboard at Student Reception before the end of term.  Any items not collected will be donated to charity. Please ensure that your child's items are clearly labelled to assist with returning any lost property found. Bristol Libraries Summer Reading ChallengeBristol Libraries will be running the Summer Reading Challenge again this year with children being able to sign up online for the digital version and in person at libraries. This year the theme is science and the Challenge is called Gadgeteers.  The challenge is free of charge, children just have to be a library member/ join the library. Children read or share at least 6 books over the summer holidays, collecting stickers for each book they read and receiving a medal and certificate as they complete the challenge.  The library is teaming up with the Science Museum Group for a very special science-themed Challenge, to show children that science is all around us every day and inspire them to unleash their curiosity and creativity!  Gadgeteers will feature amazing books, awesome rewards, and plenty of creative and fun science! It’s free! More info at www.summer reading challenge.org.uk. School Uniform ShopHarris’ pop up shop will be on site on Main Reception, Thursday 26 May from 2.00pm - 3.15pm. Meanwhile, you can shop online hereYouth Drop-InYouth Drop-In @ Woodlands Church, Belgrave Road BS8 2AA. Every Tuesday from 15:00 - 16:30 Anyone in Y7-Y11 welcome to come along. Sessions include:
Code ClubStudents can come along to D109 every Wednesday afterschool to explore coding, game design and cyber skills. For more information about Cyber Explorers and Code Club contact Mr Keen keene@cotham.bristol.sch.uk Preparing for Assessments PortalPreparing for Assessments can be stressful and hard work, which is why we have created a bespoke Preparing for Assessments portal for students and parents. The portal has been created to reduce that stress of assessments by showing students and parents the most effective preparation techniques to use for an assessment. It also shows students how they can look after their mental wellbeing during their assessment preparations. There is a short video on the homepage that explains how to use the portal. Free GCSEPod Parent WebinarsJoin a GCSEPod webinar and find out how you can use GCSEPod to support your child’s learning plus get tips and guidance on effective home learning practises. Book online here. Google Classroom email summaries for parents and carersSummaries will be sent to parents and carers on either a daily or weekly basis depending on the option that you selected when you signed up. You can check and amend the frequency of your emails by visiting https://classroom.google.com/gs. If no work has been set for your child since your last email, you will not receive an email until the next piece of homework is set.  Google has written a comprehensive user guide which can be found here. If you have misplaced the invitation link, please email us at GCSupport@cotham.bristol.sch.uk with the name of your child and their tutor group and we will resend the invitation to you. Library updateThe library is usually open at break-time, lunch-time, and before and after school. This is to allow students to exchange books, complete their homework, and to read quietly. Please check the opening times on the library door as they may vary.  We need our books back please Please have a really good look at home for all outstanding library books and textbooks. Students receive weekly reminder emails to their school email account. We send reminder emails to parents/guardians at the end of every term. Please return books directly to the library. To check which titles are on your account, please login to AccessIt.  Year 11 and Year 13 Leavers All textbooks and library books on loan to Y11 and Y13 must be returned after the exam period. We are aware that some GCSE books may be stored in classrooms and will be returned by the subject teacher. Year 11 deadline for return is Thursday 23 June. Year 13 deadline for returns is Friday 24 June. Year 13 students will have their deposits refunded on Wisepay once their library accounts are clear at both Cotham School and Redland Green School. Students must return these items directly to the correct school library to guarantee their deposits are refunded promptly. Please contact library@cotham.bristol.sch.uk if you have any questions about this. Please do not return items to teaching staff, but return them directly to the library. When the library is closed they can also be returned to:                         -the returns box outside the Main Library                         -the return box at Main Reception
Post-16 Textbooks Post 16 students must arrange their own textbook loans in person at the main library at Cotham School. Year 12 will need to pay their £25 deposit on Wisepay or have a confirmed Bursary application before they are able to borrow. Please email our Post-16 Coordinator at iqbals@cotham.bristol.sch.uk if you have any questions about the deposit scheme. Reading suggestions
We have some new ebook titles recently added this month- please click here. To watch a video on Youtube about the platform click here. To read more about the accessibility adjustments available on this platform click here. Â
Homework clubAll students are welcome to come to the homework club in the library every day after school until 15:45. They have access to all of the resources in the library and there are staff on hand to help anyone who may need it. Prayer/Reflection RoomThe Prayer/Reflection Room in the Main Hall is open to students in Years 7, 8 and 9 and staff on Mondays and Fridays for quiet reflection/prayer. Word of the WeekEach week at Cotham School we promote a Word of the Week. This is to help students expand the range of vocabulary they use. |
Student Wellbeing and Safeguarding |
Charlie Waller, one of the UK’s most respected mental health charities, helps young people to understand their own mental health, to equip them to support themselves and those around them and to empower them to talk more openly about mental health.  Much of their work takes place in partnership with those who have responsibility for young people - families, schools, colleges, universities, and employers. Here are some free downloadable booklets for families/carers and young people giving practical tips: Wellbeing Action Plan (young person) – Charlie Waller Trust shop Supporting a child with anxiety – Charlie Waller Trust shop and for more free downloadable resources: Free practical mental health resources | Charlie Waller Trust Mental Health Event for ParentsOne of the local youth work teams is putting on an event for parents to learn more about mental health with practitioners. 'The Parenting Sessions are three free evenings from three experts about parenting teenagers for emotional wellness. The parenting sessions however, aren't just for parents of teens who are currently struggling, but for any parent, youth worker or teacher who wants to know how to help teenagers navigate life's pressures. Evenings include a talk, discussion and Q&A. Limited tickets available sign up for your free place here. Bristol Parent Carers - new online courses for parents whose child is awaiting an autism assessmentBristol, North Somerset and South Glos (BNSSG) Parent Carer Forums have joined together to provide an online event for Parent Carers in these areas who have a child (Aged 0-18) currently awaiting an Autism assessment. This session is presented by Corrina Wood, Platypus Training and will focus on: signs, symptoms, support and strategies. Even if your child does not receive a diagnosis of autism following assessment, the strategies you learn in this course are likely to still prove helpful. This will be held on:  Tuesday 24 May – 7-9pm – An Introduction to Autism (Age 8-18) Click here to book Autism Family Courses 2022: Teenage Life
To book on one or more of the courses on the attached flyer, please email teenagelife@bristol.gov.uk SafeguardingOur safeguarding duties no longer stop at the school gates. The boundaries between in-school and out-of-school incidents are now blurred, as social media and technology give students 24/7 access to each other. Problems may be more pervasive now, but screenshots and chat logs have made them easier to evidence. Whisper is an anonymous reporting tool for any member of our school community (students, parents, staff), or members of the public to have a safe way to disclose any issues or concerns in confidence. The tool allows you to report your concerns without fearing consequences and allows the school to investigate the information that we receive. You can find out more about the tool here. The link to our Cotham School Whisper tool for reporting anonymously is here and can also be found on the school website under the 'Useful Links' section. Online safety newsletter - May editionAre you concerned about your child's online gaming? Want to educate yourself about the risks and what you can do to keep them safe? Click here to view this month’s online safety newsletter and here for an Online Safety booklet which includes an overview of key parental controls. |
Subject Area News |
PE Extra Curricular Activities Term 5 and Term 6Attached here is an updated PE extra curricular timetable for Terms 5 and 6. Booking is not required, just come along. The PE Faculty will be running a number of summer sports clubs after school 3-4pm and it would be great to see lots of students attend these sessions. We will also be competing in the Bristol Schools rounders, cricket and athletics competitions. If students are interested in representing the school, it would be great to see them attend clubs as well as telling us about which teams/clubs they compete for, especially if they are at an athletics club. Core PE LessonsAs we move into the summer term, the weather should hopefully be getting warmer therefore, it is really important that all students bring a water bottle when taking part in their PE lessons. If it is extremely sunny, please make sure your child puts on sunscreen before coming to school or brings some with them.  Sporting Achievements Outside of SchoolAs in previous years, it would be great to hear about students' achievements outside of school. Please email info@cotham.bristol.sch.uk for the attention of the PE Faculty, also you can tweet us at @cothampe |
KS3 News |
Year 7 examsYear 7 exams take place from Monday 16 to Friday 27 May.  Please find the timetable here and a booklet here to support you and your child. |
KS4 News |
Y11 Maths EquipmentA reminder that it is essential that Y11 students bring the correct equipment to their Maths GCSE exams. As well as pen, pencil, and ruler they must make sure they have their own compass and protractor, and a scientific calculator. These can be purchased from most big supermarkets as well as stationery shops. The school does not have the capacity to provide these so students must ensure they bring their own and know how to use them. The three Maths exam dates are 20 May  (non-calculator),  7 June (calculator), and 13 June (calculator). Thank you for your support with this. |
Post 16Â News |
Job opportunityWould your child like to earn some money whilst being at school? We are currently looking for lunchtime supervisors. More details can be viewed here Summer Exam FAQsThis week Mrs Potter has sent out an FAQ document for Y13 and foundation students which should answer any questions students and parents/carers may have. If you have any queries, please contact the P16 team. UWE libraryIf you join any public library in Bristol, you also then have access to the UWE library which is open from 7:30am until 8pm Monday - Friday and 10am until 4pm on weekends. You will need to initially visit, during staffed hours in order to be registered on their system.  Year 12Reports will be sent home by the end of this term with mock results and predicted grades. Any students who get a U in their mocks will be given an opportunity to sit a re-mock. This will take place in term 6 to allow students time to reflect on feedback and revise over the half term. Year 13Leavers assemblyToday we said goodbye to Y13 and celebrated their time with us in their leavers assembly. We are so proud of all of Y13 for the resilience and determination they have shown throughout their sixth form experience. We would like to remind them that we will still be supporting them throughout exams and they should reach out for extra support. Exam timetablesFinal exam timetables with rooming and set numbers have been sent out. Any queries should be directed to a member of the P16 team. Library depositsWe know that students are still making good use of all of their textbooks but a reminder that all library books and textbooks need to be returned to the main library at Cotham when exams have finished. This is to ensure that we can then refund the £25 deposits. University deadlinesDeadline for accepting your firm and insurance choices: If you receive your last decision on or before 19 May 2022, your reply date is 9 June 2022 (except if you're using Extra to find a place).  If you receive your last decision on or before 14 July 2022, your reply date is 21 July 2022 (including extra choices)  Deadline for student finance applications: 20 May 2022. Student finance will accept applications after this date but it may cause there to be a delay in you receiving the money. |
Staff Vacancies |
Cotham School are currently recruiting for the following positions:
For more information and to apply please click here. |
Cotham Futures |
Year 11 Leavers 2022A JTL apprenticeship can be started at 16 (once individuals have a National Insurance number) and completed within 4 years. Our programmes are suitable for those who are practically minded and who want to start earning a wage straight away. There is plenty of demand for new talent in the sector with excellent earnings potential (fully qualified electricians and plumbers can earn salaries of £32k and over) and huge potential to progress up the career ladder. We have created a short film to help explain how to get started with a JTL apprenticeship in 6 simple steps, which we invite you to share with your pupils. She Talks Science Conference WebinarsPlease see below an opportunity from Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, for prospective undergraduate Women in STEM: A series of webinar talks from Murray Edwards College postgraduate students, covering a range of topics from cancer research to metallurgy.  The programme includes: Â
Speaker schedule
Who is the event for? The event is for students who identify as female with particular interest in taking a STEM subject at university. How do I sign up? Please sign up using this form - you can attend as many talks as you like! Work Experience UpdateMassive congratulations to all students who have found a Work Experience placement for the week of 27 June - 1 July. There are now over a hundred students who have submitted forms for placements which, given the continuing uncertainty and extra precautions around Covid and the fact that many people now work from home is really excellent news. Our window to submit placements for Health and Safety checking is now closed and we are unable to take any more forms. We understand that there has been disappointment for some students and we share your frustration.  We warmly invite any student  to look for a placement in the summer holidays, which does not need to be agreed by the school. For students with placements, we are running 2 tutor times to give some ideas for preparation for Work Experience and how to get the best out of it. All resources used will be posted to the students' Careers google classroom page after the sessions. There will also be an assembly in June. Students without placements and students whose placement is less than a week long or in a different week will be expected in school as normal during the week of 27 June - 1 July. For any questions about work experience, please contact the Careers team at careers@cotham.bristol.sch.uk Year 11 summer holiday activitiesPlease see this newsletter containing details and a link for a final NCS virtual Parents Evening happening on Wednesday 25 May. There are now very limited spaces on our summer programmes with 2 of the 4 dates now completely sold out.  Book soon to ensure your place. Sustainable Business ExhibitionThe Festival of Sustainable Business Exhibition will be the go-to place to find out what your business can do to address the climate and ecological emergency. Find out how sustainability can make business sense for you. The free day is jam-packed full of activities for you to develop your knowledge and network: Register to attend the free exhibition showcasing interactive sustainability-related products and services at Paintworks - Thursday 23 June 2022 - 09:30 – 16:00 31 May and 2 June,  Burges Salmon Insight days – onlineDuring May half-term, on Tuesday 31 May & Thursday 2 June, Burges Salmon will be hosting two information days to provide students who have an interest in law and the legal sector with insights into career opportunities in the profession and the supporting business services. The events will include various talks, for example from a legal trainee and both of their legal and business professional apprentices, as well as interactive group exercises and an optional advice clinic, facilitated by the HR team, on the application and recruitment process.  Further information about these events can be found here. Have you looked at Find an Apprenticeship Recently? ÂThere are more than 20,000 apprenticeship opportunities currently advertised on Find an apprenticeship. You can search by level, location, keyword and category. Take a look! Year 11 Careers: What are my Post-16 options? What can I study? Where can I study?It is an exciting, challenging and (sometimes) anxious time for year 11 students and their parents as they begin to consider options for learning after secondary education. Many colleges and other providers are now inviting you to visit in person to find out what is on offer for you in Bristol, although some of these open days may still be on-line events you can access from home. Please find attached the Post 16 Directory supplied by the Local Authority.  Together with the Open Events Calendar made by the Careers Team at Cotham School for your pleasure.  (This is a live document which will be amended as and when provider notices are available). ApprenticeshipsFor a Parent/ Carer introduction to Apprenticeships, watch this short video from ASK Apprenticeships. Follow the links for  apprenticeship vacancies advertised by City of Bristol College Apprenticeship Bulletin and South West Apprenticeship Company. Other apprenticeships can be found through the Gov website here, Target Careers, Success at School , Get My First Job and Not Going to Uni. Futures BulletinOur Post 16 Futures Bulletin is packed with opportunities for you to meet employers, universities and receive information and advice about how to apply for apprenticeships and make successful applications. For careers and opportunities please visit our website. |
Covid-19 ‘Living with Covid - 19’ |
COVID Measures in school - Face coverings are no longer mandatory anywhere in the school but can still be worn anywhere on site should any member of the school community wish to do so.Government guidance has been received that with immediate effect the school will no longer be able to order home testing kits (LFT) to distribute to students. Should parents and carers want to order home test kits (LFT), they can be ordered here.  Any positive result (two lines) on an LFT should result in isolation regardless of whether or not the student has symptoms. If your child has covid symptoms or is asymptomatic but tests positive for covid through a LFT or PCR test they must not attend school but stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They should remain at home until they no longer have a temperature and are well enough to return to school or in the case of receiving a positive test when symptom free remain at home for three full days. We will continue to monitor the number and transmission of cases in school. Should cases rise, we will under the guidance of the local Health Security Agency potentially need to implement the schools contingency measures. If this does need to happen then we will write and provide all of the information to you. |
Useful Links and Information |
Previous weekly mailingsPlease visit our website to find information previously circulated within our latest weekly mailings. Early closure for studentsWednesday 20 July 11:00am INSET dayThursday 21 July Assessment Calendars 2021/22Please find Assessment Calendars for Y7-11 below. These outline school assessments for each year group. Please note that the dates provided are for guidance only and may vary slightly based on each individual class needs. GCSEPodClick here to access GCSEPod which contains lots of revision resources for most GCSEs. Students self register through the website using their name and school details. Diagnostic questionsClick here to access. This site contains self marking quizzes with lots of templates including some from a range of exam boards. It’s easy to make your own questions in Microsoft PowerPoint too. Students sign up with their school Google account using the G+ button to automatically create a school account. EdmodoEdmodo is an application that can be used on both mobile devices and in the web environment to create an online community of practice. Edmodo is a free social learning platform that allows students to access the course content uploaded by their teachers. SenecaAll students and teachers now have free access to Seneca - a revision and homework platform making studying more fun. Seneca is an interactive way to learn official course content. Their web app covers 150+ exam board specific courses condensing what students need to know for their exams. The software is able to identify gaps in learning. For instance, when you get a question wrong, the platform will repeat the topic in different formats and their smart algorithm has proven to make students remember topics 2x faster. Seneca is totally free for students, teachers and parents. You can sign up via senecalearning.com Library accessThe library system is available to access from home at https://uk.accessit.online/cth05/. Please log in to the site to gain the full advantage of the online library resources, such as OneSearch. Please email us on library@cotham.bristol.sch.uk for your username and password. Free School MealsTo apply or check if your child is eligible for Free School Meals please click on this link. If you have any questions or need assistance please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Hopkins at Student Reception. Contact detailsPlease note the following telephone numbers and email addresses if you need to contact the school:
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