Dear Parents/Carers

Welcome to the very first edition of Head’s Heralds of the new academic year!

For our new Year 7 parents and carers, Head’s Herald is our weekly publication, shared every Friday, bringing you a message from me alongside key information, important updates and things you need to know about life at Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School.

I would encourage you to make Head’s Herald part of your Friday routine. It is not only an important source of information, but also gives you a real insight into what is happening across our school, the achievements of our young people and the many things that make The Boteler Family such a special place to belong.

As we have only been back for a few days, this first edition is simply a message from me – but what a start we have had!

What an amazing start!

It has been absolutely wonderful to welcome our young people back through the school gates. The energy, enthusiasm and sense of excitement around the building has been fantastic, and the interactions I have had with our students over these first few days have been overwhelmingly positive. I am delighted to be back at the helm of The Boteler Family, and I can honestly say that I love every aspect of my job. What makes that possible is you – our incredible Boteler community.

We are exceptionally fortunate to have such committed staff, supportive parents and carers, and young people who continue to make us incredibly proud. There is a real sense of togetherness within our school, and that is something I never take for granted.

A strong foundation for the year ahead

Many of you will have seen my recent letter celebrating our excellent examination results. These results are something we should all be extremely proud of, and they provide a wonderfully positive foundation upon which we can continue to build academically. However, while academic success matters enormously, what makes me most proud is the holistic development of our young people.

Our ambition is not simply to achieve strong examination results. We want our students to become confident, resilient, compassionate and ambitious young adults who are equipped to succeed in whatever path they choose. We want every young person to discover their strengths, develop their talents, overcome challenges and believe in what they are capable of achieving. That is what education should be about.

Welcome, Year 7!

A particularly warm welcome to our new Year 7 students and their families. Our newest members of the Boteler Family have made a fantastic start. They are settling in beautifully, and I was incredibly impressed by their behaviour and engagement during our Collective Worship session together on Thursday morning. They are already beginning to find their feet, make new friends and become part of our community.

Year 7, you have made a brilliant start – keep it going!

To all of our students, I want you to remember that every day is an opportunity to learn something new, challenge yourself and become the very best version of yourself.

Our shared expectations

As we begin the new academic year, I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of our shared expectations, particularly around school uniform. Thank you to the many parents and carers who have contacted us with such positive comments about the new skirts and, more broadly, about the communication that has taken place over such a long period of time. I genuinely do try to think through every situation from the perspective of our young people and families, and I want our communication with you to be clear, thoughtful and helpful.

Our expectations exist for a reason. They help us create a school environment where everyone can feel proud to belong, where standards are high and where our young people understand that presentation, conduct and attitude all matter. Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain these standards.

The year ahead

There is so much to look forward to. This year will bring challenges, opportunities, successes, experiences and memories that I hope our young people will carry with them for many years to come.

Our message remains simple:

HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

HIGH ASPIRATIONS.

HIGH STANDARDS.

YOU WILL SUCCEED.

These aren’t simply words on a wall. They represent our belief in every single young person. We will expect a great deal from our students because we believe they are capable of achieving great things. We will challenge them because we know that challenge creates growth. We will support them because we know that nobody succeeds alone. And we will celebrate them because every achievement, whether big or small, matters.

Be part of something special

To our students: make this year count. Be brave. Be curious. Be kind. Take opportunities. Try things that might scare you. Learn from your mistakes. Celebrate the successes of others. And never allow a setback to convince you that you cannot succeed.

To our parents and carers: thank you for being such an important part of our community. Your support, encouragement and partnership make an enormous difference to the young people we serve.

And to our staff: thank you for everything you do, every single day. Your commitment, care and belief in our young people is what makes us who we are.

We are, quite simply, The Boteler Family.

And when a family works together, supports one another and believes in what is possible, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

So, as we begin another academic year, let’s make it an exceptional one.

Let’s aim high. Let’s work hard. Let’s look after one another. Let’s celebrate every success.

And most importantly, let’s make it amazing together.

I am incredibly proud to be your Headteacher, incredibly proud of our young people and incredibly excited about everything that lies ahead.

Welcome back, Boteler Family.

Let’s make this our best year yet.

Beverley Scott-Herron

Headteacher