Dear Parents/Carers
What a wonderful week it has been in school. On Wednesday evening, we were delighted to take part in the Christmas Come to TCAT celebration at Parr Hall. It was an amazing event that brought together all academies across the trust – primary, secondary and college – for a truly impressive collaborative showcase. A special highlight was the audience participation in Deck the Halls, which brought so much festive joy to the theatre. I would like to give particular thanks to Mrs Graham, who organised the event with such skill and passion. We are incredibly proud of her along with all of the students and staff involved. What a show!
Looking ahead, we have several Christmas events that we are very excited about. We warmly invite all families to join us for our Christingle service at the beautiful St Elphin’s Church on 16th December at 18:00. This is always a special moment in our school calendar, and we hope to see many of you there.
On 17th December, we will be hosting our Community Christmas Party. Our talented hospitality students will be preparing the food, and we are expecting a very important visitor—Father Christmas himself! It promises to be a lovely event for our community.
As you know, we are still awaiting the Ofsted call. If it does not come on Monday, it will arrive after Christmas. Thank you for the continued support, positivity and encouragement surrounding this visit—it genuinely makes a difference.
Attendance has been a real challenge recently due to the high levels of flu and seasonal illness. We hope that the worst is now behind us and look forward to welcoming back those who have been unwell. Please do continue to take care: keep warm, stay hydrated, take vitamins where appropriate, and ensure students bring a water bottle to school. As a reminder, only water is permitted in classrooms.
As we move into the final two weeks of term, it is important that we remain focused. There will, of course, be festive fun as we approach the end of term, but maintaining our high standards now ensures we all enter the Christmas break feeling prepared and ready for a strong start in January.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support. Wishing you a restful and enjoyable weekend when it arrives.
Beverley Scott-Herron
Headteacher
KS3 Working At (WA) Assessments
Attendance & Absence
We would like to express our sincere thanks for your continued support during what has been a challenging period for many families in relation to illness. As you will be aware, there has been a noticeable increase in seasonal illnesses nationally, including flu, which has been highlighted by the NHS and other health agencies as an area of current concern.
We know that managing childhood illness, work commitments and daily routines can be difficult, and we truly appreciate the responsible and proactive approach our families take when communicating with us. Your cooperation helps us maintain strong attendance, support student wellbeing, and ensure that our school continues to run smoothly for everyone.
Your commitment to keeping us informed — particularly by reporting absences daily — enables us to track patterns, respond appropriately, and continue promoting a healthy and supportive school environment. Thank you for working closely with us, especially at this time of year when winter viruses circulate more widely.
We remain committed to supporting our students, families and staff, and we are grateful for the partnership we share with you. Together, we can continue to prioritise wellbeing and learning.
Years 7 – 11 Childhood Flu Immunisations – DATE CHANGE
Please click on the following link to view a letter and consent form from the Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral School Age Immunisation Service, regarding the upcoming Flu Immunisations. Please note that the date of this has changed and the Immunisations Team will now be in school on Tuesday 16th December.
If you have any questions, please contact the Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral School Age Immunisation Service.
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF)
PSB Christmas Fayre
We are holding our Annual PSB Christmas fayre on Monday 15th December from 15:00 – 17:00 for our students in the school hall.
If you can donate any toys/games/teddies/health and beauty products/raffle prizes then please drop off at reception.
Year 11
Please ensure your child has applied to at least one post 16 educational establishment before we break up for Christmas. If you need to speak to our career advisor please email amawby@boteler.org.uk. Warrington Vale Royal college will be in school on Monday 15th December to support with outstanding applications.
Keele University will also be delivering a workshop to Year 11 students on Monday 15th December as part of their Careers Learning Journey.
Year 10
80 students in Year 10 will be spending the day at Keele University on Thursday 11th December. Students will have the chance to learn about life as a student, courses and finance which in turn will help them to make informed decisions about their future.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is home to world‑class research in astronomy, physics, and space science. We operate cutting‑edge facilities across the UK, enabling discoveries that push the boundaries of engineering, technology, and science.
Our mission is clear: to deliver national and international research and innovation capabilities that unlock the secrets of the Universe. Alongside this, we inspire the next generation by using the excitement of science to encourage young people to pursue STEM subjects and careers.
Why choose an STFC Apprenticeship with us?
Our Gold‑accredited, award‑winning Apprenticeship Scheme offers you the chance to:
- Gain hands‑on experience with world‑leading projects
- Professional development, in a supportive, expert-led environment
- Real impact from day one
- Earn while you learn, with structured training and mentoring
Don’t miss out on this chance to kickstart your career with STFC – we are ‘Investors In People gold standard accredited’ – register now for our Apprenticeship Open Evening!
Information Talks: 5:30pm, 6:15pm, 7:00pm
Last entry 7:00pm.
Confirmed 2026 Apprenticeship Vacancies @ Daresbury Laboratory
We are looking for people who will relish the opportunity to work within STEM towards their chosen apprenticeship, developing their knowledge, skills and behaviours whilst making a real difference in their role.
We are recruiting for the following apprentice roles:
Engineering
- Level 3 Engineering Technician – Mechatronics
- Level 3 Engineering technician – Electrical/Electronics
- Computing (Degree Level only)
- Level 6 Visualisation Software Engineer
- Level 6 Data Science
- Science/Business Support
- Level 3 Business Administration
- Level 3 & 4 Project Management
- Level 6 Digital Marketer
- Level 3 Vacuum Laboratory Technician
To find out more about the work of UKRI and STFC, and how you can help to make a real-world impact, you can scan the QR code below to view our careers page. Within that you will also find a link to access the upcoming apprenticeship roles which will be live and accepting applications from 5th January 2026:
At Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School, we truly value the partnership between home and school. When parents and carers are actively engaged in their child’s education, the impact on progress, confidence, and wellbeing is significant. This week, we want to highlight the many ways you can get involved and help us continue building a strong, supportive school community.
Here are some simple but effective ways parents and carers can stay connected and positively influence their child’s learning:
- Talk about learning at home
Ask specific questions about what your child has learned each day. Focusing on subjects, activities, or challenges helps them reflect and stay motivated. - Celebrate the small wins
Recognising progress – big or small – boosts confidence and encourages positive habits. - Use Parent Arbor App to stay informed
Regularly checking rewards, and behaviour logs helps maintain strong communication between home and school. - Attend school events where possible
Parents’ evenings, performances, forums, and celebration events all help strengthen the link between you, your child, and the school community. - Encourage organisation and routines
Helping your child plan their week, pack their bag, or revise for assessments has a huge impact on learning and self-management. - Stay in touch with us
If you ever have concerns or ideas, please reach out. Communication works best when it goes both ways.
Join Our Parental Working Group
We are developing a Parental Working Group to help shape future engagement strategies and ensure parent and carer voice is at the heart of our decisions. This group will meet termly to discuss key topics, share ideas, and offer feedback on how we can continue to improve.
If you are interested in being part of this group, please use the link below to sign up.
Parent Forum Working Group – Fill in form
Mental Health Support Team: Year 7 Workshop
Our Mental Health Support Team recently visited to deliver an engaging workshop for our Year 7 students focused on emotional regulation and positive coping strategies. The session introduced students to practical tools for recognising and managing their emotions, helping them build confidence in navigating everyday challenges. Through interactive activities and guided discussions, students explored healthy ways to express their feelings, calm overwhelming moments, and support one another. We are proud to partner with the team to promote wellbeing and equip our young people with skills that will benefit them both in and out of the classroom.
English Department
Theatre Trip – Macbeth
The English department are delighted to offer our students the opportunity to watch a Storyhouse Original production of Macbeth at Storyhouse, Chester. This adaptation of Macbeth promises: “a bold new production bringing the original text to life with power, pace and atmosphere. This is the Macbeth you know and love: the witches, the prophecy, the blood-soaked ambition – all in a haunting, high-stakes world where fate and power collide.”
The English department has reserved tickets for 40 students to experience the above production on Thursday, 19th March 2026. The coach will leave school at 15:30 and return to school at approximately 20:00.
- Tickets will be offered to Year 11 students only, due to popularity and availability.
- Places will be given on a first come, first served based.
- Payment and return of reply slip must be made to confirm attendance. Failure to provide the reply slip will result in losing trip space. No refund will be made.
- The performance will start at 17:00 and will be followed by a Q&A with members of the cast and creative team.
- We recommend your child brings a packed dinner with them.
We are very pleased and grateful to say that a significant contribution to the cost of this trip has been made by the Boteler Trust. Therefore, the cost of the visit is £6; this includes show ticket, and coach travel.
For a trip letter containing the required reply slip please see Miss Ward in Room 23.
Full payment and return slip is due by Friday, 19th December 2025 to enable the department to purchase the reserved tickets. If the final payment date is missed, then students will lose their place and no refunds will be given.
Please note that the performance will include audio description, captions and will be BSL interpreted.
Cheshire Prize for Literature
Please click on the link below for details of the next Cheshire Prize for Literature competition which is now open for entries.
Music Department
