Dear Parents/Carers
Boteler 500 – A Remarkable Week of Celebration
This week has been a truly special one for our whole school community as we have marked and celebrated the 500th anniversary of Sir Thomas Boteler, with our official anniversary falling this Sunday. It is not every day a school has the privilege of celebrating half a millennium of history, heritage and service, and it has been a profound honour to lead our school during such a significant moment.
Throughout the week we have held a range of wonderful events to commemorate this extraordinary milestone, bringing together students, staff, alumni and the wider community in celebration of all that makes Boteler so special. There has been a real sense of pride and occasion across the school, reminding us all that we are part of something far bigger than ourselves — a legacy stretching back to 1526.
Whilst my own years as Headteacher form only a small chapter in this long and distinguished story, I feel immensely proud to contribute to the ongoing legacy of what we proudly call the Boteler Family. Since beginning my role in 2014, it has been my privilege to help nurture a community built on High Expectations, High Aspirations and High Standards, rooted firmly in our Christian mission, Through God We Care, and underpinned by the values of Hope, Compassion and Endurance.
These celebrations have been a powerful reminder of the enduring values on which our school was founded by Sir Thomas Boteler — opportunity, service and ambition for young people — values that remain just as relevant and alive today. Our commitment remains unwavering: to ensure every child in our care is known, valued and given the very best education and opportunities to flourish.
I am incredibly proud of our students, who have represented the school so wonderfully throughout these celebrations, and deeply grateful to our dedicated staff and supportive parents and carers who make the Boteler Family what it is today. This anniversary is not only a moment to reflect on 500 remarkable years, but also to look forward with confidence and ambition to the next 500.
Please do keep an eye on our social media posts over the coming days, which will take you to our commemorative documentary and a range of memorabilia and historical features linked to this remarkable occasion. I do encourage you to explore these and join us in celebrating this extraordinary milestone.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this history and this legacy. What a privilege it is to be part of Boteler at such a special moment in its story.
Beverley Scott-Herron
Headteacher
School Uniform Update – Introduction of New School Uniform Supplier – Touchline
Please click on the link below for information regarding our new uniform supplier
Year 8 Immunisations – HPV
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 Year 8 Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. These vaccinations will take place in school on Tuesday 19/05/26.
Parent/Carer letter for HPV vaccines
If you have any questions, please contact the Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral School Age Immunisation Service.
Year 9 Immunisations – Catch up Clinics
If your child is in Year 9 and they did not receive their Year 9 immunisations in school this week, please click on the link for details of available catch-up clinics.
Copies of this form can also be collected from the school reception.
Youth Parliament
It is with great pride that we introduce the newly elected Member of Youth Parliament for Warrington South, Morgan. Alongside Morgan, Emily has been elected as the Deputy Member of Youth Parliament for Warrington South and Sara the Deputy Member of Youth Parliament for Warrington North. To have 3 students elected by other young people of Warrington for the 4 Warrington Parliament roles from our school is incredible and we can’t wait to see what they achieve.
We wish them luck over the next two years in their new roles and we will support them in making change happen for our young people of Warrington.
Year 10 Mock Interviews
This week, Year 10 took part in mock interviews with employers.
Students researched the company, prepared what they were going to say and how they would answer questions that they were asked, completed a mock interview and then received both written and verbal feedback. Students conducted themselves amazingly and clearly demonstrated their essential skills in this process. Many students were informed that if the interview was real, they would have been offered a job. Well done to Year 10 for another successful future pathways day.
Old Boys Visit to School
Ambassadors from Year 9 and 10 were delighted to meet and greet ‘The Old Boys’ from the Grammar school as they visited school this week to celebrate 500 years of our school.
Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day – The final amount raised was over £600. Students took part in the Easter egg Raffle where Sami Omar, Lili Miller and Alfie Duncan won. We also had a huge cake sale and the comic relief staff vs. students race where Isaac King, Ariana Marinos, Lexie Whyte and Denis Willcock took on Mr Vallender, Mr Davies, Mr McDonald and Mr White who wore fancy dress, all in the name of doing something funny for money! The teachers managed to take the win this year and the students thoroughly enjoyed cheering them all on.
Boteler Wider Curriculum
The wider curriculum programme can be found here: Wider Curriculum – Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School
Please look through it with your child and encourage them to attend the activities.
Uniform Donations
We are welcoming donations of the following items of uniform.
-skirts
-bags
-blazers
-ties
-PE Kit items
–barely worn school shoes
If you have any items you can donate, please could they be dropped off in the box outside the main reception. Please can we ask that any donated items be clean.
This half term promises to be a busy and exciting one, with plenty of opportunities for learning, enrichment and working together as a school community.
A key event taking place this half term is our Parent Forum, which will be held on Tuesday 14th May from 18:00 to 19:00. The focus of this forum will be Mental Health and Wellbeing, an area that remains incredibly important for our young people and families.
The session will provide an opportunity for parents and carers to:
- Learn more about how we support student wellbeing in school
- Discuss the challenges young people may face
- Explore practical strategies to support mental health at home
- Share ideas and feedback with school leaders
Refreshments will be provided on the evening, including tea, coffee and biscuits.
We strongly encourage parents and carers to attend and be part of this important conversation.
Further information about additional events and opportunities this half term will be shared in the coming weeks.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We look forward to a successful and positive half term ahead.
Sparx Reader Platform Trial
This term, students in Year 8 will be trialling a new online reading platform that will be used to support your child’s reading and literacy skills. Sparx Reader will provide significant benefits to students as it uses an individual reading test and AI to customise books recommended to your child. The test is unique to each child and is based upon their individual strengths, thus providing a fully individualised learning experience.
Year 8 students will be introduced to Sparx Reader by their English teacher after Easter, with their first session being their reading test. From this point, your child will be recommended texts by the platform and will be expected to complete 30-minutes of meaningful reading per week as homework. Please note, that as Sparx Reader is a whole school reading initiative, this homework will be in addition to and will not replace English homework. Sparx Reader is an online platform, meaning that all books can be accessed through a device such as mobile phone, tablet or laptop.
The first Sparx Reader homework will go live when we return from the Easter break on Monday 20th April. You will receive emails letting you know if your child has not completed their homework. This feature is automatic and will ensure that you are kept informed of their engagement. Students are expected to complete their Sparx Reader homework on a weekly cycle and it would be greatly appreciated if you could continue to support them to get into good habits in this regard.
Year 8 students will also have a fortnightly Sparx Reader session during their timetabled English lessons where they will be given the opportunity to read and for their teacher to check in, support and provide rewards and praise for their reading achievements.
Please see the below instructions on how to access the platform:
- Go to the Sparx Reader website (sparxreader.com)
- Choose student login from the menu in the top right-hand corner of the webpage
- Input the name of our school Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School
- Input your child’s username and password (School Outlook log in)
Why are we doing this?
Data collated by Sparx Reader demonstrates that students who complete 30-minutes of careful reading during each term time week, make significant progress in their reading age. This is on average an increase of 1.82 years.
At Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School, we believe that every child, regardless of background deserves to engage in meaningful reading and access the amazing skills, enjoyment and knowledge that reading enables.
For further information on the benefits of reading, please see below:
- National Year of Reading 2026 | National Literacy Trust
- What Are The Benefits Of Reading? | National Literacy Trust
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Miss Ward.
Hospitality
We are very proud for Mrs Scott-Herron to be awarded the Food Teachers Centre’s Head of Fish! For this competition, Headteachers were requested to cook a dish containing fish. Mrs Scott-Herron’s fish tacos, created from scratch during a Year 8 lesson, won the school £100 of fresh fish to use in practical lessons. Thank you and well done!
PE and Sport – A Strong Start to the Summer Term
It has been an exciting start to the term for our students in Physical Education, with impressive performances, growing confidence, and excellent commitment on display across a range of activities.
A special mention goes to one of our Academy Sport+ students who competed at an elite level in the Mountain Biking Downhill World Series Round 1 in Stockport. Finishing an outstanding 22nd place out of 98 competitors, this achievement reflects not only exceptional skill and determination but also the courage required to compete on an international stage. We are incredibly proud of this achievement from Tai in Year 10, and we wish him every success in the remaining competitions.
Our Year 7 girls have made a fantastic start to Rugby League during their first training session. The focus was on developing knowledge and understanding of the tackle technique and running with the ball, with students showing great enthusiasm and willingness to learn. It was particularly encouraging to see their confidence grow as they applied new skills in a safe and controlled environment and even got stuck in during a training game ready for their first official competition.
Meanwhile, the Year 7 boys Rugby League team have had a successful outing in the Summer 9s competition, securing 3 wins from 5 games. The team demonstrated excellent communication, and tactical awareness throughout the competition. Their ability to support one another and adapt during matches was a key factor in their success. It was great to see the boys understanding where the space and gaps in the oppositions defence might be.
Not only were our students in action playing sport, we witnessed a great display of student leadership as 5 of our Sports Leaders in Year 10 took to the Rugby pitch to referee the Year 7 Rugby League 9s. This was on our very own grass pitches. The boys were in their element and showed their maturity, knowledge of the game and exceptional leadership of younger students from other schools across Warrington.
In curriculum lessons, students across all year groups have made a strong start to Athletics, ensuring high-quality learning in disciplines including sprinting, javelin, triple jump, and shot putt. Students have shown focus and determination as they refine their techniques and push their performance levels. All of this work is building towards Sports Day 2026 in July, and it has been fantastic to see so many students striving to perform at their very best. The commitment, effort, and positive attitudes on display promise an exciting and competitive event ahead.
Well done to all our students that have attended PE lessons prepared with full and correct PE kit and a positive attitude to learning – keep up the excellent work!
Community Sports Facilities Now Available to Hire!
We are delighted to share some exciting news with our local community – our school sports facilities are now available to hire outside of school hours.
This opportunity has been made possible through our partnership with Progressive School Lettings, a specialist organisation dedicated to helping schools open their facilities to the wider community. Their mission is to transform underused school spaces into safe, accessible, and vibrant hubs for physical activity, supporting both young people and adults to stay active and engaged.
Facilities Available to Hire
We are proud to offer a range of high-quality facilities, including:
- Gym facilities – ideal for fitness sessions, training groups, and personal workouts, team meetings and performance analysis
- Dance studio – a versatile space perfect for dance classes, fitness sessions, and group activities
- Tennis and netball courts – suitable for clubs, casual play, and competitive fixtures
These facilities provide an excellent environment for a wide range of activities, from sports clubs and fitness classes to community events and group sessions.
Supporting Our Community
By opening our doors beyond the school day, we aim to:
- Encourage greater participation in sport and physical activity
- Provide local clubs and organisations with high-quality facilities
- Strengthen connections between the school and the wider community
How to Book
All bookings and enquiries are managed directly through Progressive School Lettings. Their dedicated team will guide you through the process and help you find the right space for your needs.
We look forward to welcoming members of our community onto site and seeing our facilities used to inspire activity, wellbeing, and connection.
For more information or to make a booking, please visit:
https://www.progressive-lettings.co.uk/ or call the team on 0300 303 2071.
Encounter Youth and Westy Youth are back!
All high-school age young people are welcome. E-mail our school youth worker kwellens@boteler.org.uk if you have any questions, or feel free just to turn up!
