Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you again for all your feedback on the mobile phone proposal from September, your engagement is very much appreciated and some of the points you raised were very helpful and have shaped our rollout procedures. I have manged to respond individually to every communication that was sent. Again, if there is anything that you would like to contact me on going forward regarding this then please do not hesitate to contact me.  The comments from yourselves were overwhelmingly supportive and again many of you just wanted to know a little bit more about how it would work.

Taking on board all the feedback I have received form staff, students and parents/carers I am pleased to announce that we will proceed with the pouches from September with a company called PhoneLocker. Please have a look at the webpage Homepage – Lockable Phone Pouch We will be doing a formal launch of the product to explain what it is your child will receive in terms of the pouch and how it will all work, and, we will be inviting you in for an information evening in due course.

Mr Kinsey and Mr Leonard are the Operational Leads on this new strategy, as why we are using them directly will impact Standards, Behaviours, Attitudes, Well-being and Teaching & Learning, which are the areas they lead on.  I will oversee everything from a strategic standpoint and liaise with you, so your voice is heard and you feel fully supported as we transition to this next phase in our journey to excellence.

The mobile strategy is part of our wider drive for high standards and the relaunch I mentioned a few weeks back in the Head’s Herald.  As you can appreciate in order for this relaunch to work and for us to implement the mobile phone pouches there are some logistical complexities and a few things will need to change; for example, the entrance for students will have to be different as we will have to check that mobile phones are correctly locked in their pouches on entrance to the school. Another example being that uniform has to be right and so no one slips through the net, then we need support on entry. Rather than us trying to do this come September we are going to try the new entrance procedures and standards checks before we finish for the Summer. These changes will start from Monday 30^th June 2025.

From Monday 30^th June, students will only be allowed into school via the student entrance off Knutsford Road. They will not be allowed in through the Ball Hall or via the front of school, unless they are late. There will be a member of staff on that gate every morning. We will be moving to a single-entrance approach each morning, seeing the removal of all lines. The KS4 toilet external doors will be the only entrance and these will be staffed by SLT and Pastoral. This change will help us ensure all students are ‘ready to learn’ by checking uniform, equipment, and overall preparedness upon arrival. It is also a proactive step is in preparation for the new academic year, during which we will also implement mobile phone pouches.

The doors will be opened at 08.10 and those arriving early can sit in the Canteen (Year 7, 8 and 9) and Orangery (Year 10). From 08.20, students can make their way to Form Time, where Tutors will be available to supervise in their room.

At 08.25, all students make their way to Form. After 08.30, students are recorded as late. At the front door we will check uniform and appearance, then moving forward in September we will check ISP and pencil cases. In September mobile phones will be checked too, once the new system is up and running.

Tutors will still be responsible for equipment checks and reporting issues as per the current system. Students who have been challenged on the door in relation to a uniform or appearance issue that is unresolved, must receive a standards/uniform card which will inform Tutors.

If a student rides a bike to school, they will continue to head towards the Ball Hall where they will be met by a member of staff. They will then park their bike and then return to the front of building and enter via the KS4 doors. They will not be allowed in through the entrance nearest the Ball Hall. Also, the big metal gates near there will remain shut and not opened until the end of the school day. It is really important that all bikes are locked within our perimeter.

If a student attends Breakfast Club before 08.10, they must arrive via Reception and we will sign them in and do the checks.

The students should really not get this wrong, given the rules around standards have not changed and have been communicated out many times. Where a student makes poor choices, demonstrating defiance or failure to follow basic school rules, the sanctions system will be applied. Defiance and a poor response can lead to isolation, off-site direction to another school or even suspension. Repeat offenders will attend an SLT behaviour and standards panel or even a Governor panel where necessary. Parents and carers in these cases will be formally reminded that their child is attending school ill-prepared, and this disadvantages them in comparison to their peers and that is why we drive our High Expectations, High Aspirations and High Standards in order to succeed. Consistency and Certainty is the key to success!

The students are being fully briefed on this all week in preparation for Monday.

It is really important that uniform and learning standards are correct and I have given plenty of reminders around the expectations, but just for extra clarity. If there is defiance over the school rules then the student will risk being able to go on any educational visits or rewards trips for that academic year.  

• No jewellery is permitted. It will be confiscated and put in the safe and the item must be collected by a parents/carer. Please make sure your child does not have any facial piercings during term time as they will have to be removed. Choosing to be a part of the Boteler Family means you have to conform to the rules. This is not negotiable.
• Any non-uniform top, coat or jumper worn under a blazer at any time will be confiscated until the end of the day.
• Shoes must be appropriate and must be able to be polished. Shoes with any sports logo on are not permitted. Canvass shoes, trainers or boots are not permitted.
• When wearing a skirt, students must wear plain black knee socks or thick 70 denier plain black tights.
• Skirts must be no shorter than on the knee.
• Trousers must be tailored school trousers. Leggings, fashion trousers and flares are not permitted at any time.
• Brightly coloured hair and inappropriate styles are not permitted.
• All students must carry a bag and have a fully stocked pencil case, ISP and have a scientific calculator. A water bottle is recommended.
• All students are to carry a reading book.

I understand and appreciate there is a lot of information for you to digest and again if there are any questions then please do not hesitate to contact me. I will always make time for you and you can always come to me directly on bscott-herron@boteler.org.uk

Beverley Scott-Herron
Headteacher

Awards Evening – Sponsorship Opportunity

We are reaching out to respected businesses and organisations in our local community who share our values of High Expectations, High Aspirations, and High Standards, and who may wish to support and inspire the next generation of learners and leaders. We would like to invite you to support Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School through the sponsorship of an award at our prestigious Annual Awards Evening, which will take place on Wednesday 16th July 2025.

We welcome sponsorship of any amount, with previous contributions typically ranging between £50 and £100. Your donation will go directly towards:

• Funding trophies, medals, and certificates
• Supporting the running of the event
• Recognising student excellence and motivation

In return for your support, your business or organisation will be:

• Acknowledged in the official Awards Evening programme
• Publicly thanked during the event
• Promoted via our school website and social media platforms
• Given the opportunity to attend the event and present your sponsored award(s)

You may also choose to name an award after your business or educational establishment, helping to forge a lasting link between your organisation and our school community.

If you would like to sponsor an award or discuss this opportunity further, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Leonard directly via email at jleonard@boteler.org.uk  or by telephoning 01925 636414.

We would be grateful if you could confirm your interest by Friday 4th July 2025, to ensure inclusion in our printed materials.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support and celebrate the achievements of our students. Your generosity helps us to continue building a culture of aspiration and success at Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School.

 

 

Year 11

Good luck to our Year 11s who are taking part in their college induction days over the next 2 weeks.

 

Year 10

Reminder of the compulsory Year 10 visit to Warrington Vale Royal College on Wednesday 2nd July.  Information has been sent out and students need to be in school at normal time. 

 

Year 6

We welcome Year 6 students in this next week for their 2 Transition days in preparation for September.

 

Uniform Donations

 

 

 

 

Our PE department is welcoming donations of PE kit. If you have any items you can donate, please could they be dropped off at the PE department or brought to the main reception.

In addition to PE kit, we are welcoming donations of the following items of uniform.

-skirts

-bags

-blazers

-ties

–barely worn school shoes

These can be left in the box outside the main reception.

Please can we ask that any donated items be clean.

 

Former student Samantha Stringer; Teaching Assistant Miss Stringers’ daughter has won gold at the Gardener’s World Live summer show at the NEC Birmingham. Samantha has recently developed a hobby in gardening which then led to her showcasing on her social media platform. From this, Samantha then applied to create a show garden at the NEC. The garden preparations took months in the planning, back from when she applied for the show in January. Working with two nurseries and securing B&M as a sponsor, Samantha had great support from them, family and friends. It took 5 days to build the garden, and Samantha was awarded a gold medal for her efforts. The show then opened to the public for 4 days. Samantha got to meet some famous gardeners at the show as well as many lovely members of the public, who voted her People’s Choice runner up. Her main goal is to inspire others to get outside in nature and to love gardening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EAL Coffee Morning – A Warm and Successful Morning of Connection

On Wednesday 25th June, we were delighted to welcome parents and carers to our EAL Coffee Morning, led by Mr Burbidge. The event was a fantastic success, bringing together families from a wide range of backgrounds to connect, share experiences and learn more about how we support students with English as an Additional Language at our school.

Parents had the opportunity to:

Meet staff from the EAL team in a relaxed setting

Ask questions about support and progress

Share ideas and challenges

Enjoy refreshments while building a sense of community

The feedback we received was positive, with many parents expressing how valuable it was to feel welcomed and involved in their child’s school journey. Several commented on how helpful it was to understand more about the support available and to meet other families in similar situations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have been advised that the CYMPHS Response number (01744 415640) and Trust Crisis Line number (0800 051 0518)  are being phased out and replaced with the new NHS 111 Option for Mental Health for any immediate concerns/ risk with children and young people. 

If you are concerned about risk or safety of a young person, please contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option, this is available 24 hours. If you need immediate medical attention, you should visit your local A&E emergency department.

You can also access NHS 111 online via: 111.nhs.uk. If you aren’t able to make the call yourself, anyone can call on your behalf.

If you’re deaf or have hearing loss, please use the following link to be connected to a local crisis service: NHS 111 – British Sign Language (BSL) Service

 

 

Scholastic Book Fair – Friday 11^th to Wednesday 16^th July

We are delighted to inform you that we will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair in the school library from Friday, 11^th July until Wednesday, 16^th July.

The fair will contain a wide range of books, including many recently published titles, which are especially suitable for students across all year groups. Many of the books will be on offer at discounted prices.

Students in Year 7 – 9 will have the opportunity to visit the book fair during English lessons. Please see reverse to see when your child will visit the book fair. Further, we encourage parents and carers to attend the book fair along with your child on Friday, 11^th, Monday, 14^th and Tuesday, 15^th July between 15:00 – 16:30. Please complete the form to confirm your attendance: https://forms.office.com/e/sL36rmgaWj

Books can be purchased directly from the fair using cash, card or QR payment. Where titles sell out, orders can be placed for books including any that are discounted. All purchases or orders for books must be paid for at the fair.

Please be aware that all purchases from the book fair will be from Scholastic and not Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School. Therefore, iPay cannot be used to pay for items at this event. Should you wish to use your child’s Free School Meals voucher, please contact the relevant Head of Year who will confirm this.

I hope that you will be able to support your child if they wish to purchase a book and that you find the service of value and that it helps your child to further develop their reading skills and love of reading.

 

Duke of Edinburgh

Congratulations to all of our Year 9 students who completed their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Qualifying expedition last week. They walked a circular route from Lymm High School to Tatton Park and displayed fantastic teamwork and resilience the entire weekend despite the weather being very hot and challenging. We are very proud of their success and look forward to many of them joining the Silver Award next year. 

Our Year 10 Silver Award students are also due to complete their Qualifying Expedition in the Peak District soon, and we hope they are looking forward to a long walk in a beautiful part of the country.

For any students who might be interested in taking part in either of the Awards, Miss Barnes (Duke of Edinburgh Co-Ordinator) will be holding assemblies and information sessions in the new school year.

Food Technology

On the 20th June, Mrs Callaway attended the Fish Hero Teacher Awards and Conference, held at the historic Fishmongers’ Hall. The event celebrated six years of the Fish in Schools Hero programme, a national initiative that brings fish education into classrooms, giving students the opportunity to prepare, cook and taste fish. Mrs Callaway is one of 200 teachers from across the UK who was recognised for their inspiring work encouraging young people to learn about fish, healthy eating, sustainability, and even career opportunities in the seafood sector. The programme, funded by the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, and delivered by the Food Teachers Centre, supports schools by providing free fish deliveries, hands-on teacher training, classroom resources and exciting student masterclasses. Through their involvement, our students have gained valuable cooking skills and confidence, with many now saying they want to eat and cook more fish.

“I’m proud to be part of this amazing programme,” said Mrs Callaway. “It’s opened up new learning opportunities for our students and helped them experience ingredients they may not otherwise try.” The conference also featured expert talks on the importance of food education,

sustainability, and how fish supports both public health and the UK economy.

For more about the programme, visit: https://foodteacherscentre.co.uk/fish-heroes/ #FishHeroes #FoodEducation #TeachFood #ProudToTeachFood

   

 

 

 

TCAT Celebration of Excellence

On Tuesday 24th June our fabulous Vox One choir performed as part of the TCAT celebration of excellence event at the Parr Hall in Warrington. All 14 schools within the TCAT trust showcased their performing arts skills in what was a wonderful evening of entertainment. Our students sounded angelic, and you could hear a pin drop as they sang with finesse demonstrating amazing harmonising! We were immensely proud of them, and they represented everything we expect our Boteler students. 

 

DP trip to Lymm Fire Station

On Friday 20^th June a group of students from our Designated Provision visited an open day at Lymm Fire Station. We learnt about the various divisions and units the fire service has and how they attend different emergency situations.  During our tour we looked at different vehicles they firefighters use and got to watch a group of cadets practising drills to get victims out of cars when they have been in a road traffic accident. Another important section was the water safety talk and the CPR demonstration. Students were engaged and asked lots of great questions. We finished with a tour of Safety central before heading back to school. 

DP trip to Oulton Park

On Friday 20th June 6 students from the DP had the fantastic opportunity to visit Oulton park race track as part of their travel training course with Mr Gregory and Mr Sibia. Students were able to see behind the scenes of the British Touring cars event. The students got to go into the pits and were given a tour of the ITV studios. It was an amazing experience for the students and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. 

Rowing Regatta

On Wednesday 25th June our Year 8 students took park in the All Aboard Youth Rowing Summer regatta event at Warring Youth Rowing Club. 

They have worked hard all year building their technique and fitness within rowing and developing teamwork skills. This event was a chance to showcase all they’ve achieved 

It was an exciting morning and all the students gave 100%.

I am very proud of all the students, and they did exceptionally well. 

Results:- 

Boys 3rd 🥉 in Warrington regional 

Girls 3rd 🥉 in Warrington regional

Boys 3rd 🥉 overall out of 35 schools

Girls 9th overall out of 35 schools

We are all so proud of them and are thrilled that a couple of students will continue to row as they’ve joined Warrington rowing club.

Boteler Stagecraft Stage Design have been working hard on the props for our October performance, The Addam’s Family. Currently, students are designing signposts and bricks to be used in the set. 

 

 

 

Physical Education