Dear Parents/Carers
What a week.
I had the pleasure of attending Tyn-Y-Felin from Monday to Wednesday. I had the most amazing time with our wonderful young people. My first mission was to learn all their names – which I did. It was an absolute pleasure getting to know them and being able to chat to them in an informal setting. As a Headteacher you do not often get moments like this, and it was really special. I did adopt the mantra of the Boteler Mum that was for sure, from sorting out sandy clothes and shoes, to fixing watches and sorting hair styles out! However, I would not have changed any of it. We did a wide range of activities from crabbing to sand art and the weather stayed dry. The students were super and engaged really well. They were definitely tired by day 3. It was such a good opportunity for them to work together and to make strong bonds. You would never know they have only been in Year 7 for a relatively short period of time. What was also nice was I got to know the families a little better too and it is important that I create these links. Although I loved it I was very happy to have my own bed.
It has been very busy back at school, and the rehearsals are in full swing for our upcoming production of The Addams Family. Tickets are available to buy from school Reception – £3.50 or £2.50 concessions. It will be amazing, and I am so excited. I have nipped into a few rehearsals, and everything is going well so far. Please do not miss out.
I had a change of role today. Due to unforeseen circumstances the kitchen team were short. However, today was Chip Day, so I rolled up my sleeves and decided that I would help serve. I think I underestimated how hard it was and how hot it was going to be. I may not be invited back though, as my portion sizes were very generous. My argument was that they are my children, and I cannot help the ‘mother’ in me. As you can imagine this caused great hilarity with the students. I do think I was a bit slow – even though I thought I was going fast, and a few were late to period 5 as it was so so busy. I did of course apologise to the students and staff.
I am not sure what tomorrow is going to bring as it has been a very varied week. Please have a lovely weekend when it arrives. Thank you for your on-going support and if I can be of any assistance in any way please do not hesitate to contact me.
Beverley Scott-Herron
Headteacher
ESAs (Exam Skills and Agency)
Following recent information in the Head’s Herald about ESAs, I have shared a Year 10 example from RS in this edition. This is a significant document which accompanies and compliments classroom teaching in this topic for at least a whole school term. You will see how the ESA supports student learning across various aspects including; retrieval, providing models of good practice/WAGOLLs, oracy opportunities, knowledge checks, key words, definitions and cheat sheets amongst other resources. Please engage with this resource to see how ESAs work to support learning.
Please follow the link below for the Year 10 RS example:
Jewish Practices – Knowledge Organiser + Homework Booklet
Year 11 Maths Focus – Headteacher’s Questions
In two weeks time, we will be starting the Headteacher’s Questions, an exciting new challenge designed to test your mathematical prowess and reward your efforts! 🏆 Each Tuesday, a new, intriguing maths problem set by Mrs Scott-Herron, Mr Allen and Mr Koltan, will be circulated by Year 11 Form tutors. The first release will be on Tuesday 14th October. To ensure fairness across all ability levels, the question will feature two tiers of entry: a Foundation Tier and a Higher Tier.
Students are invited to submit their fully worked solutions to the post box in the Orangery by Friday lunchtime. A correct entry will be chosen at random from each tier, and the two lucky students—one from the Foundation tier and one from the Higher tier—will each receive a £10 Amazon Gift Voucher! To be presented during assembly each Monday.
This is a fantastic chance to sharpen your skills and win a prize, so get those gears turning! 🧠
Huge congratulations to 443 of our students who are currently on 100% attendance since the beginning of September. This is a huge achievement and we thank you for your continued support.
What does persistent absentee mean?
If your child takes too much time off school, they will become categorised as a persistently absent (PA). For your child to become a PA at the start of the academic year, this only takes 3 instances. This equals to 10% of their overall attendance. Your child being the Persistent absentee category could lead to further interventions from the Local Authority.
Recording of an absence
Please remember to call each morning and speak with Miss Mannion regarding your child’s absence. If you child is absent and you haven’t let school know, this absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
Please remember to keep a track of your child’s attendance on the Arbor app. If you have any questions, please contact me on smannion@boteler.org.uk or 01925 636414
Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School Achieves The Rainbow Flag Award
Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School has been awarded The Rainbow Flag Award, a national quality assurance framework that recognises schools and colleges for demonstrating positive LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility.
The Rainbow Flag Award encourages a whole-organisation approach to inclusion, while also supporting strategies to challenge and combat all forms of LGBTQphobia. By engaging with the framework, schools commit to improving the experiences of all young people they work with, as well as LGBTQ+ students, those from LGBTQ+ families, and LGBTQ+ staff members.
The award, achieved over an 18-month period, required the school to provide evidence of inclusive practice across six key areas, spanning all aspects of school life — from the curriculum to governance.
The Award was lead by Miss Alice Roberts, Publicity Manager and LGBTQ+ Council Lead and Mrs Lisa Butcher, PD Lead and Teacher of Music. Miss Alice Roberts said: “Inclusivity is vital across all areas of school life, ensuring that every student is seen, heard and safe. Educating against prejudice is paramount, and the work we do — evidenced through The Rainbow Flag Award — reflects our ongoing commitment to this. Every member of our school community deserves to feel respected and valued for who they are. We will continue to ensure that inclusivity is embedded in everything we do, so that all of our young people grow and learn in an environment where they can truly flourish.”
Chair of Governors Mr Geraint Williams commented: “As a Governor, I am delighted that the school has been successful in receiving a Rainbow Flag Award. Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment in which all students can thrive. The Rainbow Flag Award provided a framework to ensure that this is the case for LGBTQ+ students. The decision of the school to undertake a programme of work to demonstrate this had the full support of the Local Governing Challenge Body, and we recognised the achievement with thanks for those involved at our last meeting”.
Careers
Year 11 and 10 are receiving an assembly from UTC on Monday about the post 16 pathways they offer. Please take a look at their website for further details.
UTC Warrington – UTC Warrington
Year 11 will have received their predicted grades and using this information should now be attending college Open Events and completing their college applications. Mrs Butcher’s room is open at lunchtimes to do this. Please support your child in their next steps.
Year 8
As part of their Careers Learning Journey Year 8 and receiving a university talk from Higher Horizons next Thursday.
The sessions will cover:
Uni Facts Mini Programme – This consists of 3 1-hour sessions of impartial information to help students make informed choices. The first session is on What’s University, the second session is on Pathways and Courses and the third session is on Budgeting and Goal Setting.
Higher Horizons are:
We are part of the Uni Connect Programme, funded by the Government to deliver free and impartial higher education outreach to schools and colleges across Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire.
Our Impact in numbers:
- 52,000+ Young People have taken part in our activities since January 2017
- 7,000 Activities delivered for schools and colleges since January 2017
- 2x More likely to apply to university if you take part in our programme
Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ)
Over the next two weeks all students will be completing the Future Skills Questionnaire during their PD lesson.
The Future Skills Questionnaire is a set of questions that have been designed for young people in schools and colleges to help you think about your skills, strengths and what you might like to do in the future.
This is funded through the DFE and The Careers and Enterprise company
More information can be found here.
The data allows us to design the careers curriculum around the needs of our students. We complete this survey at the start of every year which allows us to monitor learning and progress in careers.
Student Leadership
We are extremely proud of our Ambassadors who supported our very successful open evening. They have been awarded house points to recognise their efforts. All ambassadors presented themselves extremely well on the evening and the feedback from our visitors and our staff has been overwhelmingly positive.
Italy Visit 2026!
The Italy visit for 2026 has now been booked!
The next payment instalment of £70.00 is due by 22nd October.
The balance is due by 1st July 2026.
We are thrilled to share the success of all three Year 7 groups who have now completed their residential experiences at Tyn-Y-Felin. Across the three trips, our students demonstrated enthusiasm, resilience and fantastic teamwork. They embraced every activity, built friendships, and returned to school full of confidence and excitement for the year ahead. We are so proud of how well our newest students have settled into life at Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School.
Upcoming Events This Half Term
KS4 Parent Forum – New Date: Wednesday 15th October
Please note: We have made the decision to move the KS4 Exam Preparation and Study Skills Parent Forum from Wednesday 8th October to Wednesday 15th October, as we are aware that Priestley College Open Evening takes place on the original date. We do not want these important events to clash.
Use the following link to confirm your attendance: https://forms.office.com/e/5vc2c5J172
Year 11 Parents’ Evening – Monday 6th October
A key opportunity to meet subject teachers, discuss progress, and plan support as students prepare for their final exams.
Year 7 Tutor Evening – Monday 13th October 3.30pm–7.00pm
A chance for parents and carers to meet their child’s tutor, discuss how they have settled into Year 7, and ask any questions.
We look forward to seeing as many parents and carers as possible at these events as we continue to build strong partnerships between home and school.
This term as part of Collective Worship, students have been exploring our Christian value of Hope. This week, as we welcome October, it marks the start of Black History Month so we have explored the important contribution that the Black and Ethnic Minority community have made to Britain today. The theme of Black History Month is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’ it is an opportunity to recognise the significant impact made by Black people be they leaders, activists, or pioneers who have shaped history.
The scripture we have studied reminds us to love and respect towards each other, embracing our wonderful uniqueness:
“So God created mankind in his own image.” – Genesis 1:27
This reminds us that God created every human and we are all valuable to Him. We must show kindness and respect towards each other, celebrating our differences and valuing every person for who God made them to be.
Spiritual Pause: How can we show respect towards each other? Do we look for the good in others or do we treat people with suspicion if they are different? How can we choose friendship over wariness?
Think about the difference you could make to someone’s day by the way you act and speak towards those who you don’t know.
Westy Youth
All students are welcome to come along to either (or both!) of the two free youth clubs happening in Latchford.
Thursday evenings at 7pm, Encounter Youth Club is running at Kent Street Community Church. It’s free entry – there are games, crafts, a tuck shop, pool table, ping-pong, and opportunities for trips!
Friday evenings at 6pm, Westy Youth is at Westy Community Centre. Just turn up for free pizza, games, competitions and prizes!
If you have any questions about either club, contact our Youth for Christ worker Kim on kim@warrington.yfc.co.uk
School Anxiety
It’s normal for children and young people to feel worried about something that’s happening at school – for example, when starting a new school or during exams. Sometimes, however, school can become challenging, stressful or distressing over a much longer period of time.
If your child is feeling anxious about school, or not able to go, it can be exhausting for both of you. Mornings in particular can become really stressful for the whole family, as you try to juggle your child’s feelings alongside the need to get them to school and get on with your other responsibilities such as work. Even if you manage to get your child to the school gate, you might know how difficult they’re going to find the day – or know that you’ll be facing the same problem tomorrow morning.
Finding out what’s going on for your child
Sometimes it can be difficult to work out what’s making your child feel anxious, and the first step is often helping them to identify exactly what’s worrying them. Once you understand the problem, you’ll be in a much better position to make changes that can help.
Young people can find it hard to explain what’s causing their feelings, and might not be able to answer direct questions like ‘what’s going on?’ Using an anxiety iceberg can help to open up the conversation – giving you a more relaxed way of exploring together what’s causing their anxiety.
Click the link for the iceberg strategy: How to support your child if they’re struggling with school anxiety
Strategies you can try at home
- Create a morning routine or timetable
Having a routine for getting up, getting dressed, having breakfast and leaving the house can create a sense of security and reduce stress for you too. Try to prepare things like checking their timetable, packing bags and laying out clothes the night before. In the morning, focus on the one thing they need to do next as you work your way through the timetable, rather than thinking about a big goal like ‘getting to school’.
- Think together about how your child can manage their anxiety
Younger children might like to take something from home, like a favourite toy, into school with them – or use a worry box at home to help contain their anxieties. Teenagers might like to fill a box with things that help them feel calm using our guide to making a self-soothe box.
- Encourage them to do things that help them relax
Having time to unwind after school can be important. This could be spending time with friends and family, listening to music, going for a walk or run, playing sport, baking, drawing or watching a favourite film.
- Recognise small achievements
Notice small successes such as getting out of bed at the right time or handing work in at school – and tell your child you’re really impressed with them.
- Try to take the pressure off
On some days your child may not be able to manage schoolwork or homework. Remember their mood will go up and down and you can always try again the next day.
English Department
Introducing Digital Theatre
In preparation for their English Literature GCSE, Key Stage 4 students can watch plays and adaptations (or specific scenes) to visualise how staging, acting, design, and interpretation work in practice. This helps bridge the gap between reading a script or text and seeing it performed.
This will give an insight into how theatre is made, the perspectives of directors, actors, and designers, and historical/sociocultural context.
Students can use it anytime, not restricted by classroom hours, which is especially useful when studying from home or revising in the evenings.
The texts we study at GCSE are Blood Brothers, Macbeth and A Christmas Carol. Team English highly recommends the David Tennant version of Macbeth.
Username: student@dt.tcat
Password: braveflag48
Students should log in via https://edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/
Drama Department
Rehearsals for The Addams Family continue to be in full swing, and our students are working incredibly hard to bring the show to life. Many are even dedicating their lunchtimes to rehearsing dance routines as we focus on perfecting every detail in the lead-up to our performances.
We couldn’t be prouder of their commitment, energy, and enthusiasm. The time and effort they’re investing is truly impressive — and all to ensure you have an unforgettable experience when you come to see the show!
Drama – KS3 Footwear
Please ensure that students are bringing in alternative footwear for Drama lessons. Now that the winter months are here outdoor shoes are bringing in mud, dust, stones etc and making the environment for practical work tricky. Suitable changes of footwear can be clean trainers, crocs, grip socks, slip ons, pumps. They must have a non-slip sole for Health & Safety reasons. Many thanks, Ms Armstrong
Physical Education
Football results
Year 7 boys football team:
STB 1-1 Padgate
STB 0-3 Cardinal Newman
Year 9 boys football team:
STB 0-3 Penketh
STB 0-0 Great Sankey
Year 7 girls football team:
STB 0-0 Beamont
STB 0-2 Padgate
STB 1-0 St Gregory’s
This was the first round of fixtures for our Year 7 girls football team, and they were very impressive! A reminder, training is every Monday lunchtime in the Ball Hall and after-school on a Wednesday when the Year 7 team do not have a fixture.
Are you a middle to long distance runner?
The PE department are looking for students who would like to represent the school in a cross-country school’s event. If you are interested in getting involved, please see one of the PE department on Monday!
What’s on this week?
Please see the timetable below to see all of the clubs, fixtures and activities on offer from the PE department. All team sheets for fixtures will be up by Monday lunchtime in the Ball Hall. Students should come down to see if they have been selected and to get information on the fixtures.
