Dear Parents and Carers
Firstly, I hope you are all well. There seem to have been some really nasty bugs going around recently, affecting both staff and students, and I hope that you and your loved ones are keeping well.
Secondly, I feel it is important to address the communication I have shared recently regarding the incident in school.
I want you to know that I will always follow the procedures, practices and safeguarding protocols that we have in place. Whether people agree or disagree with those procedures with regards to communication, it is my responsibility to follow them, and it is something I take very seriously.
One of the most difficult things in situations such as this is knowing how much information to share. I want to provide enough information to reassure those who are worried, but I also have to be mindful that sharing information unnecessarily can create worry for families who were completely unaware that anything had happened.
I have always tried to be as open and honest with you as I possibly can, and that will not change. However, there are occasions where safeguarding and confidentiality mean that there are things I simply cannot share. Please do not interpret that as me keeping you in the dark or withholding information from you. Sometimes, protecting our young people means that I have to be careful about what I can and cannot say.
I really want you to know just how much we care about our young people. Their safety, wellbeing and happiness are at the heart of everything we do. Our safeguarding measures, procedures and protocols are robust, and we have received praise and reassurance from the professionals who supported us in managing the situation.
Sadly, I cannot control rumours, gossip or what may be shared on social media. What I can do is make sure that I communicate with you honestly and provide accurate information to the very best of my ability.
I have personally responded to every email I have received regarding any worries because I feel it is important that parents and carers are listened to. I have also had some parents drop in today, which was genuinely lovely. Some came simply to thank us and to check that everyone was okay, and those conversations meant a great deal to me. Thank you also for all of the kind and supportive messages I have received.
I completely understand that some of you have been understandably worried. In several cases, once we have been able to talk openly and have a dialogue, those concerns have been reassured, and I am grateful that you have come directly to us. Please always feel that you can do that.
Social media, including Facebook and Instagram, can very quickly become filled with things that people have heard from someone else, and information can become confused or distorted. If you are worried about something, please come directly to me or to the school. I will always speak to you and be as open as I can within the boundaries of safeguarding and confidentiality.
Our students have, as always, been amazing. School has been incredibly calm today, and the vast majority of our students were not even aware that there had been a situation. One of my concerns was actually the potential for rumours and speculation to cause unnecessary worry, which is one of the reasons I felt it was important to communicate with parents and carers.
I want to finish by saying something very simply: I care deeply about our young people, and I care about our families. I am doing my very best, every single day, to make the right decisions, follow the guidance and procedures we have in place, and keep our students safe.
I know that sometimes the decisions we make may not be immediately understood, but please know that they are always made with the best interests, safety and wellbeing of our young people at the centre.
Thank you for your patience, your understanding and, most importantly, for your support.
Beverley Scott-Herron
Headteacher
Who is your inspiration? Mr Cooke – the surgeon at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital who saved my life several times as a child and always wore fabulous socks
What you are most excited about in joining the Boteler Family? Getting back into the classroom after a 4 year break from teaching in a school who’s values really strike a chord with me.
An interesting fact about you? A few years ago, I got my PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Certificate and have dived with sharks in the Red Sea.
Who is your inspiration? Grandfather/ Father/ Bob Dylan
What you are most excited about in joining the Boteler Family? Working with excellent pupils, parents, teachers.
Interesting fact: I went to Vietnam this year, and visited key sights from the American Invasion
Next Steps Year 11
Applications for Riverside College and Cronton College will open on Friday 2nd October at 10 am, you can apply online via www.cronton.ac.uk OR www.riverside.ac.uk. The deadline is Friday 11th December.
Priestley College Open Events are just around the corner! They’re the best opportunity to have a look round and get a feel for the place, speak to tutors, and meet current students. Please book on ASAP to secure your spot by scanning the QR code or visiting www.priestley.ac.uk/events/book-open-event.
The time to apply to Warrington & Vale Royal College is now!
Join thousands of students who have already chosen Warrington & Vale Royal College to kick-start their future. With places on our courses in high demand, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to secure your place and avoid waiting lists. Apply online today or request a paper application form at College Courses | Warrington & Vale Royal College
RSE Policy
The updated RSE policy in line with new Statutory guidelines can be found here: https://app.iamcompliant.com/policy/preview/7462/WBMpJcLGKwfdpbJn?organisation_slug=1562184198
Charity Fundraiser
On Friday 25th of September school council representatives led a cake sale in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. We raised an amazing £121.15 for the charity. Many thanks to all who helped out and donated!
BOTELER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME
Please find our Boteler Enrichment programme here: Enrichment Programme – Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School
If you are a council member, your meetings are at the following times:
- School Council: Thursday week 2 rm 6 Miss Porteous
- ECO Council: Thursday week 1 rm 30 – Miss Kenny
- Ethos Council: Thursday week 1 and 2 rm 27 Mrs Hoey
- International Council: Monday week 1 rm 4a Mr Leung
- LGBTQ+ Council: Week 1 Friday rm 26 Miss Roberts
- Wellbeing Council: Tuesday week 1 and 2 rm 4a Miss Giebka
- House Meetings – Check the BE Proqramme and with your HOH after the first House assembly
These are all at lunchtime. Ask the staff member if you need a lunch-pass.
Make sure you attend all meetings so you can represent the students of our school.
🌟 Celebrating Success and Keeping the Momentum Going
It has been another positive week at Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School, with lots to celebrate across our school community. As we continue through the new academic year, our focus remains firmly on attendance, engagement and helping every student make the most of every opportunity to succeed.
👨👩👧👦 Successful KS4 Exam Preparation Parent Forum
It was fantastic to welcome so many parents and carers to our KS4 Exam Preparation Parent Forum this week. The excellent attendance at the event demonstrated the strong commitment of our families to supporting their children through their GCSE journey.
The evening provided parents and carers with valuable information, advice and practical strategies to help students prepare effectively for their examinations.
Positive parental engagement makes a real difference. When school and home work together, students benefit from consistent messages, greater support with their learning and a stronger understanding of the importance of their education.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a positive and productive evening.
📅 Upcoming Parent Engagement Events
We have more opportunities for parents and carers to engage with school over the coming weeks:
📌 Year 11 Parents’ Evening – Monday 5th October
An important opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate their successes and identify how they can continue to make progress as they approach their GCSE examinations.
📌 Year 7 Tutor Evening – Monday 12th October
An opportunity for our Year 7 families to meet with tutors, discuss how students have settled into secondary school and work together to ensure they have the best possible start to their Boteler journey.
We look forward to welcoming as many parents and carers as possible to both events.
📚 Attendance – Every Day and Every Lesson Counts
We continue to be really pleased with the positive start we have made with attendance this year. However, maintaining strong attendance throughout the year is just as important as getting off to a good start.
Every lesson missed represents learning that a student cannot get back. We therefore ask parents and carers to consider carefully whether appointments can be arranged outside of the school day wherever possible.
In particular, please try to avoid booking routine medical, dental and other appointments during school hours. We appreciate that some appointments cannot be avoided and that there will always be circumstances where a student needs to be absent. However, where there is a choice, arranging appointments before or after school, or during school holidays, helps students to maximise their learning time.
Every lesson counts. Every opportunity to learn matters.
Thank you for continuing to work with us to maintain our strong attendance.
🏆 Boteler Rewards – Homework Focus
We are now moving into the next fortnightly focus of our Boteler Rewards Programme.
Following our Ready to Learn focus, we are now turning our attention to:
🎯 Homework
This fortnight, we will be recognising students who demonstrate a positive and consistent approach to completing their homework.
Homework is an important opportunity for students to:
- Consolidate the learning they have completed in lessons.
- Practise and develop their knowledge and skills.
- Prepare for future learning and assessments.
- Develop independent study habits.
- Take responsibility for their own learning.
We want to see students completing homework on time, putting in their best effort and taking pride in the work they produce.
Students who demonstrate excellent homework habits will have the opportunity to be recognised and rewarded through the Boteler Rewards Programme.
⭐ This fortnight’s challenge
Complete it. Commit to it. Take pride in it.
We have already seen some fantastic commitment from our students through our Boteler Rewards Programme, and we look forward to celebrating more success over the next two weeks.
Be Ready. Be Engaged. Be Rewarded.
Geography Fieldwork
Year 11 have had a fantastic time completing the last of their GCSE compulsory fieldwork ahead of their paper 3 exam in the summer. They spent the day at Cwm Idwal in north Wales looking at the processes of glaciation and the impact tourism has on this
Rowing
Week 1
Our next group of students have officially started their rowing programme! The first morning of week 1 was spent exploring the boathouse, finding out what they can expect over the coming year and getting their first experience of some of the equipment they’ll be using.
There was lots of enthusiasm, and everyone is now very excited to get out on the water!
Week 2
We may not have made it out onto the water this week, but there was still plenty to learn!
The students spent the morning in the gym developing the correct rowing technique they’ll need when they get into the boats. Once everyone had mastered the basics, they took turns leading the rest of the team and setting the pace. A great opportunity to build both confidence and teamwork!
The final part of the morning was all about the boats. The students learned how to safely get them out, discovered the names and purposes of the different parts, and even practiced attaching the oars ready for their first trip onto the water.
Jan and Gill were really impressed with how quickly the students picked everything up. Now we just need the weather to be kind to us and, fingers crossed, next week we’ll finally be getting out on the water!
Drama Department
Coming Soon, Boteler StageCraft are proud to be rehearsing the next school production which will take place in December. Over 40 Students are involved either as Performers, Set Design and Stage Management. Make a note in your diaries. We will announce when tickets are going on sale. Many Thanks, Ms Armstrong.
Music Department
Boteler is a school that sings. We have three different clubs for young singers, each tailored to the wants and needs of teenage voices during their voice change.
- Boys Singing is for lads in years 7 to 9, and they rehearse on Tuesdays in week A and Mondays in week B during morning registration.
- Girls singing is for girls in years 7-9 and they rehearse on Mondays in week A and Tuesdays in week B.
- Vox One is the school’s elite choir, open to students in year 9, 10, and 11. They rehearse after school on Tuesdays, and lead the school through numerous high-profile events like inauguration, our carol service, and remembrance Sunday. They also regularly steal the show at our biannual ‘TCAT Performs’ concerts.
For more information, or to take part, please visit Mr McCombs in R4b. Students are rewarded with House Points for attending.
