Dear Parents/Carers
I hope you are well.
I have not had any negative responses so far to any of my uniform proposals that I mentioned in the last Head’s Herald. Therefore, I am taking this as a positive and that you are behind my proposals in principle, or maybe it has just not reached everyone. I have been speaking to some students about my ideas, and they are very positive regarding the tights. They are interested to see what the new skirt is like. Miss K Dowling has identified some students to trial them, so I will await more feedback. Please do let me know via my PA, any thoughts you may have: jmuckley@boteler.org.uk . I will put this in a letter as well as the Head’s Herald, as I want you all to feel included and communicated to.
We are excited about our school show next week – ‘The Addams Family’ which is on Tuesday 21st at 13.30 and 18.00 and Wednesday 22nd October at 13.30. Please make sure you contact Reception and purchase your tickets in advance – £3.50 for adults and £2.50 for concessions. The students and staff have been working so very hard, and it is going to be amazing. I had the privilege of watching the rehearsal last Saturday and it was brilliant, and the buzz was just electric. The students were all treated to pizza, which was very well deserved as it was a Saturday. Huge thanks to the staff and site team who were there with them.
Our ‘Meet the Tutor’ evening for Year 7 went well on Monday and the evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. If you were unable to make it and you want some feedback, please just contact the Year 7 Tutor directly and they will assist you, or contact Mr Willcock, the Head of Year dwillcock@boteler.org.uk
On Wednesday we had our Parents’’ Forum on Study Skills in preparation for KS4 examinations. This was open to Year 10 and Year 11 parents and carers and students and was very well attended. The slides and information will be sent out in due course. If you require any more information then please do contact Mr Mason, Assistant Headteacher in charge of Parental Engagement on smason@boteler.org.uk or alternatively, please contact the Heads of the core subjects who lead the presentations and they would also be happy to assist you.
Miss Baggaley – Religious Studies jbaggaley@boteler.org.uk
Mr Vallender – English nvallender@boteler.org.uk
Mr Allen – Maths rallen@boteler.org.uk
Mr Davies – Science adavies@boteler.org.uk
I really enjoyed being at the Year 7 Halloween Disco on Thursday evening which was incredibly successful. There were an array of outfits and so many young people had really gone to a lot of effort to create the spooky vibe. Huge thanks to Zara Whimperley, Senior Head Student for all her leadership and organisation of the event and thanks also to Parents Supporting Boteler for the Disco and all the refreshments. It was a real team effort.
I am speaking at the Department for Education Attainment Conference on Monday, as we have been cited as best practice in the work we do with Parental Engagement. Whilst I appreciate there are areas we are still working on, it is great to be recognised for the work we do. I had to do an accreditation course regarding our practice, and our results put us as Gold Standard and in the top 15 schools in the country, as we scored 87% against the standards. The National Average is 51%, so, we are delighted. However, this is down to how you work with you so a huge thank you and congratulations to you too. I am always looking at ways to improve our offer, so if you are interested in getting involved in a discussion or focus group regarding how we work together and what you feel you may benefit from, them please can you contact Mr Mason with your details, and we will look at setting this up.
Only one week to go before the half term break. I am not sure where the time has gone. Thank you as always for all your support and have a lovely weekend.
Beverley Scott-Herron
Headteacher
Final Week Attendance Focus: Let’s Finish Strong!
As we enter the final week of the half term, we want a big push to boost attendance and punctuality across the school. Every lesson this week is a chance to consolidate learning, build confidence, and finish on a high. This is particularly important given the high volume of illness this half term.
Whether your child has had excellent attendance or faced a few bumps along the way, this is a great moment to refocus. We know that consistent attendance is one of the biggest predictors of academic success — and every hour in school counts.
How Attendance Adds Up Across the Academic year — in Hours
| Attendance % | Days Missed | Hours of Learning Lost |
| 100% | 0 | 0 hours |
| 99% | 2 days | 10 hours |
| 98% | 4 days | 20 hours |
| 95% | 9.5 days | 47.5 hours |
| 93% | 13 days | 65 hours |
| 91% | 17 days | 85 hours |
| 90% | 19 days | 95 hours |
Why This Matters
- Even 95% attendance means nearly 50 hours of missed learning across the academic year
- These hours aren’t just numbers — they represent missed lessons, discussions, feedback, and opportunities to grow.
- The more time missed, the harder it becomes to catch up, stay confident, and perform well.
Next half term is a fresh start. Let’s aim to improve attendance where needed or maintain those high levels if your child’s already on track. Together, we can make every day count.
Corridor Courtesy
In school we continue to ensure that all students feel safe when navigating the building. With being full, the corridors are naturally busier and we have employed one-way systems on stairways and reinforce our CALM message. To be CALM means all students follow the below:
Considerate
- Think of Others: Move through the corridors without pushing, shoving, or blocking the way.
- Respect Personal Space: Give people enough room to walk comfortably.
- Help When Needed: Hold doors open or assist somebody if needed.
Aware
- Stay Alert: Pay attention to your surroundings — watch for others entering or exiting classrooms or carrying items.
- Notice Hazards: Be mindful of any spills, obstacles, or other safety hazards and report them if necessary.
- Respect Rules: Be aware of school policies on corridor behaviour, like no eating, running or shouting.
Left, Low Voices and Listen
- Left: Always walk on the left-hand side of the corridor.
- Low Voices: Always speak at a reasonable volume.
- Listen: Listen to staff and follow instructions at the first time of asking.
Move without delay:
- Move with purpose, avoiding distractions and do not stop the flow.
Five minutes movement time to your next lesson, which includes going to the toilet.
Policy Updates
Please click on the following links to view the latest updates to the school’s Attendance and Behaviour policies.
We are delighted to share that we have achieved a Skills Builder Silver award this past year. This is a significant achievement that puts us in a select group of schools and colleges who have demonstrated a commitment to building students’ essential skills. The 8 essential skills are embedded into school learning through subjects, the literacy programme and all aspects of the Personal Development programme. It is our vision that all our students will leave school with their academic qualifications as well as the skills needed for a successful future.
Essential skills unlock learning in the classroom, boosting academic outcomes, perseverance and self-belief. They halve the likelihood of being out of work and increase earnings across a lifetime. They even boost wellbeing and life satisfaction.
We very much look forward to working towards the Gold Award this next year.
TCAT Parliament
Today we hosted the first TCAT Parliament meeting of the year at STB. We welcomed Kevin who is the Participation officer from Warrington Borough Council and leads Warrington youth council.
Students learnt about being a member of Youth Parliament (MYP) and developed an understanding of how we as schools with the use of our student voice can make change happen for a better future. If you would like to be a part of the youth council or a candidate for Warrington’s MYP then see Mrs A Mawby. Students also wrote a manifesto on what they would like to change in their own school.
And we’re sold out…!
On Wednesday 8th October school council organised a cake sale supported by the PSB in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Through the support of our students our donation total reached £97!
Thank you for all the contributions and support.
Tyn-y-Felin
A polite reminder for Year 7 parents/carers that the balance for Tyn-y-Felin must be paid by 22 October 2025.
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.
Halloween Disco
Year 7 had a spooktacular time at their Halloween disco on Thursday, which was organised by Zara (Senior Head Student) and the Student Leadership Body. this was supported by the Parents Supporting Boteler who decorated the hall, sold refreshments and provided the DJing.
Best costume was awarded to Amelia, Angelica and Sheldon.
Priestley College – Dance
Priestley College is incredibly proud to offer Rambert Grades as part of their Associates programme – an internationally-recognised graded Contemporary dance syllabus.
Rambert Associates is a dance training programme that runs every Wednesday from 5-6pm at Priestley college (starting Wednesday 5th November). As part of the Rambert Associates programme students will study the Rambert Grade 4 syllabus and will be trained by a fully qualified Rambert Grades teacher. This is a fantastic opportunity to study a fully funded qualification (exam fee additional) which is recognised by Ofqual.
Follow this link for more information: Rambert Associates at Priestley – Priestley College
Ella and Adam returned to school this week, to help out at the Halloween Disco.
We are delighted to share the success of our first Parent Forum of the year, which focused on KS4 Exam Preparation and Study Skills. The evening was well attended, with parents and carers engaging in valuable discussions around supporting students in English, Maths, Science and Religious Studies.
Families shared positive feedback about the practical strategies provided, which included tips on revision techniques, and maintaining a healthy balance between schoolwork and wellbeing. We would like to thank everyone who joined us and contributed to such a productive and supportive evening.
Missed the event?
The presentation slides from the session are now available to view on our school website.
Looking Ahead
Our next Parent Forum will take place on Wednesday 27th November. Further details will be shared soon, and we hope to see even more parents and carers getting involved.
Year 8 Parents’ Evening will be held on Monday 10th November, offering an important opportunity to meet subject teachers, discuss progress, and celebrate achievements so far this year.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
MyMindcoach
Our whole school app for mental health & Wellbeing:
School are partnered with myHappymind to offer an innovative, science-backed programme called myMindcoach, to support the mental well-being of all our students.
What Your Child Will Learn:
The myMindcoach program is delivered through an App and is totally optional. Through five key modules, each designed to promote different aspects of mental well-being, your child will explore:
- Meet Your Brain: Teaches children how their brain works and equips them with self-regulation techniques to manage stress or frustration.
- Celebrate: Focuses on helping students understand and celebrate their unique strengths and develop strong self-esteem.
- Appreciate: Teaches gratitude, helping children to see the good in their lives, and builds resilience through positive thinking.
- Relate: Guides students in building positive, supportive relationships, which are crucial for emotional well-being.
- Engage: Encourages goal-setting and perseverance, helping students stay motivated and resilient when faced with challenges.
How to create an account:
- Scan QR code
- Enter a username, school email, authentication code (144799) click ‘get resources’ button
- Download apple or android app to phone
- Check school email for MyMindcoach email to create password
- Use school email and created password to log onto app
English Department
Drama Department
We are excited for the upcoming performances of ‘The Addams Family’. Our Students are working really hard and attending multiple rehearsals to perfect their skills in Acting, Singing and Dance. Tickets are available from the school office. Please see the poster for details.
Boteler Wider Curriculum – Darts Club
The school is now very proud to boast Darts Club on Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes in the Gym. We have 5 dartboards, 3 permanently fixed to the gym walls and another 2 on stands courtesy of Mission Darts and Darts Corner. We are extremely grateful of their generosity in donating them to our school.
We would also like to thank our PSB for purchasing 5 darts mats. We now have a very professional look, which enables our very talented students to compete against their peers and staff – or just practice and have some fun.
So, come along Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes. Who knows – you might become the next Luke Littler or Beau Greaves.
Mr Robinson
