Dear Parents/Carers
We find ourselves at the end of another very busy term, but delighted in what has been achieved.
Last week was incredibly busy as we were supporting Ofsted with their pilot. This was a superb experience for us and also a chance for us to feedback on the proposals for the new toolkit/framework.
The NW Regional Director of Ofsted personally thanked us for participating in the process and the way in which we embraced the two days and all the feedback they have been able to gather on the proposals and process in practice.
I had two days of really in-depth conversations in terms of what I thought of the toolkit and they said that this would be fed back straight to Martyn Oliver with it as it was really informative and constructive. Whether our feedback goes into policy change remains to be seen.
The staff and students all had a part to play in the feedback and felt proud that they had a voice, maybe not literally, but in terms of being a part of the test which enabled leaders to see the impact of what we do and what we feel still needs to change. The 3 HMIs fed back that the staff were amazing and that they could see that we all live and breathe our key strengths and vision. They were so impressed with the students and they said they lived and breathed it too and that they felt enormous pride to belong to The Boteler Family.
This was just such a positive experience for us as a school and for us to gather insight and evidence of our areas for improvement from really experienced talented HMIs. There were no surprises and we are already working on what they suggested within our School Improvement Plan.
They said what we do around our consistently high expectations has raised that bar and the behaviour and relationship and attitudes and engagement in lessons is superb because of that. They felt we were totally inclusive in every aspect of what we do and the well-being offer for both staff and the children is excellent and incredibly well thought through. They praised the teaching and learning and the attention in classes and they felt the curriculum was strong and broad and balanced. They gathered this evidence from speaking to staff, students, learning works, Collective Worship, being out and about at break and lunchtime etc. They left no stone unturned. If it had been a real inspection they would of course spoken to parents/carers too. However, they were testing the toolkit from the gathering of information within the working school rather than the external influences, as it was a pilot. They did not want to put any undue pressure on anyone as they were already grateful for us putting ourselves forward.
We found the experience really helpful in terms of knowing what it might feel like under the new framework. It is however, interesting to see how the 2 days affect staff and students and I am always conscious of looking after them all. It is really fascinating to see how it affects our behaviours and how we react under pressure and what we have to be mindful of when the real inspection happens.
They concluded by saying that we need to be so very proud of our school and our children as they are amazing. I whole heartedly agree. I am so blessed to work with them all.
You of course will have been following all the many other brilliant things that have happened over the past couple of weeks and as always this could not happen without your support. I really value the relationship I have with you and I cannot thank you enough for all you do to make our Boteler Family such a wonderful place to learn and work.
Have a wonderful Easter break.
God Bless
Beverley Scott-Herron
Headteacher
GCSE Exam Timetable
Please click on the link for the Summer 2025 GCSE Exam Timetable
Year 11 Easter Exam Revision Classes
In addition to the revision that students should be carrying out at home, revision sessions are also taking place, in school during the Easter holidays. Mr Koltan has completed the timetable of the sessions that are running and is now attached. Year 11 students have each been given a hard copy.
Easter Revision Timetable
Final-Year-11-Easter-School-Rev-TT-2025.pdf
A reminder that these sessions are to supplement and support the revision that students should be doing at home and not a replacement for it.
The popular Netflix series, Adolescence, has brought the topics of toxic masculinity, misogyny and the “manosphere” back into conversation in the media. This may be something your students, families and colleagues are talking about so please see the following:
Read more here: Toxic Masculinity In Childhood | The Children’s Society
Sir Gareth Southgate: Boys need role models, not gaming and porn – BBC News
What do the emojis mean in Netflix’s Adolescence? Icons explained
Attendance
When we return after the Easter holiday and head into the summer term, this is a key opportunity to make a real difference in your child’s attendance.
✅ Just below 96%? This week could be the push needed to move above our school target.
✅ At or above 96%? Keep up the great work and maintain this fantastic achievement!
⚠ Just above 90%? Everyday matters—missing time now could put your child at risk of persistent absence.
🚨 Just into the 90% persistent absence category? This week is a big opportunity to turn things around.
Moments matter. Attendance counts. Let’s finish this academic year strong!
Smartphone Free Childhood Campaign
Smartphone Free Childhood is a campaign with the aim of getting parents to sign the Parent Pact agreeing to hold off on allowing their children access to smart phones and social media. There is a lot of information and research on the website. You can also see how many parents have signed up in your child’s school and reach out to likeminded parents.
https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/
HAF Easter Programme
We are delighted to share with you that our bookings for Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Easter programme can be made from Monday 10th March.
Easter delivery dates
Easter HAF will take place from Monday 7th April-Tuesday 22nd April (excluding bank holidays and weekends) Activities include gymnastics, scootering, dance, arts and crafts and family events. There are also events such as bowling and trampolining which are non-staffed events and are aimed at the secondary age range.
There are over 50 clubs across the town, and you can use the filter tool on our booking system to filter by age/date and club. You can also click on the map to view clubs nearest to you. Each eligible child can book up to four sessions each.
How to Book
Browse the link to register your interest now, however this will not secure a place for your child. You will still need to book from Monday onwards.
https://www.eequ.org/warringtonhaf
Year 9 Td/IPV (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Polio) and MenACWY (Meningitis ACWY) vaccinations
Please click on the following link to view letter from the School Immunisations Team regarding the upcoming Td/IPV (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Polio) and MenACWY (Meningitis ACWY) vaccinations which are being offered to Year 9 students in school on 23rd April & 7th May.
If you have any questions, please contact the School-aged Immunisation Team on 01925 946808
Work Experience
Year 10 embarked on their week of work experience this week whether that be off site at a work placement or with companies and industries who came into school to complete projects with them. This was a chance for students to develop their work ready skills. They developed their essential skills and built their confidence and resilience during the week.
Year 10 and 11
Reaseheath College Open Events
Our next Course Open Event is just around the corner! These events are perfect for Year 10 and Year 11 students (and their families) to explore our stunning campus, tour our industry-standard facilities, and chat with our expert tutors and support teams. Whether they’re passionate about agriculture, animal management, engineering, food, sport, or beyond, this is their chance to find out more!
- Saturday 26th April, 2025
Students can find out more and book their tickets here: Experience Reaseheath | Reaseheath College.
Year 10 – Priestley College Competition
Priestley College are running a competition for Year 10s who are interested in Film or Media to get creative and win a prize.
There are prizes for the winners and two runners-up in each of the three competitions which include one for Film, another focusing on Media and a third aimed at those interested in Creative Media Production.
Not only will the winners receive an Amazon voucher, they will also see their work showcased in college and in their online gallery alongside other young people from schools across Warrington.
If you have any questions please email [email protected]
- Creative Media – two-minute video about yourself
- Media Studies – create a poster for a horror film
- Film Studies – create a short film
Lost property/ School Uniform
If your child has lost an item of clothing this half term please send them to Mrs Mawby’s office to see if it is there.
If you have any items of school uniform that you could donate please pop it in the box outside the main reception doors.
We have lots of shirts and trousers which have been donated by Tesco, M&S and Next. If you would like any, please email [email protected] with your child’s name and shirt size or trouser size.
Comic Relief
On Friday 21st March we ended our fundraising week for Comic Relief by holding a ‘staff vs. students’ obstacle course on the field in the sunshine. Students have spent all week voting for which teacher they want to take part in the race and in the end it was down to Mr Mason, Mr White, Miss Black and Mr McDonald to take on the challenge against Ellie Barker, William Kenwright, Alend Sarhan and Nabeeha Anis In the end the staff won with the entire school cheering them on.
At Sir Thomas Boteler we have spent an entire week of fundraising, hosting pop up challenges and raffling off brilliant Easter egg feasts.
As a school we have raised £438.56 for Comic Relief and we are incredibly proud of all our students and staff for getting involved! We have even managed to raise even more than last year’s amount which is outstanding!
The winners of the Easter Egg raffle prizes are: Diego Escobedo Rodriguez, Stephen Baber and Sebastian Conlon
The winners of the Comic Relief Arbitrium house competition are: Lilli Miller, Morgan Jolly, Adam Taylor and Jessie Mason
The winners of the Comic Relief Honoris house competition are: Jack Wogan and Jack Kennedy
If you still want to donate please donate via this link: Sir Thomas Boteler C of E High School is fundraising for Comic Relief
Developing Independent Learning Skills at Home
Encouraging independence in learning is key to long term academic success. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) highlights that students who develop self-regulation and independent study habits are more likely to achieve higher grades and feel confident in their learning. Below are some practical strategies to help your child become a more independent learner.
Establish a Routine
Set a consistent study schedule to build strong habits.
Encourage Effective Study Techniques
Retrieval practice – Regularly testing knowledge helps improve memory.
Spaced learning – Revisiting topics over time is more effective than last minute cramming.
Active engagement – Encourage making mind maps, teaching concepts aloud, or summarising notes instead of just reading them.
Set Goals & Track Progress
Help your child set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to keep them motivated.
Regularly review progress and celebrate achievements, no matter how small.
Encourage Problem Solving & Resilience
Instead of providing answers straight away, guide your child to think critically and find solutions themselves.
Remind them that making mistakes is part of learning and helps them improve.
By providing opportunities for students to take control of their learning, we help them build confidence, resilience and the skills they need for future success.
This week as part of Collective Worship, students are reflecting on the events of Holy Week in preparation for Easter. Holy week is the final week of Jesus’ life and includes the famous events of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the last supper and his arrest and trial before his death on Good Friday. In our Easter services, our Chaplain Mike has explained how Jesus died for the sin of all humans so we can achieve eternal salvation with God in Heaven. The students are reminded that Easter is a time for celebration, death is overcome and eternal life triumphant. Our scripture for this week is from Matthew 28:6 and it reminds us of the fundamental Christian belief- that Jesus rose from the dead.
“he is not here, for he has risen”
Spiritual Pause: When Jesus died on the cross, darkness fell across the world for three hours. In this time, Jesus was alone and felt abandoned by God. Think about the dark times in our lives when we might question why God has abandoned us in our hour of need. The events of Good Friday remind us that Jesus also felt alone and isolated, momentarily, before the salvation of the resurrection, the light that brings hope to our lives if we dare to believe.
Baptism and Confirmation: We have the opportunity to partake in these special events if you haven’t already done so. Students who may have missed their confirmation or wish to be baptised are invited to see Mrs Hoey in school as soon as possible to register their interest, with parental consent. If you have any questions please contact Mrs Hoey ([email protected]).
The Worship Ambassadors wish you a happy and blessed Easter season. Please keep up to date with our weekly prayer and scripture via social media.
Please click here for the latest edition of our Keeping Boteler Safe newsletter.
myHappymind
We are excited to inform you that our school has partnered with myHappymind to offer an innovative, science-backed programme called myMindcoach, to support the mental well-being of all our students. The myHappymind programme is built on the belief that mental health education should be proactive, science-backed, fun, and accessible for all. The app is designed for students to use independently outside of school.
How to download the app:
- Scan QR code or click the link myMindCoach Sign Up
- Enter a username, school email, authentication code (144799) click ‘get resources’ button
- Download apple or android app to the phone
- Check school email for MyMindcoach email to create password
- Use school email and created password to log onto the app’
Poetry by Heart Competition 2025
I am thrilled to announce that Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School will be taking part in the Poetry by Heart Competition 2025.
ALL staff and students are welcome to attend and take part. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
You simply just need to choose a poem already written and published, learn it by heart and record a copy of this to be entered into the competition. I will handle all of the logistics/recording.
Sessions will be held on Thursday lunchtimes in Room 22
Food Technology
Year 8 Food Technology students have learnt how to bake rosemary and garlic decorated focaccia. Mrs Callaway is very impressed with the work created. Look at this beautiful example from a Year 8 student!
Students were invited by Mrs Callaway take part in a Comic Relief Inspired Baking Competition. They could cook anything they dreamt off… but needed to think of colour, techniques and making something delicious. The skills on display were amazing and Mrs Callaway really struggled to choose. But the winner was…. Seb in Year 9, with his No Bake cake! Truly fantastic. Well done everyone who took part. Keep your eyes peeled for the next cooking challenge…
𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 c𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!
Mrs Callaway is challenging all students to another competition. You could make anything you like such as spiced hot cross buns, a sweet and chocolatey crème egg cake, or a slow cooked garlic and rosemary leg of lamb. In fact it could be anything you wish! The one rule is: your creation must be Easter inspired.
There will be a winner chosen from each of the three categories: KS3, KS4 and Staff. A prize for each winner, runner up prizes and house points for all who enter. Deadline: 22nd April 2025 (Please email a picture and description of your entry to Mrs Callaway)
Here a couple of websites for inspiration:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/easter-recipes
https://realfood.tesco.com/easter-recipes.html
Good luck!
Physical Education
PE Fixtures and Results
Congratulations to our Year 7 Rugby team who are through to the North West Vase quarter finals after a 18-10 victory against St Mary’s Catholic High School, Wigan. We await the winner of St Gregory’s Catholic High School or St Edmund Arrowsmith.
Year 9 Netball results in the Warrington League – one won, lost one in the latest round on Wednesday evening in the Ball Hall. Well done to all the girls who represented our school with teamwork, dedication and commitment. We are certainly seeing the impact in their performances!
PE outside of the Curriculum
Ahead of the Game – Mental Health Awareness in Sport
‘Ahead of the Game’: talk more, play better
When athletes feel mentally fit they can play better. Ahead of the Game teaches young athletes how to talk about mental health, get help when needed and overcome life’s challenges. 60 boys across Year 9 and Year 11 were involved in a workshop this week delivered by the The Mental Health team at Warrington Wolves to help young athletes gain the skills and knowledge that underpin good mental health and resilience. Students learnt how to kick off conversations about mental health and recognise warning signs of mental health problems. They also gained the skills to help a mate out who might be going through a tough time. This builds on the great work Y’Alright the Warrington Wolves Foundation already do with the community, schools and local sports teams.
Boteler StageCraft Theatre Company has had a very successful and busy couple of weeks with final rehearsals and performances in school and at The Lowry, Salford, as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival. The Students have shown dedication and commitment to the work, and I am very proud of each and every one of them. In school they performed to over 360 parents, carers and primary Students. Many thanks to all the staff for their support with rehearsals and performances.
On Friday 28th March, we spent the day at The Lowry, attending workshops and performed in the evening to 150 people. It was a wonderful experience and the Staff, at The Lowry, praised our Students on their contributions and said how wonderful our Students are.
Many thanks to Mrs Tarry, Mrs Guttridge and Mr Gregory for your support throughout the rehearsal and performance process.
Enjoy the photo gallery – Ms Armstrong
Rowing
Our Year 8 Rowers have enjoyed the sunshine this week. They’ve been working on their technical rowing skills and developing their synchronisation to improve the speed of the boat on the water.
The students are also developing their essential skills of teamwork, listening, speaking, problem solving, staying positive and aiming high. Their focus is now the summer regatta (25th June) where they will compete against other schools in the north west. I am very proud of the teamwork and support they show each other and they represent the school values in every session. Keep up the hard work.
Stockton Netball Club
Wednesdays 17:30 – 18:30 for Years 7 – 11
Please contact Lisa on [email protected] for further information.
