Newsletter - Half Term - Michaelmas Term
Welcome back! and a huge welcome to our new families. What a wonderful start to the new academic year we have all had.
Kick starting our first full week at school, the children enthusiastically embraced our magically themed ‘Hogwarts Week’. We welcomed Quidditch company Enrich Education to Cottesmore who facilitated a hugely successful all-school Quidditch tournament on Monday 13th September.
This event was followed by a birds of prey demonstration for each year group who were fortunate enough to meet and witness one of the largest owls in the species; a European Eagle Owl named ‘Nova’ who took flight in the hall with an impressive wing span of 2 metres! The week was rounded off with a ‘Yule Ball’ style party in the ‘Great’ Hall.
Sport
Matches return this term after an extended break, the boys and girls have certainly hit the ground running! Here are a few match highlights from the first half of the Michaelmas term …
Football
Eight teams competed at the boys 6-a-side football tournament hosted by Brambletye on 21st September. Cottesmore was represented by the U11 and U13 boys, with the U11 winning the plate.
The first, second and third teams football teams played Lancing Prep with the first team drawing 1-1 and the second and third teams accomplishing incredibly convincing wins.
On Friday 8th October, Cottesmore 1st XI played Handcross (won 2-1) and played Dorset House (won 2-0).
Mr Livermore reports on both matches:
Our ivory coated heroes embarked on their fifth and sixth conquests of term yesterday and left their master in charge as pleased as pottage.
In what turned out to be an isoscelean triangular struggle with Handcross, the hosts, and Dorset House, breezy in Manchester blue, our unbeaten Buchaneers again brought home the bacon.
James ‘Safest Hands in Soccer’ proved again what a large and domineering presence he is with terrific concentration for the snippets of activity into which he was thrown. When called upon, he rose. Cosmonaut, at right back, was out of this world, in terms of stubbornness and vim. George, the Prince Regent of the team, showed composure and vigour in another unflappable outing. Francis, the Patron Saint of Dutch Courage, showed what a determined and technically gifted young man he is: what a centre back pairing we have. Tom Tom navigated his way stylishly and obdurately, particularly in the second match, and most certainly enjoyed his finest hour yet in a Cottesmore football jersey. He may be Welsh but there was no leek in his defence yesterday.
The Oscar for bravery and pugnacious nibbling went to Master Martin; he finds himself precisely where the opposition don't want one of our Buchaneers to be. He is the fittest boy in the team and up for the scrap. Captain Keko was again imperious- footwork of effortless silk in a world of sweaty polyester: what a beautiful footballer he is. And here's to you, Mr Robinson - what a game you had against Dorset House - technically superb and one of our very best at moving the ball on to a team mate throughout the fray.
Mika could open a tin of corned beef with his imperious left boot and turned our fortunes and confidence around with the last gasp winner in the opening close encounter. What a lovely footballer, who like Conor, rarely maldistributes the ball.
Which brings me to Javier: a bundle of verve and swerve, busy feet and Iberian intensity. We love having him on our team - tough, uncompromising and duracellian in his industry. Great goal, young man. Which leaves Liam. After a frustrating first game, he was man of the match against the Sky Blues. His running off the ball, providing a forward option to his pals, was exceptional. His goal was self-created ultimately - I felt so proud of you.
Saturday 9th October 1st - XI v Windlesham (away) Won 10-2
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of Windleshamians;
Beside the Downs, beneath the trees,
Limbering and pacing in the breeze.
Keko and his stars did shine
And twinkled on the milky way,
The back four stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin in front of James:
Cosmo, Tom, George and Francis – oh how they ran!
Even if it doesn’t scan
The midfield beside them danced, and they
Out-did the home side’s verve with glee:
A master could not be but gay,
In such a skillful company:
I gazed and gazed and so I thought
What wealth these boys today had brought:
For oft, when I my touchline pace
With tension or an anxious thrall,
Oscar and Will will win their race;
Conor and Javier are on the ball
And how they lift my heart and soul
As Liam nets another goal.
Six matches, five wins and a draw for this Cottesmorian Corvette of a team - sleek, elegant and nippy.
Hockey
The girl’s hockey team travelled to Handcross with the seconds winning 3-2.
Chess
Edward N flew the flag for Cottesmore at the Sussex Junior Chess Country U11 minors beautifully, taking first place and winning the competition – well done, Edward!
Pre-prep news
The Pre-prep children have really settled well into their new classes and the term’s work is well underway. We have had an exciting start to the year with our Harry Potter week. The whole school also got together for a sorting hat ceremony to welcome the new children into their houses in the Prep school. We enjoyed our fantastic Quidditch lesson from Enrich Education. The children took part in a variety of games and practiced some throwing skills. We then enjoyed learning about some owls in a wonderful demonstration and were amazed by their accurate flying skills. We had some themed food too – we had green mash and some delicious Harry Potter deserts for lunch! We had a fun afternoon making owls, potions, and flying snitches in the Pre-prep.
We were thrilled to welcome Joe Wicks to Cottesmore with his book called The Burpee Bears which he read to the children and got everyone moving in a fabulous work out.
Sport plays an important part in our school day with swimming lessons and tennis lessons with specialist teachers and sports lessons with our director of sport, Mr Walker. Our topics this term have included materials, superheroes, Katie Morag, ourselves, and volcanoes. It has been a fun-packed and engaging half term! After the holiday we will begin our work on our Nativity performance, Baubles, and prepare for our carol service. We will also have a visiting drama workshop and a whole Pre-prep outing to see Aladdin in Horsham.
Other highlights
Cottesmore Conker Week 2021 is upon us! The children have been keenly preparing our horse-chestnut based weapons (all 500 of them) and with an extension on the original ‘battle’ date, 2021’s ‘Cottesmore Conker Smash’ battle looks set to be an action-packed one!
Weekends ‘in’ are a huge part of Cottesmore life and help build the foundations of fun, camaraderie and friendship. The first Sunday activities involved inflatable activities at Buchan Hill with lots of fun had by all. The following weekend, Brighton Pier welcomed a flood of excited Cottesmorians to enjoy an action packed day by the sea, complete with the seaside favourite ‘bumper cars’ and enjoying slushed ice drinks on the pier. More recently, children enjoyed a trip to a wonderful wildlife centre in Mid-Sussex, an expedition organised by Mr Borthwick and Miss Wybar. One hundred Cottesmore children made their way down to League Two Football Club, Crawley Town FC, a huge supporter of grassroot’s football and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves; experiencing a great game and an appreciation for a local club that goes above and beyond for its community.
An emotional Sunday Evensong service took place on 26th September – the choir sang the anthem for the first time in chapel for 18 months. What an absolute delight it is to have this element of Cottesmore life back in full swing.
Birthday Tables (BT) are back! The dining room has been alive with cake, animated chatter and friendship. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed welcoming this longstanding Cottesmore tradition back to our everyday lives.
The Cottesmore Talks 2021 programme got off to a fantastic start with author Ben Heason who visited Cottesmore to talk about his adventures and climbing.
Set (House) BBQs return, a typically summer-based event that gives our seniors the opportunity to look after the younger boys and girls, to cook for them and entertain them afterwards.
Some news from Cottesmore Croft - our very own sow, Flash, successfully farrowed 6 piglets; 3 boys and 3 girls. Mum is doing well and the Cottesmore children have been very excited to meet the new additions.
Finally, Cottesmore's Harvest Festival was celebrated with a traditional service. This was a moment for reflection and to give thanks for all that we have, as well as the sacrifices that have been made for us.
Cottesmore in the press
Cottesmore has been busy making headlines in the trade press, we are incredibly honoured to be officially selected to appear in the 2021 Spear's Schools Index in partnership with Carfax Education. Spear’s Schools Index is the leading international ranking of top private schools. Cottesmore has been chosen by expert education consultants at Carfax and researchers at Spears. Featured schools are included based on their academic results and preparation for senior school entry, unique ethos and how they prepare students for life beyond academia. You can access Cottesmore’s inclusion at the following link https://www.spearswms.com/spears-schools-index-2021-carfax-education/
The Cottesmore team and children were incredibly excited to welcome the nation’s PE teacher, Joe Wicks, to Cottesmore School on Wednesday 6th October as part of his school tour for his new picture book ‘The Burpee Bears’. Cottesmore’s Pre-prep and Prep children enjoyed an energetic ‘Burpee Bear’ workout, followed by a story animatedly read by Joe who then welcomed some wonderfully creative questions from the children. Joe caused quite a stir and the entire school enjoyed the energy he brought to Buchan Hill!
Staff updates
We welcome 3 new members to the Prep team; Mrs Lucy Buckley joins us as our Form 6 tutor and French teacher. Mr Henry de Renzy Martin as our new Maths and Humanities teacher and Miss Hattie Yeates as our new Head of TPR.
Our pre-prep team welcomes new Reception Teacher, Mrs Lucy McCulloch, and Miss Naomi Sanders as our new Year 2 teacher.