Newsletter - Summer Term - 30.04.18

There’s fabulous scholarship news to report this week for two more of our pupils and we send them both our hearty congratulations. The gold lettering on the scholarship boards is now going into overdrive this year with Mr Rogerson having to purchase even more trophy boards!
It seems that summer has gone into retreat, but the Cottesmore optimism is firmly to the fore, with our sports teams hoping that this week’s fixtures can go ahead uninterrupted, as well as a Geography trip to Goodwood.

Academic News - Scholarship Award

Last week saw yet another scholarship gained by a Cottesmore pupil when Lilia was awarded the Headmaster’s Exhibition award for the King’s School Canterbury.
She excelled at interview, showed all-round promise and did very well in RS, the General Paper and the Linguistics paper. Both she and her parents were elated by her success. Congratulations! The whole school celebrated with a stay up on Friday night.
Congratulations too go to Isabel M, who has won a William Morris All-Rounders Scholarship to Marlborough. Well done! There’s sure to be another stay up in the offing!
At the same time Bertie V was told that he had achieved an unconditional place at Winchester College through his scholarship papers. The only remaining scholarship candidate is our Eton scholar, who alas has to wait until Thursday for his results.

Upcoming examinations

All of the Common Entrance cohort face their final trial exams this week. These exams will give a last-minute snapshot of where they are, provide a very useful back up exam in the case of pupil illness and give the pupils themselves vital clues for that final revision surge.

Our CE candidates this year are destined for Eton, Tonbridge, Benenden, Stowe, Ardingly, Eastbourne, St Edward’s Oxford, King’s Canterbury, Gordonstoun, Shrewsbury and Christ’s Hospital.
One week after the exeat, the real CE exams start with the Maths Aural exam and the French and Spanish Listening comprehension and Oral exams. There is then a further few weeks before the rest of the written papers.

Geography: The Iceland Trip

The Iceland trip was a huge success at the end of last term, with many great photos and even drone footage thanks to Golden. The weather was kind to us with snow and bitter cold but no rain, enabling us to be outside at all times, often in bright conditions. The Secret Lagoon was a real favourite with the pupils, although they also enjoyed the smaller hot tub in the garden of the hostel which was used each evening. Whales were spotted, the glacier was climbed, geysers erupted, we walked between two tectonic plates and stood inside a rainbow!

Field trip to Goodwood this week

Mr Revill takes the 3rd form to Goodwood tomorrow, where they will be learning about sustainable farming techniques as well as getting to watch some classic cars racing at Goodwood. There may even be some Spitfires flying!

Sports Round-Up

Cricket
2nd XI v Windlesham: Cottesmore 57 for 7; Windlesham 58 for 2: lost by 8 wickets
Mr Butler said: “The first game of the season showed the lack of practice due to the inclement weather of late. On a cold and damp day at Windlesham we were beaten by the better side”. Man of the Match was awarded to Ollie.

Rounders
U10 v Handcross
The U10s put on a very stoic display but were eventually overcome by a mostly U11 team. The scorers were Nancy, Vicky and Onti, with Nancy nominated Girl of the Game.

IAPS Clay Pigeon Shooting Competition
Good luck to our competitors for Friday’s event.

Pre-prep news

As usual the Pre-Prep term has got off to a flying start; the new pupils are all settled with work (and play!) very much under way for everyone.

The topics for this term are:
Reception: Growing, Beaches, Castles.
Year 1: Pond life, Castles.
Year 2: Castles and Knights, Hidden Gardens.
Year 3: Victorians, Extreme Earth, Wind in the Willows

Clubs began again last week and are a much-enjoyed part of the Pre-prep offering. There’s a superb choice as ever, with pupils choosing this term from ballet, Miss Eddie’s nature and outdoor club, riding, construction, French, computing, street dance, multi sports and tennis.

Dorm Doings

This Thursday there will be a group of junior boys being invited for a Buchan Sleepover before this weekend’s exeat.

Sunday Fundays

Yesterday, our wonderful gap students organised set competitions of Capture the Flag and a huge, challenging treasure hunt that incorporated many problem-solving skills. It was great to see the pupils all running around the school grounds hunting for clues!

On the Sunday following the exeat there will be a trip to the ever-popular Ultimate Laser for the Juniors.