We are running a Y11 Parent event entitled ‘Y11 Preparing for Success’ on Thursday 14th November from 4:30 to 5:30.
The event is open to all Y11 parents and Y11 students can attend too.
Over the course of an hour, there will be a number of GCSE support sessions, including:
- Top tips for effective revision
- How to use GCSE Pod
- Other useful online resources
- How to use past papers and mark schemes to secure top marks
Tea/coffee and a mince pie will be available.
There is no need to book.
23rd October 2024
Dear Parent/Carer,
We are approaching the end of the first half term. It has certainly been a busy and fast paced half term and I hope you are enjoying reading my weekly newsletters and seeing the many great photos: Principal’s Weekly Newsletter – Cowley International College – St Helens.
We have had nearly 200 lessons this half term which have been carefully planned so your child can learn new knowledge and skills. The data shows that 99% of lesson marks each week are ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. That’s an incredible achievement and reflects their academic aspiration.
The behaviour of students in lessons and around the college is outstanding. You will have seen the number of huge achievement points achieved on Class Charts awarded each week. We have very high expectations of behaviour at Cowley and we will never settle for second best with your children.
We have now introduced the ‘Cowley Way’ that reflects our Cowleian values. Part of the ‘Cowley Way’ is social norms; the manners we use and how we communicate to each other. I am always very proud at the respect to each other, staff and visitors that our Cowley students show. I am fully aware this does not happen by chance, so thank you for developing these social norms at home. As we know, simply saying, “please” and “thank you” goes a long way in life.
It is well publicised that attendance to school is the key factor that will support learning and success at school. Well done to the 630 students at Cowley who currently have full attendance – they have been in every day since September. Please continue to send your child into school and see our website for support: Attendance – Cowley International College – St Helens.
As you will know, we recognise that Cowley has more than the ‘200 lessons’ and doing well in exams. I am so pleased to see the vast majority of students are taking part in extracurricular activities to balance their time spent studying and to support with their wellbeing and mental health. We are all grateful for the time and commitment of Cowley staff who offer these opportunities.
What is coming up next half term?
Next half term is going another busy time as we move swiftly to Christmas. So, here are some events to be aware of:
- Y11 Mock Exams – The GCSE exams are fast approaching and ‘practice makes possible’. These exams are an opportunity for Y11 students to see how their revision is preparing them for the summer and gives an indicator to the Sixth Form about which subjects they may consider studying in September 2025. There is nothing to worry about, but daily revision is required.
- Remembrance Day (11th November) – At Cowley, we recognise this day and remind the students of the sacrifices made for our freedom. Cowley students who are in Cadets, Scouts and Guides attend college in their uniform as a mark of respect on this day.
- Christmas celebrations – Christmas is huge at Cowley; with lights, choir, concerts, reward celebrations and much more. We also work with local charities to support those less fortunate. Please keep a look at my newsletter for events that parents are invited to.
- Antibullying conference (3rd December) – We recognise that we must work together to educate students and respond to any bullying that takes place. We welcome all parents to attend this conference.
- World faiths day (13th December) – A very special day where we welcome visitors into college and students will learn about kindness and different faiths.
Students finish for half term holiday at 3:05pm on Friday 25th October and return at 8:30am on Monday 4th November. I wish you and your family a restful and safe holiday. However, this is the holiday that I worry most about our students. Please ensure your children are safe with their celebrations of Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Once again, thank you for your continued support to the college.
Best wishes,
Mr Cormack
Principal
23rd October 2024
Dear Parent/Carer,
We are approaching the end of the first half term and it has been an incredible start to Cowley for our new Cowleians in Year 7. I am so proud of the new Year 7 cohort, as they have begun to immerse themselves into Cowley life. It has certainly been a busy and fast paced half term and I hope you are enjoying reading my weekly newsletters and seeing the many great photos: Principal’s Weekly Newsletter – Cowley International College – St Helens.
We have had nearly 200 lessons this half term which have been carefully planned so your child can learn new knowledge and skills. In lessons, Year 7s are attentive, involved and working hard with the KS3 curriculum. It is pleasing to report that nearly all students (222) in Year 7 have been good or outstanding in every lesson since September. That’s an incredible achievement and reflects their academic aspiration.
The behaviour of Year 7 students in lessons and around the college is outstanding. You will have seen the huge number of achievement points achieved on Class Charts. We have very high expectations of behaviour at Cowley, and the Year 7 students are consistently demonstrating the kind and respectful behaviours that staff and parents desire for them.
The Year 7s have impeccable manners and show respect to each other, staff and visitors. They have certainly embraced our Cowleian values and the ‘Cowley Way’. I am fully aware that this does not happen by chance, so thank you for developing these social norms at home. As we know, simply saying, “please” and “thank you” goes a long way in life, and each day, I witness Cowley students showing these lovely manners.
As we know, attendance to school is the key factor that will support learning and success at school. Year 7 attendance is very good, we currently have 152 students in Year 7 who have been in every day since September. These students have confidently informed me they are going to maintain this full attendance until Christmas. The determination and commitment is wonderful to see.
As you will have realised, we recognise that Cowley is more than the ‘200 lessons’ and doing well in exams. I am so pleased to see the vast majority of Year 7 students taking part in extracurricular activities and, most importantly, it is magical to see students gaining confidence and building new friendships.
What is coming up next half term?
Next half term is going to be another busy time as we move swiftly to Christmas. So, here are some events to be aware of:
- Parents’ evening (7th November) – Your first opportunity to meet all of your child’s teachers and receive feedback. Parents’ evenings are critical for student success and wellbeing, so we ask parents to prioritise these evenings. We know that the knowledge and information parents receive at parents’ evening enable parents to work closely with school and their children. We also know that if parents come to parents’ evening, their children will be happier, take part in more extracurricular activities and achieve, on average, 2 grades higher in their GCSEs.
- Remembrance Day (11th November) – At Cowley, we recognise this day and remind the students of the sacrifices made for our freedom. Cowley students who are in Cadets, Scouts and Guides attend college in their uniform as a mark of respect on this day.
- Christmas celebrations – Christmas is huge at Cowley; with lights, choir, concerts, reward celebrations and much more. We also work with local charities to support those less fortunate. Please keep a look at my newsletter for events that parents are invited to.
- Antibullying conference (3rd December) – We recognise that we must work together to educate students and respond to any bullying that takes place. We welcome all parents to attend this conference.
- World faiths day (13th December) – A very special day where we welcome visitors into college and students will learn about kindness and different faiths.
- Primary school visits – Some have taken place this first half term and more will continue next half term. Primary staff will be popping into Cowley and some Year 7 children will be visiting their primary school to meet their old teachers and Year 6 students.
Students finish for half term holiday at 3:05pm on Friday 25th October and return at 8:30am on Monday 4th November. I wish you and your family a restful and safe holiday. However, this is the holiday that I worry most about our students. Please ensure your children are safe with their celebrations of Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Once again, thank you for your continued support to the college. I appreciate the enormity of moving to high school, however, the Year 7s have managed this incredibly well and I am immensely proud of how they have become Cowleians.
Best wishes,
Mr Cormack
Fieldwork is an essential component of the GCSE Geography curriculum, providing students with the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
Last week, our GCSE Y11 students embarked on their exciting fieldwork journey, exploring two distinct environments: Formby Beach and Liverpool City Centre.
These locations offered a rich variety of geographical features and human activities, allowing students to deepen their understanding of both physical and human geography.
This hands-on experience allowed them to see the real-world impact of geographical processes they have been studying in class.
Overall, the field trip experience was invaluable in helping our students build key skills such as data collection, analysis, and critical thinking. It not only enriched their learning but also gave them a glimpse of how geography shapes the world around us.
We are incredibly proud that three of our students were recently invited to represent our school at the prestigious Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) event, hosted at the Chinese Embassy in London.
Accompanied by Mr Sheeran, our students had the opportunity to share their experiences of learning Mandarin and their memorable trip to China last year. Cowley was one of only ten schools chosen from 61 participating schools across the UK to speak at this event – a remarkable honour!
The Mandarin Excellence Programme is a flagship initiative to boost language skills in the UK. It’s a rigorous and immersive programme, and Cowley has been a proud participant since 2017. The event at the Chinese Embassy was a celebration of the successes of schools and students engaged in this programme, providing an important platform for pupils to share their experiences and demonstrate their progress.
Our students took to the stage at the Chinese Embassy to share their journey of learning Mandarin, a language that has challenged and inspired them, as well as their experience of spending time in China on a once-in-a-lifetime visit last year. Mr Sheeran also gave a speech on the life-changing opportunity this programme brings to our students. Our students represented the school magnificently and we are extremely proud of them.
The event concluded with an inspiring message from the Chinese Ambassador, who commended all participating schools for fostering closer ties between the UK and China through language and cultural exchange.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the borough’s first ever St Helens Secondary Schools All Stars Awards, founded by the St Helens Association of Secondary Headteachers (ASH).
These awards look to celebrate the exemplary work of young people across the ten local secondary schools.
Each school has nominated pupils across ten categories and the winners will be revealed at a special ceremony on Thursday, 10th October at St Helens Rugby League Stadium.
The event looks set to be a truly special evening which will uplift and inspire, celebrating the tremendous work of our high school students, acknowledging their dedication, commitment and hard work.
Josie Thorogood, Principal at Rainhill High School and Chair of ASH, said: “We are truly delighted to be celebrating the brilliant young people of St Helens.
“As educators, we see many of the wonderful things children accomplish. As a community, we felt it was important to celebrate them on a bigger stage.
“We are very proud of all of the children and their achievements; they are testament to the extraordinary talents, selflessness and dedication of our young people.”
The awards will be presented by Beri Salihi, St.Helens Women Rugby League Player, in the following categories:
Academic grit and determination award
Student leader of the year
Sportsperson of the year
Outstanding perseverance and resilience
Outstanding contribution to the school community
Outstanding contribution to the St Helens community
Creative and Performing Arts student of the year
Kind and caring student of the year
Environmental student of the year
Young carer of the year
13th September 2024
Dear Parent/Carer,
Welcome back to a new school term we hope you had a lovely summer break.
Your child’s flu immunisation is due this term. We are scheduled to attend Cowley on Tuesday 26th November 2024.
It is important that you read and respond to this message to avoid receiving further telephone calls, texts, and letters from our service.
Please visit this link https://econsent.merseycare.nhs.uk/ and complete your child’s flu consent form with a yes or no by the 20/09/24, you can select the nasal spray which gives the best protection or the alternative injectable flu if required via the same link.
Any forms completed late may result in your child not receiving their flu immunisation at the first school session.
Flu can be an unpleasant illness and sometimes causes serious complications. Vaccinating your child will help to protect them as well as more vulnerable family and friends by preventing the spread of flu this year.
Parents of children in Year 8 (HPV) and Year 9 (Adolescent Booster & Men ACWY) you can also complete your child’s secondary school immunisation forms via this link, again if you can please complete a yes or a no to avoid us contacting you further.
If you require any further support, please contact the school immunisation team on 01744 415 645 who will be happy to help.
St Helens Immunisation Team
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Ashtons Green Children’s Centre
Ashtons Green Drive
WA9 2AP
Tel: 01744 415645
Photos from our annual trip to Quinta that took place in the summer are on this page.
To see more on the adventures that our students had at Quinta, take a look at the Pulse TV video that includes some clips from the trip.
Thursday, 12th September, 4:00 – 7:00pm
At our Open Evening, students and their families will have the chance to explore our building and facilities, discover the exciting enrichment opportunities available and get answers to any questions you may have.
There will be lots of fun activities taking place in each department, while our students and staff will be on hand to help guide you around and give you valuable insight into what life at Cowley is like. There will also be opportunities to hear from the Principal who will be doing presentations throughout the evening.
It’s the perfect opportunity to gather valuable information and make informed decisions about the next steps of your educational journey. We can’t wait to see you.
