Our Year 7 students participated in our annual Founders Day on Monday, 10th July. Founders Day is an occasion to commemorate our founder, Sarah Cowley’s life and accomplishments, and to educate about the fascinating history of Cowley.
Founders Day was held in our Sixth Form building, which is full of history and was a perfect setting for the occasion.
Our Year 7 took part in a number of entertaining and interesting events, such as a treasure hunt across the Sixth Form campus to discover memorial plaques and other significant details about Cowley. In addition, students had the opportunity to experience 1950s Cowley uniform and typical Victorian food that they would have eaten in class. Students also got the chance to learn what school would have been like in the early 1900s.
Our students were really astounded by the volume of Cowley’s rich history and they particularly enjoyed scouring the photos from past years to try and find members of their own family who attended Cowley. A highlight from the day was definitely trying on the old uniform!
Learn more about Cowley’s history here
A week on from the events at Progression Week, Cowley Sixth Form College Year 12 students today took part in a Progression assembly.
Discussed were the opportunities available in College next year as they progress into Year 13 (including the elections for Head Boy and Head Girl), the UCAS application process and deadlines for universities as well as information about apprenticeships and employment.
There were a number of awards handed out to students who had excelled during Progression Week in the following categories:
- Good communication
- Leadership
- Time management
- Team player
Students were chosen for each of these categories from each tutor group, and a selection of photographs can be found below of our winners. Congratulations to everyone involved!
Photos from our Class of 2023 Prom.
If you want to send over your photos, email: marketing*AT*cowleysthelens.org.uk
Some independent study has been set for all students in Years 7-9 who will not be in College on Wednesday, 5th July and Friday, 7th July due to the industrial action.
Please find links to the two days’ worth of independent study below:
College will be re-open to all students on Thursday, 6th July and Monday, 10th July and it is a requirement that all students attend.
Every year, we offer our Year 12 Cowley Sixth Form College students a Progression Week, a week-long event to help them think about what they’d like to do after sixth form college, and this year was no exception with a fantastic week of events being held on-site this week.
Progression Week takes the form of:
- University Day – featuring a careers fair (market place style) with universities from around the UK, university-based talks and sessions as well as a presentation around UCAS applications.
- Apprenticeship and Employers Day – featuring a careers fair (market place style) of apprenticeship providers and employers from a wide range of different industries plus talks and sessions about apprenticeships and industry-based topics.
- Mock Interview Day – each student sits a mock interview with a professional to help them prepare for university or employment interviews.
- Work Experience – each student partakes in a work experience placement for three days (students in some courses will do more than three days) to gain valuable experience in a workplace.
We were delighted to welcome the following organisations in to Cowley Sixth Form College for the Progression Week events this year and thank them all for their support:
Universities:
- Glyndwr (Wrexham) University
- Edge Hill University
- University of Stirling
- Staffordshire University
- Nottingham Trent University
- University of Northampton
- Loughborough University
- Lancaster University
- Northumbria University
- Bangor University
- University of Essex
- University Centre St Helens
- University of Salford
- Liverpool John Moores University
- Liverpool Hope University
- University of Cumbria
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Spirit Studios
- University of Huddersfield
- Blackpool College of the Arts
- University of Central Lancashire
- Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
- University of Chester
- LMA Liverpool (Music, Media, Arts)
- University of the West of Scotland
- University of Hull
Apprenticeship/Employers:
- HMS Works
- Waterside Training
- White Cross Vets
- Co-Op
- Army
- Bluebird Care
- Navy
- Pure Gym
- iTech
- St Helens Chamber
- Merseyside Police
- NHS
- North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
- McLaren Group
- Seqirus
- Royal Air Force
- Sellafield
- Alcedo Care
- Miguel Doforo
- United Utilities
- Puratos
- Home Office
- Airbus
- Career Connect
- Barclays Bank
Photos from the week’s event:
With the latest Summer Menu 2023 having completed its first 3-week cycle, we are now giving students an opportunity to have their say in developing the next menu and what they would like to see served in the College canteen this winter.
Please can we ask students to complete the following short online survey: Cowley Menu Survey (office.com)
A week until Prom!
We are looking forward to seeing our Y11s next Wednesday (5th July) for Prom.
Here at the all important timings:
Student arrival: 5:15pm
Coach departure 5:45pm
Plenty of time for photos with friends as everyone arrives.
We will be doing another online Prom Gallery, so if your daughter/son is happy to be included, send over your best prom photo to marketing@cowleysthelens.org.uk . As this is a work email, can we please ask for photos to compressed or fairly small in file size.
We can’t wait to see all your photos!
We understand that you may be a bit nervous about making new friends and getting around without getting lost.
We have some really great things planned for you and we promise that we include fun activities to help you to get to know other people in your class that will help you to make new friends.
As for getting lost in the building, well, you are lucky that we have a school full of helpful people and you only need to ask someone for help so that’s that problem sorted.
Now, take a deep breath, empty your mind of anything worrying you and be prepared to have a brilliant few days with us!
We are really looking forward to welcoming Y6 students for your induction/transition days with us next week!
Monday 3rd July – Orientation Day – 8:30am-2:40pm
Tuesday 4th July – Lesson Taster Day – 8:30am-2:40pm
Wednesday 5th July – Cognitive Ability Tests – 8:30am-1:30pm
Please note the earlier finish time on Wednesday 5th July. This day will finish at 1.30pm
What students need to bring
Parents – we kindly ask that your child brings with them normal school equipment:
- full pencil case
- school bag
- water bottle
Please note that PE kit is not required as we are not running any PE sessions over any of the 3 days.
What students need to wear, plus details on lunch
Students should wear their primary school uniform (no jewellery / makeup is permitted). Please bring around £3 cash for lunch (or a packed lunch if preferred). Students can also bring a healthy snack.
What the students will be doing as part of the induction
Over the course of the three days, the children will be getting familiar with the school, enjoying some taster lessons and assemblies as well as meeting all the key staff including the Year 7 Team and Gatsby, our lovely therapy dog 
Students will get to meet their new Year 7 team: Mrs Cunliffe (Head of Achievement) and Mrs Rowland (Year Co-ordinator).
We have a fabulous team of current Year 7 students who will be helping our Year 6 throughout the day. We incorporate this in so that our new Year 6 can chat with our current Year 7 and ask any questions that they have about Cowley.
We can’t wait to meet our new Cowleians!
A message for our parents
We know that this must be a nervous time for our Year 6 parents/carers, but we promise that we do everything we can to ensure your child has the best few days here at Cowley.
Details of a Summer activity camp taking place during the summer holidays, run by Active Future
This program will run at St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School on 24th July at 10am and will run for 4 hours a day, 4 days per week for 4 weeks.
It will be run as a Multi sport camp focusing on the more non traditional sports to promote inclusion and We will have lots of professionals in speaking with the young people about mental health and the benefits of Physical activity.
I will attach the booking link below. Spaces are limited to 30.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/active-futures-youth-zone-at-st-cuthberts-tickets-660346312597
If you are not familiar with HAF Programs I will briefly give a description below :
- HAF stands for Holiday Activity and Food
- It is funded by the councils and ran by organisations such as ourselves on behalf of the council
- It is completely FREE for kids of Free School meals
- It runs 3 times a year during the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays consisting of a minimum of 4 hours a day for 4 days during Easter and Christmas and 4 hours a day, 4 days a week for 4 weeks in Summer
- The camps focus on a broad range of activities to get all children involved and Active
- There is a big emphasis placed on Healthy eating with various Activities based around this throughout the camp
- Each child that attends our camps will receive a breakfast and hot nutritious lunch.
27th June 2023
Dear Parent/Carer,
Re. Industrial Action
As you will be aware, the National Education Union (NEU) has announced it is to take further industrial action due to a national dispute between the unions and government over teachers’ pay and funding decisions for school. The next planned strike days are next Wednesday, 5th July and Friday, 7th July.
Due to the number of NEU members and health and safety implications, unfortunately, after careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision that the College cannot operate a standard day. I have outlined the plans below.
During these two days, the College will only be open to Year 12, Year 10 and a small group of identified Year 7-9 students. Parents/carers of the Year 7-9 identified group will receive a personal communication in the next few days, and those students will attend College in full uniform from 8.30am to 3.05pm.
Year 12 students will follow their normal timetable. If their teacher is not in College, they will complete independent study in the Sixth Form Study Area.
Year 10 students will arrive at 8.30am, in full uniform, and register with the year team in the canteen. On Wednesday, 5th July, they will complete their English Literature GCSE rehearsal exam during periods 1-4 and then leave the site at approximately 12:30pm to complete exam study at home. On Friday, 7th July, they will complete their Chemistry and Physics GCSE rehearsal exams periods 1-4 and leave site at approximately 1:15pm. If Year 10 students require school transport at the end of the school day, we will supervise them during lunchtime and period 5. Please inform the Year 10 team if your child requires this provision by Monday 3rd July to enable us to make appropriate arrangements.
All Year 7 – 9 students not attending on these two days will be provided with appropriate independent study to complete at home. Miss Barry, Vice Principal, will be providing more details about this and adding information to our website early next week.
As most students entitled to Free School Meals won’t be in school on the two strike days, Mrs Callaghan, Business Manager, has once again arranged for £2.50 to be credited to their ParentPay meal account which won’t expire until spent. We understand that times are tough for families and it is important that no student goes hungry, therefore, if you prefer, a packed lunch can be collected or delivered on the day. Please let Mrs Callaghan know by noon on Monday 3rd July via email to enquiries@cowleysthelens.org.uk and she will arrange for this to happen.
I am sorry that you will have to make alternative arrangements for your child, and for the disruption to their education. I have prioritised the exam year groups to ensure this strike does not interrupt their exam preparation. I very much hope this situation can be swiftly resolved so we can continue to deliver high quality education and opportunities for our students. I am in regular contact with LA and Union representatives and will keep you informed of any progress or change.
College will be open as normal for all students on Thursday, 6th July and it is a requirement that all students attend.
If you have any questions, please contact the college on the above email.
Yours sincerely,
Mr R Cormack
Principal
