Dear Parents/Carers,
Following the government announcement last night, and the news that we have returned to a full lockdown, I just wanted to update you on how we will continue to support your child through this period.
All students will now be learning at home until the February half term break. This will be kept under review and we will keep you informed as we get more information.
The last ten months have been extremely challenging for our students and we fully recognise the impact this continues to have both academically and emotionally. The additional challenge for Year 11 and Year 13 students who until now have been uncertain about the status of their examinations this year, has added to the challenges. We have written separately to these students today.
To their absolute credit, our students have shown determination, resilience and strength in embracing all the changes, getting to grips with remote learning and finding ways of ensuring they work with their teachers in new and different ways.
We have a continued commitment during this period of lockdown to ensuring our students can receive high quality remote learning and staff are working extremely hard on this. Whilst it might seem we are back to the position we faced in March, we are actually in a much better place now than we were then for a number of reasons:-
- We now have an excellent remote learning provision in place for our students.
- We are able to draw on the experience we have from having been through this before.
- We are putting in place a system for mass testing when students return to school so more students can stay in school and won’t need to be sent home.
- The roll out of the vaccination in now underway.
You have already received some information about our Remote Learning provision earlier in the week, but just to remind you of our plans and expectations of students in the coming weeks:-
- All students will follow their normal timetable of lessons which will begin at 9am every day. Where possible, lessons will be live lessons and students will be expected to engage and take part as if they were in school. Students (and parents) can find their lesson timetable in Satchel:One (Show My Homework) by tapping on the three line/burger menu at the top and then tapping on timetable.
- Tutor time will take place twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:45 am until 9:00am
- On Thursday 7th January at 8:45am, there will be a live assembly for all students so we can update them and explain to them what will happen this half term.
- The Personal Development Programme will operate as normal during this period of remote learning and be delivered by tutors as a live lesson each fortnight, as timetabled.
- We have teams of people available to provide pastoral support and work with you to address any concerns or problems so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
We are also looking at how we can continue to reward excellent work completed remotely and we will continue to celebrate the fantastic work students are doing at home.
We will continue to provide face to face care for critical worker children and vulnerable children during this period and will send out information separately regarding requests for provision as we have done previously. For students in receipt of Free School Meals, the voucher scheme through EDENRED will continue to be available.
We know that many of you are working from home and are balancing home schooling with your own jobs so very much appreciate your support in ensuring your child is set up and ready for the day.
Thank you for your continued support and best wishes to you and your families during this time.
Kind regards
Mrs Aitcheson
Head Teacher