Dear Parents and Carers, Pupils and Colleagues

Welcome to a brief round up of key messages from this week.

Thank you all for your resilience and determination this week, one in which we have made some important changes to on site and off site provision in order to do all we can to continue to reduce possible transmission of Covid.

1) Important changes to on site and remote provision

Remember that we have changed the times of the day back to those that we operated before coronavirus. This means periods 1 & 2 are an hour long, the same as other lessons and we only have one tutor time at 10.40am. Break is 30 minutes long from 1100-1130 and lunch now runs from 1330-1400.

The full letter can be found here: Update Letter

2) Testing

Well done everyone for getting into how the lateral flow testing operates.

Although it is a rather time consuming process, it has already helped us this week pick up two positive cases and take appropriate action to isolate close contacts or increase testing. It is clear that despite everyone’s best efforts, “Covid creep” is taking place and the virus is in the community. Please take care of yourselves at this time and remember Hands Face Space.

Thank you to those staff involved in the testing routines and also to parents and carers for consenting.

If you have not yet done so, please read the letter on our web site about Lateral Flow Testing

3) Remote Education

Thank you, students, for taking part in this. You have done well to navigate Teams invitations and get into live lessons!

Next week, we will be reviewing how effectively students are engaging with remote education and seeing what other support is necessary to help them engage with this. In the first instance, parents, if you need support, please contact your child’s teacher and then Mr Jennings if necessary. The changes we have made to the timetable today caused a few gremlins but these have been ironed out now.

We will continue to refine and develop our online programme. I continue to be the opinion that pupils need time away from their work to do exercise, engage in their hobbies and sometimes simply relax at a stressful time. Equally if your your child needs more work, please also let his or her teacher know!

Please bear in mind that staff may on occasion be unable to set work, for example through illness, in which case, a Curriculum Leader or a member of the senior team can support.

Please do also remember that we all need to take breaks from screen working – I will share details with staff and students on how to do this directly via internal messaging.

4) Year 11 Students

There have been some initial updates from the Secretary of State for Education in a letter to Ofqual about the possible ways that GCSEs may be graded this year. Nothing, however, is confirmed yet.

For students in Year 11, therefore, my earlier advice remains – concentrate on the work you are being set at the moment by your teachers. When we have a clear picture of what the arrangements will be for the awarding of grades we will let you know what you need to do or revise.

Finally – with the national lockdown very much still in effect, it is important that we all follow the stay at home guidance apart from essential travel. The NHS needs our support and we need to pull together as we endure ongoing challenging times.

Let us also take a moment of reflection and prayer for those families in our community – and, indeed, those in the wider world, particularly in Brazil at the moment – who have experienced the full and very serious effects of covid.

I am hopeful that although times are currently tough, it will not be long until restrictions are lifted and schools can re-open. When further information becomes available, I will, as always, keep you informed.

Wishing you a restful weekend

John Cornish
Principal