Good evening parents and carers, students and colleagues.
I hope that this week has been a good one for you all. I have broken up this weeks round up into some key sections:
1. Return in September
We are finalising these plans and will share them via letter next week.
In summary, we will have different year groups in different parts (“zones”) of the school, staggered breaks and lunches to minimise contact between different year groups at social times, a consistent focus on hand hygeine and staff moving to different classrooms rather than students.
We are keen to keep the curriculum as broad and balanced as possible so there will still be some specialist rooms used for certain subjects. There will be a small staggered exit at the end of the day and I continue to work with the local transport companies to try to arrange more capacity. If your child is able to safely walk or bike to school, though, I would encourage them do so.

There will inevitably be learning that we all do in the early days, so please bear with us whilst we get the systems and structures in place and respond to having all students back on site.

2. Key Stage 3 Lockdown Challenge
I hope those of you with children in Year 7, 8 or 9 have enjoyed the slightly different approach taken with the lockdown challenge. We have seen some very creative responses coming in!
Please do keep completing work next week, but do also be aware that we also recognise that for many, months and months of homeschooling are proving tough and now wearing a bit thin. I’m sure we’ll all be pleased to be back in the building after the summer.

3. Year 10
Well done to Year 10s – your work on site has been fantastic and I hope that you have found the curriculum recovery days benefical.
Although there is much in the press about next year’s GCSEs, please be assured that we will do whatever we can to help you be ready for these!

4. Year 11
We have written to Year 11 parents this week with details about GCSE results day. Although we can’t gather all at once together, we are keen to have our usual results day (socially distanced!) on the field. Portland Harbour makes a beautiful backdrop and you’ll be pleased to know that I have ordered the sunshine…
If you didn’t manage to tune in live, please see the link below for Boris Johnson’s message to all Year 11 students:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-WsDuO6Gmw

5. Key Workers and your children
A continued thank you for all of your hard work. I know that many of you in public sector roles are trying to catch up from the first wave or covid, or considering how to prepare for a possible second wave, with little time to catch your breath. You are in our thoughts and prayers. If you are a key worker in the private sector, likewise, thank you for the vital role you continue play in serving our community and keeping some semblance of normality.

From start to finish, your children have been fab throughout all this – thank you!

Finally, I am looking forward to updating you next week with two pieces of communication: 1) the newsletter and 2) the September model. Between them, I hope to round up this academic year and give you a sense of what the next one will look like.

Have a great weekend – with every blessing for you and your family
John Cornish, Principal