Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to the unofficial blog to round up the week. Two apologies to start with this week!

Firstly, the last two weeks have been so all consumed by preparing the site and getting ready to welcome Year 10 back that I never got to committing last week’s offering to the web – apologies!

Secondly, this week’s is later than I would have liked – again apologies. It has become something of a key point in the week for me that marks the end of my own working week (well, before the Sunday afternoon preparation at least), and I enjoy taking a moment to reflect on what has taken place over the last five days, although this is often later than I would like. I shall endeavour to get next week’s out earlier.

There is perhaps some unhelpful posturing taking place in the national context at the moment around education and the wider discussion around schools re-opening in September or not as the case may be. Colleagues from all perspectives would perhaps do well to remember that it is you – our community – who are affected by the big decisions in ways that impact directly on your daily lives. So I hope that you have felt listened to this week when we have been adjusting the final plans for Year 10. I know there have been some last minute changes as we work with you and as we finalise our plans and prepare the site. Thank you for bearing with us. It is never our intention to delay relasing information or cause undue concern, so whatever the issue – Free School Meals Vouchers, the allocated group for your child, a follow up phone call about a matter of concern or any other issue, please do contact us and we will do our best to resolve it. You will hopefully understand, though, that the volume of information and guidance from central government and the DFE has been very difficult to keep up with due to daily changes, seeming contradictions and oversights and systems that have not always helped us prepare in as good time as we would like to do.

I am reminded, therefore, of the need for all of us to show kindness and grace to one another at this time. No matter our political persuasion, national and international leaders have faced a mammoth challenge and I hope that you will join me in taking a moment of private prayer and asking God to give them the wisdom that they will need to help steer the world through the next steps.

On matters closer to home, well done this week if you are in Year 10 and you took part in the online work experience week. I’m sorry there were some technical issues with some of the sessions, but I hope that you found the overall content of use. Also, thank you to those of you who have attended a Microsoft Teams session with Mr Jennings and his team. There will be more of these next week and every week thereafter. And if you haven’t seen it, please check out our website for details of “Breakout” – our online talent show. Thanks to the Drama team for leading on this.

I am delighted to see so many “likes” and shares of the All Saints staff exercise video – please do take a moment to watch it if you havent on social media. Also, if you participated this week in our online Zoom Quiz organised by FASA – thank you! We will look to do more!

Finally, I hope that you and your family are well. Lockdown has been a most unusual time for all of us. We still have some way to go before our new normal is established, so please don’t be hard on yourself or others if things are still a bit more stressful than normal. Show kindness, receive kindess and take those rare moments of stillness where you can to celebrate what we still do have and to consider where we can build each other up.

Have a great weekend
John Cornish, Principal