Dear Parent/Carer
We hope that everyone in your household is well and that your children are looking forward to coming back to school. Below is the schedule for the way in which each year group is planned to return to school during the week commencing 8th March.
I have never been so proud of our young people – they have been amazing this week coming in for their Lateral Flow Tests. On a personal note, I remain grateful but also humbled by the support you as parents have given to our school over the past year. We will endeavour not to let you down.
Our feedback from parents and students on remote learning, have shown us that the approach we have adopted this time, with the use of live lessons, has been well received and helped engage pupils with their learning. In addition, staff have been working together to develop different strategies to deliver learning, give pupils feedback and assess their learning. It is no substitute for being in a classroom together, but we are confident that pupils have continued to learn and, in many cases, develop new skills during this period of lockdown.
Week Beginning 8th March
| Day | Arrangements |
| Monday 8th March | Remote learning for ‘all’ students at home
Key worker and vulnerable students in school |
| Tuesday 9th March | Year 10 in school all-day
Key worker and vulnerable students in school Y7, 8, 9, 11 – remote learning at home Testing – (Year 11 in the morning and Year 8 in the afternoon) link to the testing letter |
| Wednesday 10th March | All years in school – normal school day
Final tests will be carried out during the school day) |
Arrival
On arrival (just the same as before Christmas) – Students must not arrive on site before 8.30 am unless previously arranged. Senior staff (in orange jackets!) will be on duty at the gates each morning. We would ask students to arrive at the following times and go straight to their tutor bases.
- 8.30 am – Year 8 and Year 11
- 8.35 am – Year 10
- 8.40 am – Year 7 and Year 9
We appreciate that some students will want to come into school with their siblings and as such we have a dedicated space for waiting.
We will also continue with the staggered end to the day for different year groups between 2.50 pm – 3.00 pm. Students are expected to go straight home and not hang around’ outside the school gates or beyond.
Transport
- The Stagecoach bus will be running their normal route and timings from Monday 8th March.
- Pikes Coaches will be running from Wednesday 10th March.
- Taxis – please confirm with your operator the day you need the service to start.
Testing update
Testing will continue during the week until all year groups have received three LFD tests in school. During this week there will be some disruption to lessons so that we are able to complete the three lateral flow tests for the children who have consent (link to letter). After this, students will be issued with tests to complete at home. More information about home testing to follow next week.
Start of Term
When the students return, we will focus on reconnecting the children with our expectations, values and learning behaviours as well as reviewing their learning so that teachers know how best they can support all our students in the future. As always, we will focus on the mental and physical well-being and social connection with our students.
All of the school systems and routines that were in place in the Autumn term will remain in place from 8th March as the ‘Systems of Control’ that schools are asked to implement to help reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19 are still in place. This is the link as a reminder.
Face masks
The Government has changed its guidance regarding masks and students will now have to wear their masks in their classrooms as well as in the corridors. All children who are exempt should be wearing a lanyard. Please can parents continue to check daily with their children that they have their mask with them when they leave in the morning? The Government has said that they will review mask-wearing in schools during the Easter holidays. The only time masks are not required are in practical PE lessons and when outside.
Expectations
We will be reiterating all these procedures with the students during the first tutor time on the 10th of March. We are asking you to work in collaboration with us to make sure that all students understand the importance of adhering to these protocols.
Teachers are poised to hit the ground running when students return and will be planning for teaching new content and recapping previous content delivered during the lockdown. It is important that students return ready to learn and fully equipped for lessons. On return, students are expected to wear full school uniform (As previously PE kit can be worn on PE days). Please ensure all lockdown hair colours, cuts and piercings are moved back to being school compliant.
It is likely that the vast majority of students are wanting to get back to normal as soon as possible. However, we are also aware there will be some students who will need extra support on their return from lockdown. Our Inclusion team will be working with pastoral teams to ensure these students are identified and get the support they need. If you have any concerns about your child’s return to school, please do not hesitate to get in touch, via your child’s Year Leader or Form Tutor.
And finally
You must ensure that if anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms, your child does NOT attend school. Any child or staff member who develops symptoms in the school day will be sent home immediately. If anyone in your household, or your child, tests positive for COVID-19 you MUST inform the school.
It is really important that we all continue to follow the controls we have in place as the vast majority of our school community – students, their families and our staff have still not received any vaccination against COVID. We are all really hopeful that if we are careful over the next few months and as the vaccinations reach more adults we will be having a more normal start to the academic year in September.
M J Serridge