18/12/2020

Government announcement

As you may be aware, the government announced yesterday evening (17 December) that all secondary schools and colleges in England will be able to test more of their staff and students in a round of free coronavirus testing, from early next term.

With very little notice, leaders of the school now have to organise and communicate a staggered start to the new year, whilst also establishing a temporary testing centre on our school site. As you will appreciate, this takes time. Guidance for schools has begun to be provided today, however, we continue to await further information. As such, we are communicating as much as we are able to as of today and we thank you for your patience as you await further information at the start of next term. A letter will be sent to parents/carers on Monday 4 January 2021.

Phased return

On Monday 4 January 2021 we will welcome all Year 11 and 13 students back to school, as they continue to study for examinations. All examinations due to take place in January will still go ahead. Some Year 12 students will also return on Monday 4 January, as they are required to sit examinations or complete a controlled assessment. Further details are outlined later in the letter.

The government have also asked that we make full-time on-site provision available for vulnerable students, and the children of critical workers (Years 7 – 10 and 12) from Monday 4 January, for one school week. These students will be supervised in school, by non-teaching staff, to access the remote learning provision available on Microsoft Teams.

Leaders have swiftly identified our vulnerable students (in accordance with government guidance) and their parents/carers will be contacted via telephone today, to establish whether they wish to take up a place for their child in school from Monday 4 January.

Parents/carers who believe themselves to be critical workers can apply for a place for their child (Years 7 – 10 and 12) for the first week of term, by following these steps:

1. Check that you are considered to be a critical worker by reading the government guidance available - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
2. If you consider yourself to be a critical worker and wish to apply for a place for your child (Years 7 -10 and 12) to access full-time on-site provision from Monday 4 January, please complete our survey, by 5pm Tuesday 22 December, to let us know -  https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/XUOGUJ/

Year group details

Please read the information below carefully, to find out how your child/children will be affected by the recent government decisions. All students will then return to school as normal from Monday 11 January 2021.

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9	Students will not return to school until Monday 11 January. Students will begin using the remote learning resources available on Microsoft Teams from Monday 4 January. Identified vulnerable students and children of critical workers will have access to full-time on-site provision as detailed earlier in the letter. Further communication will be sent out to parents/carers on Monday 4 January, detailing remote learning arrangements for the remainder of the first week of term.
Year 10	Students will not return to school until Monday 11 January. Students will access live lessons on Microsoft Teams from Monday 4 January, following their usual timetable. Identified vulnerable students and children of critical workers will have access to full-time on-site provision as detailed earlier in the letter.
Year 11	Students will return to school on Monday 4 January, following their normal timetable. The Construction examination will go ahead as planned in the week commencing 4 January.
Year 12	Students will not return to school until Monday 11 January. Students will begin accessing live lessons on Microsoft Teams from Monday 4 January, following their usual timetable. The Criminology and Health & Social Care examinations will go ahead as planned in the week commencing 4 January. The Performing Arts Controlled Assessment will go ahead as planned in the week commencing 4 January. Students who study further Maths A level are required in school from Monday 4 January. Identified vulnerable students and children of critical workers will have access to full-time on-site provision as detailed earlier in the letter.
Year 13	Students will return to school on Monday 4 January, following their normal timetable. The Criminology and Health & Social Care examinations will go ahead as planned in the week commencing 4 January.

We very much appreciate your support in ensuring that you read the contents of this post carefully, please share the relevant information with your child and as always, if you have any queries, please get in touch via the ‘Contact us’ facility on our website.