Coronavirus response update 1st June 2020

I hope this email finds you safe and well. There have been a number of changes and new announcements made since my last email.

A few updates:

The Department of Education announced a change in the date earmarked for years 10 and 12 (our A1 students) to return to some form of face to face support. We have been asked to consider reopening from the 15th June 2020. This is in line with our planning. It is highly likely that we will begin the week with staff only returning to work, with a small number of invited students returning later in the week. The final dates will be confirmed soon.

The changes in guidance announced last Thursday will need to be considered and our plans and risk assessments amended accordingly. We will meet this week to amend our plans and our risk assessments to ensure that any return is as safe as it is possible to be. We will communicate our plans and to all prior to our reopening. Thank you for your patience at this time; we want to get this right rather than aim for a particular date in the calendar.

Teaching staff are setting and assessing work as normal for the rest of this term. Please could you encourage your sons and daughters to continue to complete the work set? It is really important that we preserve study habits and make sure that all students are using this time well to ensure that they do not fall too far behind. Independent learning skills are an essential component of success at A level and with BTEC Level 3 courses. As mentioned before the half term break, teachers will begin online, live teaching sessions for 50% of the curriculum programme. These will begin from the 8th June, with all departments running online session from the 15th June 2020. This will form part of our plan for offering some level of face to face support and teaching before the end of the academic year.

That’s all for today.

Take care, look after yourself, your families and each other; be patient and stay positive.

Anton