Thank you for your ongoing patience and support at this difficult time.  Staff have been overwhelmed by the positive responses they have received to the phone calls made this week.  We have, of course, been working as rapidly as possible to change our plans to fit in with the new National lockdown and the change in guidance to schools which was announced by the Prime Minister on Monday evening. 

We anticipate that most students will now be continuing their schooling at home until at least February half term.  This means we have revised our approach to online education further, taking into consideration all the feedback we got from the parent surveys on this last term. 

Remote Education

We are very conscious that there is now no time for ‘catch up’ when students return and whilst the vast majority have always engaged and completed their remote learning very well, a few have not.  With this in mind, and having gained significant expertise over the past year, we are moving to a ‘school at home’ approach from Monday 11^th January for all students.  This will be the closest we are able to get to the in-school learning experience at home.

Students will be expected to attend online every school day and every lesson.  All students will register for lesson one by attending a ‘Google Meet’ with their teacher where the register will be taken.  Students must ‘arrive’ on time by logging into their lesson Google Meet.  Students will attend each lesson with timings below:-

All students will also be expected to attend an assembly every Tuesday 15.00 – 15.15. 

Currently, we do not intend to set additional formal extended learning (homework) during this period.  However, teachers may suggest tasks that students can complete in their own time to further support their learning and understanding.

Students must attend the Google Meet for each lesson of the day which will be arranged via their Google Classrooms.  The Google Meet may last for the entire lesson or only form a part of it, but every lesson will have a Google Meet for all students to attend, register and see their teacher.  Attendance will be recorded for each lesson and any non-attendance/truancy will be followed up.

Each Google Meet lesson will be recorded for safeguarding and training purposes.  We, of course, expect the highest standards of behaviour during Google Meets.

Students should attend Google Meets suitably dressed in modest clothing (smart casual or uniform) and we advise that students have an appropriate break away from their electronic device at break and lunchtime to do something active where possible.

You will be able to see your child’s attendance, STEP points and any demerits on the Epraise app.  Please check this and your child’s Google Classrooms regularly.  Students are encouraged to have their cameras on during Google Meets as this allows staff to gauge student understanding most effectively and adjust their teaching accordingly.  All non attendance to ‘School at Home’ will be followed up in the same way as not attending school.  In extreme circumstances, where there continues to be non-attendance online, your child may be required to attend in-school provision.

Please be aware that our teachers will mostly be delivering their remote teaching from home in line with National guidance to stay at home where possible.  This means that they may be managing their own children, caring for relatives or have distractions that might not usually happen in school.  We would request your patience in these cases.

If staff are unwell or unable to attend the Google Meet, work will be provided in their Google Classroom and this will be managed by Directors of Subjects.

Free School Meals

Families entitled to free school meals have been invited to order a food hamper which will support with food for a two week window. Those who have submitted a request will be contacted once these are available for collection. This will be offered on a fortnightly basis. At present a voucher scheme is not available, however, this may change if the Government makes arrangements in the future. Students attending our critical and vulnerable child provision in-school will receive a daily picnic lunch bag and will not be entitled to a hamper.

In School Testing

The delivery of a Covid Test Centre project is well underway. We expect the facility to be ready to start Lateral Flow Tests for students and staff next week. Only students and staff attending the school site regularly will be tested.

Further information about the Covid Test Centre will be available on our website next week. Parents/carers of children attending our critical worker and vulnerable child provision will receive information on the testing process by the end of this week. This initiative has been put in place to ensure the ongoing safety of students and staff during this pandemic.

We will provide further information about this testing when the rest of the school population are scheduled to return to school.

Children attending in-school for the critical worker or vulnerable child provision

All students who are in school will be required to complete a Home/School Agreement which details our expectations whilst they are in school.  If they do not follow these expectations, their place in school during this period will be jeopardised and we have the right to withdraw this.