Principal's update 26 June 2020

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

At the outset of this week’s newsletter I want to highlight the importance of communication from school to home and back again. Of course, the lack of face-to-face communication with students has made it more difficult to effectively connect with parents and carers but I trust our newsletters and video updates are helping to keep you informed.  Key info is also available on our website or alternatively just call the school, any week day, to speak directly to a member of staff who can provide you with the necessary information.  Please keep in touch so we know how we can assist students to excel!

Learning has to continue to be online for now and looking forward we believe “blended-learning” will be a feature of schooling next year.  Blended-learning is a mix of face to face instruction, independent homework tasks and virtual online interactions.  It will become ever more true that online applications and software will provide capacity for students to stretch themselves and will give teachers feedback information about understanding and engagement. The educational resources and activities we are distributing through Office 365 applications will also allow students to develop the strongest routines online so that their learning will have no disruption in the event of further COVID lockdown.  At this point, no student should be waiting until September to start school again rather it is essential that students complete the lessons and tasks provided via Microsoft Teams.  We require students to be fully engaged with their online learning and are monitoring their efforts closely. I trust that the weekly Engagement Report is assisting you with conversations at home.

In September, our focus must be on the re-socialisation of students and taking learning deeper.  We will also need to facilitate the transition to the next year for students and in particular, we will welcome 240 new Year 7 students into college.  While the details of how schools will operate remains less clear, parents should know that we have scheduled Staff Training days on the 7^th and 8^th of September with lessons beginning in a phased manner from Wednesday 9^th September.  Online learning will re-commence on the 1^st of September and students will be expected to have completed specific work ahead of their first lesson in school.  Students will re-commence lessons, on-site, sequentially as follows:

We have a further Staff INSET day on the 4^th of January 2021.

There are a number of key information links below.  In particular review the Code of Conduct. We value strong partnerships with parents and hope you will get time to discuss things at home so that all students are connected to the plans moving forward.

Finally, may I thank you for the many positive messages of support and thanks we have received from home throughout lockdown. 

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” Helen Keller

Regards

Mr M Hall

Principal