Announcement

Dear parents and carers,

Government announcement on schools

You will have seen on the news last night that, as part of the national lockdown to bring the new variant of coronavirus under control, schools have been asked to shift to remote learning until at least the February half term.

We will be remaining open to ‘vulnerable’ children and the children of critical workers, and will offer the highest possible standard of remote learning to all other pupils.  The government has confirmed that children who are entitled to free school meals will continue to receive these. We had anticipated that there could be an extended period of remote learning and stand ready to do everything we can to support you and your children over the next half term.  

Unlike the March lockdown, the existence and rollout of the vaccine means that there is an end in sight. Until then, the lockdown is intended to save the NHS from being overwhelmed and protect the most clinically vulnerable.

The government has indicated that it will not be “possible or fair for all exams to go ahead this summer as normal”. We don’t yet know how this will be resolved but will of course be following developments very closely and communicating with exam groups accordingly.  I know this places a real strain on examination year groups and it is as frustrating to me as it is to you that we don’t have all the answers yet.

In the meantime, the DfE has confirmed that BTEC and other vocational exams scheduled for this week will be going ahead. A separate communication will follow to the students taking these exams.

I know how daunting this announcement is for many families, not just the prospect of extended school closures, but also the lockdown itself and the context of rising case numbers.  Our physical gates must remain closed to most students, but our staff are only ever a phonecall or email away; please do not hesitate to ask for our help or support if you need it – we are here to help.

In the meantime, the remote learning arrangements we have in place will continue in earnest and we will keep you updated on any further developments to the guidance being issued to schools by the government.

 

We will send further details tomorrow of the remote learning plan for Years 7-10 and 12, due to begin on Monday 11th January. 

Yours faithfully,

 

Dr Lawrence Foley                                        Nick Soar                                            

Executive Principal                                     Executive Principal (HF)