Unfortunately, it is clear that there is a growing recognition that schools may not be fully back after half-term. Our school will always respond quickly to what we need to do and will be ready for any eventuality, but we also need to recognise that our students will not necessarily all be back in school before the end of February. We will inform you as soon as we know but at present we continue to embed our home learning provision.

Home learning

We have asked our staff to ensure that time is built into every lesson where students can be working away from the screen - this may be to undertake written work in exercise books, planning on paper, creative tasks or moving away from the screen. We are keen that we balance everyone's screen time. Please ensure as far as possible that your children take advantage of these times in lessons to look away from the screen so that we can maintain a healthy approach to our study and screen time.

We plan to give all parents an update on the work of their children in the week commencing 8th February. Over the next couple of weeks we will be collecting in updates from staff so that this can be sent home. In the meantime, please refer to the parent guardian summaries that are emailed to you as a summary of the work that is set. Please also take the opportunity to look at your child's work and marks and discuss these with them. Please try and avoid asking for further updates from staff as we are already in the process of collecting this to send home to you in February.

This update will replace any of our previously planned data sweeps, which we have suspended at present so that we can concentrate on the February update. We will consider re-introducing the data sweeps once we are fully back in school.

A small number of parents have contacted us for student timetables. Please be aware that these are easily accessible through the WeDuc app, with daily and weekly timetables available for you to check.

Examinations / GCSE and A level qualifications

Our joint leadership team met this week to review the current consultation on the awarding of grades this summer. We have a number of further meetings planned over the next week to ensure that all teachers are fully prepared for the outcome and the next stages. Parents and students can see the consultation via the link above and are welcome to respond with their views. Once the consultation is over (on 29th January) and the final arrangements published, we will make clear the process by which we intend to gather evidence to support the awarding of grades. For students it is vital that throughout the next few weeks and months they continue to work with commitment and positivity to ensure that we are in the best place to move towards the grading system.

Key stage four / options evening

A reminder for year nine students and their families that the presentation for the key stage four courses is next Thursday 28th January at 6pm. The link for the zoom meeting will be sent to you via WeDuc on the day.