It has also been a busy week with lots of home / school contact. On Tuesday we held the second of the year nine evenings to start the process of transition into key stage four and options subjects. The year nine options evening is next Thursday 11th February and we hope that you are able to join us on line for discussions about key stage four subjects, the content of the courses and how they are assessed. Notes and Q+A from the introduction evenings can be found here. Parents should make their subject bookings for next week via the parent appointment system in WeDuc.

On Thursday we held an evening for students in years eleven and thirteen and their parents to share our understanding of the options this summer for grading. The presentation and Q+A from that event can be found here. With the possibility of return on the 8th March or after, we are not planning on having the year thirteen mock exams at that time. When the expectations for the summer are clearer, we will then put something in place.

Next week we will be sending home the information we have collected on our students' engagement with online and offline tasks and attendance in Google Meet lessons. It is hard to be able to make any clear and fixed judgements about children's learning from this information, but combined with the positive feedback we are getting from staff, students and parents, I feel that the vast majority of students can feel proud of how they are coping.

As we near half-term, we may think about the opportunity to bring some more flexibility into how students learn, so that as the days get brighter students can make the most of their opportunities. As yet we know no more about our return to school, but when we do, I shall let you know.

Next Wednesday 10th February we have an evening for our year eight students and their parents as they consider their specialisms for next year. This will give students the opportunity to explore aspects of the curriculum in greater depth. We look forward to seeing you there.

On Wednesday in our joint leadership meeting we discussed all of the systems that we are considering carrying forward into our future provision. We are all clear that there will be some good that we will take from this time.

On Thursday, I was at the Association of School and College Leaders council meeting with head teacher representatives from across the UK. There was a diversity of views but a common goal in wanting positive solutions to benefit our children and the future of this country.

Thank you again for all you have done this week. It is possible perhaps to start seeing Spring and better times ahead.