Daily update 27th March 2020 – As the first full week of our new situation draws to a close I wanted to thank you all again for your support and proactivity in resolving any of the issues with setting up home learning. The response to my video message yesterday was overwhelming – I think many of you appreciated seeing a familiar face and hearing a voice, rather than just reading another message. I am going to ask some of the staff today to record some messages so that we can send some of those out to you too.

Year 11 and 13 students
I have had some emails from exam boards to let me know that they are working with Ofqual on how they are going to award grades and qualifications this year for Year 11 and 13 students but there is no further information yet. Some Year 11 and 13 students have been in contact with us individually about worries they have about this and about their 6th form places. Please be assured that, if they are following the advice and tasks set by their teachers, then they are doing everything they can do at the moment that is in their control. We are supporting some students to manage their priorities as we gather the information we need. Further information will be shared as we receive it and we will be in touch about 6th form places as soon as we can.

Transport
We have received the letter attached from the local authority with regards to transport to school at this time. We have very few students in school now, and indeed across the county, accessing our care provision because they are vulnerable or because they are children of keyworkers and therefore the transport services will be reduced to the minimum that is required. We will be contacting the parents of those few children in school directly today.

Extension activities
We are in the process of creating and collating ideas for activities for our students to do that are a bit more fun. We thought this would help at weekends and over the Easter holiday period. If you or your son/daughter have any ideas to add to our list, let us know by responding to this email.

Any questions, as always, please ask.

With very best wishes,

Jo Tunnicliffe
Headteacher