Return to School Autumn 2020
10 July 2020
Dear Parent/Carer
Following the release of the government guidance regarding the reopening of schools for the AW term 2020-21 last week, the Senior Leadership Team have spent the past week in planning meetings to ensure a safe return to school for staff and students.
We are confident that we have a plan that will enable us to provide a safe and positive learning environment without compromising a broad and balanced curriculum.
In line with the government guidance we have divided the campus into 3 schools/bubbles
Year 7 – Oak
Year 8 – Elm
Year 9 – Rowan
Each school/bubble will comprise of a team of specialist subject teachers, a pastoral manager and support staff. They will have their own home bases with toilets and outdoor areas. These measures have been implemented to ensure that we are able to mitigate any risks to students and staff as best we can. Students will be based in their home room and the specialist teachers will move from class to class. This will mean that movement of groups is limited whilst a broad curriculum continues.
In order to facilitate the changes to the campus and college day we propose a phased return as follows:
| Date | Year Group |
|
Thursday 27 August 2020 |
Year 7 only |
|
Friday 28 August 2020 |
Year 8 only |
|
Tuesday 1 September 2020 |
Year 9 only |
|
Wednesday 2 – 4 September 2020 |
All Year groups |
The phased return will allow all students some time to understand the new systems and expectations. These orientation days will be spent in their Year group school/bubbles where they will familiarise themselves with their new areas, teacher teams and participate in the learning camps.
Uniform
Our uniform suppliers, Liss Sport have been working tirelessly to ensure that all garments will be available for the beginning of the AW 2020 term. All students will be expected to wear full college uniform and PE kit. All details can be found on the college website. There are no requirements to wash the uniform daily.
Equipment
All students will be required to bring with them the following basic equipment to use during the school day: a pencil case, ruler, pencil 2 black ink pens, an eraser. Each student will be given the use of a plastic tray to hold all exercise books and knowledge organisers which will be kept in their home room.
Hand Sanitiser
Whilst it is vitally important that students wash their hands as often as possible during the day, we have also provided hand sanitiser in all classrooms and around the campus. We would also ask that wherever possible students should carry their own hand sanitiser.
Breakfast, break and Lunchtime refreshments
We plan to continue to run our breakfast club with complimentary toast available to all students every morning. Due to the staggering of break and lunchtime we will be unable to have any snack available to buy at break time. We would like to take this opportunity to encourage students to bring their own healthy snack. We are currently exploring our lunch time offer and will communicate the options available to you via our website. It is advised that you check the website throughout the summer for further information and updates.
Transport
We are currently awaiting guidance from the local authority around the school buses and again we will update the website as soon as we have any additional information.
Reporting
We realise that you haven’t received the usual end of term report that you would have got under normal circumstances. We took the decision at the start of the current academic year to remove subject report comments due to the fact that learning outcomes or experience of college life is not improved by providing such comments and our commitment is all about focusing our work to provide the best educational outcomes for your child.
All students received an attitude sweep in the first half term of the year and then a grade sweep at the end of January. Due to the enforced lockdown, our further grade sweep data entry schedule had to be cancelled, meaning the January grade sweep remains our most up to date and reliable data on your child.
Moving forward, our plan is that following our re-opening in August, we will provide reliable information on your child’s academic progress as a priority before the end of the first half term.
We are aware that guidance may change and we will continue to adhere to the government advice and update you accordingly.
Wishing you a safe and relaxing summer.
With kind regards
Sophie Williams
Head of School
