Newsletters

Dear Families

May I wish you all a safe and healthy half term break.  As we have not been notified of an extended half term we look forward to seeing pupils again on Monday 2nd November by 9am.  Should the Government position change on this we will notify you via text and on the front page of our website.

 

Covid

We have had no confirmed cases this week within our community.

Thank you to all families who have supplied their child with a face covering.  Those children able to wear one have been fantastic at adapting to this latest change at school.  We are happy to see coloured and patterned face coverings, but would ask that there is nothing offensive or scary on them.  We are asking all pupils and staff to wear their covering whilst in communal areas eg. corridors and the dining hall when collecting lunch.  Within Bubbles pupils and staff are not expected to wear face coverings, but staff will wear face coverings and additional PPE if they need to work within 1 metre of your child.

 

Holidays abroad

If any of you are lucky enough to have a holiday abroad booked for this half term, please check the Government website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors to see if you need to self isolate for 14 days.  Please also be aware that many countries also have entry requirements and you would be advised to check these prior to booking and travelling.  Please do not send your child to school should the advice be to isolate on your return and make us aware that your child will be home with you for 14 days so that we can provide home learning for you to complete with them. 

PLEASE DO NOT PUT OTHERS AT RISK BY TAKING THE CHANCE AND SENDING YOUR CHILD IN.  Thank you in advance for your understanding and compliance.

 

Road safety and TFL STARS (Sustainable Travel Active Responsible Safe)

We are delighted to have signed up for the TFL STARS scheme which will help drive our school travel plan.  This plan looks at how we can reduce traffic associated with school journeys, make pupils more independent, help pupils gain more exercise each day and make them more travel aware.  We will be recruiting Youth Travel Ambassadors as part of the program and we look forward to this taking place later this term.

Last week we made you aware that the schools zone and no stopping times have been extended outside all schools.  Yesterday, we had a traffic support officer come to check that the camera pointed at our school zone is operational, which it is.  We were also made aware yesterday that another parent has received a traffic fine for stopping in this controlled zone.  This would also include stopping at the crossing to allow people to enter or exit your vehicle.

 

Bubbles

After half term we are popping our current Bubble model.  The new Bubbles will be:

• Years 7 and 8
• Year 9
• Years 10 and 11
• Pathway 1, years 7 to 14
• KS5 Pathways 2/3/4, years 12, 13, 14 (6th form)

This new model allows pupils who have options to participate more fully in all aspects of the chosen subject.

We have reduced movement about the school by keeping pupils in their tutor groups as far as possible, with teachers moving to the class rather than the class to the teacher.  This means there will be a greater number of teachers working with your child across the week, but far less general movement around the school.  These staff will either ensure they maintain a 2 metre distance from pupils and, where this is not possible, they will wear appropriate PPE.  When teachers leave a group to go to their next lesson there will always be at least one Teaching Assistant supervising the group until the next teacher arrives.  All teachers are planning activities that the class can carry out during this change over period.

We have reduced the length of each lesson by 5 minutes which has allowed us to add an additional lunch sitting.  Whilst pupils are still eating lunch in their tutor room, this additional sitting allows all Bubbles to have outdoor play spaces and all staff to have sufficient breaks throughout the day.

Pupils will leave their tutor room for some lessons e.g. Science, Food Tech, Resistant Materials, Hairdressing etc where specialist equipment is needed to teach.  Staff are provided with cleaning supplies to wipe down between different groups to prevent cross infection.

So that we can accommodate specialist teaching spaces, some tutor groups will have to move to a new form room after half term.  Staff are aware and will work to support pupils to understand and be prepared for this change.

We are aware that this is another change for pupils, but we are confident that with the preparation staff have done with their classes, the changes will be smooth and worry free.

 

Arrival and departure

There is no change to the time and entry system to school or the dismissal time and system.  Please can I remind families that no family vehicles should be on the school site between 8.30 and 9.30am and 2.30 and 3.30pm.

 

Assembly

Thank you to 11ZK and class LD for their enthusiastic participation in our 'Dia de los Muertes' assembly this week. We learned about this ancient cultural festival and its significance to families across Latin America. 

Thank you to:

11ZK: Dylan, Leah, Poppy, Ben, Daisy, Casie, Lucas, Dylan, Aleesha 

LD: Amiya, Alicia, Jacob, Elyas, Yanani, Jason, Vinaay, Naja

for their masks, head dresses and feedback. You were all stars!

 

Build

There have been no significant changes this week because the work is all 'underground'.  I look forward to seeing and sharing with you the progress that is made over the half term.

Finally, can I finish with a huge THANK YOU to you, the families, who are working so hard to support your child whilst coping with the new world situation.  As a parent myself, I know what a challenging year this has been.  If you are struggling in any way, please let us know so that we can work to support you or sign post you to appropriate help and support. 

Together, we are stronger!

 

See you all in November!

 

Mrs Rigby
Headteacher