We are now one week into the virtual Summer Term and I wanted to let you know about all the work that is going on behind the scenes here at your school, to continue to support you.

Here are a couple of photos from our school farm of Hu and Loki who, as you can see, are being extremely well looked after by our wonderful staff and students and taking it all in their stride!

 

Last week, we shared with you the links to some new online resources, namely The Oak National Academy www.thenational.academy and the re-vamped BBC Bitesize https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize .  These are excellent resources which can be used alongside the work being set by all of your teachers and through the on-line platform, Google Classrooms.

Thank you for all your messages of support and for keeping us in touch with your amazing achievements at home! Remember to keep in touch directly with your teachers via Google Classrooms and also by using school emails. You will see some of the things our students have been up to by looking on our website at the Latest News.

By now, most of you will have been contacted by your form tutor and head of year, so please don’t forget that they are available for you to contact too. Amongst other things, they can offer support with emotional health and wellbeing, and it’s a great way of keeping in touch with other members of your form.

As well as providing work and feedback to students, our Material Science department are in full swing producing protective visors for front-line workers, in our local hospitals, care homes and pharmacies. This week they will have passed the 500 mark and from the emails and feedback received I know their superb efforts are greatly appreciated. If you know of anyone who needs protective visors please do get in touch.

As you will no doubt be aware, one of our current challenges is grading and ranking the GCSE and A level assessments for years 11 and 13. I can assure all Year 11 and 13 students and parents that staff are working tirelessly to ensure this process is completed thoroughly, robustly and transparently. Suffice it to say that our staff understand the role they play and will do everything they can to get this process right for our students.

It has now been confirmed that A Level results day will be on Thursday 13^th  August and GCSE Results Day will be on Thursday 20^th  August 2020. More details relating to the times when students can access their results will be sent in due course.

And finally, whilst there has been much speculation in the media regarding schools re-opening, we have been reassured by Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education that “No decision has been made on when we will be re-opening schools. They will only re-open when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so.” We will therefore continue to remain open as a virtual school.

I am sure that, like me you will have been very moved by stories of individuals achieving heroic things, like Captain Tom Moore who, at the age of 100  has raised a staggering £28 million for the NHS, and is an inspiration to us all.  I was also personally very moved by the Big Night In fundraising for Children in Need last Thursday, which also raised almost £30 million, and in particular the performance by a group of famous musicians, The Live Lounge Allstars, of the song ‘Times Like These’ which I would wholeheartedly recommend you listen to!

Sending my very best wishes,

Paula Dixon

Headteacher