Dear Parent/Carer,
Work is now well underway to make the south wing of the building safe for the return of our staff and students. Despite some inclement weather conditions already this week, the necessary work is proceeding as planned ready for the return of our Year 11, 12 and 13 students on Thursday 16th November. This is positive progress and some very welcome good news.
I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that the safety of everyone on the school site has always been, and will continue to be, our absolute priority. We will not compromise when it comes to safety. Very careful consideration is going into the planning and implementation of the ongoing programme of works, and it is extensive. Protected walkways are being constructed around the building over entrances and exits on a rolling programme and Heras fencing is being used to screen off areas and create corridors for everyone to move around the building safely. As a result, when students are invited back into school, we expect them to attend as normal.
Return of Year 11, 12 and 13 on Thursday 16th November
The staff are very much looking forward to returning to school and welcoming our first cohort of students back for learning. A reminder that we expect our Year 11, 12 and 13 students to arrive for 8.20am on Thursday 16th November and gather in the area outside main reception. On arrival, Year 11 will go to their normal morning registration rooms in the Maths area. Years 12 and 13 will gather in the ground floor dining hall for an assembly. Students will be based in the south wing of the school. Year 11 will have access to the ground floor dining hall for break and lunchtime. Year 12 and 13 will have access to the Sixth Form common room and bistro areas for break and lunchtime. On Thursday and Friday all Year 11, 12 and 13 students will use main reception only to enter and exit the building.
Return of Year 10 on Monday 20th November
I am also now in a position to confirm that Year 10 will be able to return to the school site on Monday 20th November. Year 10 students will be expected to arrive on site for 8.20am and enter the building through their usual morning door on the North Drive. Year 10 will be based in the English area and will need to proceed to their normal form tutor rooms on arrival.
There will be some restrictions around access to some practical classroom areas around school for Year 10, 11, 12 and 13, but these areas will gradually come back into commission as the programme of works progresses. I do expect some initial disruption to practical subject learning but anticipate that this will reduce over the next 2-3 weeks.
Return of Year 7, 8 and 9
Until the works are completed, the facilities are unable to accommodate all of Year 7, 8 and 9 on site together. To ensure that no single one of these year groups misses out on learning in school at the expense of another, the plan will be to introduce a rota system to bring individual year groups back onto site for one day at a time. I anticipate that this rota will commence as soon as practically possible next week and I will write to you with further information later in the week to confirm the start date and rota arrangements for the return of these year groups.
This has undoubtedly been a very challenging time for everyone in our school community. The staff have been working extremely hard to ensure that our blended remote learning provision is as good as it can be for students. However, we accept that there is no substitute for students being in front of their teachers in school with their friends, where they belong. This is what we all want as a staff and are now desperately working towards achieving.
I would like to thank the many parents who have got in touch with us during this difficult time with their sincere messages of support. It has been immensely important in helping us to navigate through this very difficult situation. Your continued patience is very much appreciated as we continue striving to do everything we possibly can to get school life back to normal.
I will be in touch with another update towards the end of this week when we can hopefully look towards getting our rota finalised for Year 7, 8 and 9 students to spend time back on the school site.
Thank you for your continued patience and support.
Yours sincerely,
STEVE CAMPBELL
PRINCIPAL