Letter from Headteacher – 05/01/2021
Dear Parent/Carer
As you will be aware we are now in a ‘national lockdown’ which once again changes the picture regarding education. At the moment the school will be closed to all but key worker and vulnerable students up until the February half term.
We will try and ensure that the ‘virtual’ education for your child remains as normal as possible during the next six weeks. I am sure there will be some frustrations along the way, but please be patient with us as we establish the online learning platforms, and do contact if there are problems.
Lockdown learning
- We would like all students to be on line by 8.45 in the morning with their tutor – this is very important as this is the time that students will be formally registered and any issues can be dealt with, and key messages given out – it is an important part of the pastoral care that the school can offer.
- Students should follow their normal timetable.
- The vast majority of lessons will have a ‘live’ element – there will be a teacher logged on to teach part/all of the lesson
- Some lessons such as PHSE/Citizenship and PE may not have a ‘live’ element but work will be set in the Teams channel.
- There will be other occasions where a teacher can not be ‘live’ due to them being in school supporting key worker/vulnerable students – where this is the case lessons will be clearly left in the Teams channels.
- There will be no afternoon tutor time (1.45-2pm), period 5 will start at the normal time 2pm.
- If you do not have access to a computer, or for any reason are having difficulty, then please do contact the school, either by a call to the office, or an email to the tutor.
Vulnerable and key worker students in school:
- By the start of the week beginning 11th January students in school will be placed in computer rooms to complete the online learning that is being set for all students (they will need to bring in headphones).
- They will remain bubbled in year groups and they will be expected to follow the normal school rules.
Exams
- There have been a number of Government announcements on exams for year 11 and 13, at present we have no information on whether this extends to all exams, or what might replace them.
- Therefore, it is crucial that year 11 and 13 students continue with their studies in line with the current curriculum – teachers will let them know of any assessment/examination changes as soon as we are formally told.
- As far as we are aware exams set for the next couple of weeks will be going ahead as normal.
Free school meals
- Vouchers will be sent shortly to all those eligible in the same way that they were sent before the Christmas holidays.
Pastoral Care
- There will still be members of the ‘Nest’ team on site. If you have any safeguarding concerns or issues relating to wellbeing then please get in touch with the school.
- Tutors will be in daily contact with your child, again if there are any issues please go through your tutor.
There will be/or you may be sent a reminder about consent for your child to have a lateral flow test for Covid. If you are willing to give consent you can do this via the SIMS app.
I am sorry for so much information and it may be that I have to write again at the end of this week. As always thank you for your support, and a huge thanks to those of you that offered to support the testing process by volunteering help, we now won’t need to implement the mass testing until after half term, therefore, I will be in touch with you nearer that time to see if you are still available.
Take care,
Adam Darley
Headteacher
The Purbeck School