Dear Parents and Carers

Just one week left of what has been a long term since Christmas. Term ends next Friday at the normal time of 3:15pm.

Trips for 2022-3

I am so pleased to be able to mention and help promote Mrs Thomas’ three-day trip to the German Christmas markets in Cologne in December and Mr Thomas’ planned five-day sports tour of Scotland next Easter! Their letters to families are an exciting reminder that we are definitely getting through this tricky time.

Tech Saturdays

Just a quick note of thanks to Mr Newton and members of his team for giving half of their weekend to enable our students to compete their practical work in design & technology. Good luck tomorrow!

COVID Update

As of today, guidance for the next steps for living with COVID-19 has been updated.

• Regular asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended in any education or childcare setting. Therefore, schools will no longer be able to order test kits on your behalf.

Which means that:

• Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.
• Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice will be 3 days.
• Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.

We have seen a decline in the COVID-19 infection rate amongst students and staff in the past  two week and note that very few experience more than mild symptoms.

Government Legislation

This week has seen the publication of two key documents:

Government Green Paper: “SEND Review: Right support, right place, right time”

Earlier this week, the government published its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) green paper.

In summary, the green paper sets out the ambition for every child to access the highest quality teaching and support, usually in their local school.

It also seeks greater consistency in the provision across all schools, alongside more support and training for teaching staff.

Finally, there is a goal to improve the targeted support children receive in their school, as well as more timely access to specialist support for those with the most complex needs.

Teachers, education staff and SEND professionals can reflect on the proposals set out in the green paper and respond to a public consultation.

The consultation was launched this week and will run for 13 weeks, closing on Friday 1 July 2022.

Government White Paper: “Opportunity for all: strong schools with great teachers for your child”

This week the Department for Education set out its long-term plans for England’s state schools. The Department refer to ‘four pillars of delivery’:

• An excellent teacher for every child, through 500,000 teacher training and development opportunities by 2024.
• High standards of curriculum, behaviour and attendance leading to calm and collaborative environments.
• Targeted support for every child who needs it, enshrined in a pledge to parents, supported by the existing commitment of up to 6 million tutoring courses by 2024 and action to cement tuition as a permanent feature of the school system.
• A stronger and fairer school system ensuring all children benefit from being taught in a strong family of schools, within a system with clear roles and accountability.

We welcome any commitment by the government to listen to schools, parents and carers in order to help raise standards for all students in all schools.

Do have a wonderful weekend!
Yours faithfully
Barry Doherty
Headteacher