It is important parents know we have been under considerable pressure on the staffing front, and I am pleased we have maintained face-to-face learning with all our students.
This may change. Only yesterday, we had 12 members of staff absent, largely due to Covid, making it difficult to juggle the demands of the timetable.
We are doing everything we can to keep children in school and not send them home because, we know, this is the best place for them to learn.
We have been teaching in larger spaces, such as the hall, and doubling up some of the smaller classes.
It is not easy and I would like to thank staff and students for putting up with changes.
It may be, some days, we are not able to juggle and we do have to close year groups.
I really hope not but we are literally working on a day-to-day basis.
If we did have to do that I would try my best to let parents / carers know the night before but I can’t guarantee this.
On some days, we are finding out someone is not able to come in on the morning. One negative Covid test can throw the best laid plans for the individual and school.
I do appreciate that closing year groups causes huge headaches for parents / carers in terms of child care and their working lives.
We will only do it as a last resort, where all other options have been exhausted, but I am being honest with people about the challenges we’re facing.
It is a Covid-related matter that has pushed back the launch of our new parent portal to next week.
The Arbor app will replace Class Charts, helping parents / carers keep up-to-date with, for example, a child’s progress.
The staff have been testing it for the past five weeks. It has gone really well, and we are looking forward to sharing the platform.
More engagement with parents / carers will come at our Year 9 consultation evening next Wednesday (9th February), when teachers from all subjects will be available.
Parents / carers have, then, only one week to click here (or via the home page) and take a few seconds to fill out the Google form to confirm your attendance. It is important to enable us to know the numbers who intend coming. Thank you.
Monday marks the start of National Apprenticeship Week. It is an opportunity to raise awareness around apprenticeships and the opportunities they can offer our students.
We are planning a host of events and students have been sent links to virtual events that will explain what apprenticeships are, give useful employability tips and offer chances to talk to employers.
Training provider Workpays is hosting “Helping my child with an Apprenticeship” seminars on Saturday, 12th February, for parents / carers.
The various times can be accessed here:
Helping my child with an Apprenticeship seminar at 09:30
Linked to employability and looking to the future, another reminder that we will be hold a Raising Aspirations Day (RAD) on 23rd February, with all five year groups doing something different, be it inside or outside of the academy.
We pride ourselves on the width and breadth of our curriculum and this focus on careers is very much part of our offer.
