Update for parents and carers 15th May 2020
Dear parent/carer
We would first like to thank every one of our parents for their sound sense and cooperation in the current unprecedented situation. Everyone has really respected the original government advice of ‘Stay at home’, ‘Protect the NHS’ and ‘Save Lives’. We have needed to assess the needs of every individual pupil- and the people they live with who may be vulnerable to the virus- to ask if they are ‘safer at home or safer in school’ as well as accommodating the needs of the children of key workers.
Although the Government’s slogan has changed this week, clearly the Coronavirus has not gone away and the risk is still very real and serious. To date the government has not instructed secondary schools to change our provision in any particular way other than for exam pupils. We will continue to place the health and safety of our pupils, their families and our staff as our overwhelming priority. It is imperative that a) the virus does not get into school and b) if a person did bring it into school we have protective measures in place to stop it spreading to other people. We need to continue to minimise the people coming into school to only those for whom it is necessary and to be able to keep everyone who is in school socially distanced in addition to enhanced hygiene procedures. A number of our staff are also compromised by the pandemic and are unable to come to work at present.
School will continue to offer places- often part time places- to those pupils who need to attend despite the risk- pupils who are really struggling at home and children of key workers. As time goes by it is likely that more pupils will struggle with the lockdown and it is vital that families stay in touch with school and discuss any difficulties they are experiencing with their child or general home or personal circumstances, so we can do our best to help. We are also in regular contact with other professionals whose job it is to help in different ways and we can work with these colleagues if necessary to try to get you the support you need. Please do not suffer alone- let us know! School staff will be in regular contact to check that everyone is OK. Please tell them if you need additional help – or phone Ms Dockray on our Welfare Hotline on our school mobile 07494 058526- and we will do our utmost to ensure that we all get through this together.
Thank you again for your fantastic cooperation at this difficult time and please remember to stay safe and ‘socially distance’ to protect yourselves and your family.
The very best of wishes.
Andrew Foord Joanna Macdonald
Executive Headteacher Head of School