Principal's Letter, 12 March 2021

As we complete our first week back, I have to begin by sharing with you how impressed I have been seeing the ease in which students have returned to school routines this week after the lengthy period of remote learning.

Furthermore, I have to commend the students on their maturity in taking the lateral flow tests this week. The second set of tests have begun; when students have their third and final test next week they will be issued with home testing kits. Please impress upon your child the need to bring the test kit home unopened. I appreciate there may be a level of curiosity as to the contents of the boxes; but as the kits contain a number of small packages they are best opened at home. A leaflet will also be issued to your child which is a step by step guide on how to use the kits and how to register the results. If your child tests positive at any time, please inform the academy without delay and self-isolate as necessary.

Year 11 Parents’ Consultation
The postponed January parents’ consultation has been rescheduled to Wednesday 31st March, 4pm-7pm. The appointments will be virtual via the appointment booking system which has proved very successful with other year groups. The booking system will be launched on Monday 15th March at 4pm. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of meeting with your child’s subject teachers at this critical stage in Year 11.

Year 8 Parents’ Consultation
A reminder that the Year 8 parents’ consultation will take place on Thursday 18th March. If you have not already made your appointments, please do so before 9am on Monday.

Enrichment
Please see the attached leaflet which details the clubs on offer from Monday.

Covid Winter Grant scheme extended to cover the Easter holiday

The extension to the Covid Winter Grant Scheme has been confirmed to cover the Easter holidays (up to 16 April). The government lead this scheme and have written out to local authorities with further information this week. The DfE’s Holiday Activities and Food programme will also begin at Easter which will be delivered by individual LAs – Holiday activities and food programme 2021 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Mr P Slaughter, Principal