Dear Parents and Carers,
This week it has been wonderful to welcome back our students after half term. Our Year 11 students have started their first set of Mock exams this week, their conduct in the exams has been particularly impressive. The Year 11 attendance this week has been incredible, overall this week their attendance has been 99%. Mock exams will finish for Year 11 next week, which is also when we see the start of Year 13 Mocks.
As you know from my earlier correspondence this week, on Wednesday evening further guidance for schools was released. As a result, this means that we have to stop our extra-curricular clubs. Although it wasn’t suggested in the guidance, we have made a decision to move our assemblies on-line. Therefore year groups will no longer meet together but have their assemblies streamed through to their classroom. We will review this at Christmas.
As a school we are blessed to have a range of exceptional staff. I am struck each day by the care, compassion and skill our staff have. You may read in the national press that many schools have had to close year groups due to staff shortages, however, as I write this, we yet again, have 100% of teachers in school teaching our young people. The resilience our staff show if truly exceptional. A key aspect of any excellent school is also a dedicated support staff. We have a large and dedicated support staff with a range of highly talented individuals. Amongst other aspects, this week our support staff have been supporting around 30 students with extra exam arrangements during Mocks, supporting some of our most vulnerable students and our exam and data officers have managed to achieve a perfect outcome in this week’s exam inspection. What a team!
This weekend is our first weekend in the second lockdown. I hope that somehow you are all able to relax and enjoy some exercise in this cool, crisp Autumn weather.
Keep safe and well everyone,
Paul Skipp
Headteacher
