Urgent COVID-19 Update 18th March 2020
18th March 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you and your families are well. I would like to update you on a number of very important matters relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. All students have been briefed in form time about the best way to stay safe and healthy during the pandemic and we continue to share the government guidance on good hand hygiene.
Plans for THURSDAY 19th and FRIDAY 20th MARCH 2020
Due to the continued and increasing absence of a number of staff through self-isolation, who are following the advice of the government, we are unable to provide sufficient teaching coverage for all of our students. In light of this, we have made the difficult decision for some students to continue their studies at home. For the remainder of this week (Thursday and Friday), all students in Year 9 and now also Year 8 will not be in school and should work at home using the resources available on GCSE Pod, Show My Homework and Google Classroom. We regret this decision which we know will cause disruption to families, however we do not have a choice given the unprecedented situation we all face.
At this stage, it is expected that Year 8 and Year 9 return to school on Monday 23rd March unless you are otherwise informed. This is pending further government guidance and a risk assessment of staffing levels.
Clearly, this is a crucial time for Year 11 and, unless the situation changes, school will remain open so that they can continue with their exam preparation. Similarly, Year 10 students are covering important work on their GCSE courses and, as the youngest year group and potentially the most vulnerable, we want Year 7 in school to avoid difficulties and concerns for parents and carers around childcare.
This situation may, of course, change and we will keep you updated accordingly. Arrangements for work will be set for all students through the platforms mentioned above. Guidance on accessing these resources has been made available to all students. Please encourage your child to access these resources so that they do not fall behind with their studies.
Whilst the school is unable to make a decision as to whether or not you should keep children at home the government advice is very clear. Any student who has any symptoms is advised to follow the current government guidance.
For any concerns, please contact school on 0161 477 3544.
I hope you and your family remain well and are able to manage the current situation safely.
Many thanks for your ongoing support
Yours faithfully
Linda Hanson
Headteacher