We have seen an upturn in community transmission cases in the past few weeks, culminating now in 6 confirmed positive Covid-19 cases in school this week. Unfortunately, the case we have been informed about this morning is another Year 11 student, which means we have had to ask additional Year 11 students to self-isolate.

 

We appreciate the potential stress and frustration that this may be creating for families and students, particularly for Year 11 students who are in the middle of their mock exams. The mock exam timetable for those students not affected will continue this week.

 

Year 11 students self-isolating, who were due to sit mock exams this week, will complete these in exactly the same way as their peers when they return. We will send out a new timetable before the end of this week. Students will not be disadvantaged in missing exams or any new teaching (for example there are no Year 11 lessons this week and staff have been asked to delay the start of any new teaching week beginning 30th December).

 

We are not the only school affected in this way; you may have seen this national news story yesterday on how school attendance is being impacted: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55057125 We are doing our best to keep school open to everyone: following national guidance on quarantine and self-isolation periods for those in contact with positive cases alongside DfE expectations that we remain fully open is a really difficult balancing act. I very much appreciate your continued patience and support in this current context.

 

Kelly Holbrook

Headteacher