*Arrangements for the start of term have changed as of Monday 4th January*

The PM announced a national lockdown at 8pm last night. As a result, all year groups have moved to remote learning as of today, Tuesday 5th January until February half term.

The letter from yesterday dated 4.01.21 to parents/carers outlining arrangements for remote learning still applies and is on our newsletter page here: https://longbenton.org.uk/parents/newsletters

Students will need to log into Google Classroom through RMUnify (www.rmunify.com) They need to join the class using the correct link (they will need to know their timetable). We have had a few teething issues this morning with some students; please contact the office if your child is having technical difficulties which we will seek to rectify as quickly as we can. Lessons are live/being streamed - this is different to work set in previous lockdown or self-isolation periods. We are recording lessons to upload to GC if students miss a lesson due to circumstances beyond their control - they will be able to catch up later.

Students need to join lessons using their full name (not using nicknames or inappropriate names) otherwise they may not be admitted to the live lesson by the class teacher.

If students cannot behave appropriately (this includes in the chat function within Google Meet) they will be prevented from joining live lessons.

If parents/carers have requested a laptop loan, please be aware that we are processing requests that came in by the end of Monday 4th January first. Anything after that has gone onto a waiting list. We are waiting for a delivery of laptops from the DfE (order placed before Christmas) which have still not arrived in school. Until that happens we are unfortunately in a position where we have no tech to loan out to students.

We are open to key workers and vulnerable students but have limits to our capacity. Please do not send your child to school unless you have had a place confirmed.

At present we believe that January vocational exams (Y10 and 11 iMedia, post-16 Health and Social Care etc) are going ahead.

More information to follow.

 

Kelly Holbrook 

Headteacher 

5th January