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Headmaster's Weekly Update for Parents
22/06/2020

Dear Parent,

Welcome to this week’s Update.


The return of Years 10 and Lower Sixth

I am pleased to report that the partial reopening of the school to larger groups of pupils has gone well. Year 10 attendance at 95% has been excellent and almost in-line with a normal school day. I am grateful to the support of parents in helping with this and for showing confidence in the measures taken by the school to ensure that we offer a safe place in which to learn. By the end of each day our ‘bubbles’ of pupils have looked pretty washed out and shell-shocked, having reconnected with formal teaching for the first time in three months but all (or almost all!) have commented that they are glad to be back.


The return of other year groups

A feature of the last three months of hibernation has been a constant and frustrating race where questions have outpaced answers at every turn. The latest example of this is the Prime Minister’s recent statement that “primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance”. A laudable ambition and yet, even with social distancing set at one metre, this would not be possible, neither would the ability of maintaining discrete ‘bubbles’ of pupils given the nature of their curriculum, with different groups accessing different classes. This is a frustrating situation for all concerned. We can do no more than remain patient, respond to further guidance and look to keep you fully informed at the earliest possible opportunity.


Online School

A glimpse at the school calendar reveals all of those activities that ought to have been taking place at this time of the year: awards afternoons, activity week, work experience, trips and residential visits – the sort of thing that you would expect in a busy and high achieving school, and the sort of provision that reminds us that education is not limited to sitting behind a desk, whether that be in the classroom or, as it has been since March, in the bedroom or dining room. With the forecast set fair and with some lifting of social distancing, do please take advantage of the opportunity to encourage your son/daughter to look after their mental wellbeing by being creative and getting outside to be physically active.

For many of you established routines will be firmly in place but for others the mixed messages from government may be adding to levels of stress and anxiety. There is mounting evidence that working from home can be helped by following some simple steps.

The best way to help secondary age children to learn is to:

  • agree what they should try to achieve each day and each week
  • try to help them balance any deadlines for when work has to be handed in
  • try to break down the work into shorter periods, based on how long they can concentrate
  • take frequent breaks
  • praise or reward them when they do well
  • make some time for practical activities, such as arts and crafts, exercise or helping with cooking.

Until next week…

RD Jones

Headmaster