January 20th 2021

 

Dear Parents / Guardians

 

Thank you for your support of Home School today.

 

Thank you to those of you, who have already submitted consent forms in respect of COVID-19 testing in school. Despite Gov.uk pausing lateral flow testing for students in schools, while evaluation of the approach takes place in the context of the current high levels of infection, please do submit the consent forms at your early convenience. This will enable us to make a brisk and efficient start to testing, following any large-scale return to school.

 

Please click here for the online form

 

And here for the Privacy notice

 

We are fully aware that we are asking students to spend a lot more time online in the current context and that there are potential risks for them, as well as educational opportunities. The following document provides very useful information to parents about current potential online risks to young people, as well as the educational opportunities:

 

Digital Parenting

 

The DFE have launched a consultation seeking teacher, parent and student views about how they think examination grades should be awarded this summer:

 

Consultation on how GCSE, AS and A level grades should be awarded in summer 2021

 

This week, we will continue to monitor student attendance to Live Online lessons throughout the day and try to ensure all our students participate in all Live Online lessons. 

School uniform is not obligatory for the Live Online lessons, but students should be dressed appropriately and our normal ground rules will apply during the sessions. Students must be seated at a desk or table, activate their camera and show their full name for these live face-to-face sessions. At times during the lesson teacher microphones will be turned off and their screens will not be shared. At these times students should just be completing the work set for them. We will not be recording these sessions and students must not either. They must not photograph / screenshot either.

 

As we move forward over these coming weeks, teachers will be asking students to undertake some – mostly brief - tasks under test conditions, as we have been working hard to develop this skill with students, and it is important they continue to develop in this area.

 

For students in Years 11 & 13, it is clear that Centre Assessed Grades will contribute significantly to the final Grade awarded for A level and GCSE and, given the relatively limited information we hold on students in these Year Groups, the frequency and duration of tasks student carry out under test conditions will now step up quickly.

 

Last half-term, we sent out 450 student commendations to parents in recognition of all the hard work they had undertaken. Prior to the end of this half-term, we will again be asking teachers to nominate students for commendations to recognise their commitment to their learning through this period of Remote Learning. When making their nominations teachers will consider:

1. Attendance to and contribution to Live Online lessons
2. Submission of good quality classwork assignments
3. Submission of good quality homework assignments
4. Response to feedback on assignments and re-submission

 

The Daily Tutor Time activity tomorrow, Thursday is:

PSHE.

 

If you are a critical worker, please do keep your child at home, unless there is genuinely no other realistic option for you. School closures intervened on account of the rapidly rising levels of Covid-19 infection, both in the community and in schools themselves. Staying at home avoids social contact and is the safest option for students. Please check school transport provider websites in advance of making contact with ourselves, as services have now reduced considerably.

 

This week’s WONDE system voucher in respect of Free School Meals have been activated today. Please see our Parent and Guardian ordering document.

                                                                                   

We want all our students to remain safe by following the National Lockdown Guidance

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home

 

as well as to remember social distancing, hand washing and face coverings, so as to play their part in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

 

Yours Sincerely,

                

Sonette Schwartz      

Principal 

                                                                            

Charles Joseph

Senior Vice Principal