• By the end of Friday 13 November, teachers who are currently self-isolating but well had taught 53 lessons to their own classes in school remotely through MS Teams and continued to lead learning;
• Since Monday 9 November, teachers in school and at home have taught a total of 89 lessons to pupils in Year 11 who are all required to be at home following a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the year group;
• From Thursday 12 November, teachers in school and at home have taught 24 live lessons to pupils in Year 9 who are also required to learn remotely owing to staff shortages.
• Furthermore, since Wednesday 11 November, the 25 pupils from two tutor groups in Year 7 identified as close contacts and who were asked to work remotely, have been invited to join 9 lessons taking place for their peers in school remotely, as well as being invited to attend 4 live lessons in MS Teams.  

We have been impressed by our Year 11 pupils’ exceptionally high levels of engagement in online learning and attendance at our live lessons in MS Teams since Monday 9 November and I am pleased we have begun to see the same degree of commitment in Year 9. I am grateful to my colleagues for the quality of their planning and I confirm we have been able to put timetables in place for each year group out of school that provide opportunities for blended learning* on and off line.

Chiquita Henson, Headteacher

* Blended learning is an approach to learning that combines face-to-face and online learning experiences. 

Pupils in Year 11 are out of school until Wednesday 18 November 2020 owing to a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the year group and 30% need to self-isolate as they were identified as close contacts. We are monitoring their engagement closely:  Mrs Stubbs, our Year 11 Year Leader, is following up any persistent absences. Therefore, we know that over 90% of our pupils in Year 11 are actively engaging and it was lovely to see so many join Miss Brace’s assembly on Tuesday afternoon.

Mrs Stubbs: ‘Year 11 have stepped up once again. They have shown expert resourcefulness and resilience. They modified their learning within hours of the year group being told to stay at home. Lines of communication have been open with parents and we have worked together to ensure the best possible outcomes for our pupils during this challenging time. I am proud to be their Year Leader.’

Pupils in Year 9 have been asked to work from home from Wednesday 11 November owing to staff shortages. We do not have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in this year group. While they do not need to self-isolate unless they have been identified as a close contact, pupils in Year 9 do need to stay at home as we are in a period of national lockdown. Mrs Burfoot, our Year 9 Year Leader, is on hand to provide support. She will also be following up any concerns teachers and parents have regarding remote learning.

Mrs Burfoot: 'Once again I am thrilled with how resilient the Year 9s are! Their engagement and enthusiasm when last in lockdown and their ability to work remotely was outstanding and I am already seeing the same determination and attitude to this way of learning, having being 'thrown' back into this independent learning environment today. It has been lovely to speak with a number of the year group already and I look forward to helping more and seeing them back in school soon.'

As shown on their timetable, pupils in Year 9 will all learn remotely for the rest of this week and we look forward to welcoming them back on a rota next week which will balance time in school and at home: 2 days in school and 2 days working from home.

Some pupils in other year groups are required to self-isolate and they should also continue with their learning remotely. They can do so by checking for lessons and resources in MS Teams and tasks on Show My Homework. Where there are a significant number from one class working remotely, as in Year 7 at present, teachers will endeavour to invite them to join their lessons remotely. Pupils working at home must check their school email regularly so that they don’t miss out on opportunities to learn alongside their peers.

'It was great to see a high uptake of pupils in Year 7 (who are self-isolating) getting remotely involved in lessons today. Teachers are getting to grips with how to deliver ‘blended learning’, having pupils in the class with them but also at home via Teams, but there was some great work already going on. Well done to both the pupils and the teachers involved with this.’ Liz Lang, Deputy Head.

In school, pupils are coping remarkably well in their teachers’ absences. To ensure continuity and progression we are asking those teachers who are self-isolating as a result of track and trace and are well, to teaching a proportion of their lessons remotely. While the classes are supervised, these are broadcast live to the pupils: they are interactive and well planned.