Dear Parents/Carers
Following Thursday’s announcement regarding the closure of all schools, we would like to provide additional information for students working at home and in relation to their general well-being.
The students have been briefed on how to access work in all subjects while they are not in school. All work will be set using the school VLE, Firefly (https://vle.workingtonacademy.org) and tasks will be set for each of their lessons. Further instructions on completion of work for students and parents can be found on the school website.
Every student will be provided with a card containing contact telephone numbers to allow students, parents and carers to communicate with relevant members of school staff should a safeguarding concern arise. The contact card details will also be available on the school website.
For students in receipt of free school meals, a voucher will be provided enabling them to purchase food from any ASDA store for the week beginning Monday 23 March 2020. These vouchers will be distributed before the end of school on Friday 20 March to students who are in school. For students who are eligible for free school meals and have not received their voucher today, parents/carers should contact the school on Monday to arrange collection.
During special assemblies today, all Workington Academy students have been reminded of the importance of a regular routine, of continuing with their learning and of appropriate and safe behaviours at all times.
We have text parents and asked that they respond if they are eligible for priority childcare. Please be aware that the Government’s position on this has only today become clear, and therefore we are having to move quickly to get this in place for Monday. For those who have expressed an interest in this, we will contact you prior to Monday to make arrangements.
We are acutely aware that we will need to keep in regular contact with parents and students alike. We will of course keep you regularly updated on all school related issues via the school website, Firefly and text messages. Unless we have a total travel ban imposed we will ensure that the school itself is manned during term time if you need to phone and we will see that any messages are passed onto the appropriate member of staff.
We know that this is a particularly uncertain time for students in years 11, 12 and 13 who would have had external examinations next term. I can reassure those students and their families that we will work tirelessly to ensure they get the grades they deserve. We will be in touch when more information about how qualifications are awarded becomes available.
The next couple of months will be odd – our school community will not be together but we will still all be connected. We will be here for the students and you if you need us. We hope we will see the students at some time in the summer term.
The school for those of us who will be in, will certainly be little more than an empty shell without the vibrancy that each and every one of them brings to our community. I wish everyone the very best for the days ahead and hope that you and your families are all able to stay safe.
Yours sincerely
Des Bird
Headteacher
