Dear Parents and Carers
After half term we are making some changes to our COVID restrictions for students and staff. These changes are being brought about for the following reasons:
- Updated guidance provided to us from The Department for Education
- The wider lifting of national COVID restrictions
- A reduction in COVID cases both nationally and locally
- A decrease in student numbers in the building due to the departure of our Y11 and Y13 students
- To improve the teaching and learning experience for all students
I have outlined the changes below that will come into place from Monday 7 June.
Entrances and Exits
All students will now enter the Academy from the front of school. To ensure that the entrance is calm and well organised we are going to continue asking students to enter at specific places. In the morning, Year 9, Year 10 and Year 12 students will use the main entrance whereas Year 7 and Year 8 students will use the Community entrance.
As you are already aware students do not normally enter the Academy before 8.30am and we will continue with this practice after half term. Students should aim to arrive at the Academy between 8.25 and 8.30am. There will be occasions when we need to allow an earlier entrance but common practice will be the latter and if students are arriving particularly early this should be planned for.
The school finishing time remains at 3.00pm and at the end of the day students are permitted to leave via their nearest exit, including those at the back of the Academy.
Returning to teaching rooms
Since September our students have spent the majority of their time being taught in specific areas within the Academy and have only left these areas to attend lessons that require regular access to specialist equipment.
I am delighted to announce that from Monday 7 June we will return to normal teaching rooms for all subjects.
I hope you share my thoughts in that this change presents a massive opportunity to end the year on a positive note. Although our staff have been able to provide a very good teaching experience to all students throughout this period of restrictions I have no doubt that this decision will improve the Teaching and Learning experience even further particularly in lessons such as Science where all students will now be able to enjoy the practical aspects of this subject.
We have briefed students on these changes and have made our expectations regarding movement very clear. Another important measure we have taken to avoid congestion at lesson changeover time is to remove most bells from the school day. This measure will allow our staff to dismiss students from their lessons flexibly when the corridors and stairwells are less busy.
Students will receive a printed copy of their new timetable when they return after the half term break. Electronic copies of new student timetables will be available on Firefly from Monday 31 May.
Dining arrangements
To support our Year 10 students with their upcoming trial exams we will stop serving food in the main hall. This change will affect Year 7 and Year 9 who will now join Year 10 and Year 8 in the main canteen. All students will remain on their current break and lunchtime slot. We have briefed the students on these changes this week.
Face coverings
Our rules on face covering from Monday 7 June remain the same. Unless they are exempt students must wear their face covering whilst moving around the Academy between lessons and during social time. Further relaxation on this rule may be forthcoming later in the term and I will update you as and when I am in a position to do so.
If you have any further questions regarding the contents of this letter please get in touch with your child’s Director of Learning.
Yours faithfully
Mr D Bird
Headteacher
