Dear Parents
COVID-19
It is with regret that I am writing to you today to outline some amendments that it will be necessary to make for the last week of term. Due to the number of teaching staff that are required to isolate due to being "in contact" with students who have tested positive, it will be necessary to limit the number of Year Groups that can attend school each day.
The school community has worked tirelessly since returning in September to remain open to all Year Groups, so it is with a heavy heart that I have felt it necessary to make this decision. We will prioritise the continued face to face teaching sessions for those students nearest to their examinations, and arrangements for Years 11, 12 and 13 remain unchanged.
However, the following Year Groups should not attend school on the day indicated. Classes for each Year Group will run as per the timetable but via Microsoft Teams. I would like to view this as an opportunity to test our online learning provision when all students are learning from home. During this term we have used a blended approach to providing online learning for absent students. The challenge of teaching some students in person, while others are absent have been considerable. I will seek your feedback on this, as well as the fully online experience, next week.
It is our plan that Teams lessons will be recorded, so if your child is unable to log on to the live lesson as per the timetable, they will be able to access the material at a later date.
Monday 14th December 2020: Year 9 students do not attend school but should complete their learning from home.
Tuesday 15th December 2020: Year 7 students do not attend school but should complete their learning from home.
Wednesday 16th December 2020: Year 8 students do not attend school but should complete their learning from home.
Thursday 17th December 2020: Year 10 students do not attend school but should complete their learning from home.
Those in receipt of free school meals will be able to collect their meal for the day that they are studying from home but must contact
To be clear all other Year Groups other than those indicated above, should attend school as normal each day.
As outlined earlier this week the arrangements for the dismissal of students on Thursday, 17th December 2020 are as follows, with a minor amendment to take account of Year 10 studying from home.
Thursday 17th December organisation of the school day
Departure Time Year Group Lessons run til Depart from Gate
12.05pm 6th Form Lessons 1 - 3 6th Form
12.35pm Year 7 Lessons 1 - 3 Main Gate
1.40pm Year 8 Lessons 1 - 4 Main Gate
1.50pm Year 9 Lessons 1 - 4 (collect lunch before departing) Beverley Road Gate
2.10pm Year 11 Lessons 1 - 4 Beverley Road Gate
Year 10 (learning from home Lessons 1 - 4 (will be available via
all day) Microsoft Office Teams)
COVID Tests for Secondary Schools
Many of you will have seen the announcement yesterday, about potential tests for the virus taking place in schools. More details are due to be issued today but to date, we are not aware of any plans for these to be conducted at Highams Park School. I will keep you informed of any change to this rapidly shifting situation.
I apologise for the inconvenience and uncertainty that this may well cause, but the growing number of absent staff and restricted availability of cover staff have made it necessary to take these steps. Thank you for your understanding and support in this matter.
Yours faithfully
Phil Grundy
Principal
