19th June 2020
Dear Parents
COVID-19 - Monday 22nd June 2020
I am aware that during the course of the enforced school closure that communication between school and home has been increasingly challenging. Without the opportunity to meet with the students on a daily basis, we can all very quickly start to feel detached from the school community, as we knew it.
You will all have recently received my Vice Principal, Mr Armsby information outlining how in the remaining four weeks of term our teachers are going to start to introduce some more “Teams” teaching to help further support the work that has been set on Firefly. Some colleagues have been familiar with and have had access to be able to use this for several weeks, while for others it is brand new and very much a learning curve for them. During this week, it has been helpful to be able to provide some training for our staff on the opportunities that Microsoft Teams provides during the continued school closure. Please do take time to read the fuller information that Mr Armsby has circulated.
Parents of students in Years 10 and 12, as well as our Key Worker parents, will also have recently received information from my Deputy Principal, Mr Capewell, and from our Head of 6th Form, Mrs Stephens, about the expectations of students, as well as the support in place for them, for when they arrive in school from Monday 22nd June. If you have not done so already, please could your read his message in conjunction with my letter that outlines all of the details of who is due in and when. This is available on the school website under the ‘Coronavirus Updates’ section.
Whilst I am frustrated that we are not able to open the school for students in Years 7, 8, 9 and that we have not been able to say goodbye to our GCSE and A Level students in Years 11 and 13, I am delighted to be able to welcome back students in Years 10 and 12. I look forward to seeing some of you from Monday.
I hope that it is clear from the video that I circulated previously, that we have taken very seriously the safety of the students and the members of staff, in the preparations that we have made for returning to some form of face-to-face contact between staff and students. As promised, I have included a copy of the risk assessment that has been supported by our Trustees and Union representatives. This week, I have been able to brief all of our staff on the procedures that have been put in place to ensure that measures are consistently applied upon the students’ return. The risk assessment can be found along with all of the other correspondence relating to the school closure in the Coronavirus section of the website. The staff at Highams Park school will continue to review the practice within the school and I will continue to refine and update steps necessary to reduce the risk of infection for staff and students.
I appreciate that each one of you will want to consider carefully whether you wish to send your child back to school during these last four weeks and we will obviously respect the decisions that you reach. But I firmly believe that the measures in place, along with the commitment and enthusiasm of the teachers in the school, mean that the limited face to face contact that is possible, will be a productive and supportive step for all involved, as we start to emerge from the lockdown.
One point that I will reiterate to the students upon their return, is the need for every member of the school community to respect the decisions and experiences that students and members of staff have had during this outbreak. I am sure it will not surprise you to learn that there are some members of staff and students who have suffered bereavement as a result of COVID 19. Our sympathies and prayers are obviously with each of those families, but it is important that our support for them is also demonstrated in our actions. It is every student’s responsibility to cooperate with the one-way systems, the handwashing and sanitising opportunities, the seating plans and registration systems. Our respect for these safety measures and responsibility towards each other, needs to be demonstrated with each of our actions.
I know that Mr Capewell and Mrs Stephens have sent communication out to students who are returning to school from Monday about the following, but it is perhaps helpful to share with all parents as some of these measures may well still be applicable in September. There are numerous hand sanitiser stations around the school for students to be able to use as they enter and exit different departments and rooms, but if they are able to carry their own small container with them it will help to provide them with additional reassurance. Each room that students are taught in will have been cleaned following its previous use and has been carefully set out so that, whilst they are in a room with other students, each of them can be assured that they will be able to remain 2 metres away from each other within the class at all times.
Students will not be at school for long enough to have a break or a lunch time, so it will be important that they arrive with their own water bottle, which we would ask that they take away with them again at the end of their day. The transition between their lessons will provide the students with some opportunity to chat with friends that they may not have seen for several months, but the markings that we have put down on the playground will help ensure that this too is done at a safe distance. If you have not had opportunity to watch the video that was circulated to parents last week, could I suggest that the video, in conjunction with the risk assessment, are worth viewing as each provide a fuller picture of the steps that we have taken to make a return to school as safe as possible.
I would like to stress how important that students only arrive at school for their allocated provision. In Year 10, it is according to their House, and Year 12, their Tutor Group. Reminders of which students come in on which day is all included in my previous letter that can be viewed on the website. It is imperative, that students adhere to these days and times, as the loading of each class has been carefully calculated to ensure that students can fit safely into each lesson.
Finally, it is also important that students travel to and from school in a safe manner, and as far as possible avoid using public transport whilst doing so. When dismissed from school, students will only be able to leave via the Beverly Road gate as part of the many one-way systems implemented around the school and we would urge students to maintain the rules of social distancing whilst on route home.
I wish you a good weekend and look forward to being able to welcome students in Years 10 and 12 back to school from Monday 22nd June 2020. For Years 11 and 13, we will see you on your results days, more details of which will, be sent to you in due course. Finally, for all those students in Years 7, 8 and 9, I would urge you to maintain your involvement in the work that your teachers are setting and look out for the “Teams” lessons that your teachers will start to use.
Keep fit, stay active, keep learning and we all look forward to being able to welcome you back to school in the not-too-distant future.
Yours faithfully
Phil Grundy
Principal
