STRINGER PRESS AUTUMN TERM 2020 Dear Parents, Carers and Students This first term of the academic year has been the most challenging time in education I have known. Over the years, leaders have become adept at dealing with floods, snow and various bouts of widespread ill health, however Covid-19 has challenged all schools, as well as parents and students in an unparalleled manner. Students and staff have gotten used to staggered breaks, re-arranged classrooms as well as copious amounts of hand sanitiser. However what has been fantastic is seeing the students back in lessons and learning again. I am most proud that, through working together, we have been able to keep our community safe and offer the full curriculum throughout the term and students have had a near normal timetable. Sport has continued and creative subjects have flourished. Students taking mock examinations have been able to show what their hard work can achieve. As staff we have developed new ways of working. Assemblies are virtual, parents’ evenings as well use our new technology and our investment in Teams and laptops have allowed blended learning to support those who have had to isolate. We have also invested in high quality HD visualizers. As we reach the end of term I’m proud of the ways everyone has adapted week on week to allow learning to be the real focus. Students in Year 11 have had to adapt to changes to their GCSEs subjects for next year, however their focus in the classroom and dedication to their studies is commendable. They await their mock results with anticipation and for the next two terms we will work together to support our students and their families through to those GCSE exams in June and then onto college after their August results. The extra-curricular life of the school continues to flourish as students participate in our new year-group house competitions. It has been a pleasure to see competitive sport return which has only been possible with the determined efforts of staff to keep this going. You can see a detailed report from Mr Corrigan in PE News. I do hope that over the Christmas break you and your families can rest and enjoy time together. It will be a very different Christmas break this year, however with the first vaccinations starting this week we can hope for a brighter 2021. On behalf of all the Governors and staff at Stringer, I wish you all a safe and relaxing break over the festive period and a happy and healthy 2021. Matt Hillier
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