Message from the headteacher

I am aware that you are currently receiving a lot of information from school through emails, Show My Homework and assemblies. I wanted to bring some key information to your attention which I hope will answer some questions received from parents/carers. I will duplicate this information in a separate letter to parents/carers on Monday.

1. School calendar: We are trying to design the calendar for 2020-21, but we are fully aware that the government or Derbyshire local authority may override our arrangements. To help you organise your family time it is our plan that students will be returning from Tuesday 2 September 2020 (year groups will be confirmed nearer the time) and students will not be attending school on Friday 18 December 2020 (because staff will be starting term a day early). As soon as we understand the implications of national and local policy on planning we will update you.

2. Public examinations: We are working with lead agencies to produce centre assessed grades. Staff are NOT allowed to discuss these with students or families. Please bear with us until plans for the release of results becomes clearer at a national level.

3. Internal assessments: We are trying to put in place arrangements before the end of term that focus students on their learning and provide information for teachers on what students have understood and what they may need further help with when we return to school. As always students and families’ mental health is at the forefront of our minds so we are working with teachers and our hope is to make this assessment process ‘light touch’ but still motivating and useful for students and teachers. We will update you as soon as we understand a little more about the timescale we are working within regarding any return to school.

4. Work experience: It is with great regret that we confirm that Y10 and Y12 work experience is cancelled for summer 2020. School leaders are discussing arrangements to mitigate the loss of work experience by providing some online content, but we know that work experience is a huge benefit to students and that its cancellation is very unfortunate indeed.

5. Return to school: There is no clear plan for a return to school yet. Derbyshire has convened a working group who will advise on how any government policy may be applied in our county.

Thank you to ALL parents and carers for your patience in understanding our limitations in making firm plans in these uncertain times.

On behalf of the staff team I would also like to thank parents/carers for the collaborative and thoughtful way in which they have partnered with classroom staff in promoting home-schooling for our children. We are enormously grateful for your support.

A Marsh Headteacher