Birkrig, Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 9BN. Telephone: 01695 724730.
www.bishopmartin.lancs.sch.uk Headteacher: Mr IJ McDonald
16/07/2020 Summary of a Crazy Year! I normally start my end of year letter with the statement ‘What a Year!’ However, that does seem a bit of an understatement for this year! This school year has been unlike any I have experienced in my 20 years of teaching and I certainly never expected that I would EVER be leading a school through a situation like this. I think it’s worth just taking a breath and summarising these past few, crazy months! School closed for the vast majority of pupils on 20th March and although we stayed open for Key Worker/Vulnerable families throughout the entire Lockdown period this was in a childcare, rather than educational provision. This means that school last closed fully at February half-term. We tried our best to provide a wealth of online learning resources through this period for you and your children and worked hard to support families who struggled to access learning online. The pastoral set-up in school also stayed fully active, as we worked hard to stay in contact with all of you in some form or another, to let you know we were still thinking of you and providing support in whatever limited way was available. However, none of this could ever replace the learning and support your child would be receiving in the school setting and the adjusted end of year reports you received last week had to reflect this. School reopened partially for Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils on 22nd June and I am so pleased we have regularly had over 75% of eligible pupils attending since then. I am also proud that we have been able to offer a few days for each of the other year groups, to see their friends, their teacher and at least ‘touch base’ with school (at a time when most other schools have not been able to consider this). I just wish I had been able to offer more but the strict guidance on social distancing etc. made this impossible. Sad Farewell This summer we say a sad farewell to Mrs Firth. Mrs Firth has worked at Bishop Martin for 20 years and brought so much to the life of the school and the education of the children (now young adults!) in the local area. She leaves for a well-earned retirement and we wish her well for the next exciting stage of her life. New Beginnings We have already welcomed Miss Boden as the school’s new ‘Pastoral and Behavioural Support Worker’ who started with us during Lockdown on 20th April. Many of you have got to know her in and around the school gate and the pupils who have attended school since 22nd June have all met her too. Miss Boden will be working closely with Miss McKnight and myself as a key part of the school Pastoral Team. We also welcome Miss Noon as our new Reception class (Butterflies) teacher in September and she has already written to the families of that class introducing herself.