Category: Year 11

Dear all

Please note that school will be closed to Year 11 students tomorrow. Mrs Feast, Mrs Ryles-Dean and I have just spoken to the students and explained that we do not want to put them through another day of sitting in lessons that seem somewhat pointless at the moment given that they will not be sitting exams any time soon. We have explained that this is absolutely not a ‘goodbye’; whatever happens, we WILL hold a proper leaver’s day, with a proper leaver’s assembly, shirt-signing and all the rest of it. There will also certainly be a Prom at some point – they deserve nothing less. It will also help the school cope in the light of staff absence at the moment.

We will be in touch with more information for Year 11 soon. In the meantime, I just want to say that they have been absolutely incredible in the way they have handled today. I cannot remember a time where I have been more proud of a group of young people. I should also add that we very much consider them all to still be in our care and we will be doing all we can to support every single one of them over the next few weeks and months.

A very similar message was delivered to Year 13 earlier in the day. We do not expect them in school tomorrow but, amidst all the uncertainty, one thing is certain: we will get them all back together for a suitably positive leaver’s day and Prom.

School will remain open to Years 7-10 and Year 12 tomorrow as planned.

Kind regards
Gwyn Williams

The Prime Minister and the Education Secretary have updated the nation on measures relating to the containment of the Coronavirus outbreak. Please click here to read a letter regarding the latest position.

The Prime Minister and the Chief Medical Officer have updated the nation on measures relating to the containment of the Coronavirus outbreak. Please click here to read a letter regarding the latest advice.

Given the updated government advice and information from many of the individual Sporting National Governing Bodies, we have taken the decision to cancel all sports fixtures and extra-curricular sports clubs until further notice.

We are aware of some stories circulating about school on social media. These are entirely false. If there is ever any news of school closures or other significant developments, we will inform you directly and post information here on the school website.

Dear Parents and Carers

Nothing of substance has changed since our last communication on this matter, but please be assured that we are monitoring all the advice from the Department for Education (DfE) and Public Health England and will take any appropriate actions as and when necessary. For those who are concerned, the DfE has launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:

• Phone: 0800 046 8687
• Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
• Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

As before, latest government information can be found here:  https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

We are also aware of some (inaccurate) rumours circulating on social media about the lack of soap in school toilets. We don’t understand where these have come from but want to reassure parents that there is plenty of soap available in all toilets. We know of one dispenser that was broken earlier in the week, but this was fixed within 48 hours and, even in this case, there were other, working, dispensers available in those toilets. As has been the case for some time now (partly in response to issues raised at a parent forum earlier in the year) we have cleaners permanently on duty outside the toilets at lunchtimes and they frequently check the soap dispensers at these busy periods, as indeed they do throughout the whole day.

After school Hockey and Year 7 Girls Football due to take place after school today (Friday 28th) has been cancelled due to the inclement weather. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.