19th March 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I would like to thank you all for your support and patience in
these very difficult times. I know this is having a huge impact on the
wellbeing of all students, staff and parents. For students in Years 11/12/13
this is a particularly difficult period and very hard to adjust to.
Students are understandably worried about the uncertainty
regarding results and we are expecting a statement to be released tomorrow. We
hope that this will involve a combination of staff’s professional judgement
along with previous internal and external assessments.
The decision to close to all students today was due to the fact
that schools have been closed to stop the spread of the virus. We are aware
that students wanted to come into school to pick up books etc.However, we were
unsure and still remain uncertain as to what evidence will be needed to
demonstrate grades for students. Therefore, we request students in Year 11 and
13 to not come to school to collect books and folders.
It was also extremely difficult that students had the feeling that
suddenly they had ‘finished’ school and that they may no longer see their
friends and peers. I would like to reassure all Year 11 and 13 students that
whenever it may be, we fully intend to organise events to all get back
together, including the shirt signing and proms etc.
On Friday 20th March, 2020 we are open to all students
whose parents are key workers as defined below. If Year 11 and 13 students have
any work at home which could be used as part of assessment, then please can
this be returned tomorrow. Any year 12 studentswho would like to come into
school to pick up work or upload their files are also allowed to do this tomorrow.
· National
Health Service
· Armed
forces
· Teachers
and childcare staff
· Care
home workers
· Social
workers
· Police
officers, community support, civilian staff
· Prison
officer or other probation staff
· Firefighters
· Local
authority planners
· Environmental
health officers
· Highway
Agency traffic officers
Transport for Friday is as normal and once we have information we
will inform students and parents about transport provision for next week.Please can all students go directly to the
school
hall tomorrow to meet staff.
An area on the website has been created to update parents and
students on work being set and how to access this. This is being developed.
Tomorrow, staff are being trained on a new package that has been purchased
called GCSE Pod for year 9 and 10 students to use. This package has lots of
video
tutoring clips and the ability to set work for students. We are
working with GwE and other schools to try to ensure that students studying
through the Welsh medium have appropriate quality materials. It is sad and
unfortunate that we haven’t yet found the same quality of interactive resources
available through the Welsh Language.
While
the setting of work for students is important, and will continue, the wellbeing
of our students is of the utmost importance. Form tutors will
be communicating with their students to fully support them through these challenging
times.
Kind regards,
Mr Hatch
Pennaeth
