Dear Parent and Carer
I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well.
It has been lovely to welcome so many of our students back to school for ‘catch-up, check in and prepare’ sessions.
I intend to write to you before the end of the term with a more detailed update of this term and arrangements for results days, etc. However, you may have seen the announcement from Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education, earlier today when she confirmed that the autumn term in Wales will start from Tuesday, 1 September 2020. This is most welcome and I wanted to take the opportunity to inform you as soon as possible.
The Minister has recognised that schools will require a short period to focus on priority year groups such as an enhanced transition for the new Year 7 and a focus on Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 who will be sitting exams next summer. The first fortnight will allow schools to do this and also allow necessary time for the planning and reorganisation to open all schools to all pupils safely by Monday, 14 September 2020.
As yet we have not received the outline operational and learning guidance from Welsh Government regarding their expectations about how schools will operate in September, for example social distancing, school transport, etc. This is not expected to be published by Welsh Government until the beginning of next week, which is the final week of the summer term. We understand that Welsh Government will continue to review and update this guidance throughout the summer holiday as necessary.
As you will appreciate in an ever changing circumstance, it will take some time to respond to this guidance, to work through our safe plans for reopening, and to complete all necessary risk assessments preparing the school site. Therefore, it is likely that we will publish our plan to you approximately two weeks before the beginning of the autumn term. We will do this through our usual communication channels via text, email to pupils and updates on the school website.
We are looking forward to the final week of term with the opportunity to see every student next week. I will write to you again next week.
Thank you for your continued support and kindness.
Please take care and stay safe.
With thanks
Miss Collins
Headteacher
