Dear parents and carers,

We have reached February half-term which in one way has felt incredibly long and in another it has flown by! What is undisputed is how challenging this latest lockdown has been for everyone, and, after the last minute decision to close schools on January 4th, how especially difficult for students, school staff and parents trying to combine work, school and family life. I am incredibly proud of our students who have adapted and engaged with their learning and produced some outstanding work. I am very very proud of our staff at Redmoor who have shown amazing resourcefulness, resilience and flexibility to continue going above and beyond for our students. And I am also really proud of our families who have worked with us to help students learn at home and whose praise and thanks makes such a difference to the staff here. Thank you.

So…… half-term?

I have told our staff to take a complete break from work away from emails and marking after the intensity of these six weeks. Please appreciate that if you send any communications next week. I want our students (and therefore our parents as well) to do the same but I appreciate that not all students are in the same position with regard to their learning.

We know we will have a minimum of two further weeks of home learning which will place the same demands on students as we have experienced since January. Therefore it is crucial all students have a break from home learning. For those who have worked exceptionally hard and submitted all of their assessed work then please do no school work next week.

For those who may have missed some deadlines it is a chance to catch up but please also ensure they have some down time as a balance. We want all of our students and staff to return on Monday 22nd refreshed and re-energised.

The half-term ahead

• Earliest return to school date remains the 8th March but there is no certainty on whether this will happen.
• An announcement is scheduled for the week beginning 22nd February.
• Students will have to be tested for Covid19 on their return (2 tests within 5 days) involving swabs of their tonsils and 1 nostril (self administered). Consent forms will be sent out once we know when students will be returning.
• Students and staff currently on site are used to this process and it has become “normal” using our purpose built testing cubicles.
• Easter falls earlier this year and therefore it is only a five week half-term ending on Friday 26th March and we hope that the onset of Spring will bring a gradual return to normal life.

Year 11

• We expect decisions around arrangements for GCSE grades by early March.
• It remains vital that students continue to submit their best work in every subject as this is highly likely to form the basis of the grades they are awarded.
• Mock exams: we still intend to go ahead with these after students return (but not immediately) as these will be part of the evidence base that contributes to GCSE grades.

Year 10

• Progress reports will be posted home at the end of February and there will be an on-line parents evening on Wednesday 3rd March.
• Appointments will open for booking on Friday 19th February.
• Communication on how to book appointments and on how the online system works will be with you in a separate communication.
• Year 10 are also in the middle of the GCSE courses and therefore students must continue to show us their best efforts and work hard in every course.

Year 9

• It was lovely to see students and parents online last night at parents evening and it did give a little tiny sense of normal school life! I even managed to interrupt a few appointments delivering drinks and chocolate to staff who were in school!
• Our usual feedback questionnaire will be with you today and we do really value and use your views and feedback - not just about our school but about how the evening worked remotely.
• Options: the online form will be with you as soon as we return with the deadline on Friday 5th March.
• If you require further advice and guidance please contact myself or Mrs Atkinson or from tutors and we will get back to you.

Years 7 and 8

• Both year groups have parents evenings scheduled for very soon after the Easter break and we are conscious there has been far fewer opportunities for you to come into school for events and meetings. Therefore these evenings will be very important to us and to yourselves but these evenings are very likely to take place virtually.
• We continue to receive so much positive feedback from staff about the enthusiasm and quality of work produced by students in these year groups.
• We are also very aware that both year groups have had significant disruption to the start of their secondary education - Year 7 have pretty much seen one corridor! We have already started discussing what we need to do when students are able to return (restrictions permitting) and this is not just academic in focus but also to build pastoral and social capacity as well. For example, we would love to be able to run our annual sports day again this year and we are considering what other special events these two year groups may need to compensate for their long absences from school.

Once again, thank you for your support and hard work during these challenging times. It is very appreciated and very much an essential part of what we can do whilst students have to work from home. I hope you all have a restful half-term break.

Kind regards,

Matt Nicolle

Principal