Re: Update about our future plans

I hope you and your family are safe and well, and had a restful half term.

I am writing to update you on our plans for the coming weeks, which broadly cover three areas:

1. Improving remote learning for all of our students.
2. Providing additional support for our disadvantaged students.
3. Providing some face to face contact between teachers and Year 10 and 12 students before the end of term.

 

Improving remote learning for all students

Initially, our priority was student wellbeing, due to the unprecedented situation of lockdown and the pressures it created for our young people. It is now clear that remote learning is going to be part of school life for some time, so we want to improve our provision in order to increase our students’ engagement in learning.  Some subject areas are currently having excellent success with online teaching and recorded lessons/tutorials and we plan to expand this provision across more subjects and year groups by increasing and co-ordinating this type of provision. This involves training for our staff, as well as investing in new equipment so please bear with us as this initiative rolls out.

We will also be making increased efforts to find out why some students are finding it difficult to engage with their learning and how we can provide tailored support to help them change this.

 

Providing additional support for our disadvantaged students

We are looking at how we can improve the support given to our disadvantaged students. This includes help with technology, encouraging eligible students to come into school to access the online provision, and regular one-to-one support.

 

Providing some face to face contact between staff and Year 10 and 12 students before the end of term

During the half term holiday, the DfE published secondary guidance that allows us to invite small numbers of Y10 and Y12 students into school for face-to-face teaching in small groups.  This would not be ‘business as usual’ in school and is likely to involve students in Y10 and Y12 coming into school for one day per week, with limited social time in small groups. The school day would include longer lessons but fewer of them – to allow students to travel at staggered, less busy times.  We are currently working on strict social distancing procedures and risk assessments to ensure the safety of all of our students and staff.  

The earliest this will take place is the week beginning Monday 15 June. However, this is not definite and is dependent on guidance at both local and national level not changing, and us having sufficient staffing levels.  

As ever, student and staff safety is our priority and I will keep parents and students in Year 10 and Year 12 updated with our plans.

We know that not all of these students are able to come into school, so we will also provide online support, as outlined above. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Best wishes,

Mrs Sarah Sims
Head of Silverdale School