Update 11.05.2020
11th May 2020
Dear Parents and Carers
I hope that you all had an enjoyable long weekend.
Re-opening of Schools
You will all have heard Boris Johnson’s announcement last night about the partial re-opening of schools from 1 June, and this afternoon, the further 50 page Our Plan to Rebuild has been published: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/884171/FINAL_6.6637_CO_HMG_C19_Recovery_FINAL_110520_v2_WEB__1_.pdf
With reference to schools, the document states:
A phased return for early years settings and schools. Schools should prepare to begin to open for more children from 1 June. The Government expects children to be able to return to early years settings, and for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to be back in school in smaller sizes, from this point. This aims to ensure that the youngest children, and those preparing for the transition to secondary school, have maximum time with their teachers. Secondary schools and further education colleges should also prepare to begin some face to face contact with Year 10 and 12 pupils who have key exams next year, in support of their continued remote, home learning. The Government’s ambition is for all primary school children to return to school before the summer for a month if feasible, though this will be kept under review. The Department of Education will engage closely with schools and early years providers to develop further detail and guidance on how schools should facilitate this.
The document further states that it is too risky to re-open schools at present and that we should continue to focus on offering places for Key Worker children and those most vulnerable to harm under the current lockdown arrangements.
In anticipation of such an announcement, the College Senior Leadership Team met last week, and began discussions with Heads of Department on how we will develop the best possible education for all our pupils during school closure. We know from Key Worker School that maintaining social-distancing with only 25 pupils on site is challenging, and the Government has confirmed that remote schooling will continue to be the main means of learning for most pupils for some time. Staff are therefore working hard to refine our on-line learning offer: we know that lessons with voice-over are most accessible and motivating for pupils and are working with the Trust to develop more interactive lesson opportunities where this is possible for teachers working from home. We will also look to implement opportunities for selected groups of pupils to attend school when safe to do so, and are particularly mindful of those Year 10 pupils who need to be completing practical assessed activities. We understand how hard this situation is for parents and will be sending a survey to you later this week so that you can let us know your views on what is going well and what is not working for you.
Year 11 Information
Post 16 - Cambridge Regional College - more Level 1 courses available
The offer from Cambridge Regional College (September 2020 entry) is changing. More level 1 courses are being added in response to greater demand. The overview prospectus has been updated and can be found at https://www.camrcare.ac.uk/prospectuses/. Course leaflets are available on the college’s website. Students can apply either directly with the college or via Mychoice16.
Take care of yourselves; with all good wishes,
Claire Coates
Principal
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