Headlines By James Saunders 19th March 2021
277 Lead Learner Interviews It has been pleasing to see so many learners arriving focused and ready to tackle their learning head on; walking around the school this week I have been impressed with the level of engagement and challenge. Everyone has settled in so well and we are all delighted that the school is once more full of learners - as it should be. I particularly enjoyed taking part in the Lead Learner and Lead House Captain interviews today. The candidates gave a presentation to Mrs Frogley, Mrs Reece and myself followed by interview style questions regarding their vision. I was very impressed with the professionalism of every single one of them. I can honestly say that the quality of the presentations and interviews was on a par with many of the interviews I have conducted with teachers. Learners presented their vision for change as well as the legacy they want to leave behind. Of particular note was the honesty they displayed when reflecting on what works and what doesn’t work for them. It was so hard to choose as everyone did such a great job. It takes courage to even put your name forward for a thing like this. Inevitably, processes such as this always lead to disappointment for someone. I would like to extend my thanks to all candidates: Layla Al-Riyami, Charlotte Baker, Emmie Bellingham Wood, Beth Chapman, Matthew Collier, Isabel Corbett, Mia Fisher, Rose Forster, Fern Hazell-Young, Jake Ring, Roxy Slaney, Marcia Swain, Rosie Waine, Megan Walby, Ruby Whillock. We will announce our new Lead Learner appointments in next weeks Headlines. Lateral Flow Testing Our in school lateral flow testing draws to a close next week. After that the guidance is that we are to issue home testing kits for learners to test from home. Part of the rationale for the in school testing was to support learners in being able to confidently complete this process at home which in turn increases the reliability.
I have certainly seen learners grow in confidence with this process over the three tests and we have been able to get through them a lot quicker as a result. Starting next week we will be providing learners with home testing kits. These will be given out during LS5 time to all learners that have been engaged with the testing programme. They will be distributed in the following order: Mon 22nd March: C11 Tue 23rd March: C10 Wed 24th March: C9 Thu 25th March: C7 & C8 The home tests are exactly the same as the ones that learners have taken in school. The key difference is that they need to be processed at home. Each kit is provided with instructions to support families to do this. The recommendation is to take the tests twice a week three to five days apart. We suggest that Sunday evening/Monday morning and Thursday evening/Friday morning are the best times to do the test - two per week. The kits come in boxes of 3 tests. Therefore we will be providing learners with two boxes to take them through to the start of next term. We will be able to provide further tests when they return should the advice be to continue with the testing programme. You should aim for the last test of the holiday to be on the Sunday evening/Monday that learners return. Following this system ensures us a stronger chance of starting each week with reassurance that the community is negative. The kits contain small plastic bags in which to place the used swabs and other pieces of testing equipment after each test is completed, and these can then be placed in normal rubbish bins for household waste. You are able to register each home test through the NHS website just as you have been doing so for the in school ones - https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19result Contd...
Headlines contd... We have created a simple form for you to use to inform us of any positive tests results. Please use the following link to report results: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScakA0DDaB4kRXk0pKVuF3Gj2ZXBkjfc68C1pyXy-kxmhKIAA/ viewform In the case of a learner testing positive, they must stay at home and isolate. You should then book a PCR test at a community testing site to confirm if the test was positive or not. The full household should also isolate until the PCR test is confirmed. Current guidance stipulates that, unlike the tests in school, a positive result at home requires a confirmation PCR test. This is due to not being able to guarantee a controlled testing environment in homes as we have been able to do in school. This is the most up to date advice from the DfE. We will keep you informed of any changes. Vaccinations At the start of January I asked you to share stories of vaccinations to give us hope. The programme has clearly be taking hold as more and more of us are being vaccinated. I am up to almost 300 that I have been told about know connected to our community. I am sure the actual figure is greater. I think it has done its job now and helped provide us the hope needed to get through the term. I will leave you with my current figure of 277. Have a nice weekend James Saunders Headteacher
Dates for the diary
Exciting news!” New website coming after Easter!
Friday 26th March
Last day of school
Monday 29th March to Friday 9th April
Easter holiday
Thursday 15th April
C10 Ambassador application launch assembly
Friday 23rd April
C11 cohort photo at 9am
Monday 24th May
NLD—staff only in school (C11 marking and moderation)
Monday 31st May to Friday 4th Half term June
Learners will need two masks and a plastic bag in which to keep the spare mask. Masks to be worn at all times.
Friday 2nd July
C11 Prom @ Colne Valley Golf Club
Wednesday 21st July
Last day of term
Next week is a Week “B” Follow us on...
Week commencing 15th March 2021
English
Maths
Geography
C7—Scarlett Evans C7—Sam Mead C8—Joseph Byers C8—Isabelle McKeown
C7—Samantha Flowers-Amaral C7—Dylan Crux C8—Nathan Repman C8—Amy Turner
C7—Finn Byrnes C8—Yvie Turner C9—Ben Hill C10—Beth Chapman
C9—Amelie cooper C9—Zac Glover C10—Alex Banyard C10—Kala Dunne C11—Sam Trevains C11—Mackenzie Owen
C9—Yvie Turner C9—Lola Evans C10—Ross Bryant C10—Emmie Bellingham-Wood C11—Gabby Assuman C11—Kacie-Leigh Butler
C11—Noah Morley
Science C7—Samantha Flowers-Amaral C7—Gracie Tupper C8—Kieran Emery C8—Jessica Fookes C8—George Clarke C9—Maxwell Bennett C9—Sammy Grimwood C9—Bella Burgess C10—Melissa Lemin C10—Rose Forster C11—Gina Harding C11—Adam Edwards C11—Max Thomson C11—Daisy Donnelly C11—Rachel Ball Art C7—Aidan Smith C8—Jack Garner C9—Caitlin Summers C10—Kala Dunne C11—AJ Clarke
History C9—Grace Harper C10—Josie Dale C11—Hannah Read
KS3 Technology C7—Felix Bird C7—Soha Malek C8—Rose Collier
Food Technology C9—Amber Slater C9—Rory Nicola— Cook of the Week
Resistant Materials C9—Luca McCracken
Graphics C10—Megan Walby
Textiles C9—Bethan-Mae Crosby Health and Social Care C9—Olivia Williams C10—Tay Sinclair
Philosophy & Religion C7—Evie Stayt C8– Tom Harvey C9—Kai Inglessis C11—Sophie Myhill
Week commencing 15th March 2021
French
Music
C7—Evie Stayt C8—Maggie Smith C9—Katie Vincent C10—Isabel Willis
C7—Mylee Colton C8—Caleb Greenwood C8—Selina Youell C10—Layla Al-Riyami
C11—Mondo Watts
C11—Felix Standen
German C7—Zane Sargent C8—Laila Arkell C9—Tamara Milliken C10—Reggie Everritt C11—Joseph Morris
Spanish C8—Harry Taylor C9—Joshua Hardingham C10—Emmie Bellingham-Wood C11—Aleksander Galecki
Drama C7—George Warwick C8—Frank Chapman C9—Katie Vincent C10—Roxy Slaney C11—Joe Partridge
Dance C7—Finn Byrnes C9—Skye Hurst C10—Fleur McFaull C11—Ellie Houghton
Enterprise Solutions C7—Olivia Walby C8—Frank Chapman
Computer Science C9—Kelicia Gardiner C10—Tyler Greenwood C11—Niels Wright
Business Studies C9—Rory Nicola C10—Charles Calisin C11—Joseph Morris
Media Studies C9—Megan Kilgour C10—Reggie Everitt C11—Abi Porter
All Learners nominated will be receiving certificates in the post shortly. In addition, every learner nominated will receive 10 House Points!
Well done to everyone who has been nominated this week!