NSB NEWS BULLETIN – 22nd May 2020
I hope that you and your families are well and are staying safe in these very difficult times.
You will be aware that there is a lot of national debate about the government’s plan to have more children in schools from, at the earliest, June 1st. The government are aiming for secondary schools to be able to offer some level of face-to-face support to students who will take public examinations next year (Year 10/12) before the end of the summer term.
We very much want to welcome our students back to NSB as soon as it is safe to do so. All secondary schools are now waiting for the government to publish secondary school guidance for reopening to, initially, Year 10/12 students. This guidance will clarify what will be permitted in terms of the scope of any model of face-to-face support so that the health and safety of students, staff and the wider community are appropriately protected. The guidance was expected in schools last week but, despite (or in part because of) heavy union pressure, it has still not been released.
Due to the current lack of central guidance we, alongside many other secondary schools, have taken the decision that we will not be able to reopen the school site to Year 10/12 students in the week beginning June 1st. As soon as the central guidance has been received and reviewed and once our provisional plans have been suitably revised on the basis of the guidance, I will write to Year 10/12 parents and carers regarding the NSB provision that we intend to offer. In that communication, I will outline all of the health and safety controls which will be in place to protect students and staff. I will then bring in staff who are able to leave their homes and carry out training on the new procedures ahead of any reopening. As a result of this decision, all students in Years 7/8/9/10/12 will continue to receive a full distance learning package from the week beginning June 1st until further notice.
The government did issue some new national guidance to parents / carers of students in Years 7 through to 11 yesterday which I would encourage parents and carers of students in relevant age groups to read: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-secondary-school-children-continue-their-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19
The internal moderation processes of the Year 11 and Year 13 GCSE / A Level / EPQ / BTEC grading and ranking lists are continuing at school. The final school moderated data will be submitted to the Examination Boards by the national deadline of June 12th.
Students will not be set distance learning work over the holiday period and should be encouraged to take a rest from their school work. I have asked teachers to extend any deadlines for work which was originally due in either next week or by June 1st. NSB will continue to be open to the children of key workers and to those children designated as vulnerable over the holiday week.
I hope all connected to the school have a good break.
Yours faithfully
