End of Term message from Mr Edwards

Thank you all for supporting our return to school programme. You will be pleased to note that our attendance level for all year groups has been in the upper 90% range, which we are delighted with. It has been great to see all of our pupils and really pleasing to see the vast majority of them excited to be back and many in full school uniform also. Here are some key messages and requests as we move forward:

Return to School after Easter.

In line with current Welsh Government expectations, we look forward to welcoming all pupils back to school on a full time basis after Easter. The first day back for all is Tuesday 13^th April.

[Please note that Monday the 12^th is a county wide designated INSET day].

Uniform.

It is important that pupils are made to feel that this period is very much geared towards returning to normal schooling. Wearing the correct uniform will help promote this mindset, and we kindly ask therefore that you take the opportunity over Easter to purchase any items of uniform which may be required. Pupils have the option of wearing the summer or winter uniform for the summer term. Pupils should continue to wear PE kit throughout the day on days when PE is timetabled. Please contact the school if you have any queries about uniform.

Easter Revision and Centre Determined Grades [CDGs - Years 10 and 11 only]

Pupils in years 10 and 11 have been provided with information regarding our CDG process and also our after-school and Easter revision programmes, which will be held in school. Please encourage your child to attend all of the sessions relevant to them. Further information can be found on our website, or again, please contact the school if you have any queries.

Pupils attending the Easter revision sessions should continue to follow our current working procedures such as wearing masks and hand sanitising. If needed, pupils should bring a packed lunch with them as they will not be allowed to leave the school premises until the end of the designated revision session. I would like to thank all staff who will be carrying out these sessions over the Easter period, and also after-school.

Laptop Loans.

During lockdown we were pleased to have been able to support all pupils who required laptops and/or i-pads to access our online provision through the loan of our own school based devices. We currently have over 70 devices loaned to pupils (with very few left in school). We ask therefore that all devices be returned as soon as possible after Easter for use in school.

Finally, it has been an unique term to say the least. I’d like to thank you as parents and carers for the way you have engaged with us and supported us with our online learning and wellbeing programmes. We are all learning together it seems, and I hope that your child(ren) have continued to make good progress in their learning throughout this difficult time. Our challenge now is to ensure that all pupils are ‘happy and safe’ as they return to school and are given the necessary individualised support they need to continue their progress.

I wish you a pleasant and safe Easter.

Yours sincerely
Paul Edwards