Change of January start dates – staggered start

Posted on: 18-12-2020

Dear Parent / Carers,

 

Re: The Department for Education announced yesterday that secondary schools must reduce the number of children receiving face-to-face education for the first full week beginning 4^th January 2021.

 

The return to school times and dates I issued in my posted letter dated 16^th December are now incorrect.

 

The dates below are corrected to meet government guidance published on 17^th December 2020.

 

CORRECTED START DATES
Year	Start date	Start time	Entrance Gate
Year 7	Monday 11th January	8.30am go to tutor room	Bessingby Road Gate
Year 8	Monday 11th January	8.30am go to tutor room	St Johns Avenue Gate
Year 9	Monday 11th January	8.55am go to tutor room	St Johns Avenue Gate
Year 10	Tuesday 5th January	8.55am go to tutor room	Top Gate
Year 11	Tuesday 5th January	8.55am go to tutor room	Bessingby Road Gate
6th Form	Tuesday 5th January	8.30am go to tutor room	Top Gate

 

 

Yesterday afternoon, the government produced updated guidance about the start of term in January  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/staggered-rollout-of-coronavirus-testing-for-secondary-schools-and-colleges.

 

The guidance requires secondary schools to reduce the number of children receiving face-to-face education for the first full week in January 2021 meaning most students will be accessing home learning.

 

You will see from the update that the Government has stated that secondary schools will be open from Tuesday 5^th January 2021 to students in examination year groups (Year 13, Year 12, Year 11 and Year 10 students), vulnerable children and children of critical workers.

 

Year 13, 12, 11 and 10 must attend school on 5^th January because they have real exams in the first and second week of January.

 

 

 

REAL EXTERNAL EXAMS
Wednesday 6th January	Year 13	Sport - Fitness Training
	Year 12	Law – Dispute Solving
Thursday 7th January	Year 11	Music Theory
	Year 10	Music Theory
Monday 11th January	Year 10	Sport Studies Theory
	Year 13	Applying Law
	Year 13	Health and Social Care
	Year 13	Investigating Business in Sport
Tuesday 12th January	Year 13	Business – Personal and Business Finance
Wednesday 13th January	Year 13	Sport Development and Provision
Thursday 14th January	Year 11	Music Practical
Friday 15th January	Year 12	Drama - Investigation Practitioners' Work

 

 

EXAM YEAR GROUP START DATES
Year	Start date	Start time	Entrance Gate
Year 10	Tuesday 5th January	8.55am go to tutor room	Top Gate
Year 11	Tuesday 5th January	8.55am go to tutor room	Bessingby Road Gate
6th Form	Tuesday 5th January	8.30am go to tutor room	Top Gate

 

 

Students in Year 7, 8 and 9 will be placed on home learning for the first week in January and return to school on Monday 11^th January 2021.

 

 

CORRECTED START DATES FOR YEAR 7,8 & 9
Year	Start date	Start time	Entrance Gate
Year 7	Monday 11th January	8.30am go to tutor room	Bessingby Road Gate
Year 8	Monday 11th January	8.30am go to tutor room	St Johns Avenue Gate
Year 9	Monday 11th January	8.55am go to tutor room	St Johns Avenue Gate

 

 

We know all students in Year 13, 12, 11,10 and 9 will have access to learning online and students in all years have physical materials in the form of home learning books and booklets for home learning. Home learning and pre-recorded lesson can be accessed via Show my Homework, home learning resources for every subject can be accessed on the home learning tab of the schools website.

 

 

We will postpone the roll out of class charts until all students are back in school on 11^th January.

 

 

Vulnerable students (those with a social worker or an Education Health Care Plan) will be contacted in the next few days to agree specific details.

 

 

 

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 who are the children of critical workers (as per the Government’s critical worker list) where suitable alternative childcare cannot be arranged, should return to school on 5^th January 2021 in person. Following my contingency planning survey of critical workers, I am confident many can safely learn at home for these 4 days. To release as many staff as possible to focus on supporting home learning for the majority of students we will endeavour to create Year Group “Bubbles” in ICT Rooms for children of critical workers. Year 7 , 8 and 9 students who need to be in school will access their lessons from a computer and therefore be based in the same ICT room for the 4 days on Tuesday 5^th, Wednesday 6^th, Thursday 7^th and Friday 8^th January 2021. If you require you are a critical worker and require a place in school for your child in Year 7,8 or 9 on these days please email office@bridlingtonschool.org.uk by 12 noon on Friday 1^st January 2021.

 

I appreciate that this change is short notice and may inconvenience you, but I know you will agree with me that it is essential we closely follow the Government guidance regarding COVID-19 in order to safeguard all members of our Bridlington School Family.

 

Finally, Government information about lateral flow testing in schools is rapidly evolving. I want to reassure you that I will provide details of the arrangements for any testing that is to be carried out (with your consent) as soon as possible. I am expecting some specific guidance as we return in January and as always I will keep you informed as I have any information updates.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me on office@bridlingtonschool.org.uk.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Kate Parker-Randall

Headteacher

 

A copy of this in letter form can be seen here.

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