Dear Parents/ Carers
As you are aware, the Prime Minister announced on Sunday that there would be a phased re-opening of schools from June 1st. In the first instance, this would be some children in the primary phase, followed by some face-to-face contact with students in Year 10 and Year 12.
Guidance issued to us from the Department for Education on Monday stated:
‘From the week commencing 1 June 2020 at the earliest, we will be asking primary schools to welcome back children in Nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups. We will ask secondary schools, sixth form and further education colleges to offer some face-to-face support to supplement the remote education of year 10 and year 12 students who are due to take key exams next year, alongside the full time provision they are offering to priority groups.’
‘This will not be a return to full timetables or pupils back in school or college full time, rather some support to supplement pupils’ remote education. In line with implementing protective measures and reducing contacts, schools and colleges should limit the attendance of the year 10 and 12 cohort in the setting at any one time and to keep students in small groups as set out in our guidance.’
We recognise that this raises many questions, and for some parents, concerns, in terms of their child returning to school. We will be undertaking a rigorous planning and risk assessment process over the coming days and weeks to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the wider community. We are working with staff, governors and other schools in the area, to establish ways that we can accommodate some face-to-face contact in the coming months.
The situation continues to be subject to change, as does the current guidance, and the Government has said that it will review whether its five key tests have been met on 28th May.
I would also emphasize that face-to-face support is not ‘teaching as usual’ and that we will continue with remote learning for the rest of this term. At this time, we do not anticipate that students in Years 7, 8 or 9 will return to school before September.
We will continue to keep you up to date as things develop.
Thank you for your patience and understanding at this unprecedented time.
Our prayers and thoughts continue to be with the whole St Benedict’s School Community.
Emma Jackson
Head Teacher
