Dear Parent/Carer,

 

What a year it has been!  I am really pleased that we are once again fully open and all students are now back in school.  We have been really pleased with the way the students have settled back into the expected routines, and co-operated with the weekly testing we are having to do.  There have been no further positive cases for either staff or students which is excellent news, and long may that continue.

 

We have spent the past four weeks getting the students backup to speed in terms of their learning and re-enforcing the high expectations we have of them.   The Year 11’s have been sitting their mock exams and their behaviour has been exceptional.  We are going to maintain this focus on academic progress next term for all year groups and there will be further exams for the Year 11’s after half term.  It is crucial that they prepare thoroughly for these, as along with their current mocks and classwork, after Easter, they will all decide the final grades that the students are awarded.

 

As you are aware we lost Romario Opia in January to another act of senseless knife crime.  Staff and students had great respect for him.  A collection was set up and there was a generous response to this.  We also produced a book of condolences.  Last Friday I attended his funeral and spoke on behalf of the staff and students.  Many of the words spoken were directly from them and were an expression of their sorrow for his passing, their love of him and the young man he had matured into.  Our thoughts are with him and his family. 

 

We hope that you all have a peaceful Easter, that everyone stays safe and you get to enjoy some of the new freedoms as lock down is eased. 

 

We return to school on Tuesday 20^th April 2021 at 8:45 am.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Bruce Roberts

Head teacher