School Update 13 March 2020 (Covid 19)
We continue to navigate the school through the swirling confusion evident in government announcements from around the world as we strive to keep students, staff and the community calmly informed about the implications of the Coronavirus. We hope to maintain a sense of calm purpose with a focus that keeps the school open until instructed otherwise as we believe, for healthy children and adults, schools are good places to be and, the knock-on effect of school closures on parents should not be ignored.
Public Examination Season
We are informed that there is some pretty meticulous scenario-planning taking place behind the scenes by the examination boards to assess how to keep as much normality as possible during the examination season if closures are required by public health bodies. We expect more public announcements in the near future. Meanwhile, it is important for all of us to reassure students that rather than fixating on possible examination disruption, their energies should go into learning, practising, and revising in the usual way at this time.
However, in the event that government requires schools to close during this key revision window we would like to reassure parents and pupils that the staff have been preparing for a scenario where academic support will be presented online. Programmes of study, including revision materials and past papers will be provided electronically and the expectation will be that it is completed. Teachers will monitor the completed work and provide feedback on submitted work. Staff will also be checking their emails throughout the working day to support student learning and answer their questions.
As far as possible uploaded work will reflect the school timetable, current schemes of work and planned timelines for progress and completion. Some work can be self-checked as mark schemes for key examination work can also be uploaded after a suitable time lapse. Students will also be able to use this time, if not a final year GCSE and Diploma student, to consolidate on recent work and extend knowledge through further research online.
GCSE students have already been given much advice and direction towards online learning materials to support all GCSE subjects. Revision resources such as GCSE pod, Seneca, Free Science Lessons on Youtube and BBC Bitesize are all important and easily accessible.
IB Diploma students have access to an electronic library of past papers and mark schemes to support their revision schedules during this key revision time.
We urge parents to share the pupil electronic access arrangements to support and monitor this approach and to make remote learning as effective as possible.
International school trips
My previous update (10.03.20) outlined that we would continue to monitor the situation with our international exchange and tours programme. The vague reference to school trips yesterday is not that helpful and will require further interrogation before the school makes a firm decision. It is anticipated that a school decision will be made early next week.
Government Coronavirus Action Plan
On 10th March, the Coronavirus action plan was launched. This document sets out what the UK as a whole has done to tackle the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and what it plans to do next. The action plan sets out a four phased approach in response to the Coronavirus – Contain, Delay, Mitigate, and Research. An approach designed by world leading experts. Personal hygiene is regarded as an important way for us to tackle COVID-19, especially washing hands more; and the catch it, bin it, kill it strategy for those with coughs and sneezes – also help in delaying the peak of the infection.
Current advice remains in place: No school should close in response to a suspected (or confirmed) COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.
Latest information / updates on COVID-19
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
W J Oakes
13 March 2020
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