Message from the Principal

Monday, October 19, 2020

Dear families,

As we approach the end of this first half-term of the academic year I wanted to write to you to say ‘thank you’. The support that you have given us as a school has been fantastic. One hope that I had coming out of the lockdown situation before the summer was that we would all appreciate the things that we have and not take things for granted. As staff at Preston we have really felt your positivity and support this term, even more than usual, so thank you – it really does make a huge difference.

Our students have been immense this term. They have dealt with every change and alteration to their normal way of working and have gone about their learning with smiles on their faces…even under masks! I always say that our students are particularly good at rising to the challenges that we set them, and they always do well when we ‘raise the bar’ for them. This is particularly true this term and I am so proud of them.

I would also like to thank our amazing staff body. We have such a talented, hard-working and cohesive group of staff who do incredible things for our children. The work that they put in, a lot of which isn’t visible publically, is superb and I am lucky to work with each member of the team. Please do take the time to email the member of staff who you feel has made a difference to your child(ren) this term, it will make their day if you do.

For some weeks now we have been planning the next half-term and looking to balance the safety and well-being of our whole staff community alongside the constant drive to further improve teaching & learning in this testing time. As always we want to work in the most efficient way possible, whilst complying with all COVID guidelines and regulations. Now that staff moving around the room is down to their discretion, as long as masks are worn for those that wear them, the only significant remaining barrier to learning is the ‘bubble classrooms’ and the reduced capacity that we have for practical session to run. Currently year groups stay in their bubble of rooms for all lessons but after half-term staff will teach in their normal teaching room and students will move around the site as they would in a normal year. There are several schools in Somerset, who I have been liaising with, that operate a similar model and we have used their practice to ensure that we safeguard all students and staff:

·         All tables and chairs will be wiped down with disinfectant spray before every lesson.

·         A one-way system will be in operation throughout the school, so that all students and staff are moving in the same direction and new signage will be in place to remind them at every step! This will reduce face-to-face contact with students from other years.

·         Students will continue to be reminded about hand sanitising.

·         There will be an extended AM time on the morning of Tuesday 3rd November, so that AMs have a chance to go through the changes with students to make sure they understand the important role that they play.

Thank you for your support with the changes that we have already made this term and those that are planned. We will continue to review provision on a weekly basis and adapt our plans accordingly.

Thanks also for ensuring that students have a face covering with them every day. This has improved a lot over the last two weeks and it makes things much easier for us. Currently we are providing students who do not have a make a replacement one for free, but this is proving expensive so after half-term we will have to charge 50p per mask to cover our costs. This will be taken from the student’s lunch balance and you will be able to see this transaction on the student portal. This morning we only had 12 students from the whole school who did not have a mask, so the percentages are very small.

You will also have seen from Mr Powell, Subject Leader for PE, the additions to the school PE kit which are now available for the students to buy. After half-term we would like all students in Years 7-10 to only wear school PE kit, so no non-Preston items worn. Year 11 students only have this year with us so they should continue to wear the PE kit that they have and if they would like to wear tracksuit bottoms or leggings for PE then they must be plain black. Of course they are welcome to buy either the school leggings or tracksuit bottoms if you wish.

Finally, we look forward to seeing you for your appointment with your child’s Academic Mentor (AM) on either Thursday or Friday of this week for AM Day. These meetings are crucial for seeing how your child has settled in to the year so please make your appointment if you haven’t already. This is easily accessed through the family portal.

I hope that you and your family have a restful half-term if you are able to and that the sun shines for us.

Best wishes and thanks once again for your ongoing support.

Gregg Morrison

Principal

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