Dear Parent/Carer
As you will remember, the teaching union, NEU, has proposed teacher strike action which has already affected our school and will further affect our school on the following dates:
• Wednesday 1 February 2023
• Wednesday 1 March 2023
• Wednesday 15 March 2023
• Thursday 16 March 2023
I am writing to you to inform you that I have once again completed a risk assessment based on the number of teachers who have already informed me about their intention to strike. Teachers are not obliged to inform me in advance, but I already know it will be unsafe to fully open the school. I am aware that the NEU is the largest union for our school’s teachers and that the majority of its members are yet to inform me about their intention regarding strike action. In completing a risk assessment in this situation, I have to use the known and predictable information to determine what number of students can be supervised safely.
The nature of strikes means I am not able to direct non-striking teachers to cover for colleagues who are taking strike action. As a consequence to all of this and a requirement from the Department for Education, I have prioritised provision for students who are in exam years.
For next Wednesday and the future planned strikes, I unfortunately have no choice but to close the school to students in Year 7 to 10. This means, only students in Year 11, 12 and 13 should attend school on these dates.
Years 7 -10 Provision
Remote learning will be provided on Google Classroom for all students as set by their normal timetable for that day. Teachers who are present in school will be available to ‘live chat’ about the work via the school email system for the duration of the lesson. It may be that the teacher is delivering a ‘live’ part to the lesson by Google Classroom so it is important that your child follows the usual time of lessons throughout the day – here is a reminder of times for you:
Period 1 8.55am – 10.10am
Period 2 10.30am – 11.45am
Period 3 11.50am – 1.05pm
Period 4 1.45pm – 3.00pm
Attendance by way of logging on to Google classroom and completing the work is an expectation. There will be no tutor time session.
Vulnerable Students in Years 7 – 10
A place in school will be offered to all vulnerable students (children with a social worker, children in care, children with a Child Protection plan, children with an ECHP or HNF). These students will be provided with lunch in the canteen. Students must arrive at 8.50am and sign in at the main reception. You will be contacted by the school on Monday 27th February to discuss this place.
Year 11 Provision
Year 11 will continue the planned programme of PPEs on site with supervised revision time and interventions throughout the day. Year 11 will have the usual start time of 8.35am and will go straight into the following programme:
8.35am Media PPE Paper 1 in the Hall (Media students)
Business and Enterprise intervention with Mr Foulkes in A15 (Business students)
Maths Intervention with Mr Bacon in A7 (Students will be informed)
Graphics Intervention in H2 with Miss Thorpe (students will be informed)
DT Intervention in H7 with Miss Keeling (students will be informed)
Art Intervention in G2 supervised (students will be informed)
Supervised Maths revision in the canteen (all other students)
10.20am Break
10.50am Maths PPE in the hall (all students)
12.20pm Lunch
1pm Media PPE Paper 1 in the Hall (Media students)
Business and Enterprise intervention with Mr Foulkes in A15 (Business students)
Maths Intervention with Mr Bacon in A7 (Students will be informed)
Graphics Intervention in H4 with Miss Thorpe (students will be informed)
Art Intervention in G2 supervised (students will be informed)
BTEC Sport Intervention with Miss Southgate (students to be informed)
Hair Intervention with Mrs Gardiner in the salon (all Hair students)
Supervised revision in the canteen (all other students)
2.45pm End of day
Lunch will be provided for all students on site in the canteen.
Full attendance is an expectation.
Year 12 & 13 Provision
Year 12 and 13 are to attend school as expected but at the later start time of 9.00am. They will have an earlier finish time of 2.45pm. If their class teacher is not present, a supervised study space will be provided. Lunch will be provided for all students in the canteen.
Students must sign in at the main reception upon arrival.
Full attendance is an expectation.
Free School Meals for Years 7 – 10:
We will provide a takeaway free school meal on Tuesday afternoon for students to take home for Wednesday. Your child must go to the canteen at the end of period 4 on Tuesday to collect the meal.
Finally, I can assure you that, once again, this decision has not been made without significant consideration about what would be possible in a range of scenarios. As ever the overwhelming concern has been for the safety of your children, our students. I have to mitigate against any risk; as Headteacher I have to be able to ensure that all striking staff members can be covered adequately by myself, because I am not able to instruct others to do it. This means that I have been forced to be cautious and plan a response that is manageable and safe.
I am sorry for any inconvenience this might cause you, please be assured that I have made the decision after fully assessing the risks.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Kate Finch
Headteacher
