School Closure Notice
Tuesday 17 March 2020
Update 8th June 2020
As you will have seen in the media, secondary schools are being asked to re-open in a careful, phased way to Year 10 and Year 12 students this half term. We are very aware of the difficulties the extended lockdown is causing for our families. We are concerned about the potential damage it is doing to students’ education and the possible mental health risks alongside this. We want to help now by gradually returning GCSE and A-Level students to school in a safe way.
Throughout this half term we are continuing to set virtual school activities which students should follow, along with regular feedback and pastoral contact.
We are also introducing supplementary sessions for all Year 10 and Year 12 students at school. These will help consolidate and extend what students are doing through virtual school activities. These sessions will give students a chance to ask questions and receive feedback on their work, as well as motivate them and help lift their spirits.
Please read this general letter to all parents in these year groups outlining how Ark St Alban’s intends to implement this guidance. You will receive a personalised text message explain what specific day we want to invite your child to attend.
Letter - 8th June 2020 (Y10 and Y12 parents)
Update 22nd April 2020
Parents/Carers - There are many ways in which you can receive support during this time. Please click on the link below for more information.
We need to update the current data set regarding availability of technology and internet access at home.
Please can you fill out the survery in the link below to help us collect this information.
From Monday 20th of April, we have joined the Government Free School Meals Scheme. All vouchers will come directly from the Government via email.
Update 25th March 2020
- The academy is closed to all pupils until further notice
- The academy will operate virtual school arrangements
- We all have our part to play in helping to stop the spread of Coronavirus. This means we must stay at home to protect the NHS and help save lives
Please continue to follow health guidance:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Thank you to everyone for your understanding during these challenging times and a heartfelt thanks to our NHS and key workers who are working so hard to look after us all.
Community Classrooms for vulnerable students and key workers’ children
Parents should keep children at home wherever possible and thanks to everyone across our community who has followed that advice. The fewer children making the journey to school and the fewer children in our Community Classrooms, the lower the risk of the virus spreading.
The purpose of our Community Classroom to provide care for the children of key workers and children who are vulnerable. Only children in these categories can attend. Information on the list of key workers is here:
The academy will be in contact with specific families directly to discuss additional arrangements. Parents who are frontline key workers should contact the academy should they need support in providing supervised study arrangements in school.
Update 18th March 2020
The Government is now providing daily updates on the steps it is taking to help fight Coronavirus and has announced measures to close schools at the end of this week.
So far, we do not have any confirmed cases of coronavirus in our school.
Thursday 19th and Friday 20th March 2020:
- The academy will be open to pupils in Years 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.
- The academy will be closed to Year 7 and Year 8 due to staffing shortages. Although we have had no recorded cases of Coronavirus, members of staff have self-isolated following medical advice.
From Monday 23rd March 2020:
- The academy will be closed to all pupils from Monday 23rd March until further notice.
- The academy will operate virtual school arrangements which can be accessed here.
As part of its announcement about schools, the Government also said that:
- Examinations will not take place in May and June
- Schools will be open to help support the children of key workers and for vulnerable students
- Provision for food will be made for students who qualify for Free School Meals
We expect further details on how this will work in the coming days and will liaise closely with the Department for Education to ensure that we support our key worker parents and vulnerable students in any way we can.
Our other key aim is to ensure and maintain as much stability for the students’ education as possible and we have been planning for this outcome. Whilst it is not possible to fully replicate the educational experience at home, we have been working hard to put in place contingency plans to ensure students can still access work and teachers are able to support their learning through our Virtual School resources.
The academy will be in contact with specific families directly on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th March to discuss additional arrangements. Parents who are frontline key workers should contact the academy should they need support in providing supervised study arrangements in school.
We will update this page and keep in touch with parents and students via text messages and through our Virtual School page.
This is an unsettling and disruptive time for everyone and we will work together as a school and local community to face the challenging times ahead. Thank you for your support and understanding during these exceptional circumstances. If we can do anything more to help your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Learning at home
On Friday 13th March 2020, all students received a demonstration of how to use Seneca Learning to work at home. Students were given the opportunity to join virtual classes for each of their subjects using class codes for their teaching group.
Students are familar with the Virtual School resources we have provided and how to access them.
Students who do not have WiFi and computer access home have been issued physical packs of work to complete at home.
