Dear all,

Just a short update this week! We’ve had a busy start to the new term. After a bit of adjustment, our new, video-based curriculum seems to be working really well. From what you’ve been telling us on the phone, students are finding the lessons much more accessible.  

Our students continue to do brilliantly with online learning. On Monday, the Sutton Trust released their report into how students across the UK have been learning since the lockdown begins, and it makes for grim reading. Only around one quarter of state schools have a full virtual curriculum in place (compared to over three quarters of private schools). And in most of those schools, fewer than half of the students are working every day, leading to a real worry that students across the country will be falling behind.

In contrast, we’ve had a full curriculum from day one, and our students are living up to our values by working incredibly hard. This week, the vast majority of students have completed five lessons of high quality work every day, along with completing the daily tutor time reading programme. They’re making great progress, and this will give them a huge advantage when we return to school. In fact, our students are currently beating all of the other schools in the Greenshaw Learning Trust – a huge achievement! A particular well done to Year 8 and Year 12, who are currently tied in first place for most work completed!

And we’ve been having a lot of fun too. I hope you saw our letter about our online choir – I hugely enjoyed singing along at home today. You can join, every Friday at 14:00, by going to www.nigelif.com/singspiration. Our Instagram feed has been busy too, and we’re looking forward to seeing all the Fun Friday entries next week.

Next week, I’ll be inviting you to fill in a survey letting us know how you’re getting on with virtual school. Until then, I hope that you and your families stay safe,

Best wishes,

Mr Farmbrough

Headteacher