Dear all,

I'm writing this from home, and wanted to start by thanking you for supporting your children with online learning today. Although the weather today hasn't been quite as bad as forecast, the wind this afternoon has still been pretty strong and I hope you'll agree in this case it was better to be safe than sorry.

We have had a busy week to finish what has perhaps been the toughest term yet. Can I again thank you for your patience while we've juggled record absence levels from both staff and students. I'm hopeful that based on the last two weeks, next term looks like it should be a fair bit more normal.

We have had two great parents evenings for Year 8 and Year 9 in the last fortnight, and I know staff have hugely enjoyed the opportunities to share how well your children are doing - well done to all of them! Year 10 have also had a busy week sitting their mid year assessments. Please note that as school was closed today, the Year 10 English Literature assessment has been moved to Wednesday 2nd March, and French will take place on Monday 28th February.

The next year groups up are Year 11 and Year 13, who will be sitting their final sets of mocks before they go into their GCSEs and A Levels. The latest information we have is that we expect exams to go ahead as normal, albeit with some small reductions in the volume of content assessed. We have been going through these in class to make sure students are focused on the right material, and half term is a great opportunity for students to get some quality revision time in before their mocks. They should continue to complete their regular homework too. The more they can consolidate now, the less they will have to do at the last minute!

Other year groups are encouraged to continue with online homework / low stakes quiz to keep their brains ticking over, but we will not be issuing detentions if this has not been completed. Homework set for the last week of term will still be checked as normal.

We have been continuing our LGBTQ+ History Month too, with a focus on DEAR time reading. All year groups have had assemblies on this, except for Year 9 and Sixth Form who were meant to be today! These will be delivered after half term.

I'm also pleased to be launching our 2021-22 parent survey. The Senior Leadership Team and I spend a significant amount of time looking at your feedback, and last year's survey helped inform our School Improvement Plan this year.The survey is mostly multiple choice so will only take a minute or two, and the more responses we get the more useful it will be for informing our next steps, so I'd be extremely grateful if you can complete it here. The survey will run until 18th March.

Finally, Gloucestershire Police have asked all schools to circulate a letter in response to last year's fatal stabbing of a student in Gloucester. I have attached it below and would encourage all parents to read it.

With best wishes, and I hope you and your family have a very restful half term.

Best wishes,

Mr Farmbrough
Headteacher