Dear Parents
Arrangements for the start of term This letter should be read in conjunction with my letter of 18th December (called “Extra” letter) and with Mr Lockyer’s letter about all schools in the CMAT of today (see below).
You will be aware of the announcements yesterday by the Secretary of State for Education. What does this mean for students at English Martyrs?
Students in Years 7-10 The remote learning arrangements which I wrote to you about on 18th December for Tuesday 5th January- Friday 8th January 2021 will begin on Tuesday and be extended for a further week.
Students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 will access their curriculum remotely, working from home. They are now due to return to school on Monday 18th January.
The timetable for these students is already set out in my letter of 18th December – there are no other changes to this. If you have mislaid this letter, it is available on the school’s website.
Links on MS Teams will be sent to students prior to their lessons, but this will not happen until at least the later afternoon of Monday 4th January.
Students in Years 11, 12 & 13 Exam year groups 11, 12 and 13 are not to attend school until Monday 11th January.
Students will access the curriculum via MS Teams and Show My Homework. Links on MS Teams will be sent to students prior to their lessons, but this will not happen until at least the later afternoon of Monday 4th January.
Lessons will follow the current school timetable for session A and B. We will be teaching lessons 4 and 5. The expectations and rules for on-line teaching are set out in my letter of 18th December, students should familiarise themselves with these.
The timetable for each day is set out below. Please note that the times of MS teams sessions for Year 11-13 are different to Year 7-10. This is for a number of reasons including trying to maintain availability of bandwidth.
Years 11-13 8.30 - Morning Prayer 9.00 - Session A Directed Study
10.00 - Session A Live on Teams
11.00 - Lunch 12.00 - Session B Directed Study
13.10 - Assembly 13.30 - Session B Live on Teams
14.30 - Homework
Public examinations in January We are aware of a number of L3 BTEC public examinations scheduled for January. We are seeking clarification about how these will proceed. I hope to have more information to share with the students concerned on Monday. Meanwhile, students should continue to prepare for their examinations.
I hope that all the information here is clear. If you have questions or concerns, please telephone the school on Monday 4th January.
May I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year.
Yours sincerely
Marius Carney
Principal
Start of Term Letter from Mr Lockyer
Dear Parents & Carers,
Changes to the start of term Further to my letter of 18 December, we have now been informed by the Department for Education that there will be further changes to the start of term for all secondary schools nationally. At the time of writing, these are the arrangements –
*If either parent is a key worker and you require a place for your child in school from 5 – 15 January, you must inform the school reception between 9am and 11.00 am on Monday 4 January.
I am very sorry if this late change in arrangements will inconvenience you; please understand that this is not the decision of either your child’s school or the CMAT, but comes from central government. We always do our very best to give you sufficient notice for school closures.
I will write to all parents again on Tuesday (5 January) with details about how the lateral flow testing for COVID-19 will be rolled out across our secondary schools to enable safe reopening of the schools.
This letter will include a parental consent form for pupils up to and including Year 11 (Sixth Form students can choose to give their own consent).
In the meantime, I wish you a very happy New Year.
Yours sincerely
Neil Lockyer
Chief Executive Officer