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A High Performing Specialist Academy for Technology & Applied Learning

7 July 2021

Government Announcement on Restrictions in Schools from September

As you may be aware, on Tuesday, the Government announced that the need for face masks, social distancing measures and staggered start and finish times in schools will be scrapped from September.  Mr Williamson, the Education Secretary,  said that the COVID testing regime for pupils will be transferred to the NHS track and trace system and, instead, secondary schools will be asked to offer pupils two COVID tests at the beginning of the Autumn term, as a one-off event.

We are currently examining the guidance on the start of term testing and I will inform you of further details next week.

Of course, I should point out, that all our procedures and plans for September are subject to change if further government guidance is received or local COVID conditions result in Public Health advising us to reintroduce specific actions.

Consultation on the Structure of the College Day 2021-22

The consultation has now ended and produced the following results:

  • 53% of staff prefer the two-way split break/lunch structure (105 responses)
  • 80% of students prefer the two-way split break/lunch structure (255 responses).

It is clear that there is strong support for the current split break/lunchtime structure from the student body and a majority supportive view from staff.  I therefore believe there is a mandate to continue with this structure next term with the proviso that we will continue to monitor it and could ’tweak it’ or revert to the traditional structure if we feel we need to.

We will publish the new structure shortly. Of course, all subject to change if new government guidance is received over the summer holidays!

Changing for PE Lessons Next Year

With the recent announcement from the government regarding the removal of social distancing and other COVID-related measures we have decided that, as from September, students will again use the changing rooms to change into their PE kit for their lessons.  This will allow the department to revert to their full curriculum as well as for the College to return to the previously high standard of College uniform compliance which has, understandably, been difficult to maintain given the current situation. 

Awarding Grades Update 

Please refer to your emails or to the Letters Home folder in Edulink for a letter about Results Days, the Appeals process, and The Autumn Exam Series.  I apologise for the length of the letter, but there is a significant amount of detail we need to bring to your attention, and I urge you to read it in full! 

Due to the lifting of lockdown restrictions on Monday 19 July we are planning to hold both Results Days on the Sixth Form field.  Further details of these events will be circulated by Mr Webster for Sixth Form and Mrs Goggin for Year 11.  Please encourage your son/daughter to check their emails regularly for updates. 

Sports Day

We look forward to returning to ‘normal’ routines in September and this week our PE Department, along with staff from across the College, reminded us of how wonderful this will be with organising Sports Day for Years 7-9 in their bubbles. The Year 7 event was a pleasurable and successful event that saw the Collingwood community working together with students enjoying both watching and participating in competitive sport.  Let’s hope the rain stays away for the Year 8 (Tuesday 13 July) and Year 9 (today, Wednesday 7 July) events.  Details of results and highlights of performances to follow…

Parking in Gibbet Lane and Surrounding Areas

Could we again please ask parents to help us maintain our good relationships with our local community and refrain from parking/dropping off on double yellow lines and/or obstructing entrances and exits to driveways and the Fire Station.  We would be very grateful for your co-operation and thank you in advance for your understanding.

Mr Tanner - Principal

Curriculum Information