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| | FORTHCOMING EVENTS | | Monday 15 February (All Day)
Half-Term Holiday | Half-Term Holiday | All Day | |
| | From the Office | A message from the Executive Head
Dear Parents and Guardians
When planning the reopening of a school, it helps to know which year groups will be attending!
During the first lockdown I vividly remember a conversation I had with Hugh Wilding about the first stage of getting children back to class. I confidently reassured him that in no way would the government select Reception or Year 1 in the first instance as there can be no expectation for children of that age to understand the concept of social distancing. Low and behold, Reception, Year 1 (and Year 6) headed back to school first, and I was left rather red-faced!
Nevertheless, it has taught me to expect the unexpected from the Department for Education (DfE). So what could happen on 8 March, the allocated return to school day?
Well, firstly, the date may get pushed back depending on the number of Covid-19 cases, Covid-19 associated deaths/numbers in hospitals, and regional variations. If March 8 is the starting date, it is highly likely that only certain Year groups will return, or they may choose for schools to use a rotational basis for having pupils in school. However, this can prove difficult for larger schools in regard to deep cleaning of areas and bubbling.
So which Year groups are considered, by the government, as priorities?
In my opinion, strong arguments can be made for every year group. Naturally, Reception and Year 1 pupils will find it most difficult to access online work without considerable support from parents, but then Year 11 and 13 are in the midst of their crucial national examinations. Year 7 have only got to know their new schools for a term...and now they are back home. And, what about Year 8 and 9 who it sometimes feels have been forgotten by the DfE. These children especially need those essential social interactions to support the creative areas of their brains, which can be valuable when responding to more resolution based tasks.
Year 10 and 12 have just started their relevant examination courses, Year 2 and 3 are seen as the vital age range for cementing the building blocks of learning they received in EYFS, and then Year 6 are in the final year of junior education and need support in making the transition to Year 7. Hang on, surely Year 4 and 5 is the children's first experience of gaining inference-based conceptual learning, isn’t that important, if not imperative?
Who knows! As you can see, all year groups have strong cases to return. What we can be sure of is this: we will continue to support you and your families no matter what actions emerge from the DfE, and when we are given the opportunity, we will have your children back in school as quickly, as happily, and most importantly, as safely as possible. We will keep you informed of details as they become clear.
Have a lovely weekend.
Best wishes
Justin Spanswick
Executive Head Teacher
Thursday 4 February - Friday 12 February G8 parents evening
We are replacing parent’s evening with a call home from subject teachers. Teachers have been asked to make their calls home between Thursday 4 February and Friday 12 February. We understand that we all have busy and demanding lives at the moment, so please do not feel you have to speak to all of the teachers. Your daughter will receive an appointment sheet that will be put on their online form classroom which parents can access.
Year 11, 12 and 13 Parents Exams Briefing - Monday 22 February
Mr Wilding, Mr Richards and Mrs Rogers will be holding a presentation evening at 6pm on Monday 22 February to clarify matters on Mid-term assessments and Public exams. Please join them using this MEET link (https://meet.google.com/orw-yeos-xpa) with your camera and mic turned off.
Lateral Flow Testing Consent
With the Government announcement that it hopes schools to reopen from 8 March, may we please ask you to complete the Lateral Flow Testing consent form as soon as possible, if you had not already completed it at the start of term. Many thanks.
CWV Form 22 February to 5 March
Please find the new Critical Worker and Vulnerable children form to complete if you require your daughter to come into school for her remote learning at all during the two week period after half term.
Common Task 2 for Lent term
We are continuing to run our Common Tasks this term, and these assessments take place in each subject, across both boys and girls, enabling us to check the progress of all children of the same age. They are marked and moderated according to an agreed mark scheme to ensure our academic provision continues to meet the standards we demand, and very much follow the work described in each year group’s curriculum statements. Teachers have adapted their assessments this term to suit our current online working. Please bear in mind these assessments form part of the composite end of term grade, together with the other formative assessments which will continue throughout the term, forming the body of work completed by each pupil as well as the year group as a whole.
G8 HPV Immunisations
The Berkshire School Aged Immunisation Team will be providing the HPV vaccine to all Year 8 boys and girls, and a small number of Year 10 girls, at Claires Court on 3 March 2021. Please find the letter and consent form which must be completed by 7 February using the school’s code BK110153B, even if you decide you do not wish your child to receive this. Please note school cannot accept verbal or email consent directly. If you have any queries regarding the vaccine itself, please contact the Berkshire Immunisation Team in the first instance and Mrs Levi, Lead Nurse, for all other enquiries (col@clairescourt.net).
In order to ensure that we provide this essential service in a COVID safe manner, all vaccinations will take place in the Sports Hall at the Senior Boys site, Ray Mill Road East, SL6 8TE. Appointments will be sent directly to parents, by the Berkshire Immunisation Team. Parents are asked to drive their children to Claires Court Senior Boys (please use the on site parking area) for their appointment, wait in their car (approximately 30 minutes), and take their child home. Further details will be available closer to the immunisation date. All staff will be made aware of the appointment times so that they will not expect your child to be in their online lesson when they have their appointment. Critical Worker/Vulnerable child provision will not be affected.
G9 GCSE Option Courses - September 2021
The deadline for completing the GCSE Option form is Monday 22 February. Please find the link here to the form. You will also find the link to the option subject presentations and recordings of the meets here.
Headteacher/parent online surgery - Tuesday mornings 9.15am to 10am
Please contact hep@clairescourt.com if you would like to meet online with Mr Richards. He is always happy to hear from you.
Senior Head’s Open House MEET - Tuesdays 10am Weekly
Please feel free to drop in here (https://meet.google.com/tau-udad-gch) to speak with Mrs Rogers, Mr Richards and Mr Wilding from 10am to 10.30am every Tuesday morning.
Reporting your daughter’s absence from school
Please call the school office to report any sickness/absence/medical appointments on 01628 327500 (any voicemails left will be picked up by the office when it opens at 8am). Alternatively you can also email girls@clairescourt.com. |
| | | | | | 1 College Avenue, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 6AW
Tel: 01628 327500 Email: seniorgirls@clairescourt.comPlease note all our School privacy notices can be found here. Please ensure you keep you and your child's information up to date. You can login to the report portal to change any details or alternatively, please contact your school office. | | | | | | |
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