Letter to new Year 7 Parents and Carers - June 2021

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June 19th 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

We are really looking forward to welcoming your son/daughter into our community, and work with you over the next stage of their development, and love of learning.  Already, many of you have been emailing me with various questions, which is great! Please continue to do that. 

There are several updates I would like to share with you, some guided by Covid-19 government guidelines. The safety of our students remains our priority, and the control measures we have put in place have proven successful to date. 

Induction Day (6 July) – Cancelled

Regretfully, we have had to cancel this due to Covid-19 restrictions.  We do feel however, we are hosting many other enhanced activities (more information below) that we can safely go ahead with, and are in-line with government guidelines.

Summer School (16th – 27 August 2021) - Extended Induction Programme

This has proven very popular, which is fantastic!  Over the 2 weeks, we have approximately 75% of Year 6 students attending – which is very exciting!  There is so much planned for it, and it will be a fantastic opportunity to meet our staff, and build new friendships with other Year 7 students prior to starting in September.  The enrichment activities we will be hosting include: various sporting events; archery; Forest School; graffiti and curriculum workshops (including Drama; Dance and Science), alongside the 60 minute session of English and Maths. 

More information on Summer School will be sent to you next week.  Don’t worry, if you haven’t signed up, just let me know. 

SEN Enhanced Transition (if applicable) 

We are still going to host 3 socially distanced SEN enhanced transition days over the following dates: 22nd June, 24th June and 13 July.  We can do this safely.  Your school SENCo will be in touch with you over the next few days with further instructions.  If you hear nothing, please do contact our SENCo, Sophie Bryant, at seb@clarendonacademy.com .

Socially Distanced Tours this Term

You are more than welcome to come in at anytime over this term for a tour, with one of our senior leaders.  This has proven very successful to date, and also gives you and your child the opportunity to see the site in action (during the school day), or not (outside of hours).  Should you wish to have a tour of the school, please email aes@clarendonacademy.com .

Meetings with Heads of House/Pastoral Term

Thank you so much for your support with this.  They will continue throughout this term, but if you do have any questions or concerns, please contact Louise Clune (Assistant Headteacher – Transition Leader) on lzc@clarendonacademy.com .

Start of Term 1 in September 2021

After Summer School has finished on the 27th August, the start of Term 1 for your son/daughter is Friday 3rd September.  This day will be an Induction Day, and a chance for them to meet their tutor group in full, and start proper lessons with subject teachers. 

Lateral Flow Home Testing

Currently, our staff and students are completing twice weekly lateral flow home tests. We need to point out, that you do not have to do this.  However, we would advise that these home tests are completed.  It is a simple process that we can use to reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19, and therefore keep us all safe. The government have not given any indication that this will cease, so we will plan that it continues in September. 

Please do not worry about this; the tests are easy to administer, and we have outlined below how it will all work.  As parents/carers, we are asking you to choose 1 of 3 options:

Option 1 – I give consent.  I am able to administer the tests at home with no difficulty.

If you choose this option, you do not need to do anything.  You are happy to receive and administer the tests, and you do not need to tell us this.  I have placed on the website here instructions on how to administer the tests, how to upload the results to the government website, and inform us here at the school.

Option 2 – I opt-out.  I do not wish to take part at all.

If you would not like to take part in the home testing programme, please could you complete this short ‘opt-out’ Microsoft form here. Please select Year 7 as a year group.

Option 3 – I give consent, but am unable to do the test at home, so would need the school to help.

If you would like to take part, but you can’t do the tests at home, we will test your child at school starting from September.  Let us know by completing this short Microsoft form here. Please select Year 7 as a year group.

If you select Option 1, and if your son/daughter is attending Summer School, we will issue them on their first day in a lateral flow home testing kit.  All that we ask is that you complete the test, and upload the results as instructed here in the website.  If your son/daughter is not attending Summer School, we will issue them with a home testing kit during their first week in school in September. Again, all this is subject to change depending on government guidance – I will keep you updated though.    

If you would like more information on anything I have shared here, or have any questions or concerns, please do contact me directly on 07874796897.

All the best

 

 

David Cade

Head of School