Return to school for all year groups and other information

19^th November 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

Re: Return to school for all year groups and some general information  

I hope you and your families are well. Thank you for your cooperation at this very challenging time, and to our students for engaging in their remote learning; it is appreciated.

Today I have had a meeting with senior colleagues at Cornwall Council from Education and Public Health. They agree that the measures we put in place over the last two weeks have been correct, and we have acted in the best interests of the school and local community. We have agreed that as the self-isolation periods of our staff and students currently having to isolate will be complete as of the end of next week, we will aim to reopen to all students on Monday 30^th November. This will enable our in-school curriculum provision to resume, with enough staff to ensure a safe and meaningful return to school for all.

In the meantime, the provision we have in place for vulnerable children and Key Workers’ children will be as follows:

• Year 7 – available on Wednesday 25^th November and Thursday 26^th November
• Years 8 and 10 – available from 19^th November to Thursday 26^th November
• Year 9 – Year group is self-isolating until the full return of pupils on 30^th November, therefore the in-school provision is unfortunately closed
• Year 11 – available from Monday 23^rd November to Thursday 26^th November
• Years 12 and 13 – available on Wednesday 25^th and Thursday 26^th November

Please note that if for any reason the self-isolation dates for each year group changes, we will communicate this to you. We do not anticipate any changes at this time, but we are monitoring the situation on a daily basis.

The work provided through our remote curriculum will continue, and we have deployed staff to ensure this is effective. Please ensure your child attends every one of their lessons.

It is important to again stress the importance of everyone following the lockdown rules we are currently under, and that no groups of people gather within our community or beyond. Thank you for your support with reinforcing this with your child.

We have been fortunate enough to have received 60 laptops from the Department for Education earlier in the year, for use with some of our Disadvantaged students who may not have access to ICT equipment. We have also received some very generous donations of ICT equipment from members of our local community to support our students through this difficult time. We thank them for their incredible generosity.

If you have a laptop computer or webcam, that is surplus to requirements, that you would be willing to donate to families who need them, we would be very grateful. We would repurpose them for use with our students, and ensure they go directly to the families that need them the most. If you are able to provide a donation of this kind, please could you drop it off at the Valley Road reception, or if you are unable to travel, please contact the school and we will arrange collection.

We have been asked about the mock exams that will shortly be taking place for all of Year 11 and some Year 13 students. We are meeting tomorrow to finalise the arrangements for these important exams, and will be in touch with you tomorrow with further information.

Finally, as per my communication on Monday, we had a one-day interim Ofsted visit on Tuesday. The purpose of the visit was to share our journey since March, and provide information about Safeguarding, Attendance, Behaviour and Curriculum. Although they do not write a full report as in a normal inspection, I expect to receive a letter from them detailing their findings within the next few weeks. I will share this on the school website when it arrives.

Please do contact us via enquiries@budehaven.cornwall.sch.uk if you have any questions or concerns. We will, as always, do our very best to help.

Yours faithfully,

Mr Dominic Wilkes

Headteacher