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Dear Parents/Carers

You will be aware of the high number of Covid cases across Doncaster at present and its impact on all schools. We currently have a high number of staff unavailable due tocovid related absence. This has resulted in many lessons being supervised by non-specialist teachers. In some cases, groups are having to be put together to ensure correct staffing levelsacross the wider school.

Whilst operating like this is possible in the short term, it does impact negatively on pupils’ learning. For this reason, we will be putting in place two ‘Home-learning’ Enrichment and Consolidation Days for year groups 7, 8, 9 & 10 this week.

Pupils in 7, 8, 9 & 10 will have one day working from home this weekas outlined below. During this time, they will be provided with online learning activities for each of their timetabled classes, accessed through Microsoft Teams. Pupils should follow their usual timetabled lessons for the day they are not in school.

Wednesday 1st December: Y10 & Y8 pupils work from home. Return to school for lessons as normal on Thursday 2/12/21.

Thursday 2nd December: Y7 & Y9 pupils work from home. Return to school for lessons as normal on Monday 6/12/21.

Y11,12,13 will remain in school on both days and attend normal lessons.

This decision has not been taken lightly. We would much prefer to have all pupils in school engaging in lessons. However, these Enrichment and Consolidation days offer us a great opportunity to keep pupils engaged in meaningful work set by their class teaches and building on areas of the curriculum studied this term.

Thank you in advance for your support

Dear Parent/Carer

We contacted all parents/carers yesterday regarding the heating issue on Cantley site (Upper) and promised to keep the situation under review and update you, as necessary.

Due to the extensive nature of the repairs required, coupled with the forecast for poor weather in the next few days, it will be necessary to close Cantley site (Upper) on Thursday and Friday of this week.

Pupils in all year groups except Y11 will have one day working from home this week as outlined below. During this time, they will be provided with online learning activities for each of their timetabled classes, accessed through Microsoft Teams. Pupils should follow their usual timetabled lessons for the day they are not in school.

Thursday 9th December: Y12, Y10 & Y9 pupils work from home. Return to school for lessons as normal on Friday 10/12/21.

Friday 10th December: Y13, Y8 & Y7 pupils work from home. Return to school for lessons as normal on Monday 13/12/21.

For those groups remaining in school, timetables and rooming will be adjusted to move lessons from Cantley Site (Upper) over to Acacia (Lower). We will communicate these changes via School Comms and pupil email as quickly as the arrangements allow.

We are well aware of the difficulty and frustrations caused by having to have year groups work from home, however the health and safety of pupils and staff is our main priority. In the current circumstances this option is in the best interest of safety. Following our well-established home learning routines will allow for education to continue whilst not risking health and wellbeing.

Thank you for your understanding and support in these difficult circumstances.

Mr J Rooney

In the light of the PMs briefing yesterday, the Leadership team have decided the following as the necessary steps to keep staff and students as safe as possible.

From Monday 29th November face coverings will be COMPULSORY in all areas where there are large groups; including classrooms (Boris Johnson has said that they will be compulsory on buses). We will be insisting upon this. Please send your child with a face covering tomorrow.

Assemblies will be suspended until after Christmas and will be reviewed before the end of term.

Visitors, including parents/carers, will not be allowed in school for meetings.

Further information regarding other forthcoming events, including alternative arrangements for Wednesday's Y11 into Y12 evening, will be sent out within the next couple of days.

My over-riding responsibility is that I ensure that staff and students are as safe as possible in school. This action reduces the risk of an uptick in cases, particularly as we get closer to Christmas.
Thank you for your continued support in this matter.

John Rooney