Last academic year, owing to a rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, we made the difficult decision to postpone the Rewards Days trips. Our incredible students had worked so relentlessly hard that we felt it only right to defer the trips until the new academic year, so that students did not miss out on the opportunity due to self-isolation. We haven’t forgotten, and will be working with our Academy Council Student Representatives to put together plans to honour our promise, and hope to be able to share these plans in the next few weeks.(Read more…)

A very large proportion of students are continuing to self-test at home twice a week. We are hugely grateful for this, and on multiple occasions it has helped to identify asymptomatic cases and limit the spread of COVID-19. The pandemic has caused an unfortunate and frustrating amount of disruption this year, but it could have been much worse without so many people taking this public-spirited approach to regular testing.

When we return in September, the Department for Education has asked us to invite all students in for another two onsite COVID-19 tests. This remains voluntary, but we strongly encourage everyone to take part. While most adults are now vaccinated, we continue to have a social responsibility to protect the long-term health of our young people.

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We’ve shared some important safety tips with students and parents/carers ahead of the summer break, but things don’t always go to plan. If students are worried about their online safety, or the way that someone has been communicating with them online, then they can seek help and speak to a child protection adviser here.(Read more…)

After what has been a difficult year for everyone, and for some sadly a tragic one, I want to reflect on two themes before sharing information for the new term.(Read more…)