Covid levels partially close Bridlington School
Year 9 students are being sent home for the rest of this week.
Year 9 students at Bridlington School will be learning from home for the rest of this week, because of rising Covid rates.
The school says there are now insufficient teachers and staff for classes to be held on-site.
Headteacher, Kate Parker-Randall, has sent out a letter to parents.
14th March 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
RE: Year 9 on home learning Tuesday 15th to Friday 18th March 2022
As COVID-19 continues to affect our community, this afternoon I initiated the school’s COVID-19 contingency plan. The Year 9 group is to be stood down and revert to home learning for four full working days (Tuesday, 15th, Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th and Friday 18th March 2022.) Year 9 students will return to school on Monday 21st March.
We have had to take this very difficult decision because we have a number of our school staff who are either self-isolating, are ill themselves or are waiting for COVID-19 test results. This means we do not have enough teachers and staff in school to be able to offer all year groups classroom teaching. This is a very difficult decision that has been made after a great deal of consideration and in consultation with governors and the local authority in the interest of keeping your child as safe as possible whilst they continue to learn.
I would like to reassure you that our school is very careful to make sure everyone follows current government and local authority guidance including enhanced cleaning, good respiratory and hand hygiene and ensuring rooms are well ventilated. Despite this, our staffing levels have reached a point that it is not possible to have all our students in school. This is a short-term measure until staffing levels increase, the number of staff able to attend school changes every day and we are keeping a close watch on the situation.
When making this decision, we have been guided by the following principles:
• Ensuring students and staff are as safe as possible
• Maximising the number of students in school
• Minimising the impact on our students’ learning
As per our home learning policy, students should follow their normal timetable. Work will be set for each subject on Class Charts as per their timetable. Lessons will be on-demand with a form of directed teacher instruction where possible, this will be recorded using a platform such as Loom. To supplement this, students can use their home learning booklets accessed via the school website. Physical copies to be requested via the school office.
We will now start the home learning programme with Year 9 in line with our protocol. Students will be using their home learning booklets. These are also available on the Home Learning tab of the website.
Lessons and tasks will be set on Class Charts by class teachers and students can interact with their class teacher on Class Charts. With the year 9 timetable being collapsed, please be aware that staff may not beimmediately accessible as they may be used to support learning in other classes. Should you have any problems accessing the home learning please contact the year team or office@bridlingtonschool.org.uk.
The health, safety and wellbeing of our children and staff is extremely important to us and we thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
Kate Parker-Randall
Headteacher