XP East

Further to my recent update concerning the staggered return of students to school, today’s announcement from the Secretary of State for Education has implications for all of our year groups. 

The timeline for their return, and details concerning our online provision is now as follows:

• Monday 4th January: Staff Day (to support online provision / student testing in school plans)
• Tuesday 5th January: online provision begins for all students in all year groups (XP, XP East, XP16)
• Monday 11th January: Y11 and Y13 return to school
• Monday 18th January: Y7, Y8, Y9, Y10 and Y12 return to school

We will provide an in school provision for children of key workers, Looked After children and students with Special Educational Needs (as per the previous March lockdown period) on Tuesday 5th January. The provision will be based at XP East and will begin at 8:30am / close at 3:15pm. Please complete this brief survey if your child qualifies for a place and you would like them to attend.

In anticipation of the latest announcement, I met this morning with our Assistant Principals, Miss Johnson (SENDCo), Mr Sprakes (Chief Academic Officer of XP Trust) and Mrs ap Harri (XP16 Lead). We already have contingency plans in place for timetables concerning an online provision, and these will be finalised published by the end of Monday 4th January. 

Our online provision will be exactly like the process for when previous year bubbles have been closed and revolve around live sessions by teachers, supported by Learning Coaches – all students are expected to attend beginning every day with Crew at 8:30am. 

We’ve been delighted with the positive feedback from parents regarding our remote learning work, and I would like to reassure parents that we will continue to provide the structure and the high quality support that your children need during this tricky period of school closure. 

2021 is just around the corner – happy new year everyone!

Best wishes, Jamie Portman.

At very short notice, the Department for Education has announced that:

From January, rapid-result tests will be provided to schools and colleges, starting with secondary schools and FE colleges, including special schools and alternative provision:

• for the school and college workforce to conduct weekly testing – this will help identify those who are carrying the virus without displaying symptoms, reducing the risk of transmission.

Further to this, I was made aware only yesterday via the BBC that students will have a staggered return to school after the Xmas period. The DfE’s instruction is that Y11 and Y13 students will return in the first week back and Y7, Y8, Y9, Y10, Y12 won’t start back at school until Monday 11th January – an online provision as per the closed year bubble process will be made available.

After an online briefing by the DfE this afternoon, we have been advised to make Monday 4th January a Staff Day in order to help us to make preparations for testing our community on a weekly basis. 

From Tuesday 5th January, there will be an in school provision for our vulnerable students and children of key workers just like the first Lockdown period.

As you can imagine, testing nearly 500 students / 100 adults on a weekly basis will present us with some considerable logistical challenges but as ever, we will continue to do our very best to overcome them. 

Many questions remain, but further guidance and advice is being released over the coming weeks, and I will update everyone via our websites in order to keep everyone informed. 

So, in summary:

• Monday 4th January will be a Staff Day
• Y11s and Y13s will return to school on Tuesday 5th January (Y11 mock exams will still go ahead)
• There will be an in school provision for vulnerable students and children of key workers from Tuesday 5th January (stay tuned for more details.
• Y7, Y8, Y9, Y10, Y12 students will return to school on Monday 11th January (an online timetable will be published and teachers will deliver live lessons via Google Hangout)

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank parents for the amazing support that you have shown our staff since March. Your messages of appreciation on Facebook, via emails, in person and in the parent survey mean a great deal to us. There is light at the end of the tunnel but know that whatever happens next, we’ll all pull together to get everyone through it. 

Have a wonderful Christmas… I’m off for a shandy!

Jamie Portman.

This morning I covered Miss Hickson’s 7 Explorer class whilst they did a Geography assessment to support their HUMAN expedition ‘In My Place’.

I was really impressed with the discussions we had around revision and the importance of studying. We had conversations about what this looked and sounds like, and the first part of the lesson was used to reflect back on some some of the key geographical concepts that have been learned this year.

I must say, their behaviour, effort and overall conduct was excellent! To say this is the last week of term (and what a term it has been!) their focus was amazing.

I continue to be impressed with the fantastic start to life at XP East.

7 Explorer… what a class!

Further to my recent update concerning isolating students and their return to school, I can now confirm that the self-isolation period in England has changed from 14 to 10 days.

The updated Government guidance states:

‘After reviewing the evidence, we are now confident that we can reduce the number of days that contacts self-isolate from 14 days to 10 days…

‘… the change to the isolation period for contacts will apply to all those who are currently self-isolating including those who commenced self-isolation before Monday.’

This change will apply in England from 00:01am on Monday 14 December.

As a result, the following year groups should return to school on Monday 14th December:

• Y8/E26 at XP East

Remember, our last day of term is Thursday 17th December and we close at the normal times.

EDIT / Additional update: This morning I phoned Public Health Doncaster who referred my enquiry to a Consultant – they have just emailed me the following:

Thank you for contacting the Public Health enquiries, in light of the Government announcement the isolation period will reduce from 14 days to 10 for close contacts as from Monday 14 December. The Government has not yet, however, updated the online guidance with these changes and this is still awaited.

I will keep trying. JP

Original post from yesterday: 

In order to respond to enquiries from parents, I can confirm the following…

We understand that the BBC has been made aware of information that the nationally recognised 14 day Covid isolation period will be reduced to 10 days from Monday 11th December. This would affect the return date of the year groups that are having to isolate at our schools. However, when we contacted the Department for Education’s Covid helpline at 4:30pm this afternoon they said that the Government had not informed them of any changes.

Nevertheless, we will keep calling the helpline over the weekend in order to make enquiries about how any potential changes will affect our students. Stay tuned for any further updates.