This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils and parents or carers about what to expect from remote education if local restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home.
What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of pupils being sent home?
For the majority of subjects, work will be immediately available through the same electronic platform which students usually use for their lessons (Google Classroom, Showbie etc.). Students should check these platforms first. Where this is not the case, a student’s first day or two of being educated remotely might look different from our standard approach, while we take all necessary actions to prepare for a longer period of remote teaching.
Initially in these subjects, students and parents can click here and then select their year group. Details for the first few day’s work for each subject is displayed here and students should follow their school timetable to determine which lessons to complete. Isolating students should email their teachers with any questions they may have, using the same language they would if asking a question in school.
N.B. In the event of full school closure, lessons will be provided ‘live’ by staff via Zoom beyond the initial day or two of pupils being sent home. Links will be sent to students using Edulink.
Following the first few days of remote education, will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in school?
We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school wherever possible and appropriate. For the majority of subjects, this will be set on the same electronic platform which students usually use for their lessons and where this is not the case, work will be shared with students via Edulink. Students who are isolating should regularly check their school Gmail account as their teachers may share information about the work directly with them through this. Similarly, isolating students should email their teachers with any questions they may have, using the same language they would if asking a question in school.
We have needed to make some adaptations in some subjects. For example, it may not be possible to provide access to all activities which are more practical in nature e.g. PE, music and D&T, as well as the practical elements of the science curriculum. Where it is appropriate, students will be directed to video recordings that support their learning in these areas.
How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?
We expect that remote education (including remote teaching and independent work) will take pupils broadly the following number of hours each day:
Students not working towards formal qualifications this year:
We would expect students to follow their normal daily timetable. At least five hours of work will be set each day.
N.B. In the event of full school closure will deliver ‘live learning’ via Zoom. Students will be expected to follow their normal school timetable and to join each class at the usual time where they will be directed by the class teacher as to whether they can work remotely, following an introduction and instructions, or whether they are required to attend for the full period. Registers will be taken in each lesson and absences from live sessions will be reported to and discussed with parents.
Students working towards formal qualifications this year:
We would expect students to follow their normal daily timetable. At least five hours of work will be set each day.
N.B. In the event of full school closure will deliver ‘live learning’ via Zoom. Students will be expected to follow their normal school timetable and to join each class at the usual time where they will be directed by the class teacher as to whether they can work remotely, following an introduction and instructions, or whether they are required to attend for the full period. Registers will be taken in each lesson and absences from live sessions will be reported to and discussed with parents.
As students in these year groups are working towards formal qualifications it can be expected that the level of independent study required will be more significant, between timetabled lessons. Further guidance on independent study will be given by individual subject teachers.
How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?
Specific information about each subject area is available here. This also includes links to general resources for subjects across the curriculum as well as resources to support both physical and mental wellbeing. As students have access to a personal device, the range of online tools and digital platforms available to students is extensive. In terms of setting remote learning, both Google Classroom and Showbie are used widely by staff. Details as to the exact platform which is used will be shared on the website or directed by the classroom teacher.
In the event of full school closure all work will be directed via Zoom lessons in line with student timetables. Links to access these Zoom lessons will be sent to students via Edulink One in Years 7 & 8 and Satchel One in Years 9 – 13. If a pupil is struggling to access the work despite support over Zoom, please encourage them to email their subject teacher directly for further guidance.
If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?
We recognise that some pupils may not have suitable online access at home. We take the following approaches to support those pupils to access remote education:
- We operate a 1:1 iPad scheme to ensure that no student is denied access to technology to support learning. We will support any students with any technical issues with these devices, e.g. by loaning devices to students whose iPad has been sent away for repair or where a legacy iPad is no longer capable of running our suite of apps. We also have an extensive array of resources and help guides for students (accessible from student iPads and via a browser) as well as a ticketing system through which parents can raise requests. Families also have a portal for contacting Freedom Tech, our service provider, who can advise on the progress of repairs.
- Following the announcement from the DfE about free mobile data top-ups for families in need, the school has contacted parents to offer support. This is an ongoing process and parents should contact the school if they feel this is appropriate for them. Data allowance requests will be submitted to the DfE accordingly.
- The school has purchased a small number of MiFi routers which are provided to families in need where a data allowance top-up is not possible.
- The school has some pre-loaded data SIM cards which have been assigned in conjunction with MiFi routers or as appropriate.
- A set of laptops acquired from the DfE during the first lockdown has been distributed to students.
- Our IT Support team provide friendly and clear advice and help to families in-person, by phone and online.
How will my child be taught remotely?
We use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely.
In the event of full school closure, all lessons will have a ‘live’ element. Students will follow their daily timetable, registers will be taken and resources introduced to students. All links for live sessions will be sent directly to both parent and student using Edulink One in Years 7 & 8 and Satchel One in Years 9 – 13.
A range of approaches will be used to support remote learning. These may include:
- Online learning and assessment tools such as Showbie, Google Classroom, Socrative, Educake and Quizlet
- Recorded teaching (e.g. Oak National Academy lessons, video/audio recordings made by teachers)
- Printed paper packs produced by teachers (e.g. workbooks, worksheets)
- Textbooks and reading books pupils have at home
- Commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences eg BBC Bitesize
- Long-term project work and/or internet research activities
What are your expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents and carers should provide at home?
Individual circumstances will vary throughout the course of remote learning or periods of isolation. All students are expected to engage with the work set whether that is through attendance during a live session or submission of work on a set deadline. We acknowledge there may be times when continuity of learning is not possible e.g. during illness, and as a school we will work constructively with all students and parents to support learning at this time. It is anticipated that wherever possible parents will facilitate remote learning through providing a quiet place to work and encouragement towards completion of the work set. Any difficulties or challenging circumstances surrounding remote learning should be communicated to the school so further assistance can be given.
How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?
If students are required to attend a ‘live’ session, a register of attendance will be taken. Absences will be reported to the attendance team and communicated to parents. Support will be given to encourage all students to attend these sessions. Completion of work will be monitored regularly through both online submission and the checking of work once a student returns to school. Staff will contact parents, via email, where students are not engaging with the work set. Ongoing non-completion of work or non-attendance during a ‘live’ session will be communicated with parents via the attendance/pastoral team or relevant Curriculum Leader.
How will you assess my child’s work and progress?
Feedback can take many forms and may not always mean extensive written comments for individual children. For example, whole-class feedback or quizzes marked automatically via digital platforms are also valid and effective methods, amongst many others. Each subject or faculty area will follow their existing marking and feedback policy to ensure that students are given appropriate guidance on the quality of work completed and submitted as well as what would need to be done in order to improve. ‘Close the gap’ opportunities will also be offered in line with each marking and feedback policy. Formal assessments may take place remotely where required. Live learning also provides the important opportunity for staff to give verbal feedback and encouragement.
How will you work with me to help my child who needs additional support from adults at home to access remote education?
- Students with an identified SEN need will initially follow the work that is set by subject staff through Edulink and Satchel One, and lessons delivered via Zoom. Classroom staff will differentiate work in the first instance where they can. LSF will support staff with any differentiation of work that can be set remotely where required.
- Students with Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) will be invited to complete their lessons with the Learning Support Faculty (LSF) within school, where they will be supported by teaching assistants (TAs) to complete the online learning. Students will be given any additional IT equipment to help aid with this – for example headphones, use of a projector/ whiteboard to view the lessons. TAs will support to explain and differentiate the tasks provided by subject staff, following the way of working the student would experience within a normal classroom situation.
- Students who choose to access the remote learning from home with an EHCP will have a weekly welfare call to ensure that they are able to access, as well as an identified member of support staff whom they can email or contact at any point through the day to help support, if they are unable to discuss with the class teacher at the time. Students without an EHCP, but are identified as having an additional need, will also be able to contact a member of the LSF staff when needed with any queries or to ask for additional support.